Chapter 36……………………………………..
“Were you here, Your Highness the Crown Prince?”
Late at night, the one who approached Spinel as he gazed down over the Wushi Plains was his adjutant, Rios.
“Ah, Rios. Are the preparations going well?”
“Do not worry. This operation will succeed without fail.”
“Did I seem worried?”
“Pardon?”
Spinel let out a laugh as if Rios were amusing.
“Success… I believe I heard that exact word two months ago. If an ambush that happens once in fifty years failed, wouldn’t this one be even harder?”
“Th-that… The Mano Fran army showed unexpected strength in the last battle, but this time will be different. We can definitely succeed.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“No matter how much of a Swordmaster Sapeiros may be, this time he won’t be able to stop us. The Mano Fran army lost most of their elite cavalry in the previous ambush. Meanwhile, our side now has Your Highness joining us, so…”
“Ah, that reminds me.”
Spinel’s expression turned icy.
“Why couldn’t you restrain yourself and launched a preemptive attack before I arrived with the main force?”
“I-I only thought it would be troublesome for Your Highness, so I tried to clear things out in advance…”
“If you hadn’t been greedy, the precious magic soldiers of Roviana would not have died like dogs.”
Cold rebukes poured down upon Rios, who kept bowing repeatedly.
“And is that all? Because of your crushing defeat, we had to increase our forces and come ourselves. We’re two months behind schedule.”
Rios swallowed hard at the irritation and distrust thickly settled in Spinel’s blue eyes.
“I apologize, Your Highness. But…”
“Enough.”
Spinel waved a hand, clearly unwilling to hear more.
“I expect there will be no further mistakes.”
He gripped Rios’s shoulder tightly as he spoke.
“Ugh… Yes, Your Highness.”
There is no mercy for anyone who dares stop his steps toward Rosie.
Once we occupy the Marquisate of Mano, I’ll execute him first.
With that thought, Spinel turned without hesitation and headed back to his tent.
Dawn finally arrived, bright enough to barely make out objects.
The marquisate, once a tiny speck in the distance, had grown large enough that they now had to look up at it.
It was the result of Adamas and Sapeiros, deeply worried for Privetina’s safety, walking through the desert without a moment of sleep.
Just as Adamas was feeling relieved that they were almost there, the sound of bells rang out from the marquisate.
“Wow… I think we really made it. I can even hear the bells.”
Ding— Ding— Ding— Ding—
“Ros, why do you look like that?”
The bell echoed through the silent desert dawn.
Adamas had been vaguely thinking they must have used good materials to make such a clear sound, when Sapeiros spoke in a trembling voice.
“…Mas. The bell rang four times.”
His eyes were bloodshot.
“Huh? So what?”
“We need to go back. Now.”
He grabbed Adamas’s hand tightly.
“W-wait—hey! You’re just grabbing my hand now? Gah—what, what are you doing?!”
Why are you carrying me like a sack of beans?!
“We run. Hold onto my shoulders.”
Sapeiros inhaled deeply.
“W-what? Hey—AAAAH!”
And then he began running at an absolutely impossible speed.
“S-slow down! I’m gonna throw up! Hey!”
What… what is this speed?!
No, more importantly—why is he rushing so much?
As if reading Adamas’s thoughts, Sapeiros panted as he spoke.
“Mas. Remember this. Three rings means golems. Four rings means enemy invasion.”
“What? Don’t tell me Roviana’s army attacked? The bell isn’t ringing by mistake?”
“When the danger is cleared, they ring twice. But right now… they keep ringing four times repeatedly.”
A signal for soldiers to gather, and civilians to stay inside.
Sapeiros’s breathing was ragged. His face was drenched in sweat, but he did not stop.
“We must reach the marquisate as quickly as possible. I’ll go faster.”
“Y-you can go even faster than this?!”
Before Adamas could finish speaking, Sapeiros moved with terrifying speed.
“…AAAAAAH!”
The roar of wind buzzed in Adamas’s ears.
Is this what an arrow feels like once it leaves the bow?
Adamas had a ridiculous thought as he clung to Sapeiros’s shoulder.
The bell tower continued ringing four times over and over.
When Sapeiros finally returned at full speed, he set Adamas down in front of the log cabin.
“Ugh… bleh.”
Adamas dropped to all fours, trying desperately to calm his racing heart.
And then—
Someone opened the door.
Privetina stood there, hair disheveled, eyes red with exhaustion, alongside the still annoyingly handsome Pantheon and Stephan brothers.
