Sigrid - 8

“Would you like to rest for a bit in the lounge if you’re not feeling well?”

“That’s right, loosen your corset and take a break.”

“No, I’m fine now.”

Sigrid Ankertna shook her head. After that, the three engaged in ordinary conversation. Marie-Chez and Lowengrin Alsekidna mostly talked while Sigrid tended to listen. Sigrid was especially entranced listening to Marie-Chez’s enthusiastic talk about clothes and accessories.

From the next day, Marie-Chez and Lowengrin dragged Sigrid around to various places.

Sigrid discovered that she preferred opera to plays. She also learned that she liked duets more than solos. She found out that gray and yellow don’t go well together. She learned that blue and pink complement each other nicely.

She also realized she preferred tea to coffee, mousse to sponge cake, and silk to velvet.

Expanding one’s tastes.

That’s what Lowengrin called it.

“You can’t know if you like something or not unless you try it, right? Not knowing what you like means you haven’t tried things you might enjoy.”

Lowengrin said this as she handed Sigrid a book, and Sigrid discovered that she found romance novels entertaining as well.

Riding horses for picnics in the suburbs and boating were both enjoyable, but Sigrid preferred the former.

“It’s good to follow trends, but what’s important is choosing what suits you. Fashion is about failing a lot and succeeding once. Well, having an advisor can reduce that somewhat.”

Marie-Chez thought as she flipped through fabric samples.

‘It’s fun spending someone else’s money.’

By the time Sigrid finally filled all the wardrobes in her house, her vacation had ended.

When Sigrid entered to report at the end of her vacation, Revel, the captain of the 2nd Knight Order, almost didn’t recognize her for a moment.

“Sigrid Ankertna, reporting back to the order after completing my vacation.”

Revel’s mouth fell open. He had heard the rumors, but…

‘This is quite something.’

It was believable enough to be a different person. Her attire wouldn’t have been out of place among the nobility. Revel clicked his tongue and said:

“Welcome back. But……”

“Yes?”

“There were rumors that you were unwell. Are you alright?”

Sigrid tilted her head.

“No, my physical condition is perfectly fine.”

In fact, she was in much better shape than usual due to eating well, sleeping well, and exercising. She wondered if she could even fight Beramund now.

Sigrid recalled the knight from the Imperial Guard.

‘Come to think of it, if I don’t join the Imperial Guard, I won’t have to face him.’

“That’s a relief then.”

Revel nodded. Thinking it must have been a false rumor, he looked at Sigrid and understood why such rumors had spread. It’s natural to think that way when someone undergoes such a dramatic change.

“Do you have any specific orders for me?”

At Sigrid’s question, Revel opened his mouth with an “Ah,” but then shook his head.

“No, since you’ve just returned, take it easy for today.”

“Understood.”

Sigrid saluted and left the captain’s office. When she went to the knights’ hall, the members who had grown accustomed to her new appearance greeted her.

“There aren’t many people here today.”

At Sigrid’s words, Morris Deforest shrugged and said, “Didn’t you know?”

“There was a conflict because they say a magical beast appeared near the capital.”

“…What?”

“There’s no way a magical beast would appear near the capital, so it’s probably just a big wild boar or something. The 1st Knight Order or the Imperial Guard wouldn’t bother with such trivial matters, so they leave it to us easy targets.”

“Al, kerto…?”

“He was mobilized for that too.”

Sigrid leapt from her seat and ran out.

‘Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot!’

Bang!

Bursting through the captain’s office door as if to break it, Sigrid asked:

“Where in the capital, sir?”

“Lady Ankertna?”

Revel, who was drinking tea, turned his head in surprise. Sigrid asked:

“The magical beast near the capital, where is it?”

“No, it’s not a big deal, so I told you to rest today……”

“I’ll go as reinforcement immediately. Please tell me the location!”

Revel was taken aback by her forceful voice but obediently gave her the location. He knew Sigrid was eager to make achievements to move up, but this task was clearly menial work to anyone. As Sigrid dashed out, Revel clicked his tongue and muttered, “Good grief.”

