What a wonderful awakening. There is no awakening in this world as wonderful as this.
I became a victim of Rufina’s new treatment, my torso charred black. Of course, I’m alive because Sophia healed me. I won’t forget that Sophia healed me with a smile devoid of laughter as my consciousness faded.
When I woke up at the inn, Christine was sleeping with my arm as her pillow, naked. The best awakenings come at times like these. I lightly nudged Christine to wake her up.
“Aahnn…”
No, no, I only poked her shoulder… It’s problematic if you make sounds like that first thing in the morning. I have to stop those kinds of sounds. I covered Christine’s lips with my own, thinking the voice was coming from her…
“…Good morning, Captain.”
You should have stayed asleep for two more seconds. It was so close. It was so close I wanted to try again without caring.
I moved my lips to hers again, but Christine stopped me by pressing her index finger to my lips.
“…Captain, about yesterday’s Sand Dragon…”
What is this, serious first thing in the morning! It’s morning, shouldn’t we do something else? Something lovey-dovey, something lovey-dovey, something lovey-dovey.
“Thank you for your hard work yesterday. You were amazing in defeating the Sand Dragon.”
Christine sat up with a gasp, as if pinning me down. I could see it! I could see it too, two lumps. As for what’s below, it’s too dark to see.
“I killed yesterday’s Sand Dragon. I killed it before Sophia did!”
Christine’s face is close. Her hair tickles me. Her skin is soft. Her eyes are scary. There’s no “interval.”
Christine’s misfortune, which lacks the flashiness of Sophia’s, also causes heart failure. Sophia involves those around her, defeating enemies with a beautiful platinum glow.
Christine can take down ten goblins in less than a second, and she can silently take down flying harpies.
With a Sand Dragon, the size of its heart meant it took time, about the same amount of time as Sophia, but Christine is probably right about its heart.
It’s likely that Sophia’s Platinum Laser pierced the heart Christine stopped. However, only Christine knows that.
Everyone else thinks Sophia’s Platinum Laser took down the Sand Dragon. I thought so too, because Christine’s power is invisible.
To deny that like this… she must have really wanted her unseen achievements to be recognized. If she started arguing with Sophia about who did it first, it would become unmanageable because there’s no way to confirm it, but since it’s just the two of us, it’s fine. Christine wouldn’t lie.
“I can’t see Christine’s power, but I know how strong you are. Probably more than anyone else…”
Ah! I know! I’m saying this based on the experience of nearly dying multiple times and even climbing the stairs to heaven once, so it’s not wrong. In a way, Christine is the strongest.
“…I thought the Captain would understand.”
I do understand. More than anyone, I understand what comes next.
Christine moved closer until our breaths mingled. She smells good. Is this Christine’s sweet scent?
Christine and I kissed. A very sweet and gentle kiss. It’s strange that Sophia’s Platinum Laser didn’t fly out at a time like this.
“Mikael!”
A stupid woman burst through the door with incredible force. …May she rest in peace.
“Guhah! C-Christine…”
Christine’s signature move, heart failure due to misfortune, is in effect. She seems to be reaching out her right hand towards Priscilla and grabbing her heart. Normally, I’d want to stop it immediately, but I’ve been struck down by a Halberd before, so I’ll just watch for now. Just a little.
Although I want to stop it, I’m afraid of Christine. Her eyes are bloodshot, and where did that gentle face she kissed me with just moments ago go? Will she listen to me…?
Seeing Priscilla writhing on the floor, clutching her chest, I finally intervened. Christine, you’ve gone too far.
Priscilla gasping for air… I wonder if this served as a good lesson. Unlike me, she can’t perform CPR herself, so it must have been agonizing. If this is a lesson, knock before opening the door and wait for a response, especially when Christine is around.
“C-Christine, you were here… If I had known, I would have held back…”
It’s good that she learned the word “hesitation.” That’s a very good thing indeed. I hope she continues to hesitate and leaves. We’re going to continue.
“Runelius has fallen!”
