27. Staggered or not (5)

10 minutes ago.

“…”

When Maxim revealed his wounds, Christine’s firm reaction returned. Dozens of pierced teeth marks clearly pierced through the back. The flesh was crushed and dug out red, and the blood that flowed from the hole was hardened. Christine wringed out a clean rag soaked in warm water.

“Why are you so stiff?”

“Why did you even fight dozens of them by yourself? Why are you so hurt?”

Christine picked up a rag and began to slowly clean Maxim’s wound. It was only to wash off the hardened blood, but the cloth was already stained red and dirty.

“I made a mistake.”

“It really doesn’t suit you.”

When Christine shot him, Maxim could not help but nod his head.

“No, are you really saying you dealt with dozens of them alone?”

“Somehow.”

“The knights who went with him didn’t help and said what they did.”

Christine dipped the rag back into the bucket, and with a clicking sound, the water in the bucket mixed with blood. Christine scrunched up her face.

“Shall I go and get that Clint?”

“it’s okay. Christine. It’s my fault. How would they know that I can’t use my aura?”

“Why is it Senpai’s fault that he can’t use Aura?! And, you could use it in the first place.”

Christine got angry. It wasn’t that I was angry with Maxim. Maxim smiled.

“There are cases where you suddenly cannot use your aura. You’d think I’d just not use it.”

“No one is going to say anything because they can’t write. I’d rather just say I can’t use it…”

Maxim sighed and shook his head.

“No. Christine.”

“…eventually they will get caught. Are you still thinking of continuing this lie?”

Maxim nodded.

“Once you start seeing a person badly, you can’t help but think negatively no matter what that person does. As long as I keep my mouth shut, I won’t get caught.”

“To my ears, it sounds like you’re trying to buy hatred on purpose.”

“It’s also Christine. Because you’re smart.”

Christine hardened her face. She took the crushed herb and began to spread it on Maxim’s affected area. It looked like it was applied harshly on purpose. Maxim shuddered in excruciating pain.

“You think I’m joking?”

“…no.”

Christine brought the bandage after making sure that the herb was meticulously soaked into the affected area.

“senior…”

“I’m fine.”

“I am not okay.”

Christine took Maxim’s hand.

“There’s no reason to be hated alone and carry the burden alone.”

“It is not a problem that can be shared.”

Christine’s grip on Maxim’s hand tightened. She let go of Maxim’s hand and undid the bandages. Christine wrapped a bandage around Maxim’s back. Christine tied a knot at the end of the bandage and carefully placed her hand over the wound. Maxim could feel the warmth of Christine’s mana. The pain gradually subsided.

“Do not get sick.”

“I’ll try.”

Maxim laughed and got up from his seat. Maxim tidied up the messy rags and healing tools. Christine gave Maxim a helpless laugh. After tidying up, Maxim put on the top he had draped over his chair. Christine watched until the end as Maxim opened the tent.

How nice it would have been if I could have felt comfortable and said that I would bear the burden together.

Christine gazed at the night wilderness visible through the tent flapping in the wind. It was a very dark night, even for a dark, no-man’s-land.

The moon was a crescent moon.

There were few obstacles in the dark wilderness, so Maxim deliberately did not carry a lantern. It was a day when I thought I had put down a lot. He accepted that Theodora must hate him. Although it was a little, I also thought that I was carrying the weight of that feeling.

The wound throbbed.

A hellhound’s teeth were powerful enough to pierce armor. Flesh and muscle were mashed and bleeding. Fortunately, it didn’t have a big impact on the fight because it bit the left lat, not the right. Maxim was pretty exhausted because Christine knew he was hurt and threw a jingle.

“It’s cold.”

The wind blowing in the no man’s land is always dry and chilly. Maxim pushed the stones that got under his feet and walked, using the dim light of the barracks as a beacon.

“Well?”

Maxim saw the light of the lanterns in the distance. The flickering light, getting closer and closer, seemed like someone was walking with a lantern.

There was a strange person outside at this time besides me.

As Maxim approached to confirm the identity of the unusual person, he flinched at the figure. In-young’s true identity was Theodora. She was walking through the night with a lantern and slow steps.

The two recognized each other and just stared at each other for a while. Theodora was searching for the cause of Maxim’s awkward gait, and Maxim was feeling complicated.

“You are hurt.”

Theodora said. Maxim furrowed his eyebrows slightly. You might have noticed a slight change in his gait. Maxim involuntarily took his hand to his left back.

“Thanks to.”

I didn’t want to blame her. But Maxim had already made up his mind. Certainly, accepting and acknowledging Theodora’s hatred. We follow the plans of the f*cking Bennings, who have taken the family hostage. Theodora’s eyebrows narrowed as she listened to Maxim’s answer.

