You have only one minute.
It was clear what to do in a world where everything but me had stopped.
I quickly ran toward Sen and deflected an arrow aimed at her. What had been flying fiercely through the air was now futilely and easily thrown to the ground. Lorenz had likely conspired with his knights to attack Sen after a respectable duel with Belial. This was evident from the fact that not only the knights but also the mages were all preparing to attack Sen.
'... Despicable bastards.'
There was no time to be angry. I quickly turned my head to find Lorenz. He was smiling as if he had already predicted victory.
And what about Belial, facing him?
'... Are you looking at this?'
He was looking at Sen. His upper body was almost fully turned toward her, leaving his vital points exposed to Lorenz. However, I could see it clearly: he wanted to save Sen by doing so. In fact, if I hadn't stepped forward, he would have exploded with power, throwing himself to shield Sen, even if it meant his own death.
I was too busy observing Belial. I pulled the petrified Sen further back, moving her to a safer place. I had deflected the arrow, but if she stayed there, she would be hit by a fireball thrown by the wizard behind me.
Then, I was about to jump in to save Belial.
"No!"
I was only allowed one minute. It was too short a time to change everything in the world.
"Shu!"
I heard a shout behind me. It was Kyle. I thought he was within my protection range, but it was surprising that he moved in the blink of an eye.
But I didn't look back at Kyle. He could only stand tall as if he had turned to stone, or as if his time had belatedly stopped. This was because I had made eye contact with Belial. He was smiling, relieved to see that I had saved Sen, as if that alone was enough.
And, the time I saved him…
"Belial!"
It's strange. Clearly, the item's effect was over, but time seemed to have stopped. No, it seemed to be flowing very slowly.
Belial was pierced by Lorenz's sword. The blade, plunged accurately into his chest, was covered with dark red blood.
However, I couldn't get closer. The wizard had sent a fireball flying in my direction. I had to dodge it, but the magic was flying too fast.
'One more time…'
Although miracle points were needed, now was not the time to consider them. But before I could do anything, my vision went black. Kyle rushed in and hugged me tightly.
Thwack!
There was a violent slamming sound. Kyle's body leaned forward as if about to collapse. My body also bent back slightly. But that was all. Kyle endured it with a tight hug around my waist.
"..."
"Your Highness Belial!" Sen let out a shrill scream.
She wasn't far away. Kyle, still holding me with one arm, swung his sword toward Belial's attacker. But...
"Don't look," Kyle said, his voice distorted with pain, as he held me in his arms.
I hurriedly examined his wound, shaking my head as a chilling premonition ran down my spine.
"You have to see it."
"..."
"You're past the age to deny reality and be protected."
Kyle slowly let me go. I slipped out of his arms and approached Sen. Sen slumped to the floor, collapsing into my arms. She was pressing her palm against Belial's heavily breathing chest, trying to stem the bleeding. However, the blood kept flowing out, as if to prove that a mere human hand could not possibly stem the life pouring out.
Kyle's sword hit its target. One of the wizards stepped up to perform defensive magic, but it was shattered, and the wizard himself was blown to the ground, vomiting blood. Lorenz, who was holding the bloody sword, received a diagonal slash across his face. The mage's sacrifice had weakened its power, but it was enough to leave deep scars.
"We have no reason to fight. Not without settling things properly," Lorenz clicked his tongue with a sad expression. "I think the victory or defeat has already been decided. Do you want to continue?"
I quickly looked around. The situation was not good. There were only two knights left on our side. While their casualties weren't few, they still had more people alive than we did. They even had a wizard.
Kyle seemed disgusted with Lorenz for resorting to such despicable tactics even in the final showdown. If he was going to oppose me someday for participating in this political fight, he seemed to have decided it would be better to force himself to stop now. However, if this continued, Belial would die. Kyle was also badly injured.
If it weren't for the shoulder injury, he wouldn't have thrown such an awkward sword. The armor on his shoulders had melted from the fire that had been used to wrap around me, and his skin was also tanned.
'First, we need to separate the three of them.'
Belial had to be moved to safety, and Kyle had to be calmed down.
"That's enough," I spoke loudly, standing in his way. "I think the duel is over anyway. Isn't it?"
Kyle grabbed me by the shoulder and turned me around.
"... So, let's run?"
"Are you going to kill the rest of us?"
