Chapter 89

Chapter 89

The monster-killing mission of the Imperial Elite Knights was in full swing.

Hizen and Leasis were at the center. The two were fighting on the front line of the battlefield, and Hizen was teaching her swordsmanship whenever he had time.

Leasis quickly mastered Hizen’s swordsmanship, like a sponge absorbing water. The more she fought, the hotter her heart became. Her outstanding skills and straight beliefs were always making people excited. They were thinking that this knight would be the sun shining throughout the Empire.

The only special treatment that Leasis had was about sleeping. Hizen treated her equally as a member of the Knights, but gave her consideration as a woman by putting her in a different place.

Leasis’ presence was a blessing in many ways. Not only did the knights improve their morale thanks to her, but she was also helping them establishing tactics.

If Hizen had to plan strategies with Max before, now there were three people together.

“The Betnin jungle… It’s not a good situation.”

Hizen and Leasis agreed with Max. The three people in the barracks were troubled as they looked at a large map on the table.

The next battle was in the Betnin jungle. In the meantime, the Knights had formed a wide siege to lure monsters and catch them, but here, they had to find other ways. This was because the Betnin jungle was full of living thorn vines.

As Leasis and Hizen worried about it, the crossbow came to their mind. Wouldn’t it be possible to compensate for the difficulties of the terrain by setting up a place in advance and shoot with a crossbow while hiding?

In addition, the crossbow, which had been recently invented by wizards, was easy to manipulate, so knights could use it with ease.

The two people finished thinking and opened their mouths at the same time.

“We hide and use a crossbow.”

“Why don’t we hide and use a crossbow?”

What? The two blinked as they faced each other. We did not even discuss it beforehand, so how did we get it right?

Max clapped his hands, liking the suggestion.

“That’s a good idea!”

“Yes.”

“That’s true.”

This time again, their words came out at the same time. Surprised, the two shut their mouths. Joyful, Max folded the map unknowingly.

*

*

*

Leasis left the barracks and headed to a small house nearby. As the knights were working on the monster killing mission, they happened to meet the commoners during the days.

Hizen was not very honest. He pretended to be relieved, then suddenly disappeared during mealtime, and returned a few minutes later with a lot of blood on his face.

As a result, the residents of the nearby village were surprised and prepared a bath for him, and so he unintentionally stayed there overnight.

Hizen had declined strongly, but he was unable to refuse Max and the knights’ request to go and let them take care of the camp, as it was already late.

“As expected of Hizen-nim.’

He was more affectionate than anyone. Leasis sat on a worn-out swing and smiled. Despite the chilly autumn weather, she felt warm thanks to Hizen.

Leasis recently learned one more thing about Hizen. Why Hizen was so feisty.

He was worried that others might get hurt, even a little, and he was therefore focusing all his attention on preventing that from happening. That’s why he was so sensitive.

A cute girl ran from the small house. She was a child who particularly liked Leasis, who had made wooden toys for her.

“Miu.”

“Knight Unnie, are you leaving now?”

“Yes. I’ll come again later.”

Leasis whispered affectionately while hugging the girl. Then the girl nodded in her arms.

The girl moved out of Leasis’ arms and went behind her. Then she moved her small hands, saying that she was going to push the swing.

“It’s okay. You’ll get hurt.”

“No! I’ll push you.”

The swing moved slightly. Leasis held the swing string with both hands and smiled.

But what is his familiar feeling?

[I’ll push you.]

[Idiot. I don’t want to!]

The faint auditory hallucination made Leasis hold her breath. I’m sure this has happened. I’m sure in the past…

“Lea.”

“Leasis.”

As she raised her head, she saw Hizen and Iddahak. Hizen reached out and put his hand on her forehead.

She was sweating profusely. Hizen could not hide his worries. She had not looked well in the last escort mission, and she was still not feeling better. He hurriedly asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s because of you.”

It was not the correct person that answered the question. Iddahak answered bluntly and struck the hand on Leasis’ forehead.

Hizen’s straight eyebrows were distorted. They looked at each other and blinked. They thought that anyway, the other one was a bad guy.

“Knight Unnie, are you okay?”

Leasis slowly got up and hugged Miu.

The knights who had taken a crossbow hid in the dreary jungle. They were even holding their breath, waiting for Hizen’s instructions.

Leasis, hiding on the other side of Hizen, bit her lips. Unlike usual, she had a hard time focusing. To the point that it seemed too much to carry out her mission here.

She had had strange dreams since she was on the swing. Dreams about a red-haired man and a little girl. She had the same dream repeatedly, and came up with some hypotheses. She wondered if it was her younger self with her father.

Leasis gave no strength to her hand holding the crossbow. After this mission, she wanted to find out about her past. She had never been curious, but now it was different. She could not stop the questions coming to her mind.

‘My father and my mother… Who were they? Why did they abandon me?’

Or maybe they had no choice but to abandon me. Leasis’ eyes darkened. Setchen and Iddahak, who were on both sides of her, were restless.

Recently, Leasis’ condition had been very strange. The skin under her eyes was dark, she could not sleep properly, her face was emaciated, and her skin had become rough. When they asked her what was going on, she just said she was okay.

Setchen and Iddahak were worried but could not say anything. They just trusted her and waited for her as usual.

There was a faint white glow on the other side. It was Hizen’s signal to start. Leasis and the knights all stood up and shot the crossbows straight ahead.

A group of orcs, who were passing through the jungle, struggled with pain and fell. The knights put away their crossbows and lifted their swords to kill them.

But there were two orcs running away. They were exceptionally large and had a black gemstone on their foreheads.

