Chapter 75 – Destruction, Coming (5)

Fortunately, a few days after the first battle, Liv shook off his injuries and woke up without any major aftereffects.
He wasn’t too worried at first. Originally, she was a student who showed a very strong mental aspect.

Even after being bitten by her iron dog, she was not afraid and boldly asked me about her father.
If she had started to feel afraid of her monsters or blood, it would have been very difficult for me, who was watching her next to her.

The problem actually lay elsewhere.

“We need to form a patrol team, so everyone gather here.”

At Paris’s words, people took up weapons one by one. Day or night, the forest was not on humans’ side.
Demons that can hide even a single footprint and demons that can see straight ahead even in the dark. Vigilance was essential to reduce any damage from them.

“We set a time and area. I’ll hand out maps, so don’t go to places where magi erosion is occurring, and stay where you are during that time. Lewis, you are here with Miss Melvis…”
“We’re going that way.”
“Now, wait… !”

Paris stopped Liv who was leaving with me.

“Why? “What’s going on?”
“That is…”

However, I fully understood his feelings of not being able to speak.

Among the vigilantes of Greenwood Forest, there was no one as strong as me and no one as good at using magic as Liv. Immediately after the battle, not only here but also in the Federation, the way people looked at us changed significantly.
Obviously, from a leader’s perspective, Paris would want to manage our forces separately. Especially in the case of security missions, it was much more efficient to split up than to stick together.

“Tell me, ah… Mr. Paris.”
“… It’s nothing.”

However, when he stood in front of Liv, Paris lowered his tail. She wondered if it was because of her aristocratic status, but when she later asked her secretly, the answer she got was surprising.

— It’s hard to break her stubbornness because it somehow feels like I’m looking at my daughter.

Anyway, Liv and I, who went on patrol, spread out our mats in a quiet forest in the afternoon sunlight.
Before she knew it, she had taken full advantage of her position as the most skilled wizard in the vigilante group and had even ripped off a lunch box from her classmate and pointed to the seat next to her.

“Please sit here.”
“We have to be on guard.”
“We have set up an ideological barrier nearby. “You will know right away when the enemy comes.”
“…”

I can’t stand it. As we sat next to each other and had some free time, I fell in love with the nostalgia of working at the canteen.
Even though it was only a short time ago, it felt like a very long time ago.

“Ah, that’s nice. “I wish every day was this peaceful.”
“…”
“Louis?”
“… Huh.”

I gently pushed Liv’s head away from her shoulder.
She is clearly adapting well to the current reality. It’s a battlefield, and you act appropriately in a situation where you have to defeat enemies with magic.

However, it was the same for me too. On the contrary, this side kept trying to go back to the past when they were on the battlefield.
As the days passed, my senses became more sensitive and my emotions cooled. It was even more so because I wasn’t just looking at the demons in front of me.

Ravier Mountains. And the Grand Canal.
The ending of the story has already been decided.

The four worst.
Knight of the Dead, Hecaten of the Gwangak.
The blood-sea necromancer, the vicious Izareth.
Antiope of Joak, prostitute of the empire.
And, the annihilating Carvius, who turned the Ravier Mountains into a sea of ​​fire.

They were not simply demons of a slightly stronger level. Rather, my colleagues and I have never single-handedly defeated those with power greater than that of the Great Supplier.

No, that’s it. He was defeated several times in order to kill one guy, and came up with his own magic and strategy to deal with it.

‘I ended up dealing with them one by one.’

Izareth by Terra’s magic, Hecaten by Wivlet’s sword. And I killed Carbias and Antiope with my own hands. Although it was confirmed that the latter was still alive.

Anyway, history doesn’t change. If they fight Carvius, they will all die.
No, even talking about fighting in the first place is arrogant. It would be correct to say that they are trampled. There was only one thing I could do to stop it. A little sharper, getting back to your old self.

“I’m going to go to the bathroom in a moment.”
“Ah…”

There were more than one headache. Even if I take on Carvius, will Paris and the vigilantes be able to stop the demons that will come with him? The Federation will definitely choose to retreat this time too.

How can we save everyone, including Liv? I couldn’t think of a way right away.

***

‘He ran away again…’

Liv was distraught. She felt that the Lewis of her past was very different from before.
He was kind behind the scenes, and he was certainly more handsome than before, but he seemed somewhat impatient. He must have been through the war longer than me, so I could understand it.
But it was all disappointing.

“Where have you gone?”

When he did not return as time passed, Liv looked around carefully.
When a friend disappears in the forest, the first thing to consider is a case of being attacked by a monster, but I was well aware of Lewis’s skills, and there were no enemies caught by the image barrier.

However, in front of Liv, who was trying to get up after pressing down on a stone to keep the mat from blowing away in the wind, there was a little girl in front of her.

“Can I eat this?”
“What are you!?”

In an instant, she took out her staff that was stuck at her waist and aimed it, but the girl with hair as green as a leaf didn’t care and pointed at her lunch box.

“I’m hungry. “Can you give me one, Liv?”
“How do you know my name? Rather, how can this place be…? …”

Monster? Or welcome?
I couldn’t figure it out. Liv hesitantly handed over the sandwich in the lunch box and asked without lowering her wand.

“What is your name? “Why are you here?”
“I’m lost.”
“Road? Shall I take you to the colony?”
“Yes.”

The child shook her head.

