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 19

Playing Tag with a Monster: Final Round

Under the moonlight, I finally let out a long breath.

Am I actually saved? The second that thought crossed my mind, all the strength drained out of my body.

My knees started to buckle, but I managed to prop myself up using my sword.

“Nil.”

I heard Ludie’s voice. It wasn’t her usual flat, calm tone.

For once, she sounded genuinely panicked.

“Ludie.”

The black chains were still coiled tightly around the monster, not letting go for a second.

The mercenaries had thrust several swords and spears into it, and finally, the thing stopped moving.

Platinum-san stepped forward.

“It’s over. You did good, Nil.”

“…Thanks, cough!”

The moment I opened my mouth, blood came out.

A taste like iron spread through my mouth, and I started coughing hard.

Man, it hurts. But I’m alive.

“You’ve got internal injuries.”

“Feels… like it…”

“Lady Ludie, we need to get Nil back now. We have to show him to a healer!”

“…Yes.”

After answering, Ludie walked over to me.

I’m so glad she’s safe. The tension from a moment ago felt like a bad dream.

“I will carry Nil.”

“Huh?”

The black chains gently lifted me up.

“You did very well.”

They weren’t tightening around me this time. They were supporting me, making sure I didn’t fall.

As I stared in surprise, Ludie spoke with a perfectly calm face.

“Rest well today.”

“Haha, is that okay?”

“Of course it is.”

“…Sorry.”

I was at my limit. My stamina was gone, and the wounds were catching up to me.

The black chains supported my sides and waist, lifting my body into the air.

The gentle swaying felt really nice.

“Mercenaries, stay alert! We’re escorting Nil and the Lady back to town.”

“””Yes, Ma’am!”””

On the way out of the forest, my consciousness started to get fuzzy.

Being carried by Ludie with the mercenaries guarding us from all sides… it felt weird. I’m supposed to be the one protecting them, yet here I am being protected.

“Nil.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you dare try to die on your own again.”

“…I wasn’t planning on dying.”

“That is a lie.”

“No, really, I was thinking I’d like to survive, at least a little bit.”

“If you even considered death for a second, it is the same thing.”

“Man, you’re tough.”

Even though it hurt, I couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

Ludie had a rare expression on her face—she looked half-angry and half-ready to cry.

“I’m sorry.”

“If you really mean that, then run away better next time.”

“…Yes, Ma’am.”

“You are supposed to be good at running away, right?”

“Hearing that from you makes me feel kind of complicated.”

After that reply, Ludie didn’t say anything else.

But I felt like the way the black chains were holding me got just a little bit gentler.

Right then, I blacked out.

♢

When I finally woke up, I was lying in a bed in town.

The battle was already over. I could still hear the sound of rubble being moved and the voices of knights echoing from outside, but the presence of monsters was gone.

There were bloodstains around the camp, but things were way more peaceful than I expected.

“Nil!”

The first one to come running over was Horn.

The Duke and the Knight Captain followed right behind her.

The moment I saw the Duke, I felt a massive wave of relief.

He’s not hurt! There’s no blood on him. Man, I’m so glad.

“Sir… are you okay?!”

“That’s my line, Nil!”

The Duke actually raised his voice, which was rare for him.

I flinched a little at how intense he was. But looking at his face, he didn’t really look angry—he looked like someone who had just been through a major scare.

“Do you have any idea what you did?! You lured that monster away all by yourself!”

“Well, that’s just how things turned out.”

“Don’t give me ‘how things turned out’!”

He yelled at me, but his voice was shaking a little.

This man really was worried about me.

The Knight Captain stopped in front of me too.

I thought he was going to bark at me like usual, but he just looked at my chest, then at the blood on my lips.

“…You’re alive.”

“Barely.”

“A healer treated you. Your strength won’t be back for a while, but those wounds are a mark of honor.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Be proud of them.”

Hearing the Knight Captain acknowledge me made me feel really happy.

“Well done.”

It was just a few words, but they really hit me deep in the heart.

I couldn’t help but smile, even though the movement made my wounds sting.

“Ow, gah…”

“Don’t push yourself.”

“Sorry, that was just a reflex…”

While we were talking, the Duke took a step closer.

“Nil Metasura.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

“Your actions today were undoubtedly a display of loyalty to the Ducal House.”

“…”

“I have witnessed with my own eyes that you were willing to risk your life to protect us.”

The Duke’s voice was heavy.

It wasn’t that doting-father voice from earlier. It was the voice of a lord, a Duke.

“You have my thanks.”

“No… I mean, I…”

I couldn’t find the right words.

“I’m just glad both you and Ludie are safe, sir.”

“I see.”

The Duke gave a short nod.

Looking at his face, it finally felt like everything was truly over.

The town was saved.
The Duke was safe.
Ludie was safe.

I’m a total wreck, but if that’s all it took, it was a small price to pay.

“Nil, thanks to you, there were no fatalities.”

The Knight Captain spoke in a low voice.

“There are people injured, but every single person is alive.”

“…Is that true?”

“It’s the truth. Drawing that monster away was a massive achievement.”

A warm feeling spread through my chest.

Ah, so it wasn’t for nothing.

Dragging that thing into the forest.
Running for my life while nearly dying.
All of it actually meant something.

“Does that mean I’m kind of a hero then?”

When I let that slip out, the Knight Captain knit his brows.

“Don’t let it go to your head.”

“Sorry.”

“However…”

The Knight Captain paused for a second.

“You did more than enough.”

“…Yes, sir.”

I got praised. By the Captain. It’s weird, but just hearing that made even the pain of my injuries feel like something to be proud of.

“Nil.”

I heard Ludie’s voice and turned my head.

Ludie was standing right there.

She didn’t look away, staring straight at me.

“Yes?”

“You are badly injured.”

“Seems like it.”

“This is your punishment for going off on your own and leaving me behind.”

“Isn’t that punishment a bit too heavy?”

“I am glad you returned safely. I won’t let you get away ever again.”

A few people nearby let out a small chuckle.

The tense air finally relaxed a little bit.

I laughed while clutching my aching chest.

“Ludie.”

“What is it?”

“But why did you come to the forest?”

I had been wondering about that.

Why did she show up at that exact moment? When I asked, Ludie narrowed her eyes just a tiny bit.

She looked a little angry, but she also looked relieved.

“It’s a secret.”

“???”

Well, as long as there’s a light back in Ludie’s eyes, I guess that’s fine.

“Alright, the monsters are defeated! Now, let’s rebuild the town! Everyone who’s hurt, get yourselves healed!”

The Duke shouted out to everyone.

“In that case, I should—”

“You stay in bed!”

The Knight Captain barked at me, and everyone laughed.

Everyone was safe. I’m so glad.