26. Staggered or not (4)

“Are you from the academy?”

As Maxim raised his fighting spirit, Clint asked. Maxim frowned at the sudden question.

“Why is that all of a sudden?”

“Whatever it is, don’t think about dealing with it the same way you learned how to deal with being surrounded.”

“Suddenly pretending to be friendly.”

Maxim sighed bluntly. And I measured the monsters that were narrowing the encirclement. It was a bunch of hellhounds. maybe thirty It was a fairly large number.

The Aura Blade… will never be used.

“But why don’t they eat each other? He said he had nothing to eat.”

“Even the monsters in this area don’t seem to be good at preying on their own kind.”

The year was mid-heaven. The light shone brightly on the ground, but Maxim’s sword did not shine as Hexped’s blood dried up. Maxim glanced back. A red aura was rising from Clint’s sword. Maxim realized that Clint’s gaze was also on his sword.

“Let’s start.”

Maxim jumped at the group of hellhounds before he asked for anything.

Hellhounds don’t bark like dogs, nor howl like wolves. He let out a sharp cry that could be said to be like a monster, and rushed toward Maxim.

Kyaaak.

one guy

Maxim pierced the hellhound’s jaw from underneath. The hellhound dies as it flies off the cliff as it recoils from the charge. Maxim stepped towards the next monster without looking back.

top, bottom.

Maxim returned mana to his body as much as it was dangerous. The amount of mana flowing through Maxim’s veins was only a handful, but it clearly strengthened Maxim’s body. Maxim felt his veins tingle and he felt a pain like being pricked by a needle.

The wound is stimulated little by little. It was funny how my body ached from using just this much.

The hellhound opened its mouth. Maxim thrust the blade into his jaw, which was dripping with saliva. Maxim raised his sword straight up and split the hellhound’s head in two. The hellhound collapsed, spraying brains and blood everywhere.

next.

There are still dozens left. Maxim increased his speed even more. The number of attacking hellhounds increased from one to two, from two to three. It was not enough to cut one with one knife. The heads of two hellhounds were cut off by Maxim’s sword.

“…Did you change the tactics?”

It was tenacious. About seven were knocked down alone. The remaining twenty or so Hellhounds were about to run away, but they didn’t back down and surrounded Maxim in a fan shape, gradually closing the distance.

“Cunning bastards.”

The hellhound’s teeth were exposed. As if seeing a smiling face, Maxim looked at him with displeased eyes. don’t go in first. If you rush into that fan-shaped siege net, they will encircle Maxim in an instant and begin to trample on you slowly.

Surely now is the time to help.

Maxim glanced back.

“…”

Clint, along with the rest of the crew, had already driven out the monsters that were climbing up a long time ago. Maxim’s eyes met Clint’s, who was looking at him with a look in his eyes as if he were testing. The emotion in those eyes is curiosity, and a certain amount of distrust. He seemed unwilling to help.

what are you trying to test?

Receiving Maxim’s irritated gaze, Clint shrugged.

“I never meant to kill or harm you.”

“Then why are you not helping me now?”

Clint furrowed his eyebrows.

“I was dubious, but after seeing him fight Hexfed earlier, I confirmed my skills. I was pretty sure you could get through it. Why can’t you? I heard you need to fix your quirks. I have to suffer.”

Upon hearing that, Maxim forced himself to gnashing his teeth.

like that.

Maxim lowered his sword.

This is the punishment you gave me.

Theodora came to mind. It reminds me of that cold stare and the warm smile he gave himself. Tears, laughter, surprise, joy, and contempt. Numerous emotions from Theodora’s eyes passed through my mind. At the end of it was Theodora, who calls herself Maxim, not Maxim.

I’ll take it sweetly I will accept it all as my sin.

In the meantime, Theodora would have believed in her own skills and was sure that she would not get hurt. Theodora’s feelings toward him were heavy. And the trust that did not disappear was even heavier. Obviously, Theodora was driving herself into the thought of ‘try hard’. Although the result that came upon Maxim was a much heavier punishment than that.

Why are we so different?

At first Maxim wanted the best for Theodora. The words we said to each other were cold, but at least I didn’t want to be hated more than that. Maxim’s wish collapsed from the screening test. His sword could never contain the truth. And the sword that did not contain the truth did not touch Theodora.

Contradictions raged in Maxim’s heart.