Sigrid kicked Echo’s flank.

“Move! Out of the way!”

She shouted as she galloped through the streets, drawing curses from people, but she paid no heed.

It was today!

Today was the day Alkerto died.

The road patrol had reported spotting a magical beast near the capital, and the higher-ups, judging that it was unlikely for a magical beast to appear near the capital, sent out the 2nd Knight Order. And it turned out to be a real magical beast. Half of the dispatched members died, and it only ended there because Alkerto took the rear and fought until the end. Only then did the 1st Knight Order come out to subdue the beast.

Despite everything, the 2nd Knight Order was the lowest rank among the capital’s knights. That’s why commoners like Sigrid and Alkerto, and women like Lowengrin and Marie-Chez, could easily join.

It was a place where you could get in if you just wanted a title.

Sigrid gritted her teeth.

Calming Echo, who was snorting and frothing, Sigrid dismounted and ran towards the mountain. At the mountain’s entrance, she encountered the knight order.

“Ah, Lady Ankertna!”

“Is this reinforcement?”

The faces of the knights carrying and supporting the wounded were pale.

“Where’s Alkerto?!”

At her cry, everyone fell silent. As she gritted her teeth and tried to climb the mountain, Aninta, the vice-captain, stopped her.

“Lady Ankertna, stop.”

Sigrid halted.

“I must go save Alkerto.”

“It’s already too late. Requesting reinforcements would be faster. And we need every able hand to move the wounded.”

“But…!”

Sigrid looked up at the mountain. Aninta said:

“It’s an order. Move the wounded and return to the castle to report the appearance of the magical beast.”

Sigrid clenched her fists. Kaul spoke up:

“Um, I’ll ride the horse and deliver the message instead……”

“You’re exhausted too. Lady Ankertna is the most fit right now. Go.”

“I’m sorry.”

At Sigrid’s apology, Aninta sighed and said:

“It’s alright, I understand how you feel. But—”

“I’ll disobey the order!”

Shouting this, Sigrid ran and climbed the mountain. Aninta stared blankly at Sigrid’s retreating figure. Kaul let out a hollow laugh.

Disobey?

That stickler for rules, Ankertna?

Aninta was also bewildered.

“Hey—!”

He clicked his tongue belatedly, but there was nothing he could do about someone who had already left. Aninta bit his lip and ordered the members to move quickly.

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

His breathing became ragged.

Alkerto tried to swallow his breath, but it was useless. His breathing rose to his shoulders. The hand holding his sword was torn and bleeding. His arm trembled.

‘I acted cool for nothing.’

Facing an opponent he could never defeat, with death certain, Alkerto suppressed the urge to turn and flee in terror. Each swing of his sword now was one step his comrades could use to escape.

—Kiii, kiii, kiii

Making a strange sound, the magical beast swung its forelegs. It looked like a giant praying mantis, but with four blade-like forelegs instead. The most horrifying part was its head, which resembled a human’s.

“Ugh—!”

As he tried to swing, his grip tore and the sword fell from his hand.

Whoosh—!

He desperately dodged the swinging black foreleg, but soon his back felt like it was on fire.

“Huk, heuk—”

He wasn’t sure, but had his back been slashed? Or stabbed?

—Kiiii

The magical beast made a sound like laughter. Alkerto closed his eyes. All he could hope for was to be killed in one blow.

Clang—!

—Kieeeeek!

At the beast’s scream, Alkerto’s eyes flew open.

“Move!”

“…Sigrid?”

As if in a lie, Sigrid stood before him. As he stared blankly at her back, a foreleg came flying. Sigrid clicked her tongue and grabbed Alkerto, rolling on the ground. If she were alone, she could have blocked it, but attacking Alkerto—

“Ugh!!”

Alkerto groaned in pain. Sigrid forcibly lifted him up and said:

“Walk if you can walk, if you don’t want to die!”

“That thing, swords don’t work……”

He gasped out, and Sigrid laughed.

“I know, hurry up and go.”

Sigrid started running in the opposite direction.

