TSMMT Ch 39

What Should I Do?

A cutting wind sliced off the head of the rabbit monster, the Lepus. However, Sylph was only one spirit, and a Lepus leaping at Dianna's arm bit the girl's shoulder.

Crunch!

Blood sprayed. She clenched her teeth against the immense pain. Sylph quickly severed the necks of the remaining Lepus.

[Guiscard] "My Lady!"

Guiscard shouted, grabbing her hand.

White, snowball-like creatures rolled out from the brush. They were cute in appearance, but the sight sent chills down the spine. A single creature possessed no great power, but once they gathered into a swarm, they became terrifying monsters.

She knew this well. These were the monsters from long ago, encountered during the journey from Panborough to the Lodbrog Kingdom. How could anyone forget such terrifying creatures?

Guiscard ran while holding her hand. Watching his back, Dianna considered it a relief.

Leaving Guiscard to die would have made everything easier.

The thought flashed through her mind too late, but her body had moved first.

How ridiculous. I rushed to save him without a single moment of hesitation.

It wasn't because this was the right path mentioned in the prophecy, but because I didn't want him to get hurt. Even so, it is not bad. For now, I am alive.

Her arm throbbed with pain, but she was safe. A second later, and the monster would have bitten her neck, turning her into food.

She ordered Sylph to cut down the pursuing monsters. She never expected the necklace from Sasha to prove so useful.

Monsters born by chance from the remnants of darkness created by God, and spirits born by chance from the gathering of life in the world created by God. Their existences were exact opposites; Sylph displayed far greater power against monsters than against humans.

Dianna and Guiscard ran deep into the forest, leaving the Lepus swarm behind. Yet, at a certain moment, they realized their mistake. They were no longer outside the safe perimeter of the woods; they had entered deep inside the forest. The cunning Lepus had driven them straight into the heart of the monster-infested forest.

They had become prey.

Chills broke out over her skin. Yet, Dianna could do nothing. If they stopped now, the multiplying pack of Lepus would devour them.

I should have trained harder to summon more spirits!

She had neglected her studies because she was too busy. She bit her lip. In truth, even reading books didn't make summoning intermediate spirits easy. The most crucial factor was affinity, but she had no idea how to raise it.

[Dianna] "Ah!"

She slipped on something slick and tumbled down. Guiscard turned around and helped her back up. She also turned back to look for the Lepus.

However, the creatures were gone.

What is it? Did they grow tired of chasing us and disappear?

An ominous feeling washed over her. Strangely, they had not run into a single person.

Why is no one here?

Dianna stood blankly, considering the possibilities. First, they might have missed the others. Second, they might have wandered into a place people avoided. Third......

Everyone fled because of danger.

But why was the rock slippery? Was it due to moisture? The dragon-infested swamplands should be far away.

Did the snow melt......?

Dianna looked down at what caused her fall. It gleamed under the sunlight piercing through the suddenly dense fog. They were scales.

The moment she lifted her head in surprise, she locked eyes with a pair of yellow eyes staring back at her. Where she expected a snake's head, a human head rested instead. It was the face of an incredibly beautiful young girl.

Ah. A...... snake monster. Such a massive snake monster.

Now she understood why the Lepus fled. They were running away to escape this massive beast.

The monster exuded extreme danger. Danger signals flared in her mind, but shock froze her movements.

Am I going to die like this? Then again, escaping a creature like that is impossible anyway.

My struggles were utterly useless. I tried to live a different life, only to end up devoured by a monster.

The beast grinned at her, then tore its jaws wide open to swallow her whole. The beautiful girl's face twisted into a hideous monster.

The air turned suffocating, like standing in the middle of hell. Dianna only wished for the creature to grant her a painless death.

[Guiscard] "Snap out of it!"

His voice snapped her back to reality. Guiscard blocked the plunging head of the snake monster with his sword, then, yanking her hand, dragged her away. Entirely dazed, she let him pull her along.

They had to escape. But how? This was an unknown forest. The monster surely knew the terrain much better.

[Monster] "Children! Children! Where are you going?"

A hissing voice echoed. It sounded so soft and sweet that it sent chills down the spine. It possessed the ability to speak human language.

[Monster] "Children! Are we playing hide-and-seek? Hurry and run! Hahaha!"

Tears welled up in Dianna's eyes. Sheer terror, incomparable to the threat of the Lepus, consumed her.

[Monster] "But children, if I catch you quickly, I won't make it hurt."

Her breath hitched in her throat. Who claimed that crises granted superhuman strength? The human body was fragile. Dianna was a noble girl who had never undergone physical training, a thirteen-year-old girl with short legs.

[Monster] "But if I catch you later, I'll tear you apart piece by piece! An arm here, a leg there! I'll make sure the poison keeps you from dying!"

The words sounded like a voice straight from hell. However, Guiscard gripped her hand and lunged into an opening. It was a cave.

He pushed her inside first, barely managing to squeeze into the cave himself. Dianna gasped for air, but he instantly covered her mouth.

[Monster] "Children, children......?"

