Amongst the splattering blood

“It’s here.”

Inside the underground tunnel, I led the way upfront with Dame Carneus and her 300 soldiers following after.

Beside me were of course, Liz and Maya.

“I assume, father has already launched his assault by now.”

“Yes, there’s no doubt about it. It’s all for the sake of making sure that we can safely invade.”

The frontal assault from the Marquis will draw the attention of the enemy soldiers towards them, and that will give us the opportunity to attack and quickly take over the front gates. And then, we can open the gates and let the entire Fahlcrantz army inside.

Once that happens, by the time the Rujia army arrives, it will already be over.

And that includes my battle with Wilhelm.

“Come, we are almost nearing the surface…….meaning, the entrance to Vander should be close by……..ah.”

The moment I said that, a big iron door came into our view.

Now then,………the question is, how do we pry this door open.

It should be obvious but, since the gates were locked from the inside, we couldn’t just open it. That said, breaking the door down would not only take time, it would also let the enemy notice our plan.

While I was in thought.

“hehe………if I may have your permission, why don’t you leave this to me?”

Dame Carneus walked up, and then held aloft her weapon,…….a giant mace.

“YAAAAAAAAAAAARRGGGGHHHH!!!”

——-*DOGON!!!!*

She swung with a roar. The mace made impact and the giant iron door instantly blew open with a loud crash.

No seriously, just how does this small body generate this kind of monstrous strength!?!

“Now! We charge towards the gates!!”

“””””OOOOOOOOOHHH!!!!”””””

With Dame Carneus’s orders , the 300 strong force charged through towards the castle gates.

“Wh, what’s happening!?!”

“Where the hell did these guys come from!?!”

The Svalier soldiers were thrown into chaos from our sudden appearance.

And Dame Carneus and the Fahlcrantz soldiers gave them no quarter as they cut them down one by one, destroying everyone in sight.

Of course, we followed suit…….that said.

“………Dame Carneus, the castle gates are right there, just go straight that way.”

“Prince Rudolf?”

We stopped midway, making the Dame look at us with suspicion.

“Forgive me. But we’ll be moving independently from here.”

“!?! Wh-what are you saying!?”

“Liz, Maya, follow me.”

“”Yes!””

Leaving the befuddled Dame Carneus behind, we rushed in further deeper into the fortress.

“!?! It’s an ambush! Enem——Gah-ugh!?!”

“Too slow!”

The soldier tried to raise an alarm upon seeing us, but I thrust my Nægling into his throat before he could finish.

And just like that………..I had killed for the first time.

“Lord Rudy………..”

“Sorry. Let’s hurry onwards.”

That’s right. I don’t have the time to be indulging myself in sentimentality right now.

That man…….before Wilhelm runs away, I needed to find him.

“Guhwaah!?!”

“Gyaah!?!”

Everytime a soldier appeared, my sword, Liz’s spear, or Maya’s machete, instantly robbed them of their lives.

Maya was one thing but, this was Liz’s first time killing someone as well.

But……Liz simply swung her spear frantically, and continued killing her enemies.

“haah……..haah………”

“Liz.”

“!?………ah.”

When I tapped her shoulder, Liz jumped and quickly turned to point her spear, only to finally realize that it was just me.

And at the same time, she relaxed her arms and dropped her spear.

“There are……..no more enemies here.”

“y–yes…….”

No matter how strong she was, Liz was also a 15yr old like myself.

And unlike me who had the experiences of being an adult from my previous life, it was natural for Liz to have her heart shook from all this.

That’s why.

“ah……….”

“Liz……..my dear Liz………I’ll handle it all from here onwards. So please……..”

I hugged Liz, and gently whispered into her ears.

Don’t hurt yourself any further.

But.

“mm………Lord Rudy, I’m fine.”

“Liz, but……..”

“I came here to take a hold of my future with you. I am not so foolish or naïve enough to think that I could attain my wish without dirtying my hands. That’s why….”

Liz, raised her face back up.

“I will fight. Together with you my beloved.”

My goddess, showed me a bright smile.

She could face all the hardship and pain, and accept it all.

“………..goodness me, you are truly strong.”

“I could say the same for you. My strength comes from what you showed me on that day Lord Rudy.”

Me and Liz, looked at each other and smiled.

Even as fresh blood stained both of our faces red.

“Come, let’s go.”

“yes!”

“………I’m really starting to feel like a third wheel now. I guess I need to show off a little as well.”

No Maya, what the hell are you saying at such a time?

Please, don’t do anything over the top okay?

Filled with a different kind of unease, I took Liz’s hand as we made our way further into the Vander fortress.

And then.

“Look at you, acting all relaxed, all by yourself in a place like this. Guess you have everything under control eh.”

“?!?!………..Rudolf……!?!”

Finally, we found Wilhelm.

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