The Monster Lady and the Holy Knight - Chapter 58

“How did you get hurt?”

Veronica’s eyes widened as she climbed onto the horse with Oscar’s help. Somehow, Oscar was wearing a white bandage around his head.

“It’s nothing serious. But you don’t look so well yourself.”

“It’s just fatigue. I’ll rest once this is over. All we have to do is make a loop around the city, right?” Veronica forced a smile, pretending it was no big deal.

Oscar handed her a sword and corrected her, “Technically, it’s half a loop. The extermination force will exit through the south gate and split into two groups. The unit led by Deputy Commander Philip will move clockwise, and the unit led by Sir Kraus will move counterclockwise, meeting back at the north gate.”

“Sir Kraus… You mean the bald knight at the front? He looks experienced—could he be standing in for Sir Mecklenburg?”

A knight standing nearby glanced their way at her comment. Oscar cleared his throat and muttered in a shaky voice.

“Bald… I mean, Sir Kraus is the same age as Sir Berg.”

“Are you trying to hold back laughter? Wait, and who did you say is the same age? Leon?”

Veronica’s jaw dropped in shock. She had assumed Kraus was about the same age as Mecklenburg.

“Sir Kraus does look older than his age.”

The knight who had glanced at them earlier spoke up, still staring straight ahead like a statue. His voice, tinged with laughter, was unexpected. These men—they were human after all.

“Watch your mouth.” Oscar’s lips twitched as he answered, then he put on his helmet.

Not long after, the sound of drums began to resonate, changing the atmosphere entirely. The knights straightened their stances, and those holding lances rhythmically struck the ground. Veronica also straightened her back. Soon, the procession began to move from the front.

Oscar took hold of the reins and warned her, “Hold on tight.”

In a solemn atmosphere, the knights moved down the main road known as the Key Avenue toward the city gates. By now, citizens had gathered on both sides of the road, cheering. Veronica saw red-faced men and women waving shyly, as well as children leaping and running after them. People peeked from windows along the street, proudly waving palm branches to wish them victory.

“Veronica!”

Then, a familiar voice emerged from the rowdy crowd. Veronica looked around and saw Hannah waving both arms enthusiastically. She smiled in delight, greeting her with only her eyes, as all the knights kept their gaze forward. Beside her stood Emmett, looking worried that Hannah might get hurt in the crowd. An energetic wife and a nervous husband—a perfect picture of a happy family.

Yes, stay focused. This time is different. I must fight to protect them.

When she had just left Bayern, she thought Leon was the only one by her side. But not anymore. Now she knew she could meet and befriend others.

Of course, making up her mind didn’t make her fears disappear.

The plan was simple—there wasn’t much of a plan at all. They were to patrol around the city walls, eliminating any enemies that came into view. But the problem was if “they” were truly conscious of Veronica.

What would happen once she went outside, just as they wanted? If they really were after her, then…

Bwooo, a horn sounded long and low from the wall above. The south gate creaked as it rose. As the controlled passage opened, the cheering citizens fell silent, replaced by tension. Veronica swallowed nervously.

As the gate fully opened, the plains of Kart were revealed. In the near-deafening silence, Philip raised his sword against the backdrop of the vast plain.

“Cui Deus oculos aperit? (Who does God open His eyes to?)”

The sound of swords being drawn reverberated. A powerful shout that seemed to shake the entire earth echoed in response.

“Ad filium! Ad militem! Ad populum! (To His son! To His knights! To His people!)”

The pounding of hooves struck the ground, and the knights were divided into two columns of four. Blood pumped through her veins.

Veronica gripped the meager sword Oscar had given her and felt the wind hit her face. At the lead was Deputy Commander Philip, while Leon seemed to have gone in the opposite direction.

Her heart pounded violently. Finally, they were outside.

“We advance slowly from the southwest. Do not break formation!”

One look at the scene before her explained why cannons couldn’t solve the problem. Bahamuts, spaced evenly apart, sat crouched with eyes on their hearts covered, like children being bullied—knees pulled up and arms wrapped around them.

Unless the red eyes were destroyed, they would regenerate endlessly. No matter how many cannon shots were fired, it would have been useless.

“Douse them in oil and set them ablaze!”

Philip intended to force them into motion.

Oil, fire, a lure.

At that moment, a plan—a desperate one—struck her mind. Veronica quickly turned her head.