“Why did you foolishly not use your aura?”

“Because I could have done it without using it.”

Maxim replied calmly.

“If that was the case, I should have stopped writing the article altogether.”

“I also have a position.”

Theodora’s face contorted even more.

“If you say that, are you saying that because you think I’m in your position and at least considerate of you?”

“Will you take care of me?”

“That’s not what you’re saying. Why do you insist on making scars that don’t need to be hurt?”

What Maxim wanted was Theodora’s expression stained with hatred. But Theodora had a bitter expression on her face. His gaze went to Maxim’s left shoulder blade.

If it bothers you that you’re hurt right now, I’m just a bad asshole to you.

Theodora hesitated before opening her mouth.

“…I didn’t want you to hurt that much.”

Why do you say that there?

Maxim looked at Theodora’s face, filled with dozens of emotions. The bronze light of the lantern cast both light and shadow on her face. Her face was white in the light. Theodora was opening and closing her mouth and repeating it.

“That…”

Theodora tried to say something more, but Maxim turned back. If I talked more, it seemed that my resolve would be disturbed at best.

“It’s going to be tough.”

Theodora spoke up from behind.

“It’s hard enough already.”

Are you still worried about me

“…right.”

Maxim disappeared into the darkness after uttering Theodora’s words. Theodora, as if in a dream, had just finished the conversation, and stood there blankly, looking into the darkness where Maxim had disappeared.

—

Exploration continued. The raven knights and the Marquis came to one conclusion after a week of exploration.

It is not that the number of monsters on the other side of the cliff has decreased, but that it is in the same state as when the current recedes before a tsunami strikes.

Investigations became more thorough, and there were cases in which they left the investigation altogether and stayed overnight. Maxim rubbed his tired eyes and climbed onto the horse. Now, I have become quite acquainted with the horses provided by the no-man’s-land. The horse also purred weakly, probably getting used to Maxim’s touch. After the exploration, Maxim strained his arms to get off his horse, grimacing at his throbbing back.

It was Maxim who had been in charge of an unfair battle called the test for the past week. Thanks to this, he almost completely regained his sense of the sword, but there were no endless wounds on his body.

Among those wounds, the one on the first day seemed to be quite deep. While the wounds on his body later healed within a week, the wound from the hellhound bite on the first day still throbbed and hurt Maxim’s back.

“Maxim Appart.”

The Marquis spoke to Maxim, who was petting the horse.

“Yes, Marquis.”

“Starting from the next investigation, be able to accompany the investigation in Team 1.”

Maxim frowned.

Did you feel sorry for yourself after you’ve been hurting like that until now? Now, even if you don’t say anything, you’re about to step out and slaughter the monsters and keep your mouth shut.

“The reason is…”

“This is your captain’s request.”

Maxim’s frowning eyes widened.

“Theo…So, Captain?”

“You mean ‘I can stop’, right?”

The Marquis said as if he knew about the unreasonable work being poured out on Maxim, and that he was the one giving the order. Maxim asked the Marquis with a look of embarrassment somewhere.

“Are you going to say that’s enough?”

“Did you want more?”

Marquis Baek snorted. Maxim looked at the Marquis with a puzzled look. The fact that she was a count had already been forgotten.

“Isn’t it a situation where I, who is in the position of a mountain of hate, have to say this and that?”

“You seem to know your situation well.”

As Maxim shuddered, the Marquis shook his head as if he was fed up. The only positive thing was that Marquis Baek himself did not have a very bad impression of Maxim.

She preferred a helpful coolness to an unhelpful enthusiasm. In that respect, even if you don’t like Maxim’s attitude, you can’t just hate him for actually helping with the investigation and subjugation. In fact, it would have been a different story if Maxim hadn’t even tried subjugation.

The horses entered the stable. There was a strong smell of straw and horse manure. Even so, it was a no-man’s-land where there was not a single fly flying to the horses.

“By the way, why did you finish the investigation so early today?”

“I’ve been researching every day so far, so there should be times to relieve fatigue. I’m going to rest tomorrow anyway.”

When Maxim looked at him in surprise, the Marquis frowned. Her horse was walking backwards into her barn.

“I have that much flexibility. Don’t look at me like that.”

“…he didn’t say anything.”

The Marquis nervously locked the stable door.

“Anyway, today I’m going to drink moderately to relieve fatigue. Don’t miss out.”

It’s alcohol.

Maxim scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

“…All right.”

Unexpectedly, he might have a personality that likes dinner parties, Maxim thought as he watched the Marquis walk away.