Reset Life – Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Please Don’t Call Me That (3)

Thump.

My heart races. At the same time, pain spreads throughout my body. And a chill seeps into me.

Huff Huff

My breath.

The sound of my breathing, ringing loudly in my ears before I died. More depressing than painful. It’s not Mount Azot, but a crossbow bolt is lodged in my body again.

Blood oozes out. The red liquid containing my life escapes my body.

My body groans and cries. It wails with groans of pain and tears of blood.

It hurts.

I think it’s only three crossbow bolts, but the one twisted into my abdomen makes even the slightest movement feel like assisted suicide would be euthanasia. Is the arrowhead touching a spinal nerve somewhere? Ah, thinking about that is pointless.

I glance over.

Levidian is there.

She’s dancing.

Like her black body. It’s like a furious beast, after much deliberation on how to calmly express its rage, is moving.

With unbelievable movements, a man’s knee is cleanly sliced off. Not by cutting through the bone, but by severing the joint with her sword.

White bone is exposed and the man’s body collapses. She kicks the screaming mouth, shattering all his teeth.

Simultaneously, she scatters her sword, slashing the throat of a charging man. Blood erupts like a fountain from the half-torn neck.

He tries to cover the wound with his hand, but blood gushes from his mouth, seeping between his fingers. He soon collapses.

By the time the man with the half-severed neck falls, she has claimed three more lives. Each with a sword plunged into their neck, heart, and solar plexus, they writhe on the ground, clutching their wounds.

She never stopped. She only moved, and moved, and moved. Drawing circles, lines, and arcs, she freely wielded the sword that sprouted from her arm.

She didn’t even blink at the blood splattering on her face.

It’s a dance. She was dancing the cruelest and most beautiful dance in the world. A deadly solo dance, with screams as music and splattering blood watering the earth.

Thump.

My heart cries out in exhaustion. Looking down, I see that my surroundings are stained red.

Huff Huff

My breath grows ragged, my lungs struggle.

It’s cold.

Everyone was overwhelmed by Levidian’s power. They didn’t dare turn their backs. The first one to turn their back would have their heart pierced in a single blow by her lightning-fast thrust.

Naturally. Who could turn their back before a king?

She was relentless, facing nearly forty men alone. Those who have fallen to the ground are the people who praise her with groans and silence.

Thud!

Those who have fallen at her feet and groan, those who have fallen and died. The place was filled with those who were unable to keep their bodies intact, drawn into her bewitching dance.

The only one still standing there was Maxium.

“You, you……! Just! Who, who?!”

Levidian flicked her sword once, shaking off the blood. That was her only answer. She looked at him with disgust, as if he were rotting garbage.

Step.

She took a step forward.

Step.

She took a step forward, more confidently than anyone.

“Uh, uhh-!”

Maxium turned his back. He was probably the first among those who turned their backs, especially those who ran towards me, to not be stabbed in the back.

Everyone who ran towards me so far had been stabbed. But he couldn’t even walk properly.

I sat still, occasionally trembling from the intense pain, but I laughed as I watched him.

Ah, it’s cold.

He came towards me, half-running, half-crawling, in a way that made me doubt if there was any similar creature.

He raised his sword, aiming for my neck, chest, and legs simultaneously. In other words, his hands were shaking uncontrollably.

“Don’t come closer……!”

It wasn’t appropriate for the situation, but I wanted to burst out laughing. Levidian seemed to feel the same ridiculous feeling. She said.

“You can’t kill him.”

“I, I can! This, this half-dead thing, thing!”

“He has pride. He has self-respect. He also has willpower. Unlike you, you piece of trash wrapped in human skin. He’s one of the few people I acknowledge. You can never kill him.”

“Re, really! Is, is that so!”

He thrust his sword at me. It must have been a reflex. But the sword was pointed directly at my heart.

My body suddenly flared up at that moment.

Clang! Bang!

I raised my left hand, deflecting his sword with the back of my hand, and kicked the hilt with my right leg. Maxium lost his grip on the sword.

Pain surged throughout my body, but I was drawn by a strange force.

The sword spun in the air.

