Translator: Nox

Chapter 35

If she targets me, I might be lenient. But if she threatens those around me, I will never allow it.

'I will wield my sword as much as necessary. Losing people around me is an experience I only need once. I won't lose anyone else now.'

Cadet Ekinesia Roaz stared at Ian's corpse with cold eyes before turning away. There was no regret or pity. It wasn't a release of anger, but a decision that she couldn't let it continue, so she wasn't swayed by the Demon Sword's bloodlust.

The desire not to stain her hands with blood in this new life was insignificant compared to her determination to protect her loved ones. The years she spent saving them were never easy, and this opportunity was the only one she would get.

There was no lingering attachment in her steps as she turned away.

She picked up the sword she had thrown earlier and grabbed the lantern beside her. Next, she took out the flint and tinder and the lamp oil bottle. Since it was her own barracks, she knew the location well. She poured all the oil inside the barracks and then lit the wick in the lantern.

After that, she lifted the cloth at the entrance of the barracks and looked outside. The number of shadow soldiers had decreased significantly. The Monsters had become so large that they had to crane their necks to look up. Baraha was still in the same spot as before.

She regulated her breathing and moved her Mana Core. Silently, her body left the barracks. At the same time, she threw the lantern towards the barracks. The glass shattered loudly, and the fire quickly spread throughout the barracks.

"Kieeeeeeeeee!"

The Monsters nearby turned their attention to the loud noise and the blazing fire. Making a wailing sound like fingernails scratching against iron, they moved towards the fire.

While the Monsters were distracted by the burning barracks, she moved unnoticed across the swamp. Baraha's barracks were not far away. As soon as she arrived, she entered the barracks without hesitation.

The moment she entered, a large hand grabbed her by the collar and slammed her against the barracks pillar. A sword approached her neck, then recoiled in surprise.

"...Ekinesia Roaz?"

The yellow eyes that recognized her widened. Eki, who could have avoided it but deliberately got caught, greeted him calmly.

"Hello, Baraha-senpai."

"Why are you here..."

"Could you let me go first?"

"Oh, ah, sorry."

Baraha, who had been muttering in a daze, was startled and removed the arm that had been pressing her down. Eki straightened her crumpled collar and examined him.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"That was just a scratch. Wait, how did you know?"

"I saw it in front of me."

"Ah, right... No, more importantly, why are you in here?"

"I accidentally got swallowed. Ian-senpai came in with me, but I don't know where he is."

Eki lied calmly. At the mention of Ian, Baraha grinned fiercely, baring his teeth.

"I don't care if that bastard lives or dies... No, never mind. Forget about him, Eki. He'll survive on his own. I don't have time to look for him."

"Yes."

Baraha wasn't a Saint, and he wouldn't look for the guy who stabbed him and pushed him into the Node. Eki nodded obediently. Baraha rubbed his chin and said slowly.

"That's that... You should hide here for now. I've been watching, and it doesn't seem too dangerous until all the shadow soldiers are eaten."

"What about you, senpai?"

"There's nothing to eat in this barracks. I'm going out to look in other barracks. We need food to last a long time."

"Have you ever been inside a Node before?"

"No. But I know that we can get out if we just hold out inside until the Node disappears."

Baraha said gruffly, looking outside, then suddenly turned to look at Eki. He took a breath and said in a firm tone.

"Don't worry. We'll get out of here alive."

His face was tense as he said that. He didn't show his fear. Instead, he smiled to reassure her. Eki looked up at him quietly and asked softly.

"...Can we survive in here?"

"Of course. If you're worried, trust me. I can take care of a little junior like you."

Baraha said in a cheerful tone and lightly stroked Eki's head. His hand was very large and warm.

[Does he even know who's going to take care of whom? He's so full of himself.]

The Demon Sword grumbled, but Eki smiled faintly. She was grateful for his consideration.

"Thank you, senpai."

"Don't mention it. Then don't worry and wait. I'll be back soon."

Baraha nodded with a smile and began searching the barracks for a bag to put food in. She watched him and thought.

'Okay, so what should I do?'

In the past, she had swept through the inside of the Node and waited for the Node to disappear on its own before escaping.

After that, while researching the Node, she obtained clues about how to escape the Node. Of course, those were just theoretical means, and it was questionable whether they were actually possible.

'Come to think of it, I remember that the data also included speculations about the conditions under which Nodes are created. Well, let's think about that later.'

"Senpai."

"Yeah?"

Eki called out to Baraha, who was preparing to leave the barracks. And she spoke hesitantly.

"I've actually been quite interested in Nodes. So I read some related books a while ago."

"Really? Do you know something?"

Baraha's face lit up. She nodded.

