Ch.351Chapter 351. Battle of Eingart Castle (6)

* * *

“Huff, huff…!”

A woman was running through a narrow forest path.

Mary. The failed strategist of a failed rebellion.

A foolish woman who tried to grasp something she could never hold.

‘That stupid Nathan… attempting suicide? Even in the situation at Talion Castle in the north, he could have considered making a comeback, so why…!!!!’

When she heard the news that the mage had been captured.

Of course she was shocked. But despite her shock, Mary thought she could somehow manage.

There were still territories in the north that the rebels had recaptured.

Though the mage had fallen, if she thought about it, there would surely be a way. No, it didn’t matter if there wasn’t a way. What mattered was surviving!

If you survive, you can do anything!

Even if she had to live her entire life in hiding with a changed name… isn’t life unpredictable as long as you’re alive?

Who would have known? That Jenna, who had risen to become Serpina’s closest aide, would not only lose all her authority to a man from outside but would also be assassinated by a woman she once commanded!

So if she stayed alive, Mary too could have her chance! Whatever she had done, surviving was most important. At least to her!

But?

When you die, everything ends.

Life stops. Thoughts, future, everything freezes in place like ice. Disappears. Everything vanishes. Like a dream, all of it!

Instead of escaping or planning for the future, he commits suicide there? Just because one plan went awry?!

Then why start a rebellion in the first place?!

“Mary. I’ll let your talent bloom. How long do you plan to be satisfied with staying at the bottom?”

“Don’t you want to engrave a much deeper reputation in history than the master you serve?”

‘Reputation my ass…!!’

Anyway, she was still breathing.

The castle was burning, but the layout of Einhart Castle was clearly imprinted in her mind. If she could just escape successfully, surely an opportunity to plan a new future would come—

Just as she thought that.

“…!!”

“So you were here after all.”

What appeared before her was a soldier with somewhat androgynous features.

Someone she knew.

Serpina’s new knight and one of Nathan Al Caskie’s cousins—Janice Al Caskie.

“H-how did you find this place…!”

“The lord told me. That to escape the royal castle, you would have no choice but to use this path.”

Damn it…!

Is it too late?

No, even if caught in a tiger’s den, you can survive if you keep your wits about you. Think, if I just think—

—Thunk.

“Huh…?”

Before Mary could even think of anything, the spear Janice was holding pierced her unprotected abdomen all too easily.

Yes. Just like how Jenna had died so simply at Mary’s hands.

“Th… this…”

“My lord ordered immediate execution, Ms. Mary. No, traitor Mary.”

Thud.

Janice took a deep breath.

This was probably his first murder.

He had spent more time imprisoned than serving as an armed officer, and after being released from prison, he had taken over the role of bodyguard following Irene, so despite being a military officer, he had never experienced direct combat.

He wasn’t particularly skilled in martial arts. Compared to his brother’s talent, he was utterly ordinary.

Nevertheless, he could kill one woman.

Janice pulled the spear from the fallen Mary.

Blood gushed from the hole with a gurgling sound.

And, thunk.

Once more, he stabbed her back.

“Why… ugh…”

“I cannot forgive you of all people. Not only did you kill Lady Jenna, who had achieved countless merits as a strategist, but you also tarnished our family name?”

Janice’s body trembled.

Once. Their family had already nearly been wiped out once. Because of none other than his own stupid actions.

If it weren’t for Swen, there would be nothing on his shoulders right now. Would the rebellion not have happened then?

He couldn’t draw that conclusion. Wouldn’t that be like blaming Swen who had saved him?

So.

This woman must be punished.

The decisive factor in being able to guess that Mary wouldn’t bring soldiers was Swen’s advice to Irian before the operation began.

—What ambitious people value most is not their dreams but their lives.

Therefore, they will do anything to save their lives.

He was right. Mary had caused that trouble and was trying to flee to save her life.

Retreating with soldiers might protect her body, but it would increase the chances of being discovered.

Especially in such a chaotic situation, it would be more successful to escape alone secretly rather than unnecessarily accompanying soldiers.

This path too was a kind of shortcut, quite far from the battlefield, known only to those familiar with it.

It meant it was a suitable route for escaping quietly without making noise.

Guarding this path was something Janice had volunteered for.

Originally, Irian had said he would do it, but Janice specifically requested to be entrusted with this task.

