Bayard walked past Yana and moved forward. I stayed right next to her because I could see it—her two legs still trembling.
It’s scary to shake off a fear learned long ago. Yet, it’s remarkable that Bayard chose to move forward. So, I have a duty to support her.
To ensure that fragile steps don’t crumble, we both entered the guest room without saying a word. There stood Yuyoung, gazing out the window.
I heard it had been a long time since they last met. Bayard immediately recognized Yuyoung. Perhaps feeling her gaze, Yuyoung slowly turned her head to meet Bayard’s eyes.
“Well, this is an unexpected reunion.”
“……”
“Clearing up misunderstandings isn’t that big of a deal.”
Words of sincerity popped out of my mouth. Misunderstandings accumulate and transform into whatever emotions. It could be hatred or anger. But it won’t last forever.
“Honest conversations can resolve everything. If not, they just keep piling up.”
“That….”
“There might come a time when it can’t be resolved through conversation. Don’t you know?”
Yuyoung and Bayard couldn’t find any words. They both knew the fact—the Royal Knights had been annihilated during the expedition. But was it due to awkwardness?
They busily dealt with the uncomfortable silence, and just when I was about to say something, Bayard spoke up.
“So, how have you been?”
“Bayard, you….”
Yuyoung maintained an indifferent expression, but her voice carried a mix of joy and complexity. I knew that resolving everything at this moment wouldn’t be possible. I understood that.
But, as time passes, if we understand each other’s situations, then we can start to unravel things one by one. So, I had my own tasks to do. I went outside.
At the same time, I snapped my fingers. Everything around me lost its original color and turned gray instead. And there, I could see it—a presence lurking in the corner.
Oh crap, that scared me!
What the heck is that?
I felt a presence from outside, thinking something was happening out there, so I stopped time. I didn’t expect there to be someone in this room!
Upon closer inspection, it curled up—it looked like some kind of snake. Is it a Beastman from the Snake Tribe? But if a Snake Tribe is here, does that mean they didn’t betray us?
That was surprising. I figured one of the six tribes that betrayed us would definitely be the Snake Tribe. Anyway, I pulled the curled-up creature out.
“This is heavier than I thought.”
It was firmly embedded in the corner, making it difficult to drag out. I felt like I was hanging on a bar, struggling to pull it out for about ten minutes before finally getting it below.
But that wasn’t the end of it. I had to drag this thing outside now. I sighed. I really craved a cigarette today. But what can you do?
I didn’t want to ruin the reunion with old friends. So, I had no choice but to pull the thing that was stuck in the corner outside. Just when I finally pulled it outside, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Outside, warriors from the Beastmen, including Yana, surrounded the entrance. Seriously, what the heck? Why would they go this far in this situation? Are they out of their minds?
I examined each of them one by one. They were armed, had a spy sent in, and all had fierce gazes fixated on me.
I couldn’t overlook the sight of them drawing weapons. No matter how I looked at it, this wasn’t just a joke. So, I had no choice but to make a decision.
“There’s no other choice.”
I drew the sword I had at my waist. Then, I started to sever the arms of the warriors in front of me, one by one. I gathered everything I could.
What if there are monsters in Lionheart Fortress? Or something else? I couldn’t shake that thought off, keeping time stopped for over thirty minutes, conducting searches.
But ultimately, I found nothing. That meant these guys were aiming to make us their prey. And I had no confidence in dealing with them.
Yet, I couldn’t just kill them right away. So, I opted for a compromise—severing their arms. One by one, I meticulously cut them off. It wasn’t an easy task at all.
Putting aside the psychological rejection, I kept wondering if what I was doing was right.
But now, I had to have certainty. With a laid-back mindset of thinking, “it can’t be, right?” I wouldn’t be able to do anything.
*
Admiring beautifully shining stars isn’t a sin. For those in the Beastmen who weren’t chosen, looking up at the twelve chosen tribes was all they could do. Someday, I want to shine like them. That was my only wish.
