Return (1)

“Ugh…”

After being trapped in the cave for an hour, Kayla finally came to her senses.

When I heard a groan, I quickly grabbed his hand.

Kayla barely opens her eyes with a frown on her face.

I looked around blankly for a moment to see if I had come to my senses.

“Ah… !”

When he realized that I was holding his hand, he quickly got up.

Not long after, he fell to the floor with a groan of pain.

As she tried to force herself to stand up, I calmly stroked her head.

“Kayla. It’s okay to lie down a little longer.”

“Lord, lord…” “Where am I…” ?”

“Inside the cave. “I think it’s probably Makiela’s bedroom.”

At my words, Kayla laid down and slowly looked around.

It seems that only then did he realize that he was lying in bed.

After killing Makiela, he collected the body and waited for Kayla to wake up.

It would have been difficult if I had passed out all day, but fortunately, it didn’t take long for me to wake up.

However, he seemed to be out of his mind, holding his head and letting out a weak moan.

“Sorry. “I don’t remember anything since the cave collapsed…”

When I patted her head as she looked confused, she seemed to have calmed down and her complexion improved.

No matter how much elixir it is, it won’t be able to erase mental shock or fatigue.

I explained everything that had happened since she became stable.

Just before the cave collapsed, Kayla hugged me and I was safe.

When she fainted on a rock, he forced the elixir into her mouth.

While carrying Kayla on my back and wandering through a collapsed cave, I ended up here by chance.

He explained everything, including meeting Makiela and killing her.

Kayla, who was listening to the story, gradually became distorted.

Afterwards, I tried my best to force myself to stand up.

“Kayla. Calm down. “Machiela is already dead.”

“Is that so…”

Kayla could barely stand up and grabbed her head.

At first, I thought she was suffering from aftereffects.

Kayla spoke quietly with a gloomy expression and a small voice.

“I was of no help…”

“Don’t say that. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been safe.”

Although I knew that Kayla had been withdrawn recently.

Since this happened again this time, my disappointment with myself seems to have increased.

But she was doing her part well.

Didn’t I survive this time again thanks to her?

But if she knew who she was comparing to.

I could understand why she was downcast.

“Kayla. Are you afraid of Erina?”

“…Yes.”

Kayla confessed honestly.

Because you won’t be able to defeat Erina by force in the first place.

But I didn’t want to see her fight Erina and win.

I just wanted them to protect me and get along smoothly with my colleagues.

In that sense, Kayla exceeded my expectations.

When I first fought against Erina, I was quite disappointed.

Unlike Erina, Kayla has changed a lot.

Even though the fights have decreased and I can get along with my colleagues.

The obsession with me disappeared and the affection remained the same.

It was a change that was originally hoped for for Erina, but the person who actually changed was Kayla.

In that sense, I wanted to rate Kayla higher than Erina.

Even though he may be pushed back by force, he is someone I can truly trust.

“What would happen if I fought Erina? “I will definitely lose.”

“…”

Neither I nor Kayla denied it.

Isn’t Erina the strongest person in this world?

If she were to compete alone, there was no one who could beat her.

“But what will happen if me, Celica, and Tyria join forces?”

“That’s…”

Honestly, I don’t know. In the past, Erina would have won overwhelmingly, but now it was a different story.

It’s because they were pushed aside by Erina’s overwhelming power.

Those who are with me are among the strongest in the world.

Wouldn’t they be able to stop Erina?

“Kayla. “I don’t want the strongest companion.”

“…”

“I need someone who can stay by my side and trust me. In that sense.”

He smiled at Kayla and patted her head.

“I trust you more than Erina. “Understand, right?”

“Yes. Thank you… “

So that Kayla can be reminded of this every time she gets anxious.

I approached her and kissed her.

Kayla, who calmly accepted her lips, looked much more relaxed.

“Are you okay? “Is there any pain anywhere?”

“There is no pain anywhere, but my whole body is throbbing as if I have a bruise…”

Even with elixir, is complete healing impossible?

I was able to realize once again how powerful Celica’s healing was.

Kayla slowly stood up while holding my hand.

I took a deep breath and checked my body condition.

“Maybe I should still rest more.”

“No. “This is good enough.”

I grabbed my torn robe and my luggage and left Makiela’s bedroom.

And then he approached Makiella’s body lying in the corner of the room.

