The Duke’s judgment was regrettable but correct.
“If we do nothing, tomorrow might be the North’s last day.”
The Duke concluded.
Everyone fell silent. They knew he was right.
“I’ll go too.”
I volunteered.
The Duke looked at me.
“It’s dangerous, Esdel.”
“You face the same danger, Your Grace.”
“I have experience fighting them.”
“I may not have experience, but I can fight better than you.”
As the first ‘Sword Master’ in the empire’s history, I was confident.
“I am the quickest knight here in the Vice Captain’s absence. There’s something I can do.”
“…”
Then it happened.
“Ah!”
Adrian, who had been maintaining the aurora, groaned and clutched his chest as another Kaligari struck it.
“We should hurry.”
The young boy, a magician with the wisdom of the world, had courage.
“Alright.”
The Duke agreed.
“Esdel, stay close behind me. Commanders of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th units, who have experienced Kaligari, follow me.”
Then Bran raised his hand.
“I’ll go too!”
“That’s impossible.”
“Your Grace! I can ride with someone else. It’ll increase our chances of survival.”
I argued, and Mobius agreed.
“That’s a sensible suggestion, Your Grace.”
“Fine. With whom then?”
“I’ll take Bran on my horse; I’m the lightest.”
I answered.
To fight a monster with four arms, it’s better to have an extra person. I’m confident I can protect Bran.
At the gate leading outside the walls, I whispered to Adrian Eodel.
“Eodel.”
“Ah, yes!”
The tense boy answered loudly.
I lowered my voice even more.
“If you find it too strenuous… release the protective shield around me first.”
“What?!”
“You’re crazy!” Bran, clinging to my back, exclaimed.
“Do you want to stay here, Bran?”
“…”
“Combined, we have four arms. You’ve seen me sling the wooden dummies in the training yard, right?”
Bran hesitated before trailing off.
“Dummies are just dummies…”
“That was Sword Qi.”
“What?!”
“Sword Qi.”
I turned back to Eodel.
“Trust me. I’m talking about the worst-case scenario. And in the direst of situations, protect the magician and the Duke. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“?”
The blond boy’s pink eyes widened.
What’s this person thinking? But his uncertainty was soon replaced by resolve, nodding at my unwavering determination. He then ran to the Duke and climbed behind him.
Moments later, five divided auroras enveloped the five horses and the seven riders atop them.
“Open the gate!”
The Duke commanded.
The gate opened.
“Bran, don’t leave my side.”
Bran then hugged my waist.
We charged forward.
The Kaligari attacked like carnivores upon their prey.
Their form was visible only when striking the aurora. However, their footprints, large as those of a giant bird, marked the muddy ground.
“Watch the footprints!”
The Duke shouted.
Thankfully, the four commanders fought well against the Kaligari.
The creature couldn’t penetrate the aurora, but our swords could strike them outside of it. That was our advantage.
Suddenly, the largest Kaligari struck at the Duke.
Adrian, seated behind him, ducked in shock.
It all happened in an instant.
Then, the yellow aurora surrounding the fourth commander faded.
“Kieeeeek!”
A piercing metallic sound followed as the Kaligari’s claw dove towards the commander. The claw pierced the aurora.
The commander’s sword blocked it, but it was not enough. The sword and his right arm were severed.
He fell from his horse, which, still running, split in two upon hitting the ground.
“Bran!”
I handed the reins of my gray horse to Bran and leaped off.
“Esdel!!!”
The Duke’s cry echoed.
The Kaligari appeared above the commander’s head.
I sprang from the ground, infusing my sword with Qi. The iron blade tripled in length in an instant.
As the Kaligari’s claw descended towards the commander’s head, my Sword Qi sliced off its arm.
The stunned commander gazed at me with wide eyes.
“Grainy!!!”
My horse, wrapped in yellow aurora with Bran, galloped towards me.
I helped the bleeding commander onto the horse and yelled at Bran.
“Return to the castle!”
“Esdel, you!”
“Do you want to kill the commander?!”
At that, Bran headed back to the walls.
I saw Adrian, sweating to maintain the auroras around my horse, Bran, and the commander. The young magician’s eyes were fixed on me.
And in front of him, the Duke’s blue eyes, filled with many tales.
At that moment, the one-armed Kaligari appeared before me.
The attack time was less than 0.01 seconds.
But I was faster.
The monster’s body exploded before my eyes, torn apart by my sword.
“Let’s dance, Kaligari.”
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
