Special Chapter VII - Barbeque (part 2)

"How many are left?"

I asked regarding the knights, and Eva turned her saddened gaze away.

"Seven. One was taken hostage, and could possibly be alive, but we weren't sure. Other two... dead."

Two dead, one captured, and seven still alive and well. After spending over a week by themselves on this wretched kingdom, they were fighting in the shadows, not knowing which ones are allies and which ones are enemies. These knights are quite special, it seems.

"Where are the others?"

"Guarding this inn, outside. I'm the only one entering, after all."

To Eva's answer, I decided to just check anyway. I heightened my senses, and as far as fifty meters, no enmities were detected. There are indeed six rather unique individuals outside the inn that have a different pressure from other people, scattered on the road.

"How do you think we can transfer her home?"

"We can disguise and rent a carriage. She is the only one that needed to be back home. And if things become worse, we knights are prepared to sacrifice ourselves."

"Don't think like that."

I told her quite annoyedly, and she only chuckled.

"We are knights. We are more than prepared to sacrifice ourselves if such a thing was necessary."

"And I'm an adventurer. I do things only for the sake of money. However, even I know when to not do stupid things.

Learn to take care of yourself and make smart decisions. Lyona would never want you to be in danger."

I pointed out her mistake, but Eva only chuckled at how stupid I sounded.

"Sadly, the situation isn't something that can be decided with what she 'wants' anymore. There's a limit to what a noble like her can wish."

"Really? Something tells me that the limit is still far from reach. You knights were really carrying all the burden by yourself. That was your first mistake.

Your second mistake is not listening to what your master is telling you. That resulted in your situation becoming so dire, even though it could've been easily avoided had you listen to her.

Your third mistake... is not coming to me for assistance."

Eva opened her eyes widely, and I guess she wasn't expecting me to offer my help so easily. However, it was always my mission to solve this situation with the rebels, and it could've gone a better way had they just asked for my assistance.

"Looks like it's our mistake. Apologies, but we could use your help, Rize."

Eva finally admitted, and I nodded with a smile.

"When will she be going back home?"

"Tonight. We already ordered a private cart back to Mazino."

"How many people can fit?"

"... Three."

Yikes. They really have the doomer brain, ready to throw themselves into a sea of flames if necessary.

"You never even planned on leaving all together, weren't you?"

Eva lifted her only hand and stared at the item on her hand. It looks like a metal emblem, and it had a slight stain of blood on it.

"We... are not done yet."

Eva muttered with a whisper, and I realized the knights must have their own problems they're facing. That is completely outside of my control, but Lyona's case isn't.

I pondered over what to do. The situation has become impossible to fix, now that I know the kingdom never wanted any peace to begin with. They only wanted the extermination of the rebellion group, and they even dared to kill another kingdom's envoy.

With this, it can be deducted that the kingdom was the problem. However, we can't just face the entire Veldonia.

Unless, the rebels are actually…

Yeah, we need more information about the rebels. For now, it's much safer to just get Lyona out of here.

"All right, it's decided."

I stood up and marched towards the stove. I picked up a plate of barbeque chicken that Lyona had cooked and dropped the plate at the table in front of Eva.

Seeing me dropping it so violently, Eva turned her tired gaze at me and asked.

"What's this?"

"Lyona spent hours learning how to cook it, just for you. It's called barbeque chicken."

After saying that, I left Eva and walked over to Lyona at the balcony, trying to cheer her up. Meanwhile, Eva took the spoon from the plate and let her have a taste from the barbeque chicken.

She inserted the spoon to her mouth, and her eyes became welled with tears. Eva quickly wiped the tears when Lyona entered the room again, with me behind her.

"Oh, you tasted it already. How was it?"

Eva smiled when Lyona asked her. She took a big chunk of chicken on the spoon and held it before eating it.

"It's lovely."

.

.

.

"You are leaving tonight."

Eva said to Lyona, and she understood.

Lyona had agreed to leave the kingdom tonight and head back to Mazino to report to the kingdom. I won't be with her since I still have a mission to do here.

"Who else will be coming with me?"

Eva and I looked at each other, and I nodded. She turned her smile back to Lyona.

"I will be coming with you."

"R-Really?"

Lyona couldn't believe it. She thought that Eva was ready to stay behind.

