episode_0172

Meanwhile, while Siron was at the heat wave dragon’s nest, the expeditionary force headquarters was in an uproar.

A deserter arose.

And that too in a punitive unit that had been given a special commission by the imperial family.

The expeditionary staff who heard the report upon Victor’s return were shocked and angry.

There were only three managers and nearly a hundred people, so it was expected that a deserter would come out at some point, but on the day when the emperor’s special order was given, the problem became that they not only deserted, but also killed skilled knights.

“Are you saying that the proud knights of the empire were harmed by a mere criminal?”

“No matter how much permission there was from His Majesty the Emperor, drinking alcohol at such an important time.”

“Who did the supervision?”

“Is it Lord Malleus?”

“Your Majesty could have suffered great harm. Let’s stop questioning who is responsible. But a deserter is a terrorist…”

A flood of shouts.

Even though Igor was holding his throbbing head, he could not criticize the senior leaders of the expeditionary force. Rather, I want to understand their feelings and pour out swear words together.

Because, as someone said, Natalia was a terrorist. Moreover, Natalia did not have the ability to escape the knights’ surveillance and desert.

Therefore, her desertion was an organized desertion by external forces.

Whether it was true or not, Igor decided so and immediately organized a pursuit team to catch the deserters.

‘Things like parasites…’

It was easy to expect that there would be a gap in the front line as the expedition was not over yet.

Terrorism did not discriminate between groups and locations, and did not hesitate to cause damage to innocent civilians. So, I didn’t know that one day that anger might reach this place, the border line.

For that reason, Igor considered it more important to deal with deserters and their collaborators who might still be nearby.

*

“Captain, the trail is divided into two. Would you like to split the pursuit party into two?”

“…I have eyes too. So there’s no need to explain.”

The cutting edge of the wire.

The chase team members frowned as they looked at the blatant footprints.

After a week of chasing, we realized that the distance had gotten close enough to directly check the footprints in the snow, but no one among the crew truly welcomed this.

‘Are we at least protesting? Or… it’s barely a sum.’

Yugen gritted his teeth and raised his head.

A body cut in half is seen.

Something the size of a mansion was lying down at every corner of the chase… This was because my instincts warned me that if I followed it any further, I would die.

Although it was a hastily assembled chase team, the members were all skilled knights who could put strength to their swords.

However, none of them could cut a demonic beast the size of a mansion in half.

Moreover, the person being chased now has been eluding the chase without rest for a week. And that too with a luggage named Natalia.

‘Why are there all these monsters…’

“The chase team continues like this.”

Yugen spoke in a calm voice, trying not to be conscious of his trembling fingertips.

“If we divide the number of people, there is a high possibility that this side will suffer.”

“But doesn’t the other person seem tired already? Seeing that the footprints were divided in two, it seems like they decided that it would be difficult to completely escape the chase team…”

“If you’re so confident, shouldn’t you be the leader?”

“Sorry.”

“…I am the leader. Don’t forget that fact in your head.”

Yugen turned his gaze to the subordinate who bowed his head and sighed.

“How is the footprint comparison going?”

“It appears that the one who did not change direction was the collaborator, and the one who did change direction appears to be Natalia.”

“We are going after collaborators like this. Once everyone is done with maintenance, get ready to move.”

He could have gone after Natalia, but Eugen didn’t make that soft choice.

Eugen is a knight loyal to the empire.

He was a man who could not sit still and watch those wandering here and there while enjoying the peace supported by the empire.

Yugen, prepared to throw himself away, took steps, clenching and unclenching his trembling hands.

*

‘…it’s really hard to come up.’

Siron looked down the far cliff and shook his hands. Pitch black at the bottom of the cliff. I wonder how they climbed up from that far away place while being hit by a snow storm.

‘I searched all night for a week, fought a battle… and even rock-climbed with only a piece of luggage on my back.’

Siron looked back at Latera, who was on his back covered in a coat. Although there was a way to turn her into a spirit or something, she had not thought about coming down from a while ago, clinging to Siron’s back.

“You just thought it was luggage.”

“…No. That can’t be possible.”

“Lying is not good. I just read the warrior’s mind clearly and know everything.”

Being sulky like a child is a bonus. Latera puffed out her pain-filled cheeks and patted Siron on the back. I wondered what they were doing when they were fighting, but Siron did not bother to stop Latera’s actions.

