01. Clear after cancer.

Just how did it come to this? Gretel’s legs weren’t cleanly cut off, but rather, they were tragically torn apart.

 

Usually, when knights fight and a body part gets severed, the cross-section is very clean, but Gretel’s wound wasn’t like that at all.

 

 

“Po-, potion… a potion….”

 

She pleaded with them, her eyes desperate.

Even though it was a severe wound, she could recover if she just had a potion.

 

But Aran and Spree were just low-ranking soldiers, even if they were elite, so there was no way they’d have a potion. Maybe Estelle would, but not them.

 

And even if they did have one, there was no way they’d give a potion to someone who had let Aran get bullied.

 

 

“L-, let go of me!”

“Never… I’m never letting go…!”

 

 

Spree tried to pry her hand off, but it wouldn’t come off easily. That’s because Gretel was holding on with all the strength she could muster.

 

Just then, the sound of hooves came from over there. They might be coming here soon.

In the urgent situation, Aran raised his bow. He was planning to kill Gretel if necessary…

 

 

‘I don’t have any mana…!’

 

But a knight is different from a regular soldier.

Unlike regular soldiers and elite soldiers who infuse mana into their armor to defend themselves, a knight strengthens their body itself with mana.

Therefore, there’s no way an arrow shot by a man like Aran would work, no matter where it hit.

 

 

It’s the same even if Spree shoots.

 

 

There’s no way a regular archer can deal with a knight’s ridiculously strong mana armor.

 

 

‘Wh-, what do I do…? If this keeps up…!’

 

 

Wandering back and forth.

 

Aran was at a loss and stomped his feet.

Red marks were already forming on Spree’s grabbed foot, and she was complaining of pain.

 

Gretel showed no sign of letting go.

 

 

‘I need mana… but….’

 

 

The solution would be to subscribe to mana.

But there were no books about mana around, so it was impossible to hope for such luck.

 

 

“Let go of my *nuna* right now!”

“Until… until I’m healed, never…! O-, or rather, take me with you!”

 

First, Aran grabbed Gretel’s wrist, which was holding onto Spree’s ankle.

He thought it would be better to help even a little, rather than just thinking about it.

 

 

But,

 

 

When both of his hands touched Spree’s ankle and Gretel’s wrist, a welcome but creepy message popped up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Would you like to subscribe to the archer ‘Spree’?]

[Would you like to subscribe to the knight ‘Gretel de Hellen’?]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscribe to Spree and Gretel….

Aran momentarily stepped away from them.

 

 

‘S-, so you can… subscribe to people…?!!’

 

Since it was ‘subscribe,’ he naturally thought he could only subscribe to specialized books and such, but for this message to pop up from people.

Aran felt a sense of unease and creepiness at the same time.

 

 

Because,

 

 

The subscribed target turns to ash like burnt cinders.

 

 

‘Would it be the same for people…? If I subscribe to people, would they turn out like that too?’

 

“Aran… go on ahead. I’m done for.”

 

 

While he was lost in thought, Spree said that.

There’s definitely no time. The sound of hooves was getting quite close.

 

 

“No! I can’t do that!”

 

 

To leave Spree behind when he doesn’t know what will happen. He absolutely can’t do that.

 

 

Aran made up his mind.

 

‘I need to subscribe to Gretel first. I don’t know what ability I’ll get, but… at least Gretel will turn to dust!’

 

 

It’s not even certain, but considering the consistency of the ability, Gretel will disappear. Then her hand holding Spree will disappear too.

 

 

 

 

Aran approached them again and grabbed Gretel’s head.

 

 

“Wh-, what are you…”

“Shut up!!”

 

 

Subscribing is simple.

Just agree to the message that pops up.

 

 

[Would you like to subscribe to the knight ‘Gretel de Hellen’?]

 

 

Aran nodded.

 

 

[Subscribing to the knight ‘Gretel de Hellen’. The abilities you own can be checked in the library at any time.]

