25 – Boundary (3)
Death is coming.
It was something I was prepared to do, but now that it really happened, I felt like I was regretting it inside.
A weak thought passed through my head, like ‘Was there no other way?’
Fortunately, I wasn’t that ugly. After thinking about it again, I decided that this was the best.
But that’s right. I still have regrets.
What happens to Sirien when I die?
Can you survive in this dangerous place? The pursuers will soon catch up with them, so won’t they be in trouble?
A feeling of helplessness wrapped around my entire body like a vine.
I wish I had been a little stronger. Even if I wasn’t this weak, a lot would have been different.
Razen in the novel would have been able to protect Sirien. My mouth felt bitter.
I counted the time until death in my head.
One.
Two.
Three.
Kuung! The sound of a heavy weight falling to the floor was heard.
Now my body will be crushed horribly. It would be like not even a single body was left alive.
Trackers won’t be able to find any traces of me, so is that a good thing?
However, the predicted death did not come.
It wasn’t until a few more seconds passed that I felt strange.
Somehow my death took so long.
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The body, which should have been crushed long ago, seemed fine.
Did the giant run wrong? I even had such a ridiculous thought.
Didn’t you see the shadow that was casting over me? That couldn’t have been possible.
So what happened?
I carefully opened my eyes. There was a huge corpse in front of my eyes.
Needless to say, it was the body of a giant.
“…… ?”
“I heard there was a loud commotion. “You seem like a nasty uninvited guest.”
A feeling of pressure as if weighing down the air. A gloomy voice came from behind me.
When I quickly looked back, the man in black was sheathing his sword.
‘When. And how?
I can’t even laugh out loud. While I was fighting the giant, I didn’t feel any sign of anyone else.
Is it even possible to intervene like this in that moment in the first place?
But her man carelessly adjusted his collar as if it was no big deal.
At first glance, the man’s appearance did not seem to be anything special.
Dark, dark green hair that is almost black. Cloudy gray eyes. A face that seems indifferent to everything, yet somehow gives an intimidating impression.
Are the clothes you are wearing a uniform from somewhere? At first glance, it reminded me of a knight’s uniform, but it was a form I didn’t recognize.
Then, I can assure you that he was not a member of any military or knightly order within this empire.
The exuding energy was well contained, but the sinister force was not hidden.
Do not get close. This is not an enemy to deal with carelessly.
Instinct rang an alarm.
The man said. She touched the handle of her own sword.
The eerie voice spread again.
“Do you plan to keep holding that sword? “If you want to aim at me, I won’t stop you.”
“…… No. I know you saved my life. “It’s not that shameless.”
“If that’s the case, that’s enough. If it’s your group, they’re shivering behind that rock. Quickly take care of things and leave this place. I do not welcome you.”
“By this place, do you mean within the border?”
“Border? It might seem that way. Then all you have to do is go outside that boundary. “It won’t be difficult to understand.”
I saw the body of a fallen giant. The huge body was neatly cut into two halves.
The cut cross-sectional area was extremely clean. This means that there was not even the slightest shaking while cutting that hard outer skin.
This is impossible with the hardness of an ordinary sword.
Naturally, I couldn’t help but think of the existence of sword energy.
Sword Master. My father could have done something similar.
However, Sword Master was not a household name, nor was he a great person who appeared out of nowhere.
Even if you expand the scope to the entire continent, let alone the empire, you have never heard of a sword master like that.
This was the case even including the Sword Master who would later play an active role in the novel.
Once again, the knowledge of the possessed person was not helpful…….
Then suddenly, my thoughts reached that thought.
If I could get help from that person, wouldn’t I be able to safely reach the Marquis of Eloran?
Even if he doesn’t accompany us to Eloran, it will be much better than now.
I tried my luck slowly.
“I would like to, but this place is too dangerous for us. There is a place I must go and I must pass through this place. If you can help, be sure to give an example…… “
“Stop. I clearly said you were not welcome. It didn’t matter to me whether you died or not. I cut down the guy who was making a fuss here, and you just happened to save your life in the process. “Don’t ask me for mercy anymore.”
“Still, I’d like to ask you a favor. “Can’t you help me just from here?”
