Chapter 3: Encounter
The massive outbreak of monsters in the borderlands was a serious crisis.
The initial response by the Border Marquisate’s knight order managed to hold them back, but the number of monsters was simply too great.
They endured as best they could while receiving aid from neighboring houses, buying time.
Then, they planned to wait for reinforcements from the capital and launch a major counteroffensive to push the monsters back.
If this succeeded, the situation would improve, but if it failed, the outcome would be disastrous.
The knights sent as reinforcements, including Harid, were assigned to participate in this counteroffensive.
“A giant wolf, and a snake as well…”
If their formation was properly maintained, they could still deal with the wolves.
The snakes, however, were troublesome, slipping smoothly through their ranks.
Both were also far harder to subdue once they retreated into the forest.
The fighting continued day after day, night after night.
At first, simply holding the defensive line consumed all their strength.
However, with the arrival of many reinforcements, the Border Marquisate’s knight order was finally able to rest and recover their morale.
In addition, a unit of cleric-soldiers from the church arrived, saving many of the wounded.
“OOOOOOOOH!!”
They succeeded in driving the monsters out of the civilians’ living areas and back into the forest.
From there, they began responding with sheer resources, even considering the construction of defensive walls.
“So instead of pursuing them deep into the forest, they’re building walls…”
“Seems that way.
I heard there was also a plan to advance while cutting down trees, though.”
It would be ideal to wipe out the monsters entirely, but that was apparently unrealistic.
Once they entered the forest, their forces would be at a disadvantage.
If their numbers dwindled, the same situation would simply repeat itself.
Thus, the plan was to construct defensive walls and create a battlefield favorable to their side.
“…They’ve chosen a strategy that takes time.”
It would be fine if the Border Marquisate’s knight order could handle it alone.
But in reality, many people had been dispatched from other regions to assist.
Of course, since they all lived in the same country, it was a serious issue for everyone.
“Harid, you just got married, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.
I came here the day after the wedding.”
“That’s pretty rough.
You must want to get back to your wife as soon as possible.”
“Yeah…”
Harid and Electra had a white marriage.
Now that he was on the battlefield and had yet to suffer any major injuries…
He found himself thinking that maybe they should have at least consummated their marriage before he left.
If anything, holding his wife even once might have heightened his will to survive.
As for children, she had said all that, but surely he wouldn’t so easily suspect infidelity.
“Yeah, that story really was just superstition.
Seriously…”
Whoever had spread it had been nothing but a nuisance, and Harid felt he had been cheated because of it.
After that, the battlefield settled into a back-and-forth struggle.
The monsters seemed to have no concept of day or night, and were often even more active at night.
It was impressive that the Border Marquisate’s knight order had managed to hold them off alone for so long.
Still, after spending a month on the battlefield, Harid gradually grew accustomed to the situation.
Once he adapted, the wolves and snakes were merely larger than normal, not especially strong.
And Harid himself was stronger than most knights.
“With enemies like these, it’d be faster to invade the forest and wipe them out.”
That was what Harid thought.
…But that very thought led to his carelessness.
“What—!?”
A new monster appeared before Harid.
Not a four-legged wolf like the others.
It stood upright on two legs, a wolf with sharp claws.
A werewolf.
“KISHAHHH!!”
“Gh—!?”
The knights could not hide their shock at this monster they had never seen before.
As it attacked, many knights were cut down.
Harid himself was injured as well.
“Damn it all!!”
Driven into a corner, Harid unleashed his hidden strength and slew the werewolf.
Inspired by his 모습을, the knight order regained their fighting spirit, raised their voices, and somehow succeeded in pushing back the werewolf’s assault.
“Ugh… ahh…!”
“Harid!
Carry this one too!”
Harid was carried by his fellow knights and taken into a rear tent where the wounded were gathered.
There, cleric-soldiers capable of healing magic were tending to the injured.
“Ugh… gh…”
Harid was placed among many wounded soldiers and had to wait for treatment.
After waiting what felt like an endless stretch of time, barely conscious…
His treatment finally began.
“I’ll heal you now.”
“…Please, hurry.”
With his awareness fading, he clung to the voice speaking to him.
It was a woman’s voice.
“Uh… ah…”
When the woman held her hand over Harid, a warm light overflowed, easing his pain.
From the bottom of his heart, he felt saved.
From the pain and fear of possibly dying, she had saved him.
“Hah… ahh… it feels much better now.
…Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Sir Knight.”
As his consciousness and vision cleared, Harid finally looked properly at the woman who had saved him.
“——!”
Her gentle smile was beautiful and adorable…
“…A goddess.”
“Huh?”
She looked divine.
Harid felt that he had been born for the sake of meeting her.
“Your name…
Please tell me.”
“My name is Livia, Sir Knight.”
That was how they met.