Chapter 5: Why are you coming out of there? (2)

    ‘As expected, eating meat is the best.’

    My heart was filled with joy as I finally got to eat meat for the first time in a while.

    The more I chewed, the more abundant the juice flowed into my mouth, the better the taste of meat prevaded.

    Satisfied, I put down my fork and said, “I don’t think we’re going to have much of a big budget here.”

    I can’t believe that Mineta decided to be a wasteral, spending fortunes just because he thought I would soon die.

    Ruel drank a mouthful of carbonated water.

    “It’s on me. I’ll take care of it.”

    “You’ve got more money than you seem.”

    “It’s definitely more than you.”

    The corners of Cassion’s mouth went up.

    I scoffed, not wanting to be caught in his childish provocations.

    “Really? Please use it more often from now on. There is nothing better than meat for recovery.”

    “It’s nice to see you eat well, thanks to that power. It’s worth making the dish.”

    Far from being disappointed, Cassion laughed like a dutiful butler.

    Well, this is going to be fun.

    Soon... it’ll be time to treat myself like a dog.

    “Here take this.”

    Cassion handed over Breath which was tied to a string.

    Eyeing the rope on the Breath, Ruel noticed it looked somewhat unusual at the first glance.

    “Thanks.”

    Ruel was happy, Cassion was good at what he was told to do, and it was very satisfying to see that he even went beyond the initial request to add something extra.

    Thinking this, if Cassion had been lost to the main character, how painful would it have been? I wouldn’t have such a considerate butler and would have to suffer even more than before.

    As soon as I wore the braid chain around my neck, I immediately felt comfortable.

    “Are you feeling any pain?”

    “My head still hurts, but it’s bearable. I’m feeling much better than I used to be.”

    Although I still had a sickly complexion, my physical condition was quickly being stabilized after gaining the power of recovery.

    Still, it had not yet reached the level of an ordinary person.

    Cassion said quietly while clearing the dishes.

    “Then I’ll be back in an hour.”

    “Yes.”

    Instead of leaving, Cassion stopped at the door.

    I rubbed my stomach while looking at him.

    “Sooner or later, I’ll bring a proper medical doctor.”

    The door closed quietly.

    ‘He’s quick-witted.’

    I held my arm tightly. My hands trembled.

    I pretended to be okay, but my whole body was horribly painful as if it were being sliced by a knife.

    An hour. That’s what Cassion said.

    If the condition didn’t stabilise within that time, today’s rehabilitation training was over.

    I couldn’t do that.

    I need to survive the next five days, I can’t chicken out now.

    In order to cope with the assassination toward me and the situation of the main character, at least I needed to get stronger to the point where I could move without any help.

    ‘Cycle around, move more.’

    Closing my eyes I urged the power of recovery.

    ***

    Knock, knock.

    “I’m coming in.”

    Cassion found Ruel’s room exactly an hour later. As soon as Cassion opened the door he was alarmed by the smell of blood that came from the otherside of the door, fearing the worst he rushed in.

    “Ruel-nim!”

    “Good to see you.” I laughed with blood dripping from my mouth.

    Cassion was speechless at this scene.

    Cassion rushed over and looked at the black blood spilt on the blanket and the pale complexion of Ruel. His condition has calmed down.

    “You shouldn’t be staring at it like that, but you should clean it up.” I said, showing my bloodstained hands.

    “It smells different.”

    “You have a dog’s nose, I just move around a little bit.”

    I placed my thin hand at Cassion’s chest.

    Cassion frowned.

    “Who’s after you?”

    “Don’t talk rubbish, just prepare for rehabilitation training. I’m ready.”

    “...oh, good. You want me to live up to that expectation of yours, don’t you?”

    Cassion raised the corner of his lips.

    ***

    “...keuk!”

    I clenched my teeth and reached the end of the backyard.

    Immediately I fell down on a blanket laid on the floor so that I wouldn’t get hurt.

    “Now that’s the 2nd round.”

    Cassion raised Ruel up and made him hold the crutch.

    “Ruel-nim have a strong will, so I won’t be weak either.”

    “... Damn it.”

    I bit my lip.

    Twice in number. It was one round trip.

    As Cassion said, sweat soaked my whole body.

    A dagger and a sword collided, sparks sprang up illuminating the night.

