Chapter 218: Red Forget-me-not (2)

Oliver walked through the forest.

As soon as the War-wolves appeared, he left the party.

Because he knew that attack was a scheme plotted by the Naimus Empire.

‘This isn’t a place where War-wolves inhabit.’

It was a place swarming with stronger magical beasts than them.

In other words, it means someone released the War-wolves to cause confusion.

Mercenary Captain Gorian’s attitude, which had changed somewhere, also got on his nerves.

There was only one conclusion.

‘The Empire bastards put quite a lot of effort into this time. Recruiting even the Silver Lion Mercenaries operating in Frey.’

The Naimus Empire’s tracking hand had come right below his neck.

‘Seems the family abandoned me too.’

Well, it was inevitable.

Because the Naimus Empire doesn’t forgive traitors.

Technically, he never committed apostasy or betrayal, but the uptight Naimus judged crossing the Frey border without permission as an act of betrayal.

However, Oliver didn’t care.

This situation was something he had prepared for since he shouldered his pack to fulfill his sister’s wish.

In the end, they couldn’t catch him, and he obtained the Red Forget-me-not he had been searching for so much.

“…….”

Oliver clicked open the box in his hand.

Inside, the Red Forget-me-not was contained with its roots intact.

Now, with this, only returning to his sister remained.

Planting the Red Forget-me-not on the grave where she sleeps.

That was the end of the journey Oliver had in mind.

Awooo──

Howling was heard from behind.

Not far away.

Oliver unknowingly stopped walking and looked back in that direction.

……If he said nothing bothered him, that would be a lie.

Michelle.

The woman who kept reminding him of his sister every time he saw her.

He tried to fix her legs before leaving, but Oliver couldn’t calm his trembling hands.

‘It will be fine. Since there is the Academy.’

No matter how much it was the Naimus Empire, he didn’t think they would have touched the Frey Academy, one of the national institutions representing Frey.

Her uncomfortable body…… Yeah. The person called her Unni will take care of it.

Just like how he found the Red Forget-me-not somehow.

Actually, the reason he was leaving as if fleeing like this was partly because of the War-wolves clearly scattered by the Empire and the betrayal of the Silver Lion Mercenaries.

But it was also largely because of her sister, Mitchell.

Oliver saw Mitchell’s eyes.

Those eyes conflicted between the request and the Red Forget-me-not.

Even if the Empire hadn’t extended its dark hand.

If they continued to move like this, she would have tried to take this Red Forget-me-not in his hand before long.

‘Definitely.’

However, Oliver didn’t think that action was bad.

Because he would have done the same.

Just as he practiced medicine day and night to treat Daria, Mitchell probably wants to do anything for the disabled Michelle.

It was a natural instinct for a human to want to choose the easy and certain path there.

Just.

Like now.

“Stop.”

Oliver stopped walking.

“Where are you going? Are you running away? Without payment?”

It was Mitchell.

Having jumped down from a tree, she asked Oliver as if demanding an answer.

Oliver answered without even turning his head.

“I already delivered the payment.”

“To whom?”

“To Mr. Parnaci. I made the payment together while requesting the commission. You’ll probably receive the payment when you return.”

Mitchell’s words didn’t come.

A moment of silence.

So it was when Oliver tried to move his steps again.

Shing-, a chilling sword sound was heard from behind.

Oliver flinched.

His brow furrowed sharply.

“Is that the method you chose in the end?”

“…….”

“Okay. Well, I understand your feelings. But if that happens, the request is a failure. Don’t do something you’ll regret for nothing.”

“I’ll admit it. Honestly, it’s not that I didn’t think about taking it at all.”

Mitchell said.

“But there was absolutely no opening.”

“Then now…….”

“You. You aren’t an ordinary herbalist, are you?”

Oliver shut his mouth.

Before he knew it, Mitchell’s voice was heard right close to him.

“Guard request. You didn’t request it simply because you were afraid of beast attacks.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“It’s too late to feign ignorance.”

Oliver looked back at her with an expression asking what she was talking about.

Mitchell spoke in a deeply sunken voice.

“Don’t fall away from me.”

“What suddenly…….”

There was no answer heard.

But even if Mitchell didn’t answer, there was no difficulty in grasping the flowing situation.

“Right. It’s too late to feign ignorance. Khuhu.”

Because with a gritty laughter, someone popped out as the bushes on one side parted.

It was a face Oliver knew too.

Gallard, the Vice-Captain of the Silver Lion Mercenaries.

And Gorian standing tall next to him.

Oliver’s expression hardened stiffly.

“What are you all doing right now?”

“What are you doing? Can’t you tell by looking? We came to catch the client who was fleeing by night.”

Gorian sneered with his arms crossed.

“Where are you running away in such a hurry? Without even giving the payment.”

“……I intended to give it. Through a trustworthy person. I even took measures so it would be delivered as soon as I arrived in Icata.”

“How can we believe those words?”

“Then can I give it now?”

When Oliver really tried to take out the money pouch, Gorian shook his head left and right.

“No. You don’t have to give it. Since we don’t need that petty cash anymore. We received a new request. Naturally, they offered much more payment than you, and even had credit. So we intend to execute this new request. Right now.”

