The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 31.2

We quickly found the valley.

I reached into the valley, stepping on the pebbles.

“Ah….”

Even though I just touched it, my whole body feels numb.

“Wow…. To find water so quickly like this….”

Lindel seemed fascinated by the situation.

“The terrain here is too rugged. Let’s find a flatter place.”

The other four followed my words without question.

We went downstream and found relatively flat land.

The depth of the river was shallow.

I couldn’t confirm by entering, but the deepest part seemed to reach my waist.

Fish passed under the clear water.

“Should we stay here for two days?”

“I’ll do as you say.”

Lindel answered on behalf of us, and the rest nodded without objection.

It’s comfortable.

First, we set up a simple trap in the river, and soon started making makeshift tents.

It’s a crude tent made of large branches, vines, and leaves, but it’s better than nothing.

Of course, none of us knew how to make a tent.

But I have a specialty as a survival expert.

I instructed my colleagues as my specialty guided me.

Sometimes I had to fix mistakes made by others.

“Like this?”

“No, not there. Cross the ends like weaving….”

Like this.

We completed one or two tents in the shape of a triangle at the entrance, narrowing inward.

“Where did you learn stuff like this?”

Felin asked as he laid leaves on the roof.

“Just… surviving taught me.”

“Taught?”

“Well… I naturally learned.”

“I see. Impressive.”

They each expressed genuine admiration one by one, which made me feel awkward for no reason.

Especially since I often meet Eliza, it was even more so.

If it were Eliza, she would definitely laugh strangely and hmm, probably react the same way.

I don’t believe it at all, but I let it pass with a feeling that it’s all in her hands, with such eyes….

‘…Why am I thinking about her? It makes me think of a strangling scene for no reason….’

After completing the makeshift tents, we lit a bonfire in the center.

We also set up devices to make noise if wild animals approached.

At most, it would just be the sound of branches breaking, but that should be enough.

When three fish were caught in the simple trap, the sun had already set quite a bit.

We placed a wooden stand over the bonfire and boiled water in a water jug.

“Was it supposed to be boiled?”

“Just in case.”

There might be parasites or something like that.

“I’ve just been drinking it like this…. He sure knows everything.”

When Connor mumbled absentmindedly, the hunting party returned.

Lindel, Felin, Brown.

The three were in the hunting party.

The criteria for formation was to separate Connor and Brown.

We three always set up favorable situations through force.

Connor lacked confidence that he could catch them bare-handed, so just the two of us stayed back at camp.

“Did you manage to catch anything?”

Connor asked. In response, Brown shook what he held in his hand.

It was a rabbit.

They had two rabbits as food.

And three fish.

It wasn’t a lot, but at least they had something for each person.

“But can we just cook this?”

“Shouldn’t we take out the organs…?”

I suggested, but I didn’t know how to butcher.

Survival experts and hunters don’t teach you that.

“I’ll do it.”

Luckily, Lindel stepped forward.

He took the rabbit to the water’s edge and skinned it, removing the organs.

The fish went through a similar process.

“I didn’t think this test would be so relaxed…”

Felin muttered blankly as he watched the smoked food over the fire.

“Exactly.”

Brown agreed.

“I feel pathetic for giving up on finding the way last time.”

“I killed out of thirst? But there’s water right next to us here. Huh, really….”

“Judas.”

Connor complained, then Lindel.

He looked at me and smiled faintly.

“It’s all thanks to you. Thank you.”

“Well, I mean, it’s not like…that much.”

He’s right.

Navigating, setting up the tent, making fire, etc.

Almost everything was made with my help.

The fish and the rabbit are no different.

Checking the road and setting traps with the hunter’s senses.

But I’m weak in such straightforward praise.

It’s not solely my ability.

It was a trait.

“…Since everything seems cooked, let’s eat.”

So I quickly changed the subject.

“Judas, you choose first.”

There are five foods.

Two rabbit meats, three fish.

The rabbit was larger and more abundant than the fish.

I’m not hesitant or yielding at times like this.

“Well then, gladly.”

I immediately picked the largest rabbit meat.

It’s embarrassing to be praised, but I did well.

Can’t I eat this much?

The rest was decided by the four of us playing rock-paper-scissors.

It’s not a rich meal.

I also skipped lunch.

But for the first meal thrown into the wild, it wasn’t bad.

The taste of rabbit meat, which I ate for the first time in my life, was also good.

‘Tough and dry.’

That means it’s high in protein.

‘I should eat carbs and fats too… but in this environment, it would be a luxury.’

They chatted idly while eating.

Life in the training camp, exams, the Bevel family, and so on. Superficial talks without nutritional value.

Crackle, the bonfire crackled, and the brook water trickled.

It was a peaceful noise.

During that time, Connor, who had finished eating the fish first, nudged Felin.

“Hey. Share some of that.”

“What?”

“You can’t finish all that at the rate you’re going. Just share a bit.”

“…I don’t want to.”

“How much is that…?”

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

Lindel and Brown also fell silent, watching them both.

Before emotions could escalate, I intervened.

“Let’s leave it at that. It’s each person’s share.”

“Uh, yeah. Sorry.”

Connor didn’t argue with me.

Looking embarrassed, he scratched the back of his head and backed off.

‘Is he a pushover?’

No surprise there.

Such a person is nothing out of the ordinary.

After the meal, they decided on night watch duty.

Two would stand guard, alternating every hour.

“People change every two hours. But since we don’t have watches, waking up the next person is up to our conscience. Now, the order…”

“Judas, you can just rest.”

Lindel said.

“Actually, without you, nothing would have been possible. We probably don’t need a night watch.”

Felin nodded as if to agree.

