Ch.62Escape Under the Moonlight (3)

The escape under the moonlight continued for a while.

Since only Dieta’s face was known, Najin could move around relatively freely. He gathered food from nearby villages, checked the knights’ routes, and gradually adjusted their escape path.

It wasn’t particularly difficult.

Though he was with the injured Dieta, the situation was twice as good as it had been in the underground city. Sometimes spending the night in the forest, sometimes hiding in alleyways, they continued their escape.

And so came the fourth day.

“About that.”

Deep in the forest, Dieta suddenly spoke while watching Najin strike his mineral lamp.

“That’s quite a unique mineral lamp, isn’t it?”

“Is it?”

“The mineral lamps that adventurers carry aren’t this color. And they’re not this dim either. Looking at the frame holding the mineral, it seems rather old-fashioned…”

“You know a lot.”

“It’s something my merchant group deals with.”

Dieta shrugged.

“Where did this lamp come from? The light isn’t bad. I might want to get one myself.”

“It’s from my hometown. It would be difficult to obtain. The place is quite isolated from the outside world.”

“I suppose the rangers from the Tetzel Mountains use these?”

“…Pardon?”

Najin blinked.

Dieta smiled broadly. As if she knew everything despite his pretense, she said:

“I know everything. You’re from the Tetzel Mountains, aren’t you? No wonder your skills are so good. Someone with this level of stealth ability must be a ranger, right? At this point, it’s obvious…”

“You’ve got it wrong.”

“What?”

A resolute tone. It didn’t feel like he was lying.

Dieta blinked, and Najin spoke calmly.

“I don’t even know where the Tetzel Mountains are. And I’m not from anywhere particularly impressive. Well, you might be surprised if you heard…”

Najin exhaled deeply.

“I don’t want to reveal it right now.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s not exactly a good place.”

“I’m sure you have your reasons.”

Dieta didn’t ask any further questions.

It was the same situation as in Cambria. Conversations that naturally ended without either party digging too deep into the other’s past. Dieta didn’t mind these light conversations, but…

“You know.”

Was it because the moon was shining?

Or because they were spending the night deep in the forest, relying on a single mineral lamp? The peculiar situation pushed Dieta forward. Sitting on a suitable rock, swinging her legs, Dieta looked at Najin.

Her yellow eyes stared at him.

Because she wasn’t wearing her mask again, she was facing the man before her as “Dieta,” not as the Snake that Swallows the Gold Coins.

“Would you listen to my story for a bit?”

Dieta took a step into what came after the broken conversation.

Sleep hadn’t come yet, the night was deep, and she wanted to talk a little more.

2.

The Snake that Swallows the Gold Coins, Dieta.

She had never shared her story with anyone. It was only natural. To her, everything in the world was merely an enemy, and telling her story was tantamount to revealing her weaknesses.

It was a kind of defense mechanism.

A wound carried by a child who had to mature too quickly.

She had to be thorough to survive, trust no one, and use everything to her advantage. That’s why Dieta never revealed herself, always wearing a mask. She had been that way since her seventh birthday.

The snake who had always lived that way.

Now, with her mask removed and everything laid down, she began to talk about herself. On a deep night with the moon rising, in front of a mineral lamp softly emitting a sunset glow, Dieta talked about her life.

“That’s how I lived,” Dieta said.

“That’s how I’ve been living. Honestly, I don’t regret it. Rising to the top means stepping on others, right? I don’t regret that fact, but…”

Looking at the dim mineral lamp, she smiled.

“Wearing a mask, hiding myself, living that way… sometimes I think:”

That smile was bitter.

“Where am I in all this?”

And somewhat sad.

“Last time you asked me what my goal was. When I answered that my goal was to collect gold coins, you asked what I would do with them, right?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Back then, I made up an excuse about increasing their value, but…”

Dieta brushed her hair back.

“Actually, my goal was revenge.”

“I see.”

“Yes. My goal was to swallow lots of gold coins, increase their value more and more… and become a snake large enough to swallow even the Duke’s family.”

Najin quietly listened to Dieta’s words.

They didn’t seem like words that required a response.

“I thought if I swallowed and crushed the Duke’s family, I would be compensated.”

“For what?”

“For the time I had to wear a mask. For everything I had to endure. For the moments I had to laugh off, pile up, and simply suppress. I thought I could be compensated for all those years.”

“Foolish, right?” Dieta muttered.

“As if crushing the Duke’s family would bring back those times…”

Taking a deep breath, she looked up at the sky. Looking at the moon in the night sky, the same moon she had gazed at countless times from the Duke’s villa, she smiled bitterly.

“It’s foolish, isn’t it?”

“Why is that foolish?”

“…What?”

Dieta lowered her head.

There, Najin’s eyes, glowing with the same sunset hue as the mineral lamp, were looking straight at her.