I reached out my right hand and grabbed the hilt of the sword. Then, miraculously, I was able to stand up.

It’s hot.

I swung the sword.

Just before the look of astonishment in his eyes could turn to terror, I slammed it down on his forehead.

Yes. You can’t kill me.

“Ugh……”

I’ve wanted to split your head open since earlier.

The sword embedded itself deep into his head. I let go of the sword. Maxium’s body trembled and then fell backward. His limbs convulsed and he died.

“Haa……”

It’s hot.

“Risel.”

She called my name as she sheathed her sword. How much time has passed since she called my name before the fight? I couldn’t have been happier to hear her call my name.

“Levidian……”

I was going to call her Teacher, but somehow I wanted to call her name, so I did.

I took a step forward, and then a chill ran through my body again.

Feeling hot and then cold, do I have a cold?

Scoffing at such a pathetic thought, I collapsed forward.

“Risel!”

Before my body could hit the ground, she caught me. I ended up in her arms.

“Risel! Oh my, this bleeding……!”

I heard her flustered voice, but I smiled faintly.

Why?

Because her embrace was truly warm.

I closed my eyes.

It’s so warm and comfortable……

I wish I could stay conscious after a fight. I wish I could stop fainting. It’s too much, even if there’s someone to heal my wounds.

I’m starting to wonder if I’ve developed a habit of fainting after fighting, ever since the battles in Breedpo and Ast. Is it my trademark? Tsk.

More than anything, I hate having to hear about the aftermath from someone else.

I want to calmly participate in the aftermath and understand the situation in detail. What am I supposed to do if this keeps happening?

Reflecting that I should conserve my strength in the future, let me tell the story.

I woke up in the middle of the night, half a day after I fainted. Since the first thing I saw was Levidian’s relieved smile, I consider it quite a gain.

Right after the fight ended, Levidian was holding onto me, trying to stop the bleeding. At that time, Namias and Joey arrived with the mountain patrol, according to her.

One of the patrol members who wasn’t involved in the embezzlement case and was patrolling the area witnessed the menacing group moving in a large number and immediately reported it to Hiltenpens. The news also reached Aila, who was talking with the Baron.

Aila advised the Baron to bring a priest just in case. Hiltenpens Baron accepted and sent Namias to the battlefield along with Joey.

Thanks to the timely arrival of the right priest and the right treatment, I was able to recover to a suitable condition. It was very appropriate, no matter how much I emphasize it.

And Levidian healed and interrogated the people she had 3/4 killed, revealing the whole story of the crime. Why 3/4? Because half of them were completely dead, and the other half were half-killed by Levidian.

Thinking about it, Levidian was incredibly strong. At least there was no reason for me to cover her back, but I ended up taking the harder path by doing so.

Regarding that, Levidian said:

“The enemies were only targeting Risel, so we had to run away first. If I were alone, I could have subdued all of them. But Risel was injured and couldn’t even escape, right? I had no choice but to make the last choice. I’m used to killing people, but I don’t like it. Strictly speaking, I hate it. Especially, I didn’t want to show you that yet.”

The difference between having someone to protect and not having someone to protect is huge.

Certainly, their target was me. If I died, everything would be fine. That’s why I ended up in the depressing situation of being shot by a crossbow.

Actually, she could have killed the enemies even while I was covering her back. But she didn’t want to unnecessarily provoke the enemies.

I agree with her on that point. If we hadn’t been ambushed, we could have swept them all away. Tsk.

Anyway, the embezzlement case was clearly resolved. The first contributor was, of course, me, and Hiltenpens Baron expressed his sincere gratitude. The way he looked at me changed a lot.

A trial was held swiftly, and a banquet was held to celebrate the resolution of the case. After these events passed and I rested for a while, it became today.

Imperial Year 373, January 27th.

“Please come visit us comfortably next time. Especially in summer, this area is very beautiful. We will welcome you grandly whenever you come.”

“Thank you, Baron.”

The eyes of Hiltenpens Baron and his vassals have changed. Most of the vassals of Orknesia ignore me, but if I were to make an exception, this place would be it.

