Chapter 420 – Where Lightning Grazed.

– Kaang! Caang!

Usher bit his lip at the clear sound of iron ringing in the pouring rain. Hildisbini hit the shield and each shock that came through rang the bones of the whole body.

I felt it right from the first time I blocked the kick. If you simply block this attack head-on, you won’t be able to withstand it. That’s why he didn’t just block with his shield, but made a slope and deflected his hooves to let the impact flow.

‘It’s heavy.’

Even so, the impact transmitted from the shield to his entire body was so strong that it almost shattered him.

-Shoot it!

What would have happened if the pouring rain hadn’t made the shield a little more slippery.

‘At this rate, no more…!’

At that moment, a shadow rushing towards him in the rain.

“Ugh!”
– Kaang!

Confirming it in the raindrops obscured vision, Usher hurriedly tilted his shield the other way to deflect the impact again.

‘If I just defend, I’ll lose.’

At this moment, Usher understood better than anyone else that the longer the fight, the more he would be at a disadvantage. It’s true that the attacking side gets tired faster, but it’s a completely different matter if the opponent is different.

Even more so, he is a kid who has just reached the age of majority, and in the eyes of adults, he is still a child, but Hildisbini can run for days and days and dozens of kilometers without eating. It’s rather ridiculous to compare his stamina.

‘Attack and defense should not be neglected at all.’

What flashed through his head was the words of Donar, who had taught him the sword for the first time. If he focused only on attack, he would neglect his body, and if he focused only on defense, he might collapse from exhaustion first. But even knowing that fact, it is very difficult to put into practice.

The endlessly pouring rain was a double-edged sword that allowed him to endure until now and at the same time made it difficult for him to counterattack. The raindrops running down his hair keep seeping into his eyes and blurring his vision.

‘I can’t open my eyes.’

The flying attack was somehow able to see the location and block it through the shadows cast and the sound of the rain water splitting even in the rain curtain, but that was the limit.

– Kkaaang!
“Gup!”

If you try to lower the shield for a moment to counterattack, the gap will not be missed and the flying hooves will not allow it.

‘What should I do at a time like this…!’
‘Don’t try to fit in too much of a set position. Circumstances are always different, and there is a method that suits the situation.’
– Kaang!

Donar’s words, heard again, pass his ears, and when he deflects Hill Disbiny’s kick, his hooves become swords and pass his ears. The moments when I learned the sword while being trained by Donnar.

‘Usher, do you plan on becoming a knight?’
‘Me?’
‘Okay.’
‘Ugh, that’s really hard.’

At times, I was startled by the stories he joked about. Because he had been with him, he knew how busy Donard was. That’s why it was hard for him to think of the article as good as it was.

‘Even if it’s hard. It’s worth it, so I can endure it. If you change your mind, tell me anytime. I’ll teach you anytime.’

At the time, he hadn’t thought much about the article, so it didn’t touch him that much.

‘A knight is someone who takes responsibility.’

The passing voice had already changed to that of Krikaliev. Looking back, it was like that. Why did he think he had to block with a shield? When he asked about the article. He said he was a keeper. Because he had so many things he wanted to keep, and still wanted to keep.

‘Swordsmanship is just a knowledge.’

On the way to the Holy Land, he was taught by Krikaliev and heard his story over and over again. Then, if keeping is also a knowledge, what will be different?

‘What are you planning to do after you save the little girl?’
‘Is there anything else important besides that right now?’

Among them was a conversation I had with him in the middle of the wilderness. Now they are mixed and disappeared one by one, it is unclear when, but I remembered the story.

‘It doesn’t matter. Or what Are you ready to save it?’
‘That…’

Come to think of it, he hadn’t thought about anything more than that. If he had to.

‘I’m going back to Lantua with Belka.’
‘Next?’
‘…Wouldn’t it be nice if I just lived with Belka?’
‘Eh, is that the end?’
‘Ugh, what about that?’

Usher exclaimed in anger at the sight of Krikaliev shaking his head. What’s wrong with wanting to go back and live in peace?

‘You don’t think about anything other than little girl, do you?’
‘What’s wrong with that?’
‘There are a lot of problems. Are you going to be satisfied with just that?’
‘It’s just that. Belka is…!’
‘Does that sound like what I meant?’

Usher kept his mouth shut. If Krikaliev had really considered her Belka to be her only, he would not have sought to save her with him. Then why does he say such a thing?

‘You mean you need something more?’
‘You are still young. There are so many things I can do.’

