The Soldier Shouted Save

Chapter 29

The offer of a hero’s special ability transfer from the Walker family’s second daughter, Mari, stirred the crowd into action.

People quickly began making their choices.

“Which side are you going to choose?” one noble asked another.

“Kyle, the eldest son, is the obvious choice, but with these new offers, it’s worth reconsidering.”

I could hear the chatter of the nobles even without trying. One by one, people made their decisions and started moving. Hyerin, standing beside me, spoke in a quiet voice.

“Isn’t it a lie to promise something like that?” she asked.

“A lie? About what?”

“Mari. The second daughter. Special abilities can’t be transferred. Isn’t she mistaken or something?”

Hyerin, being a hero herself, was adamant. Special abilities were, by their nature, non-transferable.

However, I wasn’t so sure.

‘There might be a way to transfer them. After all, I gained Jang Jin-woo’s “Mic on/off” ability after his death.’

I turned to observe Mari Walker.

There were two types of people showing interest in her.

“By special abilities, do you mean equipment?” one nobleman asked.

“No, I’m talking about the special powers unique to heroes,” Mari explained.

“…And only one person will be able to receive this power?”

“Yes, I plan to transfer it to whoever contributes the most.”

The first group consisted of those interested in the special ability she mentioned.

The second group consisted of people interested in something else entirely.

“What sort of merit points would be required for marriage to a Walker daughter?” one noble asked, clearly contemplating the potential political benefits.

“This isn’t the time for such discussions,” Mari responded. “We can talk about that later.”

These were the nobles planning to marry into the Walker family directly—looking to secure a marriage with Mari Walker herself.

“So, which side are you going to pick?” Hyerin asked me.

Only one person could receive Mari’s reward, which meant competing for it.

And if it turned out to be something like Jang Jin-woo’s Mic on/off, a limited-use ability, then it might not be worth the effort.

Logically, the eldest son, Kyle, was the safest choice.

If I didn’t have the *Save* ability, I would’ve made that decision without hesitation.

“I’m going to pick Mari. You should join Kyle.”

“…Whaaat? Why would you leave me and go off by yourself?”

“Only one person can receive Mari’s reward. If you don’t like Kyle, you can always join the youngest brother.”

The youngest Walker, Goil, had a rotund, oily appearance. Just looking at him made Hyerin instinctively shake her head.

“I’d rather stick with Kyle than join that guy.”

“Well, you made the right choice.”

“…You’re leaving me alone, and then you say I made the right choice?” she grumbled.

I decided to explain why Kyle’s group was a better fit for her.

“Kyle’s group will have more people, meaning stronger formations. Plus, you won’t be the only mage there, so you won’t have to carry all the burden of casting spells. Even if the monster hunt fails, you’ll be safer with Kyle’s unit.”

In my experience, having people die outside of my sight created unpredictable variables.

If Hyerin died without me knowing, it could trigger *Save* at the wrong moment and permanently seal her fate.

“…Okay. If that’s the reason, then I’ll try my best.”

Clearly not thrilled with the idea, Hyerin let out a long sigh and reluctantly made her way toward Kyle’s camp, where most of the nobles had gathered.

Now, it was time for me to finalize my decision.

‘I hope Mari’s claim about transferring a special ability is true.’

When I joined Mari’s group, I counted just seven people, including myself.

Even among this small group, some looked uncertain. A few nobles glanced at Mari’s face before grimacing and backing away.

“Miss Mari, I see you have quite a large scar on your face.”

One nobleman rudely pointed out the scar that Mari had covered with her long hair.

Mari didn’t flinch, but instead smiled and replied, “Yes, I have a large scar on the left side of my face. But it’s nowhere near as large as the one you’ve just inflicted on your family.”

“W-what are you talking about? I don’t have any scars,” the noble stammered.

“Perhaps you’re unaware. But the careless words you just spoke have left a mark on your family’s reputation, as deep as any scar.”

“Th-that’s…”

Seeing the nobleman flustered, Mari’s smile faded slightly as she continued, her tone serious.

“Remember this: even if the Walker family loses all its teeth, we still have claws sharp enough to tear your house apart.”

She smiled again and finished, “I hope, for your sake, this scar remains something I can cover with my hair.”

She spoke like a warrior, showing no fear even in the face of an armed man.

“K-khm. I’ll have to reconsider…” The noble stammered, making a hasty exit along with the other nobles who had initially shown interest in marrying Mari.

“Wouldn’t you like to reconsider as well, sir?” Mari asked, smiling softly as she sat on the steps.

As she did, the burn scars covering half of her face became more visible.

Instead of answering, I simply shrugged and took a seat beside her. She smiled as she spoke.

“Well, at least I’ve secured one person.”

She glanced over at Kyle’s camp, which was bustling with activity as nobles and mercenaries alike crowded around him and his younger brother.

“Just one person…”

Mari gave a bitter smile as she looked at her almost empty camp.

—

Once the group formations were complete, the preparations for the monster extermination began in earnest.

As expected, Kyle, with the largest number of followers, took charge of organizing the operation.

I glanced away from Kyle’s noisy camp and focused on Mari’s group.

In the end, only four knights, including myself, had chosen to join her.

Like the soldiers who had joined her, we were all commoners.

‘Winning the special ability won’t be too difficult.’

Drawing on my past experience in monster extermination missions, I could easily take command of Mari’s group. If she stayed true to her word, the special ability would be mine.

“…So, when exactly are we leaving?”

Hyerin had somehow wandered over from Kyle’s group and flopped down next to me. She looked exhausted, her head resting heavily on her hands.

Her dark circles were more noticeable than usual.

“Didn’t get much sleep?” I asked.

At that, Hyerin let out a long, exasperated sigh.

“I tried to sleep, but the maid kept hovering over me.”

