The Escort Knight Who Is Being Obsessed Over by the Villainess Wants To Run Away

12. The first test went smoothly and quietly? (1)

Elijah saw the back of Judas, who was moving away.

I can’t see you for the next two days.

‘… ….’

Doubt sprouts under the expressionless face.

Judah avoids his face today.

It’s almost unnatural.

‘Did I notice?’

Did she know that she sometimes visited at night?

Since she slept with Judas, Elijah hadn’t heard the whispers of mad fire.

Perhaps she was a side effect of that, but she kept thinking of Judas.

A cold aura flows through her body when touched.

The feeling that touched her heart.

The peace that puts her to sleep even after the repeated nightmares after her mother’s death.

Now the urge to reach out to Judas surged.

Elijah fought that urge every day.

Compared to Mad Fire, it was an attribute that could be overcome.

She held it in.

She’s not belatedly trying to save face as her aristocrat.

She had a nightmare.

She had such an obligation.

She must have died lonely in a place she never saw.

The scream she burned in the dark trail.

She had to force herself to feel the horror.

Even if she suffered, she had to endure the horror.

To hack her mind and harden herself. She

She couldn’t just give herself a rest.

At first, she feared that she had already died.

It was enough for the first time to be afraid of seeing the vision of Sardis.

She somehow endured.

She had to be brutal if she was to be.

To kill anything that threatens you.

Narcissus and Balak who killed her mother.

She has to clear even the assassin guild that carried out the mission.

You must become stronger and stronger.

Accordingly, Elijah suppressed her urge to visit Judas.

She tried hard to push away the memory, as vivid as the first footprints on the snowy field.

Then she went secretly, very occasionally, when she couldn’t fall asleep.

She looked down at the sleeping Judas and carefully took her hand.

As if she had waited, a cold energy flowed through her body.

She hugged me so that the boiling fire would not overflow.

‘There’s no way Judas noticed that. Clearly.’

Last night.

That’s why it happened this morning.

I was holding the hand of the sleeping Judas, but he tossed and turned greatly.

Elijah, who had been enjoying the cold for a long time, panicked.

What if he wakes up?

I couldn’t even reach the point of letting go of her hand and using her teleport.

Instead, she covered his eyes with one hand.

Then Judas’ mouth opened.

A mumbling voice in sleep.

“Ummm…. It’s still night….”

“… ….”

Then she fell asleep again.

Elijah let out a sigh of relief and held her hand.

At that time, Judas muttered in his sleep.

“Elijah…. No….”

I laughed out loud.

I was curious at the same time.

Is she dreaming of her own?

She herself met Judas several times in her dreams.

She as a cold light crashing into herself like a comet.

What would she look like in someone else’s dream?

It was rude to call my name carelessly, but I decided to move on.

However, only Judas knew that Elijah had climbed on top of Judas and strangled her in the dream.

Anyway.

Judah is as frank as an idiot, and he is bad at lying.

If he had known about the visit at night, it would have been obvious the moment he found out.

‘Hmm…. I don’t know why you’re doing that You can ask me later.’

That’s not what’s important.

The fact that she wouldn’t be able to see Judas for the next two days made her uncomfortable for some reason.

Even she couldn’t figure out why it was uncomfortable.

‘I want Judas… I don’t even have to see it.’

Elijah calmed her weakly shaking heart.

Don’t depend on it.

If you depend on it, you become special, and if you are special, you become a weakness.

Weakness is the shortcut to defeat.

“Gawain.”

“Yes. Miss.”

“Are there enough guards around the testing area?”

Balak targets Judah.

Thus, Elijah, as the master of Judah, needed to guard against and stop him.

“I have carried out all the instructions as instructed.”

“Yes. I’ll believe it.”

I’m done checking.

Judas also left.

Now Elijah has to go back to work.

She didn’t know why her feet didn’t come off.

I only tinkered with the petty cat doll.

