Chapter 84 : You Don’t Have a Cat Like This

“How is it?”

I asked the doctor as he unwrapped the bandages on my arm.

He paused mid-motion and gave me a blank look.

“I’m still unwrapping it.”

“Ah, right. Hurry up then.”

“I am hurrying.”

“…”

“…”

“How is it?”

“I haven’t finished yet.”

“…Ah. Yes.”

The bandages slid off with slow, drawn-out rustles.

Today, of all days, the doctor’s hands seemed especially sluggish. Maybe it was just me.

The Heavenly Demon nagged.

[Your temper… Can’t you wait calmly for once?]

But I couldn’t help it.

Yesterday, the doctor had said there was a chance my arm would be fully healed today.

So ever since, I’d been hammering pressure points into it all day long.

Right now, I felt like a kid waiting for his very first field trip.

“It’s healed, isn’t it? Right?”

“…”

At last, the bandages came off completely, and the doctor carefully examined my arm.

“…Oh!”

A flash of astonishment crossed his face.

“This… this is far too fast. I thought a month early would be impressive, but to be fully healed in barely a week… Do you feel any pain, any trouble moving it?”

“None.”

He twisted and bent my arm this way and that, probing carefully, then asked,

“What did you do? At some point, your recovery speed suddenly multiplied.”

I answered honestly.

“I applied pressure points here and there.”

“Ah, black magic.”

“No. Not black magic. Pressure points.”

“Yes, black magic.”

“….”

The doctor nodded gravely as he continued prodding my arm.

“In any case, the wound has healed completely. I can hardly believe it, but it’s true. The splints can come off. Still, I’d advise some caution for a while.”

“Yes.”

I turned to the Count, who’d been watching from nearby.

“You heard him.”

“Mm.”

Count Starvanger nodded.

“Will you leave at once?”

“Of course. Better to depart after dark. Besides, I’m itching to move.”

“Then do as you wish. Preparations are already made.”

“Good.”

Soon after, I stood before the annex. The Count and Hans’s family came out to see me off.

“Safe travels. Sir Curtis will brief you on the way.”

“Yes.”

Seated on my horse, I met Curtis’s eyes where he waited at the front and gave a small nod.

The Count added,b“Return safely, and I’ll arrange for you to meet my knight-captain. She is quite busy at the moment.”

“I said I’m not interested.”

“There’s no harm in meeting, is there?”

“Doesn’t seem like much good in it either.”

“Go and return first. I’ll do what I can to clear her time.”

“….”

Only after giving this stubborn matchmaker of a Count a reluctant nod was I finally freed.

The Heavenly Demon chuckled nastily.

[Take her. This might be your last chance.]

“Come on, Master. You think I can’t? You know how many women liked me back then? If I just—”

Then I noticed Joy clutching my coat hem, looking up at me with big round eyes.

“Mister, who are you talking to?”

“…Just to myself.”

Not something to explain in front of a child. I swallowed the rest.

Hans spoke next, his face clouded.

“If I could, I’d go myself.”

“You can’t. If you came, it’d only cause more problems.”

This mission was to be carried out with a small group. The larger the numbers, the slower the movement.

Hans was a noncombatant. Protecting him would demand more men, and protecting him well wouldn’t be easy.

Besides, he wasn’t alone. If he died, two people would grieve as though the sky had fallen.

So his role was passed on.

Shushruta spoke up.

“Don’t worry. I’ve memorized everything.”

Hans nodded.

“Good. I’ll leave it to you, then. It’ll be hard work.”

“Consider it done.”

Shushruta hadn’t just been playing with Joey.

In her spare time, she’d taken lessons from Hans about the Tomb of Ophosis and its legacy.

Of course, none of it could be written down—it was too sensitive—so she had memorized it all.

“And the food? Did you pack it properly?”

“Yes. It’s right here.”

I patted the saddlebag. Julia had packed sandwiches and snacks that could be eaten on the road.

“Take care of yourself. Come back safe.”

“Yes.”

Joy clung tightly to my coat hem, eyes glistening.

“Uncle… don’t get hurt. Run away if you have to, it’s okay. Just… don’t get hurt.”

I ruffled his hair with a grin.

“Of course. I’m Ashuban the Great Escape Artist. Don’t worry.”

“Mm…”

At last, Joy let go.

After saying my goodbyes, I swung into the saddle.

Shushruta leapt up lightly behind me and wrapped her arms firmly around my waist.

“Then, we’ll be off.”

I signaled Curtis with a glance.

He nodded, tugged his reins.

“Hyah!”

Clip-clop.

We slipped quietly out the estate’s back gate at a slow pace, then gradually picked up speed.

Thunderrr—

Under the moonlight, we galloped across the darkened fields.

The cool night wind rushed past our faces.

Riding beside me, Walpole called out, his voice carrying over the hooves’ thunder.

“Lord Ashuban! From this moment, we are not knights of Starvanger House!”

Only then did I notice the three knights weren’t in their shining armor.

They wore simple, dark leather gear.

I caught his meaning and gave a nod.

“If word spread that the Red-Eyed Devil rode with Starvanger knights, it would cause trouble. So, for now—we’ll be wandering knights!”

That meant only one thing.

For the duration of this journey, we were no longer under the protection of House Starvanger.

Even if hundreds or thousands of enemies came swarming at us, we’d have to cut through them on our own.

