I Tried To Be Her Loyal Sword

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253화

Swoosh!

Fire arrows poured down like lightning. Even if the chance of them igniting was low due to the recent snow, standing in a forest surrounded by firewood and facing fire arrows felt totally reckless.

“Teleport artifact! Get it out, hurry!”

I dodged a fire arrow flying toward my face and quickly pulled out the artifact from my pouch. Serenon, having stumbled a bit from the sudden descent, also hurried to grip the artifact.

“Teleport!”

Whoosh!

With a scream-like chant shouted simultaneously, a light burst from the artifacts in our hands.

The glow swayed unsteadily.

Fwoosh…

And then nothing happened.

“……Why isn’t this working? Teleport! Teleport!”

Serenon shook the artifact and chanted the activation phrase repeatedly, but the artifact only vibrated ominously without transporting us anywhere.

I suppressed a barrage of curses that tickled my lips.

“The interference signal is definitely too strong. We were too complacent.”

I should have forcibly dragged Shian here. He might not have been able to keep up with our speed, but I could have just picked him up and run if need be.

I was torn between punishing the mages who swore the artifact would activate and cursing the North for sending out such strong interference.

But they didn’t give us much time to think. Fire arrows began to rain down again.

“What now?”

Serenon urgently turned to me. I looked in the direction the fire arrows were coming from.

That direction must lead to a river. The Northern army was stationed in front of it.

Heading there would be like entering a tiger’s den, and then slathering sauce over my head to shove it into the tiger’s mouth.

“……I will suggest two methods.”

“Usually, the second option becomes the one people choose.”

Leaning against a tall tree while hiding beside me, Serenon muttered resignedly.

“First, we wait impatiently in this forest for the interference signal to weaken.”

Their magical technology was impressive, but it was clear that continuously emitting such a strong interference signal was impossible. Admittedly, this approach was foolish but safe.

“And the second option?”

I pointed with my chin at the Northern troops.

“We break through their frontline and cross the frozen river.”

It was more like charging headfirst rather than pushing straight through.

“……The first option is a slow death, and the second is a quick one, isn’t it?”

“Think positively. The first is a conciliatory approach, while the second is a hardline.”

Serenon looked at me with a bewildered expression.

“Master.”

“Yes.”

“Why ask when you’re already prepared to run?”

Swoosh…

A whirlwind stirred around my feet. I avoided his gaze.

“There’s a procedure to everything… I thought I’d respect your opinion.”

Even I could tell it sounded more like an excuse.

Serenon let out a chuckle and got into a running position.

“Either way, if I’m going to die, I might as well do it with some flair.”

The exceedingly casual phrasing for a prince stuck in my ears. I couldn’t help but smile.

“You won’t die.”

Before long, the rainfall of fire arrows ceased, and the presence of malice grew closer. I suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu.

‘Not today. No one will die today. I will make sure of it. So please do as I say.’

When I had tamed the basilisk with Serenon, I had assured him I would not let anyone die before my eyes.

I was about to say something, but he was quicker.

“I know. You won’t let me die today, right?”

Swoosh.

He wrapped mana around his legs.

“Please say that again tomorrow. I want to live tomorrow too.”

Serenon smiled at me as if my childish remark were a spell. I nodded at him, gesturing firmly.

“Let’s go!”

Pah!

Serenon and I simultaneously sprang into action and began to dash toward the Northern troops.

“What, what’s going on!”

“My lady, over there!”

The Northern troops who had been charging toward us faltered at our sudden aggression. Ignoring the panicked soldiers, I bolted with all my might.

“All units, turn your heads! Keep pursuing them!”

Swoosh!

With Hilda’s voice that could rip through, arrows poured down upon us. It seemed they didn’t want to set their own barracks on fire any longer.

Before long, the silhouettes of the barracks came into view.

“What do we do upon arrival?”

It was hard to hear over the roaring wind, so we had to shout to communicate. I raised my voice to answer Serenon’s high-pitched question.

“We’ll cross the lake as soon as we arrive! Just run!”

Finally, Serenon and I broke free from the dark woods.

“Everyone wake up! Intruders! It’s Mir!”

Even though it was late at night, a few soldiers who were awake screamed when their eyes met mine. I swung my sword fiercely.

‘Since the danger seems the same, I might as well create chaos since I’ve already been discovered.’

When things are too ruined to fix, it’s better to completely wreck it than to clumsily patch it up.

Swoosh!

“Yes, I am Mir!”

Boom!

I charged straight into the barracks without holding back.

“Uwaaaaah!”

“Everyone, run! Get out of the way!”

The barracks crumbled, and the Northern troops’ campsite descended into chaos. I felt like a terrorist wreaking indiscriminate havoc.

