Chapter 15 – Eastern Ruins (7)

“A-Aileen… Should we go to the south gate together? Let’s hunt gnolls. We could make it a competition! Who can kill more? Wouldn’t that be fun…? Hehe.”

Noah grinned, making this ridiculous suggestion.

What on earth is she talking about?

I recalled what I’d said when I hugged her earlier.

I’d blurted out things in my excitement… now I felt my face heating up.

Anyway.

When I said she wasn’t alone, that I was here, I didn’t mean we should hunt monsters together… I just wanted her to know someone cared.

Is that how she took it…?

I don’t know.

Still, Noah’s nonsense had cooled my head a bit.

After hesitating, Noah glanced around and whispered to me.

“A-Aileen. We should go to the west gate… The bald uncle’s taking the south gate.”

I looked at the bald man Noah pointed out.

He winked at me before glaring back at the Erden knights.

The man beside him was doing the same—shielding us while glaring at the knights.

I’d seen these adventurers in Alrba before. They were quite memorable.

I widened my gaze to the knights.

They hadn’t recognized me yet… But if we stayed too long, Noah would learn my identity.

For now…

I stretched out my hands and pinched Noah’s cheeks.

“Uwaah…?”

“Let’s go. South or west, we’ll talk after this is over.”

“O-okay…”

I let go and took her small hand. It was rough and sticky. Blood still seeped through.

She must’ve torn her skin swinging that worn-out greatsword.

It pained me.

I stroked the back of her hand, channeling divine energy.

The roughness gradually faded.

“Leaving now?” the swordsman asked as we stood.

One-eyed…? I’d look into that later. We had to go.

“…Yes. We need to head south—”

“A-Aileen. The south gate’s for the bald uncle…!” Noah whispered, on tiptoes.

She didn’t reach my ear, whispering near my shoulder instead.

“Ahem. We’re going to the west gate,” I corrected.

“I see… I’ll join you. Baldy can manage alone.”

Veins bulged on the bald man’s head as he gripped his halberd and started walking.

“I’m holding back because of the young lady. Let’s finish and meet here. What about those knights?”

“We’ll sort it later. Better to ask their ‘master’ after,” the one-eyed man said, glancing at me.

So he knew.

I’d suspected when he stared in Alrba…

Didn’t expect him to see through my robe’s spell.

“Alright. Those knights weren’t much help anyway, as the little lady said. Haha!” The bald man laughed, strolling south.

He walked so cheerfully, considering the gnolls he’d face.

“We should go too,” the one-eyed man said.

“Y-yes, Aileen. Hurry. This spot… it’s bad, too open,” Noah urged.

I visualized the ruins’ layout from the map.

We were in a plaza. If gnolls rushed us…

They’d attack from all sides.

Noah was right—easier to defend at the gate.

“Okay. And Noah, we’ll talk after this.”

“Eek… Y-yes…” Noah wilted at my tone.

She looked like a small animal. I almost laughed but held back.

I had to ensure she never did something so reckless again.

I laced my fingers with hers.

Noah flinched, looking up nervously.

“Aileen… still mad…?”

I wasn’t angry. It was worry that turned to something like anger.

But still.

Noah’s reaction was too cute. I couldn’t help teasing.

“Do I look not mad?”

“Hueh… S-sorry…!” Noah stammered, covering her mouth and hanging her head.

I remembered her confident voice earlier, telling me to stay and cook. Her bright smile. Her confident stride.

I’d always seen her as a goofy little sister. But that earlier version…

She looked admirable. Like the adult she claims to be.

I smiled slightly, stroking her timid fingers between mine.

“Aileen!”

At my call, Aileen’s spear shot out. It pierced the gnoll’s skull.

I charged forward without pause.

A gnoll I’d kicked was rising. I grabbed its head, driving a dagger into its forehead.

I unsheathed my greatsword. I split open a gnoll loading its crossbow.

The sword’s hilt felt ready to break. Four daggers left. About 30 gnolls remained.

I glanced at Luchi nearby. Still fine.

If only… if only my greatsword were in good shape…

I swung at an approaching gnoll, crushing its head like a watermelon.

“Ugh…! Ptooey, ptooey…” I spat blood.

Maybe I could slow down…

I planted the greatsword, leaning on it.

I expanded my senses.

My head hurt worse than before. But I pushed through.

The ruins formed in my mind.

Fallen knights, some still stubbornly fighting. Others in the plaza, treating wounds.

Heinzel had killed over a hundred gnolls alone.

And. The Carpeng still silent.

“Thank goodness…”

While I’d checked, Luchi killed 20 more gnolls.

I could do it too. Just my weapon holding me back. He’s only better because of his great weapon.

Frustrated.

If only I had a good greatsword…

As I poked the ground sulkily, Aileen approached.

“Phew… almost over.”

“Y-yes.”

I sheathed my greatsword.

Luchi would finish the rest… he was killing the last gnoll now.

“You did well, Noah. Really…” Aileen patted my head.

“M-my hair’s dirty…”

I pulled back slightly.

“Be quiet and come here.”

Aileen pulled me close.

I felt too guilty to resist.

“If it’s tangled and bloody, it’ll be hard to clean. Might have to cut it all.”

“U-uhm…”

I wouldn’t mind cutting it, but… It hurts to wash like this, so I stayed still.

As she finished, Luchi came over.

“All clear here. Better to call Baldy here than go to the plaza.”

Luchi readied his stance, swinging his sword south.

A heat haze shimmered along the sword’s path.

“Wh-what… what was that…?!”

Aileen gasped as the distant south gate’s banner split.

“He’ll come now. Let’s rest. Three of us, one of him. Hehe,” Luchi sat on a gnoll corpse.

Aileen stood frozen. I stared at the torn banner, remembering.

That was Luchi’s unique ability. Couldn’t recall the name, but knew the effect.

Cutting anything in sight, regardless of distance.

Not sword energy—it connected spaces or something.

Poor efficiency, so he couldn’t use it often.

Seeing it live… incredibly cool. Seriously… so badass.

“Did I… imagine that…?”

See? Even Aileen was speechless.

She’d stopped with my hair, staring blankly.

I wanted to answer, but my throat felt blocked.

And I was… so incredibly tired…

“A-anyway, Noah, I’m finished with your…”

I felt the sword hilt, but Aileen blurred in my mind. Her voice grew distant.

Ah, whatever. I want to lie down. So exhausted…

I went limp, collapsing.

Thud. The hard ground. Still holding the sword.

But my senses grew faint.

Overdid it smashing that wall earlier…

“No—stay with me! What should I—”

Faintly heard Aileen.

Oh… telling me to stay awake.

Should say I’m not dying. No words came. Throat blocked.

Ah… this is bad.