"It was only stated as a hypothesis, though. Nodes have a starting point. When a Lakia Giosa cuts through space, it's the starting point of that cut."

"Hmm."

"The book claimed that the starting point of the Node is the point connected to the world. Nodes are separated from the world, but they're not completely cut off, right? They return to normal after a certain amount of time."

"That's true."

"If we assume that the Node returning is the Lakia Giosa's cut healing, then wouldn't the starting point heal first? Therefore, the starting point would be closest to the original world."

"...That makes sense. The fact that it heals first means that it touches the world first, and if so..."

"Yes. If we can find the starting point, wouldn't we be able to escape the Node through there?"

"Good idea. I don't know if the starting point is in a passable form, but it's worth looking for. Even if we just hold out, the Node will open from there first..."

Baraha rubbed his chin and muttered. Eki hoped that the speculation in the book she had seen was correct. Otherwise, she would have to wipe out the Monsters and then hold out, and if that happened, she would have to use Mana. It was impossible for Baraha to survive in this Node with his skills.

"The problem is how to find that starting point."

"Have you ever seen how Nodes are created?"

"No, when I heard the emergency bell and came out, it had already swelled up. But it seemed to have started in the empty space in the center of the camp. Then..."

"The starting point is likely to be near there."

She took over the words. Baraha's eyes lit up.

"That's right. Eki, if we get out of here, it's all thanks to you."

He lightly hit Eki on the back. Perhaps because he was excited and didn't control his strength, she staggered slightly. She just took the hit that she could have avoided, and it hurt quite a bit. Eki glared at him, and Baraha scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Oh, um, sorry. I got a little carried away."

"It's okay. Let's hurry up and find the starting point."

Eki rubbed her back and headed towards the entrance of the barracks. Baraha looked back and forth between her back and his hand. Her back was very narrow. She looked even more fragile because of the dress that was sticking to her from the rain.

Nevertheless, when he touched her earlier, she wasn't trembling. Baraha couldn't hold back the words that suddenly surged up and called her.

"Eki."

"Yes?"

"Aren't you scared?"

Eki turned to look at him. She noticed the anxiety that surrounded Baraha. She wanted to reassure him, just as he had tried to reassure her. Eki smiled slightly.

"You said you would protect me, senpai."

An unwavering voice. A gentle expression. Baraha's face faltered for a moment. Eki approached him and grabbed the sleeve of his arm. The hand encased in a glove was too small compared to his. That hand pulled him without hesitation.

"I'll trust you and feel safe, senpai, so please trust me too. Let's get out of here together."

Baraha was led by her to the entrance. He stared blankly at the soft pink crown of her head, which was far below him. And he answered quietly.

"...Okay. Let's get out together, Ekinesia."

Together, they slightly lifted the cloth of the barracks. In the meantime, the number of shadow soldiers had decreased so much that it was hard to find them.

Giant Monsters roamed through the floor filled with red liquid. With each movement of their heavy feet, ripples spread across the viscous liquid. Growling sounds, sounds like scratching iron, and sharp screams were heard everywhere.

Eki didn't know the name of any of those Monsters. There were no Monsters that appeared to be of the same species. Each one was individually grotesque. In the first place, these Monsters were not real Monsters but rather anomalies inside the Node, so it was only natural.

Those strange things also had something in common. The smallest one was a huge mass that was at least the height of a two-story building, and it seemed difficult for two Squires who couldn't use Mana to defeat any of them.

"It doesn't seem easy to get through. There aren't many shadow soldiers left."

Eki whispered. Baraha, who had been looking a little dazed, suddenly came to his senses at her words. He checked outside and frowned.

"Indeed, there are many who are wandering around because there is no prey."

"Just a moment."

Eki turned around and searched the barracks. No matter whose barracks it was, flint and tinder and lamp oil were essential items, so they would be there. She quickly found the oil bottle and the flint and tinder box.

"What are you trying to do?"

"Most Monsters show interest when they see fire. Because they know that there are humans near the fire."

As she answered Baraha's question, she pulled on the bed sheet. She drew her sword and cut it into long strips.

"Senpai, please gather these and soak them in oil."

"You're going to use them as bait."

"Yes."

Baraha began to gather the pieces of cloth she was cutting and soak them in oil.

He also put in odds and ends such as coins and buttons to add weight. He asked Eki as he put the wads of cloth into the bag he had brought to hold food.

"Where did you learn this?"

"The knights of our family do this while traveling."

"That's unexpected. It's an improvisation that mercenaries would mainly use."

"Is that so? I don't know."

Eki was inwardly startled. It was true that she had learned the trick by watching mercenaries, so Baraha didn't pursue it any further.