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Chapter 52

“It seems to be getting smaller!”

“Yeah, it’s an artificially connected gate, so it won’t last long. If it’s this small, no more magical beasts will appear and it’ll disappear within 30 minutes.”

In response to Alice’s words, Aaron took a deep breath.

Aaron seemed relieved to see the gate disappear.

Then, he turned to Alice.

“Other than that, why is Lady Limorand here?”

Although he didn’t raise his voice, Aaron was clearly holding back his anger.

Alice shrugged her shoulders, as Aaron had nothing else to say even though he was openly upset.

“I’m trying to find Kantana… She said she’ll catch the biggest prey in the middle of the forest…”

“If you’re talking about the Young* Lady then I saw her a while ago under the guidance of the Imperial Knights, and she returned safely.”

(pr/n: when it says “Young” it’s an honorific because Kantana is one of the successors for the Duke)

“Ah…”

“But the same goes for Lady Limorand. Even if your sister was here, what the hell were you thinking coming after her?”

“I couldn’t leave Kantana alone.”

“It wouldn’t help if ordinary, unarmed people would come here! Rather-”

“I know that much! I didn’t just come… without thinking.”

Alice opened her coat, showing the scrolls.

Even convincing Duroa was hard, Alice thought.

However, even after checking the scrolls, Aaron’s expression did not brighten at all.

“What are you doing with those?”

—Those were magical items.

“Pardon? Well, the beasts…”

“If you don’t have time to rip the scrolls, you’ll lose in a physical fight.”

“There are some artifacts that make me invisible to the beast, so don’t worry about it.”

“If you lose those artifacts, there’s no point.”

“There’s no end to this. Anyway, I’m here because I was desperate, and I had my own backup plan.”

“There aren’t only beasts in this forest.”

Alice’s eyes widened at his words.

It was true that Alice was so obsessed with the idea there was a beast that she had forgotten about the demons.

Alice’s feelings could be read on her face, as if she couldn’t stand the frustration.

With that, Aaron stepped closer.

“It means there are many beasts who can swallow and rip apart a human who doesn’t have any mana.”

Alice lowered her gaze, looking like an angry child.

“You may not know because you only saw bats and gentle animals, like horses, but there are bears, lions, wolves. Even if you ran away from the beasts, there are still certain animals left. If you didn’t have time to tear up the scrolls, those predators would attack you.”

“Ah, that’s…”

“It’s a frivolous move. Believing in such a piece of paper, it’s just…”

Aaron clenched his teeth and took a small breath.

He had an angry expression.

It was too much coming from her friend’s fiancee, but Alice felt a certain way because of Aaron’s words.

She felt sorry and an unknown longing again.

‘He seems to care about me.’

Maybe Alice was mistaken, but she certainly felt like Aaron Claymore was very concerned about her.

It went beyond the concern a knight felt when protecting the weak, and maybe beyond that, to a very special degree.

Claymore brushed his face a couple of times, trying to calm himself as Alice stared blankly at him.

“First of all, it seems like no more demons can come out of the gate, so it’s better to go back.”

“…I’m sorry. I made you worry.”

As Alice turned around, she spoke without realizing it, but when the words slipped out of her lips, Alice shuddered.

It wasn’t something Alice would say to someone she had only talked to a few times.

She felt self-conscious.

Alice bit the inside of her cheek as she felt her face turn red.

But Aaron took Alice’s words more naturally.

“No. I’m… sorry for getting angry.”

Alice’s eyes trembled slightly as her expression turned from angry to regretful.

Aaron’s fists clenched, it was as if his awkwardness was spreading.

Unable to bear the silence, Alice hurriedly opened her mouth.

“I really didn’t think about the animals…”

She spoke, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere, but Alice’s eyes widened soon after.

Wait, animals?

“Duroa! I have to go back to her!”

***

The thunder was so loud.

Duroa paced around in the cave where she was left alone, wondering if Alice would come back soon, but it was pointless.

Eventually, exhausted, Duroa crouched down on the cave’s floor.

Yes, it’ll be fine. Nothing will happen.

Since there were so many scrolls, it would be difficult to get hurt.

Rather, the beasts should be concerned about their safety.

Thinking that way, Duroa tried to comfort herself, but it was in vain. Suddenly, she remembered the white crystal Nocton Edgar gave her.

A white crystal that was bigger than the one prepared by Alice.

Would it have helped if I brought it along?

Duroa thought about it for a moment, but then she shook her head.

If the person who gave her the necklace didn’t believe in it, how could she believe in it instead?

Even if she got it from someone else, Duroa wouldn’t be able to use it if she felt uncomfortable.

So this is the only thing I can trust right now.

Duroa sighed as she touched the bracelet Alice had given her.

The temperature was dropping.