Leasis did not miss it. She shouted when she saw the two orcs passing in front of her.

“I’ll follow them!”

Leasis followed the orcs into the jungle. After chasing them so hecticly, she arrived into the deepest part of the forest.

She was walking around, lighting up her surroundings with her sword.

Shot!

Leasis turned reflexively and avoided two flying arrows. Could it be that the two orcs ran away with their crossbows and arrows?

She bit her lips and looked around. However, it was difficult to see anything because thorn vines had tied her feet and even filled her vision with hazy smoke.

Leasis hurriedly took out her second sword and looked around.

‘I can’t see anything!

Arrows kept flying at her. She managed to escape using her swords and reflexes, but she was attacked from both sides.

Shot!

I didn’t avoid it! Leasis opened her mouth to the sound of an arrow shot behind her back. But she could not feel the pain she expected.

Badump badump. The sound of a strong heartbeat rang in her ears. Strong arms were holding her as if to protect her, and a familiar voice rang from above her head.

“Where did your mind go?”

“C-commander-nim…”

Hizen loosened his left arm around Leasis and looked around. There was an arrow stuck in his right shoulder.

His black uniform was torn, and blood was dripping through the sleeve. Leasis hurriedly tried to use healing magic, but Hizen was already holding a sword in each hand. An orc was still hiding and threatening them.

Hizen could not immediately remove the arrow to be healed and stop the bleeding. He spoke with an expressionless face.

“Leasis. Stand back to back with me.”

“Yes!”

Leasis, who had suddenly come to her senses, put her back next to Hizen’s. Hizen stared at the quiet forest.

“You’re smart, and you remember the shadow-killing training. It’s the same as then. Either way, as soon as you see it, put energy under your feet, press down on the vines and run. The goal is the gemstone stuck in their foreheads.”

“Okay.”

An arrow flew as soon as she answered. White energy emanated from under the boots of Hizen and Leasis, and the thorn vines there got crushed and started to decompose helplessly.

The two ran and swung their swords in the direction the arrow flew in.

Slash!

Hizen’s sword hit the orc’s forehead properly. He hurriedly turned and looked at Leasis. Fortunately, she seemed to have also succeeded safely.

Throwing the swords she had in both hands, she gasped and looked at Hizen.

“Commander-nim, the arrow in your shoulder…”

“It’s all right.”

Hizen spoke calmly and pulled the arrow off his shoulder. As blood spurted, Leasis was surprised and used healing magic on him.

His blue eyes, which looked down at her, did not shake a little. He spoke in a low voice.

“I’m more concerned about the woman in front of me than about the arrow.”

The worried words stung her heart. Leasis murmured that it was nothing and that she was okay.

“If I ask you if you’re hurt, you say you’re not. It’s okay to say it. Now I’d like you to tell me what’s on your mind.”

“What do you think? You are wiser than me, so won’t you tell me?”

Leasis lowered her head, lifting her hand from Hizen’s shoulder, which had stopped bleeding. Hot tears fell on her cheeks.

“I keep seeing my father and my younger self in my dreams.”

Hizen hardened at the unexpected words. Leasis murmured as she wiped her tears with her sleeves.

“I don’t know. What kind of parents gave birth to me and why they had to abandon me in an orphanage…”

The tears she had hold back continued to flow on her cheeks. She had just thought that being born in the world was a blessing and had tried to be happy. However, such thoughts had now collapsed and her heart ached. She felt like the beliefs with which she had endured everything were shaking.

It was a strange feeling. In particular, it might be fate that she could not be with Hizen. Iddahak’s words and the images from the Cave of Prophecy did not leave her mind.

“What kind of person I am… I really don’t know. I am…”

At that time, Hizen said firmly.

“You are the knight Leasis fighting for the weak.”

What followed was a strong voice that made her forget her worries.

“You like all four seasons, and you appreciate every little thing. You are not picky about food, but you especially like meat and seafood. Your favorite music is Brims Piano Sonata No. 2, 1st movement. We’ll go together when the mission is over.”

Hizen smiled, carefully wiping her eyes with both hands.

“You like tidy and clean things, and you’re more sensible than anyone else. But your favorite thing is Hizen Ben Dratius and the history books related to him.”

Leasis stared up blankly at Hizen. Hizen whispered, facing her with warm eyes.

“If you still don’t know, I can tell you more. I’ll tell you until you’re satisfied, to the point of boredom.”

Why? Why was Hizen doing this for her? Leasis could not understand.

Why a person who shined like Hizen was worried, getting hurt, and trying so hard for her?

“Why are you doing this for me…”

“Why not?”

Hizen smiled as if the dark jungle were turning bright.

“There’s nothing I won’t do for the woman I love.”

“Showing personal feelings while performing a mission is a violation of the rules. No matter how hard the mission was, it is punishable and the fine is one gold per hour. I will pay it fairly when I get back to the Imperial Palace. Of course, your part too.”

After finishing talking, Hizen wrapped his arms around Leasis’ waist and kissed her. She was a little surprised, but soon responded passionately with her tiptoes up.

They did not even know if the knights nearby who came looking for them were watching. Setchen dropped to the ground at the explicit sight.

“Noona and the Count-nim are hugging…”

“No. They’re kissing.”

Iddahak narrowed his eyes, correcting Setchen’s words. Even from afar, her excitement and happiness felt hot.

‘I can’t stop it.’

Iddahak covered his eyes with both hands. He could not see the scene when he thought about what was going to happen.

Meanwhile, Max and Jason sighed, covering the mouths of the chatting knights.