“Revenge is foolish. You won’t get anything back from it. That’s what some people say, but it’s all nonsense. Why wouldn’t you get anything back?”

Najin let out a hollow laugh.

“Enduring, breaking the chain of hatred, what kind of bullshit is that… It’s not like your shitty past gets nicely packaged just because of that.”

His words came out rough.

The hunting dog who had lived in the underground city began to spit out raw words.

“Even if there’s nothing to gain, wouldn’t you feel better after getting revenge? Isn’t that reason enough to seek revenge?”

Najin lowered his gaze.

That gaze was looking at the mineral lamp soaked in sunset glow. A trace of bitterness passed through Najin’s eyes. Just as the moonlit night reminded Dieta of her past, the artificial sunset glow emitted by this mineral lamp reminded Najin of his.

“I’m the same. I need to climb to a high place, a place where no one can ignore me… There’s someone I must take revenge on.”

The Sacred Host.

Swallowing that name inside, Najin spoke.

“I feel like I can only move forward after that.”

“Forward…?”

“Whether I smash them, burn them all, or crush them… I feel like I can only move on to the next thing after I’ve definitively settled the score in some way.”

Next, next.

Dieta suddenly looked at herself. After growing large enough to swallow the Duke’s family, Dieta had never thought about what would come next.

“Next… I’m not sure yet.”

“It’s not something you need to think about so hard.”

Najin looked at Dieta.

“You don’t always have to wear a mask, do you? Sometimes, take a breather. Do what you want to do. Get angry if you want to. If you live like that, it will come naturally. What you want to do next, at least.”

Najin smiled.

“That’s how it was for me.”

The two similar people looked at each other.

Following Najin, Dieta smiled.

“That looks good. You should smile more often.”

“R-really?”

“Why are you stuttering?”

“You said it looks good, so…”

“What?”

“…It’s nothing.”

“Hah,” Dieta exhaled deeply.

Stretching lazily, she relaxed her shoulders. Then, as if blurting it out, she said:

“I think I’m enjoying myself right now.”

“That doesn’t fit the situation.”

“Even so.”

“So,” Dieta said.

“What’s your name?”

“……”

“If you’re uncomfortable, you don’t have to tell me. I just wanted to know your name.”

Dieta had revealed her innermost thoughts and weaknesses, though no one had asked her to. Faced with her question, having removed her mask and honestly revealed everything, Najin pondered briefly. The deliberation wasn’t long.

Because he thought it would be unfair if only he remained hidden behind a mask.

“…Well, you don’t have to answer if—”

“Najin.”

Najin said.

“Najin. That’s my name.”

Rolling the name “Najin” in her mouth, Dieta smiled brightly. She extended her hand toward Najin. Holding hands, Dieta said:

“Thank you, Najin.”

And then.

“I’m looking forward to working with you. From now on too.”

3.

On the fifth day, the end of the chase was in sight.

In the distance, the territory of Trebache could be seen.

If they could just cross that gate, the pursuit would end. Even the knights of the Duke’s family couldn’t freely ransack a Marquis’s territory.

“How’s your ankle?”

“It’s a bit better on one side.”

Dieta limped as she walked.

Thanks to various potions obtained from the village, one foot was at least usable. She could move by dragging her foot, and though it hurt with each step, Dieta decided to focus on the fact that she could at least stand.

“Let’s go then.”

Najin began to move with Dieta on his back.

However, those steps didn’t last long. After taking a few steps forward, Najin slowly came to a halt.

Someone was blocking the way.

The only path leading to the Marquis’s territory. Blocking that path was a knight wearing armor engraved with the crest of the Albania Duchy. As if he knew they would come this way, he stood blocking the path.

“I’ve come to escort you, Lady Dieta.”

He opened his mouth.

Dieta’s eyes, looking at him from Najin’s back, trembled. She knew who this person was.

“Sir Griffin.”

The captain of the Albania Duchy’s knights. A Sword Seeker-level warrior and Albania’s sharpest sword. Dieta swallowed and touched Najin’s shoulder.

Najin lowered himself to let Dieta down.

Holding onto Najin’s arm, she stood on the ground and looked straight at Griffin, who was blocking the way. This situation was one of the worst cases she had anticipated. She might be flustered, but her trembling eyes soon settled.

“So even you have been dispatched.”

“The Duke values you highly, my lady. Please return with me.”

“And if I refuse?”

“You know what will happen.”

Griffin placed his hand on his sword hilt. Dieta sighed deeply and looked at Najin. They had already discussed this situation.

“Knight Captain, Griffin.”

“A Sword Seeker-level warrior. Among the knights who might be mobilized for the pursuit, the only one who could definitely overwhelm you would be Griffin. There are three other Sword Seekers, but they probably won’t be deployed for this chase.”

In the deep forest as the sun set.

“If by chance we encounter Griffin.”

“Leave me and go to your destination. I might make persuasion easier, but you don’t need me for this.”

