“Kuaaaak!”
In an instant, the monster’s claws slashed through the air, flying toward me.
Just as I shut my eyes tight, thinking this was the end, Edmund rushed in, his sword radiating a sharp aura.
The artifact in his hand transformed into a massive spear. It had to be the legendary weapon rumored to have wiped out the monsters of the Zeder Forest, but my gaze was fixed on him, charging in alone.
With precise aim, Edmund drove the spear straight into the monster’s vital point.
“Kieeeek!”
The monster thrashed violently, and the cave trembled with its agonized cries.
Thud!
The creature collapsed backward, the spear still lodged in its weak spot.
The sheer impact made it feel as if the very ground beneath us was shaking.
Edmund, who had been exuding a fierce and deadly energy just moments ago, gradually calmed and turned toward me.
“Count.”
With a thud, I collapsed onto the ground, struggling to catch my breath as my pulse pounded wildly.
My entire body felt cold, as if all the blood had drained from me.
Seeing this, Edmund quickly approached, kneeling on one knee to meet my gaze. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah… no…”
I couldn’t pretend to be fine. My hands, pressed against the ground, were trembling uncontrollably.
Even though the danger had passed, I couldn’t calm down.
Thump-thump. My heartbeat pounded in my ears.
Facing such a grotesque and terrifying creature, I felt utterly overwhelmed, as if I had already been consumed.
It was an indescribable fear.
My mind went blank, unable to process what to do next.
At that moment, I deeply understood just how courageous knights were to face these monsters.
‘Ah, I should have prayed more sincerely at the memorial service.’
This was my first time seeing a monster in real life. I had always believed I would never have to.
And yet, here I was.
In Buell Territory, at the Lebron Mine.
‘How did it even appear? Monsters should never manifest in a place like Lebron.’
Why…
“Count.”
At that moment, Edmund gently lifted my chin, careful not to hurt me. His calm, golden eyes came into view.
“Calm yourself.”
His soothing voice settled over me.
At the same time, I saw my own reflection in his deep, dark pupils.
My vacant eyes, completely dazed.
As my scattered thoughts gradually returned, my gaze met his.
He was carefully assessing my condition.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
I slowly shook my head.
Only then did Edmund relax his stiff expression and release my chin.
If he hadn’t saved me…
Just the thought made my stomach churn.
I would have been torn apart, limb by limb, and devoured by the monster.
In that moment, I felt immense gratitude that Edmund, and not some other knight, had accompanied me back to the territory.
Sighing, I tried to relax my stiff body and ran a trembling hand through my sweat-drenched hair.
As I calmed down, the gruesome sight behind him came into view.
The monster, impaled by the spear, lay in a pool of bluish blood, its thick hide pierced.
Feeling nauseated, I quickly turned away.
“Let’s get out of here first.”
“Good idea.”
Edmund placed a steadying hand on my shoulder to support me.
As I leaned on him to stand, my legs suddenly gave out, and I stumbled forward.
His strong hands hesitated for a moment before wrapping lightly around my waist.
“I’m sorry.”
Letting out a deep sigh, he tightened his grip slightly.
“This is why I’m here. Don’t apologize, just lean on me.”
I let out an awkward laugh as I steadied myself. Then, in the distance, I saw Baron Totair leading the knights toward us through the forest.
When he spotted us, he raised his hand high in greeting.
Though the situation was already under control, the sight of reinforcements brought a sense of relief.
As Edmund helped me out of the cave, a thought suddenly struck me.
“The Purification Stone.”
“The Purification Stone?”
Edmund frowned slightly. I met his gaze, signaling for him to wait, and turned back.
Ignoring the monster’s gruesome remains, I scanned the ground.
There it was, lying alone.
‘As I thought, I wasn’t mistaken.’
I pulled out a handkerchief and carefully wrapped the Purification Stone.
By law, it had to be reported once found. But more than that, I was suspicious—why had a monster appeared so close to the stone?
As I turned to leave, a cracking sound echoed. The ground trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
A chill ran down my spine. My eyes darted toward the source of the noise.
It was a supernatural aftershock caused by the monster’s manifestation.
