The Extra Saved the Terminally Ill Princess and Ran Away - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Confession (4)

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-Clang! Shing! Slash.

The sounds of the monsters' teeth clashing against my sword, and the slicing of my blade through their tough hides, echoed through the quiet, eerie forest.

Unlike knights, who focused on brute strength and direct attacks, my swordsmanship resembled the "quick sword" style, prioritizing speed and precision to incapacitate opponents swiftly. Balance and speed were crucial.

And in my current state, both were severely compromised.

-Clang! Slash.

No matter how many times I swung, I couldn't create the clean, swift cuts I was used to. Despite the numerous wounds I inflicted, the monsters continued to charge, their breath heavy and ragged.

They, too, had realized my weakened state, their eyes gleaming with predatory intent.

Inhale. Exhale.

My legs trembled with exhaustion. I couldn't keep this up. Any further delay would be fatal.

The Lycansthrope, cunning and cowardly, was patiently waiting for me to collapse.

I knew this because every time I swung at the boar monsters, I could feel a faint surge of killing intent directed at Lili from the shadows.

My constant vigilance, circling Lili to protect her while fighting the monsters, had pushed my already battered body to its limit.

The monsters charged again, their sharp tusks aimed at me.

While I could continue to defend and counterattack, securing a slow but certain victory, that wasn't what I needed.

I needed to buy time for Lili's escape, even if it meant taking a gamble.

-Grip.

I adjusted my grip on the sword. Not the assassin's grip, designed for swift, efficient kills, but the standard grip of a knight or swordsman.

I steadied my stance and faced the oncoming monsters.

'The one on the left is closer.'

I didn't hesitate.

I shifted to the left and swung my sword upwards with all my remaining strength.

-Squeal!

A sharp, albeit slightly ragged, arc of light flashed through the air. The monster's face was practically split in two, and it crashed to the ground.

I turned to the remaining monster, bringing my sword down in a vertical slash, putting all my weight behind it.

-Thud! Squeal!

'Too shallow…!'

The blade hadn't fully severed its neck, getting stuck in the bone.

A mistake caused by the unfamiliar grip and my weakened state.

A fleeting regret—I should have tried this when I had more strength—crossed my mind. But there was no time for that now.

The monster would bleed out eventually.

I looked up and shouted at Lili,

"Run!! Now!!!"

"…!"

Lili, who had been conserving her energy, sprinted towards the rendezvous point. Having exhausted her magic, she ran blindly into the darkness, relying on her memory of the direction.

-Rustle. Rustle.

As if on cue, the Lycansthrope emerged from the shadows, its massive form moving towards Lili.

I pulled my sword from the boar monster's neck and turned to face the Lycansthrope.

-Clang!

It could have easily torn me apart, but it simply deflected my blade and bared its gleaming white fangs.

A smirk.

Yes, that monstrous beast was mocking me.

What can you possibly do?

…My body trembled.

I finally understood its intentions.

My teeth chattered, a sound born of fear.

I understood why it had been observing us so patiently.

It, the Lycansthrope, wasn’t an ordinary monster. It was intelligent, and it was sadistic.

That's why it had targeted Selina in the original story.

It must have learned, through its encounters with humans, that the survivor would be driven to madness if the one they were protecting died.

It had been waiting for me to exhaust my strength.

So that it could savor my despair as it tore Lili apart right in front of me, reveling in my helplessness.

"You bastard…!!"

I couldn't let that happen.

Even if it meant losing my remaining arm, I had to stop it from reaching Lili.

I wouldn't…

…I wouldn't watch her get hurt again.

I wouldn't feel her die in my arms again.

I threw myself at the beast, swinging my sword. Or rather, flailing my arm.

I didn't have the strength for a proper swing anymore.

-Thud.

"……Cough."

-Growl… Chuckle.

"You fucking…"

Its claws pierced my abdomen. Hot, viscous blood filled my throat, spilling from my parted lips.

The beast smirked again, its teeth bared in a gruesome smile.

It could have killed me, but it had only used a single claw, impaling me.

It lifted me into the air, then threw me to the ground.

-Thud! Thump.

"B-Berry…?!"

Through my blurry vision, I saw Lili's eyes widen in horror as she saw my mangled body.

And then, a shadow loomed over her.

Run…

Don't worry about me… Run…

I wanted to shout, but my lips wouldn't move.

Not just my lips. My entire body was paralyzed, unresponsive, as if impaled by countless blades.

"…!! …!"

I saw Lili's mouth move, desperately trying to say something.

But her voice, faint and distorted, faded before reaching my ears.

Was this how I would die?

Like this?

My vow to save her…

My hope of a happy life with her…

My promise to protect her in Finn's stead…

All of it… for nothing?

Would I have to watch her die again, at the hands of this beast, just like the author intended?

Her, who was innocent, dying so unfairly?

-Gnash.

Unable to bear the unfairness of it all, despite my desperate efforts, I bit my tongue hard enough to draw blood.

…No. This can't be happening.

Why had I suffered so much? To save her from this hellish story.

To see her, who was just like me, but who had always strived for a better life, find happiness.

I had done it once. I could do it again.

I had moved my mouth, despite being paralyzed, despite the agonizing despair.

I wouldn't be defeated by a single wound, a little blood loss.

Move. Move. Move. Move.

-Grip.

My body, responding to my desperate plea, channeled its last reserves of strength into my right hand, gripping the sword.

But it wasn't enough. I couldn't protect Lili with just this.

Please, legs, move. Just a little. Just until she escapes…

I don't care if I become paralyzed again, or even if I die…

I don't care what happens to me, just… please… move…!!

….

….

<…La.>

A sudden warmth surged through my left eye, and my breathing changed.

I felt magic flowing through me, controlling my body.

The vast experience of the Sword Saint, once a distant memory, was now mine.

"…!@ …!%^!"

I saw Lili's mouth move, shouting something, but I still couldn't hear her.

Focusing my remaining magic on my hearing wasn't a priority.

My instincts, honed by years of combat experience, told me to focus on moving my body.

-Thud. Thud.

The bleeding from the wound in my abdomen stopped. I had used magic to cauterize the blood vessels.

I walked towards the beast, which was slowly approaching Lili. I could see its form clearly now, even in the darkness.

I took a step towards it.

It took a step back.

It seemed surprised that I was moving, after being so close to death.

It seemed surprised that I was looking directly at it, after being so focused on adapting to the darkness.

Or perhaps, it instinctively knew it couldn't defeat me now.

It didn't matter. What mattered was that it had intended to toy with Lili, to kill her right in front of me.

Thud. I closed the distance in a single stride and spoke, my voice deep and resolute, unlike my usual tone.

"…You dare… threaten her?"

Know your place, beast.

I raised my sword, my grip different from before, different from just moments ago.

The knight's grip, the one I had glimpsed in Finn's memories, the one that felt so unnatural to me, the perfect grip for a righteous knight.

-Slash.

A single, clean sound.

The beast's darkness. The darkness of the sky. The eerie stillness of the forest.

All of it shattered, split apart by a golden arc of light.

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