Chapter 117

Walter was wandering through the woods, all by himself.

Earlier while he was still with his hunting group, strange monsters suddenly appeared, and he soon fled, leaving behind the others.

However, considering what hes experiencing now, he was having second thoughts. Maybe it would have been better to stay together with them rather than escaping alone.

Walking alone in the woods seemed several times more dangerous.

Besides, whats with this squalid rain?

Ha, s.h.i.+ In the first place, I wasnt going to partic.i.p.ate in this hunting festival anyway.

Truthfully, he joined the hunt only because he trusted Leo.

Last time, at the funeral that House Carter had held, when Walter and Hermann went together with Leo

Leo was the one who approached them first.

Thanks to this, they also got to see the rare scene where the ducal ladies and the young dukes were gathered together.

Anyway.

Its for this reason that Walter thought Leo would have his back in this hunting festival.

Theres also a young lady hes been eyeing since before, so he was just planning to stick by Leos side while hunting, then hed bring back good enough game for her as a gift.

However, after the hunting festival first started, he couldnt find neither hair nor hide of Leo.

If Leo was there when the monster appeared, I wouldnt have needed to escape alone like this!

His lamentations were absurd, but at least Walter genuinely believed it.

He didnt know how long hed been wandering through the woods alone now, but then, he suddenly began to hear something rustling nearby.

Walter halted where he was and blinked.

Coming through the sound of the rain, this unusual rustling was not usually from an animal.

Earlier, those monsters.

Its obviously one of them.

Walter immediately crouched close to the ground just in case hed get caught. And, he held his breath.

However, despite such efforts, the heinous monster jumped out through the bushes and quickly found Walter. It rushed in at once.

Graaaah!

AACK! MOTHER!

When a blue monster that looked like a mad dog lunged at him, Walter fell on his behind.

And it would definitely not be enough even if he tried to defend himself as hard as he could, but he nonetheless sloppily drew out his swordbut raised his arms only to cover his eyes.

Wholly unable to wield that sword.

Meanwhile, the distance between the monster and Walter gradually narrowed.

Ah, Im going to die!

No matter how stupid he was, he could at least tell this much.

Through his now-glazed view, the sharp fangs of the monster were clearly visible.

However, its not Walter but the monster that collapsed first.

Whiiine.

The monster was right in front of him now as it bore its jagged teeth at him, but it suddenly fell to the side.

Thud!

When the monsters giant body fell, the wet soil splashed everywhere, accompanied by a loud sound.

There, sweeping her wet hair roughly up, the woman went on to stab the fallen monster with a longsword.

Without a moments hesitation.

Soon enough, the monster that had tried to rise to its feet again instead began to disintegrate into the air without a trace.

Walter gawked foolishly at the scene that had unfolded in front of him, and he belatedly noticed who exactly this woman was.

Ducal Lady Valentine?

When Walter uttered her name, Rosettas golden gaze turned to look at him, then she walked closer to him.

She brushed off the blue dust on the sword and approached him.

That sword, you know how to use it, right?

At the question thats spoken with a cold voice, Walter nodded.

Then thats enough. Aim for the heart of the blue monsters, thats their fatal spot. Dont just sit down like youre doing now, but immediately aim for their hearts. That will increase your chances of living.

This was all that Rosetta said.

After that, the woman did not offer a hand to Walter, who was still collapsed on the ground. She simply turned around.

However, she stopped somewhere for a moment.

With a closer look, it seemed like she had left a man there, leaning against one tree. She stopped to hoist him up and support him.

Walter hurriedly stood up from the ground and grabbed Rosetta.

EExcuse me! Please wait, Lady Valentine!

Unpleasantly, Rosetta turned at the unwelcome call.

What?

As they were closely facing each other now, Walter realized how breathtakingly beautiful the ducal lady was.

Looking at her with her face soaked by the rain, Walter strangely even found his throat feeling parched.

The man gulped dryly and continued.

Please take me with you. Im injured as well. Like the man next to you.

Its an obvious lie.

After he had faced two monsters with the group that he was with earlier, he realized how futile it was to fight. Regardless of how many times he cut them down, they just wouldnt die.

And thats why he was the first to flee from the group and run away alone.

Without a chance to get injured.

He felt pain in just one place now, and thats at his b.u.m and tailbone.

Rosetta looked at him with such glacier-like eyes, then she sighed briefly.

Im busy. Youll just be a nuisance.

Pardon me?

You know their weakness now, so it wouldnt be too difficult for you to deal with them. Youre one of the hunting festivals partic.i.p.ants, are you not? Perhaps a few knights or other n.o.bles would come down from the mountain. Join them.

After refusing him coldly, the woman soon began to reposition the man she was supporting, and she then carried him on her back.

Walter gawked once again.

How could a slender woman like her so easily carry a man who looked twice her size?

However, his shock was short-lived. More important issues still remained.

No, but Then you should at least take me there!

At his brazen request, which sounded more like an order, Rosetta raised one eyebrow.

How is it possible that everyone says the same thing?

After saving them, everyone just wants more and more, of course

Rosetta muttered quietly to herself, not exactly responding to Walters words anymore. She turned around and went on her way.

Ah no, please! Your Ladys.h.i.+p! Your Ladys.h.i.+p!

