The World After Leaving the Hero’s Party

Chapter 17 – “The Beast of White Rock” (2)

Did she really not expect me to refuse?

If there were no tank, maybe. But there were plenty of knights here, and if things went south, I could do it myself.

Besides, we weren’t hunting the Demon King—there was no absolute reason why Leventia had to come along.

There’s a limit to using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.

I simply didn’t want to get involved with her anymore.

“Considering all the humiliation I’ve endured while traveling with you, I’d love nothing more than to slap you right now…”

Her eyes sparkled at my words.

Leventia was hoping I’d lash out at her, wanting to reestablish some kind of relationship, even if it came from anger.

“But my hand would probably hurt, so I’ll pass on that.”

Given her defense stats, I’d probably hurt myself more if I hit her.

“Ah… Uh… Uuuh…”

“You have plenty of other things to do. Go rest.”

I brushed her off with a dismissive remark before turning to the lieutenant.

Her gray eyes were filled with awkward discomfort as I shrugged.

“Let’s go.”

—

The road to the battlefield was shrouded in silence. Everyone seemed weighed down by the events of the day.

The morale was a mess.

I reached for my lute.

“What are you doing?”

“Everyone’s spirits are down. I figure I should lighten the mood.”

Ding~

The sound of the lute’s strings echoed through the battlefield.

Normally, silence was the best policy during military maneuvers, but this atmosphere was suffocating.

Besides, with the current unit, we could handle any monsters that showed up around here.

Ding~ Thwang!

Ah, a sour note.

Maybe I got too distracted thinking about other things. Still, it wasn’t all bad—relief began spreading across the soldiers’ faces as I strummed the strings, the tension easing little by little.

“Haha, even someone like you makes mistakes, Sage?”

“I’m only human, you know.”

“Really… Was that just now ‘Morning on the Frontlines’?”

“Yes. Want to sing it together?”

I plucked the strings again, this time with a lively melody. Soon, the soldiers joined in, their voices carrying the song forward.

“…Hm.”

I glanced to the side.

At the far end of the group, where laughter and singing reverberated through the unit, I spotted three familiar figures.

Activating my Hawkeye skill, I saw them more clearly.

Claire, Leventia, and…

What the hell?

What’s with her ears?

Evangeline staggered along, her gait unsteady.

Her large, dazed eyes and trembling lips told me everything I needed to know in an instant.

She’s not in a normal state either.

—

“Sage?”

“Ah, what was the next line again?”

“Haha, did you forget the lyrics? ‘Strolling through the orange fields~’”

“‘Strolling through the orange fields~ With a hero on a white horse~’”

The louder the singing grew, the more Evangeline’s face twisted.

It made sense.

This was her favorite song.

—

“Strolling through the orange fields~ With a hero on a white horse~”

“A… Ah… Aaah…”

Evangeline clutched her face, trembling as the past surged to the forefront of her mind.

Happy memories. Joyful ones. Moments of warmth and laughter.

They beat relentlessly against her broken body and soul.

He used to sing this song so often.

Its cheerful melody, its uplifting rhythm, always put her at ease.

Sometimes, his voice would falter, and whenever it did, she’d join in, harmonizing with him. At the end of the song, they’d high-five each other with grins on their faces.

“Aaaah… AAAAAAH…!”

As those joyful memories resurfaced, so did an overwhelming guilt.

Ah.

I ruined it all.

I crushed everything.

“Ugh… Uh…”

Even without alcohol or drugs, she was hallucinating.

She saw Hyun Woo standing before her, smiling.

Just as he had when he left.

With that light, unburdened expression.

“Ah… Ah… Aah…”

Droplets of tears fell, one by one, onto the mud-stained battlefield.

Claire, watching her with pity, moved to support her.

But Leventia clenched her sword tightly.

“Look.”

Far ahead, their destination came into view.

A massive, pale monster, shining with a ghostly light that seemed to defy the Red Moon’s glow.

It was a horrifying creature with two dragon heads—one the likes of which they had never seen before.

The unit Hyun Woo was leading was headed straight for it.

“We have to stop them.”

Leventia spoke with a grim determination.

The Sage was strong, yes.

But that monster could regenerate from even the most devastating sword strikes, and ordinary magic attacks wouldn’t even scratch it.

Such a powerful foe could only be dealt with by someone like her.

Knights, soldiers, or priests wouldn’t stand a chance.

“…Let’s go.”

They had been the ones to hurt him.

They had been the ones to break him.

The least they could do was make sure he didn’t get hurt again.

Leventia shuddered as a chill ran through her body.

What if that monster defeated the Sage?

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