CH 76

She couldn’t take her eyes off it.

He was breathtakingly beautiful as he returned to life in the devastated forest, turning his back on the slowly setting sun.

“Let’s do our best in the future, Young Lady. And I told you before, right? If there’s anything you want, tell me.”

His smile deepened.

“It’s still a valid promise, so if you need anything, please feel free to tell me at any time. I’ll help you, Young Lady.” 

He kissed the back of her hand once more, then released it.

Why?

The wall he had built against her was completely gone.

His eyes and smile are much softer than before.

Suddenly she thought it was difficult for Damon who approached one step closer.

Strangely enough.

The closer they got, the more distant she felt. It was an unexpected shock.

She understands to some extent. It seems like a confident character has gone from a predictable boundary—.

Somehow, she couldn’t get to know him more.

*****

When the treatment for the injured was completed night fell in the forest.

After a fierce battle, everyone moved together until dawn because they didn’t know what would happen again.

After finishing a simple breakfast.

“I think it would be better to part ways sooner rather than later.”

“Yes, I think that would be good.”

Belters nodded at Falden’s words.

“Sir Redan and the Young Lady will move with me, and Sir Damon moves with the Duke.”

“…There’s not much time left for the expedition.”

After hesitating for a moment, Damon spoke up.

“So?” 

“Please support me so that I can form a new team.”

“That’s impossible.” 

Falden refused at once, saying there was no need to think.

“It’s not that I don’t know your position, Sir. You don’t know that feeling either, but even if it’s not your fault, who would want to serve a superior who lost all his subordinates in such a dangerous place? What would you like to believe in and entrust your life to?”

Darkness fell on Damon’s eyes.

“Expedition, yeah. As Sir said, there is not much left, so we have to finish it as soon as possible. If the period is extended or if we don’t find out about this place properly, there will be a greater risk of failure.”

“….”

“But even so, it can’t be. Do you think you will be able to withstand the fear of death one more time? Don’t be overconfident of yourself.”

It was cold-hearted words, but what Falden was right. 

Adventures in these places were like suicidal acts.

Even though he knew that, Damon didn’t seem to want to back down easily.

“Fear isn’t something you have to overcome, right?”

“…What?” 

“Since you’ve felt it once, why don’t you think you’ll be more careful the second time?”

Damon turned and looked at the wizard Beman and Falden’s subordinate who were moving with him.

“Will you refuse if I ask you to move with me?”

The two looked at each other for a moment. But even then, it seemed that they had decided on something.

Beman stood next to Damon.

“Uh, hmm. If you form a team again, I’d like to be with you. This time, I will also try to fight cleverly. I don’t know if it’s possible. Haha.”

Falden’s eyes got a little bigger.

Even though Beman had a good personality unlike other wizards, he didn’t act without thought and he wasn’t simple-minded.

He didn’t even know that his life was precious.

However, leaving Damon after he lost his troop also seemed ill thought out.

“Your Highness. I would also like to join Sir Damon if he forms another team.”

Falden’s subordinates also stepped up.

“At the moment of crisis, Sir Damon didn’t panic and calmly fought until the end. Even though despair was just around the corner, my colleagues didn’t back down and relied on him to take the lead until he died.”

His eyes were filled with faith in Damon. He could see that Damon had a pretty strong impression.

“Everyone tried to save Sir Damon, and Sir Damon tried to save all of them. Although the result was ultimately a failure, I don’t think it’s to judge ability by that respect. Please reconsider.”

“And… Sir reported that he didn’t make good use of me, but it’s not true. I thought I’d die if I stayed still… Even though Sir warned me over and over again to preserve mana, I’ve never followed it, so I used it recklessly because I couldn’t believe it.”

Beman bowed his head deeply.

“I apologize.”

Falden rubbed his eyes with his large hand.

“Are you still not able to change the habit of going all out blindly? It’s been quiet for a while.”

“No, but Your Highness. How can you not come forward in such a situation? I’m scared to death.”

Ha. A big sigh eventually burst out of Falden’s mouth.

‘You idiot,’ Maro muttered from behind.

“Is there anyone else who wants to go under Sir Damon?”

“If it’s okay, I’ll go.”

It was Siri who raised her hand.

Startled, Serdel grabbed her arm.

“Siri, why…”

“After watching the battle yesterday, I felt a lot of things. Everyone came out, but I was the only one who couldn’t do anything, Lady.”

Siri’s face was so serious that it was scary.

“Lady. I took the sword to protect Lady. But I was still protected under the shadow of the Lady. I won’t be able to keep you safe the way I want if it’s like this. I can’t go back to a place like this without gaining experience.”

“Siri…”

“I don’t want to be incompetent with the most shining master in my life. If you fly, I’ll fly, and if you shine, I’ll shine, too.  We will walk together so that you will not be lonely on the path you want to go. I would love to do that, Lady.”

She couldn’t hold on to those words any longer.

She felt like she was about to burst into tears.

“I won’t get hurt, so please allow me. Because I made a promise with my teacher that I’ll learn a lot.”

In the end, the only thing Serdel could do for Siri here was trust her.

She’s anxious and afraid.

“…Okay. Wait for a moment—.” 

Siri shook her hand as she saw Serdel searching for something in the magic bag.

“There are a lot of potions and scrolls in my magic bag that the Lady gave me. You always give it to me so that it overflows. You don’t have to give me any more.”

“Okay, then—”

Serdel grabbed Terra.

“Take this guy too.”

She was nervous to leave Siri alone.

Confused, Terra looked at Siri and Serdel alternately.

“Lady, I—”

“Please take care of Siri. Terra.”

After hesitating for a long time, he eventually nodded at Serdel’s earnest gaze.

Falden, who was silently watching this, selected several more knights and assigned them to Damon.

“The Duke goes to the right, Sir goes to the left. I will go this way.”

“Yes, be safe, Your Highness.”

Belters, who also smiled at Serdel, turned around.

“I’m going to go first, too. Your Highness.”

Damon, who had bowed his head at Falden, approached Serdel.

“I hope Young Lady doesn’t get hurt.”

He didn’t tell me to get out of the woods like before he almost died. Because every way out is dangerous anyway.

Instead, Serdel said the same thing to him, who prayed for her safety.

“I wish you the best of luck, Sir.”

The soft gaze and the spreading smile towards him made her mouth numb.

Serdel, who was looking at him moving away with his new team members, turned around.

Falden was staring intently at him. She frowned at that blatant gaze.

She wants to ask what he’s looking at—.

“There are so many talented people around Young Lady. Earlier, that squire also used his bow wonderfully. Do you purposely put those people next to you?”

“It’s not like that. Somehow, we got close.”

“Somehow you get close… is that even possible?” 

He took the lead while repeating what he said.

After following the airflow that appeared again this time, they even found the last mine in the Elbash Forest.

The scale was overwhelmingly larger than the two mines that they had been through so far.

Walls, ceilings, and even the floor. Mana stones of a certain size were densely growing on every surface.

The purity was also of the highest quality.

In terms of value, it is overwhelming.

When admiration is about to come out—.

[The three long-hidden mines were successfully found through the Elbash Forest expedition.]

[A reward will be given for the difficult journey]

[Luck goes to the main characters on the journey.]

Suddenly, a window of congratulations appeared in the air in front of Serdel.

However, she wasn’t the one to receive the luck.