Minerva woke up, feeling faintly breathless.

'Ummm... ......'

You awake, little girl?

　Slowly opening her eyelids, she sees Moore lying on her side.
　Of course, that's not Moore lying on his side, it only appears that way because Minerva's body is lying on the ground.

'Ko......ko?'

　I look around as I raise my heavy body and look around.

　The long, slender grass that stretches as far as the eye can see, the strong sunlight pouring down from the heavens, and the grains of dry sand on my palm.
　The smell of grass fills the air, leaving no doubt that this is the outdoors.

'Where, sir?'

　Not a single building could be seen in the surroundings.
　Minerva, who thought that at least it wasn't inside the royal capital, asked Moore about it, but what came back was a gesture of denial that disappointed him.

'I was busted out here when I found out too. Not even thirty minutes later. And yet the sun is just like that.

　I looked up at the dazzling sky.

　When Minerva looked up, the sun was shining brilliantly and the blue sky was spreading endlessly.
　It's daytime, and the sun is on its way down, so it's definitely past noon.

How long--

　Minerva closes her mouth, planting her mouth to ask if time has passed.
　As Moore had said earlier, he himself had only been awake for less than thirty minutes. We'll never know for sure.

'Well. I don't know, but I don't think it's been that long.

How do you know that?

''You're still an ex-mercenary and an active duty soldier, right?　I can estimate some of the time I've been lying there based on the state of my body. Speaking from that experience, you know, it hasn't been that long since. Maybe long enough or so - I don't think it's been more than half a day by any stretch of the imagination .......

　Moore's voice, answering Minerva's questions, ends up being the butt of the answer.

　It's late in the night when I was attacked at the Duke's residence and lost consciousness.
　Turning, now, the sun is beginning to fall into the western sky overhead.
　Normally, more than half a day would have passed, but Moore's sense is that it hasn't been that long.

'Well, there's no point in worrying about the time anyway. The question is, where are we? At least it doesn't look like a human settlement where it's safe. First we should look for a town or village with people, and from there we can plan our way back to the capital.

　Moore's suggestion was plausible.

　After Minerva replied, "I understand," she suddenly remembered the other one - or rather, one entity.

''Speaking of which, where is Rona going?''

'Oh, you're Aldis' partner?　It's over there, then.

　The figure was at the end of Moore's point, on a rock that looked like a slightly elevated platform.
　Minerva's cheeks relax at the sight of the figure standing strong with all four limbs outstretched.

''Rona!''

　Rona, noticing Minerva's call, descended the rock with great vigor.

'Good. You were with me.'

　As if to greet Rona, who rushes to her feet, Minerva sits back and hugs the golden body with her whole body.

''Well then, let's find a street first. If it's in the middle of nowhere, that would be better. ......

'Yes. Everyone must be worried about you.

　Following Moore's words, Minerva stood up, holding the shortsword in her hand.






　A little over an hour later.
　Minerva and the others were walking through the grasslands towards the direction they thought was south.

　If this was the land around the king's capital, then at least the coastline was in the south direction.
　If the place where Minerva and her friends are located is north of the capital, they can certainly get close to the capital, and even if not, as long as they are out at sea, they will be able to get some idea of their location.
　Of course, it goes without saying that the chances of getting out to a town or street before that are higher.

''I thought so. Did we underestimate it a bit?

　Moore stopped, his eyebrows furrowing into a hefty shape.

　He had walked a long time since then, but he couldn't find anything that looked like a road, let alone a human settlement.
　Naturally, I hadn't been able to find a soul, either.

　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you're in the marketplace.

What is the matter with you?

...... people are being attacked by the beast.

What?

　Following Moore's gaze, Minerva looked over and saw multiple shadows moving at a considerable distance in the direction of travel.
　Their movements, which seemed to jump and dance, certainly looked like a beast that was attacking people.

''Ta, we have to help!''

But you're not going to put your daughter at risk: ......

'Now is not the time to talk about that!　I can provide some self-defense, and Rona will be with me!

　More than anything else, I need information on how to get back to King's Landing now.
　If we save the people who are being attacked, we will know where we are, and we will find out the way to King's Landing.
　In this place where there wasn't even a street, a human being was an extremely valuable source of information.

''...... Okay, I get it. I can't deny that you want information, you know. Just make sure you stay as far away from me as possible.

　Reluctantly, Moore accepts Minerva's words and begins to run forward with his sword drawn.

''Rona, let us go too,''

　Clutching the sheath of the shortsword tightly, Minerva followed Moore's lead.

　As they got closer, the scene became clearer.
　The two people who were being attacked were two people who appeared to be armed.
　Surrounding them are the attackers, six-legged beasts with dark blue fur that are moving around.

　The number of beasts is four in total.
　The large cat-like beasts bare their fangs and come close to bite people's legs and arms, and then immediately retreat before they can counterattack.
　They never go deep, but switch around and give small wounds to their prey as if they were teasing them.

''Tch!　We won't make it in time!

　They must have rushed in just a little too late.
　The two humans, who had barely shown any signs of fighting back until then, fell down powerlessly and the four beasts swarmed over them.

''d*mn it, now!''

　Moore swears at the bad timing.

　Three more minutes earlier and he could have saved her.
　On the other hand, if we were three minutes later, we would have had the option of abandoning them in favor of Minerva's safety.

