Chapter 47: The Lone Knight

Watching Mello’s cold expression and gaze, Arlette’s mind went completely blank.

For a moment, he thought she had simply misjudged the situation. He immediately began to explain, trying to make her change her mind. “Miss, those two companion dragons have already been heavily depleted by us. If you act now, we can resolve them quickly…”

However, the five words that spilled from Mello’s mouth next were like a bucket of ice water poured over Arlette’s head, instantly extinguishing the hope he had just kindled.

“And so what? If I waste my mana and stamina on these things now, who can guarantee that I can successfully slay the Fire Dragon later? Can you? Arlette, as my servant, my orders are always the highest priority, regardless of your reasons. You do not have the right to bargain with me… Just execute my orders. If I fail to win this competition because of you… I will hold you personally responsible.”

After saying her piece, she didn’t spare Arlette another glance. She turned around on the spot and beckoned to Della and Fluff. “Let’s go. We’re entering the Fire Dragon’s lair. Move faster; don’t let the others take the lead.”

Without hesitation, she turned and walked away, her figure gradually fading from Arlette’s sight.

Of the three, only Fluff paused for a moment before entering the cavern. She turned her head, looking at Arlette standing not far away. A faint trace of sadness and indecision flickered in her eyes.

Did Fluff want to stay?

She did. She was afraid Arlette wouldn’t be able to hold out, that something would happen to him. But she knew all too well what kind of people Arlette and Mello were. The former was extremely loyal, while the latter was incredibly selfish.

Fluff understood that, in the eyes of these two, she was nothing. Within the adventure group, she had always been the weakest, most useless one.

Fluff’s heart thundered in her chest. For a moment, countless images flashed through her mind. Arlette fainting at the bathroom door, still muttering about “Miss.” Arlette, when sick, preferring to ruin his own body rather than take medicine just to avoid making “Miss” angry. And Arlette on the stone ship just now, appearing so intimate with that “Miss.”

‘I probably can’t help Sir Knight even if I stay. Even if I go to him, he might just send me back to the leader’s side… I might even provoke the leader again by not following orders…’

For a moment, Fluff began to hesitate and waver. Just as she was caught in this indecision, completely unsure of how to choose… Mello let out another loud shout from behind her.

“Fluff! Why are you dazing off? Hurry up and follow!”

That shout was like the final straw landing on Fluff’s swaying scales. In the next moment, the hesitation in her eyes began to dissipate. It was replaced by a dull, powerless gray.

‘Sir Knight is so strong… his condition seemed much better earlier. Even if he can’t stop the companion dragons, he can surely protect himself. I’ll go help the leader first. We’ll meet on the surface.’

Thinking this, Fluff gave a bitter smile, then turned decisively to follow Mello into the grotto where the Fire Dragon’s lair was located.

As the footsteps of the three faded away, Arlette stood in place, momentarily at a loss. His brain was a void. Even though the two companion dragons were steadily approaching, he showed no intention of reacting.

Why?

In the past, he had plenty of experience staying behind to cover their retreat. But in those instances, the entire adventure group had almost always been in a dire predicament. Everyone would be exhausted, leaving them with no choice but to let him hold the rear.

But what about now?

Everyone clearly still had strength left. He had already worn the companion dragons down, forcing them to reveal their openings. It would have only taken a bit of mana and a finishing move to solve the problem.

Yet, she didn’t do it. He had been abandoned. All for the sake of saving a little bit of mana.

‘Is my value… not even worth that tiny bit of mana?’

In a daze, the scene on the boat from earlier resurfaced in Arlette’s mind. At that time, Miss had been full of smiles, gently asking him what he wanted to eat when they returned. Everything felt exactly like the “past” he so desperately yearned for. It felt as if he were just one step away from making Miss return to how she used to be.

However, that beautiful hallucination had only lasted for a fleeting moment. Now, there was no one left by Arlette’s side. All that remained was the pain overflowing from his body and a threat that could kill him at any moment.

***

Every scene—from the Crystal Thorn crossing the Golden Sea and encountering the companion dragons to Arlette being ordered to cover the retreat—was being broadcast live to the audience in Dice Town.

“This… this! It seems there is internal strife within the dark horse of this competition, Crystal Thorn! The Heavy Knight contestant, who performed brilliantly earlier and was once considered the core member of the Crystal Thorn adventure group, has actually been separated from his teammates!”

“One must remember that the Heavy Knight previously fought the full Monster Hunter squad alone! During that battle, the Heavy Knight accumulated many injuries, and his armor was damaged. And now, the leader of the Crystal Thorn adventure group has actually ordered the severely weakened Heavy Knight to stay behind, forcing him to block two highly dangerous companion dragons alone!”

“Is this a lapse in judgment by the healer, or has a true rift formed within the team?”

The audience, which had been somewhat quiet, instantly exploded in an uproar.

“Is this leader insane?”

“Is she blind? Can’t she see how weak that Heavy Knight is? How does she dare leave him there alone?!”

“And she calls herself a Dragonslayer? Ptu! She doesn’t deserve to be an adventurer!”

Among all the members, the one who had left the deepest impression and garnered the most popularity was this Heavy Knight, Arlette. Although they couldn’t quite understand the dialogue within the Crystal Thorn team, they could tell that Arlette and Mello had a master-servant relationship.

The audience had watched Crystal Thorn’s journey. Arlette’s strength and his loyalty to that leader were obvious to everyone. And now, the team had not only failed to provide medical treatment to the injured Arlette, but they had also chosen to abandon him at his most vulnerable moment when he needed help and protection the most. They were making a man whose body was on the verge of collapse block two terrifying monsters.

In the eyes of every spectator, this was something absolutely unacceptable for an adventurer. To most adventurers, companions were many times more important than missions or glory. Mello’s selfish behavior of leaving a companion behind to die naturally drew the condemnation and contempt of every viewer.

‘It’s exactly as I expected. No matter how much loyalty and emotion the little knight shows, in your eyes, he is nothing more than an object that can be discarded at any time.’

At this moment, in a place where no one could see, Vivian was hidden within the rock wall, quietly observing everything. She slowly shifted her gaze toward Arlette, who was standing dazed in place, and let out a helpless smile.

‘You dummy… Mello holds your loyalty in contempt, but someone else will cherish it.’

Thinking this, she gently pulled out the evidence regarding the experiments performed on Arlette from beneath her cloak.

‘Sir Knight, I will make that vampire regret it. Just… please wait a little longer, just a little while.’

Vivian turned her eyes, deep and profound like the starry sky, toward the nearby Arlette. Within them was a gaze filled with obsession and love.