CH 9

[ Content Warning: 

Passersby screamed in confusion and fled in a frenzy that was out of place in the peaceful midday. Their behavior was similar to fishes thrashing about when a stone was thrown into still water.

Veronica’s head was spinning. She stared at the corpse, her mouth open. 

Blood flowed red on the snowy ground. The woman’s throat was ripped open.

It was unmistakable. 

She’d seen enough of it to make her vomit just a few days ago. 

‘That was… Those traces…’

“Go inside.”

It was an order. 

Leon drew his sword, the silver blade flashing with a sharp metallic sound. Veronica froze, blinded by the sword’s glint.

As she stood behind him, she listened to the sound of approaching footsteps. She was unable to move, like (1)a deer caught in headlights. 

She stood rooted to the spot as if someone had tightly grabbed her ankle.

Thump. 

Thump. 

Thump. 

The rhythmic steps that were coming closer were loud, like the beating of her heart. They were heavier than a human’s, with a slight drag at the end.

“Ba—it’s Bahamut!”

“Get the kids and go inside! Lock the door!”

“Run!!!”

People screamed in terror. Chaos spread like a wildfire. 

Veronica heard the sound of children crying and the door being slammed shut and locked in a hurry. Her eyes widened.

The figure walking out of the narrow alley was undoubtedly Bahamut. 

But how? 

There was a city wall. It was high and thick. If the wall was breached, there was no way the Bahamut could have entered the city so quietly.

The Bahamut was eagerly rummaging something in its mouth. It was probably the head of the woman he had just killed. 

The red eyes in its chest rolled back and forth, searching for its next prey. And then, as if it had been prearranged, ‘it’ turned its gaze in their direction.

Eyes of the same color and nature met and widened.

Those strange, monstrous eyes seemed to see the impossible. Veronica let out the breath she’d been holding.

At that moment, Bahamut, who had been standing still in the middle of the street, suddenly stomped the ground and began to run.

Thump. 

Thump. 

Thump.

Veronica stared straight at the approaching creature, unable to even blink. 

It’s coming. It’s coming. It’s coming. 

Schwing—!

A sharp sound rang out as the sword glimmered in the sunlight. 

Just as the thumping footsteps halted and Bahamut stood in place, she thought ‘it’ had stopped when its body split in half diagonally, and a fountain-like jet of blood exploded in all directions.

Veronica didn’t miss a single moment of the sight as the two halves of the body hit the ground with a thud. Blood seeped into the cracks in the pavement. 

It would probably go underground. And… 

An epiphany beyond terror crossed Veronica’s hazy red eyes.

It was the same uneasiness she felt when she first entered the city. 

A sensation as if countless faces were staring up at them from beneath their feet. That was it.

“It’s underground.”

It was because the Bahamuts were literally looking up.

Her trembling hands clutched at the hem of his robe and Leon turned, wiping the blood from his cheek. Into that ghastly face, Veronica shouted, her voice as hoarse as a bird’s.

“They came in through the sewers!”

Leon’s face twisted in a frown. 

At that moment, the sound of drums announcing the intruders and the church bells rang out. Screams echoed like a chorus throughout the buildings and the streets. 

It was terrifying.

Now, what were they supposed to do?

“How many are there?”

“I don’t know. If this feeling is all Bahamut, they can at least flood the entire city below. No, actually….”

There were more than that.

Leon stared at the dead Bahamut as if recalling something, then brushed the blood off his sword.

Suddenly, the atmosphere grew dark, leaving Veronica bewildered. 

She sensed an emotion from him, and it was anger. It was not shock or fear, but a seething anger that consumed him.

“Go upstairs and get our luggage.” 

He finally ordered. His voice was devoid of emotion, hardly believable in a city where Bahamut walked out of every alley and screams were heard everywhere.

“What?”

“It’s not an open plain, and I can’t deal with everything that’s hidden in the sewers. Firing blindly into unknown numbers is impossible. If we stay here, we’ll just die a pointless death.”

“Are you saying we’re leaving? What about the people here?”

Most of them would end up being eaten by the Bahamut. 

Just like how Bayern turned into ashes.

Veronica turned pale at the answer she already knew was coming.

“That’s ridiculous. How could you even suggest leaving with people still here? You can kill all the Bahamuts. That’s why you threatened me, didn’t you?”

“Yeah. That’s why we’re leaving.”

“What do you mean, leaving the people behind?”

“Do you think it would be any different just because we left the city?”

