HCDK 46

HCDK

Chapter : 46

“It’s a monster! A monster has appeared!”

Dust billowed up from between the trees, and a shrill, ear-splitting screech rang out.

From deeper within the forest, pairs of red eyes flashed as monsters revealed themselves.

“Knights! Follow me!”

“Yes, sir!”

Sirinyu, who had been approaching this way, drew his sword and charged toward the monsters like an arrow loosed from a bow.

The Grand Duke’s knights, clad in black-tinted armor, moved in perfect unison as they followed behind him.

Startled by the monsters, people screamed and ran toward their respective carriages.

I frantically looked around, trying to find mine.

“Why did I wander so far away?”

I hurried toward my carriage, which was far off in the distance.

Dressed in a gown, it wasn’t easy pushing through the panicked crowd.

Just then, someone grabbed my wrist from within the throng.

“Huh?”

When I turned my head, I saw that the person holding me was wearing a robe pulled low over their head.

They were smaller than me, so I thought they were probably a woman, but her grip was incredibly strong. I tried twisting my wrist free, but it was useless.

I shouted at her.

“Excuse me! My carriage is over there!”

“……”

She led me to a secluded corner of the forest. Since it didn’t seem to be where the monsters were, I wondered if she was trying to help me.

“Um…”

Just as I tried to speak to her, she let go of my wrist and vanished between the trees.

“What was that about?”

Still, there were no monsters here, and at least I’d avoided getting trampled by the crowd. Feeling relieved, I turned my head to check my surroundings.

“Grrr…”

At that moment, a low, growling breath came from behind a tree. A short distance away, I could see a monster standing there.

I sucked in a breath and shrank back. I needed to run before it noticed me.

The monster sniffed the air as if catching a scent, then sharply turned its head.

Before I could even move my feet, its gaze locked onto me.

Ah. I’m screwed.

With no other choice, I started running deeper into the forest.

The monster kicked off the ground on all fours, clearly intent on chasing me.

With more legs than me, there was no way I could outrun it. When I glanced back, the distance between us looked frighteningly small.

‘Wow… am I really going to die this time?’

As that thought crossed my mind, I failed to notice the stone beneath my feet and went tumbling to the ground.

Pain throbbed through my shoulder where I hit the earth.

“Ow…!”

My palms stung too, probably scraped when I slid.

As I forced strength into my legs and tried to stand, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.

‘Maybe… this could work.’

I fumbled in my pocket and pulled out the baton I’d kept inside.

It was the kind that extended when you pulled it out, like the telescopic batons police use, and it was made from peach tree wood.

I’d prepared it just in case of danger.

‘It’s do or die.’

I tightly gripped the handle, which was shaped for easy holding.

It seemed better to at least swing it clumsily than to get caught while running. That would give me a higher chance of survival.

Of course, I had no confidence. I’d never even practiced swordsmanship, let alone fought with weapons. I hadn’t even played sword fights with sticks as a kid. I’m a pacifist, okay…

So naturally, I wasn’t expecting to kill a monster with this.

But if I was lucky, I could probably hit somewhere on that huge body.

‘Then I’ll scare it and run.’

I couldn’t just sit there sniffling and waiting for someone to save me. I had to pull my own weight, at least a little.

I took an awkward stance, holding the baton. When I showed my intent to attack, the monster that had been charging on all fours stopped and straightened up.

“Ugh, that’s gross.”

The monster, looking like some mix between a werewolf and a beast, glared at me while growling.

“Grrr…”

Its glowing red eyes were horrifying. They were nothing like the red light I’d once seen in Sirinyu’s eyes.

‘Sirinyu…’

I recalled Sirinyu’s movements in my mind.

The way he stood holding his sword. The swing of his arms. The moment he kicked off the ground and charged.

I took a deep breath and stared straight at the monster.

Meanwhile, the monster lowered its body and slowly approached me step by step.

‘Let’s do this…’

I could feel my legs shaking violently, but I clenched my teeth and forced strength into my body.

I deliberately shouted loudly, as if I weren’t afraid at all.

“So what? Even if I die here, I’ll just go back to reality, you bastard. I’ve got nothing to be scared of right now!”

