~Chapter 7~
Wait, hold on.
What’s going on here?
“Stop it already.”
I sat at the edge of the road, holding my aching stomach and opened my eyes wide.
Did the man finally get tired of me?
—No, that wasn’t it.
The one who cut me off with a cold presence was…
Sir Leon, the blue-haired knight standing next to him — the uncle’s aide.
“His Grace hasn’t slept for days.”
He looked at me with strict eyes.
We were on the road heading north from the capital in a carriage.
I was getting really carsick — this was already the third time I’d run out.
“Uncle… can I ride a horse instead?”
I had asked if I could ride a horse with him instead of being in the carriage.
‘Wait… the uncle hasn’t been sleeping?’
Now that I looked, he had dark circles and rough skin.
Ah, it’s my fault, isn’t it?
While I was sick, my sleep schedule was all over the place.
But he was always there by my side.
Even when he left, it was only for a moment.
‘It’s because I refused help from others…’
A duke himself took care of me, putting me before himself.
“This is already the third stop, and if this continues, we won’t make it on time…”
“Leon.”
Uncle growled lowly.
“Did no one teach you when to speak and when to shut up?”
“I apologize, Your Grace. But—”
“Enough. Move aside.”
“Ah! Wait a second!”
Unable to handle the rising tension, I quickly raised my hand.
“What?”
“The blue-haired uncle is right! You need to rest a bit!”
I wiggled in his arms to get out.
Huh? Why can’t I move? Usually, I could jump down with a little effort.
“I don’t need to rest.”
“Yes, you do. You’re tired!”
“Tired?”
He snorted.
Okay, I get it.
I know. The continent’s greatest swordmaster doesn’t get tired easily.
But good sleep and proper meals are basics for any human!
“Don’t be stubborn. Go sleep in the carriage. I’ll… Sir Leon!”
“…Me?”
“Yeah! I want to go with you. Give me a ride!”
“…Huh?”
For the first time, Leon looked visibly flustered.
“Ruby, I can just—”
Uncle tightened his hold on me, but I shook my head.
“Okay, the tired person should rest inside, and the one who feels stuffy can ride outside!”
Perfect win-win conclusion.
“Ah, I feel alive again.”
I took a deep breath of fresh air while riding the horse.
But the happiness didn’t last long.
‘Ugh… it’s stiff… and uncomfortable.’
I tried to move a bit, but couldn’t find a comfortable position.
‘It was more comfortable when I rode with uncle…’
That was even cozy enough to sleep.
But it looked like I wasn’t the only uncomfortable one.
Sir Leon kept shifting too.
“…Is this really okay?”
He sighed quietly above me.
“Anything uncomfortable?”
Everything! From head to toe!
But I just smiled and shook my head.
I wasn’t bold enough to complain.
Also…
I wanted to look good to Sir Leon.
‘Uncle Leviathan’s loyal right-hand man.’
I knew from the original story how truly loyal he was.
A comrade through life and death. A knight who would jump into hell for his lord.
So even if he was cold to me, I didn’t mind.
In a way, we were both guarding the same person.
“Why did you decide to come with His Grace?”
“Uh… he’s the one who picked me up.”
“If you’re hoping to live an easy life as the Duke’s adopted child, better wake up.”
Excuse me? That’s kind of harsh to say to a kid.
Though, technically, I wasn’t really a kid…
“Jebert isn’t the paradise you think it is.”
Sir Leon was the perfect model knight — strict, cold, and by the book.
Even his perfectly ironed uniform said so.
‘He’s the opposite of uncle.’
The hero snoring in the back probably didn’t even know where half his medals went.
“Is the North really that dangerous?”
“Jebert was built by subjugating the land of beasts. Monsters try to take back their territory constantly.”
“…”
“It means we’re at war all year round.”
I knew that. The original setting fit the title “Sword Planted on Ruins” perfectly.
For reference, black monsters are made by dark mages, and wild beasts are naturally formed monsters.
‘Black monsters, wild beasts…’
Just imagining what uncle had endured over ten years made my heart ache.
“Um, Sir Leon.”
I shook off the thoughts and focused again.
I could feel his gaze looking down at me.
“Do you want me to go back?”
“Because it’s a hard place for someone small and weak like you.”
Was it too much to see kindness in that?
“You know… the loud guy earlier said the same thing.”
“You were rude to His Grace…”
“I won’t be a burden. Don’t worry.”
I said, facing forward.
The long cliff stretched endlessly.
But I knew it would end eventually — everything does.
Even humans — with their limited lives, death is inevitable.
But if I could at least have a proper ending… is that too greedy?
‘I’ve survived this far…’
Me, uncle Leviathan, and Sir Leon too.
“I won’t let your master get harmed either.”
“You…”
The veins popped out on Leon’s hand gripping the reins.
Then suddenly—
“Ugh.”
Sir Leon suddenly grabbed his shoulder and groaned.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“It’s… nothing.”
But his arm was visibly shaking.
Don’t tell me…
“I need to get off! Excuse me! I’m getting off now!”
“Stop doing unnecessary things and stay still…”
Leon tried to stop me, sweating coldly.
Seriously, what has he been doing to end up like this?
“What’s going on?”
Uncle jumped out of the carriage at the brief commotion.
“Uncle, Sir Leon is hurt!”
“What?”
“His right shoulder!”
Uncle naturally lifted me and looked at Leon with a frown.
“Leon, is your injury not healed?”
“No, I’m fine.”
A short silence followed his calm voice.
Uncle sighed and stopped the whole group.
“Set up camp. We’re resting.”
“Your Grace! I’m really fine! We can’t delay any more—!”
Leon was panicking like it was a huge crisis.
He looked so anxious that I blurted out,
“Sir Leon… you know…”
“…”
“The war is over now.”
We made eye contact.
I quickly tried to explain myself.
“I just meant… you don’t have to rush while in pain. We’re not going to a fight, um…”
“…”
“We’re going home.”
Well, not my home, but still…
Suddenly, all the strength left Leon’s body like a lie.
“You heard her.”
Uncle patted my head and added,
“Also, Leon. Hiding an injury from your superior is a violation of military law.”
“T-That’s…”
Leon bit his lip and bowed his head.
“…I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
He got off the horse obediently.
“Rest up.”
Uncle patted his broad back.
While Leon reflected, our knights quickly built a camp.
I was sitting comfortably on Uncle Leviathan’s thigh, watching the setup.
“Huh?”
Then something caught my eye.
“Ruby, where are you running off to—”
“Oh!”
I crouched in a corner of the camp.
Swaying in the wind was a rare sight — a familiar plant.
‘It’s an Abelita Herb!’
A shy pink flower peeked out between jagged leaves, surrounded by a faint blue glow — the plant’s own magic.
‘It helps with bruises and pain relief.’
I reached for the herb, already knowing how to pick it…
And then suddenly — smack! — my hand was swatted away.
