CH 103

「Time remaining 01 : 20 : 29」

If the moving villagers and reinforcements crossed each other at the midpoint of one hour, the remaining time was only about 20 minutes.

Cadel would have a showdown in that time frame.

“There’s something I’ve been thinking about as the last move.”

“I don’t know how great a move that is, but if it fails, Sir Cadel…….”

He’d have to face a resurrected Ergo with no allies, he knew that. But too much time had passed for him to save himself by assuming the worst.

For him, for the villagers, there was no time left.

“Sir Garuel. I’m more afraid of death than failure, and I’m going to survive somehow, so don’t worry about it.”

“For a guy like that, it seems like you act like an immortal whenever I see you.”

Garuel didn’t fully understand Cadel’s decision, his insistence was ill-founded, and there were clearly better options.

Nevertheless, Garuel decided to grant Cadel’s request. Even if his choice would ultimately cost Cadel his life.

‘Well, I’ll follow him soon.’

Resentment could only be heard in hell. So now, as this inexpressibly intense attraction pointed to…… He’d go along with Cadel’s gamble.

“Is there really a way?”

“I told you already.”

“Are you sure it’s not dangerous?”

“Ah, like I said! The reason I haven’t used this method until now is because the preparation process is complicated. But I’m not in a position to be picky now, am I? So I’m going to try it.”

Cadel’s explanation didn’t erase Lumen’s suspicion. To send all the members away and remain alone in the village to use the ‘secret move’? Even if they were asked to help the villagers evacuate, it was hard to believe there was no risk at all.

Yes, because something like this had happened before.

“I’m running out of time, so stop procrastinating. Van, you too! Get off me!”

“But Commander…….”

Van was equally unwilling to leave, grabbing Cadel’s arm like a childish child and refusing to let go, his eyebrows furrowed in response to Cadel’s scolding.

Cadel slapped the back of Van’s hand away and pointed somewhere. The temporary garrison, where the Twilight Knight Order was busy transporting the villagers.

“Hurry up and help them. Can’t you see?”

“Why would I care about them…….”

“They’ve already helped us enough.”

Somehow these guys seemed to be getting more stubborn as the days went by. If Lydon had joined them, Cadel would be screaming in agony.

Cadel managed to suppress the rising violence as he expressed his gratitude to Lydon, who was sleeping soundly in Van’s arms.

“People might think we are parents and child. I’m the child and you’re the parents! Stop this nonsense, will you? It’s not me you need to worry about, it’s the tragedy of our mercenary corps’ contribution being snatched. If you understand, then run quickly and take your share! I want you to represent the hard work of the mercenary corps with your whole body!”

Being shoved on the backs roughly, Lumen and Van moved unwillingly. They glanced back at Cadel again and again in disbelief, and only when they realized he was on the verge of exploding did they move on to the garrison.

“Gosh, when are they going to actually follow commands? It shouldn’t be this hard to put down.”

Cadel sighed and shook his head. A quick glance revealed a group of knights loading villagers onto carts of unknown origin, and as if that weren’t enough, the knights who were in relatively good condition had to carry villagers themselves. All the horses they had brought with them had been killed or fled in the fierce battle.

‘It shouldn’t take longer than expected.’

Evacuees had to be kept as far away from the village as possible and protected by reinforcements. Only then would ‘that magic’ be properly deployed.

‘Will I be able to succeed?’

No, will I survive?

The thought crossed his mind, but he quickly shook it off. He was worrying for nothing. No matter what the outcome, he wasn’t going to give up.

The time when Cadel was watching the transportation work being finished in full swing, Garuel, who finished commanding, came to Cadel.

“Evacuation preparations are complete. All we have to do now is leave. We’ll send out a signal as soon as we join the reinforcements.”

“Thank you.”

“Um, which part? The part where I left you to face the demon alone?”

Cadel had been courteous at best, but he got nothing in return. As far as performance went, Garuel was the best knight, but as it turned out, his personality was not proportional to his performance. Cadel smiled bitterly.

“The part where you believed me and moved accordingly.”

“Aha, I see…….”

Garuel smiled, gently lowering his eyes. He paused for a moment as if contemplating something, and soon captured Cadel’s face over his purple eyes, which were as vivid as Manchurian Violet.

“As I said before, your face is my type. I can’t control myself when I see pretty things. I can’t even refuse your request.”

“……I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”

“Haha, okay, just listen to this then.”

Garuel, who raised the corners of his lips coolly, bent down to meet Cadel’s eye level. His eyes slowly swept over Cadel with an unreadable, mysterious gaze.

“I wish you all the best.”

A whispered voice lingered in his ear as if tickling. Cadel alternated between his exposed purple eye and his black eye patch, then took a step back to widen the distance.

“Yes. See you later, Sir Garuel.”

A small smile came to Garuel’s lips at the simple answer, and he straightened up. With a quick glance, he rejoined the Knight Order.

The work of transporting villagers was completed, and he had said goodbye to Van and Lumen. There was nothing left to do.

It was time to be on his own.