Chapter 18

“…Are you serious, Kairon?”

“Yeah. It’s my fault. Even though it was to protect your memories, I tried to deceive you, my comrade.”

When I deliberately stuck my neck out further, Abelin panicked and quickly covered my neck with both hands.

“Kairon, no!”

“Don’t stop me, Abelin. It’s my fault. In fact, it’s good this way. Even if Benedict cuts me down, you can be a witness that I said I’d be fine.”

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about since earlier! We’re part of the same Vanguard. We should fight together, not do this! If you die so meaninglessly, what will your brawny subordinates do?”

“Well, done talking? What about my subordinates?”

“I’m just telling the truth! Honestly, your subordinates are good at forming a solid defense, but without you, they’ll just hold out and get isolated among the demons, all dying together!”

“And your Silver Guards are just shiny armor, practically just a cheerleading squad for you, who does all the work alone!”

“What did you say? Take that back right now. How dare you say such things with your loose mouth…!”

“Sigh… Both of you, shut up.”

At Benedict’s deep sigh, Abelin and I closed our mouths.

“Are you ready, Kairon?”

“…Yeah.”

I pushed Abelin’s hand aside.

And as I watched Benedict slowly raise his sword, I closed my eyes.

*Thud*

“Ouch…”

I felt pain, but it wasn’t my neck—it was the top of my head.

Benedict didn’t cut my neck but struck the top of my head with the flat of his sword.

“Isn’t this too much? What are you two doing in front of me, who’s alone again…?”

“What did we do? We were just fighting!”

“That’s right! We were even fighting before Sir Benedict arrived!”

“No, sigh… Enough. Just get me out. I really can’t move my body.”

Abelin and I each grabbed a hand and pulled Benedict out from the gap.

As expected, Benedict couldn’t even stand properly after being thoroughly beaten by me, so Abelin and I had no choice but to support him on both sides.

“Sorry. I don’t think I can fight with you when the wave comes.”

“Benedict, what are you sorry for? Just rest well. If we fall apart just because you’re not here, what kind of Vanguard would we be?”

“That’s right. We’ll fight even harder for you, Sir Benedict. Get well and rest.”

“Treatment, treatment…”

Benedict hung his head again.

Then, the soldiers who had scattered to do their tasks came running upon hearing the commotion.

“Are you all right, Captains? We came running as soon as we heard the loud noise… Wait, how did Sir Benedict get so hurt?”

“Look at this! The training ground floor is completely destroyed!”

The members were confused by the sudden situation.

Moreover, since a demon had appeared in the middle of the fortress not long ago, there was a risk of even greater confusion.

‘How should I explain this to the members…’

“Nothing happened.”

It was Benedict who said that.

“It was just a bit of intense sparring. You all know how ridiculously strong Kairon is, right?”

“Huh? You got hurt that badly from sparring?”

“It’s my fault. I got excited and charged in. That’s how I got hurt.”

Abelin and I stared at him, but Benedict just smiled kindly.

“Do I look badly hurt to you? Then let me rest quickly. Otherwise, I might not be able to join the next battle?”

“Ah, yes! Please go ahead! We’ll clean up the training ground!”

The members quickly made way.

“…Thanks, Benedict.”

“Thanks for what? If you hadn’t hit me hard, I might still be going crazy. It hurts, so let’s go quickly.”

We hurried our steps while supporting Benedict again.

But since the pace was quite slow, Abelin made a suggestion.

“Kairon, supporting him like this will take too long. Why don’t you carry Sir Benedict and take him there?”

“That’s a good idea. What do you think, Benedict?”

“…Stop if you don’t want to see me go crazy again.”

Benedict refused, his expression stiffening.

We had no choice but to continue walking slowly.

Meanwhile, someone was watching us from afar.

My eyes met his.

“…Commander.”

“Ouch! If you’re going to support me, do it properly, Kairon! You grabbed the wrong spot!”

“Oops… Sorry.”

Because I was distracted, Benedict stepped wrong and complained of pain.

After adjusting our posture and looking back, the Commander had already disappeared from sight.

“Oh my goodness… What on earth happened here!”

The nurse on duty at the hospital jumped up upon seeing Benedict’s condition.

“The wave is coming the day after tomorrow, and you got hurt like this? Your bones and muscles are a mess! Did you get trampled by a beast?”

“Haha… That’s not entirely wrong. I got hit by something even scarier than a beast.”

Benedict glanced at me as he said that to the nurse.

“We’ll get ready right away, so please wait a moment. David, Sara! Prepare for surgery. Hurry and…”

While the nurse was away, Benedict lay on the bed, looking around the hospital and muttering.

“We’re at the hospital.”

Then he added.

“…The hospital where Sophia worked.”

“Benedict, Sophia…”

“I know. I know, so you don’t have to say it anymore. I just want to rest for now. My whole body aches.”

Benedict covered his eyes with his arm as he stretched.

“Now that I’ve calmed down a bit, tell me. Who exactly is that advisor…”

“Kairon.”

