* * *
As Eren inspected the Anasil’s corpse, something caught his eye—a slash wound on its left hind leg.
Recognizing it instantly, Eren bit his lip hard.
Having been on the battlefield himself, he knew the habits of people when they wielded a sword.
Julius sliced cleanly in a single motion.
Helid, just like his personality, hacked messily, leaving chaotic, jagged wounds.
And—
Carlyle’s style: swift and clean, as if slicing through an oncoming blade—leaving behind precise, evenly spaced cuts.
Just like the ones marring Anasil’s body.
The moment Eren realized who had injured Ashard, his face hardened.
The tearful, sobbing wreck he had been just moments ago was gone.
‘That bastard… how dare he—’
He could endure it when he was the target.
That was the role he had accepted, even the fate he was assigned.
But Ashard… no.
That was a line he couldn’t accept anyone crossing.
His clenched fist turned pale, whiter than it had been before.
It was the first time he’d felt this kind of emotion toward the main characters.
When their obsession was directed at him, all he felt was vague fear about what they might do.
But now—now it was pure rage.
“Do you know what kind of beast this is, Count?”
Melody asked cautiously. Eren remained silent for a moment, then gave a small nod.
“It’s called an Anasil. It lives in the Dimid Mountains of Epentel. Normally, it never leaves its habitat.
So few have seen it that some even call it a mythical creature.”
“Then… are you saying someone deliberately brought it here?”
If this wasn’t an accident, then only a few people could be responsible—those familiar with the Anasil, and those who held hostility toward Ashard.
But Eren shook his head.
The traces of the sword matched Carlyle’s, yes—but that alone wasn’t proof he had brought the creature here.
A single human couldn’t possibly capture, let alone lure such a beast. It was impossible.
Even if he was a “main character” or had accomplices—it simply couldn’t be done.
‘The fact that thing’s even dead is shocking enough…’
Ashard had taken down an Anasil alone, despite being gravely wounded.
Only now did the true scale of his strength begin to set in.
“I don’t know how it ended up here, but there’s no way anyone could’ve brought it alive from the Dimid Mountains.”
He wasn’t trying to defend anyone.
Eren simply stated the truth—no one could have transported an Anasil alive.
Supporting his words, Ashard spoke up.
“Eren’s right. I’ve never faced something so hard to kill.”
Ashard glanced briefly at Eren as if checking to see if he was about to cry again.
He seemed genuinely worried.
To keep him from hearing, Ashard covered Eren’s ears with both hands.
“…One mistake, and that fang would’ve gone straight through me.”
Caught off guard, Eren quickly pulled away from Ashard’s hands—but by then, the conversation had already ended.
“I’ve checked on my uncle’s condition, so I’ll return first. My mother is probably worried.”
“Go ahead.”
As he turned to leave the tent, he added over his shoulder:
“Please stay here with my uncle, Count. Well… not that you seem eager to leave, anyway.”
Melody’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Eren, who was clinging to Ashard as if he had no intention of ever parting from him.
Realizing just how closely he was pressed to Ashard, Eren blushed, slightly embarrassed.
Ashard wrapped an arm around Eren’s waist as the latter tried to pull away.
With a firm hold that clearly said don’t go, Eren gave in and let himself be drawn back in.
Melody watched them in silence, then mounted her horse without another word.
She wanted to run to the Empress and report what she’d just witnessed, but without any magic other than healing spells, teleportation was impossible.
Before long, Melody came across the physician sent by the Empress.
As he greeted her lightly and made to continue toward the tent, she stopped him.
“I’ve already taken care of the urgent matter, so there’s no need for you to go.”
“Ah… but Her Majesty the Empress specifically asked me to confirm the Duke’s condition myself.”
“My uncle is perfectly fine. I’ll tell my mother myself, so you can return.”
“Still…”
“Well, I won’t stop you if you’re eager to see something you shouldn’t.”
The physician blinked in confusion, as if trying to make sense of her words.
The tent wasn’t far from where they stood, and the additional horse tied up beside it was clearly visible.
Eren Nependes had entered the tent with the princess, but only the princess was returning.
Eren’s horse remained tied up beside the tent.
The implications lined up neatly.
Understanding what Melody was getting at, the physician turned his horse around without protest.
“…Very well. I’ll return.”
The Next Day
The sound of trumpets echoed across the hunting grounds, signaling the return of all participants.
It must have been amplified by wide-range magic, because it was loud enough to be heard even at the Freedit family’s distant tent.
The blaring sound made Eren blink awake.
He moved quietly, trying not to disturb the still-sleeping Ashard—but the trumpet blared again, as if to ruin the peaceful pink-hued atmosphere between them.
“Haa…”
“Did you sleep well, Lord Ashard?”
There wasn’t a single part of Ashard’s body uninjured, but the worst wounds were on his back.
He’d managed to fall asleep only after shifting onto his side.
The pain had mostly subsided, but he’d been tossing and turning all night.
There was no way he got any proper rest.
Eren realized just how thoughtless his question had been and bit his lip.
“With you next to me? How could I possibly sleep? Your sweet scent made it impossible to relax.”
He said it so casually, as always.
Eren still wasn’t used to such open words.
Even though he knew it was just the two of them inside the tent, he instinctively looked around.
Ashard chuckled softly at Eren’s innocent reaction, then pulled him in by the waist.
Eren, unable to resist his touch, fell neatly into Ashard’s arms.
“It’s time to go.”
“I know.”
But despite his words, Ashard made no move to get up.
Eren wiggled slightly, nestling closer.
“Oh—what about the prize?”
“I don’t need it anymore.”
“What…?”
“I don’t need something like that. As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters.”
Even if, according to the original story, it ended up in Helid’s hands—that was fine.
Even if, because of it, he ended up violated by the story’s garbage love interests while defenseless—that was fine too.
It wasn’t that he was prepared for it.
He wasn’t.
He hated the idea. It terrified him.
But if it meant Ashard wouldn’t be hurt like this again—then he would take that instead.
Eren clenched his teeth.
But with his face buried in Ashard’s chest, the expression couldn’t be seen.
“…That might be a problem.”
A flicker of unease crossed Ashard’s face.
Though he continued patting Eren’s back, his eyes had lost their focus, drifting.
“Sorry? What did you say?”
“I said, that might be a problem.”
Eren blinked in confusion.
Ashard had been injured just two hours into the hunting competition.
No matter how skilled he was, there was no way he could compete against those who hunted all day.
Eren had assumed his desire for the prize had led to Ashard’s injuries.
That’s why he’d let go of any attachment to it.
But Ashard looked genuinely troubled.
“…?”
The silence stretched. Ashard’s throat bobbed in a deep swallow.
When Eren looked straight at him, Ashard gave a forced smile.
“You’ll understand when we get there.”
And with that, Ashard said no more.
The flicker in his eyes only made Eren more curious.
Why was he reacting like that?
Eren wanted to press further, but Ashard had already started getting ready to depart.
When they finally reached the central gathering point, Eren finally understood what Ashard had meant.
He stared in disbelief and stammered,
“W-what is that…?”
* * *
