SOTBW - 90

At first, they surged in like disgusting insects, endlessly pouring in, but now the numbers had dwindled to the point where the soldiers on the field were able to fight without drawing swords, using only the fire arrows of the archers. The soldiers, disciplined and quiet, watched over the great wall without uttering a word, but the mercenaries, unsure of what was happening, whispered among themselves, trying to make sense of it.

As the sun rose and the bell signaling the end of the battle echoed, Najane was already busy hopping around to keep his toes from freezing. He hurried to the great wall. The soldiers, muttering “What a strange night,” made their way back toward the gates, but the knights remained in place, discussing last night’s events with serious expressions.

The first to spot Najane was Maximón. Maximón, who had been discussing the state of the unusually frail bodies of the mercenaries, stepped forward as soon as he saw Najane. Belshua also recognized Najane early on, but pretended not to.

The knights glanced at Maximón and Najane, then quickly looked away. The two seemed as familiar as long-lost lovers, their atmosphere warm and affectionate. Some knights, after stealing a few glances, wanted to go off and gossip, but Jacob kept giving them subtle hints to stop.

“How was the rear?”

“It was calm.”

“Did you see any signs of the Holy Relic being infiltrated by the Recheo Knights?”

“No. I didn’t sense anything.”

“Well, as expected.”

“Do you think the Serith are exhausted?”

Najane tilted his head, sensing something unusual.

Maximón chuckled softly.

“They’re creatures that crawl even after their upper bodies are severed, trying to devour humans. They can’t be tired.”

“Then we should consider this an anomaly?”

“The question is, what kind of anomaly it is.”

The Serith have no self-awareness, so they don’t think or hesitate. They have no leader directing their attacks or hunts; they simply raid the fort to satisfy their hunger. If this were a conflict between humans, one might speculate that the enemy would loosen their vigilance before launching a full-scale attack. However, the creatures Maximón fought were nothing more than monsters, driven by an insatiable thirst for human flesh and blood.

Fighting the Serith is always recorded by the Noctis Records Bureau. But since Maximón became the leader of the Romsoa Knights, such battles had not occurred. This situation was an anomaly too strange and unsettling to describe in words.

Maximón paused for a moment, lost in thought, before abruptly turning Najane toward the gates.

“The weather’s cold. Go back to the residence first.”

“And what about you, Commander...?”

“I need to speak with the other commanders. We’ll have to fight again tonight to truly understand what’s going on, but if this situation continues, we’ll need to find a solution.”

Maximón gave Najane a gentle push and looked over at Belshua.

“Belshua, take Najane back to the residence. The other knights should head to the barracks to gather information from the soldiers. We need to assess the condition of the creatures that attacked yesterday. Hurry up.”

With the orders given, the knights began to move quickly. Belshua, as if to say it was time to go, looked down at Najane. Najane briefly glanced toward Maximón and Jacob, who were heading toward the walls where the Recheo Knights were stationed, then reluctantly turned his gaze away.

Now that he thought about it, Daniel was nowhere to be seen. Was today his day off? Najane observed the group of knights running toward the field, paying close attention, when suddenly, a large hand blocked his view. He tilted his head back and looked up at Belshua.

“If it’s Daniel, he had something else to do and didn’t go out to the field.”

“Something else?”

“It’s better to hear the details from him directly. It’s getting late; let’s head back. The sun’s up, but the air is still cold.”

Belshua gently urged him. Najane had no choice but to leave the field. Some of the soldiers stood in the middle of the road, still absorbed in discussions about the strange events, looking more distracted than usual. Normally, they would briefly gather in the barracks to discuss the damage, but today there was no need for that. Although some soldiers had been taken to the aid stations, their injuries weren’t severe.

The mercenaries, too, seemed unusually upbeat. There were even rumors that the Serith had starved to death because they hadn’t been able to feed properly. They were already excited about the prospect of returning home once the war ended.

“Are you feeling alright?”

Belshua, walking beside Najane, asked casually. Najane thought for a moment before remembering how he had pretended to be sick in front of Belshua and Maximón. Embarrassed, Najane let out an awkward laugh.

“It’s nothing.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Are you worried about me?”

Najane asked, seemingly surprised. Instead of answering, Belshua kept her eyes straight ahead, purposely avoiding a response due to the slight embarrassment she felt.

