Ch.332Chapter 332 – Retreat

Emiris had disappeared.

Hakan, who had been possessed by Emiris, was gone without even a corpse.

But I could see the purple crystal that should have been embedded in his abdomen lying broken on the ground.

As I realized that Emiris couldn’t pull any tricks in this place.

My armor slowly began to disappear.

‘…How did I manage to finish before reaching my limit.’

I had the intuition that it had ended just one step before the critical point, not as close a call as before.

That must be why I could look at the three people rushing toward me without passing out.

“Kay!”

“Mr. Kay!”

Eve and Sera came first, with Chris jogging behind them.

And as soon as they reached me,

cheers erupted from around us.

“We did it, we survived!”

“That monster has finally been destroyed!!”

The resistance fighters shouted loudly.

Behind them, knights from the Kingdom of Firenchena stared blankly with expressions of people who had narrowly escaped death.

And the holy knights of the Emiris Order who were present stood dazed, staring silently at the place where Emiris had vanished.

Their appearance reminded me of Chris when she had heard that a god had died.

“Lord Kay, what are you thinking about suddenly?”

“Can you read my mind too?”

At my question, Chris just tilted her head in confusion.

Then after clearing my throat slightly, I casually said to Chris.

“Nothing. Just seeing those holy knights staring blankly at where Emiris was made me think of you.”

“Me? Why?”

“Remember the Metis territory?”

Chris nodded at my words.

Soon she smiled bitterly, and after a moment, quietly said.

“…Lord Kay. I have something to ask you.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you hate those holy knights?”

At Chris’s question, I briefly looked at the holy knights of the Emiris Order.

Then I quietly shook my head and said.

“I do have some thoughts, but seeing those expressions, I feel like anything I might do would be meaningless.”

Because they truly had the look of people who had lost everything.

To those fanatics, their god must have been their entire world.

It seemed the shock of realizing their god hadn’t spared them even a glance and had simply discarded them as consumables was devastating.

Some holy knights began to flee, taking advantage of the subdued atmosphere while blaming themselves for being inadequate, but most just stood there blankly, muttering Emiris’s name.

Chris nodded and said.

“Wait, I’ll go speak to them.”

“Chris.”

“You should rest, Lord Kay. …They probably won’t attack me.”

I wondered what made her so confident, but Chris looked at me with a somewhat determined expression.

After exchanging glances with Eve and Sera, and receiving nods from both, she left us.

She seemed to have targeted someone from the start, heading straight toward a holy knight who appeared to be of higher rank without any hesitation.

“By the way, our retreat is delayed. Why is everyone suddenly in a festive mood?”

“Because everyone here nearly died but survived.”

Eve quietly said.

“Once the confusion subsides, I’m not sure what will happen.”

“We’ll be fine if we retreat before then. As long as no one regains their senses and starts shouting orders to attack.”

Just as Sera said that.

“What are you doing, Royal Guard! Attack! I said attack!”

A man in what looked like superior armor was shouting at the top of his lungs.

As I looked at him, he screamed furiously.

“That man and his companions are dangerous! Royal Guard! Attack! Now!”

At those words, the soldiers of the Kingdom of Firenchena began to move hesitantly.

Their reaction was somewhat slow, as their hostility had greatly diminished after their near-death experience.

And as if seizing that opportunity,

suddenly an arrow flew toward him.

“Guhack!!”

“Eat an arrow and shut up, you ungrateful bastard!”

Archery had appeared somehow and shot an arrow at him.

Seeing this, the kingdom’s soldiers were startled and began to draw their weapons.

At that moment, Gabriella stepped forward beside Archery.

“Lower your weapons, Royal Guard.”

Some of the Royal Guards stopped moving.

Taking advantage of their momentary hesitation, Gabriella quietly said.

“I request that we all withdraw from this place without further fighting, at least for those present here.”

The Royal Guards began to look at each other.

Soon, one who seemed to be of higher rank among them stepped forward and said.

“No matter what, we cannot obey the words of one of the resistance leaders.”

“But I am royalty. I am one of the people you were meant to serve and protect. Though I am the child of the father you betrayed.”

Gabriella said this, then quietly continued.

“As a member of the royal family, and on the honor of my father, I would like to make a proposal.”

“…What is it?”

“That we shed no more blood in this place today.”

The Royal Guard stared at us blankly for a moment.

Then Gabriella quietly said.

“You have already lost. Our goal was to destroy the Soul-Draining Formation that threatened the people of this country, and we have succeeded.”