Moreover, it’s quite rare to find a noble who would risk his life to intervene in the affairs of his vassals. Is it humane? It’s the highest value that those who live in the mountains hold.

I have been recognized for such values.

With a grand farewell and generous gifts, I left Hiltenpens in a completely different state than when I arrived. I’ve gained another place where I can visit comfortably.

“Risel, congratulations!”

“Thanks to you, Aila.”

“Hehe. What did I do? I just gave you a few hints. Anyway, we’ll part ways now?”

Aila, leaning out of the carriage, spoke with a regretful expression.

I was worried because she seemed to have stayed here for quite a while, but she said she was going north to take the Northern Canal from Orknesia.

The canal, which freezes solid in winter, actually becomes faster for transporting goods during the winter. Sleighs running on thick ice are faster than horses. It would be quite cold though.

Anyway, we’ve shared both good and bad times. It’s quite a shame to think that we won’t see each other for a long time if we part ways now.

“When will we see each other again after you go back?”

“Well. I think it will take some time because of some complicated matters. I’ll write you a letter when I have time. I’ll come find you and hit you if you don’t reply, okay?”

“Oh, so I can see you if I don’t reply?”

“I’ll hire an assassin to give you a smack on the head, why?”

“Oh my. That would be expensive.”

Others might see it as a silly joke and think it’s pathetic, but this is how Aila and I talk. I’m saying this now, but there’s no one else as comfortable to talk to as Aila.

I turned my head. There was a sixteen-year-old boy of enormous size, riding a rather large horse – but the horse looked rather small due to the rider’s physique.

“Hey, Joey, are you going with us to the Northern Canal?”

“Yes, Hyung-nim. Namias-ssi told me to go there.”

“Ah, I see. Then, Namias-ssi, please take good care of my little brother. Joey will definitely be of great help.”

“Yes. And……”

Namias trailed off, which was rare for her. She looked at me and then at Levidian. Then, she smiled faintly.

Wow! She smiled?!

“Don’t worry.”

“Ah, yes.”

Of course, I’m not worried about the pair of Namias and Joey. No, I am worried. About the people who will encounter them. Good luck escaping.

We parted ways south and north at the main street of Hiltenpens.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the carriage and the two horses heading north.

“Haa, when will I see them again.”

“They will come back if they miss you. Or Risel can go visit them.”

“That’s a good idea. But there’s something on my mind.”

“What is it?”

Levidian widened her eyes and tilted her head. I scratched the back of my head.

I heard something I don’t understand……

“What did Namias mean by ‘don’t worry’?”

“I, I don’t know!”

She turned her head away abruptly.

At her sudden reaction, I tilted my head.

Uh, your ears are red……

Imperial Year 373, February 10th.

We arrived at the Imperial Capital Nek a day earlier than planned. So, it’s today.

I first went to my father and handed him the report containing everything that happened in Hiltenpens Barony.

There were two copies of the report with the same content, one written by me and the other by the Baron. In such matters, to ensure fairness, each party prepares a report from a different perspective.

The wall clock ticked solemnly, reflecting the owner’s personality, and the flames in the fireplace crackled solemnly for some reason.

In the study, which clearly revealed the personality of its owner, my father solemnly read the two documents.

After a while, after finishing reading the documents, my father lit his pipe and inhaled the smoke.

A sweet scent spread through the air, and after organizing his thoughts along with his pipe, my father spoke with a solemn expression.

“Good work. You handled it well.”

“I learned a lot.”

“Yes. Do you understand how difficult public service is? It seems like you went through a lot.”

Just as someone intended, right? I was satisfied with just sneering inwardly. Still, it was one of the more favorable things my father has said to me.

“Yes. And I also learned that I shouldn’t interfere with security or public affairs carelessly. I felt it while working. If someone had voluntarily offered to cooperate, the work would have been three times harder.”

“Yes. I’m glad you learned well. Actually, what you did four months ago was the right thing to do, but it’s true that you ignored the procedures. Society is built on procedures and norms.”

But the devil is outside of that. It’s also stated in the judgment. You can’t solve a natural disaster by considering procedures and norms, can you?

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