As soon as those words ended, Gorian and Gallard took out their respective weapons.

At that, he could know what the new request they received was without needing to ask.

Frowning, Oliver clicked his tongue.

“Stay behind.”

Then Mitchell stepped in front of him.

Oliver blinked his eyes.

“……You. Will you be okay?”

“If I’m not okay? Should I run away? Yeah. That wouldn’t be bad either. If you die here, the Red Forget-me-not will go straight into their hands, and it seems better to deal with them than with you who is uptight. But.”

She continued speaking while holding her sword.

“If I do that, I feel like Michelle would hate it.”

“……!”

“So run away quickly. While I draw their attention.”

With those words as the last, Mitchell’s figure disappeared.

“Ugh!”

At the same time, Gallard’s bewilderment burst out from the front.

Mitchell, who had moved there before anyone realized, was swinging her sword continuously, ruthlessly pressuring Gallard. Her killing intent was so overflowing that even Gorian had to step in to save Gallard.

“…….”

Watching that scene, Oliver couldn’t easily take a step.

***

“Are these bastards crazy!? Daring to point a sword at Zain’s back?”

“N, No. That is…….”

“You’re prepared to pay the price, right?”

Fwoosh!

“Wait! It’s a mistake. Mistake!”

“In which country is it a mistake to attack an ally from behind? And three people against one person at that?”

Karina, asking while floating five giant fireballs the size of a human torso in the air, truly looked like a witch of hellfire.

“Nothing to say?”

“D, Damn it. Kill her!”

“Okay. Die.”

Boom! The slamming fireball.

“K, Kuaaack!”

Karina smiled chillingly while watching those writhing in pain screaming terribly inside the burning flames.

“It’s very nice to see you reflecting on your wrongdoings.”

I shook my head side to side watching that burning ceremony.

Truly can’t find even an ant’s booger of mercy.

Well, that is Zain’s way though.

It may look cruel, but there’s nothing as effective as that in instilling terror and fear.

Still, since she’s going to kill them all anyway, sending them off cleanly is better.

‘Just like that.’

Crack!

Every time a blue sword energy flashed in my eyes turned to the opposite side, I could see mercenaries freezing one by one.

The ice statues lined up straight like that.

They were all Yuria’s achievements.

“Flawless.”

Is the advice from Sigaro Isaac, who visits occasionally, helping?

Seems like her swordsmanship skills have improved even more.

I lowered my sword.

The War-wolves had long been cleared, and the Silver Lion Mercenaries’ plan to aim for our backs taking advantage of the confusion also returned to failure.

Not just me, but Yuria and Karina were also feeling something sketchy from them.

In the first place, the difference in individual skills is an insurmountable wall.

‘Just Karina right now, compared to the original work, it’s to the point where I’m sorry to even compare.’

So I was relieved.

At this level, I can leave the cleanup here to those two people.

‘I should hurry to Oliver.’

Not just Rachel, but Gorian and Gallard from earlier. These two weren’t visible either.

I was worried since I didn’t know the situation there.

I looked at Reina next to me.

She was distractedly watching Karina and Yuria’s martial prowess.

“Wow, amazing! Can I become like the Unnis too?”

“Of course. Here, get on my back.”

Reina, understanding my intention, immediately got on my back.

I ran straight away.

Sounds of battle were heard from the forest not far away.

And Oliver whom I discovered.

“This way! Quickly!”

Oliver took us to the place where the fight was in full swing.

Rachel was handling the fierce attacks of both Gorian and Gallard alone there.

“Unni!”

I quickly put down Reina and drew my sword.

Clang!

Gorian, discovering me, opened his eyes wide.

“Oh my.”

Gorian parried Rachel’s sword and backed off.

Gallard likewise.

“How did that guy chase us here? Surely, has he already been defeated?”

“……I don’t know.”

The two chatted incomprehensibly.

‘He?’

I tilted my head but first checked Rachel’s physical condition.

She was torn and cut here and there, but fortunately, there seemed to be no major wounds.

Seems it was my needless worry.

I thought she followed Oliver perhaps to steal the Red Forget-me-not.

‘It was to protect him.’

Rachel didn’t betray the promise with Shadow.

Knowing that fact like this makes me undeniably proud.

“What are you looking at with those eyes?”

Then Rachel asked.

I answered without much thought.

“Because I’m proud?”

“…….”

Oh my.

My true feelings came out without me realizing.

Anyway, that wasn’t important.

Gorian and Gallard seemed extremely flustered, not knowing what to do right now, as if my appearance was quite unexpected.

That appearance looked quite strange to my eyes.

‘They didn’t think I would come here at that level? Why?’

If they had been subscribing to Royal Dream all this time, they wouldn’t know the skills of me, Karina, and Yuria.

Even if they scattered War-wolves and launched a surprise attack in the meantime, isn’t it normal to have assumed mission failure to some extent?

But that reaction seems like they didn’t calculate failure at all.

‘Must be third-party support.’

Considering they clearly said ‘Has he already been defeated?’, it seemed correct.

‘But unlike the talk, someone who was supposed to deal with us didn’t appear…….’

It was then.

My sharply honed perception rang an alarm.

I turned my head hurriedly.

Something long popping out from the darkness was pouncing on Oliver.

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