Chapter 83

Chapter 83

“It’s not Laura’s fault. …The situation was terrifying; you couldn’t help it.”

“Still…”

“If you had to… blame someone, it’s my fault for bringing the souls here in the first place. Don’t you think?”

“That’s not true. Souls latching on is practically an accident.”

“You’re being too… harsh on yourself, aren’t you?”

“…”

I knew what he was trying to say. But I couldn’t help it. I kept regretting my own actions. So I just kept binding his wounds in silence.

“Do you always blame yourself out of habit?”

The young marquis murmured it as if talking to himself. I just pouted and dropped my gaze. But his voice followed right to my ear.

“Hmm… Why is that, I wonder? You could become arrogant, but you don’t.”

“…What does that mean?”

“Tell me?”

But as he said that, I spotted a small crack forming between his brows. He kept trying to act like nothing was wrong. But it seemed he couldn’t perfectly mask his expression. I mean, with a hole punched in his side, how could he really be fine?

“D-does it hurt a lot?! Are you okay?”

“See, this is what I mean. Laura is kind.”

“Seriously… what are you talking about?”

“…”

Suddenly, I noticed his eyelids had quietly drooped without an answer. He was probably losing energy from all the blood loss. For some reason, a chill of fear ran through me. It felt like if the young marquis closed his eyes like that, he might never wake again. So, without thinking, I grabbed his face. Then I locked my gaze onto his trembling eyelids.

“Young Marquis. Are you about to fall asleep? Talk to me for a bit.”

He let out a soft chuckle at me. Then he slowly grabbed my hand and pulled it down.

“Getting this close is a bit dangerous, you know. And I’m fine. I’m tired, but not sleepy.”

“Well, that’s a relief, but…”

I let out a small sigh and plopped down in front of him. His deep, dark eyes, like recordings, followed me. He watched me for a moment like that, then opened his mouth again.

“…Shall we continue our talk? Hmm… Did I get to the part about Laura being kind?”

“…”

“Seeing Laura made me think of a lot of things. Honestly, I think it’s remarkable. …Being responsible enough to raise four younger siblings at such a young age, and quick-witted enough to help the Duke’s work right away. The truth is… I can’t do things like that. Not responsibility for my siblings… and I was a bit slow at learning when I was young.”

“……Uh… um….”

It was a sudden deluge of praise. It even touched on parts of myself I’d never considered. For no good reason, I felt embarrassed. I scratched one cheek and added on hesitantly.

“That’s nothing compared to you, young marquis. Handling state affairs at the Imperial Castle like the Duke, leading a whole host of knights—that’s far more amazing.”

“Haha. That’s partly skill, but it’s also the benefit of a house that earned merit in war. So luck in birth plays a bigger part.”

At my words, the young marquis let out a laugh and replied. I drew my knees up, sat on them, and buried my face against them. I could feel my cheeks burning on their own. The fact that he saw a part of me I hadn’t even known in a positive light was enough to stir my emotions.

The sound of rain came from outside the cave. At the same time, a cold wind slipped in, making me shiver. It was a bit silly, but for a moment, I felt like denying his words. Probably just pointless youthful pride.

“You’re just… saying that to comfort me, aren’t you? I’ve never heard anyone talk like that in a class-based society.”

“You talk as if you’ve lived in a society without class distinction.”

“…….”

His voice was low, weighed down by the pain that crept up on him from time to time. But despite that, it felt surprisingly gentle. I felt like I could get completely drunk on that tranquil mood. So I just bit my lip, hesitated, and then changed the subject.

“……Does the Duke know we’re here?”

“The rain has made the ground muddy. If his horse’s hooves left deep prints, he’ll be able to see them and follow.”

“Then, that’s a relief….”

I gave a small nod. Naturally, my mind conjured the image of the Duke and the priest searching for us. I hoped we could meet them soon. But at the same time, I hoped we hadn’t caused them too much worry.

Shhhh—

The rain continued without pause. The young marquis and I let the drawn-out time pass quietly inside the cave. But no matter how long we waited, the Duke didn’t appear. Meanwhile, the day only grew colder, and the wind howled ever more fiercely.

“Young marquis, aren’t you cold?”

I turned to the young marquis, speaking to him.

“You’re right. It’s quite chilly.”

He chafed his own arms with both hands. At a glance, his skin looked pallid and drawn. It seemed he’d left the patient out too long in the chill air.

