The Assassin and The Blind Saint

Arc 2 Chapter 19: The Forest

"Chairman, are you awake?" I heard a man's voice.

"Ugh... " I still can't move any of my limbs.

"You have Mana Exhaustion, the body of the Chief is also still recovering from the injuries after fighting the Lycanthrope earlier."

Where's Exhaustion, huh? that means I won't be able to use magic 3-5 the next day. By the way, where am I? I saw that the sky was dark, which means that it had been a few hours since the attack on the rebel Basecamp had taken place.

"If my estimation is not wrong, we are in the Rodea— Forestthe boundary between the Habsburg Empire and the Kingdom of Lorraine." As if I could figure out my confusion, the new boy told me where we were.

"Is that so...?" I then kept quiet for a moment to recollect my focus in order to return to thinking clearly in this condition.

I then saw the new boy holding a necklace that my uncle had each given me and Jerold.

"Hey, give me the necklace back." I said it coldly.

I also just realized, I just look like I'm wearing my blouse.

Where's my Patrol Guard Uniform?

"The Chairman's uniform has been badly damaged by the fight, I decided to throw it away." The new boy explained it while putting my necklace in my shirt pocket.

There was a sound of a bonfire here, I saw that the new boy was burning something.

"When the Chief was still unconscious, I decided to hunt for dinner for us. I'm lucky to find a rabbit in the woods." He then walked over to the campfire and took some meat that had been skewered with a stick to me.

"Forget it, I'm not hungry at all." With my situation like this, inevitably he had to feed me to eat the meat.

I don't want a stranger to do that to me! Only Jerold has the right to do so.

- Groowwll

A voice rang out, I saw the new boy smile at me. At a time like this, why can't my stomach be compromised...

"Chairman, if you want to recover soon. The chief must eat enough." He brought the meat close to my mouth.

I bit the meat and turned my face away from it. For reasons I didn't want to admit, my face suddenly felt very hot.

"Both the Chairman's cheeks flushed red, did the Chairman feel a fever?" ask the new boy.

D-he turned out to be a stupid guy. Of course this cheek of mine is flushed red from enduring the embarrassment of being fed by a foreign man!

"Can you just shut up and not say much?"

"Good."

I then turned around to find that the new boy was still sitting next to me while still holding onto the skewered meat.

"What are you doing?" my many.

He just kept quiet and didn't answer my question. Why is this new kid so annoying? Does he have any grudges or dissatisfaction with me?

"Hey, I'm asking you. What the hell are you doing?"

"The two won't recover quickly if they only eat one bite, so... "

"Bahhh... Alright, alright. Here, put the skewer into my mouth." I then went back to eating the meat a few bites. "It's enough, isn't it? Now, stay away from me."

He then stood up and leaned against a large tree. He just kept quiet from now on. Does he not sleep too? Was he not exhausted at all after the attack?

"Hey, don't you also need a break? Why don't you sleep?" Hearing my question, he then looked towards me.

"I'll stand guard for a moment, Chief. You don't have to worry" he said flatly.

"Who's worried about you." I then turned my body. Seeing him makes me angry.

I then try to go back to sleep. Even though there was a campfire, it was still cold here because my body received the night wind directly.

I then tried to recall my memories of being with Jerold and my mother. Where when I was with Jerold rehearsing together and when I was with Mom always take a walk out of the City when I was a kid.

Remembering it makes my body feel warm. Soon, I too fell asleep in my sleep.

***

I suddenly woke up, judging from the color of the sky, it was still midnight. I glanced towards a tree. There was a black-haired man like me sleeping, leaning against the tree.

His facial expression looked much different compared to when he was awake. Why did I never call his name even though I knew it a long time ago?

In fact, he saved me when he fell from the waterfall.

Wait for... I just realized that my body was covered with Patrol Guard uniforms belonging to the new boy. This is why I suddenly felt warm when I was about to fall asleep.

"No!"

"...!?"

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to do it! Ii'm sorry... "

The new boy suddenly spoke in his sleep. From his voice, he felt sad.

"Stop! Stop me... No. gabe... Please! Stay away from me!"

His expression began to change, it seemed like he was having a nightmare. His face looks tortured. What dreams can make him show such an expression... All this time, what I saw from him was always a flat expression.

What kind of suffering did he go through that made him look like that? I don't know why, I want to wake her up. Calm him that things will be fine.

However, thanks to the injuries and experiencing Mana Exhaustion, I was still unable to move my body.

"Lena... "

"...!"

Who was that Lena he muttered?

Shortly after, the new boy woke up. Our eyes meet.

"You're delirious in your sleep, you know," I said.

"that, huh? I did it again... I'm sorry, Chief, for interrupting your sleep..." He smiled lightly.

The new boy stood up and walked towards the forest.

"Where are you going?"