“I’ll buy time.”

That’s what Dieta had said.

No matter how skilled Najin was, he couldn’t hope to defeat a Sword Seeker-level warrior. This was a rational judgment from Dieta’s perspective.

She didn’t want Najin to die.

“…Go.”

Whispering this, Dieta released Najin’s arm. Then, she took a step forward. To engage Griffin in conversation and buy at least some time.

“I’ll do that. But I have a condition.”

“I hope you understand that you’re not in a position to demand conditions.”

“Then let’s call it advice instead.”

Dieta pointed at Najin standing behind her.

“This person is my escort hired from Cambria. He only acted according to contract terms, and all problems that arose in the process should be the responsibility of Cambria.”

“……”

“So, let him go.”

“That’s impossible…”

“The Knight Captain of the Duke’s family kills a red-grade adventurer from Cambria. And near the territory of Marquis Trebache, who runs the Cambria Foundation.”

Dieta curled up the corners of her mouth.

She had put on her mask again.

As the Snake that Swallows the Gold Coins, she narrowed her eyes.

“Can you handle the consequences, Sir?”

“That person is a criminal. He invaded the Duke’s residence…”

“You didn’t announce that fact. Moreover, the Duke’s family isn’t in a very honorable position either, is it?”

While saying this, Dieta gestured.

A gesture telling Najin to run immediately.

However, Najin didn’t move. As Dieta tried to buy more time, hiding her anxiety.

Grip.

Najin grabbed Dieta’s shoulder.

Briefly shuddering, Dieta looked back. There was Najin, quietly looking at her. As their gazes met, she suddenly remembered.

“I’ll buy time.”

“You escape.”

What had Najin replied when she said that? Najin hadn’t said anything. He had just looked at her with the same eyes as now.

Tap.

Najin pushed Dieta back and stepped forward. The meaning of that action was simple. Standing in front, Najin pointed Dieta toward the path leading to the Marquis’s territory.

“Go ahead.”

Najin said.

“I’ll buy time.”

Dieta’s eyes trembled.

They trembled, but she soon realized that Najin would never change his mind. If that was the case, there was only one thing she could do.

“Don’t die.”

Gritting her teeth, Dieta began to walk.

Dragging one leg, she started walking. Though she was doing her best, her pace was slow. It would take quite a long time to reach the Marquis’s gate.

“…Hmm.”

Griffin, watching this scene, sighed. What kind of farce was this? Just as Griffin was about to take a step toward Dieta, who was limping away.

Clang!

A chill ran down his spine.

Griffin quickly turned his head.

There stood Najin with his sword drawn. Rising over the sword in an instant was a pure white sword aura. Najin pointed the sword, surrounded by the aura, at Griffin.

If you take even one step.

A sharp presence that seemed to say he would rush in and cut off his head immediately. Faced with that presence, Griffin narrowed his eyes. Judging by the form of the sword aura, he was a Sword Expert-level warrior.

A warrior below his level.

A warrior he could easily defeat if he was determined, but he couldn’t ignore that presence. He wouldn’t back down. Even if he had to cling to his ankle, he would buy time. Such intense will was felt from that man.

“……”

Griffin silently drew his sword. He looked at Najin, not at the fleeing Dieta. It was a tribute to the will shown by the man.

“I won’t ask your name.”

Rising over the sword he drew was a sword aura with form. The exclusive property of a Sword Seeker, one step beyond sword aura.

“The Duke has ordered. Secure Lady Dieta and kill the one who aided her escape.”

He declared.

“I am Albania’s sword, a knight who follows the Duke’s orders. The information about the target is not important in carrying out my mission. So, I don’t care who you are.”

Whether you’re a titled noble.

A famous person from the adventurer city.

Or someone great who shouldn’t be killed.

“Since the Duke has ordered me to kill you, I will simply follow that order.”

That’s not his concern.

Simply, the Duke ordered it.

Simply, he would follow that order.

That is what Griffin calls loyalty.

“Nevertheless, I say this.”

Griffin pointed his sword at Najin.

“Out of respect for your choice.”

Only the object of allegiance differs.

If he were Dieta’s knight, he would have done the same. Unknown identity, not even sure if he was a knight, but what the person before him showed was the nobility that a knight should possess. Griffin respected that nobility.

Najin quietly raised his sword.

He had no intention of denying the knight before him. Offering unlimited loyalty to one’s master. That too must be a kind of knighthood. Following the master’s orders while completely setting aside right and wrong, one’s own values. Najin had no intention of denying a knight who considered that to be loyalty.

That must be his belief.

Yet he raised his sword.

Simply.

Simply because Najin too had a line he couldn’t cross. Dieta had asked to be freed from that villa, and Najin had an obligation to fulfill that request.

Because he had promised.

There was no room for compromise in that promise.

Simple as it was, that was the entirety of Najin’s reason for challenging a Sword Seeker-level warrior.