Chapter 71

It smells like perfume.

It came from completely unexpected places, such as tree branches, roots, and the ground.

Normal people would not notice. It was something that only the five perfect senses could know thanks to the curse.

The scent led in the opposite direction from the trails found by the soldiers.

‘No way.’

“Hillis.”

“Yes.”

“Divide the troops in two. One goes after the trails they just found.”

“What about the other one?”

“The rest.”

If his predictions were correct, there shouldn’t be any longer delays. If the scent fades over time, it would be hard to find the trails.

Rupert glanced at his men and ordered, “Follow me as best you can.”

In an instant, he began to move away

“Huh…….”

The subordinates, who had been dumbfounded for a while, hurriedly divided into two and started chasing after their master.

***

After that, I was forced to climb the steep mountain for a long time, and I was able to rest only after the surroundings became so dark that I couldn’t see an inch ahead.

First, I looked around where I was locked up in. This is in an old cabin built in the middle of a mountain range.

It seems to be a place used by mountain rangers and travelers to take a short break. It must have been neglected for a long time, and there were no useful tools at all.

All that was there was a lantern that the kidnappers had left in a corner.

‘I’m screwed.’

The door was locked, and the kidnappers were taking turns guarding outside.

The only comforting thing is that only my hands are tied.

“Sir Aren, are you okay?”

It was clear that the injury would have gotten worse as he came down the steep path.

“I’m fine.”

I can’t believe it. I approached him and asked again, “Are you sure?”

“…I’m telling you. Show me the rope, I will free your hands.”

Before I knew it, Aren had untied the rope that bound my hands. I don’t know how he did it.

“You’re good at it.”

Thanks to him, my hands are free. I said, rubbing my sore wrist. “Oh, thank you for distracting the kidnappers earlier. I almost got caught.”

Upon entering the mountains, the kidnappers split into two groups. I suspected that the other was acting as a decoy to evade the chase.

‘I hope you are not fooled by the fake trail.’

I sprayed the perfume I had hidden in the carriage as I entered the mountains.

I wanted to leave a more noticeable trail, but I couldn’t even try because the kidnappers followed and erased any trace of their own movements. They were more cautious than I thought.

I even did that with my hands tied, I might have been caught if Aren didn’t distract them.

‘Could Rupert find out?’

Spraying perfume was an indicator left for him. I can only hope that he will notice and follow the scent.

“I just did what I was supposed to do… What is the liquid you sprayed on the ground earlier?”

“That will help Rupert find us. If we’re lucky.”

That’s not what’s more important right now.

“Sir, let me see your wound for a moment.”

“I’m fine.”

Aren, who was trying to back away from me, frowned.

As expected, he is in a bad shape.

“I’d better examine first.”

This time he quickly snatched my hand. This is a clear rejection.

I know very well why he is doing this.

‘I’m sure he’s worried about his disguise being caught.’

To be honest, if it weren’t for this situation, I would have wanted to continue feigning ignorance.

I looked straight into her eyes.

“Aisha Ren.”

“…….”

Aren was stunned.

“Don’t worry.”

Naturally, the strength in her hand holding me down was released.

I took advantage of the gap and pulled her top up slightly.

Even at first glance, her condition is bad.

“Oh, my….”

It seems to get worse after climbing. It can be dangerous if she doesn’t get treatment as soon as possible.

“How have you endured it so far?”

“Wh- when did you know?”

I replied evasively, “Just, I knew it from the moment I saw you.”

“Why have you kept it a secret—”

“Because it’s not an important issue. Regardless of gender, you are a knight who is stronger and more noble than anyone else.”

As far as I know, she is the daughter of an aristocrat from an island nation. It was a more conservative place than this empire, so it was unacceptable for a woman to wield a sword.

However, since childhood, Aisha always dreamed of becoming a great knight like in fairy tales, and ran away from her family and joined the knights using an assumed name.

I added, “I have never seen anyone keep the oath of chivalry more perfectly than you, Sir.”

I’ve been watching her. She is strong to the strong and weak to the weak.

There are definitely knights who are stronger than Aren, but few of them are as willing to use their powers as she is.

I smiled and said, “People like you are a treasure, very precious. So I will never let you die here.”

There are many vicious people in the world. That’s why I like her even more, and I want to be friends with her.

‘That’s right, ever since I was little….’

Hold up, when I was a little?

‘No, ever since I got my past life’s memories, I want to get closer to her.’

I inadvertently corrected my thoughts and felt a strange feeling I had once felt.

“Anyway, I mean, stay still!”

Fortunately, this time she was quiet.

Aren, as I guessed, had something like a cloth wrapped around her upper body. I mean, like a pressure bandage that’s common in cliché of gender-bender stories.

I noticed as I unrolled the cloth carefully, that it was no ordinary cloth.

“This, the material is a bit unusual.”

“It is a magic tool… If it holds a shape, it retains its shape. In my hometown, we used it to frame a large sculpture or to set up a tent in a hurry.”

No wonder hers didn’t show on the outside.

“So after adjusting the curvature of your body with this, you put on clothes,” I murmured while compressing the wound with a cloth.

Is it like a fantasy version of shape memory alloy?[1]

[1] In metallurgy, a shape-memory alloy (SMA) is an alloy that can be deformed when cold but returns to its pre-deformed (“remembered”) shape when heated.

“It’s not a rare cloth in my hometown, but rarely seen in other countries. Thanks to you, I was able to make it easier.”

Unless it is an item included in trade goods, it will be difficult to see it in other countries.

“When did you start bleeding?”

“I roughly stopped it while in the carriage… I think it got worse again in the middle of climbing the mountain range.”

That’s a big deal. Right now, there are no tools that can help with treatment.

I shouted towards the door, “Hey, the hostage is dying! Shouldn’t you at least give me some treatment tools?”

Then I could hear giggling.

“Too bad, but our client said your knight isn’t needed! When he dies, his body will be buried!”

Damn you, father. You don’t help till the end.

Meanwhile, Aren was calm.

“I won’t last long, anyway.”

“Don’t say that.”

“No, it’s true… So I think it would be good to create an escape opportunity while I can move.”

Her tone grew slower.

She pretended to be as calm as she could so far, but it was clear that she was at her limit now.

“I can distract about three people off guard. In the meantime, please run away, Madam.”

The number of kidnappers has decreased, with the absence of people acting as decoys. Besides, since they are taking turns watching, the rest must be off guard.

“No, it’s too dangerous.”

“I’m sure the people of the Ainel family are looking for you down the mountain range… You can run away safely.”

“Not me, but you. It’s too dangerous for you.”

Aren smiled lightly.

“Well… I will die even if I do nothing.”

As I kept pressing the wound, I suddenly realized.

“…were you prepared for this from the beginning?”

“…yes.”

I bit my lip.

No, no. I can’t let her be like this.

‘But the fact that she’s been holding on so far is amazing.’

At this rate, even if Rupert saves us, Aren won’t last until she goes down the mountain range and gets proper treatment.

I need to find a surer way.

‘I can’t stay still in a situation like this.’

Is there really no way to save her?

“Madam.”

Now Aren was going to carry out her final method even if I stopped her.

“…….”

Really, unless a miracle happens, like when I saved Leah—

‘Miracle.’

“It’s the realm of God.”

It doesn’t matter if it’s in the realm of God or whatever, but please…….

‘Help me save Aren.’

At that moment, everything around me stopped.