Chapter 9.1 – Hunting Festival (Part 7)

The clearing instantly turned into a scene of chaos. A monster that suddenly appeared from somewhere attacked people indiscriminately while pushing inward, the rows of tents collapsed beyond recognition, and the tables where the tea party had been in full swing were in disarray, scattered here and there in the turmoil.

“Protect His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress!”

The Emperor and Empress, who had been resting in a large tent near the platform, hurriedly left the place under the protection of the Imperial Knights, and the nobles fled, pushing each other aside with terror-stricken faces, even before the protection of the knights brought by each family could be implemented.

Swept up among the people frantically fleeing to save themselves, Ria, separated from Serena and Katrina, was quickly moving her feet, bringing along Countess Figo whose face had turned pale.

‘What, what is this……’

To be honest, it was unbelievable. It didn’t feel real. Apart from being aware that she had come to a new world, this was the first time she had encountered such an unheard-of situation, making everything seem like a lie.

At that moment, a scream that erupted nearby pierced Ria’s ears. Turning her head, she saw Lady Melbourne with her leg trapped under collapsed debris. Then, not far from her, she also noticed the monster with its back turned.

If the monster turned its body just a little, it would immediately see Lady Melbourne. If that happened, the lady’s life would be…

As soon as that thought connected, her body reacted first. But Countess Figo, who suddenly came to her senses, grabbed Ria’s arm so tightly it hurt as she tried to dash out.

“My, My Lady, we must quickly escape… dangerous……”

Whether it was because she thought it was too late for what had already happened, or because she didn’t know the situation was this serious, her tongue wouldn’t move properly. The Countess, thinking this wouldn’t do, pinched her own arm with all her might. Only when she felt the pain from the deep marks left by her nails did her stiffened tongue finally loosen. Her mind also cleared a bit.

The Countess, trying not to look at the unidentified monster behind Ria that looked similar to a bear but wasn’t a bear, spoke word by word.

“My Lady, we must escape! Someone will save Lady Melbourne. So let’s run away first!”

Originally, a person’s own life is the most important. Just look at the nobles pushing each other and fleeing right now. It’s a pity for Lady Melbourne, but if she’s lucky, she might catch a knight’s eye and survive.

Above all, the Countess had an absolute reason to save Ria. Since all this happened because of Ria, and as long as she knew that fact, the Countess’s lifeline was not Exie Melbourne but Ria.

However, Ria, after alternately looking at the Countess and Exie, gently removed the hand gripping her arm.

“……You go first.”

“My Lady!”

“If we help quickly, she can live. How can I turn away after seeing that?”

She had never once thought of herself as just a kind person. But she knew well that she wasn’t cold-hearted enough to turn her back on a living person right in front of her. Even if it was someone who had shown hostility towards her.

Ria immediately ran to Exie and started removing the pile of debris. Fortunately, as it was several layers of not too large or heavy debris piled up, it was possible to remove them one by one even alone.

“Lady, don’t scream. Even if it hurts, bear with it. You don’t want to die by being noticed by the monster, do you?”

“……Why.”

Trembling violet eyes stared blankly at Ria. 

My father, my own blood, was nowhere to be seen, and the ladies I was with were busy fleeing, competing with each other, but why you?

It was just a moment ago that I thought about getting rid of you, but why you of all people?

Ria cleared away the last of the debris and met those trembling eyes as she helped her up.

“I would have done the same even if it was someone else. Otherwise, I feel like it would haunt my dreams forever.”

Just then, a knight who had been going around to rescue the injured approached nearby. Exie, handed over to the knight, stared intently at the numerous small wounds on Ria’s hands as she turned away, then left that hellish place with the knight’s support.

After sending Exie away, Ria turned around and looked around for Kahin with eyes full of anxiety and worry. As soon as the loud noise erupted, he would have surely tried to run to her first. But she still hadn’t met him. It would be fortunate if they had just missed each other in the crowd, but what if he was fighting the monster?

Even if he got seriously injured, she could use healing magic, but she just didn’t want to see him getting hurt in the first place. She hoped he wouldn’t feel the pain of that moment of injury.

It was then, as she was anxiously turning her head, that a large shadow fell over her. As she instinctively looked up at the sky at the shadow that had completely swallowed her own, a large piece of debris was flying towards her. Ria, whose body had frozen stiff, reflexively crouched down low and covered her head with her arms, tightly closing her eyes.