With her words, barely catching her breath, I sat up sharply as if hugging Christine. Runelius Fine is the largest city among the three routes from Lauenstein to the Royal Capital, so the number of assembled soldiers should be the highest. …Oops, I saw what’s below.
“I thought this was the main target. There were Sand Dragons and Giants too.”
“It seems Etbaar next door has also been attacked. Whether it has fallen, I don’t know.”
They attacked three cities simultaneously. This indicates that the Demon Army advanced with considerable strength. I thought Runelius would be defended, but it hasn’t been long since Lauenstein fell, and perhaps mercenaries weren’t gathered.
If I stay in Anaheim, I’ll just get killed. If two cities have fallen, the strategic significance of this place disappears.
I need to go to the Guild or Lady Helena’s place to receive instructions. Fighting to the last will only increase casualties, and it’s urgent to get the townspeople to escape quickly.
“We’re supposed to retreat to the town of Shreia by afternoon. That’s what that Knight Order sister told me.”
The plan had already gone that far. If that’s the case, things will move quickly. I reversed my position on Christine, who was astride me, pinning her down.
“Kya!”
“Priscilla, the White Lily Corps, pack your belongings and prepare for the withdrawal.”
“…What are you going to do?”
“I’ll go after breakfast. In about an hour… Ouch!”
“You prepare too! Christine, put on some clothes.”
There was no need to pull my hair. At least let me have breakfast, at least give me dessert… I was unceremoniously thrown into the closet by Priscilla, naked.
“Good morning, everyone. A morning with a sore back.”
I greeted everyone preparing in the hall below the middle of the stairs. Greetings are important, after all.
I was thrown by Priscilla and my back hit hard, and as I rubbed my aching back, I tried to make a light joke this morning, but why isn’t anyone laughing? Is this bullying?
“You’re quite energetic this morning, Roast Beef!”
Who are you calling Roast Beef! I was charred black because of Rufina’s fire treatment, and my back hurts because you threw me, you jerk!
“…Energetic… are you… because your back hurts…”
No! No, Sophia. My back hurts from hitting the closet; it’s not because I’m “energetic,” I think. I passed out and was sleeping, so I don’t know.
“…Good morning, everyone.”
Christine hugged me from behind, pressing her chest against me. You haven’t changed, you’re wearing thin clothes, I can feel your soft chest being crushed.
Everyone, calm down. Stop pulling out your weapons that you just put away. Don’t you realize that the second law of this world, “add fuel to the fire,” is being activated because of Christine?
Just as I thought something had flashed, I dodged in Mode Two, as if pinning Christine down, but my left hand couldn’t keep up.
My left hand was torn off from the upper arm. Before the pain, I made Christine lie down on the spot and then pushed Sophia down.
“Sophia! It’s a big misunderstanding! I wasn’t unconscious! My back hurts because Priscilla threw me!”
My desperate plea caused Sophia’s own radiance to dim, and she confirmed the truth of the matter with Priscilla.
“I don’t know…”
I’ll kill you! Perhaps intimidated by my hateful gaze, she then explained the whole situation properly.
“Is that so… I jumped to conclusions too quickly… I’m sorry.”
It’s fine if you understand. Let’s stop having life-or-death struggles in the morning. It’s such a wonderful morning.
“The Captain’s treatment is up to you. ■■■■, karma…”
I let go of Sophia, whom I had pushed down, and then I covered Rufina’s mouth. Stop calling me Roast Beef, I want to eat something light for breakfast on this wonderful morning.
Sophia, whose misunderstanding had been cleared up, reattached my left hand. I thought again. In Japan, losing a hand would mean dying from excessive bleeding, but in this world, it heals easily.
Is that why they cut so easily? Is that why the value of life is different? Perhaps it’s because I’ve stepped into the mercenary business and deal with life and death.
I went to the Knight Order’s barracks, checking on my healed hand. To discuss what happens next and to thank them for saving me.
“We, the Anaheim Knight Order, will remain here!”
Look, don’t you understand the talk about valuing life?