The heart that I have to cut off the lingering towards her and make her hate herself.

And I can’t let go of that lingering attachment, and I’m determined to take all the risks and hold on to it.

It was fortunate.

If Theodora had been a little more kind, if she had been a little less cold, the latter would have won.

Maxim sighed.

The sound of a hellhound howling echoes the wilderness.

The wide-open siege began to narrow to Maxim. The hellhounds put Maxim within range. Maxim raised his head. the sky was visible It was a blue, sad sky. Clint’s voice came from behind Maxim.

“Take care of yourself. I won’t help.”

Maxim turned his head back.

“I do not need.”

The hounds glistened and licked their lips.

I won’t ask for forgiveness, Theodora.

Maxim raised his sword high.

Because that’s the only way you can keep hating me.

The embers of regret faced another fire.

And even so, I will forgive you. I will not deny my heart toward you. Even if you hate me even more here, even if one day you drive me to death, I will never blame you.

Maxim kept turning mana and took a step forward. The hellhounds snorted in excitement at the foreboding of the feast.

“come.”

Hellhounds are coming. Maxim pushed his body into the torrent of monsters. Maxim’s sword drew a smooth path. As if a line was drawn on a drawing paper, the space split. Their heads were cut, their legs cut, their backs and stomachs split open and their entrails poured out.

Kyaaak.

It was deep. Maxim thought as he took the next step. Hellhounds from the sides and behind stretched out their teeth and claws, aiming for Maxim.

Maxim avoided the teeth that were aimed at him first. At the risk of it, the hellhound’s mouth brushed Maxim’s side and closed. However, the claws could not be avoided. The intense pain felt in his body due to the flow of mana was interfering with his swift movement.

Joo-wook.

There were scratches on the armor. Maxim kicked the hellhound in the head with his foot. One more. A huge mouth widened towards Maxim’s right shoulder.

cack,

Maxim quickly threw himself and bumped his shoulder into the hellhound’s chin before the hellhound bit him. The staggering hellhound’s body split in half the next second and spewed blood.

there is still

The armor was scratched. A small scratch appeared on his cheek. Maxim swung his sword without hesitation.

The time it took to process one was gradually getting longer. Maxim didn’t care. The frequency of teeth grazing the armor and the frequency of direct bites were also increasing. Maxim swung his sword.

Kwadeuk.

The armor that had been bitten and bitten finally could not stand it and was pierced. A sharp pain was felt near the halo. Maxim immediately stabbed the hellhound in the neck, killing him, but the muscles in his jaw wouldn’t let go of Maxim’s body. Maxim dealt with two more hellhounds in that state.

Do you have five left?

Maxim forcibly ripped open the dead hellhound’s jaw and pulled out the teeth stuck in its back. Blood flowed.

One Two Three Four Five.

Maxim’s sword was swung exactly five times, and the only monster left in the wilderness was its corpse. Blood was dripping from Maxim’s back.

Clint was walking toward Maxim. A look of bewilderment was evident on his face.

“…you…”

Maxim glared at Clint. It wasn’t a very good feeling.

“Why didn’t you use the Aura Blade?”

Clint asked as if he couldn’t understand. Maxim narrowed his eyes.

“It’s none of your business.”

“Are you trying to complain to us? Are you really trying to deny that you are a knight?”

Since there was never a case where a knight who was using his aura just fine suddenly couldn’t use it, it wasn’t that Clint’s reaction was incomprehensible. Besides, it was more strange to think that if Maxim’s skill was good, he couldn’t use the Aura Blade.

“If you’re dissatisfied with our policy, isn’t it something to prove with your sword?”

Maxim snorted.

“I wouldn’t have done it without your knowledge. Whether I denied the article or not, don’t the monsters that fell in front of me tell me everything?”

Clint frowned.

Deliver it properly to Theodora as it is, knight of no man’s land. You can exaggerate it, or you can wrap it up. Maxim finally made up his mind. Now, Maxim wanted only one thing.

By the goddamn Count Benning’s will, may Theodora not be manipulated any more.

It’s enough for you to get caught up in it. I hope there will be nothing to blame only yourself until the end, and to reveal the truth hidden beyond it.

—

It was after the sun had set when the exploration was finished and all the investigators regrouped and returned to the barracks. Theodora and the Marquis had a map of the no-man’s land spread out on the table, clutching their heads. Besides them, Paola and Clint remained in the barracks.

