[Rodrigo’s POV]

“I just can’t make it.”

During the break, Anheine came to visit Rodrigo.

“What do you mean?”

“Can we go a little slower?”

Are you aware that you are a hostage? Rodrigo was displeased with Anheine, who told him to delay the schedule as if it was not enough to proudly ask for a carriage.

If not for Estiya…

Rodrigo clenched his fists and released them for a moment, imagining throwing Anheine somewhere in the woods.

“No way.”

Anheine bit her lower lip in resolute refusal.

“Sir Rodrigo, it’s not just because I’m having a hard time. Look at the others.”

Anheine pointed to the soldiers resting. They looked exhausted, as Anheine said.

“So what?”

Rodrigo asked calmly.

“What?”

“They’re tired. So what do you want me to do? We contacted His Majesty that we would arrive in the capital within a week. Are you saying we should ignore it and take it easy?”

“If a person is having a hard time…”

“How many people do you think will be exhausted when we march at this rate?”

“Te, Ten?”

“It’ll be a hundred at the most.”

“You know everything, don’t you? A lot of people are having a hard time.”

Rodrigo is now annoyed. I was in a good mood when I remembered Estiya, who was sleeping next to me last night during break time.

“What do you think will happen if we dilly-dally and go up to the capital late? His Majesty may regard it as treason and exterminate us.”

Stupid woman. Unnecessarily compassionate.

Rodrigo turned coldly. I could see Anheine lowering her head, but I didn’t care. He got right on the horse.

“Let’s go.”

At his voice, the soldiers who had been resting moved busily. I wish I could run a little and get to the campsite sooner. As soon as he entered the barracks, he was going to run to Estiya.

***

Billian grabbed Loa and ran. I covered the Billian and the Loa and resisted Gilter’s attack. It was not that Gilter failed to get a promotion, but he didn’t do it on purpose. The workmanship was not normal. In terms of swordsmanship alone, he was one step ahead of Ether and Eyla.

TL/N: Welp I’m sorry guys spoke too soon, seems like Loa is innocent for now LOL.

“You know what, Estiya?”

Unlike us, who were tired from hunting monsters once, Gilter was lively. Gilter asked with his sword in his hand.

“What? That you’re acting crazy right now?”

Smirking, Gilter drew the corners of his mouth and laughed. Gilter, resembling Schubert, resembles a croissant with cheap butter. At first glance, it looks delicious, but up close it is not.

TL/N: Estiya has the funniest analogies man.

“It doesn’t matter if you get hurt or die in class.”

I know it well. So I was worried when I told Gilter that I had to take a class together. I pushed out Gilter’s sword and widened the distance.

“Sister, hurry up!”

Billian, who was on his way, put Loa down for a while and shouted.

If he has time, run away quickly and not hide anywhere!

Sure enough, Gilter threw a bomb at Billian missing a moment’s break.

I should have hit his wrist before dropping the bomb!

I swung my sword as I watched Gilter pull out another bomb. The sound of a bomb exploding and the sound of swords hitting each other resounded at the same time. I hope Billion managed to escape with Loa.

“Are you out of your mind? Do you want to die?”

“Oh, let’s all die. Ah! Except for me.”

Gilter’s eyes lit up. He’s not normal now. A club is the cure for a madman. It was not easy to overpower Gilter, perhaps because I neglected training, or whether it was Gilter who was very talented. I was worried about Loa. But I couldn’t look back.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this day? Because of you, I lived a life pretending to be a fool.”

This made it clear that Gilter deliberately messed up the promotion exam to kill me.

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“Why are you doing this to me?”

“I hate you.”

It’s the same for me. Gilter widened the space.  It was a signal to strike. I contemplated whether to take his sword or run away, and I chose to run away. I was worried about Loa.

We should move Loa to a safe place and fight again.

Gilter seemed determined. Gilter didn’t let me go easily. Bombs were thrown and whips were swung. I was busy dodging the bombs and whips that were flying incessantly.

