The Escort Knight Who Is Being Obsessed Over by the Villainess Wants To Run Away

11. Destiny (3)

The reward of tragedy.

Bad things that must happen.

In a certain future that the status window told me, Elijah was strangling me.

The accident stops.

Belatedly accepted.

‘… After all, this is what happens.’

Elijah is good at understanding people’s emotions and stabbing them.

On the other hand, she doesn’t feel it herself.

He was like that even as an adult.

It doesn’t seem to be any different now.

‘It’s fate….’

Not my favorite word.

Because I didn’t want to live according to the rules.

That is why he struggled and rebelled so much.

People’s nature does not change easily.

Actually, I don’t like this either.

Because it is a word that confines a person to a certain frame.

It is no different from fate.

However, she just couldn’t help but agree.

Believing that people are defined not by what they were born with, but by how they live.

Do you believe or want to believe?

Besides, Elijah is a stranger.

Changing yourself and changing others are two different things.

You don’t want to change others, you have to hope for them to change.

Because people change only when they want to change themselves.

To be honest, if I said I didn’t expect it, I would be lying.

The things she showed me that I didn’t know.

Sometimes I had expectations from an unfamiliar side.

What if Elijah doesn’t kill me?

There is no reason to leave this safe training center.

How children without power and money live outside.

Although it’s a game, I came across it often.

Begging. Thievery. Pickpocket.

Then I got into a gang fight with the other kids.

Or you’ll be stabbed to death by running into adult thugs, or you’ll be sold somewhere.

So, training to become an escort knight here is an extremely safe and ideal thing to do.

Unless Elijah kills me.

‘… I don’t know if I can become anything, but I don’t know.’

Run away.

There was no change in that determination.

*

I’m glad for one thing.

You don’t have to run away right away.

Looking closely at the future scenes, Elijah and I have different physiques from now.

‘I can’t see well because it’s blurry…. At least not now.’

In other words, Elijah strangles me in the future.

I don’t know how far or close.

The transmitted scene is not clear.

‘Still, Elijah Na Nana, I think she is quite tall. That doesn’t mean it’s not very close. I’m wearing clothes, so it won’t be any other case….’

The future shown by tragedy is inevitable.

In other words, Elijah won’t kill me until she’s strangled.

… Maybe.

‘By the way, what is the context of this scene?’

I am lying down.

Elijah strangles her.

It is impossible for Elijah to subdue me by force.

I climbed on to strangle her, and there was no way I could have stayed still.

‘Magic… is it. A type of magic that interferes with the mind.’

Brainwashing, suggestion, stun, sensory deprivation, etc.

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However, all mind-interfering magic was banned.

After being sealed in a dungeon jointly owned by the imperial family and the mage tower, it is strictly monitored.

Apart from skill, it is impossible to learn legally.

‘There are illegal routes. No matter how Elijah is, it’s not an easy path to approach, but….’

If you want to, you may be able to. Because it’s Elijah.

‘If you think about it that way, isn’t it clear that you can just use fire….’

Why did Elijah choose to strangle him?

Suddenly, Sardis comes to mind.

His magic disappeared as soon as it touched my body.

‘Even in the game, moon attribute items were resistant to fire.’

However, even the character wearing the moon attribute armor couldn’t withstand Elijah’s crazy fire.

I know because I tried it.

He was burned to death cleanly.

‘Is the moon attribute in my body and magical power something special?’

It is impossible to experiment.

Maybe you could strangle him, then use fire magic.

Or it may have already set a fire inside its body.

Elijah can cause fire from inside a person’s body.

To be invisible.

‘I hope the information guild will contact you soon.’

I need to move up the plan a bit.

So you can escape anytime.

Although Balak left it behind, there must be a way if it is the information guild.

The status window that arrived when you decided to take the test.

The Elijah who chokes me I saw there.

It seems as if the decision to take the test leads to that future.

But I know.

This future is destined.

Whether I take the test or not.

Pass or fail. Destiny is bound to happen no matter what.

Nevertheless, I want to run away.

Even if the tragedy is destiny.

*

“I will take the first test.”

Gawain said as he put the wooden sword on the stand.

I struggled to answer while lying on the floor.

“Yes….”

My whole body hurts.

I feel like dying.

I was also famous for being a person who didn’t look after children, but this person went beyond that.

Is this karma?

“Hmm.”

He looked down at me as he slowly stroked his chin as if contemplating something on his mind.

“I don’t think you will be eliminated. Do not drop out.”