“I don’t have to go back. “I have already decided to stay in this forest.”

Instead, he shoved the sandwich into his mouth and stared at Liv.

“What about you, Liv?”
“Me?”
“Huh. Do you want to go back? “To where it came from?”

Where it originally was. Are you sure you’re talking outside of Baldur’s nightmare? Liv hesitated as to what to say to this strange girl’s question.
She also didn’t know that this place was dangerous. According to the red envelope received from Mareil and the contents inside, all the people in this forest died without being able to escape.
But–

‘If I go back now, I will never be able to reveal about her father’s death.’

The dishonor that Paris had to bear. And what the heck happened in the mountains. Liv felt that she still needed to be here.

“No. “Not now.”
“Okay?”

The girl put the rest of her sandwich into her mouth and spoke softly.

“Then you don’t deserve it.”
“What?”

And the next moment, it disappeared out of nowhere.

***

That evening, Paris saw Louis and Liv returning from patrol. Unlike when they left, both of their expressions looked dark.

“Nothing special, I only fixed the broken traps in the forest.”
“Good job.”
“Then I’m going.”
“Oh, wait a minute, Louis.”

When Louis entered the barracks, returned his map, and was about to leave, Paris caught him.

“What?”
“You need a sword, don’t you?”

Lewis’s achievements in the last battle were spread throughout the mountain range through the testimonies of many people. At least he didn’t look like a wizard, so I thought a sword would be better than his bare fists.
Paris said as he placed the entire sword sheath on his waist on the table.

“It’s a pretty good item. They say it’s called Mordred, a cutting sword. “It’s a sword used by a captain who led a fairly large knighthood in the Alliance a long time ago, but I can’t summon the right amount of power from it.”
“What kind of power is it?”
“I heard that the stronger the user’s anger, the bigger the storm it creates around them.”

Perhaps because he had a cruel temper, even when he held the sword, it had no effect. Lewis looked at the sword quietly for a while and then laughed.

“Does that mean that my personality is a bit of a bitch?”
“No, that doesn’t mean… !”
“I do not need.”
“Huh?”

Surprisingly, he declined the offer.

“Even if I don’t get that, I have no intention of leaving here.”
“…”
“It’s better for you to keep it for now. “I don’t want to see an accident happen because of a variable being created for no reason.”
“What does that mean?”

It was a word whose meaning was difficult to guess, but Lewis stood up as if he had no more regrets.

“If the time comes when I need it later, I’ll ask for it separately. “Is this the end of the business?”
“I see…”
“Then I’m going.”

Thud!

Was the suggestion too obvious? Lewis left without looking back. Just as Paris was putting his sword back on his waist with a bitter smile, there was a knocking sound.

“Please come in.”
“Excuse me?”

I miss you, but your beautiful voice. I knew right away who the owner was. When Liv came in, Paris stood up and immediately poured out the tea that was boiling next to her.

“What’s going on, Baron Woodgreen?”
“Please just call me Lev.”
“Hmm, that can’t be possible…”

Is it because she seems to resemble her own daughter, but also has a cool-headed side that is sometimes glimpsed? For Paris, the woman in front of her was a bit uncomfortable.
She was still a noblewoman, and at the same time, she was currently the best wizard in Greenwood Forest, so he couldn’t help but ask her why she had come to see him in person.

“What’s going on? Do you have any inconveniences? “If you find it difficult to stay homeless, we will offer you a place in the barracks.”
“That’s okay. Rather, allow me one thing… No, I have something I want to ask.”

Her eyes looked so serious that Paris nodded her head without realizing it. The tea was getting cold and she was so nervous that she couldn’t even put her hand on it.

“Please speak.”
“Okay, then…”

Liv took a small, deep breath and asked him.

“What do you think of Lewis?”
“Yes?”

It was a remark with an incomprehensible point.

“What do you think?”
“Uh, so… A trustworthy friend. “Her origins are unclear, but her skills are good.”
“Then are you sincere about what you said last time?”

What did you say last time? I couldn’t remember very well.

“Father… “They say they will marry Mr. Paris’s daughter when she grows up.”
“Oh, you mean that? Umm…”

Of course, it was Saddam who gave it to him as a light joke, but his evaluation of him went up even more because Lewis had rejected the sword he had given him a little while ago.
He is not only talented, but also loyal. His speaking style is a little better than that of the mercenaries who used to act as mercenaries, but at least he is not a person who will stab you when the situation is disadvantageous.

Even if the war ends, there is no guarantee when life will return to before. It would be reassuring if he had his daughter by his side if something went wrong.

“Yes, I guess I’ll allow it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Of course, this does not mean that I really intend to enter into an early marriage, but rather that I trust that friend that much…”
“Thank you.”

Paris was startled when Liv bowed deeply. She was shaking her shoulders as she cried.

“Really, that’s what you think…”
“Are you okay? No, what the hell…”

After a while, the real Liv looked much refreshed. She got up from her seat, drank the rest of her tea, and touched the corner of her mouth.

“Mr. Paris.”
“Yes yes!”
“Can I ask you one favor?”
“Yes, just tell me anything!”

Even though Paris gave her everything she wanted, she still wanted to get away from her unknown lover.

“That tent you mentioned earlier, it was definitely a little old.”
“Okay. I’ll buy a new one right away…”
“No.”

Facing his frozen expression, Liv’s face was slightly red, but with a mischievous smile.

“Please just clean it up.”