In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 5

A somber silence hung over the palace, which had lost its master. The crumbling castle walls were stained red as if soaked in the blood of countless fallen warriors. The kingdom, shrouded in darkness, exuded an eerie, desolate atmosphere, as though it had become a ruin overnight.

In the morning, Kellicus had been ravaged, leaving only the scars of a fierce battle behind as it vanished into the annals of history. Each time the wind blew, it felt as though the cries of the knights who had lost their lives and their kingdom could be heard. Yet, no one mourned for them. Such was the nature of war. Those who did not emerge victorious could not even receive the consolation of death—that was the fate of the defeated.

The exhausted knights, weary from the grueling battle, had retired early to rest in preparation for their return to the imperial palace the next day.

But only two people remained awake, standing in the middle of the battlefield, their eyes still sharp and focused—Bellona and Caelus.

Surrounded by the bodies of their enemies, the two stood, seemingly unfazed, as they prepared for a battle of their own. Caelus’s sharp yellow eyes, now cooler in the night air, fixated on Bellona’s red hair, which fluttered in the breeze.

Her hair, usually loose and wavy, was now neatly tied back, a sign that she was serious about wielding her sword. Bellona’s hair was tied up—a clear signal that she was ready for combat.

“You’re more shameless than I thought, Sir. You don’t seem to have any intention of repaying the life you owe me.”

“Are you saying you saved me to collect a debt?”

“If that’s the case, will you repay it?”

“If it’s something within my power, I’ll repay it.”

“Hmm.”

A faint smile spread across Caelus’s lips, as if he were pleased with her response. It was a soft smile that didn’t suit the situation—or him, for that matter. Seeing it, Bellona tightened her grip on her sword’s hilt.

“If I defeat you, I’ll have reclaimed the life I spared you, so there’ll be no need to repay anything. But if you defeat me…”

“……”

“Then you’ll have to grant my request.”

“Very well.”

The tension between them, which had briefly relaxed, tightened once more. Bellona was the first to draw her sword, tossing the scabbard to the ground and assuming her stance. But the moment she saw the sword Caelus had drawn, her brows furrowed in anger.

“Ha! Did you come out here thinking this was just a sparring match?”

“Of course not.”

“Then do you think I’m a fool?”

“Certainly not.”

“Then why!”

No matter how much it might be called a duel, using a weapon other than one’s primary sword was an insult to the opponent. If this were a casual spar, a wooden sword might have been acceptable, but when it came to a true test of skill, using one’s primary weapon was both a matter of principle and a sign of respect to the other knight.

Even more so, this was not a mere spar but a duel where their lives were at stake. Yet, Caelus had drawn a longsword, less powerful than the greatsword she wielded.

The sight of a man drawing a sword that was better suited to female or lower-ranking knights made Bellona’s teeth grind in anger.

This was clearly an insult.

“Are you under the impression that I’m holding back out of some mistaken sense of pity?”

“……”

“I apologize, but every weapon I use is my primary weapon. I only use a greatsword in battle because it’s useful for wide-range attacks.”

Are you saying you’re skilled with every weapon?

Bellona’s grip tightened even more at this revelation.

“Honestly, if I had any ulterior motive, it was simply that I wanted to cross swords with you for a bit longer, not to insult you. I hope you’ll believe that’s my true intention.”

“You sound awfully confident that you’ll defeat me.”

“No, I trust you’re not a dishonorable knight. You could have targeted my back at any time, but instead, you chose to face me head-on, risking your life in the process. That’s why I want to confront you directly, even though I have one hand.”

Caelus, who had deliberately played on her sense of honor, waved his empty glove and let out a soft laugh.

The man who had lost his hand to Impes’s treachery—such a petty and despicable act.

But Bellona couldn’t claim to be entirely uninvolved in his loss. She had known and allowed it to happen, had watched as her knights acted without intervening. Though she had her reasons, the guilt still weighed on her.

Not that she expected forgiveness.

It was just that her conscience was uneasy.

“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t say it to ask for your pity, so there’s no need to look at me with those sad eyes.”

“Of course not, Your Grace. How could I pity someone as strong as you, especially in a situation where I could very well lose my life?”

