Chapter 50 – Peaceful Midterm Week (7)

—Don’t look, Lewis.
— This is what I sent from the mountains.
— Give it to me. Noah! Stop Lewis quickly!!
— Ugh, huh…
— Damn you, Louis. We’re almost there. We need to save a little bit of our strength! It’s impossible to get caught up in personal emotions in a place like this… !

Paris Greenwood. I know him. However, even if he knew, he did not actually see it.
My comrades and I fought not to protect the kingdom at the Ravier defense line, but to cut off the head of the Demon King deep in Helzeb.
Numerous wizards, priests, and knights guarded the mountain range. Even if we passed by after the war, there is no way we can remember each and every one of them now.

The only reason I remember Paris was because I knew about his death.

On a continent where the madness of war spread like wildfire, we used all possible means of communication to understand the situation.
Like a giant hammer and anvil, numerous units attracted the attention of the demons to advance the warrior party, which was a small elite and possessed the most powerful firepower.

After stepping on the corpses of our allies, we had to attract the attention of our enemies and avoid being caught. We crushed, destroyed, and intercepted the pursuers.
The demons who witnessed their existence pursued and killed them until the end, and each time the four worst ones appeared, they improved their methods of dealing with them and eventually defeated them one by one.

It was around the time when the number of unique magic spells engraved on my body exceeded ten.
After falling into a trap and wandering around Helzeb’s heart, Terra spoke when she carved the eleventh unique magic power, 〈Evil Transfer 〉.

— I can’t hold on like this for long.

The depths of the Demon World were not an environment that humans could endure. Karma, even if I took it upon myself, we were unable to retreat or advance even a single step amid the narrowing siege and extreme fatigue.

A pitch-black night where you couldn’t even make a fire. I listened to Eris’ story while holding her in my arms as she collapsed from exhaustion from crying.

— There’s still a long way to go from here to the Demon King’s Castle. It’s too late to go back, and we need a way to close the distance.
– How? It is said that 〈 transfer door 〉 or 〈 space movement 〉 are interrupted as soon as the coordinates are discovered.
— There is one way. You know, Lewis.
– Why.
— Do you like swimming?

The next day, she used all her remaining mana and karma to create a level 10 magic she had never seen before, 〈 Grand Canal 〉.
Was cast.
Tremendous rain fell across the continent for three days and nights. Not only was it raining, but huge silt and sand came in like waves.

— At the end of the Ravier Mountains is the largest river on the continent. The Seine River flows through Lake Senrir into the North Sea, and heavy rain can change its tributaries.
— How big is that heavy rain?
— Enough for one more Monarch Bible to be written?

She pointed to the half-torn continental map and smiled brightly.

— Due to the terrain, a canal will open up to where we are. The stems will merge in the moat near the Demon King’s Castle. As long as you don’t drown along the way, you’ll reach your destination in no time. But…

There were too many variables in the plan. First of all, flowing along a water stream was the same as exposing the movement path.
If the canal breaks upstream, you will be isolated. Afterwards, it ended as it was trampled by the oncoming demon lord army.
However, our situation was not so good that we had to throw ourselves into one last gamble.

Should I say that I was fortunate? In the end, the gamble paid off.
I barely managed to crawl out of the slowed flow and for the first time, I caught a glimpse of the small Demon Star at the end of the horizon.
The end is finally in sight. To escape from this hell.

But it was a few days to hide away and rest. At a time when the Demon King’s army was looking for the best opportunity to become negligent in its surveillance.
Terra’s expression hardened as she succeeded in retrieving the telegraph wire that had flown away from the enemy’s eyes.

– What’s the matter? What’s going on?
— Ravier’s defense line has been breached. No, it was pierced.

The kingdom decided that there would be no second chance if we failed, and the Demon King’s army decided that if things continued like this, they would not be able to stop the advance of the hero who would lay waste to the demon world.

A great battle took place at the end of the Ravier Mountains, which was the starting point of the rapids and the epicenter of the 〈 Grand Canal 〉 magic. No, the content written in the letter was so gruesome that it could not be considered a battle.

Without knowing the reason, the lives of countless people who gave up their lives just to protect the canal turned into just blackened numbers.
Among them, I recited the name I had never seen before, reciting it over and over again, engraving it in my mind, and quietly lifted the sword.

