Chapter 155

While feeling slightly choking, Minerva woke up .

「Uh, unn……」

「Are you awake, Ojou-sama? 」

Slowly opening her eyes, she saw the figure of Moore sideways . Of course, it wasn’t Moore that was standing sideways, but Minerva who is lying on the ground .

「……Here is? 」

She raised her heavy body and looked around .

The thin and tall grass that stretched without ends, the strong sunlight from the sky, and then the dry grains of sands on her palm . With the smell of grass filling the area, it’s obvious that they are outdoors .

「Where is this? 」

There wasn’t a single building around . At the very least, they aren’t in the capital, Minerva who thought so asked, but Moore’s reply wasn’t what she was looking .

「I was on the ground here when I noticed . Thirty minutes had passed since then, and the sun is like that . 」

So, she looked up at the sky .

Minerva who looked up saw the sun lighting up the blue sky . It’s the day, and the time is just a little past high noon .

「How long――」

Minerva was about to ask how much time had passed, but she stopped . After all, Moore said he just woke up about thirty minutes ago, so he probably wouldn’t know much either .

「Who knows . I’m not sure but, I don’t think much time had passed . 」

「How can you know? 」

「I mean, I’m a former mercenary, and a soldier now? I can at least gauge about how much time had passed since I passed out . And speaking from that experience, it shouldn’t be long since then . Longest would be ten minutes――it definitely wasn’t half a day though……but there . 」

Moore who answered Minerva’s question seemed to doubt himself too . After all, it was in the night when they were being attacked in the duke residency .

Now that they had woken up, the sun had passed overhead and is leaning towards the west . It’s normal to think that half a day had passed since then, but Moore’s senses told him it wasn’t like that .

「Well, there’s nothing to be done about the time now . The problem is where are we . At the very least, it doesn’t look very safe here . We should look for some village or town, and then think about returning to the capital then . 」

Moore suggested such . Minerva answered 「Yes」, but then recalled another presence .

「Come to think of it, where is Rona? 」

「Aah, Ardis’s partner? He’s there . 」

Where Moore pointed, there was Rona’s figure standing gallantly on four feet on top of a slightly elevated boulder . Minerva’s face loosened seeing that .

「Rona! 」

Rona who had noticed Minerva’s yell came down from the rock .

「I’m glad . You’re with us too . 」

Welcoming Rona who is running here, Minerva bent down and hugged the golden beast .

「Well then, we should be looking for a highway now . Since this is a remote place, that should be easier……」

「That’s right . Everyone is worrying . 」

Hushed by Moore’s words, Minerva raised her short sword in her hands .

***

An hour after that . Minerva and the other two were walking due south on the grasslands .

If they’re around the Kingdom’s territory, then south will be where the seacoast is at . If they were transported north of the capital, then heading south will get them closer back, if not, seeing the sea will tell them their general location to some degree .

Of course, finding a highway or a town before that happens is much more plausible .

「And, that was what I thought but . Was I underestimating our predicament? 」

Moore stopped walking with a frown on his forehead .

They had been walking for quite a while now already but, not even a settlement, a highway can’t even be seen . And of course, there wasn’t any people they could see either .

With Moore’s one hand on his face looking into the distant with some impatience, he was about to groan 「To think that there’s not even a highway――」 when his face hardened .

「What is it? 」

「……There’re people being attacked by beasts . 」

「Eh? 」

Minerva who followed Moore’s gaze found several silhouettes moving in the distance . With them moving around like jumping and running around, it certainly looked like people being attacked by beasts .

「W-We need to help them! 」

「But, Ojou-sama’s safety is……」

「It’s not a time to worry about that now! I can look after myself somewhat, and Rona is here as well! 」

They needed information to return to the capital right now the most . If they help those people, they might be able to get a hold on their location, and find a way to return .

In this place where even a highway can’t be found, people are an important source of information .

「……Alright . It’s true that we need information after all . Don’t get too far away from me . 」

Moore agreed to Minerva after some thoughts, and started running with his sword unsheathed .

「Rona, we should hurry too . 」

Holding the short sword in her hands, Minerva chased after Moore .

As they went closer, the silhouettes became clearer . There’re two people who are equipped that is being attacked . And there were six-legged beasts with dark blue fur surrounding them .

A total of four beasts . The beasts that looked like large sized cat bares its fangs and bit down on one of the human’s legs and arms, and immediately retreated before the counterattack came .

The wounds are definitely not critical, it was as if they’re toying with their preys and slowly hurting them .

「Tch! We won’t make it in time! 」

They’re late by a few moments . The two people who showed resistance so far collapsed on the ground, and the four beasts surrounded them .

「Shit, at this time! 」

Moore cursed at the timing .

He could’ve probably helped them if he was earlier by three minutes . On the other hand, if he was late by three minutes, he would’ve chosen to abandon them to prioritize Minerva’s safety .

