Inside the cathedral, I saw chairs made by carving wood and symbolic objects made by weaving grass and flowers.
After a while, Bayard, who had gone inside, came back with teacups.
It was a very different impression from what I had heard from Ruby.
Especially now, she couldn’t even make eye contact with me.
Of course, since she had survived that hell, her skills must be solid, but…
Or could it be that her personality changed after experiencing hell?
That’s very possible.
Many of her comrades died right before her eyes, and she almost died herself.
It was only natural to change.
I swallowed my saliva.
From my current position, I had to somehow persuade Bayard, who had fallen this far, and bring her back. But could that be considered the right thing to do?
Bayard had her head completely lowered.
It was heartbreaking to see that, but still, I had to speak.
At that moment, Ruby, who had her feet up on the desk, said,
“Stop pretending now. Let’s go back.”
“S-sorry. I’m useless after all….”
“Ruby, be quiet.”
Even when there was not enough time to slowly persuade her, Ruby was already scratching Bayard’s insides.
Thanks to that, I, who was sitting next to her, was put in a difficult position.
I observed Bayard’s reaction.
Unexpectedly, Bayard was only smiling bitterly.
Instead, her reddish-brown hair and the animal ears on her head were trembling slightly.
It was a tricky situation.
Even if we dragged her by force, at best it would be a minus to our combat power.
She definitely wouldn’t be of any help. But there was no time to slowly persuade her either.
Damn it, what should I do?
“I-I’m sorry. Someone like me is of no help at all….”
“No, that’s not true. Just having you with us is enough.”
“Wh-what?!”
“Commander? Are you proposing to her right now?”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
I was speaking strictly in terms of Bayard being part of the Royal Knights’ forces.
Survivors like Bayard were especially helpful to us.
Not to mention her skills, but above all, she had experience.
The experience of surviving that hell will surely become our flesh and blood.
Plus, she’s a member of the Golden Generation.
She could even take over the position of commander of the Royal Knights for me.
Of course, considering her personality, it would be difficult.
Let’s put that issue aside for now.
She’s already on the verge of deciding whether to return or not.
If I burden her by mentioning the commander position, she’ll run away right away.
I fully understood Bayard’s circumstances.
The depth of the pain she was holding was not something I could dare to predict. But still, I had no choice but to ask.
“Bayard, I need your strength. Could you please help me?”
“Th-that’s….”
“Wait a minute, Commander. There’s a problem we need to solve first.”
“A problem we need to solve?”
I expressed my doubts.
I heard she was close with Bayard.
Did the two of them have some issue?
While I was thinking that, Ruby, who had been sitting still, suddenly took out her weapon.
“We have an uninvited guest.”
“You’re right. It’s not a demon… looks like a monster.”
“A monster…?”
“That’s right. There was a monster following us.”
“….”
So that’s how it was, I didn’t know.
When I looked at Ruby with the intention of asking why she didn’t report it to me, Ruby shrugged her shoulders and said,
“The commander already knew, didn’t you? But you just stayed still, so I stayed quiet too.”
“….”
Please don’t say it as if it’s obvious just because I’m the commander.
I’m not even a real commander in the first place.
I let out a sigh.
Anyway, we were tailed as we came here, but…
No, wait a minute.
This could be an opportunity.
The fact that monsters came here means that the location here has been exposed.
I said to Bayard,
“For now, let’s move to Lionheart Fortress.”
“What? B-but that’s too sudden…!!”
“We have no choice since this location has been discovered.”
“W-well, that’s true. It would be dangerous to stay here….”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
I shouted with joy inside.
I succeeded in somehow bringing her to Lionheart Fortress.
As they say, when bodies are close, hearts naturally move too.
That’s what I was aiming for.
Plus, Cluna was currently at Lionheart Fortress.
Cluna’s warm maternal love would surely be able to embrace the pain Bayard was holding to some extent.
But before that, we needed to deal with the monsters that followed us first.
However, right at that moment, Bayard suddenly burst out of the cathedral door and ran.
What was that?
Why did she do that?
“The engine has already started.”
“The engine has started?”
“That’s right. Why do you think that timid bear took the position of vanguard?”
“….”
“It’s because her personality completely changes when she enters battle!”
Ruby dropped the bomb with a very calm face, as if it were nothing.
So, in simple terms, she has a split personality?
Her personality completely changes when the battle starts?
I shook my head.
So what do you want me to do about it?
What’s the big deal about a split personality?
As long as her skills are solid, I have to somehow make use of even rolling leaves in my current situation.