“Then wait right there! I’ve never lit a fire in the wild, but I’ve read about it in books. I’ll figure something out!”

I pushed myself to my feet at once and began gathering the leaves that had piled up inside the cave. Truth be told, I wasn’t confident — but I had to try something. I was in the middle of sorting through dry twigs when suddenly, a rabbit came bounding into view.

“Huh? A rabbit?”

Instinctively, I reached a hand toward the small creature. But I couldn’t touch it. My hand passed straight through its body and hit the ground instead. Damn. Another ghost, I realized.

‘Wait — was this thing clinging to the Young Marquis too?’

While I stood there blinking in bewilderment, the rabbit hopped past me. I turned my head and followed its movement slowly. It passed the Young Marquis’s feet and headed toward the cave entrance. Then it leaped out into the thick underbrush beyond.

‘Huh? It’s raining, but it just went outside… Rabbits are weak to getting wet… Well, I guess it doesn’t matter to a soul…’

But it was a trivial matter. I went back to gathering dry twigs. The rabbit wasn’t what mattered right now anyway. What mattered — what was truly the problem — was that I couldn’t leave the Young Marquis like this.

“Keeeaaah—”

And then, right at that moment. From behind me, came a sound like a beast scraping its throat. A sound I could almost call familiar by now. On edge, I turned my head and looked toward the Young Marquis.

Beside him stood a grotesque fusion of animal forms. And this time, it was another shape entirely. A rabbit’s head with long ears sat atop a massive beast’s body, while something like deer legs dangled in clusters from its chest.

I felt like I might faint. But I forced myself to focus and hurried my steps toward the Young Marquis. The thought struck me that the ghost might try to harm him.

“Laura! Don’t come. Stay there!”

The Young Marquis gestured for me to back away as he shouted. I halted in my tracks. He immediately drew a short sword from his waist. Then he fixed a sharp glare on the cave entrance.

Grrrrrr—

A low, gut-wrenching sob reached Laura’s ears—different from what the ghosts made. Then, from the trampled grass where the rabbit’s soul had vanished, a colossal bear heaved itself up. It towered above a full-grown man, its muzzle twisted into a savage snarl as it swept its gaze across the clearing.

*Hahk!*

For a split second, a scream clawed up her throat, and she clapped both hands over her mouth. Goosebumps prickled across every inch of her skin, fear clamping down so hard her head went light and swimming. Beside her, though, the young marquis was just measuring his breath—calm as still water.

“Laura. Step back. Quietly.”

“What? B-but what about you, Young Marquis?” Her voice came out thin, frayed.

“I’ll be fine. Just fall back—now.”

With that, she began to shuffle backward, her eyes darting between the bear and the beast-shaped soul. A stroke of luck—the bear didn’t seem bent on attacking them. It lowered itself to all fours, planting its paws on the ground, then fixed the young marquis with a long, measuring stare. Hard to say for sure, but it almost looked like it was trying to *understand* what was in front of it.

*Kyaaah—*

But then the soul became the problem. It let out a twisted howl and, in an instant, lunged straight at the bear. At the same time, a gust of wind slammed into them, loud and sharp.

*Grrrrr…*

And that—that was the spark. The bear reared up on its hind legs, forepaws raised, and brought them down toward the young marquis.

“Young Marquis!” Her body lurched forward before she could stop it.

She was already running toward him, even knowing there was nothing she could do. Still, the thought that she *couldn’t* let him die drove her feet faster than reason could catch up. Her vision blurred as tears welled up.

*Bang—*

A gunshot cracked from somewhere, and the tears fell—plip-plopping onto the ground as her sight cleared. Through the haze, she saw the bear stagger. But it didn’t go down. It took one more heavy step toward the young marquis.

*Grrrrr—*

The bear roared and opened its jaws at him. The young marquis drove his sword into its throat in a single clean thrust. A gush of blood poured out, drenching his face and chest in red.

*Bang—*

*Bang—*

The gunshots kept coming, one after another.

*Grrrrr—*

The great beast twisted in agony, then turned—toward *her*.

“Laura!” The young marquis sprinted to her side.

He grabbed her with one arm and shoved her to the ground. Over his shoulder, she saw the bear’s claws slice through the air with a sharp *whish*. Then a heavy *thud* rang out. She turned her head slowly. The bear lay crumpled on the spot, still growling in pain.