Leon spoke calmly and didn’t raise his voice, but Veronica became speechless. His face was expressionless, but it was different from just being emotionless. 

His eerie face did not feel human at all.

“Yeah, I can kill them all. But I can’t guarantee your life once I start wreaking havoc.”

“…”

“I can’t save everyone. I just have to choose.”

He chose Veronica. 

He placed a bigger stake in her life than in the city. 

Veronica stumbled back a few steps under the weight of it all, and Leon glanced down at the nape of her neck.

“Obey me unconditionally. I thought that was clear enough. If you need to be reminded, tell me now.”

A few seconds went by as Veronica’s face slowly twisted, biting her lips and clenching her fists. She started to turn away, but then something dawned on her.

“How am I supposed to carry all that heavy armor by myself?”

“It’s not necessary. Just bring your sword and as much food as you can carry.”

Leon spat out through gritted teeth. 

‘But what about you? Are you going to fight without armor?’  

Veronica wanted to ask, but there was no time to waste.

She pushed the inn’s door open and rushed inside. 

The woman who had given her food earlier was standing right in front of the door, apparently about to lock it, but she was startled and stepped back when she saw Veronica. Apologizing, Veronica ran up the stairs.

Of all the things, it had to be on the fourth floor!

Veronica entered the room, cursing her lack of exercise, and grabbed her sword and a leather bag full of food on her shoulder. 

She hurried down the stairs from the third floor to the second floor, but her foot slipped, and she fell.

“Ah!”

The sword slipped and tumbled down the stairs, and the bag of food also rolled away. Her ankle was in excruciating pain, and she wanted to cry. 

Veronica gasped, feeling like her ears were about to burst.

She had to do something. 

‘He’s guarding the inn without armor, and I can’t even do this much?’

I want to live. I have to live. 

It had nothing to do with her dislike for Leon. If he had decided to abandon this place, then that meant that there was no longer hope for Asseldorf.

She gritted her teeth and stumbled up, clutching the railing. She picked up her sword and bag and started walking, ignoring the pain in her ankle.

The inn guests were anxiously wandering in the corridor, but she paid them no attention. But that was until she reached the first-floor entrance. 

Just as she was about to open the latch that blocked the door, one of the guests in the dining area suddenly grabbed her arm.

“Miss, are you trying to go outside right now? Are you crazy?”

“My companion is waiting outside.”

“Do you think you’re the only one here with companions? My companions went out early this morning and haven’t returned yet. We can’t risk everyone’s safety because of that. There are Bahamuts out there.”

“I’ll go out quickly to make sure it’s not dangerous. You can lock the door right away. My companion is right outside this door.”

The man, who was now red with anger, narrowed his eyes at the mention of the door. Anyone inside could recognize Leon through the window, standing guard over the inn like a hound.

The man who had cut down the charging Bahamut with a single blow. There was no need to wonder who he was. 

Even if he hadn’t worn armor over his well-built body, his glinting sword waved over his arrogant face.

He was Leon Berg, the Messenger of God. He was a Holy Knight who could face thousands of Bahamuts.

“Is the lady a companion of the knight? I understand now why he is standing guard here.”

“Ed! Don’t let that woman out. Look at her luggage. They’re leaving on their own.”

The woman who appeared to be his companion shouted in an angry voice. The eyes of several people immediately focused on the bag of food. 

The man who was holding Veronica’s arm tightened his grip and sneered.

“What? How can a knight of God abandon the weak and run away? Do you even know how much I donate to the Church every week?”

Veronica looked around with a stiff face as the atmosphere became tense. 

She had a bad feeling. 

To make matters worse, even the innkeeper who had talked to her that morning approached her with a pale face.

“Lady, just stay until the breached wall is repaired, okay? As long as the walls are fixed, we’ll be fine for a while. It’s not because of us, but because we’re worried about you. What are you trying to do by going out like this?”

Veronica couldn’t help but feel relieved when she saw the worried expression on the woman’s face. Something in the innkeeper stirred up Veronica’s forgotten memories, such as her mother’s concern.

Unconsciously, Veronica shook her head and pressed her dry lips together.

“No, the wall hasn’t been breached. We shouldn’t do this, we should all leave. I think the Bahamut came up by breaking through the sewers, not the wall.”

“This city is hopeless. We should abandon it and leave.”

[Collection of Footnotes]

1) “A deer caught in headlights” 

– It describes someone caught in a state of paralyzing surprise, fear, or bewilderment.