Kwang! Boom!
It seemed that Ruby’s words weren’t empty talk.
Explosions could already be heard from outside.
I ran out of the cathedral a step late. And thanks to that, I was barely able to see it.
“Die, die, die!!!”
Bayard, with her eyes bloodshot and laughing wildly, was literally blowing up the monsters.
She was nothing but a madwoman.
I silently observed the surroundings.
The monsters that attacked us were the Blade Wolves I had seen before, and skeleton-type monsters wearing bone armor.
Each and every one of them was treated as small fry, but…
The problem was their numbers.
It was a huge army large enough to surround the cathedral.
No matter how skilled I was, it was impossible to face an army of this scale.
That’s what I thought.
“So that’s why she was assigned as the vanguard.”
“That’s right.”
“Is there a possibility of her going berserk and causing friendly fire?”
“If that were the case, she wouldn’t have been able to become a Royal Knight.”
“That’s true.”
I nodded my head at Ruby’s point.
Certainly, if she had that level of flaw, she wouldn’t have been able to become a Royal Knight.
Of course, it’s really scary to see her covered in blood and slaughtering, but…
Still, she’s on our side.
I continued to observe with my arms crossed.
Eventually, the monsters surrounding the cathedral were completely torn to shreds by Bayard in an instant.
“Bayard! That’s enough now!”
“Grrr….”
“Huh?”
“Oh? She doesn’t seem to be in good condition.”
“…!!!”
I hurriedly ran forward. Because Bayard’s bloodshot gaze was directed at us.
Ah, no way.
It can’t be… I had no intention of being optimistic like that.
And thanks to that, I was able to save Ruby.
In a split second when I couldn’t even blink, everything around me turned gray.
Thanks to that, I was able to see it.
Bayard, who had somehow approached right in front of me and was reaching out her blood-stained hand.
Recognizing it, I bent my body and released the time stop.
A very short amount of time passed, not even a second.
However, sensing that I had avoided the attack in that short time, Bayard instinctively attacked me again.
Damn it, I can’t avoid it because of the cooldown…!!
Just as I thought that,
“Huh?”
For some reason, time stopped again.
Why?
Wasn’t it on cooldown?
But there was no time to even feel puzzled.
I immediately released time stop and avoided Bayard’s attack.
“Commander?!”
“It’s dangerous, so stay back!!”
“Raaaaaahhhhh!!”
I gritted my teeth and turned my head.
Although I hadn’t figured it out for sure yet, it was worth experimenting.
I ran forward.
Bayard also attacked me right away.
Just before the powerful front paw swung like a bear’s reached me, time stop activated when faced with the risk of death.
Then I recognized the attack and moved simultaneously while releasing time stop.
A short amount of time, not even a second.
However, even if I avoided the first attack, the next attack came right away.
It was an attack specialized for hunting, like an animal’s instinct. But those attacks never reached me.
I clicked my tongue.
“I never thought there would be an application like this.”
Originally, time stop had a cooldown.
Now, I’d reduced it to about 1.8 times by continuously using it over and over, but still.
However, there was one fact I learned from the fight with Bayard just now.
If I stop time for less than 1 second,
The time stop cooldown didn’t apply.
But the situation didn’t improve.
Because I had to release time stop while recognizing the attack and avoiding it at the same time, there was no room to spare for attacking.
What did that mean?
Save me, fuck.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
What the hell is this situation?
Ruby trembled with her own patheticness.
Even though she had acknowledged him as the commander, he was no different from a newcomer to the Royal Knights.
So, she had to lead him well.
In a way, Ruby had thoughts bordering on overstepping her authority, but those thoughts were shattered by what happened this time.
Was it because she let her guard down since they were close friends?
No, that was not it.
She just couldn’t react.
If the commander hadn’t stepped forward, she probably would have been cut in half by Bayard.
That’s how powerful Bayard’s strength and speed were.
It was only natural.
Bayard was one of the few Royal Knights members recognized by Commander Yuren.
In terms of frontal confrontation, she was someone who could fight toe-to-toe with Commander Yuren.
“He’s avoiding all of the attacks…?!”
And what entered Ruby’s sight was Commander Hans effortlessly avoiding Bayard’s attacks.
But he didn’t attack.
Why?
Why wasn’t he attacking?
If he could avoid attacks so easily, it shouldn’t be difficult to subdue Bayard.
Ruby already knew the reason. Because to the commander, they were family.
That’s why he didn’t want to hurt her.
Unlike that trash.