The monster's voice drifted away. Dianna fought to suppress her ragged breathing. Suffocation threatened to overwhelm her. Clutching his collar tightly, she shook violently.

[Monster] "Children, where are you?!"

The snake monster's voice faded into the distance. The moment Guiscard removed his hand, she gasped for breath. Tears streamed down her face. The cave provided enough space to sit, but it was far too narrow to lie down or keep any distance.

[Dianna] "This place is......"

[Guiscard] "A cave."

[Dianna] "How did you know about this place?"

[Guiscard] "As I ran, I remembered the path."

Remembered the path? This is the Forest of the Abyss.

As if anticipating Dianna's confusion, he spoke.

[Guiscard] "I had forgotten that I ever came here before."

How could he have visited this forest?

[Dianna] "What do you mean you came here? By yourself?"

[Guiscard] "Of course not...... I came here with my mother."

His mother? Herya? He came to this forest with Herya?

The mystery only deepened.

He looked past the cave entrance, out toward the woods.

[Dianna] "Guiscard, do you remember the way out then?"

[Guiscard] "Unfortunately, I only just recalled this as well. It is a child's memory. I only possess fragmented pieces of it."

Dianna let out a long sigh. They were separated from the group and poised to become food for a snake monster.

What...... what should I do?

[Guiscard] "I have a question."

[Dianna] "Ask. I will answer anything except how to get out of here."

[Guiscard] "Why on earth did you save me?"

Did that even matter right now? She frowned, looking at Guiscard. He scowled right back as he spoke.

[Guiscard] "Am I not a mere slave? A filthy slave in your eyes."

[Dianna] "What are you......"

[Guiscard] "Why would someone of noble blood risk themselves to save someone like me?"

If we are talking about noble blood, wouldn't he, a royal, hold the higher title......?

Of course, that didn't matter right now.

[Dianna] "Just because."

[Guiscard] "Just because?"

Prompted to explain further, she muttered.

[Dianna] "Really, just because......"

[Guiscard] "Are you insane? You must have lost your mind! Is that why you took this injury too?!"

[Dianna] "Guiscard, your voice is too loud."

At her warning, he lowered his voice but glared fiercely at her.

[Guiscard] "Injuring your own arm for a slave who was actively considering betraying his master. What utter foolishness!"

[Dianna] "Wait, you were considering betraying me? What does that mean?"

[Guiscard] "Do you consider yourself a good master?"

[Dianna] "What are you talking about?"

His words left her entirely bewildered.

Guiscard planned to betray me? Not fully betraying, but considering it?

[Guiscard] "Young Master ordered me to put you in danger. He wanted me to ensure you were crippled or left with a scarred face."

[Dianna] "......What?"

[Guiscard] "He told me to lure you into a dangerous trap, but I refused to follow his orders. As you can see, I didn't want this situation to happen."

Dianna recalled Emil's recent actions. He had become exceptionally affectionate lately. It made no sense. Yet, as the images of Mirva and Emil merged in her mind, hrt face turned pale. She looked down at her bright red hat and cloak.

Emil had bought this red outfit, claiming it would suit her beautifully. Because he presented it as an apology, she had gladly worn it.

With a trembling hand, she smelled the fabric of the hat. A sharp, grassy scent wafted up. The Lepus absolutely loved this sharp scent.

[Dianna] "Y-You are lying."

[Guiscard] "It is the truth."

His blunt reply caused her eyes to burn with tears.

What is going on?

Observing her confusion, he spoke.

[Guiscard] "In the first place, when an ill-tempered brother suddenly acts kind, you ought to suspect something."

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "If he merely wanted to help, he could have sent me to the battlefield alone. Why did you insist on coming here?"

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "Is that all? Even if those monsters bit me, I would not have died. A bite to the neck would prove dangerous, but the collar protects me, preventing any fatal wounds."

[Dianna] "Ah......"

[Guiscard] "Yet you foolishly shoved me aside just to save a single slave, turning everything into this disaster."

He spoke the absolute truth.

Dianna bit her lip. The calm, serene expression she always maintained had shattered long ago. She gripped her hat tightly.

Emil's betrayal was one thing, but for now, she needed a plan to escape. Yet, nothing came to mind.

[Dianna] "W-What should I do?"

[Guiscard] "What?"

[Dianna] "Guiscard, I was so foolish."

[Guiscard] "What do you mean by that, My Lady?"

Instead of regaining her composure to argue or snap back, she completely sank into despair upon hearing Guiscard's criticism.

[Dianna] "How do we escape? We are going to die here. We are completely ruined."

[Guiscard] "My Lady."

[Dianna] "Telling Barot to help you escape would have been the easiest way after all. Why did I let greed get the better of me......"

[Guiscard] "What?"

She began to weep, uttering words he couldn't comprehend.

[Dianna] "M-Mother."

She cried out for her mother like any ordinary thirteen-year-old child.

Wait, she acts like a helpless child now? In this situation?

Guiscard stared blankly at Dianna as tears streamed down her face.

Watching her composure crumble entirely...... he felt a deep certainty that they were ruined.

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