"Well, with one arm, I probably will only last minutes in a battle. So yes, I will probably come home and who knows… maybe I'll retire."

Lyona looked quite happy. Tears started to drop from her eyes, but she wiped it immediately.

"And I wanted a bit more of that barbeque sauce of yours."

"Hmm! I will make more when we come home!"

And just like that, Lyona is coming back to Mazino tonight alongside Eva. One of our issues had been solved.

"And the other knights?"

Lyona asked. Eva had to let out a sigh.

"They will follow us back home tomorrow. There weren't that many carts that left for Mazino, and it was quite lucky that we got one for tonight."

That was a lie. It was very easy to get one by paying a driver. Unlike a person's life, money is expendable after all.

The other knights did not plan to leave until their situation was solved. Which means they are depending on whether or not they can achieve their goal on this cursed land filled with dangers and traitors.

"Then, we shall depart tonight. Pack your items."

"Already in here!"

Lyona showed her magic ring on her hand. It looked quite fancy, I must say.

Seeing Lyona happy like this made me happy as well. After all, she was quite gloomy just yesterday. And the day before, and the day before that. She was gloomy for the whole week. Today was really a special day.

"Also, I forgot to mention this. I sent a letter to the queen about calling for backup. She hasn't replied yet, but tell her to not send any backup at all, now that you are coming home."

I said to Lyona and Eva, and the two nodded.

"Oh, right. How do you happen to know the queen?"

Lyona asked out of the blue, and I let out a sigh. Looks like I will have to throw out my secret here.

"Well…"

We spent the whole morning chatting about how I am the saint healer, who healed the queen. Both Lyona and Eva were quite surprised, but they realized that it was true because they saw me heal those knights back at the pond from the verge of dying.

After chatting for the whole morning, Eva left the inn to discuss the plan with the other knights outside, while me and Lyona went out for some light shopping.

She wants me to teach her about what stuff is best used for the materials on the cooking, so I told her which ones when we arrived at the market. The market was always very crowded, but I sensed no sign of enmity when we arrived, so it's clear for us.

We shopped around for the whole noon and came back before afternoon. After shopping, we went back to the inn and started cooking again. We stayed at the inn until sundown.

And after the third bell, Eva came to the inn to pick Lyona up.

"Everything's ready?"

She asked while sitting down on the couch. Lyona showed the food box she had prepared during the afternoon to Eva.

"What's this?"

"Barbeque chicken."

"That's amazing."

Eva turned to me, who's still wearing my apron.

"You aren't coming with us?"

"I also have things I need to do."

I said while referring to the knights, and Eva nodded firmly.

Lyona turned to me, and we both hugged for a little bit. Lyona sank her face on my apron, and she spoke.

"Promise me to come visit me once we are back home."

"Okay. I promise."

"Yay!"

She let go from the hug and grinned. Her smile is so sweet. I really want to marry her, but it's a pity since she already has Eva.

Afterwards, one of the knights came to the room and knocked, saying everything was ready.

"Let's go."

Eva and Lyona stood up.

"Good bye, Rize. See you later."

Lyona said as she waves her hand while leaving. I return while waving my hand also. She and Eva left the room, leaving me alone here in this giant spacious room.

I waited for a few seconds, before finally standing back up awkwardly.

"All right... time to move."

I can't let her go just like that. I'm going to tail her, see if there's any issues. It's not that I don't trust the knights, but I just can't help but worry about any ambush out of the blue.

I geared up with my robes and mask, and I headed out from the window.

I leaped from roof to roof, following Eva and Lyona from the shadows. I heightened my senses to see if there's anyone who is also following in the shadows.

Lyona and Eva stopped at a carriage right outside a building not too far from the inn. The two entered the carriage and waited until the carriage started moving.

I sat at a certain roof not too far from the location, and I spotted someone else in the dark.

Right across the road, also on top of the roof. He was watching me the entire time.

It was the knight captain.

He signalled a thumbs up at me, and I replied with the same.

Since they bought a ticket for three, the other person would be one of the knights who is also from Mazino. There are two knights that go along with Lyona, so I'm sure she should be okay.

The cart finally started moving. My eyes followed it all the way until it left the main gate.

"All right. Now that it has been settled..."

I turned around and was about to leave. But right before I began leaping away, I sensed something. 

Enmity.