– Louis!!!

And that day, seventeen villages near the Demon King’s Castle were erased.

***

“He was a great man. For sure.”

Looking at Liv’s anxious eyes, I put aside the old memories that came to mind for a moment and answered. Nevertheless, her expression was still dark.

“I was writing a report to submit instead of a midterm exam… “I found out about her father’s past.”
“Is it so?”
“Yes. Sacrificing many others… “He was an incompetent leader.”
“How do you remember it, Baron?”
“He would never do that. “There must be something wrong.”

Did he know? That the child he left behind would have such a hard time because of his choice.
No, did he even know in the first place? For whom and why did even high-ranking wizards have to raise their spears in front of the trembling beast of destruction?

For myself, I couldn’t understand that choice or how I felt. He gently pulled Liv’s waist, who was holding back tears, and put on the outerwear she was wearing.

“That’s right. “There must have been other circumstances.”
“But father, the medal… Sniff! Nothing… !”
“You said it before, right? “Hereditary Knight is not a title given simply for meritorious service in battle.”

A hereditary title of baron that is extremely rare for commoners.

“As the Baron said, it would not have been possible to award a medal to someone who performed poorly in battle. But if he had really done something bad, wouldn’t he have even received a title in the first place?”
“Then… “What the boss said.”
“There must have been circumstances. Of course…”

Although too many people died to discuss the situation.

“…”

Liv seemed to be contemplating something with her eyes half closed. No matter how she learned about Paris Greenwood’s past, she certainly didn’t know everything about it.

However, I hoped that Liv would not be able to uncover the truth until the end.
It was not because I was afraid that she would resent me, but because I thought she would see the threads of her past unraveling and fall into a despair that could not be compared to what she feels now.

“Thank you, boss. Thanks to… “I think I’m feeling a little better.”
“I’m glad it helped.”
“I am truly grateful in many ways. “There is nothing I can do for you.”
“You cast a defensive spell. “That’s enough.”
“Still…”

Her eyes met with black eyes that clouded the ending of her words. The shoulders exposed under the coat, the pure white arms and slender wrists falling down, and even the shoulder straps that were slightly visible under the collar that was not fastened properly.
All of them were dressed in embarrassing ways that aroused lust and protective instincts.
She, too, must have finally come to her senses and shook her head, touching the area around her eyes, which were still slightly red.

“Ah, anyway, I need to find out a little more! “Because we have a lot of time.”
“Yes! “Now would be a good time to finish the midterm exam well.”
“That’s right. Only then will you be able to apply to a higher unit when you join the alliance.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Yes?”

Huh? What does this lady say now?

“12 leagues. Stationed in the Ravier Mountains. “I had no intention of belonging to the Magic Tower after graduation.”

Why go to that dangerous place?

“I knew for sure this time. It would probably be easier to get information about my father if I went to a place higher in rank than the 4th Division. Places like ‘Hooksclaw’ and ‘Skirmisher’ may be difficult, but with the Battle Wizard Division ‘Blue Moon’…”
“No.”
“Yes… ? Kyaaa!?”

As I pulled her hard, her ribs came together with a small scream from her.
Did he turn? I can’t believe I’m going to walk into a dangerous place that is no different from a battlefield. Not until I get dirt in my eyes.

“Say, boss!?”
“How many people die there every day? “I will never allow it, so I wake up from my dream.”

Didn’t even Ice and Snowball say it with his own mouth? Who died yesterday and how many people died last week?
If you think about Liv being placed in such a place, you won’t be able to sleep at night.

“It’s none of your business… ! “Please let me go!”

Perhaps embarrassed by the sudden physical contact, Liv tried to get away from me in a slightly angry voice.
The more she struggled, the more her outer garment slipped down, revealing her daring underwear again. But I also had no intention of backing down.

“No. Don’t change it. I have no intention of changing it. “Give up.”
“Kyaaak, now, wait a minute! There, there… !”

Suddenly Liv let out a moan and stopped her movements.
You might think I touched a strict place, but that’s not the case at all.

