Chapter 105

I was hungry.

I senselessly scraped a tree with my boastful tusks.

The thick tree quickly broke.

I trampled the broken tree trunk.

A grinding sound was loud under my massive hooves.

I saw a group of humans in the distance.

The way they carried bundles of things larger than their own bodies was like ants.

I knew from experience.

Among those things, there were many delicious things.

There was a ton of flavor that I could never taste in the mountains.

There must be a lot of food there, too. They must be delicious.

I laughed with a growl.

My two tusks shook up and down.

Taking their things was easy.

If I charged with my thick four legs, they would surely scream and run away.

It was always like that.

When I ran, even rocks would shatter.

The humans stopped.

One of them approached.

Its eyes were wide.

It was just like an owl.

It was quite large for a human.

It carried something long on its back.

I knew.

It would take out something sharp from inside.

It wouldn't matter, though.

Even if humans took out something sharp, it couldn't pierce my hide.

I would shatter rocks when I ran, so no matter how sharp such a thin thing was, it wouldn't matter.

The wide eyes continued to approach.

I snorted.

It must be scared.

It carried the sharp thing but didn't take it out.

I had no intention of being merciful.

I was just going to charge and crush it.

I lowered my head.

I charged with a loud cry.

There was a thud.

It was the sound of a huge wild boar hitting its head on the ground.

I couldn't understand.

Since I had charged, those wide eyes should have been flattened.

But the wide eyes were fine.

Instead, I was the one who had collapsed and was looking up.

I tried to get up, but I couldn't.

And it hurts.

It hurt, it hurt.

It hurt so much.

My whole body felt hot all of a sudden, then it suddenly turned cold.

Only a scream of 'kueek' came out.

Why did it hurt so much?

It hurt, it hurt.

The smell of blood.

I was in pain within a sea of red blood.

I didn't think that the blood was my own.

I didn't think that the four thick things lying around were my legs that I was so proud of.

I couldn't possibly imagine that all my legs had been cut off at a speed that was invisible.

I tried to cry out 'kueek' again, but I couldn't. This was because the dead are not able to cry.

***

The man named Kedro turned his head.

"It's finished."

"...That's incredible."

Susanna expressed her admiration.

I thought Kedro was walking away.

Then, at some point, the wild boar's four legs were cut off and then, at another moment, the wild boar was split in two. It was literally in the blink of an eye.

"Don't even see you draw such a long sword."

"It's not a special talent."

Kedro shook his head.

He carried a sword longer than Susanna.

"I just draw it fast and put it back fast."

"That's what's incredible."

All the mercenaries around were looking at him in admiration.

They were all well-known in Merion, but no one had ever seen Kedro's blade.

His skill was so overwhelming that it didn't even evoke jealousy.

Susanna brushed her hair behind her ear.

"Kedro, I wish you had stayed in Merion. I wouldn't have to worry about an escort."

"Your words are thanks enough."

"Where are you planning to stay in Schmeizen?"

"I haven't decided yet. First, I'm thinking of visiting an acquaintance. More importantly, we should hurry."

The man changed the subject.

He was a man who only spoke what was necessary, and this habit was already ingrained in him to the point of being a compulsion.

"The smell of blood will attract others."

"You're right."

Susanna noticed that he was changing the subject, but she didn't point it out.

Instead, she shouted loudly.

"Did you hear that? Hurry up! We're getting out of the mountains today!"

***

In the dead of night, the bonfire was warm.

Tents were set up in various places.

It was an open area a short distance from the mountains.

It was far enough away that other magical beasts wouldn't come after them.

The man with the wide eyes found his tent and entered.

It was warm.

This was because the person who was waiting for him in the tent hugged him tightly.

It was a girl with a bob cut.

"The smell of blood."

"Because I used my sword."

The bob-cut girl complained, then hugged him even tighter.

All her strength was not even ticklish to the man. Yet, his face was turning red, which was strange.

