Advance (4)
How much time did they invest in Erina?
Even when you wake up, when you eat, and when you rest.
We were always together except when taking a bath.
Of course I didn’t hate Erina. Rather, I was loving her.
But I couldn’t like her jealousy and obsession.
“Am I bothering you…? “Or are you sick of it?”
That couldn’t have been possible. How thankful I am that Erina is by my side.
But Erina actually didn’t believe me.
“Erina. Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”
“I love you… ” Seriously, as long as I have you, I don’t need everyone else.”
“…”
“I wish everyone else would just disappear! All the women who closed to Seohyun… !”
That was an impossible wish. I couldn’t part ways with my colleagues now.
Now Erina accepted that fact and couldn’t change it.
If it weren’t for them in the first place, we wouldn’t have come this far.
“Erina. “Why on earth are you doing that?”
“The number of people around you keeps increasing… “
“It’s something that can’t be helped.”
“But if you only had me… ” !”
“Erina.”
I decided to take this opportunity to speak clearly.
From the beginning, Erina was only saying impossible things.
If it weren’t for my friends, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat Ragnar and Katrin.
The battle in the central battlefield could not proceed smoothly.
I had to take responsibility for too many people to only care about Erina.
“I don’t want to be separated from my colleagues. “Everyone, including you, are precious people.”
“… !”
“I won’t tell you to be friendly with your colleagues. But.”
I thought I accepted all of her complaints.
But the more I looked at her, the more she wanted.
I couldn’t just care about Erina anymore.
I had to take care of my colleagues and be with the people around me.
“Please don’t embarrass your colleagues.”
“…”
“No, I’m not asking. “Don’t do it.”
Whether it’s pushing her one-sidedly or accepting her and treating her warmly.
Neither direction helped Erina change.
That’s why I decided to give Erina an appropriate sense of distance.
It was a fake warning every time, but I decided to push back this time.
“If I fight with my colleagues even once, I won’t stay quiet.”
“But…”
“Listen carefully. Erina. “I watched a lot.”
Same thing as a little while ago. If Kayla hadn’t backed down, a fight would have definitely broken out.
There was even a possibility that the other three, excluding Erina, would band together to fight back.
The atmosphere is gradually pushing Erina away.
A hostile energy began to flow within the party.
If we’re not careful, Erina will end up alone.
No, she might already be alone.
“You.”
“…”
“You don’t hate me…?”
I nodded to her question.
Even if you ask again, the answer will not change.
I love Erina. But I couldn’t just leave her to act as she pleases.
As someone who wanted Erina to change more than anyone else, I had to guide her in the right direction.
“Then am I the most precious among others… ?” ?”
I couldn’t say no to this either.
Because right now, Erina is the most important person.
But it seems like Erina didn’t understand what I said at all.
If you understood what I said in the first place, there would be no reason to ask questions.
“Erina. “Stop it now.”
“Yes… ? Please reply quickly! I am the most precious person… ?”
Is there any way I could give you an answer in this situation?
If you give her your warm sincerity, the same situation as before will repeat itself.
After hearing my words, Erina will cry and fall into my arms.
Once again, she will continue to be obsessed with me with peace of mind.
A situation that is no different from before will repeat itself.
So, I decided to lie to Erina this time.
“Erina. “I can’t just think of you.”
“B-but especially… !”
“Because all my colleagues are important to me.”
Then, Erina’s expression froze for a moment, probably because she was shocked.
He looked at me blankly, unable to close his mouth.
Suddenly, the life in the eyes looking at me disappeared.
“… “You.”
“Sorry. Erina. But I can’t help it.”
For the first time, a cold feeling began to spread between her and me.
We just looked at each other in awkward silence.
Did I say something wrong? But I believed that this was the only way.
Even if it meant hurting her heart, I couldn’t help it.
“…I understand.”
When I spoke firmly, Erina couldn’t respond as if she understood what I was saying.
He took his eyes off me and walked slowly.
I started heading back towards the tent.
While we were following her, we couldn’t say anything.
Let’s just keep our mouths shut and go back to the tent.
“Master!”
“Seohyun. “Are you here?”
“Did nothing happen…” “?” ?”
Kayla, Celica, and Tyria were waiting for me.
The meal preparation had already been completed and there was food on the table.
As soon as I was seated, I could start eating right away.
“I’m sorry everyone. “Let’s eat quickly first.”
“No. “My lord.”
Kayla looked at me with an expression full of worry.
I glanced at Erina quietly moving to the corner.
The other colleagues also watched Erina’s eyes and quietly sat down at the table.
“Ruler. “Let’s all eat first.”
Fortunately, Erina sat down calmly at my words and started eating without saying a word.
Only then did my colleagues let go of their tension and started eating.
Time passed in an atmosphere different from usual.
Even while the occasional conversation or laughter broke out, Erina ate her food with a consistent expression.
I was the first to empty my plate and then stand up.
“Ah, Erina. Would you like some more food… ?”
“…”
At least Celica tried to talk to Erina, but she didn’t accept it.
Celica smiled awkwardly with a shy expression.
For a moment, Erina’s expression seemed to distort.
In an instant, he returned to his expressionless expression and shook his head.
‘Maybe I’ll have an accident someday… ‘
If she commits an unexpected act, I will take action.
But I know that if she pushes me with force, not even I can stop her.
This time, I decided to stay nervous and keep a close eye on Erina’s actions.
***
“Commander. All preparations are complete.”
A field lined up with numerous knights. The wind was blowing and the sand was blowing.
And in front of us was the Demon King’s army garrison in the central battlefield.
There are three places left. Among them, it was the largest headquarters.
In fact, if only this base was pushed out, the central battlefield could be said to be in the kingdom’s hands.
“Everyone knows the strategy.”
“Okay. “You have to do what you always do.”
Paul yawned with a sad expression.
Relaxed behavior even before the battle begins.
This is a person who knows but doesn’t know.
Still, it doesn’t matter because it doesn’t cause any arguments or strife.
In his own way, the line was clearly maintained.
“Commander. “Preparations for advance are complete.”
“Every knight corps is fully prepared.”
All that remains now is the scout’s news. The plan was to advance immediately after checking the enemy’s movements.
Not long after, the scout hurriedly rode on horseback.
Looking at the rather urgent expression on his face, is there some not-so-good news?
“Well, the Spirit Kings have appeared… !”
At the scout’s voice, the expressions of the surrounding knights changed for an instant.
Although there were people like Gilbert and Paul who were determined.
There were also people like Eileen who suffered from anxiety and tension.
“How many spirit kings are there in total?”
“That is…” All three spirit kings were gathered together.”
Sylph, Ifrit, Undine.
In the first round, all we had to do was separate from each other and subdue each other.
This time I had to deal with all three at once.
“And. There was one more spirit next to the spirit kings!”
“Okay? “Don’t you know what kind of spirit it is?”
“Yes. However, judging by its appearance, it did not seem to be an ordinary spirit.”
And the scout slowly began to explain about the unknown spirit.
A fierce look with green hair and a leaf-covered outfit.
Then Tyria, who had been listening quietly next to her, raised her head in surprise.
As Tyria expected, the unknown spirit is Nie.
And while Nie became the Spirit King, he became our enemy.