***

She was relieved until she met Lindel and Feline.

She’d be able to pass the test without incident.

I was conceited.

It’s not going to be that easy.

‘Looking at the smoke from the bonfire, I expected that someone might come, but I really didn’t expect it to come right away.’

Feline was eliminated from her last exam because of her ally’s betrayal.

The reason is that she quarreled over food and drinking water.

She couldn’t prove she was betrayed.

‘This is why she didn’t want to run into anyone other than Lindel and Felin….

Sabak, Sabak.

Someone is approaching.

This is an unavoidable situation.

I carefully drew out my sword and shield.

Lindel and Feline were also nervous and pulled out their swords.

‘Please, I hope you are not the only one sent by Balak….’

Soon after, the bushes parted and the figures of the two appeared.

Perhaps they were nervous, both of them had their weapons drawn.

‘It’s a candidate! It’s not close, but it’s a familiar face.’

“Oh… ! What a man!”

One of them said excitedly.

“You guys started the fire right? Let’s go together!”

The two of them tried to join our party as if it were natural.

The action of lowering the weapon, the smiling face.

It is the appearance of the wariness disappearing right away.

It doesn’t look dangerous.

But I didn’t reap my weapon.

“Please wait.”

At my hostile appearance, the two of them hesitated as if embarrassed.

“Why is that… ?”

“You, that newcomer, Judas, right? I think I misunderstood something, but this test is not for us to fight among ourselves.”

I was relieved, too, but I couldn’t show it off.

‘Looking back, there is little chance that Balak was the sender. Because I approached him in a very sloppy manner.’

Anyway, there is another reason why I didn’t let my guard down.

“It’s not like that. It’s just that there are people I know who were betrayed and dropped out.”

I didn’t mention Felin.

If you dare to reveal it, it may seem easy.

I don’t know if it’s okay to trust them yet.

Felin didn’t act suspiciously either.

“Ah….”

For an acceptable reason, the two stopped and nodded.

“But those two next to me…. Ah, it’s the same room 13.”

“Let’s talk among ourselves for a moment.”

I dragged Lindell and Felin to a place a few steps away from them.

“How would you like to do it?”

It’s hard to blindly trust those two.

But it is also true that it becomes more convenient as the number of people increases.

We are three. Two over there.

If there is a disturbance, it is worth it.

Also, I am aware that I am overly sensitive and vigilant.

It has to be.

I don’t know the names of either of them, but I’ve seen their faces a few times.

When I come and go from the training center, I often encounter people who are jealous of me and make me uncomfortable.

The two of them are candidates like that.

“Ummm…. What do you think, Judas?”

“To be honest, the more people there are, the better. Staying vigil at night, finding food, and responding when encountering wild animals. It’s convenient in many ways. However, food and drinking water must be shared among more people.”

“Um….”

Worryingly, Lindell said.

“Anyway, since we are three, wouldn’t it be okay?”

However, Felin was a bit negative.

“Even so, you never know what will happen all of a sudden….”

“Do you know who those people are?”

“The tall guy over there is Brown. Room 4. Next to him is Connor, who is smaller than Brown and has a good-looking, curly hair. Was it Room 18? I only know that much.”

“I will follow your decision, Judas.”

Lindel agrees.

Felin delegated the choice to me.

Lindel looked at me too.

As if I had to decide.

I didn’t think long.

“Let’s go together.”

Brown sighed in relief at my suggestion, and Conor laughed heartily.

“Thank God…. I got to go with a guy who knows how to make a fire.”

“Yes, well thought out.”

Only then did everyone gather their weapons and move one step closer.

“It’s a corner. It’s the 11th generation.”

“Brown. I am also an 11th grader.”

We exchanged simple greetings.

It is said that the two met by chance while passing through a forest.

After going around together, he came to see the smoke rising in the distance.

Somehow naturally, I became the center of them.

I’m the youngest and also the youngest, so can I be like this?