"Let go, Yeni. You might get blood on you."

"No, Dussell."

"...You should call me Kedro right now."

"It's just the two of us, what's the big deal?"

Yeni smiled sweetly.

She was surprisingly bright inside the cozy tent.

The man who used the name Kedro, whose real name was Dussell Duke, felt a delightful thrill.

She was an innocent girl.

Was it because she had spent a long time in a monastery?

Even though she was about the same age as Dussell, she was like a child.

That aspect evoked indescribable emotions in Dussell.

Joy, overwhelming emotion, pity, admiration, transience, all bundled up into affection.

"You're Dussell Duke, and I'm... Yeni Duke."

Yeni whispered from within his arms.

Then she moved her finger on his broad chest.

The word was 'Duke.'

He wondered if the name the church had just given her could sound so good.

Dussell realized that he was now grinning from ear to ear.

He had always lived amidst the smell of blood.

That's the life of a Priest.

He had always held a sword and acted on orders.

He had no questions or complaints.

Since he had never had them, he had never thought he had lost them.

Because of that, Yeni was the first warmth he had ever felt.

She was also the first innocent.

He liked that.

He liked the girl who had made him feel the emotion of 'like' for the first time more than anything.

It was a love so deep that he was afraid to lose it.

Just thinking that he would one day lose her made him feel a piercing fear.

Even so, he could not let her go.

"I like Dussell, but I don't like the smell of blood."

Yeni's hair was shiny black.

It was in stark contrast to Dussell's dark and unkempt blonde hair.

He liked it even more.

Even the top of her head, which was pressed flat from wearing a hat all day to cover her face, felt cute.

Dussell knew that he had become a fool.

Yet, he wanted to continue being a fool.

It was a sweetness that made him willingly succumb.

"It will be different in Schmeizen, won't it?"

"I can't promise that."

"Lie to me, at least."

"I'll try, Yeni."

The girl smiled faintly.

Then she twirled around a couple of times and plopped down on her sleeping bag, wiggling her legs this way and that. It was a gesture that showed how thrilled she was.

"Hurry and change. We have to wake up early tomorrow, so we should go to sleep."

"Yes, of course. Early tomorrow."

Dussell hoped that this moment would continue.

A new life where it was natural for him to be with Yeni more.

A life that wasn't like an assassin, not like a priest, and not even like a swordsman.

Somewhere far away from blood, iron, and death.

The one thing Dussell Duke was good at was not just the sword.

He was skilled at handling a whip, a hammer, an awl, and even a saw.

Or assassination, poisoning, strangulation; he was confident that he was an expert in anything that involved 'killing.'

'I have to give it all up. I have to do it quickly.'

He would give up his entire life so far. He wanted to give it up.

A pen would be fine.

A plow would be fine.

A needle and thread would be fine.

If he could be with Yeni, if he could avoid the smell of blood she disliked, what wouldn't he hold in his hands?

Even without imagining a distant future, he liked the present moment.

Even so, he couldn't help but dream.

He was grateful for this moment in which he was allowed to dream.

Dussell Duke realized that he was feeling more gratitude towards God than ever before.

Even though he had lived his entire life as a priest of the Original Ladder Church.

Filled with gratitude, happiness and a love so embarrassing and mushy, Dussell's eyes suddenly became sharp.

The look in his wide eyes was terrifying.

'Footsteps...'

Someone outside the tent was calling out to him.

"Kedro, are you in there?"

It was a familiar voice, a fellow mercenary.

"I am."

"Come out for a second."

Dussell Duke left the tent without a word.

Yeni had already fallen asleep.

Outside, a companion with a bottle of wine in his hand greeted him.

"Ms. Susanna gave us a little wine for our hard work today. Have a taste."

"Thanks, but I'll pass."

"Don't be like that."

"I said I'm fine."

"Hey!"

He never touched alcohol.

It was a duty as a priest of the Original Ladder Church.

His companions all knew that he didn't drink.

