Chapter 46

The atmosphere grew heavy.

I waited with bated breath for Milia’s verdict, feeling like a defendant standing in a courtroom.

Milia seemed to be choosing her words, her mouth twitching as she stared at me for a long time.

She must be angry.

After all, I forced her to stay silent and left, only to return in this state.

I never expected things to go this far.

Who would have thought Knut was a holy knight of the War God?

In my strategy of overwhelming with specs, holy knights were the worst match-up.

If it were a magician, I could counter with anti-magic and predict their spells.

If it were a simple warrior, I could overpower them with swordsmanship and physical ability.

If it were a mindless monster, I could just crush them with brute force—simple as that.

But holy knights are different.

They boost their specs with blessings, fight without caring about injuries, and their miracles aren’t affected by anti-magic.

Meanwhile, I still can’t fully control my own power.

Sure, I’ve gotten used to swordsmanship and using my strength and instincts.

But I still haven’t grasped how to handle my “Life Force.”

When emotions run high, I unconsciously unleash the Life Force energy Hersela had accumulated.

The Ice Blade forced that power out, but… that weapon was too dangerous to use.

—

“So, are you going to explain what happened?”

Finally, Milia spoke.

Even though the campfire was spreading warmth throughout the cave, her voice felt cold.

Explain, huh?

“I fought someone who wanted to kill me… and they were stronger than I expected. I barely made it back alive.”

“Details.”

Her firm tone showed she wasn’t going to accept a vague answer.

Without realizing it, I spilled everything I’d done.

“…It was Knut. He’s a Dane, so he couldn’t forgive me, a Ka`har. He was always looking for a chance to kill me.”

“So, did you kill him?”

Her quiet interrogation followed.

“Probably… I didn’t see it with my own eyes, but with those injuries, he couldn’t have survived.”

The War God’s blessings don’t include healing powers.

Without encountering a saint from another church order, recovery would be impossible.

“…Did you have to kill him?”

Milia leaned closer.

Her green hair cascaded over my face, tickling my cheek.

Her shadow swayed, revealing her somber expression.

Her unwavering eyes no longer held fear.

Only an unreadable emotion swirled within them, like hardened minerals.

Well, I guess there’s no reason for her to be afraid of me now.

“I don’t know…”

Did I have to kill him?

I really don’t know.

“Probably… since the conversation failed.”

“…I see.”

Milia closed her eyes.

What is she thinking about me right now? I couldn’t tell.

Milia is weak but righteous.

No, she’s someone who strives to live righteously. Like her friend. Like Damien.

At least for now.

So, would Milia despise me?

Or would she understand that I really had no choice?

Of course, I didn’t dare hope for her understanding.

I haven’t exactly shown her my best side either.

At the very least, I hoped she wouldn’t think of me as someone who would become a villain in the future.

“I see.”

Milia opened her eyes and murmured softly.

Her expression was still hard to read.

“Then. Yeah. It’s fine.”

Milia stood up.

It’s fine…? That’s it?

What does that mean?

Explain it to me.

“Aren’t you going to say anything to me?”

I couldn’t help but ask.

Aren’t you going to condemn me? Accuse me?

You’re a righteous person, aren’t you?

“Yeah. I won’t. You said you had no choice, Ha-shal-leur.”

Milia stroked my forehead.

Like comforting a hurting child.

“If you fought like that and ended up in this state, then it must be true. At least, for you.”

The warmth on my forehead felt comforting.

It felt like I was being forgiven, and my chest tightened, leaving me unable to respond.

“Maybe that’s just your way of living… so, this time, it’s fine. I’ll believe you.”

Milia smiled softly.

That smile felt like it was looking at something far beyond me.

It was blinding.

I might have cried a little.

—

“That’s ridiculous.”

Hans, who returned shortly after, dismissed my idea in one sentence.

“But I guess there’s no other way.”

And so, the plan for the next three days was decided.

Milia would take the front, Hans would carry me instead of a backpack in the middle, and Rana would stick close by.

Using my senses, we’d avoid dangerous enemies and only target groups of six or fewer Kobolds.

Before bed, I received another healing from Rana.

Despite her young age, her radiant holy light was on par with the priestess we met at the Marquis’s estate.

Unlike that priestess, since I was the only one seriously injured, she could cast healing spells three times a day.

By the last day, I should be able to move without much trouble.

“Well, if you’re careful while being carried, your wounds shouldn’t reopen!”

“Is that so? That’s a relief, Ha-shal-leur.”

“Indeed.”

And so, the second night arrived.

In the warm cave, all four of us fell asleep.

Hans had even chopped wood to set up a barrier and traps at the cave entrance.

He said keeping watch all night with two people would be too much.

He must have been born to be a guide.

—

Morning came.

After breakfast, I climbed onto Hans’s back.

Being carried was a bit suffocating, but it was bearable.

Hans cleared his throat and stood up.

I’m not wearing armor, so I shouldn’t be too heavy, right?

This guy’s really going through a lot.

We spent the morning wandering the forest.

