066. [STAGE 3] What follows
Crossroads City. A temple.
Since dawn, I have been transported here and am receiving treatment for my left arm.
“I don’t know how you got this injury.”
Saint Marherita, the priestess of the shrine, an R-ranked healer, finishes her treatment and bandages my arm.
“All the bones in your left arm are shattered. Luckily, the potion you used for first aid prevented it from becoming a fatal injury.”
Quack.
After tying the cast on tightly, Margarita took a step back and let go of my arm.
“Even when you’re done healing, you won’t be able to use your left arm the way you used to. You’ll have less strength, stiffness in your wrist, and other problems.”
“Yeah…….”
I gritted my teeth bitterly.
The price of a 000 fumble is high, I guess I should be glad I’m not a combatant.
“Anyway, it’s absolutely stable, just come to the shrine every other day for treatment.”
“Yes, saint. Thank you.”
After needlessly wiggling my tightly bound and immobile left arm once, I asked a question.
“Is Evangeline okay?”
“She’s got a bit of a bruised shoulder, but she’ll be fine as long as she doesn’t push herself too hard, she’s very strong.”
So she’s an SSR class tank, no match for my fragile resilience. Or is it the difference between a teenager and a 20-something?
I thanked Margarita, dropped my donation into the box as usual, and stepped outside to find Lucas standing there.
“…….”
Lucas looked at my left arm in a cast and gave me a confused look. I smirked.
“What did I tell you, I came back with all four limbs…… Ouch!”
This bastard suddenly punched my left arm. Sparks flew in front of my eyes. Gaaaaah!
“It F*cking hurts, what are you doing, bastard!”
“You’re not hurt, stop bluffing.”
No, he didn’t hit the injured part. If you’ve got a problem with it, say so, you bastard!
I was getting angry, but Lucas gave me a look like a dog caught in the rain.
“How much have you pushed yourself again, my lord…….”
“Ugh.”
Heh, don’t give me that look, it makes me feel guilty when I didn’t do anything wrong!
“Okay, okay, okay…….”
I asked Lucas about the most important issue.
“Did the defensive battle go well?”
I hadn’t even gotten a proper battle report yet. Lucas nodded slowly.
“I commanded it to the best of my ability, for I cannot fault my lord.”
“No, not until…….”
Lucas gave me a rough outline of the defensive battle.
Within the first fifteen minutes of the battle, Damien had sniped and killed all three of the Gemstone Golems.
The most troublesome of the bunch was finished off so easily? Is this a match made in heaven……?
Over the next six hours, Lucas calmly destroyed the remaining melee creatures.
After finishing off the remaining golems, he returned to the villa.
“There’s no telling what damage would happen if we fought loosely, so I had to finish it thoroughly, so my rescue was delayed. I’m sorry, my lord.”
“What are you sorry for, you did a great job.”
I patted Lucas on the shoulder and asked cautiously.
“The damage?”
Lucas glanced around the shrine. I could see the soldiers being treated in the gurneys inside.
“Fourteen seriously wounded. 128 minor injuries.”
“……Dead?”
“None.”
I stiffened.
At that, Lucas spoke again, more forcefully.
“No fatalities, my lord.”
“……haha.”
For the first time.
For the first time, I had cleared a stage without anyone dying.
I laughed out loud. Unnecessarily covering my mouth with my hand, I elbowed Lucas.
“Way to go, Lucas! No deaths…… holy shit. You’re better than me, dude.”
“Don’t say that.”
Lucas was serious.
“While Your Highness was away, everyone…… was restless.”
“What? They were anxious because I was going alone?”
“No.”
Lucas lowered his eyes and swallowed hard.
“Everyone left here was unsure, unsure…… anxious.”
I narrowed my eyes. What was he talking about?
“With Your Highness by your side, the delusion will disappear from your mind. You do what you’re told, and you do it with confidence. But yesterday, as soon as you left,…….”
Lucas trailed off.
“Everyone, I don’t know what to make of it…….”
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“…….”
Thoughts raced through my head.
I hope it’s because my commands are so precise and efficient.
I wondered if my passive skill, Indomitable Commander, was having the opposite effect.
“My passive is immune to mental ailments…….
I thought it simply prevented enemies from becoming psychotic during combat.
It doesn’t. The people around me were not only unaffected by fear or confusion, they were extremely stable mentally.
Apparently, just being around me calmed them down.
“No, I’m not an aromatherapist.”
But this also means that, on the flip side, everyone is shaky without me.
“Isn’t this just creating a dependency on me……?
It’s nice to have people rely on me, but the backfire effect is something to think about.
I drool. Mmm~.
Eh, I don’t know right now.
“Anyway, in the end, we finished the stage clean! No deaths! Me and Evangeline made it out alive!”
I exclaimed enthusiastically and patted Lucas on the back.
“It all worked out well, Lucas! Don’t worry, from now on, I won’t have to leave you alone in the future.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Lucas stared back at me, his eyes like a deep well.
“I am your bodyguard, my lord. From the moment we first met, until now.”
“Uh, yeah…….”
“Do not leave me behind. Especially not when you’re going somewhere dangerous.”
