Sigrid

Beramund thought as he dodged the magical beast’s attack and dove inside. As he sliced off the fingers trying to grab him, the beast screamed. The severed finger tissue writhed and slowly began to regrow into finger shapes.

‘Seeing it up close, it’s even more disgusting than I thought.’

“Move!”

“Huh? Hey!”

Beramund shouted as he dodged Utulu’s sword. Before the monster’s fingers could fully regenerate, Utulu sliced off its wrist. Even for a wrist, it was quite thick—a feat only possible with a greatsword.

“Grooooowl—!”

Brown blood gushed from the severed wrist. The enraged Cyclops tried to grab them with its other hand, but the two dodged like squirrels. Beramund, clinging close to its leg, slashed at the beast’s limb with his sword.

“Tch—”

Given its thickness, it didn’t cut clean through. While the two alternately attacked the Cyclops, keeping it pinned in one place, Sigrid prepared for her run-up.

Matthew, with a tense face, filled his entire body with Aura. As he extended one hand forward, Sigrid began her approach.

‘One, two, three, four, five!’

After five steps, she stepped onto Matthew’s palm, and as she leapt, Matthew pushed her upward with all his might.

Like a javelin, Sigrid was launched into the air. She frowned at the strange sensation of her insides churning. Then came a moment of suspension in mid-air, a brief sense of flight, before her body began plummeting rapidly. Sigrid used every muscle in her body to maintain balance in the air.

Compress, compress, compress, compress—

Sigrid continuously pushed Aura into her sword until her Aura Core was empty. As the Aura density increased and stacked within the sword, it began to vibrate wildly.

“Good girl.”

As if soothing a child, Sigrid muttered while eyeing her target. The ground was approaching at tremendous speed.

There was only one chance.

“Haaah—!”

With an uncharacteristic battle cry, Sigrid unleashed her sword strike. The highly compressed Aura formed a visible, vivid crimson light.

The crimson crescent sliced through the Cyclops’s head and disappeared silently, as if absorbed into the ground.

“Uwaaaaah!”

Utulu shouted simultaneously, plunging his sword deep into the Cyclops. As the pain-stricken Cyclops turned its head, its neck slowly rolled off like a lie. Even the Cyclops itself seemed bewildered—if such a beast could have expressions.

When Utulu delivered the final blow, Beramund saw Sigrid’s posture collapse. He threw his sword aside and desperately ran, stretching out his arms.

With a soft thud, Sigrid fell into Beramund’s arms. With a face pale from using up all her Aura, Sigrid said,

“We did it.”

“Leave some Aura to land safely!”

Beramund roared.

“I knew you wouldn’t let me die.”

Beramund was dumbfounded by her rather brazen response. But he didn’t toss her aside, instead adjusting his hold on her while grumbling,

“Really, you need to fix that personality of yours. You’re going to get yourself killed in some strange way at this rate.”

Sigrid gave him a tight hug at those words and then said,

“Don’t worry.”

She then asked to be put down, and Beramund hesitated before sighing and lowering her. Sigrid scurried off to retrieve her dropped sword, quickly checking it over. She had thrown it far away when she saw Beramund running towards her. Who knows what might have happened if she had gotten tangled up with him while holding the sword.

Slowly running her fingertips along the blade to confirm it wasn’t damaged at all, Sigrid satisfactorily sheathed her sword. Beramund also picked up the sword he had thrown. As he sauntered over to Utulu, he asked,

“Any signs of regeneration?”

“Not yet.”

“We should keep watch for a while longer, right?”

“About an hour.”

“We’ll freeze to death if we stand here for an hour.”

As he grumbled, Matthew came limping over from the other side. Waving his arm, he shouted,

“Amazing! You did it! You really did it!”

Panting as he ran up, he grabbed Sigrid’s hand.

“That was incredible, Lady Ankertna. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“It’s just a trivial skill.”

“No, it’s not! With that, long-range attacks are possible—what an incredible technique! I’m simply amazed!”

With a face flushed from excitement, Matthew kept pouring out praise. Sigrid was surprised, wondering if he had always been such a bright person. But that was nothing compared to the cheers that soon erupted from the gathering soldiers and knights.

Sigrid experienced being hoisted in celebration for the first time. While Beramund and Utulu looked too heavy to lift easily, Sigrid was different.

They tossed and caught her a few times, shouting hurrahs and patting her shoulders.

Sigrid was dazed as she was dragged here and there, caught in the wave of joy for killing a monster they thought could never be defeated.

She only came to her senses after being seated at the head of the banquet table.

