The Monster Lady and the Holy Knight - Chapter 67

Oscar immediately rushed to move the rock. He knew it was impossible, but it was a reflex, a response to the incessant sobbing that assaulted his ears.

Meanwhile, Leon checked Emmett’s pulse and breathing. It wasn’t just that his lower body was pinned—something had pierced his thigh, and blood had pooled on the floor.

Leon placed his hand on Emmett for a moment before lifting his eyelids. Time seemed to slow as he checked his pulse again at his neck. Leon then turned his gaze toward Hannah. Under the dim light, his expression was hard to read—void of comfort or urgency. If anything, it showed a faint compassion.

“Did he leave any last words?”

A faint sympathy.

Ah.

Hannah’s sobbing stopped abruptly, and Veronica held her breath. No, this couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible.

Leon’s words implied the obvious—Emmett was already gone. Oscar sank down onto the floor.

Hannah, her lips trembling, suddenly lunged at Leon, screaming in a strange voice. Veronica stepped between them, pulling Hannah into an embrace as she pounded at Leon’s shoulders and chest.

“Shh, it’s alright, Hannah. Calm down. Everything will be okay.”

“It’s alright, it’s all alright,” Veronica repeated the meaningless words as she patted Hannah, who sobbed in her arms, still unable to calm down.

“Let go of me. Let go! How is this alright? He’s not dead! He was just talking to me. Just help me move the rock!”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Veronica closed her eyes tightly, holding onto Hannah. Hannah looked utterly exhausted, her pregnant belly adding to her exhaustion, and Veronica feared for her well-being.

“I know, I know. We’ll help you. Just try to catch your breath first. Inhale, exhale. Yes. Everything will be alright. I understand how you feel. I’m so sorry that I can’t do anything more. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. But when I was in that situation, this was the only thing that helped me. So, Hannah.”

Veronica hugged Hannah tightly, recalling Bayern, and tried to offer her warmth. Tears filled her eyes instantly. It was pathetic that this was the best she could do after all her training and practice. She had worked so hard, trained with swords, and yet she couldn’t save them.

She knew the pain of losing a city, family, neighbors, and friends. It was the deepest pain one could endure.

“You’re not alone. Even if it feels like you’re the only one left in the world, you’re never alone.”

Everyone, at least once in their life, finds themselves alone in a snow-covered landscape—whether it’s a snowy plain in a blizzard, a scorching desert, or a raft adrift in the vast sea.

It’s easy to conclude that life is ultimately about solitude. But we must not forget, must not be deceived. We are never alone. This is God’s blessing for humanity. Paradoxically, because we were born alone, we can reach out to embrace each other. If we were born the same, we couldn’t do it—it’s because we are different that we can love, that we can accept.

Hannah struggled for a long while before finally breaking down, her body trembling in Veronica’s arms. Words spilled out between sobs.

“Emmett… Emmett kept talking to me. Even after being pinned under the pillar, he stayed conscious for hours. But when he suddenly stopped responding, and I started to panic, he whispered with his eyes closed, ‘I know, I saw it, Hannah. Our family will be alright. God will help us.'”

Hannah repeated Emmett’s final words, gasping for breath. The heart-wrenching cries filled the room, her fragmented words echoing endlessly through the air. The three of them stared into the void, unable to meet each other’s eyes. It was a sight too painful to behold. The sound of Hannah’s sobs filled the silence until her head drooped in exhaustion.

“Damn it…”

Oscar knelt, grabbing his hair. He had known the couple longer than Veronica had, and his heartache must have been unbearable.

Time seemed to freeze. The first to move was Leon, who had been leaning against the table. He used a flint to light another lamp and searched the kitchen, eventually finding a cup and filling it with water. Veronica took the cup and brought it to Hannah’s lips.

“You’ll get dehydrated. Please, Hannah, for the baby, take a sip.”

Hannah, who had been limp as if she’d given up on life, seemed to regain consciousness at the mention of her child. She shakily accepted the water.

“We should move her to a bed or a chair. Help me.”

Veronica began, but Hannah, spilling water from her lips, vehemently resisted.

“No! I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying with Emmett.”

“Then I’ll find a blanket.”

