Ch.3838. Rabies (3)

“Woof, woof……”

The last remaining wolf collapsed and lost its life after a few desperate bites with its remaining strength.

Since these magia-infected beasts didn’t disperse even after their leader was killed, but rather became more frenzied,

It took longer than expected to exterminate them all.

I shot arrows at the wolves, crippling one leg at a time to help the soldiers.

Even though they continued to rampage as if unaware of the arrows piercing their legs,

Regardless of the pain, they couldn’t control their legs properly with muscles and bones pierced by arrows.

I pride myself on having been of help to the soldiers who had been facing the wolves at the front.

When the situation was over, Siabel stood before the wolf that had been most heavily corrupted by magia among those they had exterminated.

Siabel’s discerning eyes examined the body of the wolf that had grown cold.

The wolf’s fur had turned black, and its corpse, unable to close its eyes peacefully, was emanating an eerie aura.

“Have the bodies collected separately. It seems we’ll need to examine them with the priests.”

At Siabel’s words, the soldiers took turns gathering the three corpses most severely corrupted by magia.

As expected of a noble.

Siabel didn’t lift a finger, just quietly watching the orderly soldiers.

The burden of carrying the heavy wolves fell entirely on the common soldiers.

The gray wolf infused with magia remained in place, seemingly not wanting to touch them.

Meanwhile, Sione slowly walked toward me.

Trudge, trudge.

“What kind of state is that supposed to be?”

Sione was covered in blood as if she had fought a life-or-death battle with the wolves.

Moreover, all the wolves had been killed, so there wasn’t even an opponent left to fight.

It was quite impressive how she approached with her sword still firmly gripped in her hand.

When I took in the sight of Sione, she immediately gave a faint smile.

…Honestly, it’s a bit scary.

She looks like a madwoman.

Covered in blood from the neck down, tightly gripping a sword in her right hand while smiling as she approaches.

How could it not be frightening?

Sione, whose appearance could easily evoke chilling emotions, kindly asked about my well-being.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine, of course. But what about you, Lady Sione? Are you alright?”

“This much is nothing. Didn’t I tell you I’m a sword user knight?”

“But your current appearance…”

…For a sword user, she seems to have exerted too much effort just to kill one wolf.

Hearing my words, Sione checked her own appearance.

Realizing that her appearance wasn’t particularly pleasant even to herself, she made an expression of sudden realization.

But that was brief, and noticing my concern, she relaxed her expression.

“I told you not to worry. My appearance may not be good… but this isn’t even my blood anyway.”

“…You’re quite bold, unlike when we faced the cultists.”

“It’s wolf blood, not human blood.”

Sione began trying to shake off the sticky blood clinging to her sword.

“Besides, they were creatures harboring magia. Even I wouldn’t hesitate to face such monsters.”

As she spoke, Sione frowned as the blood on her sword wouldn’t easily come off.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“Ah.”

Finding her clumsy actions quite frustrating, I took the sword from her hand almost as if snatching it.

Swoosh!

I skillfully swung the sword in a half-moon arc to shake off the blood.

For the blood clots that had hardened and wouldn’t come off, I roughly wiped them with my clothing and hands.

As for the clothes, well.

We’re returning tomorrow, so I can just change from this leather armor into servant’s attire.

Blood on clothes would be a headache to wash out.

But laundry isn’t my responsibility; it’s another servant’s job, so it doesn’t matter.

I examined the sword.

It still had a slight reddish tinge since I had only roughly cleaned off the blood.

But since it would be used many more times, this level of cleanliness should be sufficient.

As I walked slowly toward Sione with the sword in hand, she flinched.

I approached as if about to embrace her, then stopped advancing.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Just wait a moment, please.”

Drawing close, I returned her sword to the scabbard at her waist.

Now that I had neatly sheathed it, I felt relieved that I wouldn’t have to see Sione holding a dripping bloody sword anymore.

