The Young Lady With the Most Powerful Specs Was Just Too Cute, so I Started Teasing Her—But Then She Tried to Trap Me With a Chain, so I Kept Running Away With All My Might - Chapter 16

The Night Attacker

Since the town was basically half-destroyed, there was no way we could stay in a normal inn.

Any buildings that were still standing were being saved for the injured people and the kids.

So, the Duke’s group ended up setting up a camp on the outskirts of town.

The knights were busy clearing out collapsed houses and moving supplies.

The adventurers were out scouting the surrounding area.

And the mercenaries were setting up a defense line to watch out for any attacks during the night.

Since I’m an apprentice personal knight, I helped out too, making sure not to wander too far from Ludie.

I carried broken beams, handed out water to the wounded, and led children to safe spots.

The smell of smoke, dust, and blood still hung in the air.

Just seeing everything during the day was hard enough, but helping with the recovery work made it hurt even more.

I saw kids crying.

I saw a man just staring blankly at his ruined home.

I saw a woman who couldn’t even move because she was hurt, yet she kept calling out the names of her family.

Seeing stuff like this really makes you realize how scary monsters are.

The Duke kept moving around even after the sun went down.

He talked with the town guards and the village leaders, double-checked things with the Knight Captain, and gave detailed orders on how to hand out the supplies.

Honestly, he’s pretty amazing.

He was acting like such a total doting father earlier today, but when it’s time to work, he’s the real deal.

But, that just makes my bad feeling even worse.

Katary’s letter kept scratching at the back of my mind.

The Duke’s inspection.

A swarm of monsters.

The death of a knight apprentice who protects the Duke.

I really don’t want that to happen.

♢

It was late at night.

The campfire at the camp was crackling, and the knights on guard duty were starting to swap shifts. Just then, an adventurer who had been out scouting came sprinting back into town.

“This is bad!”

Then, a roar echoed from further away.

“–!”

An instant later, the alarm bell started ringing.

The high-pitched clanging sliced through the night, and the air in the camp turned tense all at once.

“Monster attack!”

“It’s from the north! There’s a lot of them!”

“Everyone, grab your weapons!”

They’re here! I stood up on reflex.

My heart started racing.

My bad feeling had come true in the worst way possible.

“Nil!”

I turned around and saw Ludie standing there.

She had come out here on her own two feet.

“Ludie, please get back!”

“No.”

“This isn’t the time for ‘no’!”

“The monsters are coming, right?”

“Well, yeah, but!”

We didn’t have time to argue.

A red-haired warrior stepped up right beside us. It was Platinum-san.

“I’ll protect the lady!”

She barked out the order in a low voice.

“Mercenaries, get in formation!”

With that one shout, the mercenaries moved as one.

They drew their swords, leveled their spears, and put their shields up front.

In no time, a perfect, rock-solid defense line was formed around Ludie.

Man, when the captain is this good, the quality of the mercenaries is on a whole different level.

“Nil.”

Platinum-san looked at me.

“What are you going to do?”

“I…”

I should stay by Ludie’s side.

I’m an apprentice personal knight, so that’s the right thing to do.

“Nil, please go check on Father.”

“Huh?”

“You are a knight apprentice, and the one you are truly meant to protect is my father, the Duke.”

“But!”

A black chain tore through the night.

Ludie’s power instantly skewered two or three dog-like monsters that had come jumping into the camp.

“This is easy, since I don’t even have to go chasing after them.”

“Haha, that’s amazing!”

Another one tried to circle around, but a second chain slashed its throat.

It happened in a heartbeat. She’s strong. This girl is definitely strong.

Plus, she has the mercenary group led by Platinum-san with her.

“Got it. I’ll check on the Duke and come right back.”

“Yes. If I can get to where Father is, I will head there too.”

“Okay!”

At the very least, Ludie’s spot wasn’t going to fall anytime soon.

If that’s the case… Katary’s letter came back to me again.

The Duke getting hurt.

The death of a knight apprentice.

I grit my teeth.

“Platinum-san!”

“What is it!”

“I’m counting on you to take care of Ludie!”

“Yeah! Leave it to me.”

Following Ludie’s orders, I started running.

♢

The town at night was like a nightmare.

Monsters were running between the crumbled buildings.

There were wolf types, boar types, and even some four-legged monsters I didn’t recognize.

The knights were fighting them head-on, the adventurers were chipping away at them from the sides, and some of the mercenaries were fighting back too.

But there were just too many monsters. These were the kind of numbers that could destroy a whole town.

I slipped through the shadows of the ruined buildings and headed toward where the Duke was. A few monsters jumped at me along the way, but I blocked them with my sword, dodged, and kept running.

I didn’t have time to stop.

“Duke…!”

I finally reached the spot, and the Knight Captain was standing at the very front.

The knights had formed a wall, creating a defense line centered around the Duke. The adventurers had joined in too, and it was a total chaotic brawl with sparks and blood flying everywhere.

But that wasn’t the problem.

“…What is that thing?”

It had long claws, a huge body, and looked almost human.

Its body was weirdly skinny, but its arms and legs were super long. Its mouth was so big it looked like it was torn open, and its eyes were glowing bright.

Every time it swung its arm, a knight’s shield got shredded. Even when it got hit by a spear, it didn’t stop.

It even flicked away an adventurer’s slash with its claws.

It was abnormal.

It was clearly in a different league compared to the other monsters.

“Get back!”

The Knight Captain yelled.

“Surround it! Don’t let it get near His Grace!”

The knights stepped in. But that monster was fast.

The moment its claws flashed, one knight was sent flying.

An adventurer tried to slash it from the side, but got kicked in the stomach and went rolling across the ground.

This is bad! There are other monsters around, but this big guy alone is going to wipe out the knights!

It wasn’t even logic. I just knew—that’s the monster that hurts the Duke.

The “something” that was blurry in Katary’s letter finally took a clear shape in this very moment.

We can’t let that monster stay here.

It’s going to reach the Duke.

And then, someone will probably die. A knight apprentice will die.

But I didn’t have time to think about that stuff.

Anyway, I just can’t let that thing get close to the Duke!

I kicked off the ground.

“Hey, Nil!?”

One of the knights shouted.

“Senior! If I die, please tell Ludie I’m sorry!”

“What!?”

I pulled my sword and slashed at the monster’s arm.

It was shallow. But it was enough.

Sparks flew, and the monster’s eyes turned toward me.

“Over here! Come play tag with me!”

As I yelled, I started running at full speed.

The monster stopped moving for a split second.

Then, with a sound like the ground was being gouged out, it came flying toward me.

“It’s coming!”

It’s fast! But I managed to lure it away from the Duke!

To pull it away from the ruined town, I headed toward the dark forest.

Behind me, I could hear the sound of long claws tearing up the ground as it chased me.

I didn’t have the luxury of looking back.

But I knew. That thing was totally aiming for me.

“Haha, fine by me!”

I’m scared. I’m incredibly scared.

But I have to do this.

Running away is the one thing I’m good at.

If that’s the case, there’s only one thing to do.

I’m going to be the one to lead this thing away.