“Yeah, what…. I’ll try my best.”

“If you drop out, you will be disappointed.”

“Yes?”

He left the gym without answering my question.

I stared at the door he left for a moment.

‘… What now.’

So, are you saying that you would be disappointed if I, who you taught me, were eliminated?

“I am.”

This is absurd.

I didn’t want to laugh, but I burst into laughter.

Every time I laugh, my whole body aches.

[You have completed the hidden quest ‘First Teacher’.]

‘Huh?’

[Please select a reward.]

[1. Stamina up (+5)]

[2. Swordsmanship (+1)]

[3. Survival expert]

[4. Magic power increase (+3)]

My first teacher.

Come to think of it, there was something like this.

This is a quest that can be cleared by forming a relationship between a specific person and a master and disciple.

That means Gawain recognized me as his disciple.

On the surface, I pretend not to be like that at all.

‘It’s an unusual nobleman. Tsundere, very.’

Anyway, it worked out well for me.

The reward list was pretty good.

The range of raising stats is quite high.

The swordsmanship attribute increases by 1, but the attribute level does not rise easily.

1 Degree is valuable.

But. The survival expert.

This is the attribute I need right now.

Sends a ‘warning’ when my ‘survival’ is practically threatened.

For example, someone is determined to kill me and is trying to strangle me.

‘If I had this trait, I might be able to avoid that tragedy.’

Of course, avoiding that threat depends on my abilities.

If it’s already too late to avoid when you sense the warning, then you will die without fail.

‘Still, where is it? Much better than nothing.’

There are also secondary effects.

Befitting the name of a survival expert, it helps you ‘survive’ in any situation.

It’s a way to give you a kind of survival knowledge every now and then.

There is no guarantee that I will leave this place safely.

You may have to leave in a hurry, or you may have to live a life on the run.

So the survival expert is useful in that it gives my survival an advantage in any situation.

‘If I acquire these traits, I might be able to avoid or overcome tragedies.’

Most of the progression in this game consists of choices.

Of course, there were many times when I didn’t have the options I wanted.

Especially when dealing with Elijah.

On the other hand, I can move, judge, and act on my own.

Maybe, just maybe, it might be possible to avoid or overcome the tragedy.

[‘Survival Expert’ added to Talents.]

The first test is not far off.

*

“Go and kill them all.”

Richard cheered him on by patting him on the shoulder.

That was true.

Dylan, who was next to me, also gave me some advice.

“… This first test is not a fighting event. Anyway, you don’t have to be discouraged if you fall, so you don’t have to be burdened. Rather than overexerting and getting hurt, I’d rather keep myself safe and aim for the next exam….”

“Oh, nagging….”

Richard scolded me from the side.

Dylan bit his lip and said in a low voice.

“I was just providing objective advice.”

“Yes, yes. You must be.”

“And Judas grows faster than other recruits. The results came soon too. If you fall this time, you will be more discouraged….”

“Ayu, yes yes. Everything our boss said is right.”

“… Can I hit one?”

“Yeah, you’re going to go straight to the extreme.”

Dylan just clenched his fists, but didn’t hit Richard.

One way or another, both of them were encouraging for me.

A somewhat optimistic Richard, rational and down-to-earth Dylan.

Both are correct and helpful.

“I will do well.”

Other members also said a word.

Cheer up, don’t get hurt, greetings like that.

It seemed like a lie that I was warned on the first day.

There was the power of cookies and chocolate, but we gradually became close through other things.

Anyway, I have to stay here for a while.

There was nothing wrong with being close.

I am not alone in my room.

Lindel, who fought with me, is also with me.

And a friend named Feline.

I am 14 years old. The number is 11.

He is tall and thin for his age, and has many freckles on his face.

A bit like a scarecrow, he’s a passive friend.

He is also the one who cut my hair.

“Seniors said they had taken this test before, right?”

On the way to move together, I asked Lindell and Feline.

They both nodded at the same time.

Feline scratched her cheek in embarrassment.

“I fell, but um.”

On the other hand, Lindell was quite confident.

“Everything is like that at first. So, like Dylan sunbae-nim said, you don’t have to struggle or be upset even if you fall.”

Lindel is also one of those people who really care about me.

Especially, he seems to have a sense of guilt.

He openly hated me and even beat me, but I raised Lindell during the duel and later forgave her.

That seems to be apologetic.

‘After all, he wasn’t a bad guy to the core.’

“Thank you. Still, I try to do my best.”

“It should be.”

