~Chapter 57~
“Aaaah!”
Aisha’s scream echoed loudly through the forest.
“Blood…!”
Killian looked down at her in panic. Aisha blankly touched her own face and muttered.
Fortunately, the arrow had missed.
It only left a deep wound across her soft cheek.
But there was no time to even be shocked.
The sound of more arrows whistling through the air filled their ears, and Killian gripped the reins tightly, urging the horse forward.
The arrows that missed thudded into the ground with noises like raindrops.
“This… this crazy—!”
“Keep your head down!”
The moment Killian shouted, Aisha ducked. He spurred the horse like a madman, charging straight toward the direction the arrows came from.
“Kyaaah!”
Then, within seconds, Killian grabbed Aisha tightly by the waist and leapt off the horse.
“Ugh…!”
Aisha hit the ground hard, staggering as she raised her head. In front of her stood Killian, sword drawn.
And rushing at him were men in black clothes.
“There are too many of them…!”
Even at a glance, there were over ten. Clearly, they were Roselia’s assassins.
Could Killian win while protecting someone useless like her?
She wanted to help somehow, but she couldn’t. The best she could do was stay out of his way.
‘Damn it… Roselia, you crazy witch!’
While Aisha trembled in fear, watching Killian—
Clang!
With the unpleasant sound of metal clashing, several men collapsed helplessly.
Killian’s face was already splattered with blood.
But he didn’t stop. If anything, he fought even more desperately, swinging his sword without hesitation.
“Behind you! Behind you!”
Aisha shouted in warning. But Killian already knew. He spun quickly, grabbed the attacker by the collar, and used the man’s body as a shield against incoming arrows.
Killian’s sword moved like a dance.
Even though Aisha knew nothing of swordsmanship, she understood at once.
This was how Killian had survived until now.
This was why people called him a war hero.
Aisha forgot her pain, staring blankly at him as he cut down enemies one after another.
“Killian Winters…!”
Soon, only one masked man remained alive.
His eyes were filled with fear and terror.
Killian, on the other hand, shook the blood off his sword, his face showing no emotion—only deep anger.
“For a gift prepared for me, this is far too weak. At least a hundred men should’ve been sent. Don’t you think so?”
The assassin said nothing. Then, gripping his sword tighter, he charged.
“Die, Killian Win—!”
But Killian was faster.
With a single strike, the man’s head flew, blood gushing like a fountain. Killian looked down at the corpse silently.
‘Ah…’
Yes.
This was Killian Winters.
The man she knew.
The man she had once hated so much.
Killian’s eyes turned toward her.
Aisha, sitting weakly on the ground, flinched and trembled.
Killian gave her a small smile, just like when they had spoken earlier.
But it wasn’t the same smile—it wasn’t amused.
It looked… hurt.
Aisha’s gaze wavered.
Yes, Killian was always like this. But if he hadn’t fought today, she would have died.
If not for him, it would be her corpse lying on the ground now.
And besides…
‘The Killian Winters I’ve seen isn’t just cruel and ruthless.’
People had many sides.
Just as Aisha once wrote with justice in mind, yet later used Killian’s name to publish a magazine after she transmigrated.
Killian was the same.
The war demon.
The man who joked endlessly.
The skilled killer.
The man who once covered her with his coat so she wouldn’t feel cold.
Aisha stared at him silently, then struggled to her feet.
“…Aisha?”
Killian instinctively hid his bloody sword behind his back as she approached.
She had been so afraid, looking at him like the others always did.
So why was she coming closer now?
Confused, Killian froze. Aisha stopped in front of him and slowly spoke.
“Thank you.”
“…What?”
“If not for you, I would have died here.”
“….”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“…No.” Killian muttered briefly.
“As you can see, I’m good at this kind of fight.”
“….”
“You’re the one who’s hurt.”
“Ah.”
Aisha touched her bleeding cheek. Sticky blood stained her hand.
“It really hurts.”
Killian couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Couldn’t tell how she was looking at him, covered in blood.
But right now, what mattered was not how she saw him—only how he could keep her safe.
“Even after this, you still won’t go back?”
“…Go back?”
“To the Winters estate.”
Aisha hesitated.
“This was nothing. In the worst case, you’ll see something far worse.”
“….”
“Even then… will your mind stay the same?”
Killian didn’t know what he wanted.
He wanted her safe.
But at the same time… he wanted her to say she would stay with him no matter what.
Even knowing how cruel he was.
So Killian stayed silent, his eyes carrying a faint trace of sorrow as he looked at her.
“I…”
Finally, Aisha lowered her voice and began to speak.