　But we can't turn back now.
　The beasts are already aware of our presence.
　The beasts are not satisfied with just killing the two of them, and are beginning to recognize Minerva and the others as prey for the hunt as well.

　The four beasts turned their gazes towards us.
　It seems that they have been targeted as targets.

''Miss!　Don't leave me!

Yes!

　Sword in hand, Moore stood in front of Minerva and intercepted the beast.

　Behind her, Minerva also drew her shortsword from its scabbard.
　Even if she couldn't defeat the beast, she would at least be able to provide a check on it.

''Even I'm .......''

　All Minerva needs to do now is to be as little of a drag as possible.
　Of course, there's no denying the fact that they're going to be a drag no matter how you look at it, but I'm determined to be prepared if I can reduce Moore's burden in any way.

'Grrrr!'

　The dark blue beast jumped at Moore.

'Don't lick it!'

　This is Moore, who has risen to the rank of captain in the national army by relying on his sword skills.
　There is no way he could take on four or so beasts.
　The next moment when it seemed that a sharp blow would slice through the leading beast, both Minerva and Moore's eyes widened in astonishment.

''What?!''

　The beast spun around in the air and ducked, leaping backwards as if it had kicked an invisible wall.
　It was an impossible behavior in the air without footholds, even if it was on the ground.

''Battalion Commander, from the right hand!

　Minerva shouted a warning.
　In conjunction with the beast in front of her retreating, another beast, this time on Moore's right, drew its fangs.

'Fast!

　Its step is much sharper than an ordinary beast.
　The beast's fangs closed in on Moore's right arm.

''d*mn it!''

　He decided that he wouldn't be able to pull his sword back in time.
　As he swung his fist down directly from his swinging stance, Moore attempted to crush the beast's head with the hilt.

　But the blow doesn't reach the beast either.
　There was a sound like breaking a glass plate with a crack, and Moore's hand was blocked by something.

''What the hell is this?''

　Confused by the sudden discomfort, Moore unleashes a kick as a check, and then delivers a full-body swing at the beast that has stopped moving slightly.
　The beast quickly ducked and tried to dodge.
　But the tip of the sword was a moment too fast to reach.

　When it seemed as if the blade would split the beast's skin--.

''Nah......!

　Moore's face was filled with astonishment.

　A noise sounded as if it had been driven into the metal armor, and Moore's sword shot was flung away without even a scratch to the surface of the beast's body.

''d*mn, how hard is that!

　Moore swore and launched a second and third attack, but the second one was dodged with ease, and the third, which he managed to hit, was also rebounded without damage.
　In the meantime, Moore's breath began to catch.

　Minerva couldn't believe the scene in front of her.
　It is known that the Moore Greystar battalion commander is one of the ten most skilled swordsmen in the royal army.
　It is hard to believe that this Moore is struggling against the beast.
　However, it is a fact that Moore is struggling, which is naturally proof of the increasing danger to Minerva.

'Miss!

　A single beast slipped past Moore's side.

'Oh ......'

　Even though she heard the warning voice, Minerva could not move an inch.
　The shortsword in her hand seemed to be in some distant world, and her body didn't even twitch, making her feel as if it didn't belong to her.

　At the moment when my mind went blank at the sight of the beast that was approaching me at a speed like a flip-flop, a golden shadow jumped out from the side of my vision.

''Rona!''

　Minerva's mouth cries out its name as she instantly guesses the identity of the shadow.
　Rona, who jumped from the side, bites at the beast's throat.

''Fugiaa!''

　A deafening scream was let out of the beast's mouth in sudden agony.
　Without a care in the world, Rona ripped off the throat flute she had bitten and, as if she had no more use for it, threw the bodies of the beasts away and leapt at them one by one.
　She tore one of them apart with her claws, blasted one away lightly, and the last one smashed its head into the ground. It happened in the blink of an eye.

''E......, what.......''

　Even Moore was left speechless by the overwhelming effect.

''S-It's amazing!　Rona, you're that strong!

　Minerva, on the other hand, was honestly thrilled to see Rona's power.

'...... It's not like you're just Aldis's partner in crime, is it? ...... Oh dear, this isn't my position.

　Moore, having recovered from the shock, praises Rona in his own words.
　It's a pleasure to have a reassuring companion, but as Minerva's bodyguard, he must be acutely aware of his own cowardice.

　But in this situation, it's not the time to be obsessing over these stupid faces.
　In fact, I don't know what would have happened to Minerva if Rona hadn't been there.

　Even if Minerva wasn't there to protect you, how far would Moore be able to continue to fight against the four bodies?

''Well, that's fine, but the person who was attacked is ......

　After regaining his composure, Moore walked towards the two men who had been attacked by the beasts earlier, towards the fallen one.

　It's probably too late, but if they're still breathing, they can't be left alone.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

'Na......!'

　Moore stopped in his tracks and an unvoiced voice spilled out of his mouth.

How can I help you?

　Minerva, who had been following her, noticed Moore's condition and peered in and gasped.
　Lying there were two armed men and women.

'This, this is ......'

　All of them were clad in matching equipment similar to Moore's, and Minerva noticed the familiar emblem painted on them as part of the decoration.
　Next to Minerva's choking on her words, Moore, who had been staring at the fallen human figure as if devouring it, said as he squeezed out.

'That's my ...... man,'