While feeling slightly choking, Minerva woke up .
「Uh, unn……」
「Are you awake, Ojou-sama? 」
Slowly opening her eyes, she saw the figure of Moore sideways . Of course, it wasn’t Moore that was standing sideways, but Minerva who is lying on the ground .
「……Here is? 」
She raised her heavy body and looked around .
The thin and tall grass that stretched without ends, the strong sunlight from the sky, and then the dry grains of sands on her palm . With the smell of grass filling the area, it’s obvious that they are outdoors .
「Where is this? 」
There wasn’t a single building around . At the very least, they aren’t in the capital, Minerva who thought so asked, but Moore’s reply wasn’t what she was looking .
「I was on the ground here when I noticed . Thirty minutes had passed since then, and the sun is like that . 」
So, she looked up at the sky .
Minerva who looked up saw the sun lighting up the blue sky . It’s the day, and the time is just a little past high noon .
「How long――」
Minerva was about to ask how much time had passed, but she stopped . After all, Moore said he just woke up about thirty minutes ago, so he probably wouldn’t know much either .
「Who knows . I’m not sure but, I don’t think much time had passed . 」
「How can you know? 」
「I mean, I’m a former mercenary, and a soldier now? I can at least gauge about how much time had passed since I passed out . And speaking from that experience, it shouldn’t be long since then . Longest would be ten minutes――it definitely wasn’t half a day though……but there . 」
Moore who answered Minerva’s question seemed to doubt himself too . After all, it was in the night when they were being attacked in the duke residency .
Now that they had woken up, the sun had passed overhead and is leaning towards the west . It’s normal to think that half a day had passed since then, but Moore’s senses told him it wasn’t like that .
「Well, there’s nothing to be done about the time now . The problem is where are we . At the very least, it doesn’t look very safe here . We should look for some village or town, and then think about returning to the capital then . 」
Moore suggested such . Minerva answered 「Yes」, but then recalled another presence .
「Come to think of it, where is Rona? 」
「Aah, Ardis’s partner? He’s there . 」
Where Moore pointed, there was Rona’s figure standing gallantly on four feet on top of a slightly elevated boulder . Minerva’s face loosened seeing that .
「Rona! 」
Rona who had noticed Minerva’s yell came down from the rock .
「I’m glad . You’re with us too . 」
Welcoming Rona who is running here, Minerva bent down and hugged the golden beast .
「Well then, we should be looking for a highway now . Since this is a remote place, that should be easier……」
「That’s right . Everyone is worrying . 」
Hushed by Moore’s words, Minerva raised her short sword in her hands .
An hour after that . Minerva and the other two were walking due south on the grasslands .
If they’re around the Kingdom’s territory, then south will be where the seacoast is at . If they were transported north of the capital, then heading south will get them closer back, if not, seeing the sea will tell them their general location to some degree .
Of course, finding a highway or a town before that happens is much more plausible .
「And, that was what I thought but . Was I underestimating our predicament? 」
Moore stopped walking with a frown on his forehead .
They had been walking for quite a while now already but, not even a settlement, a highway can’t even be seen . And of course, there wasn’t any people they could see either .
With Moore’s one hand on his face looking into the distant with some impatience, he was about to groan 「To think that there’s not even a highway――」 when his face hardened .
「What is it? 」
「……There’re people being attacked by beasts . 」
「Eh? 」
Minerva who followed Moore’s gaze found several silhouettes moving in the distance . With them moving around like jumping and running around, it certainly looked like people being attacked by beasts .
「W-We need to help them! 」
「But, Ojou-sama’s safety is……」
「It’s not a time to worry about that now! I can look after myself somewhat, and Rona is here as well! 」
They needed information to return to the capital right now the most . If they help those people, they might be able to get a hold on their location, and find a way to return .
In this place where even a highway can’t be found, people are an important source of information .
「……Alright . It’s true that we need information after all . Don’t get too far away from me . 」
Moore agreed to Minerva after some thoughts, and started running with his sword unsheathed .
「Rona, we should hurry too . 」
Holding the short sword in her hands, Minerva chased after Moore .
As they went closer, the silhouettes became clearer . There’re two people who are equipped that is being attacked . And there were six-legged beasts with dark blue fur surrounding them .
A total of four beasts . The beasts that looked like large sized cat bares its fangs and bit down on one of the human’s legs and arms, and immediately retreated before the counterattack came .
The wounds are definitely not critical, it was as if they’re toying with their preys and slowly hurting them .
「Tch! We won’t make it in time! 」
They’re late by a few moments . The two people who showed resistance so far collapsed on the ground, and the four beasts surrounded them .
「Shit, at this time! 」
Moore cursed at the timing .
He could’ve probably helped them if he was earlier by three minutes . On the other hand, if he was late by three minutes, he would’ve chosen to abandon them to prioritize Minerva’s safety .