Which, honestly, was just the way I liked it.

I shouted, “Congratulations, you’re now free knights riding like the wind! Let’s make memories we’ll never forget!”

Curtis and Walpole burst out laughing at that.

But the third knight, the middle-aged one, didn’t even crack a smile. He just stared grimly ahead, expression like stone.

Well, that was how groups always worked. Three or more people, and there’s always one who refuses to play along.

I carved a silent promise into my mind: someday, I’d make that stiff face break into a smile.

Still, I hoped these memories would be short ones.

Our destination was the demon sword—not brawling with whoever came our way.

The sooner we returned, the sooner I could fight the First Prince’s knights. The sooner the Black Prince could claim the throne. The sooner I could go home.

“Good.”

Gripping the reins, I set my mind to cutting down anything that stood in our way without hesitation.

Curling my lip into a grin, I muttered, “No more playing around. You bastards.”

“Hm? What was that?”

“Not talking to you.”

“Ah.”

Our horses thundered across the fields, chasing the moon like hounds in the night.

Our plan was simple.

Enemies would start trailing us sooner or later.

How they found us, who knew? But they would.

Riding horses would make it harder for them to keep up, but ambushes were still possible.

We’d smash those ambushes head-on. Overwhelming force made petty tricks meaningless.

So the plan was to cover as much ground as possible tonight, while pursuit was still light.

Thunderrrr—

Bent low over the saddle, we galloped in silence.

It had been a long time since I’d ridden this hard. My pulse raced with the thrill of it.

One slip, and my freshly healed arm would snap again.

That was my worry.

Behind me, Shushruta’s hands were locked around my waist.

Then I felt them loosen.

I instantly caught her arms and forced her grip tight again.

“Hey, stay awake! You’ll go flying if you slip.”

She was so light, she really might drift off like a paper doll.

From behind me came her muffled voice.

“Ugh… this night wind is cold. What if Julia’s food gets cold too?”

“My passion won’t cool, so it’s fine.”

“….”

Her arms slackened again, and I pulled them tight once more.

At this rate, maybe I should just cuff her wrists together.

Sure enough, after a while her grip slackened again.

I grabbed her hands and barked, “Hey! Don’t tell me you’re falling asleep?”

She jolted awake.

“Wh-what nonsense! I’m not—”

“I told you to nap earlier since we’d leave at night, didn’t I?”

“…You did.”

“Did you?”

“…I did.”

“You didn’t. What were you doing instead?”

She stammered,

“W-well… Joy wanted to make me a bracelet to pray for your safe return, so…”

I clicked my tongue.

“Don’t sleep. If you do, you’ll fall behind.”

“…Mm. I understand.”

To wake herself, I heard her slapping her cheeks.

Of course, she wouldn’t really get left behind—but keeping pace would be hell.

In short bursts she could outrun a horse, but over distance? No chance.

We galloped on.

By the third or fourth time her grip loosened, she suddenly straightened with a sharp voice.

“Ashuban. We’ve got company.”

“What, already?”

The knights glanced at me.

“Riders. A good number.”

At her words, Walpole shouted, “Must be the Second Prince’s men! We heard rumors they were lurking near our lands.”

“How’d they know?”

“The Second Prince sent out search parties to find you, Lord Ashuban. One must’ve been hiding here.”

“I see.”

“What shall we do? Deal with them now?”

I shook my head.

“No. Keep going. If they catch up, we’ll deal with them then. No sense slowing down. What do you think, Sir Curtis?”

From the front, Curtis called back, “Yes! Agreed!”

I glanced at the middle-aged knight.

“You too?”

He just nodded, silent as ever.

One of the guards who’d always been by my side, quiet enough that I still didn’t know his name.

He always seemed less like he was guarding me and more like he was watching me.

Even so, he had volunteered eagerly for this mission, and Curtis and Walpole vouched for his skill and character.

Whatever was in his head, I couldn’t tell.

Just then, Shushruta suddenly released her grip and stood up on the galloping horse, hair flying wild in the wind.

I nearly had a heart attack.

“Hey! What the hell are you doing?!”

She yawned.

“Going to wake myself up a bit.”

And with that, she leapt backward, vanishing into the wind.

I twisted around. Even the stone-faced knight’s eyes were wide as he stared into the darkness where she’d disappeared.

“You crazy—!”

Walpole shouted.

At the front, Curtis hadn’t seen.

“What happened?”

“The Phantom Thief fell! Or flew, rather!”

“What?”

At last, the silent knight spoke.

His voice cut through the rushing wind, deep and steady.

“The Tomb of Ophosis is useless without her. And she carries the dagger.”

“Wait.”

I raised a hand to stop them from wheeling around. I focused my inner strength into my ears.

Far off, I heard heavy thuds, screams, and shouts.

Then silence.

And the light, unmistakable patter of her steps drawing near.

Shushruta burst from the darkness and landed lightly behind me again.

Her cheerful voice rang out,

“Wide awake now!”

“….”

The knights’ expressions were priceless.

A faint scent of blood clung to her.

The silent knight’s face was especially worth seeing.

“…Did she kill them all…?”

Whatever she’d done, her lightness had sharpened.

I looked at their stunned faces, then just shrugged.

You don’t have a cat like this, do you?

“Keep moving.”

(End of Chapter)

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