“…Yes, it seems that everyone witnessed something similar.”

The Marquis pointed at the map with his baton and let out a quiet voice. The clues and singularities reported by the members of the investigation contained a common statement.

The monsters that climbed up the cliff as if they were running away, the monsters that seemed frightened, and the fewer monsters than usual that were visible from the bottom of the cliff.

“…and strangely hungry monsters.”

The Marquis hit the shoulder with the baton.

He hated to admit it, but the Marquis couldn’t help but think of a possibility he had put aside in his head.

“It would be nice if the number of monsters that this land could accommodate had reached its limit and had decreased…”

The Marquis sighed.

“If they are really running away from something… if a being who can revive even the fear castrated by the longing for life is approaching…”

“It’s the worst.”

Paolo finished her speech.

“It reminds me of 15 years ago.”

said Clint. At those words, Paolo and the Marquis recalled an existence.

“Behemoth…”

“If the Behemoth really appeared, it would be understandable.”

The Marquis closed his mouth. The Behemoth, which barely reflected its appearance and disappeared, would still appear in her dreams as a nightmare even after 15 years had passed.

“You will need quite a few troops.”

The Marquis muttered.

“When I go to report to the palace later, I hope you report well. It’s a place where you always have to assume the worst, so it doesn’t matter if I exaggerate a bit.”

“…You mean the Behemoth might show up?”

Theodora asked cautiously, and the Marquis nodded.

“His Majesty the current King will remember it well. What kind of monster is that?”

“The existence of the Behemoth is so…”

Paola gave a detailed explanation.

“The Behemoth itself is a very dangerous monster, but there are even more troublesome and dangerous things.”

Paola hardens her expression and continues.

“Behemoth subdues monsters under him. To be precise, it would be correct to say that monsters serve the Behemoth on their own.”

Theodora’s eyes widened.

“That means…”

“Yeah. The sudden decrease in the number of monsters, and the sight of individuals jumping out in terror… that explains it. Although there were no signs of it when it first appeared 15 years ago.”

“It might be because that monster first appeared at the time. No one knows what is going on over the cliff at the end right now.”

Paola and Clint’s expressions were very serious. Feeling that the atmosphere in the barracks was too depressed, the Marquis clapped his hands to refresh the atmosphere.

“Well, the Behemoth won’t appear tomorrow, and we haven’t properly revealed what that anomaly is yet. It would be foolish not to be able to sleep right now because of worry.”

The Marquis waved his hand and issued a congratulatory order.

“First of all, you worked hard today. Please do better during the investigation period promised in the future. Get some rest today.”

“Ah, Marquis, I have something to tell you.”

Clint stood up and whispered something to the Marquis. As Theodora looked at the scene with a puzzled expression, the margrave’s eyes met Theodora’s. The look wasn’t very good.

“Okay. Clint. Get out at once.”

“Yes, then.”

Clint opened the tent and chased after Paola.

“Theodora, will you stay for a while?”

Theodora nodded. I could roughly guess what the Margrave was trying to say.

“About that article you mentioned, they say he’s incorrigible.”

Theodora twitched her eyebrows.

“What does it mean?”

“Your skills are fine, but they say you seem like someone who has already lost your identity as a knight. He said he seemed to have no aspirations or a sense of duty.”

Theodora listened calmly.

“They refused to use the Aura until the end. While he threw away his pride as a knight, he seems to have other pride remaining.”

The Marquis shrugged and said.

“is that so.”

“Clint seems pretty upset.”

Marquis Baek spat out a laugh, saying that he would wake up.

“During this investigation, we need to give him proper mental training.”

Theodora had no choice but to respond with a wry smile to the Marquis’ laughing words.

—

Read at noblemtl. com

Night had arrived outside the tent. Theodora was wandering outside the barracks with a carefree mind. Troops slept in barracks over the city walls. As they went out for a walk with a heavy heart, Theodora looked around.

There was nothing to see in the wilderness of the no man’s land. A walk just to walk. I was just walking on a bare field. Theodora suddenly spotted a human figure. It was a familiar face. As if recognizing Theodora, Inyoung paused.

Theodora raised the lantern to confirm the identity of the human figure.

And what caught her eyes was Maxim, who was walking in an uncomfortable posture.