“Gah!”

The muffled cry reverberated in Yuichiro’s ears in an instant, causing him to grab Temeraire by his collar, thrusting him towards the sanctuary of a neighboring doorway. As if challenging a fortress, he yanked open the door, revealing a tiny bullet hole puncturing the top section of the door.

He tossed Temeraire’s form through the threshold, noticing a growing stain of vibrant crimson spreading from his left collarbone. Temeraire’s handsome features contorted in torment. A cold dread seeped into Yuichiro’s core at the sight.

“Temeraire…” His voice echoed faintly.

Masking his grimace, Temeraire, shot a squinting glance upwards at Yuichiro. “I’m fine….”

That’s unacceptable. No good at all. No man could ever fill Temeraire’s shoes.

The body that was hot to touch just moments before was now cooling alarmingly fast.

Footsteps echoed in the hall, growing louder. From behind their makeshift barricade, a thug wielding a pistol peeked out, his eyes settling upon Yuichiro and Temeraire with a sneer.

In a reflexive move, he tried to tighten his grip on his blade, but it was too late. Just as he noticed the firearm aimed at his head, a petite figure sprang from behind the thug, driving a jet-black blade into the thug’s arm from beneath.

In the same moment, a shot rang out, the bullet grazed past his ear leaving behind a haunting echo. His senses were overwhelmed with the piercing noise.

The tiny silhouette swiftly retrieved the blade from the thug’s wound, before sinking it into his gut. The thug released a shrieking wail, crumbling to the floor in excruciating pain. The small figure ensured his demise by mounting him and driving the knife into his chest one final time. The shrieks ceased, replaced by uneven, laborious breathing. Panting, the small figure turned back.

“Yuichiro, are you okay?”

Noah, the one who questioned, had his face splattered with the freshly spilled blood of the man beneath him.

A knife was yanked free from the thug’s chest, making a sickening, wet sound. Thick blood oozed from the blade’s tip. The hand holding the weapon was still young and untested.

Noah had shed his female disguise, his long-haired wig now replaced by more practical clothing. His grip firm on the knife, he stared down at the dead man with an icy glare. In the feeble light reflecting in his eyes, Yuichiro’s lips quivered slightly. Although he had witnessed the brutality of human-against-human violence numerous times, this carried an additional weight of dread.

“Noah.”

Noah slowly turned his gaze towards Yuichiro at the sound of his name. His lips twitched, an attempt at a smile, perhaps.

“Yuichiro, are you hurt?” His question held a tremor, betraying his apprehension.

Immediately following, the clamor of multiple footfalls echoed down the hall. Without thinking, he grabbed Noah’s arm and thrust him behind, just as a familiar straw-colored head appeared.

“Goddess.”

“Kiki.”

Behind Kiki, several vigilante group members trailed, all bearing the bloody marks of combat. Spotting Temeraire’s fallen figure, Kiki’s face twisted in sorrow.

“I apologize for the delay.”

“Don’t worry about it. What’s the status up front?”

While he questioned, he undid Temeraire’s coat. The wound revealed a clear bullet path, indicating no vital organs had been hit. A wave of relief washed over him; it wasn’t a fatal wound.

“The front line’s calmed down somewhat. But a second wave could strike anytime.”

“We’re running out of time.”

If Aoi truly plans to annihilate this village, the possibility of the Goldar army following the bandits was chilling.

If the army arrived, their defeat was certain.

As he responded to Kiki’s call, he hastily pressed a torn piece of fabric against the wound on Temeraire. The cloth was instantly saturated with a vivid hue of red. While tending to the injury, Temeraire gave a subtle shake of his head.

“Just look after Noah-sama…” he whispered.

At the sound of the man’s quiet words, Yuichiro’s eyes fell upon Noah once again. Noah stood unmoving, his stare vacant, fixated on the ground.

“Noah,” Yuichiro softly echoed his name. Yet Noah made no movement to acknowledge him. Observing the tightening grip of Noah’s fingers around the hilt of his knife, Yuichiro’s eyebrows knitted together.

“Loosen your hold,” he instructed.

He extended his hand to touch Noah’s arm, but Noah, still with eyes cast down, subtly shook his head in denial.

“I must protect Yuichiro,” he mumbled, his voice distant and feverish. Seeing Noah in such a condition, a sharp pang tugged at Yuichiro’s heart. Noah had slain a man for the first time, staining his hands with blood to shield him.

“Yes, you’ve done just that. You’ve protected me. It’s all right now.” He offered a soothing murmur, and Noah finally lifted his gaze. Assessing the stoic expression in Noah’s eyes, Yuichiro offered softly, “You’ve done well.”

Hearing these words, Noah’s tightened lips began to tremble, a painful grimace twisting his features. Gently, Yuichiro pulled Noah’s head to his chest.

“You did what was necessary.”

He couldn’t claim that Noah was without fault. But in this moment, on this battlefield, Noah had acted as he needed to. He whispered, attempting to reassure him.

As he softly stroked the back of Noah’s petite head, a surprised voice echoed from the rear of the hall.

“Noah…?”

Nika, peeking from beneath the carpet, gazed at them in disbelief. Upon recognizing Nika, partially hidden under the carpet, Noah’s face contorted with fury. He strode towards Nika, hollering with all his might.

“When will you stop cowering?!”

Noah’s shout was powerful and uncharacteristic, a roaring thunderclap that made the air tremble. Nika’s body jerked in surprise, then he sprang upright, casting off the carpet.

Noah, looking down at the paralyzed Nika, continued in a menacing tone, “Do you aim to die in self-pity?”

Nika’s eyebrows drooped at the question. He hung his head low, responding in a barely audible whisper.

“…I, I am useless.”

Frustration flashed across Noah’s face at Nika’s self-defeating words. Noah thrust his bloodied hand towards Nika, who screamed out in shock.

“There is a role I can play,”

Nika blinked rapidly at Noah’s commanding tone.

Locking his gaze on Nika, Noah went on, “Assist me.” It sounded like a hollow plea, but the desperation in his voice was palpable.

Noah didn’t beg for the salvation of his country, his people, or his sister. He was simply pleading with the man cowering before him to aid him.

“In return, I will lend you my aid as well,”

Startled by Noah’s soft whisper, Nika’s expression bordered on tearful. His previous haughtiness and indolence had vanished; he looked up at Noah with a childlike innocence.

“Who…who are you…”

To Nika’s query, Noah responded without hesitation. 

“I am Noah Jeweld,”

Nika’s face registered surprise at Noah’s admission, then a wave of despair washed over him.

“I am…I am not fit to be a king…I can’t rule this kingdom…”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re not a king. I need your help, not as a king, but as yourself. And in turn, I’ll aid you, not as a king, but as yourself.”

“For what purpose…”

As Nika voiced his doubts, Noah’s eyes softened with sadness. He took a moment before replying in a gentle whisper.

“Because you and I, we’re alike. We both carry the weight of the same suffering.”