I didn't agree with Lorenz's way of life, but there was one thing I found meaningful. There is no greater honor than survival. If you die, that's the end of it. There is only one life, and if you lose it, it will never come back. How can I, who have lost it once, ask them to throw it away?
"..."
Kyle looked at the knight, who was sitting on one knee at his feet, barely keeping his senses. He was the only remaining knight of the Blake Knights. He had risked his life solely for Kyle. We couldn't let them die in a fight that had nothing to gain.
Kyle bit his lip, then bowed his head. "Get out of here!"
The two surviving knights escaped the forest first. Lorenz did not stop them. But just as Sen was about to straighten up, the knights and mages took a step closer and began to prepare for another fight.
"Belial should be left behind."
"..."
Kyle gritted his teeth and straightened his sword.
No, this isn't right! We have to run away first!
In short, you just have to not turn your back on them right now.
Then…
[Emergency Escape Pumpkin Seed Stick | Miracle Consumption 8% | Teleport within a 10m radius.]
I bought two and threw them to Sen without hesitation. It was a bloody price, but now there was no other way.
"Eat this, Sen! Feed His Highness Belial!"
I bought another pumpkin seed stick and handed it to Kyle, who looked down at me with a somewhat nervous expression.
"Your Highness."
"Looks like a magical item. What are you going to do?"
"I know that. That's it," I explained with a wink, so Lorenz wouldn't hear. "Don't worry, I'll follow you in a moment, just move to the outside of the forest. To the side where we camped."
"Let's go together. Can't we share it?"
That?
That's right. Is that possible?
['Emergency Escape Pumpkin Seed Stick' only applies to one person!]
I looked at the system window and sighed heavily. All the cost-effective prices were useless.
"It's for one person, Your Highness. Go first."
"Is there another one?"
"It's an expensive snack. I bought a lot of them, and my wallet is full."
He was still hesitating, as if he didn't want to leave me behind. I understood, but the problem was that I didn't have enough time for that. Hey, hurry up! Do you know how much these sweets cost?
I snatched the pumpkin seed stick from Kyle's hand and placed it in his mouth.
"Hey, you have to find me. It hurts a lot when I get kicked in the foot."
I laughed. At the same time, a pure white light enveloped Kyle, swallowing him up in an instant. Lorenz's entourage, who had been wary of Sen and Belial disappearing, soon looked even more bewildered when Kyle vanished as well.
The same was true for the wizard.
'Yes. You've never seen anything like this before, have you?'
Did they say the Northwest wizards have a high level of pride in their magic? It's not a big deal, but it was a little satisfying to see him so embarrassed.
"What, do you have anything else to say?" I looked back at Lorenz with a nonchalant face.
It was only natural that I was ready to turn off 'load' so that I could escape at any time. I had also saved the location of the sickle and the place where Kyle moved.
"That's amazing," Lorenz said, still bleeding from his face. "Was he a wizard? You move him well in an instant. I didn't even see him chanting a spell."
"That's none of your business," I shrugged my shoulders and replied. "Are you satisfied? It was done according to your will. You won the sparring."
"Not because of that, but I'm satisfied." Lorenz laughed, spitting blood from his mouth. "You got valuable information. Kyle Blake must have attracted a wizard of great skill. I made a good move."
"You were the one who brought the wizard in," I coldly retorted. "That's it. If we respect each other's territory, there's no reason to fight any more, right?"
After all, since things had come to this, the next emperor would be Lorenz. However, it wouldn't be as simple as it sounded. Belial's power needed to be sorted out, and since it was a position won through political controversy, there must be a lot to worry about. For a while, they would not be able to turn their attention to the North. In the meantime, we would have to investigate things related to wizards and make the North a little more stable.
"If you answer one question, I'll let you go."
Lorenz's arrogant words made me smile wryly.
'Well, as if you're being careful. Even if you don't let me go, I'll go.'
"What is the power you use? It seems to be more powerful than magic."
I said, crossing my legs. "Well, a miracle?"
"Miracle?"
"Yes, so be careful. Your throat… the miracle." I pretended to stroke my neck with my hand.
Be a good neck guard, Lorenz. He doesn't let Kyle do it one more time. Even hamsters squirm when they step on them.
"Well, let's go."
I waved, and the knights behind Lorenz raised their swords. The mages also raised their hands, as if about to recite a spell. However, Lorenz raised one hand to stop them. "Even if I survived, I wouldn't be able to do anything."
That remains to be seen.
I didn't say thank you. I turned off 'load' and went back to Kyle's side.