When he asked Krikaliev, he continued.

‘You’re going to change this fucking world. Or has it never occurred to you that you would like to see more secrets or sights that no one knew?’

What comes to mind is a children’s book I read as a child. The story of an adventurer who travels the world. The memory of yearning for just vaguely wanting to leave the village in the forest.

‘Is there really nothing you really want to do or do?’

The one and only Hwangan stared at him and faced the shining thing, but at that time he was speechless. But that’s for a while.

‘Well, I can’t help it because I’m in a hurry, but think about it seriously at least once.’

Krikaliev again served him homemade food as usual.

‘It’s a long, long life anyway. Isn’t there something worth risking your life for once in this boring life?’

When he received the food handed over at that moment, it became a sword before he knew it.

“You lowered your shield?!”
“Danger…!?”

Returning to the present, Usher now held a sword, not a shield. The surprised voices of those watching him could be heard, but they did not lower their shields casually.

-Kurreuk?!

As evidence of that, Hill Disbiny, who was kicking in front of him, lost her balance and was about to fall in front of her. The reason was simple. The moment his kick was about to reach the shield, it didn’t escape, but instead turned his body to avoid his hooves.

In the past, I had the experience of stepping down the stairs without realizing that there were no more steps in front of me, so I tried to use my senses at that time. Moreover, Hildisbini’s movements were certain that her feet would collide with his shield.

If he failed, he could have been hit in the head by his hoof and died, but if it weren’t for this gamble, he would surely collapse from exhaustion. But he succeeded, and found Hill This Beanie stumbling, unbalanced, with his hard step buried in the sand.

I jumped up on my feathered shoulders and grabbed his thick neck. No matter how hard I struggle, I can’t shake myself off. Soon, the gray light of the girl seeped into the eyes of the guy who looked back at him and bumped into him.

[I heard from Verdi. I don’t think it would be bad for him to be with him.]

Even though the gray light was full of obsession and jealousy that seemed to entangle him, she told him that it would be nice to meet someone else.

“Then what about Erica? What about Belka?”

She looked down at her girl and realized, unable to understand how that could be. Isn’t it a very simple story without any worries? Even though the innocent gray color was dyed with dark emotions, it was filled with sweet and lovely emotions that could not be hidden.

[…Yeah, maybe I’ll find someone else.]

After a long silence, Erica closed her eyes and opened her mouth.

[Maybe someday someone will come to save us? So we don’t have to worry. Town?!]

She couldn’t bear to watch the girl smile casually and say brightly that there would be someone else if not him, so Usher lowered her head and kissed her on the lips. Long time to do that.

[Usher is Helena… Ooh!]

When you take her lips apart, she closes her lips again to say good-bye.

[Therefore. Town!]

After that, over and over again, she put her own lips on her girl’s lips and covered her mouth.

[Hey, wow!]

Then she finally burst into tears and gently hugged the girl who buried her face in his chest.

[Why? Why? Hi! You know what? What we can do is hehe, we are no different from other women.]

Other women can love Usher too. You can love any other woman.

[Huh, but why?!]

Unable to control her overflowing tears, she tugged at the hem of his dress and cried out at the girl’s words, and Usher stood her up and answered.

“You know. I have something I want to do.”

Now I could answer Krikaliev’s question.

‘The important thing is to live as the self you want.’

Because he knew the meaning of Jeremiah’s words to him before dying with the wizard.

“I mean. I want to be a knight.”

Like Donnar who protected us. Like Krikaliev, who always smiled confidently. Like Jeremiah who sacrificed for people. I want to be a knight. A wonderful article that anyone can admit.

“I just want you to be by my side.”

Even when he couldn’t do anything. Even when he’s lonely and he’s going crazy. Even on days when you are tired. Even when he is in pain. Because she was the one who always protected her.

[Huh, stupid.]

Soon, Erica kissed him again. Some time for her soft touch to touch her lips.

“I’ll go pick it up. I haven’t forgotten that key.”
[Huh. I’ll be waiting with Verdi.]

The girl smiled with tears streaming down her face and disappeared into the dawn light.

“…Did you really tame Hildisbini?”

People watched Usher as she exhaled wearily as she climbed atop the already calm Hill Dis beanie.

“You really did.”

Helena, who had been out of the carriage at some point, was also watching the scene.

“I have to return the clothes now.”

Nausicaa, who came out of her curiosity, also laughed bitterly at the sight and muttered.