Though it was just the dining hall, the atmosphere was markedly different from the morning. The food served showed some effort, and most notably, there were barrels of alcohol. Soldiers known for their singing performed with various instruments, and some, drunk on alcohol, sang along.

At the head table—which wasn’t really elevated, just a long table set apart—well-brewed apple cider was served instead of cheap alcohol.

“Why are they so happy?”

Sigrid asked Beramund beside her as she stared at the apple cider filling her pewter cup. Beramund, who had been lounging with his elbows on the table, turned to her with a “Huh?”

“There’s no need for such praise or cheers. We came to do this job and simply completed it.”

At those words, Beramund grinned and said,

“Isn’t it great to be cheered for just doing your job?”

Sigrid blinked at that. She had never thought of it that way before. Beramund raised his cup, and Sigrid quickly clinked hers against it lightly. Based on her previous experience, she was drinking very slowly and in small sips. She had no desire for another hangover. Beramund emptied his share of apple cider and reached for the bottle. It was so sweet and smooth that he wanted to buy some to take back. As he refilled his cup, he asked,

“Or do you dislike it?”

“I don’t… dislike it……”

Sigrid looked around the banquet hall. The people singing and chattering, the excited knights who had come to greet her and request exchanges—

“I liked it.”

As Sigrid spoke, clutching her cup with both hands, Beramund smiled again.

“You created this.”

He said, slapping her waist. Reflexively straightening her back, Sigrid opened her eyes wide.

‘I created this. The impact of my actions on people……’

She had never thought about such things before.

‘It’s wonderful.’

She thought, unconsciously.

Isn’t a great knight someone who follows their lord’s orders well? Or is it someone who creates smiling faces like this…….

Lost in thought, a shadow fell across her vision. Sigrid stood up.

“Lord Mihas.”

“Utulu is fine.”

Huh?

Surprised by the sudden informal speech, Sigrid responded in kind.

“Then Sigrid is fine for me too.”

Beramund watched the scene while chewing on some jerky, when Utulu said,

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

Sigrid tensed, wondering if he was going to ask her to teach him a technique. Utulu spoke politely,

“Would you bear my child?”

Beramund spat out the drink he was sipping, and the surroundings went quiet.

“I refuse.”

Sigrid said firmly, and Beramund wiped his mouth with his sleeve, relieved. Utulu asked,

“If it’s because of my rudeness earlier, I apologize. Of course, I’m not just asking you to bear a child. If there’s anything you want, I’ll grant it. In the West, only the strong survive, and heirs are important. I believe a child of yours and mine would surely be robust.”

The surrounding soldiers rolled their eyes. It was too lacking in mood to be a proposal, but too serious to be an insult.

—Didn’t anyone teach our Master about romance?

—No, does he even want romance?

As they whispered, nudging each other’s sides, Sigrid refused again.

“No matter what conditions you offer, it’s not possible. I have no intention of bearing children.”

At those words, Utulu’s eyebrows twitched in surprise.

“No intention?”

“Pregnancy and childbirth have too many effects on a woman’s body. Most of them negative. I intend to die as a knight, so I won’t do anything that degrades my physical condition.”

“I see.”

Utulu stroked his chin and then sighed.

“Then there’s nothing to be done. I apologize. Please forgive my sudden rudeness.”

“It’s alright.”

“But if you ever change your mind and want to have a child, please don’t forget that I’m here.”

Sigrid tilted her head, then straightened it and replied,

“Sure.”

Utulu bowed slightly and returned to his seat, and Sigrid sat down, saying,

“Western people are unique.”

“No, he’s just crazy.”

Beramund growled. Sigrid nodded.

“I see.”

After thinking for a moment, she chuckled. Concerned by that smile, Beramund fidgeted with his cup before asking,

“Why are you laughing?”

“Huh?”

“Did you like that bastard?”

Pointing with his chin towards Utulu, Sigrid looked at him and then back at Beramund.

“It reminded me of romance novels.”

“Romance novels?”

“Yes. And I laughed thinking about what Marie-Chez would say if she heard about this.”

“Ah~ I see.”

Beramund chuckled softly and emptied his cup.

The banquet continued late into the night, and as people began to collapse one by one, the room quieted down.

“Shall we get up too?”

As Beramund rose from his seat, Sigrid stood up without a word. As soon as they stepped out of the banquet hall, they both involuntarily hunched their shoulders. The corridor outside was directly connected to the outdoors. The Dudain region, being in the northwest, seemed even colder than the capital.

“The wind is fierce.”

As Beramund muttered, Sigrid nodded. The cold wind stung their faces.

“Let’s go inside quickly.”

“Before that, could we talk for a moment?”

