Sweetcrasy

“…I see, Louis. So there was a reason you looked so unwell all that time.”

“Do you believe me?”

“Of course I do. So… get plenty of rest. Even if a war breaks out, I’ll protect you no matter what…”

That’s what Johan had said in a tired voice, pretending to be asleep next to me.

“Your Highness.”

“How could I not notice how much his condition had worsened until now…?”

“Please don’t be too discouraged. We’ll do our best to care for the Prince.”

“From now on, report everything Louis says to me. And… It could be brain damage. Contact the temple and request a higher-grade potion, just in case.”

So he’d figured I was delirious with fever.

The despair I felt in that moment… well. After that, I never brought up the war again with Johan. Actually, I stopped talking about it with any Milosians at all. Not even Johan, the ultimate Louis fanatic, believed me, so who else could I have possibly told?

As expected, the kingdom was not  prepared for war, and it fell at Cedar’s hands.

‘I did what I could…’

That excuse, who I was saying it to, I didn’t know, rattled around my head and faded away.

***

I’d spent the entire night sorting through my feelings about Johan, but… I still hadn’t overcome the terror of riding a wyvern. I ended up with tears dripping from my eyes as I clung to Cedar. It wasn’t from emotion. The wind pressure was too strong, my eyes couldn’t bear the force of it.

Fortunately, this flight didn’t last a torturous eight hours like yesterday. It was only four. I felt the speed slow down and lifted my head, only to find myself face-to-face with an enormous, ash-colored stone wall.

We had finally arrived at the Gilia territory.

“They’re likely to move soon.”

We were stationed in a forest near the estate when, as dusk fell, a knight who had been monitoring the Milosians reported suspicious activity from Johan’s group. At the same time, we received a transmission from Iolde, who had been observing from the air.

“[I’ve found the magic circle.]”

“Thank you for good work. We move immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

The knights scattered swiftly, and even with me in his arms, Cedar dashed ahead of them all at incredible speed.

“[This is it.]”

As Iolde’s shout reached us, Cedar halted on the spot and surveyed the area, which looked like an ordinary forest to my eyes.

“This must be the magic circle.”

I still couldn’t see anything unusual, but Cedar seemed to have found something. He took me and hid behind a large tree. At his signal, the knights dispersed, surrounding the area in a circular formation.

“[They’re approaching. Irene Staresia is at the front.]”

About thirty minutes after forming the encirclement, Iolde sent the signal. Gerard, the closest knight to us, grinned broadly.

“I’ll take that crazy woman, Irene.”

“Alright. Keep her as far from Johan as possible.”

Gerard nodded confidently, and soon a disorganized group of figures rushed into our field of vision.

At the front of them was a red-haired woman with a fierce expression.

“Now.”

At Cedar’s short command, Gerard sprang into action.

“Ha ha ha! Losers of Milos! This is where you’ve come to hide?”

Drawing the axe from his belt, Gerard roared his provocation. As he stepped forward, the Imperial knights revealed themselves as well. Irene’s pale face contorted with disgust.

“So the Empire’s dogs chased us all the way here.”

Snap!

Irene snapped her fingers. A blue light shimmered over her body, and in a blink, the distance between her and Gerard narrowed. In the same instant, she was aiming a dagger at the back of his neck.

‘Wh-What the hell… Is that magic?’

Reading it in the original story never conveyed just how intense this would feel in person. My hands trembled from the raw tension in the air.

Boom—!

The sound of axe and dagger clashing echoed like fireworks, announcing the start of battle. The Milosian survivors behind Irene charged in, shouting in unison.

“Kill the Imperials!”

“Protect His Highness!”

The remaining forces of the Milos Kingdom and the Imperial knights clashed in a chaotic melee.

‘Where’s Johan…?’

Even in the midst of chaos, Cedar held me tightly and did not move. He looked as though he was waiting for someone.

“Found him.”

And then, just as he whispered that, a man wearing a black hood stepped forward from the Milosian side.

‘Johan.’

His face was obscured, but I knew it was him from the way he walked.

Cedar seemed to recognize him too. He gave my shoulder a brief, reassuring squeeze, then stepped forward with calm, predatory grace, like a beast who had finally found its prey.

“Cedar Valencia!”

“He’s here… himself…?”

The Milosian soldiers around Johan instantly recognized Cedar and their expressions went pale.

Only Johan remained calm as Sidor approached.

Swish.

Cedar drew the sword at his waist without a word. Without waiting for Johan to even raise his weapon, he charged in.

Clang—!

The impact of their swords colliding rang out like a thunderclap.

‘He blocked it… but he’s getting pushed back.’

Johan managed to avoid getting his sword broken in half, but anyone could see. Cedar had the upper hand. He didn’t even change his stance, simply forced Johan back with sheer strength.

And perhaps due to the shock of the impact, Johan’s robe slipped off his head, revealing a deeply contorted expression.

“So I finally get to see that precious face.”

Cedar’s voice was laced with amusement, as he was convinced of his victory. Johan didn’t reply, but even from a distance, I could see the tension in his posture, he was clearly overwhelmed.

‘But… his eyes are still green?’

In the original story, after Louis was executed, Johan invoked the Dragon’s Oath and his eyes turned red… but it hadn’t happened yet. Apparently, he still hadn’t triggered that power.

‘Then this is Cedar’s win…’

Without the absurd power of dragon’s blood, Johan couldn’t be on par Cedar. Just as I thought, Johan was quickly being driven back by even Cedar’s casual swings. If it weren’t for the aid of nearby Milosian mages, it would’ve ended already.

‘Completely outmatched.’

Thwack—!

“Guh, gack…!”

“Your Highness! You must retreat!”

Cedar eliminates the mages supporting Johan one by one, as easily as swatting flies. Every time Johan evaded an attack, his allies suffered worse and worse injuries or died.

And yet, none of them hesitated to give their lives to helping Johan escape from Cedar.

To draw Johan out, Cedar began taunting him.

“Are you just going to keep running?”

As he spoke, Cedar casually slashed downward. The attack was so smooth it resembled a dance, yet the knight who had been blocking Johan’s path was cleaved in half.

“P-Protect—! Gghk!”

Another mage tried to shield Johan, only to have his throat slashed by Cedar.

“That’s right… you used your own father as a meat shield too. You really do value your life.”

That was the moment fire flared in Johan’s eyes. Rage overtook him, and he finally abandoned his defensive stance, lashing out at Cedar with a furious strike.

Clang! Clang!

Cedar parried Johan’s blows with ease. Johan’s face was desperate, while I couldn’t see Cedar’s from behind, it was clear to anyone watching that Johan was losing ground.

As time passed, he was gradually forced into a corner, and each of Cedar’s blows left small wounds.

Shrrrk—!

And finally, a spray of blood erupted from Johan’s left shoulder.