 

 

“Kyaa!”

 

 

Suddenly, Gretel screamed.

Starting from the head that Aran was holding, she began to turn black.

As if burned.

 

It gradually spread down, burning her features, neck, collarbone, chest, and the arm and hand holding Spree, and by the time it reached her waist, it had already taken her life.

 

 

Sarereuk.

 

 

Gretel, who had turned black and become ash.

With a gust of wind, she scattered helplessly.

 

 

“Th-, this is…!”

“Let’s run for now, *nuna*!”

“Y-, yeah….”

 

 

Spree had many incomprehensible aspects, but since the situation was what it was, she started running without complaint.

 

 

No, she tried to run.

 

 

She fell forward again.

 

 

“*Nuna*?”

 

 

Spree said with sad eyes.

 

 

“Hehe… I think… my ankle’s broken…”

 

She said she couldn’t run anymore, so he should go first.

 

 

But there’s no way he could do that.

Spree is almost everything to Aran now.

Wasn’t she the only one he could rely on when things were tough?

There’s no way he could abandon her and run away alone.

 

 

“I’ll give you a piggyback ride!”

 

 

Aran quickly went behind her, helped her up, and bent his knees to show her his back.

But,

 

 

 

 

“There’s no need for that, child. It’s already too late.”

 

 

 

A voice like a death sentence reached them.

 

 

“!!”

 

 

When did they get here?

Looking around, they were already densely surrounded by cavalry.

And there was also a knight, who was called a one-person army.

 

 

“Th-, that’s…!”

 

That’s why she told him to go alone.

Spree dejectedly lowered her head.

 

 

 

A woman who appeared to be a knight got off her horse.

 

 

“Hmm… a man, huh. What’s the deal with having a man in the army?”

 

 

The female knight was simply curious, but when Aran saw her eyes, he was instantly reminded of what Estelle had done to him.

Estelle, who had devoured his body like a beast. That cruel memory had instilled a fear of women in him.

 

 

But even so, he came forward to protect Spree.

Even though he was trembling.

 

 

“Hoo. A man coming forward in front of a knight, huh. You’ve got quite the guts.”

 

 

The female knight was slightly impressed.

 

 

She looked back and forth between Aran and Spree, then turned around and got back on her horse.

 

 

“Go.”

“…Eh?”

 

An unexpected word came out.

 

 

“Even though you’re in the army, you’re a weak man. What would I do with a man who should be protected? My chivalry doesn’t allow such atrocities. Go.”

 

 

She left it at that and turned her horse around.

Her subordinates also turned their horses around.

Not a single word of complaint came out.

Just how much trust is she receiving?

 

‘There are… people like this too?’

 

 

Even though he’s a man, she’s letting an enemy go right in front of her eyes. It’s not an easy decision. Besides, isn’t Spree behind him a woman? And an elite archer at that.

 

 

‘Still, you can’t trust women. Except for *nuna*….’

 

 

“Thank… you.”

“I’ve only done what’s natural. There’s no reason to be thanked.”

 

 

She said calmly and raised her hand to swing the whip at her horse.

 

 

“Wait a moment!!”

 

 

Spree stopped her.

 

 

“…? What’s wrong? Let me tell you, I won’t show you any mercy. You’re a proper soldier. I’m only sparing the boy because I can’t leave him alone. Put down any requests you have.”

“……”

 

Spree was silent for a moment.

When the knight, who had narrowed her eyes, turned her head again, her mouth opened.

 

 

“Please… take that child, Aran, with you!”

“What?”

“*Nuna*! What are you talking about?”

 

 

Aran turned his head sharply, and the knight also looked at her.

 

 

“That child… has suffered too many wounds here. Even if he goes back… But you, knight-nim, are a knight who worships chivalry, right? Please… please take Aran with you!”

“*Nuna*, what are you…!”

 

The knight glanced at Aran and said.