Wait—no, going back to the office might be a little scary.

‘……’

I shook my head, stopping my thoughts. The monster had come close and reached out toward me. At the same time, I ducked and avoided its arm.

The monster staggered after missing me.

‘Now!’

I sprang up and thrust the baton into the monster’s exposed waist.

At that moment, I felt something catch on the handle—my bracelet. My wrist movement was restricted, but I didn’t have time to care.

As the baton struck the monster’s waist, a loud sound rang out.

Bang!

The monster was blown away as if it had been struck by a massive hammer.

‘Please just die like that!’

Perhaps my wish reached the heavens. The monster twitched briefly after crashing to the ground, then turned into smoke and vanished.

“Yes!”

I jumped up and shouted triumphantly.

That actually worked? Do I… maybe have talent for combat? I’ve never heard that before, but maybe there’s some hidden setting?

I swung the baton through the air and rolled my shoulders.

“Come at me, you monster bastards! Ten or a hundred, I’ll take you all down!”

Midway through my boastful muttering, the smile vanished from my face.

Damn it. I didn’t mean to say something that sounded like a death flag.

This was worse than those comics where the enemy revives right after someone says, “Did we get them?”

“Grrr…”

From afar, far too many monsters to count were approaching, making unpleasant noises.

“…Okay, this is way too much.”

I carefully stepped backward, trying not to provoke them.

I admit it. Earlier was pure luck. With that many, there was no way I could fight them.

I tightly gripped the baton and bit my lip.

I’d look for an opening and run.

And if that didn’t work…

Well, I could only hope to die without too much pain.

My throat was bone-dry. Forcing myself to swallow, I glanced around for an escape route.

‘I don’t see any way out…’

Just then, a familiar voice called out.

“Miss Selene!”

“Noel?!”

It was Noel’s voice, coming from afar. Hearing the voice of a reliable ally made my eyes sting with tears.

But something felt off.

Even though Noel’s voice rang out loudly, the monsters didn’t take their eyes off me.

If anything, they sniffed the air unpleasantly and closed the distance even more.

At this rate, the monsters would reach me before Noel did.

‘Even if I can’t help, at least don’t hold him back.’

Lowering my expectations significantly, I firmly readjusted my grip on the baton and straightened my back. I planned to buy as much time as possible until Noel arrived.

‘Please… just hit once more.’

Just one more burst of gale-like courage!

I swung the baton at the monster charging closest to me.

This one seemed more cautious than the previous one and leaned back after seeing my movement.

I ended up slicing through empty air and felt my body sway violently.

‘Ah, damn it.’

As my body pitched forward, I clicked my tongue inwardly. After someone came to save me, was this really how it was going to end?

My body had already tilted too far forward to recover my balance.

“Stay down.”

At just the right moment, a low, calm voice sounded from behind me.

For some reason, I really wanted to obey. I immediately dropped to the ground.

Not because I was being obedient like a puppy—but because my legs had given out.

The owner of the voice stepped in front of me and swung his arm widely.

A large, sharp sword cut through the monsters in an instant.

With a single swing, the monsters turned into smoke and disappeared.

“Are you playing house? What are you doing all the way out here with a toy?”

“…Your Grace!”

Sirinyu spoke as he turned back toward me, the hazy smoke behind him.

Though his gaze was icy, he didn’t forget to extend his hand toward me as I sat on the ground.

I took Sirinyu’s hand and stood up.

“Tha—”

Before I could finish thanking him, Sirinyu turned away and walked toward the remaining monsters. The knights Noel had brought were already engaging them.

“Miss Selene, are you all right?”

Noel waved at me as he strode confidently through the monsters.

“Be careful!”

I worried the monsters might attack Noel, but they didn’t even glance at him as he passed by.

It was strange. Even while being pierced by the knights’ swords, the monsters’ eyes remained fixed on me.

Watching the scene, Noel tilted his head.

“What’s wrong with the monsters?”

I had no idea either, so I couldn’t answer.

Noel looked at me, then rested a finger against his chin.

“What could be the cause?”

“Well, I’m not sure either…”

As I tilted my head in confusion, Noel studied me closely, then smiled gently.