The Extra Wants To Live

Carl, who was enjoying the gentle atmosphere, realized that quite a bit of time had passed, so he took out his pocket watch and checked the time.

"Uhm... Lady Catherine, the appointed time has passed. I guess I'll have to go back empty-handed."

"Oh my, that's a shame..."

Both Carl and Bilford left their regrets behind and returned the way they came. It would be a bit embarrassing if they came back like this. However, since he held a low-ranking position, there was nothing to lose.

"I wanted to give Lilly something worthwhile as a gift."

"Isn't it more important to catch the first hunt rather than a good hunt?"

"Well, it would only be troublesome to give him an animal corpse as a gift right away."

"Ha ha ha ha ha."

Bilford burst into laughter at Carl's words. For a moment, he even forgot that Carl was a prince. There was also a part of him that thought Carl's words were not sincere but a joke.

From a modern perspective, if you receive an animal carcass that you have personally hunted as a gift, there is no one you can ask for advice about except the police. The atmosphere is very good. It really feels like I'm out to play with friends.

"Bilford."

However, the moment Carl powerfully called out to Bilford in a low voice, everything shattered. Bilford came to his senses as the image of Carl, holding his sword out and leading with a thunderous shout, passed before his eyes. Their eyes met, and Carl spoke to Bilford with a still happy smile on his face.

"I don't have time, so I'll have to go back at once."

There is something. Carl felt as if a cool dagger was grazing his neck.

"Yes, Lord Carl."

At Carl's words, Bilford walked quickly, holding the sheath of his sword tightly and holding it close to him.

Just from Carl's voice, Bilford could tell that the situation was dangerous. As much faith as Carl gives, Bilford also believes in Carl.

An instinctive intuition that he can't believe was given to that person!

Bilford was alert to his surroundings so that he could react whenever and wherever an attack occurred.

… … Now that he think about it, he haven't heard the sound of insects for some time.

What on earth were the poets of autumn hiding in fear?

Carl and Bilford walked quickly.

Even to a third party, it was clearly a suspicious and unexpected movement.

Carl wished that Bilford would act with more leeway, but things couldn't be helped. It would be unreasonable to expect Bilford's acting skills, and in the current situation, he cannot neglect his escort duties.

"Can you feel anything?"

"Sorry. I don't feel anything."

"No. I kinda... Because it's just something unusual."

Carl now knows about the power he possesses.

His survival instinct gives him intuition that is close to precognition. Of course, Catherine, not Bilford, might have felt something. However, this does not mean that Bilford is lacking.

"Wait For a moment."

Carl, who had been walking, took a long stride and passed Bilford by a large margin.

Bilford skillfully changed positions following Carl's movements.

This is the position that guards Carl's right rear. This is a possible move because Carl believes that Bilford will protect him well, and Bilford believes that Carl will not make a mistake.

At the same time, Bilford was able to roughly pinpoint the location of something or someone targeting Carl.

The sharp sense of a young genius knight who is expected to become a master before he is even 20 years old examines a place like an awl and catches a very faint passing sound.

"Not just one person. It's like two people."

Bilford whispered softly and moved little by little.

"Two, I think that's right."

Carl answered in a calm voice and played with the bow in his hand. Bilford is not clumsy enough to miss an enemy once he senses it. He felt two figures slowly following him and then splitting into two.

He pursed his lips and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Carl, please focus on protecting yourself."

"Of course. I still have too much work to do before I die."

Bilford felt a little relieved by Carl's joke.

However, contrary to his relaxed appearance, Carl felt like he was going to throw up at any moment.

'Adrian? Azgoth? Or another force?'

It is impossible to feel at ease when your life is at stake. Since Carl doesn't know who the enemy is, it's hard to figure out how to deal with it. It doesn't seem to be Azgoth's big-picture plan.

However, seeing how he suddenly pushed Carl about various things today, he can't be sure.

Adrian is a high possibility, but Carl has never pretended to be with him or shown any threat.