“No. If you weren’t the one nagging in the first place, I would have cut you down too. “I think you’re lucky enough to have survived, don’t you?”
The man’s attitude was very firm. The more she said, the more I felt like she was going to provoke me.
She seemed to have no room for negotiation.
He didn’t seem to have any favorable feelings towards us.
Rather, there was an air of hostility. I guess they just showed mercy for their own reasons, and there’s no reason to do anything more than that.
I don’t know what the circumstances were, but it was clear that it was a problem beyond my capabilities.
“Yes. Then I will leave as you said. “We have no intention of staying here forever.”
“That’s how it should be.”
Although it was unfortunate, I had no regrets.
First of all, I decided to consider myself lucky that I survived.
In the first place, this man could have killed the giant instead of saving me.
Rather than dwelling on something that didn’t work out, it seemed right to take Sirien and leave again.
The standards did not seem that strict.
The man told us to leave, but he did not mention a specific time.
If we move as we have been doing up until now, we will have to leave this border again someday.
If you show that much sincerity, you will never become an enemy.
“Keep in mind. There is no second.”
With the last words, the man disappeared.
I couldn’t even properly see him leaving. There was no sign of movement, so it seemed like he was using magic or other abilities.
Now I was thinking of going to the rock the man told me about, but it didn’t seem necessary.
Sirien was already running from afar. His face was covered in tears.
“Lajeeenn—!”
* * *
The rock where Sirien was hiding was not far from here.
If you stick your head out, you can clearly see the fight between me and the giant.
It was close enough that it wouldn’t take long if the giant chased after it.
Even though I told him to leave, he didn’t seem to.
Well, I had already realized that that was irresponsible.
How can Sirien get out of this forest alone?
Sirien came running and immediately threw herself at me.
It hurt quite a bit when I fell to the floor, but I couldn’t complain because I had committed a sin.
Don’t leave me.
The image of Sirien sitting down and reaching for her hand came to mind, and her guilt rose.
“Ugh. Black…… Hiccup!”
Sirien’s hands grabbed my cheeks.
Tears flowed from her red eyes and fell on the bridge of her nose.
Sirien caressed my body one by one, even making me hiccup.
Hands that look close to obsessive-compulsive. Caressing her features as if checking her face one by one, her neck and shoulders. He inspected her arms and chest in turn for any injuries.
Finally, I put my ear to hers and listened to my heartbeat. I wasn’t dead, so of course my heart was still beating.
Sirien breathed her sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness. Black……. “It’s not a dream.”
It’s a dream.
I thought I was having nightmares from time to time, but it seemed like the scars from that day remained deep.
I didn’t want to imagine what kind of dream it was.
Anyway, after taking a breather, he seemed angry this time. Sirien glared at me with her wet face.
As I turned my head to avoid her gaze, she grabbed my face and forced me to make eye contact.
“I definitely decided not to do that. Hiccup! Rajen lied to me!”
“Well, um. “I don’t think there’s anything we can do.”
“I decided not to do it! You promised……. I hate you!”
Sirien’s fist hit my shoulder with a thud.
As expected, it didn’t hurt. But she couldn’t stop her tapping her hand, so she greeted him quietly.
Was this what Therion felt like in the past? She wasn’t sick, but she was.
“Sorry.”
“Even if I apologize, they won’t accept it.”
“I’m really sorry.”
“I won’t accept it… ….”
Just like when she punished Therion, Sirien soon collapsed on her own.
The girl who was angry at me sobbed sadly again. Even when she lost the two people, she gritted her teeth and held back the tears that finally broke out.
“I was so scared. I thought I was losing you too……. “I was so scared because I thought you would disappear from me just like you and Henna.”
“It worked out somehow.”
“You almost died! You almost died. If the person in black hadn’t shown up, I would have definitely died. “I only have you now.”
Hiccup. Sirien’s hiccups didn’t stop.
Even a pat on the back didn’t seem to comfort him.
“My brother and Henna are dead, and I don’t know what happened to her dad and mom. The same goes for all the people at the castle and the relatives who often visit. I don’t even know who the bad person is. “You are really the only person I can trust.”
“… ….”
“You said we would take revenge together… …. Next time, never, ever do that again.”
“Yes.”
“Never die. “Don’t leave me alone.”
“I will do that.”