As Khaun finished his drink, some beer slipped from the pouch as he lowered it. He looked at me for a moment before asking,
"What is this obsession you have with magic? You're already a knight, yet you keep asking to be taught spells. What are you trying to become? Some world-famous mage?"
I looked up at him without changing my expression.
"I just want to survive."
He raised an eyebrow.
"That's all?"
"Yes," I said quietly. "Just survive long enough to see my mother again."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
I let out a small laugh.
"Funny thing is… I can't even remember her face."
My eyes drifted to the ceiling.
"I don't know if she's alive. I don't know if she even remembers me."
I paused.
"I know nothing."
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Khaun watched me carefully, then sighed.
"Let me think about it," he said before turning and leaving the room.
Not long after he left, a middle-aged man entered.
He didn't look like a mercenary or a knight.
When he saw Khaun leaving, he nodded slightly before stepping inside.
"So you're awake now," he said calmly. "That means we can reduce the quantity of potions."
At that moment Vanire entered behind him.
"This is Baneat," she explained. "One of the alchemists responsible for your treatment."
The man nodded politely.
"I'm in charge of preparing your potions and observing your recovery."
I looked down at my bandaged body.
My right arm was tied to a wooden brace.
"How long will I need to stay like this?" I asked.
Baneat examined my arm briefly.
"Your arm will take about a month to heal naturally."
"A month?" I muttered.
He nodded.
"However, the war with the bandits may end soon. When the kingdom's healers return, your recovery could be much faster."
He straightened.
"Since you're conscious and able to talk now, we can reduce the sleeping potion."
With that, he left the room.
The room suddenly felt unbearably quiet.
"I'm bored," I said.
I looked at Vanire.
"Can we go to the garden?"
She hesitated.
"The garden is mainly used by the noble ladies and young misses of the castle," she explained carefully.
"We would need permission to stay there."
"Last time we only passed through, so it was fine."
I sighed.
"Alright. Forget it."
Vanire looked relieved.
But suddenly—
The door burst open.
A butler rushed inside, shouting loudly.
"Are you the owner of that monster?!"
I stared at him in confusion.
"What monster?"
Vanire looked just as shocked.
"The monster in the ranch!" he said impatiently.
Then I realized.
Rusty.
"That's not a monster," I said coldly. "That's my mount."
"What happened to him?"
The butler didn't answer.
Instead, he quickly lifted me into the wheeled chair and began pushing it out of the room.
"Come quickly!"
Vanire followed behind us.
He pushed the chair at full speed through the corridors.
"The ranch is that way," I said.
"Wrong direction," he replied nervously.
"I know!"
We entered the garden.
Several tables were arranged there, where noblewomen sat wearing elegant dresses and jewelry. Many covered their faces with decorative fans while whispering among themselves.
But my eyes went straight to the center of the garden.
There stood Rusty.
Six women in military uniforms surrounded him.
Their swords were pointed toward him.
Some noblewomen looked frightened.
Others watched curiously.
Without thinking, I shouted.
"RUSTY!"
Dark aura filled my throat, amplifying my voice.
The shout echoed across the garden.
Everyone turned toward me.
Rusty lifted his head.
Then he stepped sideways to clear a path and rushed toward me.
The butler panicked and jumped away.
Vanire stepped back as well.
Rusty stopped right in front of me.
I immediately saw the sword marks on his body.
Two cuts.
Not deep.
But they were still wounds.
Blood slowly flowed from them.
My teeth clenched so tightly that my jaw hurt.
Vanire moved my chair close to Rusty so I could lean forward.
I placed my hand on the wound.
Warm blood touched my fingers.
My breathing grew heavy.
Rusty was breathing heavily too.
"Easy… easy…" I whispered.
Then suddenly—
A hand grabbed my shoulder and spun the chair around.
A woman in military uniform glared down at me.
"What are you doing bringing that monster here?" she demanded.
Before I could answer, she raised her sword.
"I'll kill it right now!"
The blade swung toward Rusty.
My head slowly lifted.
Without thinking, I looked straight into her eyes.
I used Death Stare.
Her body froze instantly.
Her sword slipped from her hand.
And she collapsed to the ground.
At the same time, pain tore through my chest.
I coughed violently.
Blood splattered onto the ground.
The other five women immediately rushed to her side.
My vision turned red with anger as I stared at them.
Then—
A clap echoed from behind us.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Everyone…
Except me.