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88 화

“……Understood.”

Serenon slowly nodded as he exchanged glances with me, gradually regaining his composure. His once shaken eyes now bore a firm resolve.

“To be honest, I still don’t know how the princess can be so confident. I’m not sure she can be trusted.”

Serenon narrowed his eyes. His gaze deepened as if trying to assess something. His suspicion was valid, so I quietly accepted it.

“But still, I want to try to trust her. My instincts are telling me it’s okay to trust you. My instincts are usually pretty reliable.”

‘Seems like you really have some decent instincts.’

I smiled faintly. Serenon, regaining his boisterous and bright smile from when we first met, added quietly, “Most importantly, the person you like that much can’t be a bad person.”

At his addition, Leo and Reiner’s spirits immediately grew heavy, then quickly quieted. After briefly glancing back and forth at the two, who were exuding considerable killing intent, Serenon thought that Diego must indeed be well-related with him.

“Alright then. However, before we proceed with the plan, I think we need to get one person’s approval.”

I lowered my voice as I rummaged through the surrounding flow of mana to distract Basilisk, who was scanning the area vigilantly. With everyone focused on me, I turned my gaze to one person.

“Leo.”

The absinthe-colored eyes that had been obsessively fixated on me since I arrived deepened. After a brief hesitation, he cautiously opened his mouth.

“The plan I’m currently contemplating involves using you. It’s going to put you in danger.”

The target of Basilisk is Leo. I intended to capitalize on that.

‘Of course, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Leo.’

Using someone else as bait was, after all, a foolish idea. As I gazed at him with slightly lowered eyes, the sharpness in Leo’s gaze softened.

“What are you hesitating for? I’d be happy even if your hand pushes me into danger.”

His pale green eyes sparkled dangerously. He wore a wickedly charming smile as he whispered, “Do as you wish. I’ll do anything for you.”

His low voice, brushing against my heart, shone with blind loyalty. It was as if Leo, with the eyes of a beast, had willingly put on his own leash.

“Alright. Let’s give it a shot.”

Although I hated putting him in danger while he trusted me like this, it was indeed the safest method. I nodded heavily and began my explanation.

“Basilisk’s breath contains poison. It’s lethal venom.”

“Oh, so that’s why… it was so difficult.”

“Yes. Anyone without immunity is at risk just by being near a Basilisk.”

Serenon exhaled wearily and looked at me with a peculiar gaze. Ignoring his glance, I continued my explanation.

“So, our priority is protecting Your Highness from the fight.”

“I can fight too…!”

“If you don’t evade now, you’ll die before even drawing your sword.”

I interrupted Serenon, who was about to retort, with a steady gaze. The bluish tint creeping onto his skin looked quite precarious. Serenon’s pupils trembled, and he bit his lip before heavily nodding.

“……Understood.”

With his compliance, I also nodded briefly and turned my gaze away.

Two pairs of eyes were intensely watching me. Two different colors and gazes; between them, I took a short breath and opened my mouth softly.

“Reiner, escape this place with the second prince.”

“Kashmir!”

At my resolute command, Reiner looked at me in disbelief, as if I had grown a second head. Leaning against a tree, Leo smiled brightly in contrast to Reiner’s reaction.

“Well, it seems Shushu’s plan doesn’t need a miracle.”

The sarcasm in Leo’s tone sent Reiner’s spirits tumbling. Glancing disdainfully at Leo, who was provoking us and was utterly unhelpful in this situation, I turned back to the clenched fist of Reiner.

“Isn’t Reiner the commander of the Knights Order of the Imperial Palace? It’s only natural to prioritize the royal family.”

“But the most important person to me is you!”

Reiner’s outcry caused my eyes to widen. My heart sank, but what mattered right now was not that.

The intense golden eyes felt like they were scorching my skin, and I hastily turned my gaze to Serenon.

‘What if the commander of the Royal Second Knights Order stands in front of royalty and says something like this!’

That was a statement that could land Reiner in serious trouble if Serenon took offense. A little anxious about that, I noticed Serenon’s expression was one of genuine interest, contrary to my thoughts.

“Hoh…”

Surprisingly, Serenon looked like he found it quite amusing. His eyes gleamed as he regarded Reiner, seemingly enjoying the situation rather than being angry.

‘Looks like Reiner won’t be punished for this.’

Suddenly feeling deflated, I exhaled and turned my head back to Reiner.

“Reiner, I have a plan.”

“Are you going to jump into danger again by yourself?”

“This time, it’s not like that.”

“Then how do you plan for just the two of us to face the Basilisk?”

“Just the two of us…”

I was about to say, ‘Since I defeated Harabana, can’t I take on Leo and Basilisk too?’ but then realized Serenon was watching us with intrigue and shut my mouth. This was not something I should say in front of Serenon.

“You’re quite messy with your words. I almost thought you were an amateur.”