"I want to take a walk for a while, Chief, it won't be long." He answered without turning around at all.

"L-yes... What's the matter, Chief?"

"Thank you for saving me."

Hearing my words, Sirius then smiled. Different from that light smile. This time, his smile was as sincere from the bottom of his heart.

"You can always count on me, Chairman." He walked back here and sat down by the tree.

"What is hmm...? You're not going for a walk?" manya curious.

"I don't know, all of a sudden I became unwilling to do it hahaha— "He looked a little laughing.

What a strange man. We continued our sleep. I should recover as soon as possible and then return to Wien City.

***

The next day, I was able to move my body. But I still had enough trouble walking.

"Hey Sirius, how long would it take for us to get to the nearest village if we walked from here?"

He then looked like he was thinking for a moment." Rodea Forest is located in the north of Duchy Dusselburg region, the nearest town is about 80 Km while the nearest village is about 30 Km from this forest."

I've always wondered how Sirius can find out about these things.

"I used to visit this forest to look for medicinal plants. It also happened that I had lived in the Hesse capital of Duchy Dusselburg for a few months, so I knew about the geographical location of this area" he explained.

"Hey Sirius, do you have the ability to read minds?" Hearing my question, he smiled.

"The Chief's curious face is very easy to read." Hearing her answer, I groped my face.

Huh uh? Seriously her? Is my face so easy to read?

"Alright Chief, I'll comb through this forest so that when you recover, we can easily get out of this forest." After saying that, he then walked disappearing into the depths of the forest.

I'm alone here again. I am powerless without being able to do anything. I try to move my body so that it is not too stiff and can quickly recover.

By the way, is the Patrol Guard search team looking for us? I think it will take a long time to walk down this river.

Is dad worried about me? Remembering me who was still undiscovered after disappearing for a day?

***

The day changed, Sirius and I were now walking out of this forest. My body condition has improved and is able to travel.

"Then, how are your search results in this forest. Can we get out of here before nightfall?" I asked Sirius.

"If the journey is smooth, we may be able to get out of this forest by walking for 3 hours. I don't think our position in this forest is very deep" he explained.

"What do you mean by a smooth trip? Are there many wild animals in this forest?"

"In this forest I don't think it's too much, we're lucky if we don't meet one of them" he replied flatly.

...Author Note: Illustration of Sirius and Serena...

After walking for a long time, we then arrived at a forest area that was quite unique. The trees and leaves around here are many unusual red.

Shortly thereafter Sirius stopped his footsteps.

"Hey Sirius, what's a—"

-Awuuuu!!!

I heard a howl. Suddenly, Sirius climbed up the tree leaving me alone.

"Hey, where are you going!" I shouted to call him.

Suddenly, I felt the presence of a creature. In front of me, a huge wolf about 2 meters long was walking towards here.

The big wolf then started running towards me.

Damnit damnit! With my condition still recovering like this, I'm not sure I can defeat such a huge beast.

-groawll!!

"I'm sick of meeting creatures like you!" I prepared for his attack.

The wolf jumped at me.

-lasshh!

The head of the wolf suddenly fell to the ground. Blood started pouring into his body. In front of me, Sirius suddenly appeared and beheaded the wolf. Made him die instantly.

"How dare you... " My emotions are starting to peak.

"Chairman?"

"How dare you take me as bait!"

- Plak!

***

Ruhmstadt—Capital of the Habsburg Empire.

In the Emperor's study, two middle-aged men were discussing something. They were both Marx von Habsburg—, the Emperor of the Habsburg Empire who had ruled the country for 30 years. In his hands, the Empire became the most dominant land in the Alterna Continent.

In his presence was Duke Franz von Ritterburg—Chancellor of the Habsburg Empire. He has held that position for 17 years.

"Franz, what about this meeting with the ministers on the security of our country?" ask the Emperor.

"There is nothing to worry about His Majesty. We have had very little trouble with the rebels who have recently disrupted security in various parts of the country. However, thanks to the efforts of the Guard Patrols, their activity is now starting to decline" explained Duke Franz.

"Ah so yes... By the way about Patrol Guard, Franz." The Emperor walked over to Duke Franz. "Serena—My niece is rumored to be missing after exterminating the rebels in Duchy Astria. As his father, aren't you worried?"

Duke Franz then fell silent for a moment.

"Your Majesty, I believe, my daughter will be fine. If he had trouble with just facing this problem, he would not have deserved the surnames of Ritterburg and Habsburg" Duke Franz replied flatly.

"Hah— you're too hard on your own daughter, Franz. What about Serena's wedding? Did you get a candidate? Don't push it too much you know."

"I have given her the freedom to choose her mate until the Hero Trial is completed Your Majesty. If he hadn't found her before then, I would have betrothed him. It's his responsibility as heir to the Ritterburg family."