Oscar stood up urgently to comfort her, and Leon said he would go check outside. Hannah still looked vacant, a hollow version of the bright, confident woman she had once been. Veronica felt a pang of sorrow. She had always thought Hannah was strong, but maybe Emmett had been the pillar holding her together.

Veronica closed her eyes and prayed for Hannah. God, please show mercy to those who have lost their will to live. Grant them the strength to hold on.

“This was the cleanest blanket I could find without dust.”

Veronica draped the blanket that Oscar had brought over Hannah’s shoulders. Hannah, in a daze, lay her head on Emmett’s chest, one hand resting on her belly. Veronica decided they should give her some privacy to say her goodbyes. Around then, Leon returned.

“There don’t seem to be any other survivors nearby. This is the only house that’s even partially intact. It’s…”

A miracle from God. But Leon knew better than to speak of miracles amidst such tragedy. He gazed quietly at the couple, tangled together, his expression unreadable.

“What’s it like outside?”

“They’re everywhere, like moss. We should wait here for a few hours to see how things develop.”

Even without further explanation, it was clear that the “they” he referred to were Bahamuts.

“That’s a good idea. During that time, the palace or the Pope’s army might send help.”

Neither Leon nor Veronica responded to Oscar’s hopeful comment. Both knew that the army was likely building barricades out of debris at that very moment—that was the kind of decision they expected from the Emperor and the Pope. Their minds were muddled. In times like these, they had to focus on practical matters, one thing at a time, just like dealing with household chores.

“Let’s find some food. Hannah will be exhausted after all that crying, and she can’t afford to be worn out when we need to make a run for it.”

“I’ll help.”

Oscar and Veronica began searching the kitchen. Fortunately, the kitchen had fared better than the completely collapsed bedroom. They found bread, cheese, sausages, pickled cabbage, and green beans. Leon cut the bread in half and stuffed it with whatever they had. It wasn’t fancy, just efficient.

Veronica repeatedly urged Hannah to eat, and when Hannah finally took a few bites, Veronica felt a wave of relief and stuffed some food into her own mouth. Strangely, despite the variety of ingredients, she couldn’t taste anything. Hannah blinked, dazed, before falling asleep.

“I’ll stay by her side now. You should rest,” said Oscar with concern.

Only then did Veronica feel the fatigue in her burning eyes and the dull headache. She nodded and switched places with Oscar.

“What about Leon?”

“Sir Leon is standing guard by the exit, just in case.”

Thinking of the outside, Veronica suddenly felt a strong urge to breathe fresh air. They had been trapped under the rubble for hours, and she felt suffocated.

After hesitating, she stepped into the darkness. A soft blue moonlight, like a divine blessing, seeped in through the gap where she had fallen earlier. A languid voice broke the silence behind her.

“Don’t go too close. It’s dangerous.”

She froze. She could hear Leon’s footsteps approaching. For a moment, she held her breath, feeling his gaze piercing her back. His large figure bent over, and then,

“Ah,” Veronica winced instinctively in pain.

Leon had touched her ankle and spoke as if he had known all along, “You sprain your ankle so often, I wonder how you ever managed to dance.”

“…Mind your own business.”

“How could I, when you keep making it mine?”

Without hesitation, Leon removed her shoe and firmly wrapped her ankle with cloth, almost like a brace. Veronica, distracted by his actions, nearly lost her balance but managed to steady herself by grabbing his shoulder.

“When you act so recklessly, I…”

“Fall in love with me?”

“…Hate you even more.”

Leon laughed at her sharp response. She couldn’t see his face, but she knew by the sound.

“So, how do you plan to ruin me?”

His voice echoed like it came from a cave, annoyingly nonchalant. She felt frustrated, as if her feelings and confessions meant nothing to him.

Veronica responded coldly, “How do you plan to kill me?”

His hand paused as he tied the knot.

“Don’t bother denying it. The woman you pledge your loyalty to explained it to me in great detail.”

Leon slowly stood up after securing her shoe back on. Strangely, even in the darkness, his movements were vivid. His tall figure, broad shoulders, muscular chest, and lean waist were sharply outlined. The air seemed to tighten around her skin, making her tense. Finally, he opened his mouth.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“……”

“Who is this woman you say I pledged my loyalty to?”