Chapter 5

Letting the spy live even a day longer felt like an insult to those who had died because of him, and to their loved ones. Kan silently guided her. Sanchez was tied up in a shabby tent, barely able to open his eyes. When he saw Eria, he furtively looked away.

“Sanchez. Because of you, most of our comrades are dead. Just answer one thing. Why did you do it?”

Sanchez trembled and shouted in frustration.

“…I… I… told them to spare Captain Rumic. To use him as a hostage, get money, negotiate, whatever. But they didn’t keep their promise. All I wanted was you. If only you’d died!”

Eria’s eyes narrowed.

“So you hated me enough to become a traitor.”

“Because you, who doesn’t deserve it, took the knight’s position, none of us had a chance! Every time there was a battle, I wished you’d die. Just because you’re a woman!”

“So you couldn’t stand being under me, and thought you were losing opportunities because of me. That was your only reason?”

“…….”

“For such a petty reason, so many people had to die?”

Anger made her hands tremble. It was an unacceptable reason. In fact, she couldn’t have accepted any reason. Eria drew her sword, which she always wore like a part of her body. She cut the rope binding Sanchez. Thinking she was going to kill him, Sanchez squeezed his eyes shut, but then peeked out.

“Get up.”

At Eria’s cold voice, Sanchez bit his lip and slowly stood. Eria handed Sanchez her sword. Kan, who had watched silently until now, looked at her in shock, but Eria’s expression didn’t change at all. If anything, she seemed colder than before.

Sanchez, watching suspiciously, seized the chance to swing the sword at Eria. But even with the sudden attack, Eria dodged skillfully. Not just dodging, she kicked Sanchez down.

“If you can kill me, do it. If you kill me, you live.”

Sanchez panted. He’d been tied up since being caught, hadn’t eaten or drunk, and wasn’t in his right mind, so his attack was ineffective. Or maybe he was still foolish enough to think so.

“If you die instead, I’ll wipe out your entire bloodline.”

“W-What?”

“You probably got enough dirty money to support your family for life as payment for your betrayal. I won’t even give them a chance to spend it.”

“That’s a cowardly threat……!”

“Cowardly?”

Eria gave a long, twisted smile.

“Isn’t it a bit much for you to say that, after betraying us so cowardly and causing the deaths of our comrades and the captain?”

Humans are truly cunning. They speak carelessly without considering their own deeds. Eria’s anger kept rising. She had endured enough.

“Come at me.”

“P-Please spare my family. They’re innocent. They know nothing! I’ll die. It’s my fault!”

Even traitors have people they care about. It’s ironic—he seemed to have no blood or tears, yet he valued his children’s lives so dearly, while the lives of comrades who fought together meant less than ants to him.

“Kan, could you lend me your sword?”

At Eria’s request, Kan readily handed over his sword. It wasn’t the one she usually used, so it didn’t feel familiar, but she wasn’t so lacking that she’d lose to someone like Sanchez.

“If you block exactly three of my attacks, I’ll spare your family. You said you lost your chance because of me. You should be able to block at least this much, right?”

Sanchez’s eyes widened. He seemed determined to block her attacks no matter what. To Eria, it was simply laughable. Sanchez hesitantly got up and took his stance again. Eria began her *ssault—light, precise, and without hesitation. The first blow struck Sanchez’s neck, the second his shoulder, and the third his leg. Sanchez failed to block any and collapsed to the ground like a straw doll. Eria gazed coldly at the body.

“I win.”

Her voice carried a trace of loneliness. To grumble about not getting a chance with such poor skills… If he had just said this openly from the start, she would have shown him the difference. The traitor was dead, so he would never admit the gap between them, and those who died because of his petty jealousy would never return.

Eria let out a long sigh, her cold expression fading. She picked up a rag from the floor and wiped the blood from the sword before handing it back to Kan.

“Here. Thanks for lending it. It’s a fine sword.”

Kan’s sword was very light and sharp. It seemed designed to make the body more flexible. It was clearly not a standard-issue weapon, but a pricey sword fit for a knight of high status. Perhaps that was the special forces for you. Since Eria had never even set foot in the Empire’s capital since becoming a knight, she didn’t know how much it cost or where to get one, but she could tell Kan’s sword was a fine blade just from swinging it once.

“Will you really kill all of his family, too?”

Kan asked, putting away his sword, his eyes wide. Even in this situation, he looked rather cute.

“……No. Like Sanchez said, they’re innocent. But the decision will be up to His Majesty. If ordered, I’ll take their lives without hesitation, but I won’t kill them for revenge on my own.”

“Then why…….”

Kan seemed to ask why she’d said that to Sanchez, and Eria answered without hesitation.

“I wanted him to feel uneasy even as he died. So he couldn’t close his eyes in peace.”