The problem, however, was Sione.

I don’t know what displeased her again.

Even after I helped her, Sione glared at me with that awkward expression.

“Ray… you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

“On purpose?”

On purpose?

All I did was help the clueless Sione.

I tilted my head in confusion at Sione’s incomprehensible words and expressed my opinion.

She eventually shook her head as if giving up.

“Sigh… it’s nothing.”

I stood quietly beside her as she spoke to herself, looking tired.

Then, as if on cue, Siabel’s voice was heard.

“We’re returning to the base. Get ready for a brief reorganization, and then we’ll search this area. Make sure you understand.”

At her words, we slowly began descending the mountain.

Sione and I walked a bit apart from the line of soldiers.

I had nothing to discuss with those people anyway.

And recently, being the only man here, I felt the gaze of those soldiers following me, just like Siabel’s.

It’s more comfortable walking separately with Sione like this.

Moreover, the soldiers were now struggling to carry the wolves down the mountain.

If I lingered nearby and accidentally got in their way, I’d earn their resentment.

In situations like this, it’s better to tactfully stay back.

As we walked behind them, Sione subtly began to speak.

“Um……”

I wonder why she’s being so hesitant again.

I don’t think there was anything that would cause Sione to react this way.

“What’s wrong?”

At my question, she seemed to finally make up her mind.

Sione gathered a bit of courage and spoke.

“You seem to have gotten quite close with my sister Siabel… could you explain how that happened?”

“Ah, that.”

I looked at the backs of the soldiers ahead of us.

Siabel was the only knight with keen hearing, but there were many soldiers.

Although we were walking at a distance and they were carrying heavy wolves,

Someone with good hearing could easily eavesdrop on our conversation if they wanted to.

I gently grasped Sione’s wrist.

“Someone with sharp ears might hear us, so I’ll tell you after we distance ourselves from them a bit more.”

“…Is this something that needs to be kept so secret?”

“Yes, it’s not something that would be good for others to hear.”

“What on earth happened?”

Sione’s expression darkened at my words.

Her shadowed countenance seemed somewhat ominous.

“…Since you put it that way. Let’s fall back a bit more.”

We slowed our pace to distance ourselves further from the procession.

This should be far enough that even soldiers with good hearing wouldn’t be able to eavesdrop, unless they were knights.

“So what is this reason?”

Sione, apparently thinking the same, began to press me for an answer again.

If she’d just be patient, I would have explained it well enough.

Why is she being so impatient?

I slowly began to speak in response to her question.

“Lady Siabel Sianella discovered that I can use magic.”

Sione’s expression immediately hardened at my words.

“She found out that you can use magic.”

“Yes, Lady Siabel swore in the name of Sianella to keep it secret, but…”

“If she swore on the Sianella name, knowing my sister’s character, your magic won’t reach anyone else’s ears.”

Sione brushed her hair back.

Judging by the small wrinkle visible on her forehead,

She didn’t seem pleased that her sister knew a secret about me, even if it was her own sister.

“I’ll talk to my sister about this separately.”

Sione let out a small sigh.

“Do you know how my sister found out that you can use magic?”

“It was when the orc charged at you, Lady Sione.”

“Ah.”

“I couldn’t save you in time without magic, so I used it. I tried to be as discreet as possible… but I couldn’t fool an expert’s eyes.”

“…So it was because of me.”

Sione’s brow furrowed.

“I’ll take responsibility and make sure this matter is settled cleanly.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing, just what I should do.”

After saying that, Sione smiled at me once and then,

Looking at the distant soldiers, she muttered something.

…Aren’t you my slave?

“…Pardon?”

“What is it?”

“Didn’t you just say something to me?”

“Hehe, you must be hearing things.”

With that, Sione began to walk ahead with seemingly lighter steps than before.

That subtly brighter appearance of Sione continued even when we arrived at the base for a short rest,

And even when we began searching the area where we had caught the wolves again.