Looking at Reiner’s face, which was filled with stubbornness, I was at a loss on how to respond when Leo responded with a sly smile, adding fuel to the fire.

Reiner’s expression, clearly offended by the blatant insult, hardened.

The deadly intent of the two clashed fiercely in the air.

“……This isn’t the place for you.”

“Why is it not? Because of you, Shushu’s plan is getting delayed.”

“It’s about Kashmir and me.”

“Kashmir’s matter is also my matter.”

‘What are these two doing right now?’

Meanwhile, over there, the Basilisk was turning the forest upside down searching for us, and neither of them seemed to have a proper sense of urgency. For some reason, I sighed as I looked at the ridiculous exchange between the two and decided to step in.

“This isn’t child’s play… Let’s stop this and both of you step back.”

Finally, they reined in their killing intent. I turned back to Reiner.

“Reiner. I have no intention of changing my mind. Go with the second prince.”

“But…

“Reiner Einhart.”

I uttered his name in a calming tone while gazing at him in a way that exuded pressure.

The first lesson I learned while working as a mercenary was how to overwhelm others. Being small in stature, I was often overlooked. I learned to dominate others through gaze, eye contact, small movements, and killing intent, forcing them to adhere to my words.

With a slightly lessened killing intent, I gazed at him coldly.

“I told you your right to refuse is gone.”

His white teeth bit into his reddish lips. Blood lightly seeped from Reiner’s lips.

“If you disobey any longer, I’ll enforce it.”

I had no intention of changing my thoughts. If Serenon fell victim to the poison along the way, someone would have to carry him. Leo must be the bait, while I needed to be the main counter, so it made sense for Reiner to go.

“Answer.”

I urged him for a response in a tone stripped of emotion. Swallowing the blood spilling from his lips, Reiner slowly opened his mouth.

“……Understood.”

His cracked voice was pitiful, yet the bowed head was compliant.

‘ I could tear anyone to pieces.’

However, I could see it. His swirling golden eyes shone with terrifying intensity, and the mana surrounding him was acting wildly. He was clearly expressing strong feelings of rejection and defiance.

‘But there’s no other choice.’

Though my heart softened, the circumstances didn’t allow it. Avoiding Reiner’s intense gaze, I pulled out a silver teleportation stone and a sky-blue teleportation stone from my pocket.

“……What’s this?”

“Teleportation stones.”

The eyes of the three widened in shock. They looked surprised that I would even bring such things to a hunting tournament that felt like a noble’s prank.

‘To be honest, I didn’t intend to bring them along either.’

The silver stone was given to me by El, and I had carried it almost like a second self. The other sky-blue stone was a recent gift from Aria, who claimed it was her first creation.

‘I wanted to give my first to my sister. It couldn’t travel far, but… it could be useful for emergency avoidance.’

‘Compared to the stone El gave me, it’s infinitely inferior… but considering the amount of mana, I should be able to reach about 5m beyond the barrier.’

For a first creation, that’s quite impressive. Like a fool, I reflected for a moment on how talented my sister was and then handed the silver stone to Serenon and the sky-blue stone to Reiner.

“You two must go together. Prince, please do not stray far from Reiner. Quickly escape this place, use the stones at the barrier entrance. After ensuring both of you arrive at the same location, swiftly return to the open area and report the situation to request support. Be sure to bring other important figures like paladins and priests!”

“You want me to bring both paladins and priests? Not even the Duke of Crisis could do that! Why specifically…

Kyaaaak!

In the nick of time, I heard the anguished roar of the Basilisk. It seemed that our conversation had distributed the mana barrier we had set, alerting the Basilisk to our presence. Growing anxious, I spoke urgently.

“We need them to clean up the Basilisk’s corpse! I can’t explain further; hurry!”

A sharp blade emerged from its sheath with a deadly sound. The sword gifted to me by Kaisar sang out. I hadn’t yet drawn out my aura and turned back to Serenon and Reiner.

“Let’s go quickly, now! Leo! Distract it!”

“Alright!”

The moment I released the barrier, as the Basilisk quickly turned toward us, Leo’s raging aura surged against it. The Basilisk’s menacing red eyes sparkled fiercely. Seizing the moment when the Basilisk was distracted, I yelled at the hesitating Serenon and Reiner.

“Go! Hurry!”

Finally, they began to move. I watched as they ran toward the direction of safety until they disappeared from sight.

Thus, I couldn’t ignore Reiner, who kept glancing back.

“Kashmir, please… don’t get hurt.”

A short telepathic message vibrated in my head as they vanished from view. Unsurprisingly, it was Reiner’s telepathy. Sighing at that fond echo, I gripped my sword tightly.

KWAAM!

Mana erupted from my body like an explosion. The turbulent current around my sword raged. With expectations weighing heavily, I looked at the Basilisk.

Now, it was the time of the sword’s calamity.

 

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