Walter shouted, but Rosetta just continued to quickly move away.

And so, Walter was left alone, stunned. Then, he stomped his feet out of frustration.

Oh, how stingy! Whats wrong with taking one more person with you? If you helped me, you should take responsibility. s.h.i.+

He grumbled for a long time, but he suddenly realized that somethings strange.

By the way, Ive never heard of the Ducal Lady being so strong that she could kill a monster without hesitation. And she could even travel down the mountain with a man who looks to be a head taller than me on her back

Now that he thought about it, it was also strange how she knew about the weakness of the monster in advance.

The shameless, childish man soon looked at the direction where Rosetta had disappeared. There was a mysterious look in his eyes.

And whats certain was this: despite being the benefactor who saved his life, his prolonged glance was of a different kind.

* * *

He knows now, so he should do well, right?

At Ca.s.sions question, which was accompanied by his harsh breathing, Rosetta nodded. She didnt stop running forward.

Yes, I also told him the blue monsters fatal point, so he should be fine. If you persistently kill them that way, itll be difficult for them to revive. Besides, all the monsters weve encountered until now have been going around alone.

This was not the first time that Rosetta had saved someone on her trek down the mountain.

Just now, that guy was already the fifth.

Normally, she would have just gone on while pretending that she didnt notice, but she couldnt bring herself to leave them alone. She kept thinking that the blue monsters were only here because of her.

Its not her fault, just as Ca.s.sion said. This was all the doing of that disgusting p.r.i.c.k who followed her here and summoned all these monsters.

Still, the more people get hurt by those blue monsters, the more uncomfortable she would be.

Despite the hectic situation she was already facing, whenever she encountered anyone whos in danger, she would stop in her tracks and help.

Funnily enough, however, they all said the same thing each time.

Take me with you.

Cant you take one more person with you?

Dont be so miserly, lets go together.

Whats even funnier was that, while they would say this, there was this certain look somewhere in their eyesdesire for her as the opposite s.e.x.

Its difficult to figure out just who the real beasts here were.

Ha Arent I heavy?

Ca.s.sions question made Rosetta grin.

This scenario and this question, its usually a cla.s.sic clich in any romance novel. However, its usually the woman whos being carried and whod ask.

Youre not heavy. Youre as light as cotton candy.

When Rosetta answered playfully, Ca.s.sion grinned as well.

On her back, the mans chest slightly puffed up as he laughed. Then, she felt it go back down again.

The area where they touched, through the wet fabric of their clothes, was both cold and hot.

Thats haa a relief. Still, as expected, you would have fared better if you left me there earlier haa

Though hindered by panting breaths, Ca.s.sions voice drew a smile on Rosettas face.

Still, she darted off with a stiff expression.

Just a while ago

Around the time that they departed from the cave.

Ca.s.sion told her to leave him there. Considering how injured he was, he said that hed only weigh her down.

However, Rosetta firmly shook her head.

You need to be brought down the mountain to get treated. Now.

His current condition was terrible. It wouldnt be good to leave him there alone.

The large gash on his back was serious, and because of the rain, his body temperature dropped increasingly.

Besides, there might still be some blue monsters wandering about.

Leaving Ca.s.sion was tantamount to forgetting about him completely, already expecting his death.

She couldnt possibly do that.

She could never turn a blind eye to Ca.s.sion and let him die.

It was a different feeling from when she was protecting Alicia.

This man protected her even though his entire body was left in shambles.

He was severely injured, and yet, this foolish man pushed the bonfire closer to her.

And, he was this strange man who just casually believed such a groundless story.

She wished for him to live, at any cost.

So, Rosetta carried him on her back.

Somehow or another, they would both reach the barracks together, and shed leave Ca.s.sions treatment to the priests. After that, she would go find Alicia on her own.

All she could hope was that Diana was holding up well.

So.

Saying things like, You should have left me behind, you should have gone alone. Dont even dare to say such foolish things. No, just dont talk, period. Youre wasting your strength.

Rosetta spoke thunderously, then clamped her mouth shut right after.

Evidently displeased, her furrowed eyebrows moved up and down for a moment.

On the other hand, Ca.s.sion smiled with his face buried in Rosettas shoulder.

And, with a blurry gaze, he peeked at his side.

The wound on his back had been feeling strange since a while ago.

While it was getting hotter and hotter even as it was being soaked by the rain, but even so, blood continued to flow down.

He just held back his groans, forcing himself to bite the inside of his cheek.

And he could only hope that his breathing didnt sound too erratic.

At the very least, he didnt want to hinder Rosetta any more than this.

Fortunately, Rosetta didnt notice Ca.s.sions strange condition.

Ca.s.sions breathing was still rough, just as it was in the cave.

Before he knew it, they were nearing the barracks already.

Rosetta paused for a moment, looking back towards the woods.

As she halted all of a sudden, Ca.s.sion flinched.

By any chance, did he get caught?

Whats wrong?

It was a question he painstakingly uttered normally.

Rosetta looked at the forest with a slightly grim gaze, but she soon shook her head and moved once again.

No, lets go.

Her golden eyes fluttered strangely.

Shes sure that Damians holding up well out there.

Unable to bring herself to voice her concern, Rosetta instead turned away from the forest.