(Yukito side)
After feeling my breathing improve, I began to take in my surroundings.
This place wasn't completely empty, but rather the yard of a small place I didn't know what it was.
The building looked made of wood, so it appeared very simple.
But places like this usually hold a bunch of incidents and stories.
Some were built for that, some were built for this… Anyway! Suspicious places like this are naturally owned by people like them.
They must have underestimated me, thinking I couldn't catch up to them. But they're greatly mistaken.
I already obtained an overpowering skill that I got through my own efforts!
(Ehmm… they were all given by Cyve, I'm just joking a little to look cooler)
——
The place looked very quiet, as if there wasn't a crowd inside.
It's possible that only a few of them were inside.
Or maybe, they deliberately made this place look quiet and peaceful.
So their tracks wouldn't be noticed, making it one of their hiding methods.
I walked slowly and carefully toward the front door of the place.
Repeatedly, I glanced to the sides and behind, on guard in case someone ambushed and attacked me.
It could also be that traps had been set around this place that could corner me.
Because of that, every step I took felt full of responsibility.
I wonder, has Rosa-chan regained consciousness now? If so, I hope she can stay calm for a while.
If she fights them, she might get struck by their attacks.
If Rosa-chan can use magic or has extraordinary sword skills, maybe she could manage.
But I've never seen her hold a sword in her hand.
As for magic, I haven't seen it either, but maybe she has some magical abilities and skills I don't know about.
Rosa-chan often reads books, right? Well, she should have read books about magic and the like.
——
(Vern side)
I'm already very cornered now; my leg hurts so much from running nonstop.
I also don't know which part of the city I'm in. I passed through so many alleys to make escape easier.
Repeatedly, I felt extremely thirsty and started to cough. It hurt so much.
I could buy water, but I'm not carrying money right now.
Because I was so worried about the princess, I didn't bother to bring some money.
——
Right now, I'm leaning against the wall of a two-story house.
I'm holding my left elbow because the pain keeps stabbing without end.
A short while ago, one of them shot an arrow at my chest.
Actually I already realized an arrow was flying toward me.
But my reflexes were a bit late, and the arrow ended up embedding in the elbow of my left arm.
Of course, it felt very painful.
But because I wanted to escape from them, I kept running while enduring the excruciating pain in my arm.
After I felt I was far enough from them, I gripped the arrow and in a matter of seconds, I pulled it out from my left hand.
"Ah!" I cried in pain.
My left hand can't be moved right now; it's like someone whose arm bones are broken.
Truly, I hate this pain. But since I'm hurt for Rosa-chan, it's fine.
—
I looked at my elbow again; the bleeding was slowly starting to stop.
If the blood kept flowing without stopping, I could die from blood loss.
"H-heal…" at least I can still use heal even if only a little.
The healing magic I have is lower than the average person who can use this magic.
I can only stop bleeding, or turn a fresh wound into a dry wound. That's all.
I can't handle healing torn skin, damaged internal organs, broken bones, and the like.
Because of that, I didn't develop my healing magic further, since I felt it was better to develop my combat skills.
So that one day, I could protect Rosa-chan with my abilities and make her feel safe behind my protection.
——
I glanced to the right, and saw some of them running toward me.
Because I had stopped too long, it was of course easier for them to chase me.
This time I didn't stand still; while enduring the pain, I could only walk.
But this was better than staying still, and I hoped someone would come to help me.
—
One of them swung his sword at my back.
When I turned, I felt like a long loaf of bread about to be cut into small pieces by a knife.
The sword he held looked very large and sharp, as if it would slice whatever it hit.
All I could do was resign myself to the situation; that was my condition right now.
"Feel this!!" the man shouted.
I immediately closed my eyes so I wouldn't see my life disappear.
—
Instead of my back feeling excruciating pain, I heard the sound of two swords clashing behind me.
Why? What was happening behind me right now?
I turned around, a little worried; I thought they were luring me to look at them.
Then, they would slash my face. But I was very wrong.
I saw a member of the guard force block that sword slash.
Then, about three more people stood behind him.
They stood in front of me, as if protecting me from their attack.
One of these four took out a cloth and tied it around my elbow.
Maybe it was as temporary treatment so the pain could lessen a bit.
They were one of several groups that had split up earlier; I was really lucky to meet them in this situation.
——
Quickly, the sword duel began.
It was more like a one-on-one duel. The others just watched the two of them fight.
The guard force's skill could be considered decent, but it wasn't enough to fight against the power of a member of the anti-kingdom group.
Because of that, I stood up and gripped the shoulder of one guard member.
I said a sentence that made him panic and look worried.
"Can I borrow your sword? I'll finish them all," I said.
Instantly, he looked very panicked. As if he didn't expect me to say something like that in my poor condition.
My left hand really couldn't be moved, but I still had my right hand.
Besides, I'm the type of person more dominant with my right hand. So maybe I could finish them all with just one hand.
—
He finally felt pressured and handed his sword to me.
Quickly, I entered the one-on-one fight with them, and stabbed the stomach of one member of the anti-kingdom group.
Then, I pulled my sword out from his stomach. He collapsed to the ground, perhaps already dead.
But I didn't expect his comrades to flee after seeing my action.
Instead, they prepared themselves, as if ready to face me too.
I felt an overwhelming surge in my chest.
It felt like… I couldn't stop here!!
"I'll finish you all!" I shouted, already consumed by my burning spirit.