“But where are we going now?”

Connor asked casually.

“First of all….”

I used [Survival expert] While dragging the answer.

Instantly, information and clues that I couldn’t have known came to mind.

‘I have to get up high and understand my surroundings.’

I looked around for a while.

A forest with nothing but dirt, grass, and trees.

How do I find a place that is high enough and open to see the surroundings from here?

There was no way I knew such things as survival knowledge.

However, in my field of vision, a certain tree was particularly clear.

Unlike the other trees, only that seems to shine. It was the tree the [Survival Specialist] Attribute pointed to.

“I’ll have to look for a higher place.”

“A high place?”

“Yes. Wait a minute.”

When I approached the tree and checked it, I could see why it was pointed at.

It is taller than the surrounding trees and looks easy to climb.

It is bumpy, so there are many places to step on.

I kicked a tree.

It’s strong.

“I will go up and look around.”

“What… Is it possible?”

Brown said anxiously.

I climbed trees by holding on to the protruding parts or stepping on them.

“It looks like a monkey….”

It wasn’t difficult to climb to the top.

There is also a tree that is easy to climb, and I have done similar training to this in my previous life.

‘Hmm. Now that I’ve come up, I think I know.’

The forest in winter was a sea of brown.

Trees that took off their leaves and dried up were packed.

I have to spend the next two days here.

I’m at a loss, but thanks to the survival expert, I’ll have a direction on what to do next.

‘There is a valley.’

A clear gap in the middle of the forest.

A valley where water flows.

The characteristics told me to go to the water’s edge.

“There is a valley nearby.”

After coming down from the tree, he said while shaking his palms.

“First, I will go to the valley, and then I will find a flat terrain close to the water. All you have to do is set up camp in a suitable location. Water is nearby, and you can get food from fish.”

“Ohh….”

The four admired at once.

‘… I feel weird.’

I know thanks to a survival expert, but I don’t know if it wasn’t for that.

It feels strange to be praised for something like that.

‘I don’t think I should be proud, but for some reason it’s even weirder because I’m proud….’

“I wasn’t complaining too much.”

“You know what? I knew you were an unusual newcomer, but….”

“It’s not normal when you beat Gulliot.”

Brown and Connor exchanged compliments on me.

Among them, Connor out of the blue put his shoulder on me.

It sticks too much.

I know you usually glance at me.

‘These guys are more than compliments…. It feels flattering.’

I slipped my arm away.

Connor smiled shyly.

“Where did you learn this?”

“Aren’t you secretly studying somewhere?”

Felin and Lindel asked with great enthusiasm.

I was ashamed to look into the distance and answered.

“Just what…. I happened to…. Anyway, let’s move. This way.”

I hurriedly walked towards the valley.

If possible, finding a valley early and settling down is advantageous for preserving physical strength.

To make sure they were walking straight, they picked up rocks and scratched each large tree.

“What are you doing?”

Lindel asked.

“It’s a sign that you’re on the right track. After you make a nick like this, look back once in a while to know if you are going straight.”

“Wow….”

“You are the boss. That seems right.”

Brown tapped me on the shoulder and said.

This side is more careful than the corner.

The next thing to do comes to mind one by one.

‘There are three candidates for a place to settle down. Near the water’s edge. Cave. On the tree.’

Each has different strengths and weaknesses.

It is easy to find water near the water’s edge, but there is a high probability of encountering wild animals.

Caves are hard to find, just as wild animals can be encountered, and it is difficult to escape.

However, a cozy space is guaranteed.

It may be dangerous and uncomfortable to climb up a tree, but you are safe from animal threats.

‘But there are five of us. Then it wouldn’t be necessary to go to caves and trees.’

Naturally, unnecessary options are reduced, leaving only candidates near the waterfront.

‘I felt it when I used Hunter’s Sense, but it’s a trait… It’s comfortable.’