“…Mas! Thank goodness. Really… thank goodness.”
Privetina wiped tears as she repeated how relieved she was.
But the joy of reunion was brief.
Her voice trembled at the continuing bell.
“B-but Mas, Sir Sapeiros… the bells…”
Privetina, as someone raised in the marquisate, knew exactly what they meant.
“Adamas. Stay here. Do not move. Lady Privetina, you too remain here.”
Still breathing heavily, Sapeiros pushed past them and rushed inside to prepare for battle.
“I’m coming too.”
Adamas spoke shakily as he helped Sapeiros put on his chain armor.
“It’s dangerous.”
“Ros… why are you acting like this now? Our first meeting was already dangerous.”
“Why are you so desperate to die?”
“What would I even do living in a marquisate without you?”
You probably couldn’t live anyway.
A community of fate.
That was how Adamas defined their relationship.
Two people crossing a violent sea in a single worn-out boat.
Rain or wind—it didn’t matter.
They had to endure together.
“So let’s go together, Ros.”
Sapeiros widened his eyes, then quietly nodded.
“…Fine. Get ready.”
He gave permission.
Adamas quickly dropped his heavy bag and began packing only light clothing.
“I-I want to go too! Me too!”
Privetina raised her hand.
“I haven’t done anything worthy of a mercenary. And Roviana is invading. I want to fight for the marquisate too.”
“Uh… Tina, it would be better if you stayed here.”
Adamas stopped packing, met her eyes, and smiled gently.
“Please take care of the cabin.”
He slowly brushed her brown hair back.
Privetina was destined to become Nix Tina, the brave mercenary king.
Of course she wanted to help her homeland.
But Adamas shook his head firmly.
“Tina… think about why you didn’t win the tournament. And you’re currently a runaway, aren’t you? Let’s leave this to Sapeiros and the Mano Fran army.”
“It’s fine. My family will probably make excuses and avoid fighting anyway.”
Privetina bit her lip, looking miserable.
“Rumors will spread.”
“Then I will ask the fighters for their understanding.”
A reckless statement.
Sapeiros hesitated, then faced her directly.
“If you go to war, you will no longer be Lady Onyx.”
Did she have the courage to abandon her family?
Adamas understood.
This moment was the beginning of a new history.
“That is what I have always wanted.”
Her tear-bright brown eyes shone.
“…Very well. Then wear a mask and come with me to the marquis’s estate. Your participation will only be possible if the Marquis grants permission.”
“Yes!”
Privetina shouted brightly, smiling even as tears continued to fall.
Adamas offered silent thanks to the god who had brought him here.
“Alright, then!”
Adamas clapped his hands and turned to Pantheon and Stephan, who had been watching quietly.
“Since things have come to this, you two should pack quickly and leave the marquisate.”
“Why should we leave?”
“What do you mean? You heard everything! Roviana invaded! A war could break out any moment!”
The brothers exchanged glances.
“We’re going too.”
“…What? Why?”
Adamas frowned.
“Because we are also citizens of the Francis Empire.”
“Pantheon, ask any passerby. Who in their right mind joins a battle in a marquisate they have no ties to just because they share nationality?”
Adamas scoffed.
Even the Emperor wouldn’t send reinforcements.
What nonsense is this?
“Thank you for traveling the desert with us, and for bringing Tina back safely. But value your lives and leave quickly.”
Adamas spoke firmly.
Adamas was right, Sapeiros agreed.
“Thank you,” Privetina also said.
“Alright, you heard him. Desert expedition dismissed.”
They were suspicious brothers of unknown origin, and the older one seemed slightly strange…
But Adamas still wanted to part with a brighter face.
“It wasn’t exactly fun together. Maybe we’ll meet again someday, but… good work.”
“…Still, we will go with you.”
Pantheon repeated his intention.
Adamas’s brow crumpled.
Sapeiros quietly looked at Pantheon.
Adamas gave a crooked smile.
“I’ll be honest. We can’t trust you. You never revealed who you really are.”
“‘We’? Who is that? Isn’t this just your personal judgment? Are you suspecting me and Stephan of being spies?”
“I don’t think you’re from Roviana. But outsiders joining this battle for no clear reason… I don’t want to entrust my back to such people.”
Sapeiros drew his longsword in an instant, pointing it at Pantheon’s throat.
“If you value your life, leave the marquisate now. If you follow us anyway… I will cut you down.”
