After narrowly escaping the encirclement of bandits with a desperate resolve, we somehow managed to shake off their pursuit.
But still, we can’t afford to let our guard down just yet…
For now, we’re taking a break.
I’m sitting down for a moment to catch my breath.
It’s been over five minutes, but my heart is still racing.
If Phil hadn’t been there back then, I would have undoubtedly died.
No, dying might have been the better outcome.
In reality, I would have been violated and sold off.
“How many of us are left alive?”
The captain finally begins to assess the situation, his voice barely audible as he looks around.
Shouldn’t that have been the first thing he asked?
Anger and frustration well up inside me.
“About half of us, I think…”
“W-what?! That can’t be!”
When the aide-like man reports the numbers, the captain collapses to his knees, unable to support himself any longer.
Even though half of us survived, it’s still shocking.
For an official expeditionary force sent from the capital to be defeated by mere bandits—it’s nothing short of disgraceful.
“As soon as the break is over, we’ll turn back and launch a counterattack!”
“Huh!?”
The captain starts spouting insane nonsense.
Everyone turns to protest in unison.
Of course they do—launching a counterattack in this situation is pure madness.
“Do you fools think it’s acceptable to lose to mere bandits!?”
“But sir, the enemy vastly outnumbered us beyond our expectations!”
“I don’t care about that! If we retreat now, my reputation will be ruined…!”
At that moment, the captain seems to realize what he just said and falls silent.
In other words, this man intends to sacrifice all the soldiers here just to preserve his reputation.
That’s unforgivable.
Everyone else glares at the captain too.
“W-what are you looking at!? I’m a baron, you know!? Are you defying a baron!?”
With that, the soldiers who seem to be the captain’s aides surround him protectively.
Their equipment is top-notch, and it’s clear they’ve undergone rigorous training—far superior to what we lowly knights have received.
“Listen carefully. You’ll either die by my hand here or achieve an honorable death in battle. You’d better think about your families!”
Families…
If I defy the baron and get killed here, it’ll definitely cause trouble for my father, a low-ranking knight.
And if that happens, my siblings will end up on the streets…
B-but!
Charging into the bandits’ stronghold, which has more than double our numbers, is like walking straight to our deaths.
No, no way.
I don’t want to die…
I’m scared of dying.
Why did I choose this path to make my life slightly better, only to have to die at the very first step…?
“If you don’t run away now, y-you’ll die too, you know!?”
Summoning every ounce of courage, I shout back at the captain.
The captain, pale-faced and drenched in cold sweat, smirks as he looks at me.
“That’s fine by me! Rather than fleeing from the bandits and tarnishing my family’s honor, an honorable death is far better! If you want to become nobility, you should have the resolve to die for your family!”
It’s no use—he’s completely lost it.
He’s fully prepared to drag us all down with him.
Sure, maybe that’s admirable from a noble’s perspective.
But sacrificing dozens of lives for the sake of honor alone? That’s…
“Rize, scatter them.”
“…Understood.”
Suddenly, the guards in front of us collapse.
Well, to be precise, they were knocked down by a single girl—Rize.
Phil, what are you planning to do…?
“It’s commendable that you’re resolved to die for your family, but we don’t have time to negotiate anymore.”
“W-what are you…?”
Before the now-unprotected captain, Phil stands with his sword drawn.
The captain sits on the ground, looking up at Phil in shock.
The scene feels like a dramatic tableau from a play.
“You and your followers will receive an honorable death. You’ll be remembered as heroes who sacrificed yourselves to protect us lowly knights.”
“D-don’t mock me!”
“I’m not mocking you. Can’t you hear it? The enemy is almost here. Ideally, I’d prefer to calmly negotiate a solution, but unfortunately, we don’t have the time.”
“W-wait! Please wait…!”
“Don’t beg for your life. Weren’t you prepared to die?”
“S-stop! Don’t do it!!”
Ignoring the captain’s pleas, Phil thrusts his sword into him.
The captain writhes briefly before going still.
Looking to the side, I see Rize finishing off the captain’s aides as well.
“Alright, that’s done. Everyone, let’s escape!”
“Eh, eh…?”
The surrounding soldiers are dumbfounded, unsure of what just happened.
Honestly, I’m one of them…
“There’s no time to hesitate! The enemy is already right in front of us!”
When I strain my ears, I can indeed hear footsteps and commotion growing louder.
The bandits are closing in on us.
My body trembles uncontrollably.
Calm down, calm down…
“Rize and I will cover the rear. The rest of you, run and get out of the forest!”
“W-wait! Why are you covering the rear…!?”
In a retreat, the rear guard serves as a decoy.
They sacrifice themselves to buy time and reduce casualties for the rest of the unit.
We only met at the tavern and hired them.
So why are they willing to risk their lives for us…?
“Phil, does that mean you…!”
“Don’t worry, I won’t die.”
He says this as he gently pats my head.
His hands, which should belong to someone around my age, somehow feel incredibly reassuring.
“When you exit the forest, follow Luise’s command!”
“Eh, w-what!?”
Luise’s command?
What does that mean?
“Phil, what are you saying!?”
“It’s alright, you can do it. In fact, you’re the only one who can.”
“B-but even so…!”
“You’re a genius when it comes to leading troops. Trust me, it’ll be fine.”
Phil speaks to me gently, as if trying to reassure me.
The surrounding soldiers look at me skeptically.
It’s understandable—they’re entrusting their lives to a mere girl…
“A genius? How do you know that?”
“Because ‘I just know.’”
“What do you mean?”
‘I just know’?
This is the first time I’ve met Phil, so how does he know anything about me…?
“Come on, I’m counting on you. I can’t go with you since I’m covering the rear.”
“Phil…!”
The sound of the enemy’s footsteps grows closer and closer.
Reacting to the noise, Phil starts walking toward the direction the enemies are coming from.
It’s painful to part ways with him after only one battle together.
Tears overflow and won’t stop.
No, I don’t want to die.
I don’t want him to die…!
“When we get back, hire me again, alright?”
“…Okay, I promise I’ll hire you. So…”
So please, come back alive.
Those words wouldn’t come out.
Because deep down, I know how hopeless this situation is.
“Luise, take the left path over there.”
He points to the left fork in the road ahead.
I understand what he means.
It’s an efficient but utterly despairing strategy.
“I’m counting on you.”
Without a word, I nod and move to the front of the group.
—
