Chapter 114

Why did Payload have to barge in here, making me unable to go save Asulin, I couldn’t help but feel indignant for a moment.

“Stay still! Lie there!”

I was forced to lie down on the bed, enduring the strict (?) surveillance of Payload, whose voice echoed more loudly than usual inside my head, while I tried to rest (?).

Rest, well, what is rest if not just lying down in bed quietly? It’s a splendid rest when anyone can see how quietly I’m lying down without doing anything.

“Even a winnable battle will surely lose if you approach it in such a state. How could you forget even the basics of strategy and want to run wild like this? Come, let’s fill your stomach first. Eat this.”

Facing Payload’s fierce eyes, which seemed determined to monitor even my breathing, can this be called rest?

If it were up to me, I would shout at Payload to throw me away, then crash out of here and rush into the snowy wilderness to look for Asulin, but…

I couldn’t move from this spot right now.

The pain that had tormented my body like squeezing it when I first woke up had subsided over time.

Though my desire to go out was overflowing, my body refused to listen.

*Shiver*

“Cursed…”

My body, refusing to reflect my will at all, was betraying my intentions.

I don’t know why.

“Tsk tsk, trying to run wild again? It’s good that I sealed your body earlier.”

Judging from the pitying tone in Payload’s words as he clicked his tongue at me, he must have taken some measures on my body since he first subdued me.

It’s ridiculous. I can’t move.

Even though his hands seemed rough, the bowl of soup that was supposed to land directly in front of me was being accepted as I ate.

“…I don’t know what you’ve done, but please loosen me up a bit.”

Except for my mouth, every other part of my body felt restrained, unable to move.

Thanks to quite a bit of time passing, my tongue was in good enough condition to express my will clearly, but…

“Of course, it won’t work. Going out there is just a waste of time, as pointless as searching for weeds in the snow. Why would I release you?”

Even with my softened tongue, I couldn’t persuade Payload.

Moreover, wasting time on pointless things? This made me angry.

“What does it mean to say looking for Asulin is a pointless thing!!”

I tried to express the greatest anger I could through my voice, but—

*Slap*!

“Aah!”

A sudden sharpness like lightning flashed from both eyes, shooting up from my temples, and my anger was cut short before it could fully express itself.

Damn it, he’s small but his hands are so rough.

“Are you crazy?! Didn’t I tell you already that if you push yourself too hard, your body will suffer? That’s the real disaster.”

Payload, who effectively silenced me with a stern statement despite his rough manner, shook off the hand he used to ruffle my hair and glared at me with his green eyes, which had a mysterious allure, though not as intense as Asulin’s.

“Don’t worry. Once your body recovers and you move, nothing bad will happen to your companion. I swear on my name.”

There was no trace of falsehood in his effort to reassure me and make me feel better.

He seemed genuinely concerned about getting me back to perfect condition so that whatever I do, it will lead to a good outcome.

Even though I was in a sorry state, it felt like my master cared about me.

This subtle care felt oddly comforting.

…Yet, despite the imbalance caused by his tiny frame trying to create an intimidating presence, the fact that he could casually subdue me and nag at me without any hint of consideration made me feel uneasy.

“…You seem to think I’m having impure thoughts.”

“…It’s just my mood.”

I suppressed the urge to laugh as I relaxed, and my traitorous stomach betrayed me by making a rumbling sound, revealing to everyone that I was hungry.

When I raised my eyes, the fierce expression on Payload’s face softened as he looked at me.

“Look. You haven’t eaten for days and your stomach is empty. Searching the snow won’t help. Let’s start by filling your stomach with this soup.”

He said this while handing me the soup, implying that I should take care of myself before going to find Asulin.

If I hadn’t made a sound, I would have clenched my teeth and protested, but at this point, stubbornly resisting would have been pointless.

I should simply accept reality and look for a better way forward.

“…Give me that. I’ll eat.”

Thus, I asked for the soup held by Payload’s hand, temporarily stopping my attempts to escape, and started to fill my stomach.

While the worry about Asulin being dragged away by the barbarian tribe led by Dominius grew with each passing day, another piece of news lifted my spirits.

“…This soup is delicious, more than enough to eat in the field.”

“The two people outside are making sure you eat, preparing this porridge for you.”

Listening to Payload’s earnest yet reassuring voice, which gave me a strange sense of trust, made me start to hope instead of despair as I sipped the warm soup.

My heart, which had sunk, began to regain balance.

“…By the way, how can you freely roam around here in that outfit? It seems so suspicious, given how unusual your clothes are.”