A body lying limp with its head cut off.

Kayla put the blanket back on her body with a complicated expression.

“Considering what this man did, I think this is a very generous death.”

If you look back at the sins Machiela committed, they were truly terrible.

There were countless people who died by her hands and creatures who became victims of experiments.

But I showed her at least some mercy.

I didn’t know if it was the right decision or the wrong decision.

If I remember her last words, I didn’t want to kill her in pain.

‘I hoped for a peaceful world.’

If so, they shouldn’t have committed biological experiments on so many living things.

Before that, he should not have worked as a close associate of the Demon King.

Did Machiela only find out about this after being betrayed by the Demon King?

Or did he do it all knowingly?

It’s something we don’t know anymore.

“It will happen because he is dead. “Don’t worry.”

“Yes. I understand.”

At my words, Kayla gave up and turned away from the body.

Was it a relief to see that he was definitely dead?

Her expression looked even more relieved.

“I am worried that my colleagues are safe.”

“Okay. “We have to get out of here too.”

Machiela’s room was located in the deepest part of the cave.

In other words, this is the place furthest from the entrance. To get outside, you had to clear a considerable distance.

‘We don’t even have food anymore. It’s a big deal.’

I lost my backpack and couldn’t even get drinking water right away.

Even if I joined my colleagues, returning to base wasn’t easy.

A situation where misfortune struck all at once. Still, if I got through it safely this time, I was able to reach the ending.

‘Just kill the devil and it’s over.’

All you have to do is return to the capital, complete the final inspection, and prepare to head to the Demon King’s Castle.

If so, we will be able to save Ariel in heaven.

I didn’t even know if Erina’s purpose could be revealed.

“My lord. I am ready.”

“Okay. Let’s move right away.”

The entrance to a room blocked by a pile of stones.

Kayla drew a magic circle and caused a huge explosion.

A passage was revealed behind the collapsed rubble.

“We will dig a path just long enough to prevent the cave from collapsing.”

“Okay. “Please.”

So we diligently made a path towards the entrance of the cave and moved forward.

With the hope that my colleagues will be safe.

***

Malcolm opened his eyes wide, holding on to his fading spirit.

Catalina went into battle carrying herself.

She was barely swinging her great sword when she was on the verge of falling.

“Kaaak…!!”

The moment when the last remaining enemy finally screamed.

Catalina’s legs gave way and she fell to the floor.

“Sister…!”

“…It’s noisy.”

As the pain finally came, Catalina couldn’t even move, let alone a weak breath.

Malcolm barely moved his paralyzed body and got off her back.

I lay down next to her and held her hand.

“Sister… Just a little… Be patient…”

“Damn it…”

Even in this situation, instead of screaming, you’re swearing.

I realized that no one could beat Catalina in terms of mental strength.

There were countless poisonous needles stuck in her body.

Malcolm worked hard to pull out the needles stuck in her body one by one.

A whopping five poisonous stings. The thought that it could possibly reach a lethal dose sent a chill down my spine.

“Huh… “

“Don’t cry… “

When Malcolm heard the voice losing strength, he could not stop crying.

If this continues, I will die. No matter how hard I tried to find a way, there was no hope.

Looking at her struggling to breathe as if she was going to die at any moment.

Because if it’s not now, I’ll never be able to say it again.

Malcolm said what he could never say.

“When the war was over, I was going to confess to my sister…”

“…”

“After defeating the demon lord, I wanted to propose to my sister…”

Catalina was silently listening to Malcolm’s confession.

There was no way he wouldn’t have known it was her.

Who has been by his side until now?

From an ordinary village girl to a knight of the kingdom.

There was only one person who believed in her until the end.

There was no way he didn’t know that he had special feelings for her.

That’s why Catalina couldn’t answer.

Catalina could feel that death was approaching.

Even the stabbing pain throughout my body becomes paralyzing.

I noticed that even my vision was becoming blurry.

Among them, the only sense that can be felt is hearing.

I could only feel Malcolm’s voice.

“Sister. Please… ! Please hold on just a little longer…!”

Contrary to his wishes, Catalina’s mind began to gradually fade.

If you could have said just one word, what would you have responded to him?

I probably said something I’ve never said in my life.

‘Thank you…’

Just as I was about to lose my mind.

“…!!”

With the sensation of hearing a human voice from far away.

Catalina’s vision went dark.