Instead of answering, I ran my hand through Lucas’s hair. Oh, my dog. He’s so anxious when his owner comes home from a night out.
“What about the rest of the party? Are they all okay?”
“Yep. Everybody’s fine. Only Damien, he’s got a little blood in his eye from overexertion late in the battle…….”
“Huh, really?!”
“He said he’s fine, and he’s being treated at the temple right now.”
Good, then. I’ll go to the gate after the treatment.
I feel a little more organized. I smirked.
“You’ve done a good job, Lucas.”
“You’ve done a great job, my lord. Get some rest today.”
Lucas jerked his chin toward the ramparts and sighed.
“As much as I’d like to stay by your side, my lord, I think you should let me take care of the cleanup after the defense, so you can rest easy.”
“Haha, please.”
“Yes, my lord, later.”
Lucas bowed and left for the city walls.
After watching him walk away, I climbed into the carriage parked in front of the temple. I’ll go home and lie down.
***]
I had clearly won the battle, but the stage was not yet declared clear.
Apparently, there are still some creepy crawly golems crawling around in the cottage.
This happened because they’re not creatures, just chunks of stone.
The soldiers are searching for them and killing them.
When they’re done, when they’ve killed the last one, the stage will be declared clear.
‘Probably by the end of the day.’
A manor house. The courtyard garden.
I’m sitting in a small, decorated gazebo, soaking up the sun.
It’s definitely springtime, and the day is warm enough.
I’m still feeling tired, and I’m dozing off in the sun.
“Why don’t you go back inside and get some sleep instead of doing this here?”
I hear a gruff voice say.
I jerked my eyes open to see it was Evangeline. She’s standing in the courtyard with bandages all over her body and crutches.
“Considering how old you are, you might get cold and get sick.”
“No, no matter how old I am, I am being treated like grandfather. Are you bragging about being a teenager?”
That’s ridiculous. Anyway, young people these days are…… eh.
“Awww.”
Evangeline came across the garden and plopped down beside me.
Her platinum hair glistened like sand gold in the spring sun.
Gold is an SSR color, so just seeing it shine makes me feel good.
……Is this a golden age?
“I can’t believe I’m still alive to see the morning.”
Evangeline shrugged as she opened her eyes to see the sun in the southern sky.
“I thought I’d never see this sun again.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through this on a day when you were just about to make up your mind.”
This stage was a series of upsets. I never thought I would have to go through this much trouble.
“Finish your treatment, recover slowly, take as long as you want, and then leave.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“……what?”
My heart sank at the sudden sound.
I whipped around to face Evangeline. But her small face was determined.
“I’ve been thinking about it all night. I’m going to inherit the title of Marquis.”
“Do you…… know what that means?”
I said urgently.
“It means you’ll inherit the responsibilities of House Cross, which means you’ll have to protect it for the rest of your life!”
“I know.”
“Your father wanted you to get out of here, to live as you wish, to be free.”
“I’m sorry, but I haven’t fully forgiven him yet, and going against his wishes is the last thing I can do.”
Evangeline gave a small shake of her head.
“Because I’m a green frog.” (TLN: I have no idea what that means)
I laughed weakly. This guy…….
“Senior. I…… want to understand my father.”
Evangeline turned her gaze to the distant south wall.
“How Dad felt then. What he thought. What he did. I still don’t know.”
The place where her father once stood and protected.
The girl’s gaze is steadfast as she looks at those walls.
“When I’m in the same position as him, then I’ll understand a little bit. I’ll know what he was thinking…”
“…….”
“I mean, I’m sorry to take back what I said!”
Evangeline smiled slyly.
“I want to inherit the title and get the authority of the territory back. As the rightful heir to the Cross family.”
“Evangeline…….”
“The resentment of the people, and the responsibility…… that you are about to bear, I will bear with you.”
Evangeline pointed to herself smugly.
“I know I keep saying this, but I’m the top student of the academy, and I’m a pretty good fighter.”
Of course you are. She’s a Supreme Dignity SSR.
“I will be taller in future. It will be a lot cooler.”
You will, because in a few years you’ll be a knight in shining armor.
“Most of all, I’ll be stronger than I am now, both as a knight and as a person.”
You will. Because you’ve learned your ultimate through a third career change, and with an upgraded set of exclusive gear, you’re the ultimate tank.
“So, I just need you to say one thing.”
“What word?”
“Let’s fight together.”
Rising from her seat, Evangeline came to stand in front of me.
She’s petite, but standing tall, she looks like a knight.
“Then I’ll stand by your side and protect this city with you.”
“…….”
Evangeline Cross, the strongest character among SSR-ranked tanks.
She’s asking you to join her party first.
No player in the world would be foolish enough to refuse.
Evangeline smiles smugly at me, and I smile back.
“No.”
“Haha. Okay. I’ll do the same for you…… yes?”
“No.”
Evangeline’s eyes widened.
She never thought I would say no.
I thrust my index finger in front of the girl knight’s face and shouted.
“This city is mine, and I’m not giving it back!”
No, I’m serious.
I’ve worked so hard to build this thing, and you want me to spit it back out?! Am I crazy?!
[Translated by Mashine. Proofread by: WebTrashTranslation]