—Kieek!!

“Yeah, over here, you bastard!”

Shouting, Sigrid activated her Aura Core. A warm energy spread throughout her body.

‘But the amount isn’t much. At this rate… maybe about a minute?’

I’ll have to end it within that time.

Alkerto retreated and lay down in the grass, watching the fight.

‘Aura?!’

A faint red afterimage enveloped Sigrid’s sword.

The four blades attacked Sigrid from different directions, cleverly timed with slight delays. Sigrid dodged three of the blades as if dancing and cut through one straight on. Then she grabbed the severed foreleg and jumped up. The beast’s raising of its leg in pain provided the momentum for her to ascend. It took a moment for the elongated body to turn around, and Sigrid used this time efficiently to plunge her sword into its belly.

—Kyaaak!

A scream echoed through the forest. Thick green body fluid sprayed out. Sigrid clicked her tongue. Due to the opponent’s large size, even stabbing with her sword didn’t deal a fatal blow.

‘If I could release Aura…….’

But she hadn’t gathered enough Aura for that. Sigrid thought as she leaped inward. The large, sickle-like forelegs were actually at a disadvantage when attacking an opponent close to its body. Of course, normally one would die getting slashed while entering that close range.

As she cut the second leg, the amount of Aura decreased rapidly. The Aura consumed with each strike was about twice that of a normal sword swing. Cutting the magical beast, Sigrid kicked off the ground.

‘I’m in—!’

Her body moved before she could think. Extending her arm as far as possible, she thrust her sword into the beast’s neck and twisted the sword handle sharply.

Thwack!

The beast’s severed arm struck Sigrid, sending her flying and tumbling.

“Sigrid!”

Alkerto cried out without realizing and stood up. Sigrid, who had rolled on the ground, got up abruptly while coughing violently.

—Grrrrrrrr

The magical beast, after a few more convulsive swings of its forelegs, slowly collapsed. Even after falling, it continued to move its limbs. Sigrid watched until those movements completely stopped, then sighed and slumped down. The emptiness of her depleted Aura Core washed over her. She even felt a slight pain.

‘It hurts…….’

Her ribs must have cracked.

‘This much only because the Aura was protecting me. Oh right, Alkerto!’

Sigrid rushed over to Alkerto.

“Show me your wound!”

“I think I got slashed a bit……”

Sigrid cursed as she undressed Alkerto.

“At least wear some chain mail!”

“I thought light armor would be enough……”

Alkerto said, as if making an excuse. Sigrid gritted her teeth when she saw the wound. It was deep enough to see bone.

How are you talking to me normally like this?!

“…It’s bad, isn’t it?”

Alkerto asked when Sigrid remained silent. Sigrid placed her hand on his shoulder.

“You might die, you know.”

A hot energy began to flow from where her hand touched. Sigrid gritted her teeth.

‘It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts.’

Having depleted the small amount of gathered Aura and demanding more, her Aura Core protested in pain.

“Ungh!”

“Sig?”

Alkerto felt the pain subsiding. But the sound coming from behind was unsettling.

“Kuhek, kuluk—”

Sigrid removed her hand from Alkerto’s shoulder. Alkerto turned around and was horrified to see Sigrid coughing up blood.

“Sig!”

“Don’t, haa, don’t move, your wound will open.”

Sigrid collapsed where she was. It felt like her insides were on fire. This was the first time she had used so much Aura. It was too harsh for a newly formed core. Alkerto obediently sat still as Sigrid had said. His back felt hot.

“Alkerto.”

“Yeah?”

“Alkerto.”

“What?”

“Hehe.”

Sigrid laughed weakly.

You’re alive. You’re alive. You’re alive.

I changed the future with my own power.

Alkerto looked at Sigrid with concern. She must have overexerted herself with her terminally ill body. An Aura user with a weak constitution—what a contradictory phrase.

“Sigrid.”

“Mmm?”

A languid response came back. It was clear that Sigrid was completely exhausted.

“When did you become an Aura—”

Before he could finish his sentence,

“Phew—”