Gabriella pointed to the sky as she spoke.

“We came to this place today not to bring down the royal palace, but to protect the people. Look at the blue sky. It is proof of our success and evidence of your defeat.”

“…But.”

“Moreover, you all nearly fell victim to an evil god here, but barely survived.”

Gabriella smiled as she said.

“I think it would be better to enjoy the joy of having survived with your loved ones, rather than shedding blood in this place. If that’s not possible, it would be a great loss for me as well.”

The representative stared blankly at Gabriella for a moment.

“Why would our bloodshed, as your enemies, be a loss to you?”

“Because you are also people of my country.”

Gabriella said firmly.

“So today, let’s not shed blood. Let’s enjoy the joy of having survived.”

Gabriella quietly bowed her head.

“I ask this of you.”

For a brief moment, tension crossed Gabriella’s face.

She wasn’t confident that a few hastily assembled words could turn back the loyal Royal Guard.

“…But that’s not—”

The representative of the Royal Guard seemed to be considering.

And at that moment, something emerged from the shadows.

[Grrrr….]

It was a massive dog with fur that rippled like shadows.

The Royal Guards widened their eyes at the sight.

Not just them, but the resistance fighters, Archery, and Domestica also stared in shock.

Gabriella the princess was most surprised of all.

“…Garum?”

“Why is the royal guardian beast…”

Archery seemed not to understand what was happening.

And in the next moment, the shadow dog called Garum looked down at Gabriella.

Soon, it bent its knees in what looked like a bow.

And simultaneously, it spat out something it had been carrying in its mouth.

“…This is….”

Gabriella seemed momentarily flustered.

But soon she approached Garum, examined what it had spat out, and then.

She turned to Archery and said.

“Lord Archery.”

“Yes.”

“…Please gather this and deliver it to the Royal Guard.”

With those words, Domestica handed Archery an elegant cloth.

Archery solemnly wrapped it around the object, carefully lifted it, and.

Handed it directly to the representative of the Royal Guard.

“…Archery.”

“Take it.”

Though he growled slightly, he soon accepted what Archery offered.

And then, with wide, shocked eyes, he cried out.

“Your Majesty….”

The Royal Guards fell silent for a moment.

Soon they gathered one by one to examine whatever was wrapped in the cloth, and.

After a while, they began to whisper among themselves.

“Was it assassination?”

“The castle’s defenses weren’t that weak. Even in confusion, to be assassinated… And the guardian beast brought this?”

“Could someone have controlled the guardian beast?”

“Or perhaps the guardian beast itself delivered punishment….”

The Royal Guards began to make their own conjectures.

After a while, an officer who had somewhat regained his composure began to calm them down, but their agitation had already spread.

“In that state, you cannot fight. Because you no longer have someone to protect.”

At Gabriella’s words, the Royal Guards paused momentarily.

And after a while.

The one who appeared to be their representative stepped forward and quietly said.

“…Princess Gabriella. There is one thing I would like to request.”

“Speak.”

“Please withdraw your troops. We will not attack either.”

“Because of the urgent matter that just arose, I presume.”

“Yes.”

The representative nodded at Gabriella’s words.

And then, bowing his head, he said.

“We accept defeat. Please show mercy to the defeated.”

At the Royal Guard’s words, Gabriella quietly nodded and slightly bowed her head as she said.

“I accept.”

“……”

“Go quickly and resolve your urgent matter. And let your families know you’ve returned alive, and help calm the chaos.”

The representative stared blankly at Gabriella for a moment.

Soon he quietly asked.

“Is that an order?”

“It’s a request.”

The representative laughed hollowly, then quietly said.

“A request from the last remaining royal, I see.”

“Will you grant it?”

The representative didn’t answer but turned away.

However, I could see him slightly nod his head so that we could see.

And then, he shouted loudly.

“Royal Guard, retreat!”

Without anyone taking the lead, the Royal Guard of the Kingdom of Firenchena immediately turned around.

It was a movement without hesitation, as if they had lost all reason to fight.

Princess Gabriella quietly said to their retreating figures.

“Thank you.”

“May we meet again someday.”

Gabriella bowed deeply again.

And the representative of the Royal Guard also quietly bowed as he withdrew.

For a while, both the resistance fighters and the holy knights of the Emiris Order just watched the Royal Guards.

“It’s all over now.”

“Yes.”

I quietly answered Sera’s comment as we watched the retreating Royal Guard.

The shadow dog howled loudly as it began to disappear.

“Garum, wait a moment!”

The princess quickly ran toward the shadow dog.