Abelin gently grabbed my shoulder.

She shook her head slightly and pointed at Benedict, who was covering his eyes.

“Ugh, sob…”

Benedict seemed to be hiding his tears from us by covering his eyes with his arm, but he couldn’t stop the sobs escaping his mouth.

We needed to get information about the ‘advisor.’

But…

“Rest well, Benedict. Get treated properly.”

With those words, I left Benedict behind and went outside with Abelin.

“The stars are bright.”

As Abelin said, the stars in the night sky were unusually bright.

Even though countless terrifying demons are expected to pour out from the rift between worlds the day after tomorrow.

“Will you tell me what happened?”

“It’s simple. A demon was targeting Benedict. Benedict fell in love with that demon, got drunk at the bar we were at, and followed the demon to its house. Luckily, we stopped him before anything happened. But…”

Although I couldn’t continue due to my frustration, Abelin quickly guessed what had happened.

“He fell in love. With a demon.”

“Yeah. I don’t know how that ‘advisor’ did it, but it seems they completely messed with Benedict’s head using all sorts of confusion.”

“That’s really tragic. The fact that Sir Rajeing was actually a demon, and even though Sir Benedict wasn’t a demon, he tried to kill a comrade. We’re a Vanguard that should fight together against demons…”

“Your words are exactly right. Maybe,”

The next words slipped out without me realizing.

“Maybe our world is destined to be destroyed.”

“Don’t say that!”

Abelin scolded me sharply upon hearing that.

“That’s not like you. Who was it that gave up the world’s wealth and glory to join the Vanguard with their own feet?”

“That’s ridiculous. Where in the world would such a fool exist?”

“Right here. Right in front of my eyes!”

“Alright, let’s say that’s true. But how do you know that?”

“Huh? Ah…”

Abelin quickly shut her mouth, but it was too late.

At the bar before, I couldn’t ask more because she was drunk, but now was different.

Now that I was completely sober, I could dig deeper without feeling guilty.

“Perfect timing. What exactly are you, Abelin? Where did you come from, what did you do, and how do you know my past so well?”

“…I can’t tell you.”

“That’s not fair. Who just said we’re a Vanguard that should fight together against demons? How can I trust and fight alongside you if you’re hiding secrets from me?”

“Ugh…”

As I pressed her sharply, Abelin closed her eyes tightly, then turned her head away.

“Sorry. But I still can’t tell you.”

“Why can’t you tell me? At least give me a reason.”

“Because…”

Abelin opened her eyes again and looked down with a sullen expression.

“You might really start to hate me.”

“I already hate you. What did you call my subordinates earlier?”

“That’s not what I meant! You’re so petty, really…!”

As I teased her lightly, Abelin’s sullen expression disappeared, and she flared up, ready to argue.

“Enough. Let’s stop talking about this today. We have to fight the wave the day after tomorrow, right? Let’s talk about it again after we get through that.”

“…I agree with that.”

Honestly, I pressed Abelin a bit harshly out of disappointment and suspicion.

I knew Abelin had been hiding a lot, but this time I saw with my own eyes that she had been ordered by Commander Balthazar to keep an eye on me.

But my intuition was telling me.

Abelin wasn’t an enemy.

It seemed like the order to keep an eye on me was something she had just received today.

Moreover, I remembered.

When we exposed and eliminated Rajeing’s true identity, Abelin had defended me in front of Commander Balthazar.

“By the way. Do you have enough?”

I set aside my suspicions and asked.

“Enough of what?”

“Chocolate milk. You said you’d give me another bottle if I survive this wave.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll have enough to drink after this wave is over. Just focus on surviving.”

“Speaking of which, have you decided? If I survive, you’ll give me chocolate milk, but if you survive, what will you get from me?”

“Hmm… I didn’t think of that. Wait a moment. I’ll think of something quickly.”

Abelin said she’d think of something quickly, but after a while, she was still struggling and couldn’t come up with anything.

“If you don’t have anything, that’s fine. I just asked you to tell me what you want, but you didn’t say anything, right?”

“Huh? Wait! You said I could tell you before the wave comes, right?”

“I did say that.”

“Then I’ll tell you tomorrow. Is that okay?”

“Hmm…?”

For some reason, Abelin’s attitude, asking if it was okay to tell me tomorrow, was unusually polite.

Her eyes, looking up at me while seeking my mercy, were especially shiny, perhaps reflecting the starlight in the night sky.

I did say to tell me what she wanted, but I never said I’d grant it.

But what’s the big deal…

“Alright. Just tell me before the battle starts.”

“Really? Wow, thank you!”

She even smiled brightly, showing her white teeth.

I couldn’t help but turn my head away, unable to look directly at Abelin’s face.

“Then, good night. I’ll be going now.”

“Good night, Kairon. And…”

Abelin added with a determined voice.

“Stay strong.”

“…You too.”

On my way back to the inn after parting with Abelin.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me.

‘Why did I turn my head away just now when I saw that smile? Why did my chest feel warm…?’