“Count!”
Edmund was just about to reach me.
The cave, weakened by the impact, began to collapse.
The moment our eyes met, a massive rock fell between us, swallowing everything in darkness.
Ha!
I gasped, inhaling dust-filled air, and coughed violently.
Looking around, I could barely see—it was pitch black.
The only light came from faint rays filtering through cracks, revealing that rocks and debris had completely blocked the entrance.
In short, I was buried. Trapped in an instant.
Frantically, I moved my limbs, checking for injuries.
Fortunately, I wasn’t crushed or wounded.
Distantly, I could hear muffled shouts, but they were too faint to make out.
‘Edmund… Where’s Edmund?’
The last thing I remembered was his hand pulling me just before the cave collapsed.
As I scanned my surroundings, a hand suddenly grasped my wrist.
I flinched.
Narrowing my eyes, I made out a faint silhouette.
“Edmund?”
He tapped the inside of my wrist twice, as if to confirm.
I sighed in relief. “Thank goodness. Are you alright?”
“I-I’m fine.”
In between his words, I could faintly hear a sound like he was swallowing a groan.
“…Are you hurt?”
“…No.”
Edmund answered a beat late. Then, harsh breaths followed.
I carefully moved closer, feeling around the ground with my hands.
“Count.”
He called me as if to stop me, but I kept reaching forward with my hands.
Slowly and carefully, I finally felt something near his leg and gasped sharply.
“Your leg… Is it trapped under the rock?”
When I touched a certain part of his leg, I heard him swallow another groan.
Realizing the truth, I was at a loss for words.
‘Why is Edmund…?’
He had strong physical ability. If his leg was caught under the rock, it must have been because he didn’t get out in time while saving me.
He might have escaped if he were alone.
“Why…?”
I was just someone else to him. I bit my lip hard to hold back a sound.
It was also to hold down the sudden wave of emotion rising in my throat.
Now wasn’t the time to be overwhelmed by my feelings.
Outside, the rescue efforts seemed to be underway, and since his leg was stuck under a rock, he wouldn’t be able to move.
To communicate clearly with the outside, I had to stay calm.
I quickly took out the communication stone from inside my clothes.
“Baron Totair! Baron Totair!”
[ My lady! You’re conscious! ]
I heard Baron Totair let out a relieved sigh. Just as he was about to say something, I cut him off.
“Here…! My knight’s leg is stuck under a rock—”
But I stopped talking when I felt the warmth of a hand gently holding mine.
Though I couldn’t see well, I could feel him looking quietly at me in the dark. As if telling me to calm down.
“He got hurt saving me. How can I calm down?”
I pushed Edmund’s hand away and tried to continue the communication, but he took the device from me.
“There hasn’t been a second quake since the monster appeared. Remove the rock on the left blocking the entrance and rescue the count first.”
“What are you saying? What do you mean ‘first’? We have to leave together.”
“……”
Edmund said nothing, and I had no idea what he was thinking.
As I stared at him in the darkness, I heard the rescue team, and soon the large rock blocking the entrance was moved aside.
I winced at the sudden burst of light.
Then, through the bright opening, I saw one of the rescuers reaching a hand toward me, his face full of urgency and worry, urging me to take it.
The opening was only wide enough for one person to pass through.
“Go.”
His shirt was soaked with cold sweat, and his hair was a mess. His usually calm expression was more shaken than ever before.
I naturally lowered my gaze and swallowed a rough breath.
As I expected, one of his legs was trapped under the rock.
“As you can see, I can’t move like this.”
Edmund spoke with a frown. A faint, bitter smile passed his lips—it was a little self-mocking, a little helpless.
“We’ll get help and go together. The exit is right there, so why…!”
I swallowed the rising voice. It sounded too much like I was blaming him for saving me.
Edmund blinked slowly and nodded toward the exit, clearly telling me to go.
Because of the weight of the rock, blood probably wasn’t circulating in his leg. That might mean amputation. The one who needed to be rescued quickly wasn’t me—it was him.
“Count!”
The rescue team’s voice came again, urging me to hurry in case another collapse happened.
