Episode 168. Confirmation (4)

“Haa… haa…”

The firmly frozen permafrost refuses to embrace the falling axe blade. Like that axe, now just a head lying in the snow, I didn’t want to be buried in the snow with my head cut off, so I braced my legs and held on.

The sea of people, naturally parted by the clash between me and the two warriors, formed a gap. On that pure white stage, sword met axe. And the two barbarian warriors who danced the sword dance with me were lying on the increasingly widening red snow, their eyes rolled back.

Puuu-

I hear the familiar horn of the enemy. Whenever I go to the battlefield, I always hear this horn before long-and it raises the morale of our troops. The head-lost barbarian bastards began to retreat.

Waaa-

“Johnson.”

“Yes!”

“Tell them to chase moderately and then withdraw.”

I could definitely feel that the level of the enemies had risen. Unlike before, they weren’t just turning tail and running for their lives when the retreat order was given. They slowly reformed their ranks, calmly retreating step by step, looking less like they were being defeated and more like they were setting a trap to catch our troops.

Some guys I’d never seen before popped out, and I struggled a bit. They attacked together, without any warrior-like pride, which caught me off guard because it was so unexpected. Suddenly having to face two opponents I’d never seen before. Of course, it’s normal to face opponents for the first time, but still.

Still, it was fortunate that I could feel the creaks and groans in their teamwork, as if they were a hastily formed pair to catch me. If the two had been a little more in sync, if they hadn’t just blindly charged but had instead properly paced themselves, alternating between attacking and retreating, they might have managed to take an arm from me.

Of course, all my limbs are still perfectly attached. I’m just a little scratched up… no fatal wounds. This much can be healed with just a bit of spit.

Catching my breath, I pulled out the sword that I had been using as a cane to support my weight on the ground. I took the sword, which had been pressed into the earth like a nail by my weight, back into my hand. I wiped off the foreign substances from cutting people with the leather that had been covering the fallen flesh, and checked its condition.

It’s like it was made for me, or rather, it was made for me. But it wasn’t me who made it. It’s the best sword for me among the swords I’ve used. It’s strong enough to withstand the sword strikes that I swing with all my power, and the impact of those strikes. And it’s so sharp that it hardly gets chipped even after clashing like that. It would be strange if it didn’t chip at all, even a little…

Anyway, every time I swing it, I feel more affection for Monica, that’s the feeling. Just now, thanks to this sword, I was able to cleanly cut through the axe handle, further widening the gap and stabbing the sword through it.

Looking back at the allies returning after chasing away the enemy, I thought again about the battle just now. Why would those corpses, who have nothing left but barbarity without their pride, try to attack together? Do I look that strong? Among the memories of my previous life, when I lived with this much status, there were many who boldly said they would crush me, but none who tried to break through me by attacking together.

They weren’t even from the same tribe. Powerful warriors from different tribes, abandoning their pride and ultimately following orders… That means there’s a powerful being that can make them do that… If that were the case, wouldn’t they have already conquered all the barbarians?

Barbarian warriors attacking together. Weak pawns first, as if trying to whittle down my stamina, followed by a sequential flood of barbarian troops. Seeing a pattern so different from my memories, it was clear that some change, different from the past, was happening to the barbarians as well. It’s too big a change to be explained simply by the fact that I have memories of the future.

“Aish, I don’t know.”

If there was something like that, there’s no way I wouldn’t know. At least as far as I remember, there was nothing like that in this timeline. It’s changed a lot from my previous life, but I don’t know the specifics. I wasn’t the type to use my head in the first place, and I don’t have the talent to figure that out.

If I just keep blocking the enemies in front of me, something will come out. Just like I blocked the enemies here in Lumis today. My head is complicated with Monica’s matter, so I don’t have much room to worry about this. I checked the defensive troops and returned to Yulstein Castle with my special unit.

