Hellix was already proving quite useful. He handled all the tedious tasks required for camping.

Even when Erin offered to help, he stubbornly refused. Each time she tried, he repeated the same response.

“Sir Hellix, let me help you.”

“I couldn’t possibly allow that.”

“…”

“Please leave it to me. This is something I must do.”

Hellix’s formality made Erin feel awkward.

Shortly after leaving the west, however, she began to understand the meaning behind his gaze.

Hellix was looking at her the same way he looked at Ferdin.

Why on earth would he do that?

It was something Erin couldn’t comprehend.

Sensing her discomfort with his attitude, Hellix spoke up.

“Once we reach the academy, I won’t be a bother. Just allow me to serve you during our journey.”

His eyes looked desperate as he said this.

Erin could only reluctantly nod in agreement.

The journey became relatively comfortable after that. Many things would likely change once they reached the academy.

‘There’s so much to do. I need to uncover exactly what Corelia has done, rescue Father…’

They would arrive at the academy after traveling just a little further. This strange companionship with Hellix would also come to an end then.

The two reached a village just before arriving at the academy.

“Once we pass through this village, we’ll reach Atenz Academy.”

Hellix’s face looked somewhat regretful as he said this.

They planned to stay at a small inn in the village. The inn, with a restaurant on the first floor crowded with people, seemed full of vitality.

People’s faces were bright and cheerful. They looked peaceful, as though the world had no darkness.

Erin and Hellix each ordered soup.

“Mom! Please buy this for me!”

Hearing sudden laughter, Erin turned her head.

A family was sitting at a table.

A child was whining and saying something to their mother. The person who appeared to be the father watched them with a smile.

When the child clung to the mother, she laughed and embraced them. Then Erin heard her whisper.

“I love you.”

Erin found herself captivated by the family. They looked truly happy.

This was the scene she had often imagined from the tower of the Marquis’s mansion during her childhood.

This must be what living an ordinary life was like. The child’s eyes met Erin’s. Then, giggling brightly, the child waved at her. Erin smiled back and returned the wave.

The server brought their food. Soup and bread were placed on the table.

“Lady Erin, your food will get cold.”

Hellix spoke as he placed the bowl of soup in front of the dazed Erin.

She finally snapped out of her thoughts at his call.

Hellix took the first spoonful of soup. “The taste is better than…”

He was about to say “expected.”

That’s when it happened. Hellix knocked away the bowl of soup placed in front of Erin. Then he began to cough violently.

Simultaneously, Erin grabbed Hellix by the nape of his neck and pulled him behind her.

A short blade embedded itself where Hellix had been sitting. Erin drew the sword from her waist.

Clang!

With a clear sound, an incoming throwing knife was deflected.

“Aaaah!”

“Please spare us!”

Screams echoed through the once-peaceful restaurant as attackers began storming in.

Behind Erin, Hellix muttered.

“It’s a paralyzing poison, Lady Erin.”

Hellix rolled to the side to avoid another flying dagger.

Erin also dodged the attackers’ swords while surveying her surroundings.

“Die!”

At least five of them. Erin carefully observed the assailants. They weren’t particularly stealthy for assassins and were unusually strong.

‘A trap.’

Until now, Erin had never revealed her strength in crowded places.

Though she had succeeded in the western promotion test, to those unaware of the details, it would merely be known as an incident where a genius received the sword’s blessing.

But this daylight attack with powerful assailants would be difficult for a novice knight who had just passed the western promotion test.

If their sole purpose had been to kill Erin, they wouldn’t have attacked in such a crowded place.

The enemy wanted her to reveal her skills.

Almost as if they were curious about the extent of her abilities.

“Stop it!”

A scream rang out. Erin’s gaze slowly turned. There she saw the family she had been watching earlier.

“Mom! Let go of my mom!”

Those who had entered the restaurant weren’t targeting just Erin. Though their objective was clearly her, they had taken civilians hostage.

It was as though they knew Erin would protect them.

“You there, woman with the sword.”

One of the attackers addressed Erin.

“If you don’t drop your sword right now, I’ll kill these humans one by one.”

“Kill them?”

“Yes, so drop your sword and surrender.”

“And if I don’t?”

The man laughed, clearly amused.

“Everyone here will die. Can’t you see the people my comrades are holding?”

The thug gestured to the side as he spoke. The child who had bravely stood up for their mother was now being held by another attacker. The child’s face was streaked with tears. Just like Erin in her childhood.

Erin truly, deeply despised people who made children cry.

She looked the child in the eyes and smiled slightly. It was an incongruous composure in such a situation.

She spoke to the child, “Close your eyes and cover your ears. Count to ten, and it will be over. All the scary monsters will disappear.”

Those were the magical words she had used to overcome frightening moments in her childhood.

As soon as Erin finished speaking, the child squeezed their eyes shut. There was a strange power in her words. A compelling force that made one want to follow them.

Hellix frowned and spoke to Erin.

“Lady Erin, it’s a trap.”

“I know.”

“You’re not planning to reveal your strength, are you?”

“I have no choice.”

The two conversed without any sign of urgency. The man who had attacked them snickered at the sight.

He knew who Erin was. He also knew she was a monstrous novice knight who had just completed the western promotion test.

But they were knights who had been strengthened through special methods.

Even Erin must realize that those before her were more skilled than herself. She could surely sense their strength from their aura.

In contrast, Erin didn’t emanate any power despite her reputation as one chosen by the sword.

Yet she showed such composure?

The man recalled the orders he had received. Among them were words to deliver to Erin Liserth.

“Do you think we’ve only come for you?”

“What?”

“Ferdin Lexia.”

“…”

“How do you think he’s doing right now?”

As soon as the man finished speaking, Erin’s face contorted terribly. Hellix, standing behind her, reacted the same way.

Thinking that their expressions had finally become satisfactory, the man grinned.

“If you won’t drop your sword, I have no choice.”

With those words, he raised his sword.

‘I’ll kill the little brat first.’

Just as he was about to thrust his sword, his intention wasn’t realized.

“Argh!”

The man screamed. His eyes widened at the sudden pain in his shoulder.

He couldn’t properly comprehend what had happened.

Erin had appeared before him in an instant. She spoke while looking at him.

“When I kill someone, I believe I should be prepared to die myself.”

Those were the last words he remembered.

* * *

Erin’s footsteps quickened. The same was true for Hellix.

They reached the academy in a state of mind neither could recall.

Erin simply couldn’t calm down. She didn’t care what happened to herself, but Ferdin was different.

‘If attackers of this caliber came for me, Ferdin must be in danger too.’

The thought made her head spin. If anything happened to him, Erin would never forgive herself.

‘Should I have stayed by his side? But I had to go to the west. What should I have done?’

Unable to bear seeing Erin like this, Hellix grabbed her shoulders.

“Please calm down, Lady Erin.”

“Lord Ferdin…”

“His Highness is strong.”

Only then could Erin finally calm herself.

Hearing Hellix’s words, she began to notice her surroundings. If Ferdin, the prince, had been injured, the academy wouldn’t be this quiet.

She and Hellix headed for the academy’s central hall. Even if Ferdin wasn’t there, his trainee knights would be.

As she expected, when they opened the door and entered the central hall, Derek and Amon were there.