In the midst of this, an opportunity arose. I got a chance to get closer to the heir of the Rat Clan, the foremost of the twelve tribes. Unlike the other twelve tribes, I had to make a good impression on this lower tribe.
Even if I had to lick their boots, I needed to make a good impression on them. That was the only way to survive the rough storm. However, Yana had a slightly different thought.
Not for a better future for her tribe, but to meet a lord she genuinely wanted to serve. She didn’t care if it wasn’t the moon. She hoped to become a star shining together with the moon.
“I want to serve you as my lord.”
Fortunately, Yana got to meet her lord. A lord worth dedicating everything to. From that moment on, she has devoted herself wholeheartedly to serving him.
For example, taking care of trash that bothers her lord.
For example, dealing with clueless Bear Tribe members.
For example, carrying out her lord’s wishes.
Of course, the second was a bit hard. The clueless Bear Tribe kept trying to chase after her. I’m sorry, my lord, but I used your name. I had no choice.
Surely my lord would understand. Moreover, he would praise me for doing well. Finally, the Bear Tribe that realized their place would have gone down to a fitting spot.
Or so it ought to have happened.
“How dare you not know your place, and look to take the higher seat?!”
Pathetic. How dare a Bear Tribe member, lacking basic courtesy, think to be beside my lord? It was unacceptable. So, I had no choice but to teach them manners personally.
That near-obsessive behavior soon led to action. The warriors following her were thinking similarly—whether it was following Yuyoung or Yana, who knows.
I couldn’t tell anymore. Regardless, they drew their swords to protect their lord. However, just before entering the room, Yana finally saw it.
The fact that her hand holding the sword had vanished.
As she realized this, pain surged through her. Blood continued to flow from the severed part without stopping. And it was the same with the other warriors. What the heck?!
“It’s a reunion with old friends. I hope you won’t interfere.”
A voice echoed in the ears of the confused warriors. A cold voice, and Yana turned her head. There stood a man quietly closing the open door.
With black hair and a scarred face, on the other side, he wore a black eyepatch. No matter how you looked at him, he appeared to be a knight who had experienced it all.
And indeed he was. He was none other than Hans, the Commander of the Royal Knights. Yana pressed her hand against the cut. Then, she glared at Hans and spoke.
“What have you done?!”
“Didn’t you draw your weapon first? Even against your lord.”
“He’s a threat to my lord! How could I leave him be?!”
“Who do you think you are to judge that?”
“You speak with no manners at all.”
Why didn’t he understand? What the lord needs is only us. What is necessary must be taken, and what poses a threat must be decisively cut away. That’s the right thing to do.
Just like right now.
From the severed wrist of Yana, a crack appeared, and soon, a massive blade sprouted. Yana swung that blade, slicing down the Beastmen warriors who were in pain.
“Useless things must be cut away decisively. You’ve been of no help to the lord. Therefore, I’ll cut you away myself.”
“You, that hand….”
“I swore my loyalty that day. Even if it costs me everything!!”
Yana roared and charged at Hans. Hans gritted his teeth and swung his sword. Clang!! With that tremendous sound, Hans was forcefully thrown back.
Hans silently looked at his hand. His twisted arm was visible to him, unable to withstand the power. Perhaps because of the bizarre sight he had never seen before, it didn’t hurt.
In the midst of it all, he was fiercely turning his mind. He recalled having seen Ahnya’s arm before somewhere. And it wasn’t difficult to ultimately identify that arm.
“……It’s a Parasitic Curse.”
A curse from demons that cleverly seeps into sincerity and manipulates the body at will. The terrible outcome of Yana’s genuine desire to serve her lord mixed with the curse of demons.
But the outcome doesn’t change.
To merely blame it on the curse seems inadequate…
Because she had committed too many wrongs in the past.
Hans slowly rose to his feet.
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