But now he’s stuck between the two choices . The beasts probably realized their presence here as well . The beasts weren’t satisfied by the two, and started looking at them like preys .

The four beasts directed their gazes here . It seems like they’re fully intent to attack them .

「Ojou-sama! Don’t stray! 」

「Yes! 」

Moore who had a sword in his hand stood in front of Minerva .

Minerva as well at the back drew her short sword . Even if she couldn’t take down the beast, she could at least buy some time .

「Even I can……」

What Minerva hoped now is just to not be a baggage . Of course, she is fully well aware she is being a baggage no matter what, at the very least, she didn’t want to cause any more trouble to Moore .

「Grrrr! 」

The dark blue beasts leapt at Moore .

「Don’t look down on me! 」

Moore had climbed up the ranks in the army with his swordsmanship . There’s no way he would be troubled by just four beasts . The moment he thought he can easily sever the head of the coming beast, Minerva along with Moore both opened their eyes wide in surprise .

「What! 」

It turned around in midair, and as if there was an invisible wall, the beast kicked against it and landed backwards . Leaving aside if they’re on the ground, it was an absurd movement that was performed in midair .

「Commander, on the right! 」

Minerva warned . At the same time the front beast retreated, this time, another beast came from the right .

「Fast!? 」

Their speed was faster and sharper than normal beasts . The beast’s fangs were nearing Moore’s right arm .

「Shit! 」

It was because he judged that it wouldn’t be in time even if he tried withdrawing his sword . With a half-turned body, Moore tried his best and swung with the handle against the beast’s head .

But that didn’t reach . As if a glass plate was broken, Moore’s arm was blocked by something .

「What the actual!? 」

While confused by the sudden discomfort, Moore put his all in his knee kick towards the beast that had stopped moving for a moment . But the beast swiftly turned around and tried to evade, however the blade reached earlier .

The moment he thought the sword would cut through the beast―― .

「Wha……! 」

Moore is once again surprised .

It was just like his sword slashed against a full metal armor, Moore’s sword was deflected away without dealing a single scratch on the beast .

「What is that toughness! 」

While cursing, Moore followed with attacks yet his second missed, the third that landed somehow didn’t deal any damage as expected . While exchanging blows like that, Moore’s breath started to become ragged .

Minerva couldn’t believe what was happening in front of her eyes . Moore・Greystar is one of the top ten swordsman that could be counted within the royal army .

And that Moore was struggling so much against beasts was unbelievable . But since Moore was struggling that much already, it just meant that Minerva is in more danger .

「Ojou-sama! 」

One beast slipped past Moore’s guard .

「Ah……」

Minerva’s ears heard the warning, but her body didn’t move .

The short sword in her hand felt like it was distant, and it felt like her body wasn’t her own and just froze in place .

Just at the moment when the beast was approaching at a fast speed and her head was all blank, she saw a golden shadow leaping out from the end of her vision .

「Rona! 」

Realizing the shadow, Minerva shouted his name . Rona who suddenly leapt ahead from the side bit into the beast’s throat .

「Fgaaah! 」

Suddenly, a death cry came out of the beast . Then, without waiting, Rona ripped apart its windpipe and cast aside the beast, then moved onto his next target . Ripping apart one of them with his claws, and then kicking one away, the last one was hit into the ground . It was a short period .

「Eh……, wha……」

Moore lost his words at that overwhelming strength .

「A-Amazing! Rona, you’re so strong! 」

On the other hand, Minerva was genuinely amazed by Rona’s display of strength .

「……So, the partner of Ardis isn’t just for show huh . ……Good grace, what am I even here for . 」

Moore who stood back from the shock was praising Rona in his own way . He might be happy that he has such a strong companion but, since he was supposed to be Minerva’s escort, he felt painful at his own powerlessness .

But with the current situation like this, it’s not a place where bothering over his face will help . In fact, if Rona wasn’t around, something would’ve happened to Minerva .

Even if Minerva wasn’t around, Moore himself probably wouldn’t have been able to handle four of them .

「Anyways, how about the people……」

Moore who had regained himself walked towards the two that had collapsed because of the beasts just now .

They might’ve been too late but, if they’re still breathing, they couldn’t possibly let them die like that . But it’s not like they knew how to use healing magic, and having no treatment tools, there’s no chance they could help the two people .

But he thought that he can at least mourn for them, and as a reward, he could take their food or water on their body, Moore thought so .

「Wha……! 」

Moore’s legs stopped, and his voice was swallowed .

「What happened? 」

Minerva who caught up to Moore from behind took a peek at what had concerned Moore, and swallowed her breath . A pair of man and woman in armor were on the ground .

「T-This is ……」

Both of them wore similar get-up as Moore, and Minerva noticed a familiar insignia on part of their armor . While Minerva was stuck for words, Moore who was looking at the collapsed people in stun spoke .

「They’re……my men . 」