*

We quickly found the valley.

I touched the valley while stepping on pebbles.

“Ugh….”

I touched my hand, but my whole body is cold.

“Wow…. Finding water so quickly….”

Lindel seemed curious about this situation.

“The terrain here is so rugged. Let’s find a flatter place.”

The other four followed me without question.

When I went downstream, I came across relatively flat land.

The depth of the river was also shallow.

I can’t go in and check, but the deepest part seems to be around my waist.

Fish pass under the clear water.

“How about staying here for two days?”

“I will do as you say.”

Lindel answered as the representative, and the others nodded to see if there was any disagreement.

It’s nice to be comfortable.

First, we set up a simple trap on the river, and then we started making a simple tent.

A crude tent made of twigs, vines and leaves, but better than nothing.

Of course, none of them knew how to make a tent.

But I have the trait of being a survival expert.

I instructed my teammates as the characteristics indicated.

Occasionally someone made a mistake, so I corrected it.

“Like this?”

“No. Not there, like weaving the ends together….”

It’s like this.

The entrance is triangular, and we completed one by one the tents that get narrower as we go inside.

“Where do you really learn from? Like this?”

Feline asked, placing leaves on the roof.

“Just what…. I learned it because I survived.”

“Acquired?”

“That… , I learned it naturally.”

“I see. That’s great.”

It’s embarrassing to see everyone admiring each one with an innocent expression while taking turns.

Especially because he often met Elijah.

If it were Elijah, he would have reacted the same way with a strange smile.

I don’t believe it at all, but with the feeling that it will pass.

With a look like that, everything is in the palm of her hand anyway….

‘… Why am I thinking of him? It reminds me of a choking scene….’

The simple tent was completed, and a bonfire was lit in the center.

We also made and installed a device that will make a sound when a wild animal approaches.

At most, it’s the sound of branches breaking, but that’s enough.

By the time the three fish were caught in a simple trap, the sun had set quite a bit.

I placed a wooden hook over the campfire, put a canteen on it, and boiled water.

“Wasn’t it just that you shouldn’t drink?”

“Because you never know.”

Aren’t there parasites or something like that?

“I just drank until now…. I know everything.”

Around the time Connor muttered blankly, the person who had gone hunting returned.

Lindel, Feline, Brown.

The three were a hunting team.

As a guideline, keep the corner and brown apart.

The three of us will always find an advantage by force.

I thought I could fill Connor with my bare hands, so just the two of us stayed at the camp.

“Did you catch some?”

Connor asked and Brown shook his hand.

It was a rabbit.

Two rabbits were hunted.

And three fish.

It wasn’t plentiful, but each person got something to eat.

“But can I just bake this?”

“Long term… Shouldn’t we take out the same thing?”

As I said, I don’t know how to slaughter either.

The senses of survival experts and hunters don’t tell you that far.

“I’ll do it.”

Fortunately, Lindell stepped out.

He took the rabbit to the water’s edge, skinned it, and removed its organs.

The fish went through a similar process.

“I never thought this exam would be such a leisurely one….”

Felin muttered blankly as he watched the food being smoked over the campfire.

“I mean.”

Brown also agreed.

“It’s almost pitiful that I gave up on finding my way last time because it was difficult.”

“Because I was thirsty, so I beat you? But here there is water right next to it. Huh, really….”

“Judas.”

Following Connor’s complaints, Lindell.

He grinned at me.

“It’s all thanks to you. Thank you.”

“No, well, that much….”

That’s right.

Find a way, build a tent, build a fire, and more.

I made almost everything with my help.

The same goes for fish and rabbits.

I checked the path with the senses of a hunter and set a trap.

However, I am weak to such direct compliments.

It’s not even my own ability.

Because it was thanks to the characteristics.

“… It looks like it’s done, so let’s eat it.”

So I hurriedly turned around.

“Judas, you choose first.”

Five food.