Inside the cathedral, I saw chairs made by carving wood and symbolic objects made by weaving grass and flowers.
After a while, Bayard, who had gone inside, came back with teacups.
It was a very different impression from what I had heard from Ruby.
Especially now, she couldn’t even make eye contact with me.
Of course, since she had survived that hell, her skills must be solid, but…
Or could it be that her personality changed after experiencing hell?
That’s very possible.
Many of her comrades died right before her eyes, and she almost died herself.
It was only natural to change.
I swallowed my saliva.
From my current position, I had to somehow persuade Bayard, who had fallen this far, and bring her back. But could that be considered the right thing to do?
Bayard had her head completely lowered.
It was heartbreaking to see that, but still, I had to speak.
At that moment, Ruby, who had her feet up on the desk, said,
“Stop pretending now. Let’s go back.”
“S-sorry. I’m useless after all….”
“Ruby, be quiet.”
Even when there was not enough time to slowly persuade her, Ruby was already scratching Bayard’s insides.
Thanks to that, I, who was sitting next to her, was put in a difficult position.
I observed Bayard’s reaction.
Unexpectedly, Bayard was only smiling bitterly.
Instead, her reddish-brown hair and the animal ears on her head were trembling slightly.
It was a tricky situation.
Even if we dragged her by force, at best it would be a minus to our combat power.
She definitely wouldn’t be of any help. But there was no time to slowly persuade her either.
Damn it, what should I do?
“I-I’m sorry. Someone like me is of no help at all….”
“No, that’s not true. Just having you with us is enough.”
“Wh-what?!”
“Commander? Are you proposing to her right now?”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
I was speaking strictly in terms of Bayard being part of the Royal Knights’ forces.
Survivors like Bayard were especially helpful to us.
Not to mention her skills, but above all, she had experience.
The experience of surviving that hell will surely become our flesh and blood.
Plus, she’s a member of the Golden Generation.
She could even take over the position of commander of the Royal Knights for me.
Of course, considering her personality, it would be difficult.
Let’s put that issue aside for now.
She’s already on the verge of deciding whether to return or not.
If I burden her by mentioning the commander position, she’ll run away right away.
I fully understood Bayard’s circumstances.
The depth of the pain she was holding was not something I could dare to predict. But still, I had no choice but to ask.
“Bayard, I need your strength. Could you please help me?”
“Th-that’s….”
“Wait a minute, Commander. There’s a problem we need to solve first.”
“A problem we need to solve?”
I expressed my doubts.
I heard she was close with Bayard.
Did the two of them have some issue?
While I was thinking that, Ruby, who had been sitting still, suddenly took out her weapon.
“We have an uninvited guest.”
“You’re right. It’s not a demon… looks like a monster.”
“A monster…?”
“That’s right. There was a monster following us.”
“….”
So that’s how it was, I didn’t know.
When I looked at Ruby with the intention of asking why she didn’t report it to me, Ruby shrugged her shoulders and said,
“The commander already knew, didn’t you? But you just stayed still, so I stayed quiet too.”
“….”
Please don’t say it as if it’s obvious just because I’m the commander.
I’m not even a real commander in the first place.
I let out a sigh.
Anyway, we were tailed as we came here, but…
No, wait a minute.
This could be an opportunity.
The fact that monsters came here means that the location here has been exposed.
I said to Bayard,
“For now, let’s move to Lionheart Fortress.”
“What? B-but that’s too sudden…!!”
“We have no choice since this location has been discovered.”
“W-well, that’s true. It would be dangerous to stay here….”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
I shouted with joy inside.
I succeeded in somehow bringing her to Lionheart Fortress.
As they say, when bodies are close, hearts naturally move too.
That’s what I was aiming for.
Plus, Cluna was currently at Lionheart Fortress.
Cluna’s warm maternal love would surely be able to embrace the pain Bayard was holding to some extent.
But before that, we needed to deal with the monsters that followed us first.
However, right at that moment, Bayard suddenly burst out of the cathedral door and ran.
What was that?
Why did she do that?
“The engine has already started.”
“The engine has started?”
“That’s right. Why do you think that timid bear took the position of vanguard?”
“….”
“It’s because her personality completely changes when she enters battle!”
Ruby dropped the bomb with a very calm face, as if it were nothing.
So, in simple terms, she has a split personality?
Her personality completely changes when the battle starts?
I shook my head.
So what do you want me to do about it?
What’s the big deal about a split personality?
As long as her skills are solid, I have to somehow make use of even rolling leaves in my current situation.