The dog looked down at the princess for a moment.

“As a member of the royal family, I ask you. Please form a contract with me as the royal guardian beast…”

Before she could finish speaking, the shadow dog quietly approached her.

And it lightly licked the princess once with its tongue.

“…Garum?”

[Grrrr]

The shadow dog quietly backed away.

“…Are you refusing to make a contract… no, are you saying you’re no longer needed…?”

Had it communicated something?

Princess Gabriella muttered while touching the spot where she had been licked.

Meanwhile, the shadow dog nodded lightly as if confirming that the princess’s words were correct.

Soon it began to disappear into the shadows.

“Garum….”

Princess Gabriella looked at the sight somewhat bitterly.

“Princess, there will be another opportunity.”

“No. I had the feeling that there won’t be another chance.”

“But…”

The princess shook her head at Domestica’s words.

And with a slight smile, she said.

“It’s not that Garum disappeared because I was inadequate.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s just a feeling, but…”

The princess quietly said.

“I think that from my generation onward, the guardian beast of the Firenchena royal family will disappear from Firenchena’s history.”

Domestica gave a puzzled look at the princess’s words.

And meanwhile, someone was running toward us.

“Ah, it’s Lady Sia!”

“You’re safe.”

Chris and Eve noticed Sia approaching, leaping across the tops of buildings.

Soon Sia landed beside us.

“Is everyone safe?”

“Yes. And I see you’re safe too.”

Sia smiled as if it was nothing.

But soon her expression darkened slightly.

‘She failed.’

I immediately understood just by looking at Sia’s expression, even before she said anything.

“…I’m sorry. Actually…”

“It’s okay.”

I quietly shook my head at the apologizing Sia.

“It’s enough that you’re safe. There will be another chance.”

“…But, you…”

“It’s fine.”

I stopped Sia from saying what she was about to say.

“Just tell me later what happened.”

“Considering your condition…”

“Enough.”

I cut off Sia’s words.

There was no need to hear about what had happened to her right now.

Soon Sia nodded with a somewhat dark expression.

Then she looked us over and quietly asked.

“Where’s Beatrice?”

“She’ll find her way back.”

I immediately answered Sia’s question.

That shadow dog was certainly summoned by Beatrice.

And considering what the dog was carrying, I could tell Beatrice had succeeded.

‘She certainly acted on her own.’

I’ll have to make her pay for acting so independently during this chaos.

‘What would be appropriate, but not too severe?’

While I was considering what to demand from Beatrice, Sia was still looking for her.

“But she’s not with us. We should look…”

“That one will find her way back to us on her own.”

“You’re sure?”

I nodded at Sia’s question.

“She’ll definitely come.”

Sia nodded at my confident statement.

“I understand.”

With that, Sia moved slightly away from me.

And I quietly said.

“Our work here is done now.”

Feeling my companions focus on me,

I smiled quietly.

“Let’s go back now. I want to rest for a while.”

“Understood.”

With those words, we turned and headed toward the city gates.

Everyone at that place began to retreat to their respective locations.

+

I watched as Sia took the lead, with Eve and Sera following behind, and Chris walking ahead of me.

They all turned back once to look at me, then quietly turned their gazes forward again.

The only one missing was Beatrice, but she would surely be safe.

Feeling relieved at that fact, I began to walk.

After about eight steps.

[Wake up.]

Suddenly, Pia’s voice echoed in my head, and at the same time, I felt a pain in my heart.

Something flowed down.

My body suddenly felt dizzy, and my mind began to grow hazy.

It was a miracle that I stopped without collapsing.

Instinctively, my gaze turned downward.

And I saw the ground stained red.

‘…No way.’

I opened my helmet slightly and inserted my finger to check my mouth.

It was covered in blood.

Blood that had overflowed inside the helmet stained the ground once more.

Quickly closing the helmet, I felt another pain in my heart.

My heart began to beat irregularly.

My pulse felt like it might burst or stop altogether.

And my body felt cold.

No, it was hot.

No, it was definitely cold.

[Wake up!]

The voice sounded again.

And as I felt my heart beating strongly, the coldness soon disappeared.

My pulse barely stabilized.

The bleeding seemed to have stopped as well.

Feeling my body finally calming down, I looked at my hand.

Then I looked at my companions who hadn’t yet turned back to look at me.

The image of their worried expressions flashed in my mind.

“…How do I hide this…”

I quietly muttered while wiping the blood from my hand.

Even if it would be discovered soon.

At least for today, I didn’t want to worry them.