Two of them were rabbit meat and three fish.

Rabbit was bigger and more quantity than fish.

I tend not to hesitate or yield at times like this.

“Then I will be happy.”

I immediately chose the biggest rabbit meat.

It’s embarrassing to praise, but it’s true that I did well.

Can I eat this much?

The four of us decided on the rest by playing rock-paper-scissors.

It is not a full meal.

I even skipped lunch.

But not bad for a first meal after being tossed into the wild.

The taste of rabbit meat, which I had never tasted before, was also good.

‘Puffy and chewy.’

That must mean high protein content.

‘I need to eat carbs and fat too…. It would be a luxury in an environment like this.’

Everyone ate and talked about miscellaneous things.

Life at the training camp, exams, the Bebel family, and more. A worthless chatter.

Crackling, bonfires burned, and the valley water rippled.

It’s a peaceful noise.

In the meantime, Connor, who had finished eating the fish first, touched Feline.

“Hey. Share some of that.”

“What?”

“Seeing how fast you eat, I can’t even eat it all, so please give me some.”

“… Nope.”

“How much is it….”

Somehow the atmosphere got weird.

Lindel and Brown also kept their mouths shut and watched them.

Before you get offended, I intervened.

“Let’s do that. It’s a share shared by each.”

“… Uh, that, yeah sorry.”

Connor didn’t argue with me.

She scratched the back of her head as if embarrassed and stepped back.

‘Is it strong and weak?’

There is nothing to be surprised about.

There is not one or two people like that.

I set a night watch after dinner.

Two people stand vigil, and one person is replaced.

“People change every two hours. However, since we don’t have a watch, it’s up to each conscience to wake up the next person. Then the order….”

“Yuda, you just rest.”

Lindel said.

“To be honest, I would have been nothing without you. You don’t have to stay up all night.”

Feline nodded her head as if to say so.

However, Brown and Connor did not react immediately.

I want to oppose it, but I seem to be paying attention.

‘Now that I’m full and safe, I’m starting to feel comfortable.’

It’s not a face you’ll see often after tomorrow, anyway.

It stings my conscience to skip my night watch at all.

I have no intention of giving in.

“Then I will only stand the first night watch.”

Brown and Connor agreed.

*

Tak, tadak.

I woke up to the sound of sparks burning in a bonfire.

It is quiet and dark.

Maybe it’s still dawn.

‘Did I break it….’

I couldn’t even fall asleep in the first place.

Brown and Connor.

At first I thought it was okay, but then I became more and more uncomfortable with it.

That bothered me, so I couldn’t fall asleep.

‘Why are my hands so empty…. Maybe it’s because they don’t do grip exercises separately.’

When she raises her head, she sees the back of two people.

We sat side by side with a campfire in front of us.

‘You have to sit facing each other to minimize blind spots, but I couldn’t tell you that….’

They were Brown and Connor.

When I calculated the order, it must have been about 4 hours since I fell asleep.

I heard a small conversation.

“… Therefore. You act like you know what it is. I should do my best.”

Brown.

“Did you see that I told you to be moderate? I’m dumbfounded…. His expression when he takes his arm off is also arrogant.”

Corner.

‘… Gossip?’

“I was about to step on it on the spot, tsk. Still, I endured it because I thought I would easily pass the test.”

“Do you look confident?”

“A kid like that, ask something obvious.”

“Oh~ Guliott won too?”

“Gulliot That’s big, but it’s no big deal. I could have won if I did well. It’s not that the rumors are circulating for nothing.”

A tone and voice mixed with mocking laughter.

Both were the same.

I feel bad, but it’s so obvious that it’s not too bad.

I knew roughly what these guys would be like.

It’s boring and clichéd enough.

‘Those who won’t be seen after this test anyway…. But what kind of rumors are you talking about?’

Just don’t betray us out of the blue.

It’s a little different from when I was in Gulliot.