Since Carl is protected by Azgoth, no matter how much he is Adrian, he cannot keep his eyes and ears on Carl in the imperial palace. If it were another force… …

'I'm sure Balos isn't involved. Because he wants to become a completely flawless and noble emperor. So, is it a member of the military who supports Nero?

Balos is not evil, and he is a very strict man who cannot tolerate leaving a bad name as the man who will become the emperor of the Hardion Empire.

The nobles who support him are also aware of this and will not consider Carl a threat.

In that case, it is quite possible that it is an attack by the military to keep Carl in check, who appears to be taking over Nero's position.

'Rather than just a military figure, isn't he a nobleman who has already invested heavily in Count Nero or Beria and cannot be repaid?'

After thinking about that, Carl quickly erased his thoughts.

'You went too far. Short and simple. Are you going to kill me?'

I'm not sure, but it doesn't seem like they're planning on killing him. No matter how talented a young man Bilford is, he is still a mere squire who cannot even handle mana. But he was noticed.

'If you can kill it, kill it. If not, don't. Then who benefits from this?'

Azgoth, who is trying to cause confusion by expanding the succession structure, must protect the good name of Carl. To Aric, Carl is not even a threat. Nero doesn't care who becomes emperor; he just wants to go out into the world.

What about Adrian?

'I guess it's Adrian.'

From Adrian's perspective,

Carl is someone who must be killed anyway.

It's good if you can kill him now, and even if you can't kill him, it's a satisfactory result if you can figure out if he's a threat.

'Then, we're in trouble.'

Carl admitted that he had been tricked. If he gets assassinated here, he will die, so of course, it is the end.

However, if Carl successfully defeats the assassin, Adrian will be wary. Carl can manipulate mana, and with just one hit, he can kill an unsuspecting assassin with one blow.

If Adrian finds out about this, he will be desperate to take Carl's life before he grows up. Either way, it's over. So there is only one way Carl can take it.

"Bilford."

"Yes, Carl."

"I will not attack the enemy."

"Yes, I will definitely protect you."

There is no need to go into detail. After all, it's Bilford's job to protect Carl.

Carl wouldn't use mana unless he was in a situation where he was really going to die. Even if he could fight, he wouldn't fight. He will trust Bilford's escort and step back, giving all the credit for this to Bilford.

Sreung…

Bilford drew his sword. Now he could no longer remain defenseless. Carl also completely stopped, threw away his bow, and pulled out his sword.

There was no sound of birds or insects. The only sound was the vague rustle of fallen leaves in the passing wind. Carl felt like he was surrounded, just like when he was fighting in the middle of a horde of gnolls, and unlike back then when he was fighting fiercely, he felt the blood in his whole body turning cold.

Head, neck, chest, stomach, stomach… … .

A cold, deadly sensation as if an ice blade were scraping across areas where even a light attack could result in fatal injury. As Carl continued to move the sword in the middle to cover the vital spot the opponent was aiming for, the deadly force retreated.

"You can't fall behind me."

"I know."

The moment when Bilford's calm voice was heard in the silence, and Carl answered, it seemed like something was moving on the other side of the forest. Bilford realized that the blurry shape in the color of fallen leaves was human.

Seeing it swing his arm, Bilford drew his sword closer.

Even though he couldn't see what was flying at him with wide-open eyes, he was still able to respond accurately by seeing the opponent's movements that remained in his eyes like an afterimage.

Tidi Dick!

Bilford neatly blocked all of the invisible, thin needles with the blade.

Then, he lunged towards another enemy who had jumped out of the bushes on the side without a sound and swung his sword fiercely.

Crack!

Bilford cut sharply sideways, but was blocked by his opponent's weapon. Bilford first cut horizontally once, and immediately after the attack was blocked, he twisted his wrist and tried to aim for the opponent's head with the back blade.

However, Bilford's sword caught on a short dagger divided into three prongs.

So if you ask me if Bilford was embarrassed, of course he wasn't.

Wow!

The opponent twisted the dagger and tried not to let go of the sword, but when Bilford pulled and twisted his wrist with such force that it seemed almost impossible, the sword was pulled out cleanly with a scraping sound. It was