There were various reasons. Irian, as the commander-in-chief, didn’t have time to be tied up in ambushes.

Among them, the most important was to repay his debt to Swen.

He didn’t know the details, but it seemed Swen had been badly injured during the operation.

So.

‘This woman at least…!!!’

This woman at least, I must deal with by my own hands.

It was the minimum repayment to the person who had saved him and his family—something he had been determined to do since the day he left prison.

“Grrk… ugh… it, hurts…”

Mary, already more than half dead, let out a grotesque moan, but it didn’t register in Janice’s ears at all.

What Janice wanted was just one thing—confirmation of death.

To see with his own eyes that this woman’s life was definitely ended.

“…!!!”

Janice gathered his courage and raised the spear he was holding high.

And then… with the tip of that spear, the back of Mary’s fallen head—

Thunk.

The spear penetrated her head.

Mary died without even leaving a final cry.

She couldn’t surpass her master Jenna even in her moment of death, who at least had left a dying cry.

* * *

My body… feels heavy.

That was the first thought I had.

Why is it heavy? Because of the dream I just had? …Right, the dream.

I had a dream. Lady Serpina was in it. And…

‘Ugh…’

As pain spread throughout my body, I quickly began to remember what situation I had been in.

Right. I was hit by magic, collapsed while bleeding… somehow managed to scatter mana into the earth.

After that, I lost consciousness…

There was definitely still pain.

However, strangely, I could tell that the external wounds on my body had disappeared.

The pain I was feeling now was a different kind of pain. Like a side effect from momentarily having unbearable mana course through my body.

Still, it was fortunate that the pain had decreased significantly compared to when I was hit by magic and my vision blurred.

And as I realized this fact… crying.

A woman’s crying.

“Uuu… Lord Swen… Lord Swen…”

This voice… Ms. Reika?

“I’m so sorry… I should have noticed. I should have noticed what Lord Swen was trying to do…”

She kept apologizing to me while sniffling.

Not only that. Crying as if the world was ending, waaang, uwaang.

She was continuously infusing something into my body.

I could tell it was healing magic she was using.

It seemed the subsiding pain was… thanks to her magic.

Perhaps the external wounds were perfectly healed, but I was still feeling pain because the internal injuries were too severe?

As my brain gradually awakened, my vision was returning, albeit hazily.

Ms. Reika was kneeling beside me, casting magic on me diligently with light emanating from both hands.

“Rei… ka…”

“…!!! L-Lord Swen?! Lord Swen!!”

When I barely managed to speak, Reika approached me with a start.

“Are you conscious? Are you alright?!”

“Conscious… uh…”

Honestly, I’m not okay.

Seeing those big tears dropping from her eyes.

For some reason, I just wanted to put on a brave front.

“…I’m fine, of course…”

“Lord Swen… Lord Swen.”

Somehow moving my muscles, I forced a smile.

Ugh, it hurts like hell.

“Lord Swen… I’m so glad you’ve regained consciousness… uwaang…!!!!”

Ms. Reika clung to me, embracing my neck tightly.

As she threw herself onto the bed, her entire body touching various parts of mine, very actively letting me know I was still alive in this world.

“I’m sorry. I should have stopped you… with both Lady Serpina and Lady Irene gone… I, I should have somehow noticed… like a fool, despite knowing magic… I couldn’t read Lord Swen’s thoughts…!!!”

“It’s not your fault…”

“I’m truly sorry… Lord Swen…”

I wanted to say more, but with my head ringing, I didn’t want to speak further.

But well… I was alive.

I was alive, and Reika in front of me was alive and well too.

That fact was extremely important to me. That no one died, that everyone survived.

I slowly stroked Ms. Reika’s head as she clung to me.

Warm… blood is flowing.

Along with the thought that I’m glad I didn’t lose this person… comes another thought.

‘Marriage…’

Marriage.

Not a vague conclusion like ‘I might marry Ms. Reika’ or ‘Ms. Reika will probably become my wife,’ but a conviction coming from the heart.

The conviction that I should marry Ms. Reika.

Well, just the fact that this person is alive fills my heart, and at the same time—

When I think about why I wanted to protect this person even at the cost of my own body, the answer was obvious.

Three women I want to protect.

A man who changes rulers like meals, with more than three wives.

When put into a sentence, it sounds like nothing more than a playboy, which makes me chuckle.