episode_0112

Once we had the boat in our hands, there was no reason to stay in the city any longer.

We immediately left the city, loaded our armor and belongings onto the boat that we had previously hidden by the riverside, and began to flow southward on the main stream of the Line River without hesitation.

There was no need to row. Just sitting still was enough to propel us forward thanks to the current.

It felt like riding a flume ride at an amusement park.

Occasionally, we would briefly steer the oars when we seemed to be on a collision course with another boat or were being pushed toward the riverbank, but that was all.

“Having a boat party on the river… It really makes me feel like a noble lady. It’s just a little disappointing that there’s not a single spot of moonlight.”

Freid, who was sitting next to me, murmured as she brushed down her hair fluttering in the river breeze.

Perhaps it was because of her bright smile and blushing face, but there was a faint atmosphere reminiscent of a secret rendezvous between lovers in a romantic movie.

“Well, maybe we should be thankful instead… If the moon were bright, we wouldn’t have dared to hide like this.”

In reality, it was far from a romantic movie scene, but rather a truly otherworldly infiltration mission, a million light-years away from romance.

◆◆

Just as there are borders in the plains and in the mountains, there are also boundaries and distinctions between countries even on a river that flows calmly.

At the border between Herbor and the Line Kingdom, there was a massive bridge that cut across the Line River, dividing it in half.

From here on, it was the territorial waters of the Line Kingdom, marked by a stone bridge erected as if to warn against entering recklessly.

The bridge was adorned with battlements and watchtowers, and thick iron chains were installed between the arched pillars, making the bridge literally resemble a fortress.

This was the last gateway we had to cross in order to enter the Line Kingdom by river.

“Um… Hey, Hilde. Do you think everything will go according to plan…?”

Freid, who had been staring at the bridge from a distance, whispered to me with a slightly trembling voice, as if suppressing her anxiety.

We had safely made it this far according to plan, but could we really pass through this bridge without any problems, just as we had done so far?

Hmm… Honestly, I’m not sure either.

I did have a breakthrough plan in place, but I wasn’t exactly confident.

In theory, there shouldn’t be any issues, but in the real world, there are so many variables that things rarely go perfectly according to theory.

“Uh… Yeah, it’ll work out. Because you’re here, Freide.”

But I can’t show my anxiety now. If I start worrying before even beginning, the chances of failure will only increase for no reason.

At least that’s what I thought. That’s why, while lightly patting Freide’s head, I put on a gentle smile with the meaning that everything would be fine.

“Oh, um, yes. Just, just trust me…!”

As Freide blushed and clenched her fists, it was almost as if she was determined to repay the trust she had received from Brünhilde.

“Don’t say it like it’s something new. I’ve always believed in you.”

“Hehe…?!”

With a lover-like word and a light kiss on her cheek, Freide let out a strange moan.

It was my own way of boosting her confidence and determination. This should dispel any tension or anxiety.

Acting like a heroine in a novel, it feels a bit strange, to be honest… No, it’s nothing. I can do anything to increase the chances of success.

Feeling embarrassed about this kind of thing in the first place is quite funny. Fainting after taking off clothes and intertwining bodies is not a rare occurrence, so why act like it’s something new?

Compared to that, a kiss on the cheek is really nothing.

“Hehe…”

Even the slight embarrassment lingering in the air disappeared when I saw Freide smiling bashfully with both hands resting on the cheek where my lips had touched.

Why does everything she does seem so cute? It didn’t used to be like this before, right?

After intertwining our bodies countless times, have I developed such deep affection that everything she does looks beautiful?

Has my taste completely changed to prefer dark-haired, demure girls?

…Scary.

I just islanded. They say the scariest thing in the world is a person’s heart, and I wondered if that was really true.

No, really, get a grip, Hilde. If you keep this up, you’ll really become a heroine, a heroine.

It becomes irreversible.

Becoming a woman, allowing Freide to use my body, that couldn’t be helped… But still, I decided not to become a heroine in my heart.

Now, the only way to remember my old self, which has left no trace and even memories are beginning to fade, is to not become a woman in my heart.

I must not forget my determination at that time.

“Hehehe… Hilde, I love youuu….”

…

…Should I just forget it?

I sighed as I wrapped my arms around Freide, who nestled into my embrace.

It was a moment when my feelings became complicated in many ways.

◆◆

Crack!