Seeing this, I could ask Payload the question that had been bothering me.

“Because someone mediated it, that’s why you can move freely.”

“…Someone mediated it?”

“Of course, there is someone.”

“I doubt anyone I know would easily accept a sword suddenly turning into a person and wandering around…”

“You’re right, they wouldn’t be someone you know.”

“…I’m curious who it could be.”

“Whatever, once you finish eating and your body recovers, you’ll meet them. Just focus on recovering naturally.”

Despite hearing various reports, the questions remained unanswered.

…Who could it be?

As I ate the soup provided by Payload and recovered, Elshimer and Katarina approached me to briefly recount what happened after I fell unconscious.

They said it took three days for me to regain consciousness after being struck in the abdomen by Dominius’ Weaponless, fall unconscious, and then wake up again.

Compared to the ten days I spent lying down after being stabbed in the left shoulder by him, my recovery was surprisingly fast.

Even though I thought I would die when I lost consciousness from the stab wound in my abdomen, I recovered faster than when I lost consciousness from the shoulder wound.

Isn’t that fortunate?

And there was even more fortunate news.

“The barbarian tribes are still attacking the fortress, but their aggression is gradually weakening over time.”

“As the goal of crossing this fortress fades, everyone inside can feel it.”

Elshimer and Katarina reported this as if they were one body, speaking in turn.

“The biggest problem is the former Black Wing Knight Commander, who is also Lord Payload…”

“Don’t mind it. Just refer to him however you want. He’s nothing to my father.”

Despite Katarina’s slight stuttering due to her reluctance to mention Dominius, she continued.

“Dominius’ presence is strongly felt among the barbarians.”

Thanks to Elshimer’s straightforward statement, the conversation didn’t break off awkwardly.

Given how well they worked together, perhaps Katarina wouldn’t hesitate to refer to Dominius in the future.

In the midst of these valuable reports, another piece of information came in.

“Lord Junior Duke’s aura is also felt among them. They are ready to command the troops at a single order.”

Katarina delivered the news I most wanted to hear.

This was truly a fortunate development.

At a time when Asulin was confirmed to be captured by the barbarian tribe led by Dominius, if they had released her and retreated beyond the mountain range immediately after capturing her, the entire search mission would have been jeopardized from the start.

Not only have they not withdrawn from our territory, but the fact that Asulin’s aura can be sensed among the barbarians means we won’t waste time locating her, which is incredibly fortunate.

This situation might even allow us to take a risk and forcefully penetrate their central position.

“Foolish thoughts are written all over your face. Don’t you plan to control yourself?”

“…What foolish thoughts did I have?”

“It’s obvious. Without even seeing, you were thinking about charging into the enemy lines filled with those flesh-eating beasts to rescue your companion.”

“…”

“Since you’re not saying anything, I assume my intuition is correct.”

…Back in Blood Haven, during my harsh childhood, I was often told I was unreadable to others. Now, Payload’s words felt like a blatant lie.

“…I was going to say the same thing…”

“Be quiet.”

I growled lightly at Elshimer, who was trying to side with Payload, and shut him up.

Damn, after this is all over, I need to practice my facial expressions in front of a mirror.

Anyway, while gathering information for Asulin’s rescue, I heard footsteps coming from behind the hospital room.

These weren’t the heavy footsteps of armored knights, but light ones.

The footsteps had a solemn rhythm that made me instinctively listen closely.

They were quick and lively, almost impossible to describe as merely brisk.

The footsteps were heading toward the ward where many people were discussing future plans.

Without even seeing them, I sensed that whoever was behind those footsteps possessed remarkable strength and skill.

*Knock knock*

The footsteps were as orderly as the knocks on the door.

“May I come in?”

A somewhat neutral voice, neither male nor female, came from the other side of the door.

As expected, the person behind the footsteps had a reason to visit this ward.

Since they asked permission to enter, it wasn’t right to remain silent, so I was about to say “Come in,” but—

“Come in quickly!”

Before I could speak, Payload called out to the person knocking at the door in a somewhat forceful voice.

I looked at Payload with a bewildered gaze, but—

“That’s the mediator.”

Payload maintained his indifferent attitude, shrugging his shoulders, indicating that the person knocking was the mediator who helped him blend in here.

Everyone inside the fortress must have been surprised by the sudden appearance of the mediator, and I needed to know who this person was.

*Screech*

The door opened as soon as Payload said “Come in.”

“Pardon me. I believe this is the first time we’ve met, Sir Andymion.”