Chapter 74
“Now, even if monsters come across, I’m not worried at all.”
Those who were searching for any territory citizens who hadn’t managed to escape looked at the grand duke and his wife with awe.
Both of them had always been exceptional, but lately, they seemed like people from another world.
“Is that what it’s like to stand at the pinnacle of swordsmanship?”
There was no need for a second strike.
With just a wave of their hands, monsters were slain. While several high-ranking knights were needed to take down a single monster, the grand ducal couple was indiscriminately subjugating them.
“Uwaaah!”
The sound of a child crying rang out when the knights drove a monster toward the grand duke and duchess.
As the monster dodged the knights’ swords, it stepped on a market stall, smashing it—and a child tumbled out.
“Oh no!”
A high-ranking knight rushed out to rescue the child.
Grrr.
“Aah!”
But before they could, the monster bit the child’s leg and flew into the air. The knights all charged toward the child, but the monster had already soared high.
The child’s crying echoed in the sky. Evelyn, who had been slaying monsters ahead, swiftly turned her gaze.
She identified the monster holding the child and scanned the nearby buildings—then immediately sprang into action.
“Wow…”
The knights gasped in admiration as they watched the grand duchess move. Evelyn leapt onto the rooftop in one bound, then launched herself into the air.
“How can someone jump like that?”
She soared almost as high as the monster, and the knights’ eyes widened.
The same went for the child clinging to the monster, who looked wide-eyed as Evelyn grew closer.
The tears stopped instantly.
“G-Grand Duchess?”
“That’s right.”
Before the monster could ascend further, the child felt the warmth of Evelyn’s arms.
“You trust the Graham knights, right?”
“Yes!”
The child answered loudly, and Evelyn smiled faintly.
The large monster didn’t seem to notice her weight at all.
“Okay, then close your eyes. Even if you’re scared, trust the knights and let go when I say so. Got it?”
“Y-Yes!”
The child tightly shut their eyes, trembling. Evelyn stabbed her sword into the monster’s foot, which was gripping the child.
“Kreeegh!”
The aura-clad blade pierced the monster’s skin smoothly. In pain, the monster released the child, and Evelyn caught them and looked below.
Elliot was running beneath them.
“Elliot!”
As soon as she confirmed it was him, Evelyn threw the child down.
Thanks to the powerful throw, the lightweight child plummeted toward Elliot.
“Ahh!”
The child almost opened their eyes but remembered Evelyn’s words and curled up, eyes squeezed shut.
Thud!
“You’re safe now.”
Elliot leapt and caught the falling child in his arms.
“Uwaaah…”
After setting the child down, Elliot pointed behind them.
“See those knights? Run to them as fast as you can.”
Once the child ran off with all their might, Elliot chased after Evelyn.
What were the mages doing? Why weren’t they here yet?!
Grinding his teeth, Elliot, frustrated by the mages still stuck in training inside the ruins, wrapped aura around his legs and jumped high.
He wanted to fire his aura at the monster but couldn’t recklessly swing his sword, fearing Evelyn might get hurt.
Though he believed she could handle the monster, watching her recklessly hurl herself through the air made his head spin.
“A dragon-type monster, huh. First time seeing one.”
Evelyn looked at the monster with fascinated eyes. At this rate, it might escape past the territory.
If it got farther away, it would take longer to clear out the rest of the monsters in the region.
Slice—
With a light swing, Evelyn’s sword slashed through the monster’s wings.
“Kreeee!”
Flap flap!
Because of its torn wings, the monster rapidly descended. It struggled to stay airborne but couldn’t.
“Heave-ho!”
As the monster neared the rooftops, Evelyn leapt off its foot.
Then, she slashed at the falling monster mid-air.
Thud!
Her second strike landed, killing the monster instantly without so much as a cry.
“Elliot?”
Evelyn landed softly, panting, and looked at the man before her in confusion.
“What on earth were you thinking?”
