Book 5: Chapter 26


    The Shadow Squad has already mobilised, but the enemy outnumbers them by far. I never thought there would be mercenaries too. It looks like they entered the vige one after another. I dont know when I attracted their attention. Perhaps they detected danger when we tested them. We did end up alerting them after all.


    I ordered the Shadow Squad to mobilise, but I didnt ask of them the ridiculous task of holding them. The Shadow Squad are experts at infiltration and sabotage, not specialists in face-to-facebat, so I couldnt ask them to go and fight them head-on. Every member was a well-trained expert. I would feel apologetic towards mom if I lost one so I just ordered them to perform assassinations and to avoid getting involved with the armed-mercenaries if possible.


    Freya and I sessfully took two horses out from the stables. I saw elf corpses lying in all directions on the ground as well. All of them had greenish faces like they were poisoned. I saw Lunas brother in the centre. Although they helped a tyrant carry out an evil deed, seeing Lunasst family member lying here made me feel apologetic, nevertheless.


    Wait, onii-sama.


    Freya took out a tiny de and slit the legs of the remaining horses. It was a very shallow cut, so you virtually cant see it. So shallow, they didnt even kick Freya.


    Freya then tossed the de away and said, Were alright now. This is amonly used trick in horse races. You wont be able to see it, but once the horse starts running, itll slow down due to the pain. They wont be able to follow us now. Onii-sama, we now need to run away as fast as possible!


    Run away?! I looked at Freyas surprised reaction and eximed, Arent we going to rescue Luna?! Why do we have to leave now?! Im going back! I must go back and save Luna!!


    Dont be stupid, onii-sama! How can you save Miss Luna?! You dont have a weapon or apanion as strong as Miss Nier! Youll just be marching to your own death! Luna will only get sold off, she wont be killed! But you will definitely be killed!


    Youre right, youre right, I know that its really dangerous, and I know that everything you said is right. I mounted the horse. With my back facing Freya, I resolutely continued, But there are some things you have to fight for even if it means certain death. Mom was right. Death isnt scary. Whats scarier is never having truly lived before. I made a promise to Luna. I told her to love me. I told her that she would be the only one by my side, so I cant run away now. I didnt know Luna in the past when she was kidnapped and abused, but Im right by her side this time. If I just watch her get taken away from the sidelines, Ill never be able to forgive myself!


    Onii-sama! Whats the point of you acting on your emotions?! If it was Miss Nier or Miss Lucia who got kidnapped, I would definitely follow you back there, but its Miss Luna who is being kidnapped! Shes just a personal maid! A used elf!! Dont tarnish yourself for her when you are royalty!


    Luna is my personal servant, and my only personal servant. I wont let anyone hurt my personal servant. Ive already lost someone I treasured before. I wont lose another. I turned around to look at Freya and in a serious tone eximed, Freya, run if youre scared, I wont me you. But I am not backing down this time. Im not leaving until I see that my Luna is safe. Ill do anything for that!


    Freya mounted her horse and looked at me with aplex look. She then took in a deep breath, clenched her teeth, and said, In that case, take care, onii-sama! I wont do something that wont seed. Im not joining you on your journey to your own death. Onii-sama, youre only so fearless because you havent witnessed death!


    Wrong. Im fearless because Ive witnessed death.


    I turned around and heard Freya kick her horse head and leave. The sound of the horse hooves moving quickly went farther and farther away.


    I dont me Freya. She has already done all she could. I can run into danger on my own, but I dont ask that anyone else throws their life away for my Luna. Freya was absolutely right.


    If I had soldiers go and save Lucia or Nier, the soldiers would do so withoutint because they would be rescuing the princess, which is the most natural thing for them to do. But they would start questioning me if I asked them to go and rescue Luna, who is of lower standing than them, because they would feel that I dont care about their lives.


    Thus, my only option was to rescue her myself. Others dont care about Luna, but I do. I only have one such servant. I had just embraced her, held her, and she was lying in my arms just a while ago. I was unaware of Lunas existencest time, so I couldnt save her back then. But Luna was right before me this time. If I didnt save her this time, I would never be able to forgive myself.


    I reached down to my belt. I didnt have my gun on me. My only weapons were the potions in my belt. They were given to me by mom. These should be useful tools if I can put them to good use. The problem right now though is that I dont know how tobine them.


    Whatever, Ill figure it out as I go.


    While I was looking heroic, my legs were quaking. My instinct was telling me to run away.


    This was an extremely strange scene. Wood was slowly burning away. I could hear the mes crackling. Bodies were lying on the ground without budging. There were the mercenaries running around and about too.


    If I get spotted, Ill be dead meat.


    I dont know how long its going to take them to wrap up.


    I whistled and then I heard rustling sounds in the forest. The Shadow Squad struck out from all sides. Since Im without Freyas wits now, Im left with just the Shadow Squadsbat skills. They have to stall them, or were going to be in for a tough fight.


    The horse for the horse carriage had already been led away. All that did was prevent the mercenaries from pursuing us.


    The Shadow Squad charged toward the group of merchants while I kicked my horse and charged over there.


    While Im aware that rushing in without a n is stupid, I didnt have any time to think. If Luna gets loaded onto the horse carriage, what am I to do? Though the horse carriage isnt as fast as me, what am I going to do as one man against a horse carriage loaded with weapons?


    Therefore, I cant hesitate. Ill do my thinking on my way. I trust that the Shadow Squad wont let me down. They should be able to hold off the mercenaries even if theyre outnumbered.


    ===================


    Your Majesty Your Majesty Your Majesty Your Majesty Your Majesty Your Majesty Your Majesty Your Majesty


    Niery on the ground in a daze. She kept her lifeless eyes open but she couldnt budge. She opened her mouth a little and water slowly coursed down her cheeks. She didnt even budge. If she wasnt repeating Your Majesty over and over, shed basically be the exact same thing as a dead person. Her body would sometimes have spasms and the ground would get wet again


    Sir she her minds broken, right?  Did we overdose?  Shell die if we keep this up, wont she?


    The merchant watched Nier who was in front of him. He knocked on the iron rails. Nier didnt move an inch. She justy there repeating His Majesty over and over like a machine.


    Has the letter been delivered?


    I dont know. The messenger hasnt gotten back to us.


    The merchant deliberated it and then said, Tomorrow. If His Majesty still hasnt returned what we want to us by tomorrow, you guys can start feasting. Valkyries are a rare species toe by. I think that you guys will be really happy with her.


    Understood, sir!