Yet, they kept offering, which was slightly unpleasant.

"Kedro..."

As he suppressed his slight displeasure, his companion grabbed his shoulder.

His eyes were not clouded with intoxication.

He seemed to want to convey something.

In his companion's hand was a small note.

The companion who handed him the note urgently nodded with his chin.

He seemed to be trying hard not to make a sound.

Dussell also carefully, but quickly, opened the note.

[Urgent message from Guild Master Veranio. Pursuers are present. Danger level maximum. Possibility of wiretapping. Urgent escape requested.]

"!!!"

Dussell Duke's wide eyes opened even wider.

His companion mouthed something, gesturing with his chin.

'You have to run, Kedro!'

"..."

Dussell nodded.

He flew into the tent as if he were a bird.

He always had his bag packed in case of a situation like this.

So he could run away at any time.

Dussell, who packed all his belongings in an instant, shook his lover awake.

"Hmm, why...?"

"Shh."

He didn't say anything more and simply used a gesture to answer.

Dussell's small knapsack on his back explained the situation, and Yeni felt her sleepiness disappear.

She jumped up and packed her share of the luggage.

Dussell Duke held his lover's hand.

Her slender fingers were trembling.

Because of that, he had to be strong.

He had to be a source of reassurance for Yeni.

His companion was looking at Dussell and Yeni with concern. Dussell Duke mouthed to his companion.

'Thank you.'

'Trust for trust, Kedro.'

A smile was contained within the silent reply.

Dussell Duke, under the alias Kedro, recited the second principle of the Merion Mercenary Guild to himself.

'Yes, trust for trust.'

***

They ran away.

'Schmeizen is so close, and now we have a pursuer.'

Dussell Duke bit his lip tightly.

Running through the mountains at night made him worried about Yeni's stamina.

Still, he couldn't stop.

He had to reach the day he had always dreamed of.

They were still holding each other's hands tightly.

Dussell Duke swore to himself that he would do anything to protect this hand.

But the sword on his back felt particularly heavy.

"Dussell... a little slower..."

"Get on my back, Yeni."

"I can't..."

"Yeni!"

Dussell raised his voice.

Yeni's already exhausted body froze for a moment.

Dussell Duke didn't miss the opportunity and carried Yeni over his shoulder.

He was careful not to hurt her, handling her as if she were a precious work of art.

In fact, Dussell Duke often thought that even if all the works of the master Madwir were combined, they wouldn't be worth a fraction of Yeni.

"Don't speak. You might bite your tongue."

***

Dussell Duke was a priest of the Original Ladder Church.

He was one of the best.

This meant he had long entered the realm of a superhuman.

Even carrying his lover and their luggage, his movements were surprisingly light.

With a single jump, he cleared a tree.

The scenery passed by in a blur, as if a bird were flying.

Yeni couldn't help but admire him.

She knew her lover was skilled with a sword, but what kind of level had he reached?

From tree to tree.

The scenery changed with just a few steps, but he continued to leap.

He quickly crossed an entire mountain.

'I've run this far...'

Even after showing off his superhuman movements, Dussell Duke's face only grew darker.

'...They're getting closer.'

A surprisingly sharp, even pointed, presence was following them.

It had been like that ever since they left the tent.

At first, he thought it was a mistake, but it wasn't.

'Who, in the world...'

He gritted his teeth.

There was no time to uncover the mystery.

He had to run one more step.

He felt Yeni burying her face in his back out of fear.

Dussell Duke leaped high and landed on a wide rock.

"Stop, Dussell Duke."

The man called out from there.

As if he had been waiting for them from the very beginning.

"How far do you plan to run? You know it's already too late."

"!!!"

Dussell Duke gasped.

He hadn't felt him even though he was so close.

Even with a presence so sharp it could cut!

He realized that if this man had intended to kill them, they would have already lost their lives.

"For the sake of your exhausted lover, it would be better to just follow me."

The man's eyes were jade-colored.

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