We replenished our water at a spring and searched for small groups of Kobolds.

Luckily, the ones that had occupied the spring the first day were nowhere to be seen.

Given my current state, running into them again would have been trouble.

Milia took care of all the Kobolds we encountered.

Unlike the first day, she’d gotten used to dealing with them.

Whether it was or not, he moved as lightly as if dancing and cut off their breath with a single strike.

I watched the scene from behind Hans, leaning my tired, injured body against him.

I guess I should apologize to him too.

When I first came to this forest, I never thought it would be this much trouble.

But he helped me without any complaints.

“…Sorry about cutting off your finger back then.”

“If that’s all, I got way more in return, so it’s fine. The finger grew back fine too. Consider it a tough request.”

Hans wiggled the finger that had been cut off.

After experiencing it, this guy seems pretty capable and has a decent personality.

Being a knight might be tough, but if he becomes a guide, he might do really well.

“By the way, try not to squirm too much on my back. It’s distracting.”

“Sorry. The position’s a bit uncomfortable.”

“…No need to apologize.”

Carrying someone through the forest is tough, and he did seem a bit worn out.

His breathing, complexion, and the sweat dripping down were quite different from the first day.

For three days, we repeated the routine: hunting kobolds while being carried, returning to the cave in the evening for treatment, and then sleeping.

We avoided trolls as soon as we caught their scent. The others would handle them.

Like Damien or Ophelia.

By the last day, I had recovered enough to walk.

Blue smoke signaling the end of the training rose from the forest’s boundary.

We packed our things and finally left that tedious forest.

The final count of kobolds hunted was 52.

Surprisingly, it was a pretty high score, ranking 6th.

First place went to Damien and Edgar’s team, who hunted 3 trolls and 30 kobolds.

Ophelia’s team managed to hunt one troll but only 5 kobolds, landing them in 3rd place.

Given Ophelia’s personality, she probably just hunted one troll and then lazed around.

Her teammates likely couldn’t refuse the witch who single-handedly took down a troll.

By the way, the team that came in 2nd hunted 90 kobolds.

They were all decently skilled but unfamiliar faces.

Since they couldn’t handle trolls, they persistently raided kobold dens.

It was a strategy worth acknowledging.

Thus, the eventful first outdoor training, which felt both long and short, came to an end.

140 participants. 126 returnees.

14 dead or missing.

One of the supervising knights went missing.

…They didn’t disclose the names of the dead or missing.

Shortly after, we finally returned to the academy.

—

In the special quarters, Nigel, who had been waiting for me, was shocked to see the state of my body and armor.

“Did you fight seven Knuts or something?”

No, I got beaten up by just one.

“That guy was a holy warrior of Bølberg.”

“Ah… I see. That explains it.”

Nigel nodded and sighed.

“I’ll get the armor repaired… This is going to cost a fortune…”

Money can be earned once I recover.

Honestly, fighting monsters is nothing.

I had been thinking about earning some money anyway.

With regular steel equipment, I doubt I can handle future battles.

I should diligently save up and ask Asha to make me some gear.

She’ll probably give me a discount, right? We’re friends.

“Anyway, for now, rest until your wounds heal. No mana herbs.”

As if it were a good thing, Nigel gathered the cases of mana herbs and stuffed them in a corner of the desk.

Well, even I wouldn’t think of smoking that stuff in this state.

Does he really hate mana herbs that much?

—

In a dark room with only a bed.

A man, coughing up blood and lying as if dead, finally woke up.

“Ugh…! Ugh, ugh!… Where…?”

He had no sensation in his limbs.

Every breath felt like his stomach was being torn apart.

In pain and confusion, the man squirmed and finally noticed the female knight looking down at him.

“Awake now? I told you not to, but you didn’t listen. Quite a sight.”

Despite her cold tone, the woman looked at the man’s pitiful state with pity.

“Heavenly Palace… No…”

“Did you hit your head too? Do you know how much I struggled to save you?”

The woman approached and sat on the bed.

One side of the bed sank deeply.

“I used potions like water to barely keep you alive, then fled and somehow got you treated by the academy’s saint candidate. A year’s worth of funds went down the drain, and now I’ll have to abandon this cover identity. Even then, this was the best I could do.”

The woman pointed to various parts of the man’s body.

“Your arms were somewhat restored, but your legs and internal organs were cursed. On top of that, you burned through your life force using divine power. It’s a miracle you’re alive. Thanks to the saint candidate, your organs were crudely repaired… but your eyes and legs were beyond help. You can no longer fight as a warrior.”

“Is that so… I’m in your debt.”

So that’s why I couldn’t feel the warrior god’s blessing anymore.

I’m no longer a warrior.

Feeling like a lost child, the man let out a soft groan.

“…Rest here for now. I’ve reported this to the homeland, so a response should come soon.”

The female knight stood up and headed for the door.

The man, with his one remaining eye, watched her.

The woman, holding the doorknob, turned and sighed as she looked at the man.

“Still… I’m really glad you’re alive.”

Knut.

—