“Oscar. Take me to the Deputy Commander.”

“Why all of a sudden? Did you sense something?”

“They’re after me…”

“You wouldn’t be foolish enough to say that to others.”

“I can lure them to one place. I can make them move.”

She swallowed back the words about them pursuing her and rephrased. By then, the first group had engaged with Bahamuts. Swords infused with holy power sank into their thick hides with chilling bursts as they struck.

The horses reared, and blades sliced through the air. The Holy Knights were truly skilled. She had thought the same when she saw Mecklenburg in the vision of the Blasen Mountains.

But in the end, they never returned. They had been vastly outnumbered.

“You’re not planning to die here, are you? The Deputy Commander said to report anything suspicious immediately.”

Oscar looked ready to question her further but seemed to decide it would be a waste of time. He quickly spurred his horse toward Philip’s adjutant. It took a while to inform him that there was something to report and for Philip to finally face her.

“What’s the matter? Did you see a vision in that short time?” Philip asked as if he wasn’t interested at all.

Veronica shook her head and spoke calmly. “No. I just want to say that fighting like this will lead to many casualties before we reach the north gate.”

Philip frowned and turned his head from watching the orderly battle.

Veronica continued, “They might be fighting well now, but if more Bahamuts join along the way, they will get exhausted. It’s inefficient.”

“So? Do you have a strategy? When dealing with enemies scattered like this, our current formation is the best.”

“We can gather them.”

Philip paused at Veronica’s assertion.

She took a deep breath and tried to speak in a confident voice, “I could be bait to lure them all to one place. Then the Bahamuts could be dealt with all at once. They won’t even pay attention to the knights.”

She had already thought of this plan when they began the march. The specifics had only come to her when she saw the oil.

If “they” truly wanted to see Veronica, then Veronica also wanted to meet them and ask why.

As she finished speaking and glanced at the barrels of oil, Oscar behind her gasped, and Philip narrowed his eyes.

“Are you saying you’ll sacrifice yourself?”

“No.”

If Bahamut had wanted her dead, they could have killed her long ago. Instead, they offered assimilation instead of death. There had to be a reason.

“The idea that all the Bahamuts will converge on you is unreliable. And saying you’ll set fire without sacrifice makes no sense.”

“Just trust me once. All you need to invest in this plan, Deputy Commander, is one horse.”

“One horse?” Philip glanced at Oscar.

Veronica added in confirmation, “I’ll ride alone. I don’t need any special handling—I just need to gallop far.”

“No.”

The one who interrupted was Oscar. His face had turned pale, and he was visibly anxious. However, Philip raised one hand to silence him.

“Sir Berg, dismount and give her your horse.”

“Deputy Commander.”

“This is the battlefield. Disobey, and I will deal with you according to protocol.”

It was clear that further objection would mean beheading. Oscar did not relent.

“I cannot dismount. I will accompany her.”

“Pull him down.”

At Philip’s concise command, the other knights standing nearby pointed their swords at Oscar’s throat and forced him down. He let out a low groan, somewhere between a sigh and a lament. Meanwhile, Philip scrutinized Veronica with skeptical eyes. She took a deep breath and met his gaze head-on.

“I have a condition. If my plan works and there are no casualties, stand by my side just once.”

She swallowed hard, waiting for his response.

Philip studied her, then spoke slowly, “I will not stake the Church’s honor on an assimilated one. But if it’s in the name of Count von Wittelsbach, I will help you not just once, but ten times.”

Veronica nodded. That was enough. She would need allies for the migration to the wilderness.

“I’m sorry. Truly sorry.”

She whispered softly to the horse as she stroked it. For some reason, she felt like crying.

No matter how confidently she had spoken, she wasn’t unafraid. Her body shook like a leaf, and her heart thundered in her chest.

This might end as a reckless suicide. An innocent horse might die for nothing. But if, by some chance, this could save more lives…

Veronica spurred the horse fiercely. At the sudden signal, the horse neighed and took off, hooves pounding the ground. Veronica leaned in low, clutching its neck. Run. Run free. Until we reach the truth of Bahamut.

Since being assimilated, she had felt as though she had another eyelid within her eyelids. When that lid opened, she saw visions, and when it opened again, Bahamut noticed her.

Thump. Veronica opened her red eyes. And “they” saw her.