However, Brown and Connor didn’t respond immediately.

They seem hesitant to object, probably because they’re wary.

‘Full and safe now, feeling more relaxed.’

Anyway, I won’t see these faces often after tomorrow.

Skipping night watch altogether would prick my conscience.

But I won’t compromise.

“Then I’ll take the first watch.”

Brown and Connor agreed.

***

Tap, crackle.

I woke up to the sound of crackling fire.

Quiet and dark.

It’s probably still early morning.

‘Did I wake up…’

I probably didn’t sleep deeply to begin with.

Brown and Connor.

At first, they seemed to get along okay, but gradually, they became uncomfortable.

It bothered me, and I couldn’t sleep properly.

‘Why does my hand feel so empty… Maybe because I haven’t done grip exercises.’

When I raised my head, I saw their backs.

They sat side by side in front of the bonfire.

‘We sit facing each other to minimize Blind spots but I didn’t tell them that…’

They were Brown and Connor.

Judging by the order, it’s been about four hours since others fell asleep.

I heard murmurs of conversation.

“…So. Acting like you know everything. You should watch how much you brag.”

Brown.

“Did you see his ‘tone’ earlier? Ridiculous… His face when I brushed him off was priceless.”

Connor.

‘…Talking behind someone’s back?’

“I almost stepped up right then and there, but… I held back, feeling confident I’ll pass the test comfortably.”

“You sure of yourself?”

“This brat? Asking something so obvious..”

“Oh~ I could win too, so what id Gulliat is bigger?”

“He’s big, sure, but no big deal. I could’ve won if I really tried. There’s truth to those rumors, you know.”

Mocking laughter mixed with their words and tone.

They were both the same.

It was irritating, but so predictable that it wasn’t that bad.

I knew they’d be like this.

Predictable to the point of boredom.

‘Once this exam’s over, I won’t have to see these guys again… But what rumor are they talking about?’

As long as they don’t betray us out of the blue or something.

It’s a bit different from when we won.

Right now, being with them is advantageous for survival.

‘Back then, our goal was just to grab the Moon Deer; knocking them down was coincidence.’

Who would like gossip?

I especially hate it.

I’m the type who won’t say behind someone’s back what I can’t say to their face.

‘Guess I’ll practice controlling my temper…’

But sleeping now is out of the question.

“Hey, by the way, are you going to be a Escort knight for Eliza?”

“If they ask me to.”

“But she’s a Illegitimate Child…”

‘……’

“Well, yeah. That’s a bit… but we’re not in a position to judge that, are we?”

“But still… wouldn’t it be better if you tried to join another Bavel branch? Thinking about leaving here and challenging…”

“Would pure-blooded direct descendants even bother with kids like us?”

Illegitimate Child. Eliza.

I heard every word they said distinctly.

Even though I didn’t want to hear it.

I couldn’t close my eyes.

People will curse even gods if the victim doesn’t hear them.

In this world, maybe even the gods don’t get cursed.

But the Emperor probably does.

I know that, but…

“Hey, wake up.”

Connor said.

Next will probably be Lindel’s turn.

Lindel will take over.

“Uh, uh… Is it my turn already?”

Lindel asked groggily.

“Yeah. Get up and wake up quickly.”

“Ugh….”

Lindel, who had just woken up with a stretch, sat by the campfire.

However, Connor didn’t immediately lie down in his tent.

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Does that guy really fight well?”

“…Judas?”

“Yeah.”

“Haven’t you seen him fight with Gulliat?”

“Well, I have. But how do you know it wasn’t just luck?”

Brown chuckled beside them.

“If you knew him better, you’d realize he’s nothing special. So, what do you think? By the way, weren’t you almost about to fight him?”

Caught in gossip.

Lindel remained silent for quite some time before speaking.

This situation is quite familiar.

Trying to provoke by creating a threatening atmosphere, meddling in gossip.

“Quit your childish antics and go to sleep.”

“…What?”

“If it weren’t for Judas, we wouldn’t have such a comfortable sleeping spot…”

“Ha. Look at this guy.”

The air became tense.

“Should I just knock these guys out while they’re asleep?”

“I’ll stay quiet…”

Lindel was about to say something but held back.

He looked up at me.

I had somehow arrived behind Connor, using [Sneaky Steps.]

A low voice escaped as a warning.

“Go ahead.”

I reached out.

Wrapped my left arm around Connor’s neck and grabbed my right forearm.

My right hand rested on my shoulder.

With all my strength, I pressed on his neck.

Recognition was slow and the process specific, but my body remembered the movements simultaneously.

Commonly known as a ‘Bare-handed choking’ technique.

It is the name of a judo technique.

‘Bare-handed choking.’

“If you can.”

“Guh…?!”

Connor grabbed my arm, but it was too late.

I moved myself properly.

Three seconds to unconsciousness.

‘3, 2, 1.’

Connor’s eyes rolled back as his body went limp.

I dropped him to the ground.

Pressing further could lead to brain damage.

“Ju-Judas…”

Lindel looked up, bewildered.

I approached Brown, who was sitting on the ground.

His frightened eyes trembled.

“What are you doing! If you do this, you’ll be disqualified!”

“Got it.”

“What…?”

“That I understand. You’re shaking us off, thinking I’ll fail too.”

He hastily rose, raising his sword at me.

I also picked up the fallen sword and shield beside me.

There’s a limit to how much one can endure.

I tried to ignore the gossip behind my back for once.

But these two had crossed my threshold.

As much as touching me, I dislike touching those close to me.

I really can’t stand it anymore.

Whether I fail or not.

Towards the wavering tip of Brown’s sword, I rushed forward first.