“She probably thought you were a noble since you’re wearing the apprentice mage uniform. It’s only natural that a maid would attend to you.”

“I get that, but how am I supposed to sleep with someone staring at me the whole time? I asked her nicely to leave, but she just kept saying, ‘It’s Kyle’s orders,’ over and over…”

Hyerin, leaning her head against my shoulder, let out a string of complaints. I couldn’t help but smile. It seemed like heroes shared a common aversion to being fussed over by attendants.

“How many maids did they assign to you?”

“Just. To. Me. Three! And they even followed me to the bathroom! I nearly lost my mind.”

Her indignation wiped the smile from my face. If the maids had been that persistent, even after she expressed discomfort, it meant Kyle Walker had given strict orders.

“Did anything else seem off during the preparations for the hunt?”

“Yeah. Some people mentioned that rushing to finish the hunt in a single day was dangerous…”

The sense of urgency. It made sense that Kyle wanted to resolve the World Tree leaf supply problem as quickly as possible, but there were things that didn’t add up.

“And he promised merit points, right?”

“Yeah. He said the merit points would be distributed based on who contributed the most.”

Was it just a motivational tactic?

To risk destabilizing his future as the next lord just because he couldn’t wait a day or two… it was unlike a typical noble’s cautious nature.

‘This doesn’t sit right.’

I wanted to press Hyerin for more details about Kyle, but we didn’t have much time.

“Lady Anna… It’s time.”

One of the maids—assigned to stay with Hyerin until she fell asleep—called her by her alias. Hyerin scowled as she stood.

“I’ll go now. See you in the Spirit Forest.”

“Remember to always prioritize your safety.”

“You too, mister.”

I had endured enough political games in the Imperial Palace to know that seeing through the cunning faces of nobles was no easy task.

‘In the end, you have to experience it firsthand.’

I was observing the meeting room where the Walker siblings had gathered when the door suddenly opened, and Mari Walker approached me in a hurry.

“Sir Allen, follow me.”

Without any further explanation, she led me to her strategy room, where a large map was spread across the table.

“After discussing with my brother, we’ve decided to change the strategy.”

“At this point? We’re about to head out.”

The time to depart for the monster hunt was fast approaching.

“We’re switching to a guerilla role, meant to disrupt the great monster. What do you suggest?”

Originally, our group was meant to serve as a reserve force, supporting the main unit if they ran into trouble.

Now, suddenly, we were being asked to take on the role of a guerilla unit meant to confuse the enemy.

“What’s the reason for this change?”

“…Ambition. I want to secure a larger share of the glory.”

It was simple—she wanted to overthrow her brother’s claim to the title of lord and take it for herself.

Understanding her motive, I looked at the map and laid out a plan.

“It’s too late to craft a detailed strategy, given how soon we’ll be leaving. It would be best to stay close enough to receive support from our mages while adjusting our movements based on the situation.”

I suggested we prioritize safety, waiting for the right moment to strike once the great monster revealed itself.

As I explained further, drawing from my past experiences fighting similar monsters, Mari listened with a bitter smile.

“You already gave me the previous strategy after much consideration. I feel bad for changing it so late.”

I chuckled at her words.

“As a noble, there’s something you can show us that you do best.”

“…And what would that be?”

I raised my hand and made a circle with my fingers, mimicking a coin. Mari tried to stifle her laughter, covering her mouth.

“Ha, well, I may not be as good as my brother, but I know how to spend money. If we succeed here, I’ll stuff so many gold coins in your pockets that you’ll want to serve me for life.”

“…For life, huh? I’ll consider it once I see how much gold we’re talking about.”

Mari couldn’t hold back her laughter anymore and shook her head, grinning.

“Bring all the knights here!” she called out.

Her maid left the room to fetch the knights, and after we finished briefing them on the new plan, the sound of a loud bell filled the air.

Ding, ding, ding, ding.

“It’s time to depart! Everyone, get on the carriages!”

Was Mari’s sudden ambition driven by a desire to outperform her brothers? Or perhaps to stop her youngest sibling, Goil Walker, from gaining too much influence?

Regardless, Kyle showed no signs of delaying the departure. The soldiers boarded the carriages as the orders rang out.

“Sir Allen, ride with me.”

Mari, dressed in armor that was more decorative than functional, wore a leather outfit reinforced with metal. It was clear she had no real experience with a sword.

I glanced out the window at Kyle’s unit boarding their own carriages.

‘Let’s hope Hyerin doesn’t get motion sickness this time.’

I remembered how Hyerin had vomited as soon as we arrived in Walker, but I wasn’t too worried.

The other mages, unable to cast higher-tier magic, were likely helping her keep her condition in check.

“…Something’s wrong. Something’s very wrong.”

Mari frowned suddenly, shifting uncomfortably as she tried to peer out the window.

Was something deviating from the plan?

I stuck my head out of the carriage window to check.

‘What is that?’

Whooosh!

A strange smell carried by the wind hit me.

And then, a scream.

“Ahhhhhhhhh!”

“Stop the carriages! Stop them now!”

Crash! Crash!

There was a series of violent impacts as the carriages collided, some not stopping in time, creating a pileup.

I leapt from the carriage, noticing feathers the size of my hand falling from the sky.

“Stay inside, my lady,” I said to Mari as I jumped onto the roof of the carriage.

The sky was filled with a brown hue.

The situation had completely diverged from our expectations.

Giant eagles, their massive wings spread wide, descended on the convoy.

“Chain up! Secure the carriages with chains!” someone shouted.

The great eagles tore through the roofs of carriages, snatching up soldiers and ripping off their heads in gruesome displays.

The great monster was controlling the animals—the Mantis, a being capable of commanding beasts, was decimating the hunting party.