Vol 1 Chapter 35: Erik’s Time

We rode out from the castle where Biriel had lived.

Thanks to our success, the mood was somewhat giddy.

…

No, wait. From Miriam, I’m receiving a gaze so cold it chills me to the bone. Thank you very much.

That said, it’s not because of anything I’ve done. The reason is…

“Heeh. So you can ride a horse too, Erik. A jack-of-all-trades, are we?”

It’s probably because of Princess Debora, who’s riding on the same horse as me.

Her frame is so petite you could call her a child, making it possible for us to ride together.

We rode separately on the way here, so I was a bit taken aback when she suddenly hopped on with me, but my, oh my… if it means I get to receive this cold stare from Miriam, I should have had her ride with me on the way here as well.

Now then, for the moment, our progress toward the edge of the domain continues, completely unhindered.

However, according to my M-sensor…

Just then, I heard something slice through the air.

FWOOSH

I-It’s here!?

The projectile wasn’t heading for me, but toward Prince Orace a short distance away.

Damn… at that range, I can’t throw my body in the way!

“Prince Orace!!”

That’s not fair!!

As if hearing my voice, Prince Orace finally turned around.

But it was impossible for him to dodge the object that had already closed so much of the distance…

“Your Highness!!”

It was Walter-san who appeared in the line of fire, protecting Prince Orace with his own body.

Sticking out of his armor was an arrow.

“Wal-Walter!!”

Prince Orace cried out to Walter-san.

But the enemy didn’t wait.

A hail of arrows rained down upon us.

“Tch… Protect the royal family!!”

But as expected of the escort knights.

Following Alfred-san’s command, they immediately began to respond.

As a result, not a single arrow reached Prince Orace or Princess Debora.

Tch… There’s no part for me to play…!

After holding them off for a short while, the arrows stopped coming, as if they had entered a firing interval.

“Tch! Not a single one of them is dead? A stubborn bunch.”

That voice reached us after we had weathered the arrow storm.

When I turned around, there was Biriel, leading a large number of people.

Just as I thought! I’m so happy you met my expectations!

“You bastard, Biriel! What is the meaning of this!?”

Prince Orace roared, but the pale, panicked expression Biriel had before was gone.

Though beads of sweat dotted his face, he seemed to have snapped.

When you’re cornered that far, it’s not unheard of to snap, I suppose.

Well, either way, it doesn’t look like Biriel has much of a future.

“There’s no meaning to it, Orace. If I let you return to the capital as you are, my life is forfeit. In that case, my only choice is to silence you all right here!!”

Mhm, mhm, that’s right.

That’s how villains are supposed to act.

“You… Have you lost your mind…!?”

“Hah! Perhaps I have, but that no longer matters. I will kill you all here and then march upon the capital! And with that, I will become the new king!!”

“Wh—…!!”

The knights were dumbfounded.

And who could blame them? This was the first time I’d ever heard such a brazen declaration of a coup d’état.

I thought he’d try something, but to think it would be this… You’ve got guts, Biriel.

“Don’t think you’re leaving here alive!!”

Triggered by Biriel’s words, another rain of arrows came flying.

Mmm, I’d love to become a human pincushion right about now.

“Tch! Ride!!”

However, I had no choice but to obey Prince Orace’s command.

Besides, Princess Debora is also on my horse.

I can’t sacrifice the princess for my own fetish.

All at once, our horses broke into a gallop.

WHOOSH WHOOSH

The ear-splitting sound of arrows is just irresistible.

I-I wonder when one will finally hit me…!

…Come to think of it, Princess Debora is still a child.

To have her life so openly targeted, she must be curled up in fear…

“Woooooah! Erik, this is amazing! It’s just like a scene from an adventure story! My heart is pounding!!”

“Wha— Princess Debora…!”

She wasn’t curled up in fear at all.

If anything, she was thrilled.

She skillfully turned her body around on the horse and was now squealing with delight as she watched Biriel’s approaching forces over my shoulder.

S-She’s strong…

Actually, if she thrashes around on the horse like that, we might fall off… which would be great!

“Hic…!”

But I can’t just leave Miriam, who is desperately handling her horse next to me while trembling in fear.

I drew closer to her and called out.

“Miriam, we’re near the edge of this territory, so we can get out of the Hegstett domain soon. Can you hang on until then?”

“…Y-Yeah!”

Miriam nodded firmly.

Mhm, mhm, just as I’d expect from her.

Having somehow regained her composure, Miriam handled her horse with skill.

From there, it was a veritable dead heat.

On one side, us, trying to escape the domain to call for help. On the other, Biriel and his private soldiers, trying to finish us off within his territory.

The arrows flew relentlessly, and at times, even magical attacks came our way.

“Debora! Can’t you do something with your ‘Explosion’!?”

“Eh? Hmmm… I can try, I guess, but my emotions aren’t running high right now, so I don’t think it’ll be very powerful, you know?”

At Prince Orace’s direction, Princess Debora created an ‘Explosion’ once.

Thanks to that, the attacks stopped for a moment, but…

Just as Princess Debora said, because she wasn’t having a tantrum or feeling particularly emotional, it wasn’t enough to finish Biriel.

“Gah!?”

“Aaargh!!”

Meanwhile, our own formidable escort knights did not escape unscathed.

Almost all of them had been pierced by arrows, and some had fallen behind after taking a magic attack.

However, the royals had not taken any damage at all.

Considering that, one can understand the full extent of the knights’ efforts.

…Even so, why haven’t I been hit even once yet!

You need to aim for Princess Debora more! Otherwise, I can’t protect her!

“Alright! We’ve made it this far!”

As I was fuming at Biriel and his men, I heard Prince Orace’s voice and looked up.

We were at the place with the two giant rock walls we had passed on our way in.

If we pass through this gap, we can exit the Hegstett domain immediately.

“Don’t let them escape! Finish them before they leave the domain! If you fail, I’ll kill your families!!”

Biriel also knows what a disaster it would be if he let us escape here, so he pursues us desperately.

Because we were moving with consideration for the injured knights, they have already closed the distance considerably.

“Hurry, ride through!!”

“But, Your Highness! At this rate, they’ll catch up to us while we’re passing between the rock walls! And if they collapse the walls while we’re inside…!!”

“Tch…!!”

Indeed, in such a narrow passage, the horses cannot run at full speed as they did before.

What’s more, if a magical attack were to hit the rock walls while we passed through… our lives below would surely be crushed.

…Hmph, it has come. My time has come.

“Prince Orace.”

“What is it!? I’m busy thinking about what to do now. Later!!”

When I called out to him, a frantic, angry shout came back.

Hmph, this too is good.

However, there is something I must say now, so I would very much like you to listen.

I spoke, for the sake of the ultimate moment that had finally arrived.

“I will serve as the rearguard here.”

When I said that, everyone stared at me with wide eyes.

Hmph… Leave it to me.