The Imperial Army ising.


    Marching with their swords and shields.


    Bringing with them mages and healers, the sound of their powerful strides echoed in the air.


    -Rumble.


    How they found out that an Apostle was here, I’m not sure, but arge number of Imperial soldiers were marching through the snowfields of the north, approaching us. Around 300 troops.


    I had a hunch they’d gathered some information, but I couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle at how quickly they’d arrived.


    “They’re fast.”


    It would’ve been better if they’de a bit sooner, but knowing that they would have been ughtered regardless, I quietly buried my disappointment.


    I decided I’d just provide a basic exnation.Why I came here.


    How we ended up staying here.


    I was determined to give a briefing and quickly leave. I absolutely hated getting tangled up inplicated affairs.


    Even though my connections were limited, with someone as influential as Desmond Olivia backing me, I could avoid excessive interrogation, and with Yuria’s father as a witness, I should be able to dodge any truly troublesome situations.


    I peeked around, trying to find where I’d hidden Yuria’s father.


    ‘Hm?’


    A question mark practically floated above my head.


    “This isn’t good.”


    Yuria’s father had lost consciousness. The key witness meant to prove my innocence was slumped against the wall,pletely out of it. At this rate, a conversation with the Imperial Army would drag on far too long.


    “Haa…”


    I frowned, sighing deeply, and ran my fingers through my hair in frustration.


    Thanks to Hans administering first aid, it seemed like James’s life wasn’t in immediate danger. He’d wrapped the wound on his abdomen with bandages, and the bleeding had stopped. However, it would likely take him a day or two to regain consciousness. This burden would’ve been too much for a retired adventurer to handle.


    Shaking my head in anticipation of theplications toe, I sighed again.


    “Well, it’ll work out somehow.”


    -nk.


    The Imperial Army was closing in on me. They were annoying, having finished all the fighting and showing up only now, but it’s not like that was anything new. They were alwayste. ?


    I nced at My Lady, who was poking the unconscious James’s cheek. I felt I should at least clear away anything that could lead to misunderstandings.


    “My Lady.”


    “Wuung.”


    “What are you doing?”


    “Checking if he’s dead or alive.”


    “And if he were dead, what would you do?”


    “I’d bury him.”


    “How thoughtful of you.”


    “Yes.”


    Of course, My Lady is quite kind, as always.


    I walked to the center of the copsed inn and carefully slipped f’s clothes and the photograph of his daughter into my pocket.


    It seemed unlikely we’d be able to give their bodies a proper burial, so at the very least, I’d make a grave with these belongingster.


    Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any evidence of My Lady using dark magic. f’s body had continued regenerating, so it was rtively clean. I doubted there would be any reason for them to take her away.


    ‘Everything seems in order.’


    Having gathered everything I needed, I calmly waited for the Imperial soldiers to reach me. I couldn’t wait for this whole ordeal to end, eager for a chance to rest.


    ‘I really want to rest soon.’


    -tter, tter…


    Among the soldiers with grim expressions, the hurried sound of footsteps approached. The woman who appeared to be in a rush was shouting “Excuse me!” as she pushed her way through the ranks of soldiers.


    “Who could that be?”


    The voice sounded familiar.


    -Excuse me!


    The woman’s voice was filled with desperation as she continued to force her way through the crowd. The murmurs of irritated soldiers grumbled as she disrupted their formation, but the woman pressed on, undeterred.


    -This area is off-limits. Please turn back…


    -My family is here.


    -It’s dangerous. Leave it to the Imperial Army and go—!


    -Please, move aside!


    I saw her from a distance—pink hair.


    Her flowing hair and her voice, carrying the gentle fragrance of spring, immediately gave away her identity.


    ‘Yuria.’


    The protagonist of the novel was running to confirm the future changes.


    “Dad!!!”


    Yuria, having squeezed her way through the soldiers, caught sight of the ruined inn and began sprinting madly toward it.


    Watching her expression, I sighed in relief. Fortunately, I had prevented the future she feared.


    ‘I made a good choice.’


    I was d. d that I hadn’t caused her to cry. It felt rewarding—like I’d managed to make her smile properly, at least once.


    I reached out my hand to stop Yuria as she ran toward the wreckage of the inn. I was about to inform her that her father was still alive, hidden behind the rubble.


    “Uh, Yuria.”


    But.


    “…”


    She ignored my outstretched hand, brushing past me without sparing me a nce. She shot me a cold look before dropping to her knees and began digging through the ruins with her bare hands.


    “Dad…!”


    “Sob


    “Daaad!!”


    Yuria’s voice cracked with sorrow. Like someone who had lost everything, she wept wretchedly, furiously tearing into the wreckage with her hands.


    “…Huh.”


    I hadn’t expected to be treated like this. I wasn’t asking to be praised as a hero, but being ignoredpletely kind of stung.


    I looked down at my bleeding hand, smiling bitterly.


    “This is… disappointing.”


    I let out a deep breath and slowly approached Yuria. Though I was used to being misunderstood and resented, I didn’t like seeing a close friend crying like this. I needed to tell her the truth, quickly.


    “Huuu.”


    I let out a forced sigh, forcing a smile onto my face. It would be easier to deliver good news if I was smiling, after all.


    -Step, step.


    “Look…”


    -Step, step.


    “Yuria.”


    -Startle.


    Yuria, who had been digging through the debris with her bare hands, abruptly stopped and red at me. With tears brimming in her eyes, her intense stare froze me in ce.


    I needed to say something, but no words woulde out.