However, she didn’t feel the pain she thought would be agonizing enough to break her entire body. When she carefully opened her eyes, the broad back she had always thought reliable was blocking the front, protecting her. After clearing away some of the flying objects to some extent, he immediately turned around, bent one knee, and examined her.

“My Lady, are you alright?”

“Ka, Kahin……”

As soon as his face filled her eyes, reality rushed in all at once. 

Ah, I really almost died here. 

Only then did she fully feel the fear melting into her skin, and her body trembled endlessly. She had been able to step forward to save Exie because she hadn’t felt the reality of the situation until then.

“Kahin, Kahin.”

Ria clung to him as if grasping a lifeline. Kahin, who tightly embraced the small body clinging to him calling his name with the arm not holding the sword, bit his lip hard at the vivid trembling transmitted through their touching bodies. How scared she must have been. How frightened his delicate lady must have been in a situation she had never experienced before.

“Shh, Ria. It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m here.”

“Hic, huu.”

“I’ll take you to a safe place right away. It’s alright.”

At the strong arms enveloping her, the reliable embrace, and the gentle comforting words constantly whispered, Ria nodded while holding back her tears.

“Can you stand up?”

“Yes. I’m, I’m okay.”

Then, leaning on Kahin, she got up from her seat, stood up straight by putting strength in both legs, and wiped away the tears blocking her vision with the back of her hand. It was a dangerous situation for him too, so she couldn’t be a hindrance.

“You need to stay close to me.”

He took off his glove with his teeth and wiped away the tears still lingering in her eyes with his bare hand. Swallowing the pity that naturally welled up at the delicate skin that quickly turned red and sore, he hid her small body behind him. His sharp green eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, assessing the situation.

The unfamiliar type of monster was being held back with great difficulty by the remaining Imperial Knights and the knights from the two ducal families who had been hiding to protect the lady. Then his job was to escort the lady to a safe place in the meantime. At least to a place out of the monster’s sight.

Having quickly made his judgment, he started moving in the opposite direction of where the monster was, deflecting the threatening flying debris. Fortunately, not far away, an area full of bushes came into view.

It would be better to move in such a place with many things obstructing the view rather than in the wide-open clearing. His eyes flashed as he moved towards that place with Ria.

However, just before entering the bushes, Kahin suddenly stopped and gripped his sword tighter. Immediately, figures wearing masks and black robes appeared from somewhere and surrounded the two in a circle.

‘Damn it.’

Kahin gritted his teeth, noticing they were assassins from the swords in their hands. The situation had turned unfavorable contrary to his thoughts. 

To think there would even be assassins…, wait. They’ve surrounded us, not the imperial family? Why? Who are they targeting? 

His expression deeply furrowed as his taut thoughts reached a point of question.

But before he could find an answer, the assassins all rushed towards him at once.

Quickly pulling Ria close to him, Kahin stepped back to create distance while parrying their swords. As he was skilled enough to be praised as the empire’s best swordsman, he didn’t easily give way even while protecting Ria in a one-against-many situation. However, it was undeniable that the longer it went on, the more disadvantageous it would be for him alone.

Moreover, the opponents were throwing themselves in recklessly as if they didn’t care if they died. Even when cut by the sword, they kept pushing forward. Usually, people would hesitate a bit or show even a tiny opening out of concern for their lives, but not these ones.

Just like dolls that can’t think for themselves or feel emotions.

You can vaguely understand your opponent after crossing swords a few times. Kahin felt this strangeness as he clashed swords. The peculiarity of facing dolls, not people.

Again, swords came from both sides. In an instant, Kahin cleared his mind and swung his sword to block the attacks in succession. For now, protecting her safety was the priority.

Ria, who was watching the fight closely behind Kahin, bit her lip. He couldn’t even fight properly because he was protecting her. The fact that she was nothing but a hindrance rather than being of any help to him hit her painfully.

Ria rolled her eyes, looking for a way to be of help somehow.

“……!”

Then her eyes met squarely with the monster staring directly at her.

She immediately turned her gaze away, but in that instant, it was vividly imprinted in her mind as if etched there. Her heart pounded as if jumping, and goosebumps spread all over. 

No, no. 

She must have seen wrong. Or if not that, it must surely be a coincidence or an illusion.

Trying hard to deny it, Ria closed her eyes tightly and opened them again, intending to check once more. However, once again, her eyes met with the monster’s. No, this was beyond just meeting eyes. The monster was clearly staring directly at her alone.