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Chapter 34 Part 3 – A resurrected nightmare…the knights are encouraged by the roar that shakes the shadows.

 

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Ranzan

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I looked up at her hopefully, but no one’s going to give a drink to a baby.

Damn! I hate this baby body!

Both mother and Mary never had the experience of being cared for by these knights before, so they were unable to refuse their kindness and were frankly surprised by all the attention.

Matzo, on the other hand, loomed large in front of me.

Mary looked a bit shocked by how huge his shadow was.

Don’t you threaten me! I don’t need you to add your huge nightgown to me!

I want some of that liquor! Give me a drink!

I was like a kitten after a satchel of catnip.

「Aouuuh! Aouuuh!」

…Bradd was asleep, so there was no one to yell at my joke…all alone…

「Sorry. I didn’t want to surprise you. Here…」

And so he apologized and gave Mary a scarf.

「Women shouldn’t have their face wet with tears…here, wipe your face with this.」

「…thank you…」

Mary smiled and thanked him, squinting and nodding, while he left to give directions to the Guard.

Following the Captain, one knight put down his gown on the ground and used the corner of it as a bundling swaddle. He was very anxious in the way he handled it, and I didn’t think he was used to handling babies in such a way, but he finished bundling me quickly and then retreated again looking a bit nervous. I sighed, a bit melancholy. Maybe they were all being too careful.

The reaction in Romalia’s Flame Flower continued, I think, with white smoke swaying and rising from the gaps in the falled manor where Gallam had been swallowed up. It was silent.

And with the tension of battle broken by the arrival of the Royal Guard, Mary and mother leaned against each other and fell asleep, backs on the tree trunk behind them. I could also hear quiet breathing in the lump of gowns next to me, which meant Bradd was sleeping as well.

The nightmare was over.

Thank you, everyone. Have a good night’s sleep.

Maybe I should sleep too…good night.

AND THEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN NOISE.

I sat up as best I could. I saw fragments of rubble rolling around.

The outer wall of the manor was the only thing remaining from the manor, with mortar and pebbles stacked up in zig-zagging patterns between it and the back wall, places exposed here and there. There were Romalia-style pillars jutting here and there, white in the pale moonlight.

Like a monument in the shape of an ancient ruin…or a ruined theater set.

Almost as if the prop-masters had rolled in the setting for the second act…I started to sweat.

Damn. The masters of my destiny always have some twisted follow-up, don’t they?

Whenever I go “hah,” and start to relax, something comes flying in from nowhere to trouble me again.

They really must love writing these wretched tragedies.

Never missing an opportunity, right when everyone relaxes.

The pile of gowns next to me explodes in the air and Bradd jumps up…NOW I KNOW WHY I’M ANXIOUS.

「Hey! It’s not dead yet! Ms. Cornelia! Mary! Get up!」

The horses of the Royal Guard sensed the danger, their ears back and tails shaking, but staying where they were. Any average horse would have rolled their eyes back, thrown the knight, and bolted away in a gallop. As expected, these knights had the finest horses any fighter could wish for.

「Madam!」

Mary said, hurriedly picking me up.

My mother jumped up with her bow, stringed and in her hand, just in case.

「He’s coming out!」

A pile of rubble erupted, and then the ground began to ridge towards us as if a snake was pulsing through a tunnel below.

He was moving through an underground tunnel…the steam spouting out was probably from him moving in those residual flames of the attack.

Even the flames of hell couldn’t kill him!

「Through the ground! Damn this monster!」

Captain Matzo sounded surprised, but his face lit up with joy for the battle ahead.

「Royal Guards! Brothers! Now God has given us a chance for revenge! We will avenge our fathers in war – Brian, Bobby, and Bill!」

The Royal Guard understood the Captain, raised their fists and shouted back.

After hearing the order, the men around fell silent and cooly prepared for battle.

「All spearmen, mount! Form a ring around the rear of the Duchess and Princess! After the archers fire their arrows, front-guard attack head on! When the attack is over, front-guard fall back and secure! Rotate to attack those who are being attacked by the dog!」

Made perfect sense, as it saves the strength of the attackers by rotating them with fresh men, while securing our safety as well. It’s a good strategy against an opponent like Gallam.

「So we need to set up “you-know-what?”」

「Seems that we get to make a name for ourselves quickly!」

「Our horses and spears are sharp for blood!」

Captain Matzo nodded deeply at his men, who were happy to go to war.

「Tire him by attacking over and over like water over a waterwheel! Never besmirch the name of the Royal Guard! And I…」

And so after giving instructions to all men, the Captain grinned and clenched his fist in his upraised gauntlet.

「…Fight with the strongest weapon of man, the iron fist! This dog slaughtered the three great warriors of Hydrangea. This dog will fear my fist as the strongest among you! Don’t let me down brothers! Now, let’s show the strength of the Royal Guard!」

You’re going to punch the dog? Are you crazy!?

「I can’t use the Blood Redemption for a while…so I can’t fight that demon dog Gallam…I regret to say it, but I have to leave the fight to you!」

Bradd said, regretting it, but Captain Matzo grinned widely and laughed his bellowing laugh,

「You can, little hero! You’re probably the one that pummeled that dog and whatever else in close quarters! I can see the signs of a strong man in the future. And I, in the name of the Royal Guard, will do my best not to disappoint you!」

Then the Guard looked back at Bradd with a smirk after hearing their Captain.

The ground in front of us swelled and cracked open…like a aquatic creature that was emerging from its seabed.

In the night, the earth split and earth and sand were thrown up, with the monster appearing from the ground giving a roar that shook the shadows.

The battle horses lurched back in horror.

Steam leaked from the crevasse, with a sickening smell…the hair of the dog had been charred.

That massive torso that had repelled our attacks countless times was burned and the dog’s metal plate armor was peeking out in places.

Disgusting, as they almost looked like bones that had popped out of flesh.

Almost as if Gallam was dead and evil spirits had possessed him and were now directing his corpse.

There were embers burning, still embedded in his flesh.

In comparison with this monster, the other two demon dogs seemed like discarded stuffed animals…this beast was a monstrosity that had descended to hell and was strong enough to return!

「…what a monster…those three great warriors…they were killed by THIS?!」

Captain Matzo groaned as he stood before us…I could see goosebumps all over him.

The dog Gallam looked us all over as he exhaled freely again…the green eyes passed over the armed Royal Guards as if they didn’t exist.

When he finally saw me, his eyes lit up.

He swayed a bit and then pulled his lips back in a fang-filled snarl.

I could tell that his only desire right now was to eat me…I mean, damn, at a time like this, you want to eat me?!

Okay! Let’s finish this!

Works fine for me too! Sorry for making you wait!

Seems that my boys here haven’t gotten a chance to attack you yet.

…okay, boys…now’s your turn! Kill the enemy!

Finish him!

「Aouuu!」

I waved my mighty infant hand.

All of the guard looked at me like they saw something they never should have…damn, still a baby.

Come on guys…it’s the habit of being a queen.

So I put my hand over my face and tried to gurgle like a baby again.

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