“What kind of test is this? But is it the same test every time?”

Felin answered this time.

“The content is the same, but the location has changed. It’s a survival test…. How can I explain, um….”

Lindel and Feline are seniors, but they are still children.

I didn’t have fluent and specific speech skills.

I listened wholeheartedly because it was admirable that he tried to explain himself diligently.

I felt like I knew roughly what kind of test it was with just that.

*

[Health: 11.1]

[Strength: 8.5]

[Quickness: 14.4]

[HP: 3.1]

‘It has risen evenly throughout. It seems that the magic power has increased by a decimal point thanks to the moon deer.’

I looked up after confirming the growth results of steady exercise.

In front of the test site.

The knight in charge of directing, Gawain, looked over the candidates.

And next to it, under the umbrella that the red-haired maid Lia put on.

There is Elijah sitting in a chair.

I wrapped the red blanket I gave you like a scarf and held a black cat doll in my arms.

‘I didn’t hear that you were coming….’

They made eye contact.

She smiled lightly and waved her hand.

I just lowered my head, averting my gaze.

I remembered the image of him strangling me.

Gawain soon explained the contents of the test.

“Welcome to the first exam. Starting with this test, you will be constantly checked to see if you are qualified to become Elijah’s escort knights. The content of the first test is simple.”

Gawain stepped aside.

The entrance to the mountain has been revealed.

That was too crude to be an entrance.

Dense grass and trees, rugged terrain, and overhanging rocks.

It is a hill leading to the mountain, which is called the ‘Wave Mountains’ because the winding ridge is just like waves.

“Survive here.”

I heard about it from Lindell and Feline on the way, but it’s too much.

To survive by throwing children into the wild.

I realized that there is no concept of protecting children here.

“Survive for two days and come back here. All they provide is a canteen filled with water. What you do after that depends on your abilities. Do you survive starving without moving as much as possible? Do you hunt animals and forage for fruit? The way is free.”

Gawain spoke quite sternly.

“There is only one virtue I want from you. Patience. This test is a rite of passage. If you cannot overcome even this, you will not be able to achieve anything in the future. So, by all means, hold on.”

Gawain looked around at the hardened candidates.

Even Lindel and Felin, who had experienced it once, seemed nervous.

“The way to survive is free, but if candidates fight each other, they will be eliminated. Most nobles have several escort knights. So you will also need to know how to cooperate with others, even if they are not friendly.”

Patience.

The next items to be evaluated are agility and cooperation.

Oji and bare body with nothing.

How to judge in that situation, who to cooperate with and how much.

Maybe it’s roughly like that.

“If you want to give up, you can come back here early. The bracelet given to you is enchanted with location recognition. Testing sites are limited to mountain ranges. If you leave the range, the bracelet will be damaged and the test will be disqualified.”

As soon as I arrived here, I was given a leather bracelet.

A bracelet with small jade-colored gemstones.

The wealth of the Bebel family made me laugh again.

An enchanted item.

In other words, artifacts are very expensive.

No matter how simple and flimsy an artifact is, it is not cheap.

‘I mean, I give this to dozens of people on a regular basis.’

It’s great to think about collecting and recycling.

Is this the power of chaebol aristocrats?

“For any reason, even if the bracelet is lost or damaged, it will be disqualified.”

Gawain checked his watch.

“It starts in 5 minutes. Ask any questions.”

A few raised their hands and asked questions.

There were no particularly nutritious questions.

I didn’t have any particular questions, so I stayed still.

‘Good job getting a survival expert.’

If there are no problems, you will pass safely.

Rather than that, this test.

I think the most important thing is how to make friends in the beginning.

‘Difficulty changes drastically depending on whether there are reliable friends or not.’

All participants are scattered in different places and enter the mountain range.

If you’re unlucky, you may not be able to make friends until the exam is over.

If you don’t make friends, you might run into wild animals and become dangerous.

‘It’s the time for bears to hibernate, and there are no animals like tigers, but it’s a mountain where wild boars roam. It’s not as big as a monster, but it’s dangerous enough.’

Survival expert.

If you add a colleague to it, the test becomes very easy.

‘Lindel, Feline…. I was nervous and scared. Is there any way to meet them?’

I know some of these mountains.

It won’t be easy, but you can bring those two together.

While Gawain was being questioned, I approached them both.

“Seniors.”

“Huh?”

“It would be comfortable if we could meet each other in the beginning, wouldn’t it?”

“Of course not.”

“But they all start in different places….”