I’m an idiot who came out with only a sword because I was training for swordsmanship.

We should move from the Loa to a safe place and fight again.

Gilter seemed to have made up his mind. Gilter didn’t let me go easily. Bombs were thrown and whips were swung. He was hesitant to dodge the bombs and whips that were flying incessantly.

I’m an idiot who came out with only a sword because I was training for swordsmanship.

Loa and Billian could be seen in the distance. The hem of Loa’s skirt was stained red. My heart sank. While running, I could clearly see Billian biting his lips.

***

[Rodrigo’s POV]

Rodrigo was spending time in Estiya’s empty room, observing her traces. It was a godsend to ignore Anheine’s request and run. The soldiers who arrived at the campsite much earlier than expected and prepared a bed were able to rest earlier than usual. The same was true of Rodrigo.

I wondered what Estiya would say after seeing him who came early. Rodrigo washed himself while waiting for Estiya, and scanned the book on her desk. So a pretty long time passed.

“Isn’t the lady’s class getting too late?”

Jane’s voice was heard.

“Yeah, it’s way past dinner time. You said it was a monster forest, so maybe something happened?”

“That can’t be true. Seeing that the swordsmanship teacher didn’t come down, the class must be getting longer. You’d better at least pack a lunch box for dinner and send it to them.”

“Are you going to go yourself?”

The sound of the two of them talking was getting farther and farther away.

“Are you in class?”

Rodrigo looked out the window. The red sun is gone.

“It’s too late.”

I missed her. Jane’s words about bringing a lunch box came to mind. Rodrigo gave a nice smile.

He flung himself out of the window without hesitation. Then he hid himself on a path that Jane would pass by and waited for her to show up. Shortly afterwards, Jane with a lunch basket passed by the road where he was ambushed.

“I’ll bring her a lunch box.”

Rodrigo appeared in front of Jane. Jane was startled. Instead of screaming, she pulled out her dagger and ran towards Rodrigo. The owner and the servant are the same, so should I say it’s like Cartina? Rodrigo said with a smirk.

“It’s Rodrigo.”

“S, sir?”

Only then did Jane see Rodrigo’s face in the dark and hid the dagger behind her.

“Give me the lunch box.”

Rodrigo said he heard Jane and took the basket from her hand.

“I’ll take care of it. My lover’s lunch box.”

“Are there any others?”

That said, it’s not good to be caught.

“Don’t worry, I’ll give it to her secretly.”

Rodrigo was confident. The confidence that Estiya could be summoned to another place without being detected. Jane held out the basket with a look of uncertainty. Rodrigo quickly disappeared.

And in the monster forest, he erased the thought of passing the lunch box to Estiya without revealing himself.

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“What kind of crazy guy touches my lover?”

The moment he saw Estiya struggling to stand with his sword in his hand, he experienced a fuse blowing.

***

I was just glad when Rodrigo showed up, rather than embarrassed. It was like Superman, who showed up when something happened to someone. He was nothing short of a Superman. Because he’s the one who can solve this situation faster than anyone else.

“Who is this? Isn’t it Erhardt? Did the pretentious gentleman come all the way here?”

Gilter laughed. The impression that was like a croissant with cheap butter until before has changed to a squashed croissant.

“It’s good that I don’t have to introduce myself. Don’t reveal who you are.”

Rodrigo murmured grimly. It was a distinctly different atmosphere from Rodrigo, who was always gentle.

“It’s a waste of time to kill you after saying your name.”

TL/N: It’s a little confusing but I THINK what he means that it’s a waste of time to wait for Gliter to introduce himself.

Rodrigo took the sword. Now Rodrigo was a blackened Rodrigo. Can he be controlled after darkening?

“But wait a minute. Because I have something to check?”

Gilter grinned. It seems that he thinks Rodrigo is avoiding a fight with him, but I feel sorry for Gilter.