Kwang! Boom!
It seemed that Ruby’s words weren’t empty talk.
Explosions could already be heard from outside.
I ran out of the cathedral a step late. And thanks to that, I was barely able to see it.
“Die, die, die!!!”
Bayard, with her eyes bloodshot and laughing wildly, was literally blowing up the monsters.
She was nothing but a madwoman.
I silently observed the surroundings.
The monsters that attacked us were the Blade Wolves I had seen before, and skeleton-type monsters wearing bone armor.
Each and every one of them was treated as small fry, but…
The problem was their numbers.
It was a huge army large enough to surround the cathedral.
No matter how skilled I was, it was impossible to face an army of this scale.
That’s what I thought.
“So that’s why she was assigned as the vanguard.”
“That’s right.”
“Is there a possibility of her going berserk and causing friendly fire?”
“If that were the case, she wouldn’t have been able to become a Royal Knight.”
“That’s true.”
I nodded my head at Ruby’s point.
Certainly, if she had that level of flaw, she wouldn’t have been able to become a Royal Knight.
Of course, it’s really scary to see her covered in blood and slaughtering, but…
Still, she’s on our side.
I continued to observe with my arms crossed.
Eventually, the monsters surrounding the cathedral were completely torn to shreds by Bayard in an instant.
“Bayard! That’s enough now!”
“Grrr….”
“Huh?”
“Oh? She doesn’t seem to be in good condition.”
“…!!!”
I hurriedly ran forward. Because Bayard’s bloodshot gaze was directed at us.
Ah, no way.
It can’t be… I had no intention of being optimistic like that.
And thanks to that, I was able to save Ruby.
In a split second when I couldn’t even blink, everything around me turned gray.
Thanks to that, I was able to see it.
Bayard, who had somehow approached right in front of me and was reaching out her blood-stained hand.
Recognizing it, I bent my body and released the time stop.
A very short amount of time passed, not even a second.
However, sensing that I had avoided the attack in that short time, Bayard instinctively attacked me again.
Damn it, I can’t avoid it because of the cooldown…!!
Just as I thought that,
“Huh?”
For some reason, time stopped again.
Why?
Wasn’t it on cooldown?
But there was no time to even feel puzzled.
I immediately released time stop and avoided Bayard’s attack.
“Commander?!”
“It’s dangerous, so stay back!!”
“Raaaaaahhhhh!!”
I gritted my teeth and turned my head.
Although I hadn’t figured it out for sure yet, it was worth experimenting.
I ran forward.
Bayard also attacked me right away.
Just before the powerful front paw swung like a bear’s reached me, time stop activated when faced with the risk of death.
Then I recognized the attack and moved simultaneously while releasing time stop.
A short amount of time, not even a second.
However, even if I avoided the first attack, the next attack came right away.
It was an attack specialized for hunting, like an animal’s instinct. But those attacks never reached me.
I clicked my tongue.
“I never thought there would be an application like this.”
Originally, time stop had a cooldown.
Now, I’d reduced it to about 1.8 times by continuously using it over and over, but still.
However, there was one fact I learned from the fight with Bayard just now.
If I stop time for less than 1 second,
The time stop cooldown didn’t apply.
But the situation didn’t improve.
Because I had to release time stop while recognizing the attack and avoiding it at the same time, there was no room to spare for attacking.
What did that mean?
Save me, fuck.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
What the hell is this situation?
Ruby trembled with her own patheticness.
Even though she had acknowledged him as the commander, he was no different from a newcomer to the Royal Knights.
So, she had to lead him well.
In a way, Ruby had thoughts bordering on overstepping her authority, but those thoughts were shattered by what happened this time.
Was it because she let her guard down since they were close friends?
No, that was not it.
She just couldn’t react.
If the commander hadn’t stepped forward, she probably would have been cut in half by Bayard.
That’s how powerful Bayard’s strength and speed were.
It was only natural.
Bayard was one of the few Royal Knights members recognized by Commander Yuren.
In terms of frontal confrontation, she was someone who could fight toe-to-toe with Commander Yuren.
“He’s avoiding all of the attacks…?!”
And what entered Ruby’s sight was Commander Hans effortlessly avoiding Bayard’s attacks.
But he didn’t attack.
Why?
Why wasn’t he attacking?
If he could avoid attacks so easily, it shouldn’t be difficult to subdue Bayard.
Ruby already knew the reason. Because to the commander, they were family.
That’s why he didn’t want to hurt her.
Unlike that trash.