    Cassion and the man with the sword were surprised to see each other, but Cassion, not missing the opportunity, did not stop.

    He moved his foot as if he were falling backwards.

    Kaang!

    As soon as Cassion moved the man slashed his sword blocking his action. Cassion twisted his body and attacked the man’s head with his other leg.

    “Yipe!”

    Taking the kick, the man was forced onto the ground. Cassion materialized out of the shadow of the man and placed the dagger at his throat.

    “Who sent you?”

    “What the heck are you talking about? Why are you attacking the mansion?”

    ‘Hmm? He’s not an enemy?’

    Cassion looked at the man.

    Leaves on the hair, clothes that were slightly torn from branches. Above all, the accent was somewhat awkward.

    “Are you a Leponian?”

    “You’re not going to fight anymore? My heart is burning from the blow.”

    The man’s sword had a subtle glow. It was a fine weapon.

    “It’s the Lord who went easy on this one.”

    Cassion backed off the man and glanced at the sword. Cassion liked collecting swords, so he recognized it at once.

    It’s a sword given to knights of the Cyronian Kingdom.

    Cassion raised his ears to check the surroundings.

    “It’s already over. It’s been a while since I used a sword.” The man put the sword down in regret.

    “You think that old mansion has something to take? What’s the reason for the fuss?”

    “As it appears there is nothing valuable in that mansion. Anyway, I borrowed your hand, so I’ll let you stay for a few days.”

    “That’s good to hear. I’m ashamed, but I’m lost.”

    “You’re lost?”

    Cassion looked suspiciously at the man.

    There was only one way from Masu Forest to Setiria.

    T/N : Masu forest is a forest full of beasts.

    “We were here with the merchants, and the beasts started attacking us. I played the part of the bait and ran around, leading myself here.”

    It must’ve been quite a match given the man’s terrible appearance.

    Cassion thought for a bit and buttoned up his collar considering it didn’t look like the man was lying.

    “My name is Ganien Croft. It may seem suspicious, but I am a knight.”

    The man took a magic item from his sleeve and showed it. His blue eyes glistened playfully.

    “Look, here’s the token.”

    A pendant with a lion pattern was displayed.

    Cassion bowed to Ganien only after confirming that it was a token of the Blue Knights.

    “I’m Cassion, who serves the owner of this mansion, Ruel Setiria, the Lord of Setiria.”

    “...is the Lord here?”

    Hearing this for a moment, Ganien covered his mouth with a faint glimmer in his eyes.

    The Lord of Setiria is living in an old, almost depleted looking mansion.

    It smelled of conspiracy.

    When Ganien saw injustice, the instinct of the knight who could not resist helping the weak was roused. It looks like I’ll be needed here. Thinking this he decided.

    ‘Someone needs my help’

    ***

    Thirsty...

    My body was too hot, and my head continued to hurt as if someone was drilling holes in it.

    I opened my eyes with difficulty while trying to breathe.

    “Drink slowly.”

    Cold water ran down my dry lips as I listened to Cassion’s voice. I was a little distracted.

    I closed my eyes as I inhaled the Breath with my trembling hands.

    “How many days ... have I been unconscious ?”

    “Two days.”

    Two days.

    Being alive despite the attack meant that Cassion did something.

    However, the attack was not important now.

    “By any chance...”

    I stopped talking.

    I belatedly noticed a man standing behind Cassion.

    Don’t tell me...

    “Good morning, Lord. My name is Ganien Croft, and I’ve been staying here for two days.”

    I looked at Cassion with questions in my eyes.

    ‘Why the heck did he come here?’

    “I’m sorry to have brought in outsiders. I owed him a small favor from that night. Please help me repay the favor,” Cassion said.

    ‘Damn it!’

    I frowned.

    The reason why I tried so hard to stand until the attack, was now in the same room as me.

    Ganien Croft, the main character in ‘SSS-class Knight.’

    He was so broad-minded that he could not pass by the weak and the injustice.

    Ganien’s coming to the mansion was one of the plot settings in the novel.

    I treated myself like a dog while training relentlessly so as not to fall for either, but I already met him during the attack.

    ‘I’m screwed. I’m fucked up!’

    The moment I saw Ganien’s sparkling eyes, I swallowed, I had a terrible hunch.

    Ganien had already decided to help me.