Several days passed once again.
The destroyed Winter Great Tribe’s fortress was somewhat rebuilt, and people returned to their original routines as if Charybdis’s attack had never happened.
Meanwhile, Rudell and his group were unexpectedly enjoying leisurely days.
“RAAAWR!! I am the fearsome monster Charybdis!!”
“Then I’m the sacred beast Fenrir!! Awooo-!!”
Nord tribe kids, tangled up and play-fighting while wearing ridiculous masks.
Sitting in front of the crackling campfire, Rudell couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
He had a childhood too, but if asked whether it was really a childhood, his answer would be no.
From the moment he was born, having the memories of his previous life, the innocence of childhood was a distant story for him.
“What are you thinking about?”
At that moment, Leje sat down next to Rudell and handed him a steaming mug of herbal tea.
“Just thinking about my childhood.”
“Childhood? When are we talking about?”
As he took the mug, Rudell replied, and Leje tilted her head in curiosity.
“Long before I met you.”
“Wow, that’s unexpected. I thought you were the type who wouldn’t care about the past.”
With a slurping sound, Rudell sipped his tea, and Leje looked at him with a surprised expression.
“What do you think of me, anyway?”
“Um… a reliable boyfriend?”
“Well… that’s not wrong.”
With a cough, Rudell brought the cup to his mouth, and Leje chuckled at him.
After a moment, Leje let out a short sigh and grumbled,
“Ha… By the way, when on earth can we meet with the chief?”
“I know, right… We should be getting news soon.”
Even at this very moment, the Empire was under attack from the Nord tribe in real time.
Several fortresses had already fallen into their hands, and the news came that the capital, Pensburg, was overcrowded with refugees fleeing from the Nord tribe.
Of course, the Nord tribe, also significantly weakened from monstrous beast attacks, couldn’t maintain their initial momentum and had only managed to capture a few fortresses in the north without mounting further offensives.
Unable to launch any further attacks while being possessed…
But the real problem is, of course, the Church of the Eaters of Death.
Since the mass proliferation and berserk rampage of the monstrous beasts were their doing, this issue needed to be resolved quickly.
If the Empire and the Nord tribe were to fall together, the ones who’d benefit the most would be those church folks.
Naturally, from Rudell’s perspective, he couldn’t let things unfold according to their plans.
Hah… All the other noble ladies are probably living comfortably without a care in the world. What am I doing here?
A short sigh escaped Leje’s lips, followed by a grumbling voice.
Truth be told, her grievances were quite valid.
If it weren’t for Rudell, she’d probably be living a life envied by others as the Duke’s daughter right now.
The fact that she was out here in the field was entirely Rudell’s fault.
Of course, if the church started making serious moves, that life wouldn’t last long anyway.
“I’m always grateful for that. I mean it.”
“Tch. Just empty words.”
At that, Leje pouted with a huff, clearly annoyed.
Noticing something in her reaction, Rudell leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on her lips.
After the brief kiss, Leje licked the drool from the corner of her mouth.
Seeing that dizzying sight, Rudell almost lost control of his instincts but managed to hold back and lightly patted her head.
Hehe. Leje chuckled softly, resting her head on Rudell’s shoulder while he looked down at her.
Would he have been able to endure this far without her during their journey?
He asked himself that several times, but the answer always came back as ‘No.’
Leje held a significant share in Rudell’s life.
“Once this is over, I’m thinking of dropping by the Duke’s House for a bit.”
As Rudell continued pondering, he looked at Leje and said that.
“My house? For what reason?”
Leje’s expression turned puzzled at his words.
Rudell paused for a moment, struggling to answer, but soon his face showed a firm resolution.
“To officially propose to you.”
“…Huh?”
At that moment, a bewildered voice escaped Leje’s lips.
A dazed voice flowed from Jae’s mouth.
A brief silence fell between the two…
“What, what, what, what are you suddenly saying!?”
With her face flushed bright red, Leje stammered and shouted at Rudell.
As a result, the attention of those around them momentarily shifted to them.
Rudell shushed her by bringing his finger to his lips, and nodding, Leje waited for the crowd’s interest to fade away.
After a moment, the people’s attention dispersed…
“What are you suddenly saying, you idiot!”
“Just. I suddenly thought of it.”
“You really… don’t you have any mood? Shouldn’t something like this be more of a fancy, bright event?”
“Is that so?”
“You’re unbelievable…”
Leje, feeling a headache from Rudell’s reaction, pressed her forehead, and just as she lifted her head to say something to him…
“Ugh!?”
Startled by the warm sensation and pressure at her mouth, Leje let out an exclamation.
Before she had a chance to resist, Rudell’s tongue plunged into Leje’s mouth, and she forgot what she wanted to say as she surrendered to the intense, sticky kiss.
After a brief moment, their lips parted…
“So, you don’t like it?”
“No, it’s not that!! Ugh…!!”
Feeling her heart race at his unusually bold demeanor, Leje let out a low groan.
“You, just wait! I’ll definitely get back at you for this.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
With a playful expression, Rudell smiled at the flustered Leje…
Leje turned her head with a hmpf sound as she watched him.
And just then…
–Boom!! Boom!! Boom!! Boom!!
The sound of a large drum echoed from the newly erected watchtower, and at the same time, the people around began to rush toward the entrance of the fortress.
“What’s going on?”
“Is someone coming?”
As they exchanged glances, the two stood up and followed the crowd towards the fortress entrance.
They moved their steps.
The entrance of the fortress was bustling with numerous people.
What caught the eyes of the two as they approached was the sight of Nord tribe warriors, unlike anything they had seen before.
At a glance, they seemed to be quite skilled, clad in armor made from the byproducts of monstrous beasts, and their physiques were at least half again as large as those of the Winter Great Tribe warriors.
At this point, one might even suspect they were the same species.
Riding monstrous beasts resembling giant wild boars, they emanated an intimidating presence as they entered the fortress.
“Isn’t this pretty much it?”
“Yeah, seems like it.”
The two, watching the spectacle, said that…
“Ghanau! Kapho Chaa!”
The man, apparently their leader, looked around and let out a roar that resonated throughout the area.
At that explosive shout, all the Nord tribe around knelt down.
“What did he say?”
“Umm… I think he asked where the chieftain is…”
Recalling the Nord tribe language they had heard, Rudell was saying that when…
The Nord warrior, seeing Rudell sitting on the boar, pulled out a spear he had slung across his back and immediately threw it towards Rudell.
The sharp spear sliced through the air, heading straight for Rudell…
-Kkaang!!
In that moment, with lightning speed, Leje drew her sword and deflected the spear that was flying towards Rudell.
And then, emanating an overwhelming killing intent, Leje pointed her sword at them.
“What the hell are you? You better explain what you’re doing here!”
“…”
The Nord warriors seemed taken aback, as if they never thought their attack would be blocked; a sense of bewilderment started to ripple among them.
Rudell, who reacted slower than Leje, began to prepare for battle, spreading shadows, and the situation was truly on the verge of explosion.
And then, at that moment…
“Hold on a sec, will you?!”
From a distance, with a familiar voice and a ghastly expression, Kahlan came running toward them.
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