‘Not bad, huh?’

I began to understand a bit why some choose to run amok.

Boom!

I quickly dodged a massive fireball that fell beside me and glanced back.

“Kashmir Crisis—everyone, jump in and catch them!”

Hilda, who had entered the forest to pursue us only to emerge again, chased us with a face like a demon. Her ashen eyes sparkled like someone deranged.

“Run faster!”

Bounding over the tent’s canopy, I urged Serenon on.

If we fought the Northern army here, it would be a battle of two thousand against hundreds. Obviously, we would lose. We had to escape before the waking Northern soldiers could set up for battle.

The lake began to come into view. The naively welcoming lake, kissed by the night, seemed frozen enough for Serenon and me to cross comfortably.

‘If we can just get across…

Things seemed to be going well, but the goddess of luck wasn’t always on our side.

Fwoosh.

“Cough!”

“My lord!”

A chilling sound pierced through the air, and Serenon fell to the ground with a gasp. My eyes widened as I examined him.

‘Dammit. He’s got a punctured calf muscle.’

The arrow he failed to dodge had pierced his leg. Although he wouldn’t be in mortal danger, I feared he wouldn’t be able to move.

Despite that, attacks continued to rain down, and the pursuing Northern force drew closer.

I glanced nervously back and forth between Serenon and the approaching Northern soldiers before making a decision.

“……My lord, you shouldn’t be arrested for treason against the royal family.”

“What? No, what do you mean!”

Serenon, bewildered by my whisper, flailed about in a panic as I hoisted him over my shoulder.

“I’m sorry. But human life is more important, isn’t it?”

“But what the hell is this! Just carry me! Why this…!

“Here we go!”

Thud, bang!

I quickly assessed the approaching enemies and ignored Serenon’s words, leaping into action.

‘I should have done this from the beginning.’

Focusing on matching Serenon’s speed gave me substantial momentum, and adjusting my pace to accommodate him was quite satisfying.

Even if Serenon felt nauseated from the sudden movement.

‘It’s the river!’

Amidst the chaos, the frozen Sidin River was far more beautiful than this situation warranted.

Thud.

I landed gently and swiftly on the icy surface of the Sidin River.

“Deploy the magic circle! Fire! Make sure to catch them!”

Hilda shouted, veins bulging in her neck. She must have felt a strong resentment at having to send gracious prey right into her mouth while we weren’t even attempting to flee.

“However, we’re at risk of breaking the ice beyond this point!”

The wizard guarding beside Hilda fidgeted nervously. I realized while rapidly fleeing and eavesdropping on the Northern army’s situation that he was likely worried not about me falling but about the danger of the ice breaking before it became thick enough for the Northern troops to cross.

Hilda, who was looking at Serenon and me with a murderous glare, seemed to be the answer to my query.

Having already crossed more than halfway over the river, if they attacked us now, we would certainly be considered the aggressors, but it seemed they hadn’t finished preparing for war yet. Their losses would be greater if they chased us now.

“Come this way!”

A booming voice called from across the river like someone who had swallowed a train. It was a familiar voice.

“Baron Eunice Shirley.”

He probably didn’t even know that we crossed over here due to the artifact malfunction, yet he was waiting on the other side.

Thud, pat!

I pushed my speed to the max. The icy surface I dashed upon was remarkably solid.

“Master, just a little, s-slow down… urgh…”

“Hang in there just a bit longer!”

Serenon retched again. My heart softened at the sight, but I thought it was better to get him to safety quickly and chose to ignore it.

“Commander! His Highness!”

Thud.

After a breathless escape, I finally reached solid ground.

“I could go insane. I’m glad to come back, but who told anyone to actually get hurt! Ugh! So useless!”

Yulian, waiting behind, suddenly appeared and scolded Serenon. Serenon, who was laying down with the help of others, seemed too weak to argue and closed his eyes slightly.

“I understand there was a lot going on. I’ll ask about it later, but please treat him first!”

With Serenon injured, everyone was in an uproar. Among them, I remained steadfast, staring at the figure on the other side of the river.

Hilda Berto. My lingering mistake. Though they were far apart, I felt an illusion of making eye contact. The murderous intent she emanated could even be felt on this side of the river.

I grinned as I raised my sword.

“Commander, what are you doing…

Craack!

And with a surge of aura, I pierced through the frozen river’s surface.

The ice shattered, and cracks began to spread like ripples from the impact.

It was a provocation and an interference directed at her.

Hilda’s eyes flashed with rage. I couldn’t know for sure, but judging by her lip movements, she seemed to have cursed.

I silently watched her, extending my middle finger in a refined manner.

‘I will definitely win this.’

And with a steely resolve.