TMLLT 65

Chapter 65

“Master of the Choice”

‘What’s with him?’

Checking myself, I noticed some monster blood on my clothes—probably from earlier in the fight.

‘He’s sitting like that so it doesn’t get on him.’

But if he stayed in that posture, even a small bump from the horse could throw off his balance or hurt his back.

Unless he somehow wasn’t affected by the laws of motion, which was impossible.

Not even Roitz could escape the basic laws of nature.

“Hurry.”

“What?”

“Sit properly. Are you trying to fall off?”

I pulled his shoulder in frustration.

He flinched but soon brushed my hand away and straightened his back.

Wrapping my arms around him, I gripped the reins tightly.

“Hold on well. Then let’s go—”

But I stopped.

First, his large body blocked my view completely.

Second…

Because my arms were around him, the dagger strapped to my chest seemed to touch his back.

I always carried the Light Dagger with me just in case.

Realizing this, I quickly pulled away.

“W-wait a second!”

It was hidden, so he probably wouldn’t notice—but Roitz had sharper instincts than most.

‘Ugh, whatever.’

I quickly jumped off the horse.

Looking startled, Roitz jumped down too.

“What’s wrong, Serdin?”

“Phew…”

“Sorry.”

“Huh? For what?”

“I don’t know what it is, but isn’t it my fault?”

“No, not at all.”

“Then why?”

“You should ride behind me. You block my whole view, I can’t steer the horse.”

“Didn’t you tell me to sit properly…”

“Hurry.”

He looked confused, but when I insisted, he mounted first and then pulled me up in front of him.

‘Phew. I just couldn’t focus on steering like that.’

As I exhaled in relief, his arm brushed mine, reaching forward.

“Hold on.”

His low voice brushed my ear, making me tense.

“Yeah, I’m holding on.”

I tightened my grip on the reins without thinking.

With his arms around me, Roitz began riding.

‘Why does my heart sound like hoofbeats?’

Weird. Maybe sitting in the front just made people feel this way.

He had looked awkward earlier when he was in front too.

Something—wind or breath—brushed the back of my neck.

The forest scent mixed with Roitz’s usual faintly sweet grassy smell.

‘Why does it smell so nice?’

“Serdin.”

“…Yes?”

I sounded like I’d been caught stealing honey.

“About the other day—sorry.”

“Huh? For what?”

“For saying I’d keep you out of the mission.”

“Why are you sorry about that?”

“I know you hate that. But I said it anyway.”

“You made that call as the commander.”

“Not as the commander—just my own judgment. For another reason you don’t know.”

His voice was calm, soft, and low—pleasant enough that I wanted to keep hearing it.

Maybe that’s why I suddenly wanted to see his face.

I almost turned around even though I’d just seen him earlier.

I didn’t need to, but not knowing his expression right now felt strangely unsatisfying.

“I’m sorry, Serdin.”

“No, I’m sorry for being stubborn.”

“You thought it was stubbornness?”

“Not really. I was just saying that.”

I heard a soft chuckle behind me.

He joked that people who are too stubborn with their swords don’t listen to reason.

I couldn’t tell if it was a joke or not, so I argued about it again.

When our playful banter was winding down, his voice relaxed.

“I’m glad you accepted my apology.”

“I’m not that narrow-minded.”

“A few days ago, it seemed like you didn’t want to hear me out.”

“Me?”

“By the campfire. You avoided it when I tried to talk.”

“No way.”

“Really?”

He sounded puzzled, then asked:

“Then why did you suddenly leave?”

“Me?”

Thinking back… yes, I did leave suddenly.

“…Oh. Because of a bug.”

“A bug?”

“A moth flew right in front of me. I can handle most things, but I hate big moths.”

“That’s all?”

He let out a relieved laugh, followed by a long sigh, like he’d been worrying about it for days.

The horse kept moving through the forest.

The hoofbeats and the wind reminded me we were deep among the trees.

My shoulder brushed against his chest, and I felt the rhythm of the ride.

In that sensation, I recalled wrapping sword energy around the beast’s horn and the stone earlier.

During my time in Edikal Forest, my skills had grown more than ever—faster than even in Yudeln.

But another thought crossed my mind.

‘If I had to face Roitz’s beast, could I handle it?’

Removing the beast meant I might have to confront it.

I had Roitz’s help, Choro incense, and the Light Dagger—but still.

If I had to face Necroquad alone…

‘Would I be okay?’

Behind me, Roitz’s breathing mingled with the wind.

The reality of being here with him in Elche felt sharper than ever.

I enjoyed life in Elche, and learning at his side—but there was always unease.

The fear that one day, I might die to that beast.

Sometimes, that silent fear felt bigger than any monster with claws charging at me.

“What are you thinking, Serdin?”

“That it’s comfortable to lean back like this.”

But the fear was of the beast—not Roitz.

In the original, it was the beast that killed me, not Roitz.

If I died to it, he would blame himself.

That was why I could never let that happen.

Staying by his side was my own choice—no one else’s.

I tightened my grip on the reins.

‘I’ll tell him my plan.’

When we neared the base, I was ready to speak.

“Senior, I—”

But at that moment, a giant bird-like monster appeared from the unprotected side of the forest, its roar shaking the air.

Its heavy aura reached us—at least rank 2.

‘Great timing.’

I turned the horse toward it immediately.

Through the thick leaves, I saw knights and soldiers fighting.

“Captain!”

Lizzie was carrying an injured knight—my fellow trainee, Aaron.

“Aaron!”

I jumped down to take Aaron from her.

Lizzie drew her sword again and charged the monster. Roitz did the same.

“Aaron, are you okay?”

“…Yeah.”

He was conscious, so the injury wasn’t critical, but the blood soaking his side needed quick treatment.

“Serdin, take him back!”

Roitz shouted to me. I put Aaron on the horse and rode for the base.

“Why are you hurt this bad?”

“It’s my first time against a monster like that. I got nervous, and my sword energy didn’t flow well…”

He exhaled, still tense.

In the original, Aaron was weak against tense, confusing situations—

Though later he awakened and became a huge help to Roitz.

At first, though, his panic could put the main characters in danger.

For a safer, smarter Elche life, it was better to help the people around me awaken too.

I spoke firmly to him.

“Get well soon, Aaron.”

“Thanks, Serdin.”

“And once you’re healed, we’ll train seven times harder together.”

“W-wait… seven times?”

“Yup.”

Yeah. Hurry up and awaken, Aaron!