His voice was low and rough.
“Sorry? I had to save the child.”
“And why did you have to save them?”
Startled by the accusatory tone, Evelyn answered blankly.
Wasn’t it obvious? Of course she had to save the child—they were a citizen of the territory, and a young one at that.
“Am I and the northern knight order just for decoration, then?”
“No, it’s not like that…”
Even though she was getting scolded after saving a child, Evelyn couldn’t argue as she looked at Elliot’s pale, shaken face.
“As you said, I’m the Hero. Of course I should save people.”
“A Hero isn’t someone who saves everyone.“
As he pressed for an answer, Evelyn hesitated before opening her mouth.
That was technically true.
Despite her confusion at Elliot’s harsh tone, she couldn’t help but think it suited him—and chuckled.
“This isn’t something to laugh about.”
“But saving the child wasn’t wrong, was it?”
“If you’re in danger, I think you should stop.”
Her growing irritation subsided at the seriousness in his voice.
“Even if I’m in danger, I should still save people.”
“I believe that too. But more than anyone, your safety is the most important.”
Evelyn frowned.
“What’s the point of being a Hero if I can’t save a single person?”
“A Hero doesn’t exist to save just one person.”
If she couldn’t even save someone right in front of her, what kind of hero would that be? But Elliot was saying that was wrong.
Evelyn’s jaw tightened. Her tone turned sharp.
“Then what, am I meaningless unless I defeat the Evil God and save the North?”
“…Do you have to put it that way?”
Boom!
The roar of a monster breaking a building echoed in the distance.
The suddenly tense atmosphere vanished. Without another word, they turned around—right now, the monster was the priority.
Evelyn didn’t think she had done anything wrong.
She understood that the Hero existed to fight the Evil God, but being scolded for saving a child still left her upset.
He knew she was more than capable—so why was he against it?
“Kreeee!”
Her slowly simmering anger began to rise again. And with it, Evelyn’s swordplay grew fiercer.
Five monsters remained.
While she was saving the child, the knights had held out admirably. Evelyn’s eyes gleamed.
Crash!
“Wow…”
The knights around her let out awed gasps, but Evelyn didn’t stop.
Her spinning sword cleanly sliced through a monster’s torso.
Swish—
She immediately moved toward the next monster.
Two down.
Only one left—.
“From now on, you won’t waste your strength on minor matters.”
Elliot, who had already slain the final monster, spoke coldly.
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Focus only on becoming stronger. There’s no need for you to deal with low-tier monsters like these.”
“I need to feed the holy sword monster blood.”
Evelyn replied curtly. Just a while ago, he was praising her for being a good Hero—now he was telling her to hold back?
“I can do that—”
Vmmm.
“No, apparently you can’t.”
The holy sword vibrated in disagreement with Elliot’s words.
“Haa…”
As Elliot ran his fingers roughly through his hair, his tidy golden locks became disheveled.
“Please promise that you’ll leave dangerous things to me and the knights. This isn’t the first time—you always…”
Elliot sighed heavily, and Evelyn scratched her cheek awkwardly. Even the surrounding knights were watching the two of them nervously.
“Alright, fine.”
She decided to hold back, for now.
Evelyn calmed her boiling frustration.
“I’ll try to be more careful—I’ll act as if I’m not alone anymore.”
“A wise decision.”
The knights’ eyes widened at her words.
“I mean, I’m responsible for many people now, so I have to be cautious.”
Realizing she’d said the wrong thing, Evelyn quickly corrected herself. But Elliot, like a man who had found an opening, seized on her words.
“You definitely just said you’ll be more careful.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll listen to you.”
“Good. Now please return to the castle immediately. The knights and the townsfolk will handle the cleanup.”
Evelyn wanted to offer to help too, but Elliot’s firm gaze told her it wasn’t a request—it was an order.
“Rain!”
Elliot called for Rain to escort Evelyn safely back.
