Chapter 63
“Yes.”
“If we get caught…” Melody’s voice was faint.
Awhin was not the type to let them go free, even if they had fought together. Deonis looked out into the dark forest.
“If we get caught, we may never leave this forest alive.”
“…”
“But if we don’t get caught, then it doesn’t matter.”
Melody bit her dry lips. Deonis’s voice came again.
“You said you wanted to save them.”
He lowered her carefully at the place where the footprints had stopped, as if setting down a precious treasure.
“Then let’s save them.”
It sounded as if he was risking danger just for her sake, and Melody’s heart wavered. She turned her face away, unable to look at him.
“Try activating the magic tool.”
“If I use it at night, the monsters that like light will come.”
“Don’t worry. Not one of them will touch you.”
She trusted him. Melody nodded and activated the device. With a whoosh, a white light shot upward and burst in the sky.
“Beautiful.”
But Deonis was not looking at the light. His eyes were on Melody. She didn’t notice, too busy watching the tool.
The short burst of light faded, and soon, an eerie sound surrounded them—things crawling closer. Monsters had gathered. Deonis stepped forward to block them.
“It’s been a while. I don’t know how well I’ll do.”
Darkness swirled in his hand. Rough, black energy rushed out toward the monsters.
Crack! Dozens of insect-like monsters froze instantly. His power was overwhelming.
At the same time, Melody’s device spread its detection field wider and wider, pushing away the darkness.
“I—I found them!” she cried.
Not too far away, small green dots clustered together.
They followed the direction until they found a rocky area surrounded by thick bushes.
“Duke Deonis?!”
A shocked voice rang out from beyond a large boulder. It was Rohan. Limping from an injured leg, he walked toward Deonis.
“You’re alive.”
“I am glad to see you again.”
“Yes.”
One by one, knights emerged from the hollow beneath the rock. There were about twenty survivors, a mix of the Holy Knights and the Duke’s men.
“How did you find us?”
“With a magic tool.”
Deonis gestured toward Melody. Eyes turned to her, and she smiled faintly.
“Even during the Kelt Ant fight, you helped us. I owe you again.”
One holy knight bowed deeply to her, and the others followed.
“Let’s leave this place first. We’ll talk later,” Deonis said.
Everyone nodded.
“At last, we’re leaving this cursed place,” someone muttered with relief.
They returned to the ruins. The noise woke Dering, who blinked in surprise at the survivors. Talia’s eyes widened too.
“The goddess has truly blessed us…!”
“Sir Rohan! Everyone! You’re alive! I’m so damn glad!”
Talia’s face lit up as she hugged Rohan and the others one by one.
“Captain…!”
“…I’ve returned. How did you discover them?” Awhin asked.
“We found them not far from where the tracks had stopped. The magic tool worked,” Deonis replied briefly.
“So, the two of you went out and came back together.”
Awhin looked puzzled that only they had gone.
“I asked him. I wasn’t sure if the tool would work,” Melody explained.
“…I see.”
His voice was calm, but there was a faint trace of disappointment. Awhin looked at her for a moment before turning away.
Then one knight cautiously asked, looking at the five of them,
“But… where is the rest of the search party?”
Talia grinned, pointing her thumb at herself.
“There is no other search party. Isn’t the five of us enough?”
“What?! So reinforcements didn’t come?”
The knight’s eyes widened. No matter how skilled they were, it was hard to believe only five had come to rescue them.
“Yes. It’s just us,” Talia said proudly.
“The goddess must have guided you to us,” another knight said, relieved.
They began talking excitedly, sharing how they had been chased and scattered by monsters, then dug into the earth to hide. But when they mentioned the comrades who had died, the mood turned heavy.
“Two of our men fell. If only I hadn’t insisted on going that way… they would still be alive.”
The knight’s voice was thick with regret.
“It is no one’s fault. Do not blame yourself,” Deonis said firmly.
“…Yes, my lord.”
Then he looked around at everyone.
“After we rest, we will restore the barrier stone and return to the territory.”
“Yes, sir!”
Their voices rang clear, filled with determination to survive.
* * *
While restoring the barrier stones, Awhin’s mind was unsettled.
“This side is finished!” Dering shouted cheerfully.
“Fortunately, no monsters had taken over this place yet.”
“Yes…”
“You should’ve seen me against that Grizzlyfang! I cut its leg, and it stumbled. Everyone thought it would crush us! But then I threw the magic chain around its neck and pulled—its head went flying!”
“So in the end, you only cut its ankle?” another knight teased.
Dering snorted.
“It was me who stabbed the blade into its still-beating heart.”
He bragged loudly, but Awhin barely heard. His eyes were on Melody, who was busy inspecting the barrier stone.
Awhin knew Melody found him difficult to approach. Reverence, and distance—that was how most people treated the Holy Knights. He had grown used to it.
With his tall frame and stern expression, he knew he didn’t seem approachable.
But what bothered him was how Melody had chosen Deonis three times.
The first two times, he told himself, were because Deonis was wounded. But last night, when she needed power, she still chose Deonis over him—even though Awhin was uninjured.
She had worked longer in the temple than with the Duke’s family, yet she treated Deonis without hesitation.
That thought gnawed at him.
Why…?
He only wanted to be of help. No—he wanted her to look to him first when she needed someone. Just as he had thought of her in what he believed were his final moments.
What a foolish desire that was.
He turned his head—and saw Deonis already standing at her side.
Duke Deonis.
Awhin had never paid much attention to him before. But he had always known the man was unusual—not just for his strength, but because he never accepted healing for his wounds.
And now, watching him closely on this expedition, Awhin felt something even stranger. It wasn’t only that Deonis refused healing.
It was as if he avoided divine power itself.
