Chapter 12
After using up even the Qi absorbed from Angela without a moment’s rest to operate the [Wind Wave Style]…
“…A person!”
I finally spotted a large village formed at the base of the mountain.
It wasn’t some rural place with just a few huts, but a proper town with paved brick roads.
The bell tower visible in the distance signalled the presence of a church here.
Churches in Valdeon Saga serve as a sort of ‘resurrection point.’
The fact that there’s a church in this village means it’s a sizable ‘city’ fit for hiding oneself.
Even if those sisters pursue us here, they wouldn’t be able to cause a ruckus so easily.
The city guards are keeping a sharp watch—who’d dare to act out here?
‘I’m less worried now…’
The problem is that I have nowhere to stay even if I enter the city.
“If only I had a little money…”
I never thought being cast out of the Oldeire family without a single coin would feel this unfair.
At least while camping in the mountains, there wasn’t any need to spend money, so I didn’t think about it.
‘If things go on like this, I won’t even be able to get a place to stay.’
No matter how big the city is, this is still a medieval fantasy world.
It’s not uncommon for people sleeping on the streets to end up as nothing but a pile of skin the next morning, devoured by some beast.
‘And then there’s food too.’
I can dig up and eat whatever I find in the mountains, but would our princess be able to endure that?
Just as I was contemplating whether I should sell the sword I had brought along for a low price…
“Hmm… Left pocket…”
“Pardon?”
“My… left pocket feels heavy…”
“…Are you awake?”
“Hmm… snore….”
Angela, pretending to be asleep, wiggled her left leg.
…Where’s the dignity of a princess gone?
“My apologies.”
Still, we’re in a critical situation right now.
I carefully reached into the left pocket of Angela’s pants.
“…!”
It wasn’t money, but there were a few rings adorned with gemstones and some gold trinkets.
“I’m sorry, but I’ll be using these for a while.”
“Snore… don’t worry… snore….”
“……”
I wish she’d make it clear whether she’s awake or asleep.
*
This is the first city I’ve arrived at since my possession.
I’d love to take my time sightseeing, but for now, I’ll put it off a bit.
<The Owl’s Eye>
-Lodging, Meals, Alcohol-
I chose a moderately decent-looking inn and stepped inside.
As I opened the creaky door, a faint musty smell of mold greeted me.
“Welcome~.”
A plump woman sitting at the counter greeted me absentmindedly.
Judging by the situation, she seemed to be the owner of the inn.
“Hello.”
“…Huh? What’s this?”
The woman’s eyes widened as she looked at me.
Then she quickly relaxed her expression and smirked.
“What brings you here, little one?”
“I’m here to stay.”
“Hmm… is that so? That’s unfortunate.”
She clicked her tongue softly and rolled her black eyes.
The way she kept looking me up and down was… unsettling, to say the least.
“Is there a problem?”
“Hmm… nothing. So, how long do you plan to stay?”
“How long will this get me?”
I placed a gold bracelet on the table.
“Hoho. Where’d you get something like this? This is what the central continent nobles wear.”
“Do I have to tell you?”
“Hahaha! What a cheeky little kid! Not bad, not bad at all.”
The woman tossed me a key from the wall behind her.
“One month. Breakfast service included.”
“…Isn’t that a bit of a rip-off?”
“You should know the market price before coming, kiddo. Don’t you want to lay down the one on your back quickly?”
Angela’s body flinched.
I wonder what expression this woman would make if she knew that this girl is actually a princess.
“A girl riding on a guy’s back, huh? What a sight.”
Enough. I should get inside for Angela’s sake.
“Thank you.”
As I took the key and began climbing the stairs—
The woman glanced at me with a sly smile.
“Kiddo, if you ever need money while staying here, just let me know.”
“…Pardon?”
“I can introduce you to a good job.”
“Uh, okay.”
Her sticky gaze continued to crawl over my body.
I don’t know what kind of job she has in mind, but it reeks of something unsavory.
‘Ugh.’
I quickly turned away and opened the door labeled 207.
‘It’s cleaner than I expected.’
The room was small, but it was well maintained and tidy inside.
‘If only it had more than one bed, it would’ve been perfect.’
That damned woman.
She must have given us a room with a single bed on purpose.
If you’re going to overcharge me, at least give us a bigger room, damn it!
“Sigh.”
I considered going back to argue but decided against it.
There was something about that woman that made me uncomfortable to talk to.
“Well… I’ll just sleep on the floor.”
I can’t find another room.
Angela is a person who absolutely cannot die.
I have to stay close by to protect her at all times.
Swoosh.
I laid Angela down on the bed.
“You can wake up now.”
“……”
“…Princess?”
“…Snore.”
I have no idea how long she’s planning to keep up this ‘I’ve been asleep the whole time’ act.