Run away now, Gilter. No one can stop the blackened Rodrigo.

However, Gilter raises his hands and makes a relaxed gesture to do his job. He gave Gilter his back*. It was a complete disregard for Gilter, but whether it was interesting to see me and Rodrigo or if he was an idiot, Gilter was still smiling.

TL/N: Rodrigo’s back was facing Gilter.

“Estiya, are you hurt?”

It’s gentleman Rodrigo. I nodded.

“It’s all right. Rather than me…….”

I turned my head. Billian, holding Loa tightly, could be seen swaying backwards little by little.

“My younger cousin got hurt.”

Loa was hit by a bombshell.

“I’d like to go get treatment right away, can you take her there?”

“It’s hard for more than one person.”

He was adamant that he would not leave me behind. There are things that you can tell just by looking at his eyes without saying anything.

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“Is that why you’ve been tied up here so far?”

Rodrigo pointed his finger at Gilter.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You can’t even eat.”

“Right.”

“Until it’s dark, sweating.”

“Can you smell it?”

“Until you’re tired.”

Rodrigo wasn’t talking to me. I shut my mouth.

“I’d like you to close your eyes for a while.”

Rodrigo pulled out a handkerchief. It was a clean and neat handkerchief, unlike the handkerchiefs they were given on the battlefield.

“I’m in a bad mood, Estiya. I don’t have time to ask you anything.”

Rodrigo approached. He folded the handkerchief and covered my eyes. The view was instantly blocked. It felt as if Billian was trying to stand up against Rodrigo. I raised my hand.

“Billian, it’s all right.”

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

He got up with an apology he didn’t have to make. I reached out and grabbed his pants.

“Estiya?”

“……don’t kill him.”

I showed Gilter the greatest mercy I could ever give.

***

“Ugh. This bastard.”

“Do you still have the strength to make fun with your mouth?” Do you want me to rip your mouth off next?”

Loa grabbed my collar tightly. It seems that there are quite a few bloody scenes, even for Cartina. Gilter’s screams grew louder, and the cursing grew harsher and harsher.

“Rodrigo!”

Loa was crying. She was holding back her tears, but it was clear she was crying. I decided it was time to stop him.

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But will he listen to me? I wasn’t confident.

No, he may not have gone mad yet. I called Rodrigo as hard as I could. Hook, the wind blew and smelled of blood.

“Estiya, did you call me?”

Rodrigo was in front of me before I knew it.

“Now, let’s go home.”

“Shall we?”

It was a soft and friendly voice, unlike the voice that had just been swearing at Gilter. To the point where the tension is relieved.

“I’ll wrap it up in a minute.”

Rodrigo has moved away.

“I don’t have time, so I’m stopping it now. I’m not simply letting it go. Be prepared. Even if you want to die, you won’t die.”

I could hear the sound of a heavy bag collapsing. Rodrigo seems to have thrown Gilter. The intermittent moaning was completely cut off.

Is he dead?

“I didn’t kill him. You told me not to kill him.”

Rodrigo untied the handkerchief. I blinked a few times. Rodrigo’s face, which had been blurred, was clearly captured.

“Where do you want me to take you?”

Rodrigo looked at me for a long time with a sad face and opened his mouth heavily. I grabbed Loa’s hand and pushed her in front of Rodrigo.

“Will you take my little lady to my room safely?”

“As you wish.”

Rodrigo picked up Loa. Loa tossed and turned frighteningly, but checked Rodrigo’s face and when he gently patted her a few times, she fell on him without saying a word.

Fellow, I know he’s handsome.

“Take care of your lunch box.”

Rodrigo told Billian. I gestured with my chin to Billion, who hesitated. Billion grabbed the lunchbox and followed him.

“The lunch box…that’s why I’m going with you.”

Billian’s voice softened.

TL/N: Billian seems like a cute tsundere haha