However, she could feel a gaze on her from the side. Uncomfortable with the feeling of being watched, she glanced down, and their eyes met. Najane had a look in his eyes that seemed to say he believed Belshua would eventually answer. Belshua, defeated by that gaze, reluctantly opened her mouth, which she had stubbornly kept shut.

“...I thought you were badly injured while fighting the Holy Relic...”

Belshua spoke those simple words with great difficulty and caution.

Najane let out a small laugh.

“Thank you for worrying. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“...Right.”

At Najane’s cheerful response, Belshua was suddenly swept up in old feelings.

‘I’m so sorry for worrying you, Mahilen. I’ll never do that again. I’ll really be careful!’

The voice of Sillin still echoed in her mind as Belshua watched Najane walking ahead.

“What did you do back in your hometown?”

Although Belshua knew everything about how Najane was born and raised, she still asked this question. It was a question that had slipped out unconsciously. She had wanted to break the slightly awkward and tense atmosphere, but she had asked it without much thought.

However, Najane didn’t seem to find the question odd. She answered casually, as if recalling something.

“Even though I was a maid in Romsoa, I was a well-bred young lady in my hometown. So, I didn’t really have much to do. I practiced swordsmanship and sometimes rode horses in the training ground... On days when I couldn’t go to the training ground, I locked myself in the study and read books. That was my job. Just spending time with no real meaning, you know?”

Najane smiled bitterly, as if reflecting on the days spent at the Powley mansion. Belshua looked at her for a moment before lowering her gaze.

“You’re wrong.”

Belshua’s quiet words caused Najane to look back at her.

“If you really spent your time meaninglessly, you wouldn’t have been able to become a knight. The way you wield your sword with such stability shows how long you’ve trained. Your swordsmanship is far superior to that of soldiers who have fought on the field for years.”

Though Belshua seemed to avoid eye contact, her voice was sincere.

“You made the best choice you could back then. So don’t belittle the time you spent.”

Najane, having completely stopped walking, turned to look at Belshua. Her expression was one of surprise, as she hadn’t expected to hear such words. Belshua, realizing she might have said something unnecessary, knew that Najane tended to doubt her, and so, like an elder who had lived for millennia, she continued on with her lecturing.

“Even if others don’t properly recognize your efforts, you must recognize them yourself. People always live with regrets. But that’s not necessarily a bad feeling. Regret means you can do better next time.”

“......”

“You will do well in the future, too. Probably...”

Najane stared at Belshua in genuine surprise. She never thought she would hear such comforting words from Belshua, not Daniel or Amelia. It was truly unexpected, and while she felt grateful, she didn’t know how to respond, blinking her eyes in silence.

Seeing how Najane’s gaze was fixed on her, Belshua, perhaps suddenly feeling embarrassed, deliberately spoke stiffly.

“Don’t stare at me like that. Just say anything.”

Upon hearing Belshua’s words, Najane finally nodded with an expression as if realizing something.

“Thank you. I never thought I’d hear this from you. With you, well, honestly, we’re not as close as with Daniel, and I’ve always felt a bit of distance...”

Najane looked at Belshua with a genuinely happy expression.

“Really, thank you. I’m not just saying this; I mean it. It’s the first time I’ve heard such words, and I don’t even know how to react. It’s a bit embarrassing...”

Najane smiled like a child and scratched her cheek. Seeing this, Belshua almost hugged Najane with all her might. She almost promised that she could say such things every day if Najane wanted to hear them. She nearly told her that she understood her far better than Maximón did.

Belshua felt frustrated and sorry for Najane, who seemed so unsure of herself, and so she babbled something just to comfort her. She had intended to reassure Najane, but when she saw her looking so happy, it made her irritated. However, she knew she shouldn’t give in to these emotions. Belshua had no right to interfere in Najane and Maximón’s fate. If things were twisted because of her involvement, it would be irreversible.

Belshua shifted her gaze away from Najane and began walking again.

“...We’ve been talking for a while. The knight’s quarters are just a little further.”

“Wait, just a second!”

Najane called out urgently.

“I’ve been wondering about something for a while now. If it’s okay, can I ask you?”

Najane’s words were a bit unexpected. Belshua thought back, wondering what she might have said to Najane, and then nodded with a lukewarm expression.

“If it’s something I can answer.”

“Do you remember when we first ran into each other in front of the dining hall, right after I became a knight? You said something back then. You told me not to use my sword more than three times a day.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“Can I ask why you said that?”