Eria looked at Sanchez’s face, fallen on the ground. She did feel a little sorry for him. Unable to accept her skills, trapped by his own sense of authority, unable to see even an inch ahead—such foolishness.

“Let’s go.”

After cleaning her own sword, Eria finally left the tent. Kan followed her. Even after killing the traitor, she didn’t feel any better. Where was she supposed to vent this anger now? Eria let out a heavy sigh, and Kan asked worriedly,

“Why don’t you rest for today?”

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine, though.”

At Kan’s words, Eria stopped walking.

“Is that worry, or are you looking down on me? Do I really seem that weak?”

Her nerves were frayed, and her words came out harshly. Kan blinked, then shook his head.

“In a situation like this, anyone’s heart would falter. You don’t have to pretend to be strong in front of me. That doesn’t mean I’m looking down on you or criticizing you. In fact, I respect you, Dame Eria. We weren’t in the same army, but I’ve heard stories. I always thought you were amazing.”

Kan’s eyes were sincere as he spoke calmly and confidently. Eria quickly admitted her mistake and nodded.

“I must have been too sensitive. Sorry.”

“I understand. No need to apologize.”

“……I appreciate your concern, but I don’t think resting will help right now. I’d rather check on Ter’s condition.”

“Then let me show you.”

Eria suddenly felt grateful to Kan. Compared to the subordinate who blamed her even after betraying and nearly dying, Kan was much better. He had saved her on the battlefield and, in a unit where she knew nobody, was the only one who cared for her. Of course, he was probably just following orders from the Deputy Commander……

Eria stared blankly at Kan walking ahead, and when he asked if something was wrong, she snapped back and shook her head.

“Ter!”

“Ah…… Uh. Dame Eria.”

When she returned to the tent with Kan, Ter was awake. He grimaced as he tried to sit up.

“Don’t move, just lie down.”

She was so relieved he’d woken up, but couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud. She simply clung tightly to Ter’s collar. Ter, wincing in pain, looked up at Eria.

“Are you alright?”

That was the first thing he said upon waking. He couldn’t even take care of himself! He’d barely survived! Yet somehow, her nose stung. Ter had been one of the subordinates who disliked her. Eria couldn’t recall ever hearing such sincere, gentle words from him. Now that only the two of them were left from Rumic’s army, she felt a stronger sense of comradeship. Did he feel the same?

“I’m fine. You just rest. You barely survived.”

“But this place……”

“This is the special forces camp. You can relax.”

She couldn’t bring herself to mention that Captain Rumic had passed away. She’d tell him once he was a bit better; there was no need to shock him right after waking up.

Eria left Ter’s tent and took a deep breath of the cold air. It was something she did out of habit when she needed to hold back tears or calm herself, but this time, it didn’t comfort her much.

“Kan, go and do your work.”

She sensed Kan approaching from behind. At her words, Kan stopped.

“Then I’ll come back in the evening.”

“Alright.”

Kan seemed to realize she needed some time alone and withdrew. After having someone follow her around all day, she felt oddly empty when he was gone. She’d spent her whole life trying to get used to such feelings, but it never got easier. Being left alone didn’t feel good.

Eria almost called Kan back, but he was already gone. With no other choice, she returned to her tent and sat on the bed. Her mind was blank. She realized she hadn’t slept properly since everything happened, and exhaustion hit her hard.

She collapsed onto the bed and closed her eyes. In her dreams, Captain Rumic, her seniors, and her comrades appeared. They seemed so alive. In the dream, she trained in her camp as usual, taught her juniors, and laughed. That was Eria’s normal, happy life. Even though she knew it was a dream, she didn’t want to wake up because it felt so good.

When she finally forced herself awake, it was already dark. Someone was sleeping beside her in an awkward posture, and she soon realized it was Kan.

‘Why is he here?’

As she blinked blankly, Kan lifted his head. He must have noticed Eria’s presence. Still half-asleep, Kan rubbed his eyes and met her gaze.

“Dame Eria.”

“W-What? Why are you here?”

“Are you feeling better? You’ve been lying here all day.”

“……What?”

Now that she thought about it, her head felt heavier than usual. She thought she’d just napped, but a whole day had passed. Kan must have nursed her, as a wet towel lay nearby. Eria sighed deeply after realizing the situation.

“You must have had a hard time. Thank you.”

“Please rest some more. I’ll stay by your side.”

“I’m fine, go get some sleep.”

“In your sleep, you kept telling me not to leave.”

“I did?”

Kan nodded.

“Right now, my job is to protect you, Dame Eria. I’ll stay with you.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Eria shut her mouth and closed her eyes. Kan didn’t seem likely to leave just because she told him to, so she said nothing more.