Right now, even with those guys, being together is advantageous to survival.

‘In the first place, the goal was to only capture the moon deer, but defeating them was an accident.’

Who doesn’t like to gossip?

I especially hate it.

Because I’m the type of person who doesn’t say things I can’t say in front of me, even behind my back.

‘At this point, I’m practicing to kill my temper, so what….’

Instead, sleeping was bad.

“Hey, but are you going to be Elijah’s escort driver?”

“If you tell me to, I will do it.”

“But you’re an illegitimate child….”

‘… ….’

“Ah, indeed. That’s a bit odd, but aren’t we in a position to cover that up?”

“Whatever…. Wouldn’t it be better if it went under another Bevel direct line? I’m thinking about getting out of here and giving it a try….”

“Would you take a look at guys like us in the pure blood line?”

An illegitimate child. Elijah.

I heard the two of them clearly, letter by letter.

It stuck in my ear even though I didn’t want to hear it.

I couldn’t close my eyes.

If the person concerned does not listen, even the gods curse.

In this world, maybe God doesn’t curse.

Instead, they will curse even the emperor.

I know, but….

“Hey, hey. Wake up.”

Connor said.

The next vigil will probably be Lindell.

Connor will be shifting.

“Uh, uh uh…. Is it my turn already?”

Lindel asked in a low voice.

“Uh. Hurry up and wake up.”

“Yes….”

Lindel jumped up, stretched her and sat down by her campfire.

By the way, Connor didn’t immediately lie down in his tent.

“Hey, but let’s ask one question.”

“What is it?”

“Are you really good at fighting?”

“… Judah?”

“Uh.”

“Didn’t you see the fight with Gulliot?”

“No, I did. But how do you know it could be a coincidence?”

Brown giggled beside him.

“If you know that, isn’t it a big deal? What do you think? Come to think of it, didn’t you almost get into a fight with him?”

A situation in which you are forced to gossip.

Lindell was silent for quite some time, then she spoke.

This is also quite familiar.

Trying to intrude into her gossip while creating an intimidating atmosphere to stir up alienation.

“Don’t do anything childish and go to sleep.”

“… What?”

“If it wasn’t for Judas, there wouldn’t be such a comfortable bed….”

“Ha. Look at him.”

The air has become harsh.

“Should I just knock these bastards out while they are sleeping?”

“I will stay still….”

Lindell was about to say something, but shut her mouth.

He raised his head and looked at me.

I arrived at the back of the corner before I knew it.

While using [Sneaky Step].

A low voice pops out as if warning.

“Try it.”

Reach out your hand.

I wrap my left arm around Connor’s neck and grab my right forearm.

I put my right hand on my shoulder.

As it is, press down on the opponent’s neck with all your might.

Recognition is slow and the process is specific, but the body remembers all the movements at the same time.

Commonly, a technique called ‘rear naked choke’.

If translated, it becomes the technical name of judo.

‘Bare-handed stranglehold.’

“If you can.”

“Ouch… ?!”

Connor grabbed my arm, but it was too late.

It went in properly.

3 Seconds to faint.

‘3, 2, 1.’

Connor’s eyes rolled and his body slumped.

I just threw it on the floor.

Breaking it further leads to brain damage.

“Yu, Yuda….”

Lindel looked up with a puzzled face.

I approached Brown, who was sitting on the floor.

The frightened eyes tremble.

“You, you… ! What are you doing! You will be eliminated if you do this!”

“I know.”

“What… ?”

“I know. You guys are dropping, and I’m thinking of dropping out too.”

He hurriedly stood up and raised a wooden sword and aimed it at it.

I also picked up the wooden sword and shield that had fallen beside me.

There is a degree to being patient.

I tried to put up with my backbiting.

But these two crossed my threshold.

As much as touching myself, I hate touching people close to me.

I can’t do it.

Either drop out or not.

Toward the tip of Brown’s swinging sword, I charged first.