I arrived at Yulstein Castle on a cold winter evening. Maybe it’s because it’s winter, or maybe it’s because it’s snowing. The overall atmosphere was different from usual. To put it nicely, it was calm and stable, but to put it badly, it felt a bit stagnant… Well, that’s just the feeling.

The guards, who were now familiar with my face and attire, quickly opened the gate. Normally, I would have scolded them for not being properly vigilant, but… it’s too cold now, so it’s okay. The bastards who didn’t die in battle were making a fuss about freezing to death, so I dismissed them as soon as I entered the main gate, unlike usual.

“Knight-nim, then I’ll go in first.”

“Okay. You’ve worked hard too.”

After sending even my squire Johnson back, I turned my horse’s head towards the main castle alone. I entrusted the horse, which had snorted once because of the cold, to a servant, and headed towards my family, who would be waiting inside the castle because of the cold weather.

“I’m back.”

“Edward-sawi. You came back without getting hurt?”

“Yes, there were no particular problems this time either.”

As always, Vera-nuna is the first to catch my eye. A chest as wide as the sea… The moment I naturally tried to hug that chest once, a blizzard-like wind blowing outside the door stopped me.

“Mom.”

“Eung?”

“Mom, go inside.”

No, it wasn’t the cold wind, it was Monica. I’ve never seen her talk to Vera-nuna like that. Monica glared fiercely at Vera-nuna, almost with dagger eyes, as she spoke. It seems a bit rude. But Vera-nuna, at that words,

“Oh? Yes, ah, then. I’ll be going now…? Haha…”

She willingly retreated… no, she ran away completely. What happened?

As soon as Vera-nuna disappeared, what awaited me was Monica, with her arms crossed and a dissatisfied expression, looking up at me slightly. Winnie isn’t here either. Uh, um… It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Monica this angry. I’ve seen her slightly annoyed or tired, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen this reaction in this life.

“Do you like my mom more than me?”

“No, she’s an elder of the family, and she spoke to me first, so…”

Could she be angry because of this? No, she doesn’t usually get upset about such trivial things. Could it be…?

“Welcome back, dear…”

Tak.

I naturally tried to hug her once to smooth over the atmosphere, but. With her arms, which had somehow unfolded from being crossed, Monica pushed me away. She kept looking at me as if to say, “No way.”

“Why don’t you take off your coat? It’s covered in snow.”

“Ah, ah. Right. Eum eum.”

I entrusted my thick winter coat, wet with snow, to the maid standing next to me. In the meantime, Monica had already turned around and disappeared into the castle, beyond the hallway. I hurried my steps to follow Monica.

“Dear.”

“You must be tired from coming back. Let’s eat.”

“Uh… okay.”

Tok. Tok.

Only Monica’s footsteps echoed in the chilly hallway. After that, Monica didn’t say a word. I couldn’t bring myself to speak first to her back, which was saying, “Touch me and you’ll regret it,” and quietly followed her to the dining room.

And even after arriving at the dining room. Even when we were sitting across from each other at the table. Monica didn’t say a word. She didn’t even look at me, and was looking in another direction with an angry? Despondent? expression. …Even if I try to find other possibilities, it seems like that one thing that pricks my conscience. Winnie not being here, Vera-nuna not being able to say anything… It’s definitely that.

I was worried because she looked like she was in a bad mood even before I left, so she must have found out. But she wasn’t angry with me then… What changed? Whatever it is, I have to apologize before Monica says anything.

“Dear.”

“…What.”

“Ah, no. I was just wondering if you were cold.”

I couldn’t bring myself to speak. Was it because I felt guilty, or was it because of Monica’s low voice, filled with anger? Seeing Monica angry after so long, my body shrinks involuntarily. It’s just hard to speak first.

While I was struggling alone, the food came out. The soup that the maid was serving came out and was placed in front of Monica and me respectively, and I watched Monica take a spoonful and then cautiously took a spoonful myself.

Eum, it feels like my frozen body is thawing. The warm soup seems to be encouraging me, so I ate as quickly as possible, but not too quickly. Monica suddenly opened her mouth.

“Dear.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”