CH 6

He threw a coin to the busy and tired store owner and left the crowded shop. 

Veronica followed him with narrowed eyes, unsure of what was going on and feeling nervous. He even bought her a weapon. 

Was he trying to have her as a companion rather than a subordinate? Was he not considering the possibility of being attacked and fleeing?

In fact, she had imagined the worst-case scenario. He was a formidable opponent with no chance of winning by force. She didn’t know what could happen.

However, the man’s attitude wasn’t so bad. He even reached out to help her get off the horse, and offered to give up his sleeping bag for a few days.

While Leon loaded the items he bought from the weapon shop onto the horse, Veronica impulsively picked up the sword that he had bought for her.

She had always wanted a weapon that she could call her own. However, she never dreamed of obtaining it like this. 

Choosing a product of a craftsman like the dagger that Benjamin had given her was partly out of rebellion.

Even if they were the ones who handed her the sword at first, she would be the one wielding it. Thinking that way, she felt a little energized, just like a scarecrow that had seen the sun after being beaten by the rain.

The long journey ended at an inn next to the weapon shop. As they reached the shabby entrance, an errand boy came out with a tired face, dragging his feet.

“I’m sorry, Sir, but there are no more rooms left. Refugees have been pouring in for the past few days.”

“One night is enough. It doesn’t matter if it’s a room for employees.”

Even though he got a negative answer, Leon casually handed over a leather bag. The servant opened it and his eyes widened.

“If you don’t mind an old room on the top floor, I can clean it up right away. The bed was originally made for two people to sleep in. If our inn is full, there’s probably nowhere else to stay.” 

At his sudden change of demeanor, Leon handed over the reins without a word. The errand boy, who seemed worried that his mind might change, hurriedly unloaded the baggage and whispered something to another employee. 

It seemed like he was given a huge amount of money.

However, Veronica was convinced that the citizens still did not fully understand the situation as she watched the young men rolling their eyes with excitement. If they had properly understood the current disaster, they would immediately leave the city instead of trying to earn money to expand the city walls.

It was likely that the accurate news from Bayern had not been conveyed. 

Perhaps it was said to be just an attack of Bahamut coming from the sea, that’s all. Lucky refugees who escaped from nearby forts must have conveyed the news.

The news was not enough for them to abandon the land where they were born and raised for their entire lives. The threat from the outside always felt distant until it was right in front of them, just like the people who live under pressure, thinking that everything’s okay even if something bad happens.

Seeking refuge was not an easy decision to make when it came to oneself, even if it was easy to talk about it from afar.

Crossing the bustling restaurant, they climbed the stairs next to the fireplace. The last available room was on the fourth floor, a small and shabby room with creaking wooden planks. 

“As soon as you’re unpacked and rested, I’ll bring you a bath and fresh sheets.” 

The panting errand boy placed the baggage on the floor and left the room.

The room was simple. One bathroom, one fireplace, and one wide bed.

“I’d like to be clear, just in case.” 

Veronica pursed her lips, looking around.

“We don’t have to sleep in the same bed, do we?”

At her words, Leon, who was unpacking, turned around to look at Veronica. The wound was still evident on the white nape of her neck, as his divine power had been just enough to keep her sane. It would last quite a while if left untreated, like his right eye.

As Leon looked at her, seemingly in admiration of her, he replied.

“Ah, are you planning on sleeping in the bed too?”

“…”

“For your information, I haven’t been able to sleep for several days and I’m so tired that I feel like I’m going to die.”

As Leon approached and rubbed her neck, Veronica gripped her clothes tightly. She tried to act nonchalant, but her ears turned red.

She felt embarrassed.

Leon furrowed his brow. Every time she was so visibly conscious, he felt a sense of sadism. 

It made him want to torment her more, to touch her. Like plucking a red plum in winter.

“But can a Paladin kiss a woman like that?”

Finally, as she raised her head, she asked in retaliation. 

Leon cocked his head. He had been thinking about it all along, but although she was embarrassed, she said everything she wanted to say.

“Would you repent to God for kissing your ten-year-old niece?”

“Are you saying I’m a child?”

“You’re not an adult either.”

“By continental law, twenty is considered an adult.”

Veronica immediately got upset and blurted out.

“And you also reacted when we kissed.”

‘I don’t know if she gets it. Only children react to being called a kid.’

Leon laughed as she couldn’t accurately describe her physical changes. Apparently, her memory of that day was more vivid than he’d thought.

“Well, that’s because you’re my type.”

Leon brought his hand up to get a closer look at the wound on her neck, which was within reach. He cupped it, and she winced. He bent his head to examine the scabbed cut. It wasn’t too deep.

Turning away, Veronica muttered in a low voice.

“… I didn’t know that even the Paladins have specific preferences for women.”

“You didn’t know? Half of the illegitimate children of Kart had priests as fathers.”