The Empire’s weather was relatively warm despite the four seasons, but even so, it was now midwinter.

Moreover, Duroa was in a forest and it was pouring outside.

It had been a while since her coat got completely soaked from the rain, and Duroa had no idea how to make a fire in the wild.

The beasts didn’t even appear, but if they did, she would be in danger because of hypothermia.

It seemed as if Duroa knew that there was nothing she could do about it.

As she was crouched down, brushing her hands against her cold arms, Duroa heard a strange noise.

It sounded like a low howl. Is there a beast nearby?

Duroa’s heart started pounding.

She bit her lips to not make a sound and closed her eyes.

The entrance to the cave was covered with bushes by Aaron and the sound of rain would bury the sound of Duroa’s breath.

There had been a strange smell that Duroa couldn’t recognise.

However, according to Alice’s words, it was clear that the beast wouldn’t notice Duroa if she was wearing the bracelet.

There were several thoughts running through her head wanting to make sure she was safe.

Still, because of the low howls, Duroa’s heart wasn’t completely at ease so her heartbeat only grew louder.

Duroa heard a rustling sound as if the beast was right in front of her.

The beast was slow, but it was moving away.

After waiting for a while, the fearful sound was completely gone.

It left.

Just as Duroa reassured herself, something flew her way.

The object hit through the bushes at the entrance and hit the wall of the shallow cave before falling onto the floor.

It was a stone, wet from the rain.

There was no room for doubt as to why it was thrown her way.

The howls were loud.

Enough to show off its presence, the sounds pierced through the rain.

Duroa held her breath and slowly raised her head.

The bushes blocking the front of the cave were quickly removed.

A few raindrops from the bushes splashed on Duroa’s face and the thunder rumbled loudly.

A black shadow showed up right in front of her.

It was a bear.

As proof it was a rare animal brought from outside, there was a third eye on its forehead. It was certainly not a beast.

Duroa stood up reflexively, but there was nowhere to run.

The bear bleeding from its shoulder looked very ferocious, and frightened or angry.

Her figure was accurately reflected in its fiercely shining eyes.

‘It won’t be able to see you because it’s an artifact that hides your presence from creatures who use black magic.’

Duroa remembered.

As Alice said, the only creature that could not see Duroa was the beast, and this creature in front of her wasn’t a beast, it was an animal without mana that could endanger her.

Incredible.

I came to the forest because I didn’t want to talk to Nocton Edgar, but now, being torn to death by a bear will be my end?

Can I say it’s better than being burned at the stake?

Prior to the fear, she found it unfair, but the bear in front of Duroa didn’t seem to be willing to listen to her complaints.

The bear raised its large front paws, wet from the rain.

Oddly enough, it didn’t feel real, and Duroa didn’t even close her eyes, she just stared blankly at the bear.

And then.

“Close your eyes.”

Duroa heard a soft voice and something covered her eyes.

Judging by the feel, it was probably a hand.

Cold fingers, wet from the rain.

At the same time, there was a strange sound, as if something cracked, a cry and then a loud roar.

The hand that was covering Duroa’s eyed didn’t budge, but the unusual sounds continued to make her feel even more anxious.

Unable to bear the anxiety, Duroa raised her hand and fumbled with the fingers covering her eyes.

It seemed as if those cold fingers twitched for a moment.

“…Nocton?”

“Don’t look.”

The hand covering Duroa’s eyes was stronger.

Then, there was a gurgling sound, as if something was flowing.

The heavy and unpleasant sound disappeared under the sound of the rain before Nocton pulled away his hand.

There was nothing in front of Duroa.

No rough and round paws, no bear, not even the bear’s corpse, nothing.

Duroa never saw Nocton wield a sword before, so why did he bring it when he wasn’t even participating in the contest?

While looking at Nocton in wonder, Duroa belatedly confirmed that his gaze was directed towards what she was holding.

It was the bracelet Alice left behind.

As soon as Duroa noticed the direction of his gaze, she came to her senses as if she was thrown in a cold lake.

Right.

The person in front of me is none other than Nocton Edgar.

“I couldn’t find you right away so you’re holding onto something strange again. Why the hell are you here?”

“I should… be the one asking questions. Why are the beasts here and how did you get here? What’s with that sword?”

“Stop using those obnoxious honorifics.”

(pr/n: she’s using formal speech and calling him Duke Edgar to distance herself from him)

“That doesn’t matter now!”

Duroa shouted in a moment of soaring irritation, then reflexively took a step back.

Again, it wasn’t because she was afraid. After the ball, Duroa wasn’t afraid of Nocton.

It was just a habit Duroa was used to.

The habit of being suspicious and fearing Nocton.

And yet, after she shouted like that, that frightened step back seemed ridiculous.

Although Nocton did not find it funny at all.