Anyway, the matter has come to a close.
The inevitable event, “Rescuing the Princess,” is now complete.
Given the timing, there’s still some time before the next inevitable event.
“Hup.”
Sitting on the floor, I let out a deep breath.
‘Now that I think about it, I couldn’t even properly say goodbye.’
I wanted to thank the 3rd Squad since I owed them a lot, but there were too many complications, so I didn’t bother.
It’s not like we had any special relationship, and they were just protecting me until the operation was over.
But it was still the first bond I made since coming here.
It would be a lie to say I wasn’t a little sad.
Well, thanks to “Fate Potential,” we’ll meet again soon enough.
We can catch up then.
If I tell them I left to protect Angela, they’ll understand.
‘I didn’t get Ornica’s [Scarlet Moon Style] in the end, but that’s okay.’
As long as I have [Soul Bond], [Scarlet Moon Style] doesn’t matter much anymore.
I don’t have a proper cultivation method yet, but thanks to the fortuitous encounter of [Great Absorption Art], it’s not an urgent issue.
If I had to set the next goal…
‘I need to open the Middle Danjun.’
As I’ve mentioned before, opening all three Danjuns is the minimum requirement for being considered a “master.”
After that, advancing through the “realms” is what constitutes true leveling up.
So, I should open the next Danjun as quickly as possible.
‘Since it’s the Middle Danjun, I can open it on my own.’
I should open it before the next event, at the very least.
Before that, I’ll make sure to safely return Angela to the Imperial Family.
“Haaaam…”
With the tension gone, a yawn escaped.
It’s a wonder I’m not more exhausted after all that commotion since early in the morning.
“Maybe I’ll nap for a bit…”
Just in case, I securely locked the door.
I sat down beside the bed where Angela lay and closed my eyes.
***
“Zzz…”
Only after hearing his faint breathing—
“Is… is he asleep?”
The princess, Angela Marteus Lenzel, rose from where she lay.
In truth, she had already regained consciousness a while ago.
The reason she kept pretending to be asleep was—
‘It’s so… embarrassing!’
It was because she felt an unbearable amount of shame.
A woman being carried by a man!
And her, no less, a member of the Imperial Family!
“Ugh…!”
Her face flushed red just thinking about it again.
-‘Angela, you must become a splendid woman capable of protecting your partner.’
I’m sorry, Mother!
I ended up being the one who was protected instead!
Swallowing the surging shame, Angela glanced at the sleeping face of the man who had protected her.
Until now, she hadn’t been able to see clearly due to her blurry vision, but—
“He looks young.”
Very young.
At most, he’s her age.
His small frame moved steadily with each inhale and exhale.
‘How can someone so young possess such skill in a man’s body…?’
Though she had been surrounded by countless talents at the heart of the Empire—
She had never seen anyone as overwhelmingly gifted as this man.
The sword style that had perfectly severed the arm of the assailant.
The footwork that let him dart around like the wind.
There was no way these skills could be achieved at such a young age.
And more than anything—
‘He’s beautiful.’
Even the sons of prestigious families didn’t have such a level of beauty.
Long eyelashes and smooth lips.
Just looking at him made her swallow unconsciously.
His appearance while sleeping against the wall seemed like a masterpiece.
“Zzz… Fwaa…”
The soft, rhythmic breaths tickled her ears.
There’s a tradition passed down among women in the Imperial Family.
‘A partner is a gift bestowed by fate.’
There exists a powerful force called “the power of fate” that binds the most suitable partners together as one destiny.
Partners linked by fate have good compatibility and can bear an outstanding lineage.
It’s said that the current strength of the Empire is due to its generations of embracing the power of fate.
-‘How do I find my destined partner?’
-‘It’s not something you find, dear. Fate itself will guide you.’
At the time she heard that, she thought it was utter nonsense.
-‘You’ll know at a glance. You’ll just feel it—that they’re your destiny.’
But now, she felt like she understood.
“You… you were my destiny all along.”
Thump-thump!
Her heart pounded intensely as she looked at this man whose name and identity she still didn’t know.
Surely, this was all due to the mysterious power of fate.
‘My partner.’
Thinking that way, she felt guilty.
She had always promised herself that, if she found her destined partner, she would make sure his hands would never have to do a single chore.
And yet, because of her incompetence, didn’t he end up spilling blood, not just water?
“I’m sorry, dear.”
Though they hadn’t had a wedding yet—
If he was chosen by fate, he was already her husband in her mind.
Angela’s hand overlapped Alben’s.
“I won’t let you suffer again. I’ll do my best.”
She would never let something like this happen again and would always stay by his side.
She would never let him go anywhere else.
“Fufu… My dear.”
Yes.
Forever Beside Me.
—
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