“I’m going to carry you on my back like this.”

“It must be cold.”

“I am a guardian angel. You shouldn’t think of him as a human kid. And… it’s okay because the warrior’s back is warm.”

“…Okay, do whatever you want.”

Siron turned and walked towards the blizzard. Latera held Siron’s collar tightly with a frustrated heart.

‘I shouldn’t do this…’

I told him not to think of me as a kid, but the complaining he did a little while ago was definitely that of a kid. The same goes for looking into the thoughts of poetry. Siron is a person who absolutely hates being ‘seen through’ by someone.

If Demodoras had not taken on the appearance of the second person he trusted, he might have gotten angry at his continued probing and gauging behavior.

‘Why are you doing this?’

so,

What Latera did a moment ago was something she never wanted to do and should never have done. But now, for some reason, Latera wanted to whine and throw a tantrum like a child.

Latera thought deeply about the cause. Around the time I walked for a while. She could vaguely understand why.

‘Who on earth is that woman? It’s a shame that the person I trust second is not me, but I’m also not the person around the hero, right?’

And she was a woman with a strangely sharp impression. Although she seemed to resemble Miss Lucia, Kylie’s reincarnation, it was clear that she was a different person based on her black hair, black eyes, and breast size.

I was so curious about the woman’s identity that I even opened the message window for a moment.

[I want to go to sleep quickly.]

[I’m cold and sleepy… I’m so damned.]

There were no clues to the woman’s identity visible in the translucent window, not even a snub. Then, suddenly, Latera realized that Siron’s steps had stopped.

“Hero?”

“Latera. I wonder if it’s a spirit form or something.”

“Yes?”

“Quickly.”

Urgent words. Latera did not respond and disappeared into thin air. After confirming that Latera had disappeared, Siron felt a huge presence coming from near the bottom of the mountain range.

Siron narrowed his eyes and tried to figure out who the gigantic presence was. The distance was too far to make out clearly, but I could at least make out the shape of a person with a red-hot body coming towards me.

‘Is it Glenn?’

Wishing that it would be so, Siron took out the telescope and tried to find out who the red person was.

Unfortunately, the person seen through the telescope was not Glenn, but it was someone Siron knew very well.

[Sileia’s Champion Yoru]

‘Why is that bastard here…’

As soon as he confirmed its identity, Siron made a puzzled expression.

The heat wave dragon subjugation episode has not yet progressed.

Moreover, Demodoras would not repent and cause the great earthquake that would occur in the future… There was something strange about Yoru being near Demodoras’ nest.

‘Is it because you met Demodoras? Because I received his heart…’

Even as I was continuing my thoughts, Yoru was coming towards me from afar without hesitation.

Siron stopped reasoning without any conclusion and took a step back. I feel like our eyes met when I checked my urostasis through a telescope a little while ago.

No, I’m sure.

Seeing that it was spewing fearful killing… or hostility towards this direction, it was correct that it was coming towards Siron.

‘Is it because the prestige has been raised? ‘Unfortunate.’

The destination is Demodoras’ nest.

Thanks to running the same route, I arrived quickly.

It was quick to jump off the cliff, and it was also quick to encounter Demodoras, who had not yet recovered from his polymorph state.

“What is it? Didn’t he leave? Why is the road here…”

“A few hours left.”

“Hmm?”

“How many hours are left to maintain that appearance?”

“There’s about an hour left…”

“Really?”

Siron suddenly took off his top.

“Take out your heart.”

“Taking out the heart that was put in so long ago… Have you changed your mind?”

“No, I’m lending it to you.”

“…What is that?”

“Because I am the one who makes sure of the benefactor. I’ll lend it to you until I’m sure it’s safe.”

Demodoras couldn’t tell what nonsense the man in front of him was talking about, but he could tell whether he was lying or not. She realized the seriousness of the situation and asked earnestly.

“There is something out there. The one who wants to kill me.”

“Because I won’t let you die. Don’t look too serious.”

Siron took out a dagger from his pocket and held it out.

“It won’t take long. The safest place in the world is nearby. Until we get there.”

“I understand.”

Demodoras looked at Siron with an uneasy expression and eventually held the dagger in his hand.

A black blade was thrust towards the chest.