𖹭 Chapter 5 𖹭
Helicia’s anger was released through the violent swinging of a tree branch.
It was so threatening that no one dared approach her head-on.
Instead, one by one, they began to gather from behind.
As the number of opponents he had to face kept increasing, Arpessian’s flustered voice rang out.
“What is this? Why do they keep increasing?”
“Because you’re handling both the target and the gap at the same time.”
The sound of the group leaping forward echoed.
“Tch.”
Clicking her tongue softly, Helicia slammed the branch she was holding straight into the ground, then kicked off powerfully and leapt into the air.
Using the branch as support, she practically launched herself upward, then drove it down toward the group’s backs.
Crack!
The opponent barely dodged, and the branch struck the ground with a loud noise.
Without hesitation, Helicia stomped down on the face of the black-clad figure who had faltered.
Thud!
The man who took the hit was sent flying back at high speed and slammed into a tree.
“Wow… that actually worked?”
Despite her young body, the enemies struck by Helicia all lost consciousness, making her earlier worries about size differences seem meaningless.
Arpessian stared at her with wide eyes.
Strangely, he looked exactly like someone his age.
The rough and decadent image she remembered from adulthood was nowhere to be found.
For some reason, his golden eyes were shining.
There was pure admiration and awe in the way he looked at her.
His cheeks, flushed with excitement, turned slightly red.
“I want to take you to the Empire.”
“I belong to the temple, though?”
“If you’re a trainee knight, you haven’t been officially appointed yet, so you can leave. Don’t you want to come to Estar?”
He truly seemed to believe she was a trainee knight.
Well, it was convenient not having to explain why an ordinary child possessed such strength.
At that moment—
Creeeak.
An unpleasant sound echoed from somewhere.
Everyone froze—Helicia and the black-clad group alike.
Rumble…
The shadow stretching across the ground above her grew larger.
When she looked up, a massive tree was tilting.
It seemed one of the enemies had crashed into it and snapped it.
“Watch out!”
Helicia grabbed Arpessian and pulled him into an embrace.
The two rolled across the dirt—
Crash!
The tree fell right beside them.
Dust scattered, clouding their vision.
Pushing through the haze, Helicia hurriedly got up and checked Arpessian from head to toe.
“What do I do?! You’re not hurt anywhere, right? You can’t be!”
Sitting over him, she examined his limbs carefully.
He had to at least be able to walk at his coronation.
After checking his arms, abdomen, and shoulders, she finally held his face in her small hands and looked closely.
His eyes are fine… no injuries on his face either.
Only then did his still-youthful features come into view.
Unlike the overwhelming presence she remembered from her previous life, his face was softer, caught somewhere between a boy and a young man.
It was the first time she had seen him this closely—alive and breathing.
So he used to be this full of life.
His warmth, his breathing—everything about him was vividly alive.
As she stared in quiet admiration, Arpessian’s eyes began to waver.
It was more than simple shock—his reaction was unusually sensitive.
Seeing his face grow pale, Helicia asked again,
“Does it hurt? Where? Did you hit your head when we fell?”
Worried, she glanced at the top of his head.
Sometimes injuries didn’t show externally.
She observed his expression carefully.
His lips were tightly pressed, and his clenched fists trembled slightly.
He’s only twelve, after all…
That realization came late.
Thinking for a moment, Helicia reached out her arms and wrapped them around his neck, patting him gently.
“Were you scared? It’s okay now.”
His shoulders flinched.
Taking the chance, she pretended to stroke his hair while checking his scalp.
Everything seemed fine…
Still, just in case, she let a small amount of divine power flow into him.
It would disappear later anyway—might as well use it.
Thankfully, the dust cloud concealed her actions.
That should be enough, right?
Just then, Arpessian suddenly pulled his upper body back.
Startled, Helicia stepped back as well.
“W-What are you doing?”
Covering part of his face with one hand, his neck and ears were flushed red.
Tilting her head to see him better, she answered,
“I was patting you.”
And adding just a bit of divine power, too.
He frowned in confusion.
“Why would you do that? I’m not a child.”
You’re twelve. That is a child.
Brushing dirt off his clothes, Helicia said,
“Then let’s just say we both got startled and hugged.”
“…What kind of excuse is that?”
He rubbed his reddened cheek awkwardly.
Helicia replied brightly,
“It’s fine! Kids do that sometimes. When someone next to you screams, you get scared too, right?”
“You’re a kid too.”
His sharp remark made her pause.
Right… I’m eight.
After a brief silence, his flushed face gradually calmed.
Finally, Helicia spoke with a serious expression.
“I was scared too.”
“….”
“That’s probably why I hugged you.”
“Why does that sound like a question?”
He still stared at her suspiciously.
Then, as if embarrassed, he turned away and muttered,
“…You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
Relieved that suspicion had passed, Helicia stood up lightly.
“Of course not. This was like child’s play.”
She reached out her hand to help him up.
Arpessian stared at her small hand, then carefully held it as if it were glass and stood.
In truth, he barely used her strength.
Looking down at her, now much shorter than him, he said,
“You talk like someone who’s lived twice.”
Twice? That’s nothing.
Smiling, Helicia brushed it off and scanned the surroundings.
The dust was beginning to settle.
The black-clad figures were faintly visible atop the trees.
Are there still more?
She tightened her grip on the branch—
Then suddenly, like a miracle, a loud horn sounded three times in a short, steady rhythm.
Helicia’s face brightened as she turned toward the sound.
The reason she could act so recklessly—
Arpessian murmured,
“The Imperial Army…”
Thud, thud.
The ground trembled slightly from approaching horses and soldiers.
Then a familiar voice rang out.
“Are you alright?!”
With a sharp motion, cutting through the dust with a sword—
Lato appeared as if out of nowhere.
“My apologies for being late!”
As the dust cleared, unconscious—or dead—figures lay scattered everywhere.
From afar, a man who appeared to be the commander of the Estar Empire’s knights shouted,
“Your Highness! Are you safe?!”
The sound of galloping hooves grew closer.
It was time to leave.
Exchanging a glance with Lato, Helicia slowly began to step back.
Unaware, Arpessian called out to her.
“Your name… can you tell me?”
“Do I have to?”
“Saving a royal is a great merit.”
That was the most welcome thing she’d heard so far.
At least she wouldn’t have to worry about the punishment of those who attacked him.
As she retreated further with Lato, urgency appeared on Arpessian’s face.
“I won’t ask you to come to Estar. Just tell me your name.”
Since she had snuck out, revealing herself as a saintess would only cause trouble.
Even if he found out later—now wasn’t the time.
Seeing the increasing number of imperial knights, Helicia answered impulsively,
“Lato.”
“Surname? Given name?”
“Lato Sevant.”
At the sudden mention of his name, Lato’s eyes widened slightly.
But he said nothing.
Hearing it, Arpessian replied seriously:
“I am Arpessian Estar, the Third Prince of the Estar Empire.”