If she had been Adela, she would have had no hesitation in pulling her hair out or, conversely, hitting her on the head when she couldn’t get any worse.
But it was difficult for Liv to touch her like that, and she also had a hard time holding onto her injured arm.

In the end, as I tried to stop her from escaping from me by bending her arms that were wrapped around her thin waist a little more, her hands naturally moved towards Liv’s lower abdomen and pressed on her abdomen.
But the effect seemed to be unexpectedly good, and she stiffened like a broken cat.

“Wait a minute, boss, just stop there… !”
“Listen carefully, Baron. Are you saying there isn’t a single sane organization among these federations and whatnot? Even graduates here are trying hard to avoid those difficult places, so why bother going through the trouble?”
“Ah, I understand, so stop, hiya!? Why are you pressing your stomach? … !”
“I’m chopping up demon corpses on a fictional day in the cold wind. Is that something people do? No. It would be better if the person using it was a demon. Do you want to cut off your finger because you got frostbite? “If it rots to the roots, it takes a month to restore it even with 4th-tier sacred magic.”

Cough, cluck, cluck. As I pressed down on Liv’s throbbing temples and at the same time gently pressed on Liv’s soft stomach, she could no longer resist.
Hmm… I think I saw it on TV a long time ago. Basically, did you say that animals have a weak abdomen?
I could definitely feel the soft, elastic surface of my skin even on top of my clothes.

It doesn’t really matter now. I sighed at the immature remarks of our baron, whom I thought was smart.

“My career path is, ugh! It’s up to you! Oh, no… Hmm!?”
“I’m thinking about that career path again.”
“Why on earth, uh… !”
“I told you to do it again.”

Liv’s slender hand tried hard to push my thumb bone away from my abdomen. But of course she didn’t budge.
The same thing happened when I grabbed his fingers one by one and pulled them outward. Instead, I lost strength and my hand slipped, stabbing deep into my stomach.

“Kahahhh… !”

Is it something that would be so tickling? Or maybe it hurts.
Eventually she gave up her resistance and tried to persuade me verbally.

The face that was bright red as if it was about to burst, the lips that were chewing gently, and the waist that kept twisting were strangely erotic.

“With the boss… “It doesn’t matter.”
“Why doesn’t it matter? “I’m not working right now, but I’m definitely an employee.”
“It’s not like I’m going to work here for the rest of my life, so shit.”
“I’d rather work here for the rest of my life than fight at the front.”
“Yes?”

I calmly looked outside and spoke to Liv, who was startled and asked.

“I told you this morning. “For me, protecting precious things is more important than anything else.”
“… !”
“How amazing is this building? “The Baron is also in them.”

So please don’t talk nonsense.
We had a hard time catching Adela, who had jumped into the North Sea, but it would be really difficult if Liv was like this too.

“Ah, ah, if you say it that way…”

She tried to apply a little pressure to the hand that was fixed on her lower stomach to see if she was going to be more stubborn, but this time she only flinched and trembled and there was no reaction.

And a moment later, a voice as loud as a mosquito was heard from her mouth.

“… “I’ll think about it a little more and try it.”

Yes, that’s right.

***

“Please sleep here today.”
“Yes!?”
“I have work to do downstairs anyway.”
“Are you okay! That can’t be… !”
“What will you do if the person who attacked you, Baron, comes again?”
“That…”
“It’s safe here. “It’s written in the school rules, so don’t worry.”

I half-forced Liv, who had become obedient, into the second floor, and then removed the bloody shirt and gauze.
After the place was somewhat settled, I sat alone at the counter and lit a cigarette.
The darkness outside the window reminded me of the night in the Demon World.

Even back then, keeping watch was my responsibility. In the end, you couldn’t sleep for several days? I think it’s been over a week…
Fortunately, I only need to stay overnight today, so it’s convenient. The bite wound on her arm, the pattern on the envelope she was carrying.
As I expected, iron dogs never give up on their prey.

Exactly! Perfect!

I spent some time bouncing around the cockroach toy I made earlier. Inside the store with the lights off. The only sounds from upstairs were Liv’s exhausted breathing and the regular sound of springs.

Right, right, right… !

Sreuk.

An alien feeling passing by my ears. Come.
I put the cigarette I was holding on the counter and got up.