But now he’s stuck between the two choices . The beasts probably realized their presence here as well . The beasts weren’t satisfied by the two, and started looking at them like preys .
The four beasts directed their gazes here . It seems like they’re fully intent to attack them .
「Ojou-sama! Don’t stray! 」
「Yes! 」
Moore who had a sword in his hand stood in front of Minerva .
Minerva as well at the back drew her short sword . Even if she couldn’t take down the beast, she could at least buy some time .
「Even I can……」
What Minerva hoped now is just to not be a baggage . Of course, she is fully well aware she is being a baggage no matter what, at the very least, she didn’t want to cause any more trouble to Moore .
「Grrrr! 」
The dark blue beasts leapt at Moore .
「Don’t look down on me! 」
Moore had climbed up the ranks in the army with his swordsmanship . There’s no way he would be troubled by just four beasts . The moment he thought he can easily sever the head of the coming beast, Minerva along with Moore both opened their eyes wide in surprise .
「What! 」
It turned around in midair, and as if there was an invisible wall, the beast kicked against it and landed backwards . Leaving aside if they’re on the ground, it was an absurd movement that was performed in midair .
「Commander, on the right! 」
Minerva warned . At the same time the front beast retreated, this time, another beast came from the right .
「Fast!? 」
Their speed was faster and sharper than normal beasts . The beast’s fangs were nearing Moore’s right arm .
「Shit! 」
It was because he judged that it wouldn’t be in time even if he tried withdrawing his sword . With a half-turned body, Moore tried his best and swung with the handle against the beast’s head .
But that didn’t reach . As if a glass plate was broken, Moore’s arm was blocked by something .
「What the actual!? 」
While confused by the sudden discomfort, Moore put his all in his knee kick towards the beast that had stopped moving for a moment . But the beast swiftly turned around and tried to evade, however the blade reached earlier .
The moment he thought the sword would cut through the beast―― .
「Wha……! 」
Moore is once again surprised .
It was just like his sword slashed against a full metal armor, Moore’s sword was deflected away without dealing a single scratch on the beast .
「What is that toughness! 」
While cursing, Moore followed with attacks yet his second missed, the third that landed somehow didn’t deal any damage as expected . While exchanging blows like that, Moore’s breath started to become ragged .
Minerva couldn’t believe what was happening in front of her eyes . Moore・Greystar is one of the top ten swordsman that could be counted within the royal army .
And that Moore was struggling so much against beasts was unbelievable . But since Moore was struggling that much already, it just meant that Minerva is in more danger .
「Ojou-sama! 」
One beast slipped past Moore’s guard .
「Ah……」
Minerva’s ears heard the warning, but her body didn’t move .
The short sword in her hand felt like it was distant, and it felt like her body wasn’t her own and just froze in place .
Just at the moment when the beast was approaching at a fast speed and her head was all blank, she saw a golden shadow leaping out from the end of her vision .
「Rona! 」
Realizing the shadow, Minerva shouted his name . Rona who suddenly leapt ahead from the side bit into the beast’s throat .
「Fgaaah! 」
Suddenly, a death cry came out of the beast . Then, without waiting, Rona ripped apart its windpipe and cast aside the beast, then moved onto his next target . Ripping apart one of them with his claws, and then kicking one away, the last one was hit into the ground . It was a short period .
「Eh……, wha……」
Moore lost his words at that overwhelming strength .
「Amazing! Rona, you’re so strong! 」
On the other hand, Minerva was genuinely amazed by Rona’s display of strength .
「……So, the partner of Ardis isn’t just for show huh . ……Good grace, what am I even here for . 」
Moore who stood back from the shock was praising Rona in his own way . He might be happy that he has such a strong companion but, since he was supposed to be Minerva’s escort, he felt painful at his own powerlessness .
But with the current situation like this, it’s not a place where bothering over his face will help . In fact, if Rona wasn’t around, something would’ve happened to Minerva .
Even if Minerva wasn’t around, Moore himself probably wouldn’t have been able to handle four of them .
「Anyways, how about the people……」
Moore who had regained himself walked towards the two that had collapsed because of the beasts just now .
They might’ve been too late but, if they’re still breathing, they couldn’t possibly let them die like that . But it’s not like they knew how to use healing magic, and having no treatment tools, there’s no chance they could help the two people .
But he thought that he can at least mourn for them, and as a reward, he could take their food or water on their body, Moore thought so .
「Wha……! 」
Moore’s legs stopped, and his voice was swallowed .
「What happened? 」
Minerva who caught up to Moore from behind took a peek at what had concerned Moore, and swallowed her breath . A pair of man and woman in armor were on the ground .
「T-This is ……」
Both of them wore similar get-up as Moore, and Minerva noticed a familiar insignia on part of their armor . While Minerva was stuck for words, Moore who was looking at the collapsed people in stun spoke .
「They’re……my men . 」