The two turned around at the voice from behind. Duke Fienscha was standing there. Beramund smiled and said,

“Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting in this cold.”

“I came out when I saw you two leaving.”

“A wise decision.”

Beramund nodded. Duke Fienscha stared at him for a moment and then said,

“Let’s walk for a bit.”

“Alright.”

Beramund nodded and quickly fell in behind Duke Fienscha. As Sigrid followed, Duke Fienscha stopped. He turned to her and said,

“Please forgive my rudeness when we first met, my lady.”

Pleased that he addressed her properly as ‘my lady’ instead of ‘miss,’ Sigrid smiled slightly and said,

“It’s nothing, Your Grace.”

“No, I was indeed rude. You are an excellent knight. As one ages, one’s perspective tends to narrow.”

Sigrid couldn’t find the words to respond and simply bowed her head. Duke Fienscha continued,

“But from here, I’d like to speak with him alone.”

At those words, Sigrid looked up at Beramund, who nodded slightly. Sigrid dutifully stepped back.

“Then I’ll wait.”

“Go to the room first.”

At Beramund’s words, Sigrid shook her head.

“I’ll wait.”

Hearing her repeat this, Beramund hesitated for a moment before chuckling and nodding. He followed Duke Fienscha, his glossy dark green cloak fluttering, as they walked through the corridor towards the city wall. Although they were fully armed, there was still some unease.

‘Did he drink too much?’

With that worry, Sigrid stared blankly at the wall. The stone wall exuded coldness. Sigrid reached out to touch it. Even through her thick leather gloves for winter, she could feel the chill. The difference in temperature between the banquet hall with its fireplaces and braziers and the outer corridor with nothing was stark. Gently running her fingertips over the stones, she walked slowly along the corridor.

‘Originally, there should have been continuous casualties.’

In her memory, there was no recruitment of ‘volunteers.’ If there had been, she would surely have raised her hand. Only vague stories like ‘A magical beast has appeared, but support is delayed due to blocked roads’ had reached her ears.

After all, the 2nd Knight Order wasn’t at the center of information, being on the periphery. And when the central government finally sent support to the west, considerable damage had already occurred. There were rumors among the capital’s people about corpses piling up like mountains and city walls collapsing.

She had also heard that Utulu was severely injured.

‘Then why did they recruit volunteers this time? Why send Beramund? What changed?’

Why did His Highness the Crown Prince suggest such an idea?

‘Me joining the 1st Imperial Guard… and Her Highness the Crown Princess being alive…?’

These were the only two things that had changed around His Highness.

‘Surely they didn’t make such a choice just because I joined the 1st Imperial Guard, and what connection could there be between Her Highness being alive and supporting the Western Alliance…?’

Ah—!

Sigrid stopped abruptly.

‘If they thought the west was behind the attack on Her Highness, His Highness must have viewed the west unfavorably. So he wouldn’t have wanted to send support, and the west, not receiving support, would have had accelerating damages and growing resentment towards the central government, and eventually—’

Western Nobles Alliance Rebellion

“Ha—” She exhaled a long breath. A white mist formed and disappeared. Stamping her feet, Sigrid stared blankly into space.

‘So does this mean the rebellion won’t happen now?’

If so, the course of events would change completely. A shiver ran through her body. She had only saved Her Highness’s life. And that was to repay her debt to Beramund.

‘Yet everything has changed.’

Everything.

Sigrid looked down at her hands.

‘I thought things hadn’t changed that much.’

Has much more changed than she realized?

The fact that not only had she changed, but her surroundings had changed because of her, was a new realization. As Sigrid was clenching and unclenching her fists, thinking ‘Am I something special?’, she sensed a presence beside her. Turning, she saw Utulu.

“Utulu.”

“Why aren’t you going inside when it’s so cold?”

Sigrid briefly looked at the two silhouettes visible on the city wall before turning her gaze back to him.

“I’m waiting.”

‘Come to think of it, why should I use honorifics if he’s not using them with me?’ The thought suddenly struck Sigrid. Moreover, there wasn’t much difference in their ranks. She had used honorifics to make a good impression on the west, but now it seemed unnecessary.

Utulu paused at her words, then said,

“Have them bring a brazier.”

“That would be nice.”

Utulu beckoned to a nearby soldier and ordered him to bring a brazier. Shortly after, two soldiers brought a large brazier that also served as lighting. Sigrid stood by the fire and stretched out her hands. The crimson flames flickered in the winter wind.

Utulu gazed intently at Sigrid’s face.

The central government was never a welcome entity. Naturally, people from there were unwelcome too. When he first saw Beramund bring her, he was exasperated.