“I’m flattered to be acknowledged by the Goddess of the Sword. Perhaps that’s why I can’t seem to let go—because I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“Let’s get to the point, shall we? As you can see, I’m a bit tired.”

At Bellona’s cold words, Caelus’s eyes sharpened, his previous regret disappearing as he readied his sword.

In an instant, the atmosphere between them shifted dramatically. Bellona adjusted her grip on her sword as a cold wind swept around them, chilling the air.

And then, Bellona moved first.

With a loud battle cry, she leaped into the air and charged at the towering man without hesitation, her sword aimed straight at his throat. Caelus smoothly sidestepped her attack, his sword spinning gracefully as he countered.

His movements were efficient and precise; each action was so swift that it was impossible to predict where his next strike would land.

Despite the fierce exchange, the two of them couldn’t help but admire each other’s skills.

The battle continued for quite some time.

Their swords moved so fast that an ordinary knight wouldn’t have been able to follow their movements. Each blow was so powerful that even the slightest lapse in concentration would have resulted in instant death.

The intensity of their duel was such that even the wind seemed to be slashed to pieces, yet there was a strange exhilaration mixed into the determination on their faces.

It was the first time either of them had encountered an opponent of equal skill in such a prolonged duel.

Even as her breath came in ragged gasps, Bellona’s heart pounded with excitement as she parried Caelus’s threatening strikes.

She was exhilarated. No, it felt like the first time she had ever experienced such thrilling excitement.

Both of them were breathing heavily, and Caelus’s voice, sounding as excited as she felt, only made her heart race faster.

“This is a first for me. I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited in my life.”

“You must be losing your focus, getting so excited when you’re on the brink of death.”

“Indeed. So, I have a proposal.”

He raised his sword again, pointing it at her.

“If I win, will you come to the Grand Duchy with me as my captive?”

Prisoner.

Though he phrased it that way, Bellona, clever as she was, immediately understood his true intention.

“Are you asking me to betray my master?”

“No, I’m asking you to reconsider who you should serve.”

“……”

Bellona, who had been matching his words with sharp retorts, suddenly fell silent. Her pupils, hidden in the darkness, trembled slightly.

If I were to follow this man, I could have countless duels like this. We could spar and test our skills every day.

Her heart pounded even harder as she tightened her grip on her sword. A faint glimmer of hope appeared—a possible escape from this filthy life where, despite being a swordswoman, she could never live solely by the sword.

But the bitter smile that curled her lips soon faded as her gaze turned cold once more.

That could never be.

She had a precious family to protect. And a life like that was not one she was allowed in this lifetime.

Swallowing her bitter smile, Bellona responded calmly, “I’ve already made my choice. I won’t betray the master I’ve chosen.”

“You’re as stubborn as ever.”

“It’s time to end this. It seems dawn is approaching.”

Having caught her breath, Bellona resolved not to let herself be swayed any longer. She realized that she needed to eliminate this man who kept shaking her resolve to bring peace back to her life.

This time, it was Caelus who launched the attack. Bellona deftly parried his blow, twisting her body as she slashed diagonally upward with her sword.

Her sword was imbued with her unyielding determination, offering no mercy. Had the strike landed, it would have inflicted a fatal wound, but Caelus dodged it with ease and counterattacked.

The duel was no longer the exhilarating exchange of skills it had been moments ago. Now, they were genuinely trying to kill each other.

Seizing an opening, Bellona feigned a thrust before shifting her sword to target his lower body. At that moment, Caelus’s clothes were torn.

Though she had wounded him first, her expression remained unruffled. Driven solely by the desire to kill, she launched herself at him once more, her attacks relentless.

But just as he was about to leap forward again, Caelus’s body suddenly collapsed, and he dropped to one knee.

“……”

Caelus planted his sword on the ground, his breath coming in harsh gasps, his face contorted in pain.

But it was Bellona who was more surprised. She hadn’t expected him to collapse from a mere scratch.

“What the—”

“Cough!”

Bellona’s mouth fell open as she tried to demand that he stop pretending and get up. But her words died on her lips as Caelus coughed violently, spitting out dark red blood.