“Captain! Captain!”

It was Allen, followed by the voices of other subordinates.

“Where are you, Captain? You’re not dead, are you? If you are, at least answer us, Captain. We need to find your body. A funeral is necessary, Captain!”

“That kid.”

Eric muttered in embarrassment.

Even with the Zero Knights present, the Second Knight Division is losing face.

That guy’s mouth never seems to take a break.

“Oh, our Captain. To die without even getting married—what should we do? He really has no luck. What sins did he commit in his past life? No, it must’ve been my sisterinlaw who committed sins. What’s happening to her now?”

“ViceCaptain, please shut your mouth. If the Captain hears this, he’ll die for real.”

“Don’t you see how worried I am?”

“Aren’t you mocking him?”

Seeing the perplexed expression on his subordinate’s face, Allen chuckled softly.

“Ah, does it show?”

“Are you really not worried?”

“Wouldn’t worrying about getting struck by lightning and dying be statistically more likely?”

“True. It does feel like he’d get struck by lightning and die.”

“Huh?”

Allen turned his head in the direction his subordinate was pointing.

“Ah, Captain! You’re alive! I was so worried—”

Whack.

Eric immediately smacked the running Allen on the back.

“I was worried. Ouch.”

“You, let’s settle this later. I’ll make sure you end up in prison this time.”

“What? You’re saying that to a junior who’s worried about you?”

“Shut up. Everyone heard your nonsense. It’s embarrassing.”

“How anxious must I have been to say something like that? And you don’t even appreciate it.”

“Enough, where’s the priest? Did you bring him?”

“Yes. Here.”

“Hello, Captain. Ah.”

Exchanging nods with Kib, the priest let out a sigh after seeing Eric.

“You’re quite injured. Shall I take a look?”

“Check them first.”

“Huh?”

Eric pointed at Alicia and Noah.

“Check them first. Then we’ll retreat.”

“Ah, okay.”

The priest shifted his worried expression from Eric’s wounds to Alicia and Noah.

“Allen, scout the area. See if there’s anything useful. Kib will assist.”

“Understood.”

“Ah, Kib. How many demon corpses are there? The priest needs to purify them, right?”

“Though I gave up counting, there should be dozens.”

“So there’s not enough, huh? Looks like we’ll need to deploy a priest. I’ll go around and check for now.”

“Do that.”

After sending Allen, Kib, and a few subordinates away, Eric surveyed the surroundings.

The atmosphere was still heavy and strange, despite the bustling crowd, much better than when they first arrived.

(This is a time separator.)

To return, Eric had Alicia wait in a carriage.

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

Alicia quickly asked as Eric was about to close the door.

“I have another carriage. I have confidential matters to discuss with those guys.”

“Can’t the work talk wait? You’re quite injured.”

“I’d like to, but I’m curious about what happened while I was away. You understand?”

“·····Yes.”

In any case, Alicia was not one to patiently wait when she had questions regarding work.

With the emergence of monsters and wizards, Eric was sure to be busier in the future.

So she wanted to be with Eric, even just on the way back.

“I told them to go straight to the Earl of Lancaster’s place. Rest well for now, we’ll see each other later.”

Reluctantly nodding, Alicia watched as Eric closed the carriage door.

Then, he boarded the carriage where Noah and the priest were already seated.

“Are you sending Lady Lancaster alone?”

“I’ll send her straight home.”

“Ah.”

Eric leaned against the seat, grimacing.

The pain was starting to get unbearable, as if he had a fever.

“Captain, are you okay? You don’t look well.”

The priest asked, worried.

“·····.”

“Captain?”

Noah halfrose to approach Eric, but there was no response.
“Master!”

(This is a time separator.)

“Alicia. I brought some food.”

Lying in bed, Alicia weakly opened her eyes at the sound of Chase’s voice.

Their eyes met as Chase set the tray down on the bedside table.

“Can you get up?”

“I don’t want to eat.”

“Alicia.”

Sighing, Chase sat down in a chair.

He looked briefly at Alicia, who had closed her eyes again, before speaking.

“About the thing you asked last time.”

“Did you find out? How’s Eric? Is he awake?”

Before Chase could finish speaking, Alicia, who had been lying listlessly, abruptly sat up.

Her eyes shimmered with anticipation.

Chase felt disappointed at her sudden change.

‘Really too much.’

Internally resenting Alicia, Chase pulled the tray closer.

“Eat this first.”

“I’ll eat later.”

“You should eat. You’ll collapse like this.”

Both Alicia’s eyes and face were flushed, as if she had been crying a lot.

She had looked miserable for the past few days.

Although he had brought food because she wasn’t eating, Alicia didn’t even look at the meal.

“I’ll eat later. Talk first.”

At Alicia’s plea, Chase let out a small sigh and sat down.

“Did you get some sleep?”

“Chase.”

Desperation tinged Alicia’s voice.