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“If I get to return later, please tell him I’m sorry. . .”
“For what?”
“For my part in the defeat. . .”
Caenerna laughed softly.
“The Marquis probably doesn’t even remember you?”
“. . . . . .”
“Don’t look like that. It’s not meant as an insult. But honestly, Marquis Crucho isn’t someone who would remember you. Have you ever wondered why you were the only one captured while the other knights fled?”
“To stand up to the crisis of the lord I serve as a knight is. . .”
“Right, right. It’s an honor, a privilege, and a duty. No need to say it again.”
Caenerna waved her hand as if she already knew.
“But if the other knights fled and you alone were captured, that would be strange. I won’t say more. But remember, Marquis Crucho is not someone worthy of such loyalty.”
It was always a pleasure to tell the truth to a young knight. It was like playing with a newly strung puppet.
Caenerna enjoyed manipulating people according to her own interests.
Just then, Johan called her from a distance.
‘𝘐𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵.’
Although she had traveled with Johan for a few days, he was hard to figure out. It was rare for Caenerna, who had the power to see through people.
“Caenerna. Good timing.”
“Why did you call me?”
“Could you light this fire?”
“. . . . . .”
For a moment, Caenerna thought Johan had called her to insult her.
However, there was no particular intent on Johan’s face.
Suetlg, sitting beside him, said,
“I misspoke. My apologies.”
“?”
“I said a wizard’s flame is more powerful and mystical than ordinary fire. He got curious hearing that.”
“I can predict the future, but. . .”
“Never mind that. Just light the fire.”
Johan, with his armor off and dagger in hand, preferred doing things himself, unless it was urgent, even though it could be a slave’s job.
Caenerna lit the fire with a very subtle expression.
“Oh. Impressive.”
Caenerna and Suetlg exchanged glances. ‘𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨’ and ‘𝘐 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥’ was their silent exchange.
“Then you may go.”
“. . . . . .”
Caenerna left. As she did, Suetlg cautiously started,
“Well, I did tell you to do as you please but. . .”
“?”
“Don’t be too harsh.”
“Ah, I wasn’t planning on killing.”
“It’s not just about being kind or murderous. There are many attitudes in between.”
Johan wondered why there was discontent.
Despite being an Emperor’s person, Johan never touched Caenerna. He didn’t insult her, didn’t make her keep watch at night, and treated her as well as he did the nobles in his party, with the best food and drink.
“Sometimes a wizard can be more hurt by one act of neglect than a hundred insults.”
“???”
“. . .Ah, just show some interest. Didn’t you show interest in my magic when we first met?”
“Ah, yes. You, Suetlg-nim, lived in a big Count ry and traveled everywhere.”
Suetlg blushed at Johan’s sharp memory.
“Aren’t you interested in Caenerna’s magic?”
“I’ve already received advice on summoning spirits, and I’m curious about fire magic, but. . .”
“Great! Call her and ask!”
“I don’t want to be close to someone I don’t want to be alone with. Isn’t that suspicious?”
“. . . . . .”
There was nothing to say to that.
What can you say to suspicions?
And indeed, Caenerna was a suspicious person. Her shallow loyalty made Johan’s wariness understandable.
━𝐆𝐫𝐫𝐫!
“!”
Suddenly, Karamaf bristled his fur and began to growl. It was past evening, and the surrounding plains were pitch black without a single light. Only the campsite was flickering with light.
“What’s the matter?”
“Be careful for now. Everyone, wake up! Prepare for an attack!”
Johan awakened the people around him with a voice thundering like thunder. The mercenaries hastily got up at the sudden shout.
There was nothing but open plains without a single mountain nearby. Since ambushes were rare in such terrain, the mercenaries were perplexed. What foolish ones would rush through this darkness?
“Light a fire! Put on your armor!”
“Crossbowmen, rush over!”
As Caenerna was lighting a fire and returning to the tent, he was amazed. It wasn’t the mercenaries’ experience that amazed him. Of course, they were experienced, but such soldiers could be seen anywhere.
What amazed Caenerna was that they moved without a hint of doubt.
In the middle of the night, when the enemies couldn’t be heard or seen, the fact that no one doubted and just moved. . .
It meant that Johan had completely taken control of them.
Even the experienced mercenaries tended to make their own judgments, but this was something else.
“Karamaf. Where are they coming from?”
━𝐆𝐫𝐫𝐫.
The wolf turned his head to point in the direction. Johan stared into the darkness as if to glare. He could feel a beast-like murderous intent approaching.
Johan drew his bow and pulled an arrow. The bow was bent back as if it would break, and the arrow quivered. Even in the surrounding darkness, the arrowhead was seen to darken.
“Valkalmur!”
At that moment, responding to Johan’s cry, the malevolent spirit cursed the arrow. The shot arrow made a vicious sound as it flew.
‘𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘵?!’
Not seeing anything but hitting something. Even the shooter, Johan, was surprised.
A beast’s roar erupted from the darkness. A few experienced mercenaries heard the roar and realized the identity of the opponent.
“Damn it. . . Werewolves!”
“Werewolves! Wake up! You fools! Run out if you don’t want to die!”
“Damn these eastern plains. What kind of werewolves roam around here?!”
Johan quickly reloaded his arrow. Unlike Johan, the werewolves had very sharp night vision. Realizing that Johan was aiming an arrow, one of the werewolves dashed furiously towards him.
━𝐆𝐫𝐫𝐫!
Karamaf unleashed his wildness and bit the werewolf’s neck.
The werewolf swung its claws in rage, but Karamaf had already created a distance.
“Well done, Karamaf.”
━!
Johan’s mace swung, and the sound of a werewolf’s head shattering was heard.