    Honestly, being red at so coldly by Yuria was scarier than the thought of fing back to life.


    I took a deep breath and finally managed to speak, because it was something I had to say.


    “Yuria.”


    She interrupted me.


    “You…!”


    Her shoulders quivered.


    Her voice trembled with an overwhelming sense of betrayal, as if trying to suppress a rage boiling within.


    “How much… How much I trusted you.”


    “…”


    “Even when strange thoughts entered my head, I trusted you… over and over.”


    Yuria repeated the same words. Even though doubts had crept in, she had still believed in me—yet in the end, why wasn’t I living up to that trust?


    It wasn’t hard to figure out that the person she was referring to was me.


    Yuria, seeing my hesitation to respond, poured out her emotions and resentment. She was ming me—asking why I hadn’t protected her father.


    I awkwardly reached toward her, wanting to clear up the misunderstanding, but before I could speak.


    “Look, at least let me exin—”


    But Yuria, consumed by her emotions, wasn’t interested in hearing any exnations. She cried out again, this time with her face buried in the ruins, her voice filled with a sense of resignation.


    “Why is it that whenever you’re around, problems always arise?”


    “…”


    “For a while, everything was so peaceful. I even decided I wasn’t going to hate you anymore, but now…!”


    “…”


    “Why… why is it that every time, I get swept up in the misfortunes you bring, Ricardo?”


    Yuria clenched her fists and shouted.


    What was I supposed to say to that?


    Honestly, I didn’t know. I wasn’t sure if Yuria was venting her true feelings or if she was simply being overwhelmed by her misunderstanding and anxieties.


    “But still…”


    Through sobs, Yuria continued to speak.


    “I…”


    Her voice wavered in her chest before she finally spoke words of reassurance. Thankfully, at least.


    “I still trust you, Ricardo.”


    “I know. I know that I’m the strange one. Every time, I feel disappointed andin to you… I know I’m being unreasonable….”


    Wiping away her tears, Yuria spoke once more.


    “Even then, it seems I just can’t hate you, Ricardo.”


    Finally, a smile crept onto my face. Maybe it was because I realized just how deep her trust in me ran. It felt… good.


    Personally, I’d expected to hear things like, ‘I never should’ve trusted you,’ or ‘I’m such an idiot for ever believing,’ or ‘Why do I have to be the one always getting hurt?’ But even amidst her emotional turmoil, Yuria still kept her faith in me. I felt deeply grateful for that.


    So, as I always did, I spoke to her warmly. Hiding my bleeding arm behind me, I smiled.


    “I’m sorry.”


    In the distance, I heard a shout from the Imperial soldiers, who had just found James. At the same time, I noticed My Lady being carried by a soldier, her expression one of exasperation.


    -Found him!


    Yuria turned to look at me.


    With her tear-filled eyes still wavering, she muttered softly, “Thank goodness…”


    I smiled a little and bowed my head.


    Hiding my injured arm behind my back once more, I lowered my head.


    “I swore I’d protect you without getting a single hair harmed, but I guess my body wouldn’t cooperate. I’m sorry.”


    Yuria stared at me, dumbfounded.


    And then.


    I noticed My Lady ring at Yuria.


    The soldiers were approaching now.


    The one leading the Imperial forces, d in a giant set of armor, was heading towards me. As he approached, he pulled out a scroll and began reading its contents.


    It was mostly the usual stuff: You are entitled to remain silent, etc.


    I nodded, listening to him. At least I wasn’t cuffed, I thought, as I let my body rx in the hands of the soldier who was supposed to arrest me.


    But before the soldier could grab my shoulder—


    -ng!


    The sound of a kick echoed.


    Someone had kicked the armor.


    I lowered my head, letting out a smile as I saw the brave girl who had just kicked the man in his shin.


    “My Lady.”


    My Lady stood there, arms crossed, wearing an arrogant expression on her face. It reminded me of the old days, back when we lived in the slums and she used to say, ‘I’m quite an impressive person,’ with that same raised brow, My Lady now looked up at the armored man and dered.


    “Do you even know who I am!?”


    Watching My Lady rub her aching foot, her scrunched-up face filled with pain, I barely managed to suppress myughter. To reassure her, I patted her head.


    After all, it wasn’t like she’d done anything wrong.


    The Imperial soldiers pushed My Lady away, saying that children shouldn’t be here. Seeing this, I blinked at her, signaling that it was fine.


    “Let me go! Ricardo, don’t just stand there!”


    “It’s okay. I’ll have a brief chat and be right back.”


    “No! I’ll show them just how different our statuses really are!”


    “That’s a statement that’ll get you into social trouble.”


    “…Then our difference in rank?”


    “That’s still a bit much.”


    While My Lady mulled over her choices, I patted her head and looked over at the officer leading the soldiers.


    “Let’s get this over with as soon as possible.”


    The officer let out a dryugh and removed his helmet. He addressed the approaching soldiers sternly, scolding them as he spoke sharply.


    “Do you want to write reports all day? Don’t you know there are punishments for mistreating civilians?”


    The man, with his helmet off, shook his head and smiled. His handsome face and brown hair were familiar to me. Patting my shoulder, he said:


    “How is it that you’re always causing trouble?”


    “Huh?”


    “And you still refuse to share any new recipes—are you trying to die?”


    Histania Malikughed as he looked at me.


    “It’s a good thing I didn’t hand in my resignation.”


    Honestly, this guy seemed more like the protagonist than anyone else.


    End of Chapter.