 

 

“I’ve told you. The reason I’m sparing you is because I can’t leave the boy alone. I don’t mind taking him, but in that case, there’s no reason to spare you. Is that okay with you?”

“N-, no way!”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m already….”

“*Nuna*! Absolutely not! What are you suddenly saying?!”

 

Spree quietly hugged Aran.

 

 

“I’m sorry… for not protecting you. But that person is a real knight. Not a fake… a real knight.

 

Aran, this world is full of good people, good sights, and good experiences. Everyone deserves to experience that. So, go to a bigger world. You don’t need to be in a festering place anymore.”

 

 

Neither she nor Aran had any family anyway.

Spree’s village was looted by the enemy and everyone died, and Aran lost his family to the tyranny of power.

So even if they go to another country, as long as they can control their minds, it won’t be difficult or challenging.

 

“Then let’s go together…!”

 

“That’s impossible. She’s a woman. If you’re a woman on the battlefield, you either take responsibility for the war and disappear with dignity, or you win. It’s one or the other. That’s the honor and duty of someone on the battlefield.”

 

 

The knight, who had already gotten off her horse, approached them.

 

 

“If I let her go, that would also be an insult to her, and she wouldn’t be able to hold her head up.”

“Th-, then I won’t go either! How can I leave *nuna* behind?!”

“No, Aran. You mustn’t go back. What kind of trouble are you trying to get into! There’s already….”

 

 

There’s no place for you here.

She said that.

 

 

Yeah. What would he do going back to a place where he’s just used as a sexual tool? He couldn’t call that a place to be.

 

“Knight-nim! Please take *nuna* with you too! I… I’ll do anything… whether it’s serving at night… or being a public whore… please take *nuna* with me!!”

“A public whore? You. Were you a prostitute?”

 

As the knight’s eyes seemed to change, Spree quickly interjected.

 

 

“No! Aran is an archer!”

“An archer?”

“Just because he’s a man….”

“……You trashy bitches.”

 

 

Contempt flashed in her eyes.

 

 

Aran came in as an archer, but he suffered all kinds of sexual harassment just because he was a man.

 

 

It’s an easy conclusion to come to.

She couldn’t stand the anger.

 

 

“What did that knight do? Did they turn a blind eye even though they knew about such atrocities? Or did they not have the ability to ferret them out?”

“……”

 

Spree and Aran were silent without a word, and the knight’s contempt grew deeper.

 

 

“Hmph. There’s nothing I like about any of you. It’s a country that deserves to fall.”

“….”

 

She suddenly drew her sword and swung it at Spree.

 

 

“Heok! *Nuna*!”

 

 

Seogeok!

 

In an instant, Spree’s hair was cut, and as if by some magic, her long hair was cut into a short cut like a man’s.

From a distance, it was a shape that could easily be mistaken for a man.

 

 

“You there. What’s your name?”

 

 

The knight who cut Spree’s hair asked.

 

 

“I-, it’s Aran….”

“Aran, huh. Come with me.”

“I….”

 

 

She picked up Aran’s body like a baby, put him on her horse, and got on herself.

 

 

“Wh-, what about *nuna*….”

“I don’t have the luxury of taking a female soldier from an enemy country. Or do you not know how prisoners are treated?”

“That’s….”

 

 

The knight stared at Spree, who was looking at Aran.

 

 

“You are a female soldier of a defeated camp. Originally, there would be no reason to spare you, but unfortunately, my sword doesn’t react to men. How could it react to a woman with such short hair?”

“Knight-nim….”

“When you go back, say that you disguised yourself as a man to save your life.”

“But knight-nim! *Nuna* has to go back too….”

“There’s nothing more I can do for you. I have no obligation to.”

“…Then I too…”

“Don’t make me say it again. Do you think I’d send someone as weak as you to such a trashy place? I’ll protect you.”

 

With that, the knight swung her whip this time for real.

 

 

“*Nuna*!”

“Aran!”