“That’s disgusting.”

“I think so too.”

Dirty and vulgar. Leon laughed self-deprecatingly.

If those dirty and vulgar children were to inherit their father’s divine power, they would become priests again. In a sense, it was an indoctrination of disgusting blood.

Every time he brushed the wound with his gauntleted hand, her long eyelashes trembled. 

She had a rather small face. He held it in his hand from the chin to one cheek, behind the ear.

He looked at her red, flushed face from forehead to lips, then lowered his arm. It was difficult to respond when she didn’t even try to match his words.

“Don’t forget to apply the medicine before you go to bed.”

“Will you give me some?”

“If you eat properly and don’t starve.”

Veronica’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. It was a sign that she was wary and aware of him. 

The sound of a knock outside broke the tense atmosphere.

“I brought some bathwater.”

For a moment, they didn’t take their eyes off each other, and then Leon stepped towards the door. As he reached for the doorknob, a small voice behind him rang out.

“Can you lend me some clothes to change into?”

Perhaps it would be easier to handle her if he could win her favor. Women in love are blind, after all.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ❁ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

Instead, there was a table set with a fragrant lamb stew, dried fruits, and freshly baked round bread. She hesitated for a moment before devouring the food and lying down on the bed. 

Well, what else could he do? She was the one who got there first. There was nowhere else for her to sleep anyway.

Of course, she briefly considered running away, but her rebellious spirit was quickly extinguished as she realized that she was just a homeless person without any identification. She had nowhere to go if she left.

“I feel so bloated…”

She put her hand on her stomach and curled up on the bed. She ate too much, even though the food wasn’t that good. 

‘Why did I eat so much?’

Now she was truly alone. She had to keep her wits about her to survive. 

Outside the window, the noise of homeless refugees was deafening. Her own situation was not much different from theirs.

It was funny. Despite being alone, she was surrounded by thoughts about other people.

What happened to her friends, like Inetna and Rosy? What happened to the city? Where did the surviving citizens take refuge?

It didn’t matter now anyway.

She set the scabbard next to the bed and picked up the withered camellia branch.

The sunset reflected on the sword, the crimson glow glinting off the scabbard like the setting sun. She stared at it for a moment before closing her eyes and opening them again. 

It was still there. Her red eyes.

She buried her face in the pillow and pulled the covers over herself. Trying to hold back tears, she shivered as her teeth chattered. 

Why was it so cold? She just took a warm shower. She was hiding under a thick blanket.

‘I wish someone would hold me. Maybe I wouldn’t be so scared if I didn’t feel alone.’

The sky turned navy as the sun set. 

Struggling to recall the meaning of the camellia flower language through her hazy vision, she closed her eyes. She didn’t know it well, but it probably had something to do with a strong will. Camellias were flowers that bloomed in the cold and harsh winter.

As she thought that, her consciousness became blurred and sank into darkness.

She was now standing at a cliff. A round moon was visible. Below, a dazzling human city stretched as far as the eye can see.

Sharp spires. Square houses. Lights that were spilling out of windows looked like stars in the night sky.

But her attention didn’t linger long on the colorful city. She glanced down at the white armor at her feet. A man was crawling away, despite having his legs torn off.

The blood in his eyes smelled intoxicating. Humans in white armor always did; their special brains made them stronger individuals.

The man crawled like a child rummaging through his dead mother’s chest, but the end of the path was a cliff. 

In the end, the man, who looked back at the void with despair, turned around.

“Don’t come. Don’t come.”

His face, covered in tears, pleaded desperately.

Grabbing his shoulder with ecstasy, she opened her mouth toward his head. 

And…

Whoosh—!

She woke up with a start. 

Veronica sat up, clutching her chest and retching in the darkness. The pounding sound in the midst of her gasps was as loud as thunder.

It felt like she was going to explode. Her heart beat painfully and then it suddenly hit her eardrums with a ‘thud’. 

She was confused between what she just saw in her nightmare and reality.

Someone died. 

No, she killed someone. 

What’s going on? Who was that man? What did she just see?

She tried to think, but as she woke up, her consciousness became hazy and her instincts took over. It was the same thirst she felt that night. 

A thirst that seemed impossible to quench even if she drank water for a hundred days and nights.

As she reached for the bed, she touched a hard arm and was startled. She saw Leon Berg, who was sleeping next to her.

Thump, thump, thump. 

Her bright red eyes began to throb.

[TL/N: Hi guys! As my birthday is fast approaching, I thought I’d give you a small present, as a form of thanks for reading my translations and for all the support you’ve given me so far. I’m really thankful for all your comments and thoughts, and that’s why…. *drumrolls* Ta daaa! for the next two days, I’ll be releasing a chap/day for MLAP. I’ve also been thinking of picking up another novel, what do you guys think?  ]