CH 156

‘Come to think of it, what happened to those guys?’

After passing through the base of the Kingsnake Mercenary Guild, Radis was naturally reminded of Gorz and Luke.

However, the base was empty when she passed through.

‘They must have already moved. It’s a shame that I couldn’t scold those heinous punks myself, but I won’t need to remember how Tez cursed this place so much.’

Radis walked past the ruined pub and headed for the woods.

The path was unclear, but it’s fortunate enough that there was still a trail left.

She could easily find the two tall trees that were familiar to her.

In front of the cave, Robert asked.

“So this passageway leads to the forbidden region?”

Radis took out the torch that she had prepared in advance and lit it.

“It’s surprising, isn’t it? But it’s true. I managed to reach the forbidden region through this path, so I’m sure of it. The tunnel is long, but I’ve prepared enough gear and rations for it. You and I will be fine, Captain.”

Suddenly, Robert grabbed her arm.

“You didn’t…!”

As Radis was about to bring the embers she would make with mana from her fingertips to the torch, Radis looked up at him in surprise.

She was the one who was shocked, but Robert took his hand off her so abruptly that it was like he burned himself.

He managed to speak again with a slightly trembling voice.

“…You, you went to the forbidden region?”

Radis couldn’t understand why he was so surprised.

“Yes, I happened to get involved with a certain incident, so…”

“……”

Unable to hear her out, Robert rubbed his face with a palm, seemingly agonizing about this.

She eventually heard the murmur that was like a stream from his lips.

“…I shouldn’t have brought you here.”

He took the torch from Radis’s hand and strode into the cave.

Then, glancing back once, he said,

“If you can’t keep up with me, just return to this spot and wait for me here.”

Radis was about to say yes, but then…

Before she could even answer, Robert used his mana to run forward—as fast as the wind.

Left alone, Radis pouted once and muttered grumpily.

“Just tell me to stay behind, why don’t you.”

She also started running, trying to catch up with the now-distant glow of the torch.

While circulating mana throughout her body so that she wouldn’t run out of strength, Radis recalled the past.

Back then, she and the subjugation squad had made a crude road by the entrance of Monsterwood because of how often they came and went. Even so, they couldn’t ride their horses into the forest because of how rough the road was.

The only means of transport available in the woods were one’s own two feet.

As the subjugation squad would traverse through the dark forest filled with monsters, they each needed to carry their camping equipment and food as well.

Thinking about that grueling time, she thought that she’d be able to run through this smooth passageway all day.

‘Last time, it took me three days because I had two lumps of dead weight with me back then. But this time, if we can press on well enough, we might get there in just a day or two…’

Radis lost track of time of how long she ran.

The torch was getting closer and closer, but she also slowly ran out of breath even though she was running with the assistance of mana.

And when she reached the glowing light, she found the torch stuck between two collapsed bricks and Robert sitting by it.

He didn’t even seem to be out of breath.

“Let’s take a break.”

Not wanting to be caught gasping for air, still standing up, Radis took out her water jug and gulped its contents down.

Then, she choked.

As she tried to hit her chest, Robert patted her on the back.

“You, really…”

Somehow, it seemed like his emotions were contained in those heavy pats right there.

“C-Captain! It hurts!”

“Because you…!”

It was rare, but Robert got angry once in a while. Even so, as he saw that Radis’s face had turned as red as a pomegranate, he held back his temper.

“Please. If you’re having a hard time, tell me.”

Wiping her damp lips with a sleeve, Radis answered.

“I’m not having a hard time though.”

“……”

Hearing her say this, Robert sighed deeply.

Of course, she didn’t want to show any signs that she was struggling in any way, but since Robert sat back down, she couldn’t keep standing.

As she sat down gently in front of Robert, Radis looked at him.

And Robert was staring back at her as well. While he was sitting in an upright posture, he asked.

“May I ask why you’re staying at the Marquis’s residence?”

At the question, Radis’s cheeks immediately turned red.

‘Captain, the reason is simple. It’s because the Third Prince, the prettiest man in the whole entire Empire, seems to have fallen in love with me at first sight. Hahaha! Marquis Russell noticed it, and that’s why he took me back to his Marquisate so that he can form connections with His Highness.’

How could she possibly say such a thing with her own lips?

Trying—and failing—to smile, Radis answered with something else, stuttering.

“It’s as a v-vassal… or something like that.”

“……”

Was it because of the torch?

A faint shadow was cast across Robert’s expression.

Radis stammered on.

“T-The Marquis was much too rude to you, wasn’t he? As you may know… House Russell and House Roderick aren’t on good terms. It’s probably because of that. He’s actually not a bad person.”

Robert let out a small laugh.

“I’ve met him in the previous life. He’s not as wicked as the rumors say he is, but he’s still evidently arrogant and greedy.”

Radis had no choice but to admire Robert’s eye for people.

However, as she was a temporary vassal of the arrogant and greedy marquis in question, instead of agreeing, she decided to remain silent about that matter.