The wooden carved boat, once the only hope of Heinrich’s inspiration, let out a painful scream as it creaked. Sprinkling bone and flesh made of wood onto the river.

On the river, with not much distance left to go, we were breaking the surface of the boat in the darkness beyond the sight of the guards.

Even though the appearance of the boat was intact, it would eventually become a piece of trash, swept away by the current after losing its owner.

Of course, it would be troublesome if it really turned into trash, so we didn’t touch the submerged part, but why suddenly do such a strange thing? Obviously, it was to safely pass through that bridge. It was a disguise for that purpose.

“…Alright. Breaking it should be enough. Let’s start getting ready.”

I threw the torn piece of wood into the river with force and picked up the waterproof bag, pointing towards the river.

A sturdy bag containing armor, a dress, and provisions. The strong rope tightly bound the bag.

“Ha… I did want to try swimming with Hilde someday, but not like this…”

Freide sighed lightly as she looked down at the flowing river. Like me, she was also dressed in thin undergarments.

It couldn’t be helped. We would have to swim uncomfortably for a long time from now on, so unnecessary energy consumption had to be minimized as much as possible.

“I’ll do it next time. Let’s go in for now.”

“Oh, that… promise, it’s a promise!”

As if letting out a sigh, Freide smiled brightly with a clear and bright face, then quietly slipped into the river as if sliding.

Alright, then I’ll go too.

“Whew…!”

I took a deep breath, inflating my lungs, then followed Freide, leaping into the Rhine River.

A slight splash. The cold and strong current wrapped around my body. I immediately reached up, gripping the bottom of the raft to steady myself.

While securing the rope I had been holding in the other hand like an anchor under the raft.

…Phew. That was close. I almost got swept away or sank.

The current was stronger than I thought. It was colder than I expected.

I’ve gotten used to the extreme cold of Hervor, but if Kikel were here, he would have fallen asleep forever in no time.

“Oh, right. What happened to Freide? Did he get swept away…?”

Tap tap.

Just as I was anxiously looking around, worried that Freide might have been swept away by the current, a familiar finger lightly poked my back.

Due to its various uses, not only the touch but also the shape and taste of the finger had been engraved on my body.

When I turned my head, Freide, who had become breathless from holding his breath, was looking at me and smiling.

Thank goodness. You didn’t get swept away. I was worried for a moment.

In that case, the only thing left is to be carried down to the front of the chain like this.

Freide and I, firmly holding onto the bottom of the boat, cautiously began to move our feet towards the legs.

It was as dark as pitch black in the river, with no moon in sight.

Soldiers on the high bridge wouldn’t be able to notice us, relying solely on torches to look down below.

Even if the light shone on the river, the shadow of the raft would cover us.

◆◆

After continuing for several minutes, the reflection of the chain began to shine clearly beyond the rippling surface.

We’re here.

Subjectively, it might have taken about eight minutes. Thanks to taking a brief break to catch my breath, I wasn’t out of breath.

Alright, I can do this.

I tapped Freide’s shoulder and instructed him to gradually slow down. If we collided head-on, the ship would be wrecked.

Freide, with a nod, extended the rope he had tied to his back and began to swing it like a drum, slowing down the ship.

Shifting my body to the front of the ship, I extended one arm and focused on the approaching chain.

Not yet, not yet. Now!

Just before the prow touched the chain, at that moment, I awakened the strength in my arms and grabbed the ship and the chain, pushing them apart.

Crack!

For an instant, the shock felt as if my shoulder blade was being pushed into my collarbone.

“Ah, ugh…!”

Suppressing a groan in my mind, I endured the pain that felt like lightning flowing down my arm.

Fully offsetting the collision with my own strength, ensuring the ship stopped by catching onto the chain rather than breaking.

Creak, clank, screech…!

Wood and metal grated harshly, screams erupted. It wasn’t a tearing sound but a grinding one. The suddenly halted ship was being scraped away by the chain.

“Alright, it didn’t break!”

A joy so overwhelming that it made me forget the pain in my shoulders and arms.

Smiling with joy at everything falling into place as planned, I submerged under the ship again, quietly waiting with Freide.

“Oh, damn. That scared the hell out of me. What kind of ship is this? Who the hell sails a ship at this hour?”

The soldiers, startled by the sound of the chain scraping against the bow, after confirming the situation, let the debris caught on the chain flow away across the river.