“I have a way.”

I tried [Survival Expert] To see if it would help.

As expected, the traits gave us a more specific way.

“First of all, when you start the test, find the highest and most open place….”

As I explained, Lindell and Felin’s faces brightened.

When we finished, both nodded vigorously at my argument.

“Five minutes passed. After the participants move to different entrances, follow the driver’s instructions to depart.”

Just in time, Gawain ordered them to disperse.

“You remember?”

I asked the two of them one last time.

“Yes. Remember everything.”

The two nodded confidently.

Now, let’s split up and head to our respective entrances.

I was about to move her steps, but Elijah gently waved her hand.

She speaks silently.

I read the movement of the small lips.

‘Good job.’

I lowered my head again, averting my gaze.

It seemed that she was instructing Gawain on something, but it was so far away that I couldn’t hear her voice.

*

I climbed the mountain leisurely.

If you move fast in the beginning, you lose your stamina.

All I was paid was a bottle of drinking water.

Aside from that, you need to be self-sufficient in the mountains.

Climbing through the bush, climbing the steep hill holding onto the trees.

Occasionally the soil would run down and I almost slipped down.

Even if he dies while doing this, the Bebel family will not take responsibility.

‘There is no such thing as a crazy test.’

While grumbling inside, I reached a relatively flat area.

‘A place where the sky is moderately pierced.’

I immediately tried [Survival Expert].

First you need to meet Lindel and Felin.

So, what I need right now is fire.

I looked around for a while.

A forest with nothing but dirt, grass, and trees.

There seem to be a lot of things that could start a fire, but I don’t know how to make a fire.

There’s no way I know that kind of survival knowledge.

However, I could clearly see some wood, dry grass, and stones.

As if shining.

[Survival expert] Was telling me what to do.

First of all, I picked them all up.

A large piece of wood, a pile of dry grass, and a stone.

First, I tossed a pebble hard at a nearby rock and split it into pieces.

One side of the tree was dug out with the sharp edge of a broken stone.

Other trees have sharp tips.

I put dry grass on top of the tree I dug out, and quickly started rubbing the groove with a pointed tree.

As if gnawing away.

If you are not skilled, it should take several hours.

However, thanks to a survival expert, after a few minutes smoke began to rise.

“Whoa-.”

I blew the wind through my mouth.

The smoke grows thicker.

It smelled like burnt.

Finally, the dry grass caught fire.

I looked up at the gray smoke rising thinly across the sky.

‘I don’t know if Lindell and Feline are doing well.’

Standing calmly in front of the campfire while replenishing firewood.

It wasn’t long before a rustle was heard from one side of the forest.

As I turned around, a voice of joy flew in.

“Judas!”

It was Lindel and Feline.

“Wow, it’s really easy to meet.”

“Where did you learn to make a fire? It must be hard to smoke this fast….”

The instructions I gave to the two were simple.

As soon as I started, I was told to find a place that was as high and open as possible, and then to the place where the smoke was rising.

It is possible that other participants will also light a fire, causing the line to deviate, but the possibility is very low.

It’s rare for people to start a fire as soon as the exam begins.

“I learned it before.”

I can’t explain the characteristics, so I covered it moderately.

“But…. What now?”

Lindel asked stupidly.

He heard that during the last test he wandered around and gave up because he didn’t know how to survive.

I think I know. Hmm.

“First of all….”

The moment you want to use [Survival Expert] Again.

There was a commotion in one direction of the forest.

Sabak, Sabak.

The sound of stepping on the grass.

Coming here.

The three of us froze, staring at it at the same time.

I looked down at the campfire I just put out.

The embers still smoked.

‘I expected it….’

Only Lindell and Feline can’t see this.

Other participants may come to see the performance by chance.

It is against the rules to attack other contestants and eliminate them from this exam.

There is a fatal blind spot.

That I can’t prove.

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The witness of that blind spot is Feline next to me.

The reason he failed the last exam.

‘Betrayal by another participant in a fight over food. They said the other party passed because they couldn’t prove it.’

I carefully lifted my wooden sword and wooden shield.

It is self-defense equipment given to defend against wild animals encountered in the mountains.

In other words, the opponent also had this equipment.

Lindel and Feline also drew their weapons after me.

‘It would be better if it was the same candidate or wild animal….’

A fact that I missed for a while because I was concerned about the tragedy.

I hated Balak.

The probability that he is the sender is small, but not impossible.

Sabak, Sabak.

The sound of footsteps approached.