As the lights drew closer, their outlines became clear.
"Commander, we've just arrived!"
"You're safe!"
Two knights holding torches approached us.
"Thank goodness you're unharmed."
"It was a close call."
We stayed silent at their friendly greetings.
We all knew—they fled the fight and only returned after it ended.
"Where were you? It's been ages since the flares went off," Ilia asked.
"W-We went too far out. We were ambushed by orcs and got delayed fighting them off."
It's plausible, but they were lying.
"Oh?" Ilia calmly scanned their attire.
The low knight count wasn't just bad luck—these cowards deserted.
They likely ran after seeing knights fall to the orc warrior. Their clothes told the truth.
"Where are your soldiers?"
"The orcs overwhelmed them. We wanted to protect them, but there was a strong foe."
"Lead us there."
"What?"
The knight's face paled at Ilia's words.
"It's late. We can come back tomorrow—"
"Doesn't matter. Take us to where the soldiers died."
"It's far. We won't make it back to As Castle tonight."
"I said lead us."
The knights gritted their teeth, exchanging glances.
"No choice. Look at this map."
The lead knight approached Ilia, holding a map.
So obvious.
"We fought here—"
Clang!
"Aaagh!"
As the knight aimed a hidden dagger at Ilia's throat, I used Agnes to sever his wrist.
"Aaagh! My hand, my hand!"
He clutched his bleeding wrist, wailing.
"You claim to have fought orcs fiercely, yet there's no green orc blood—just human blood all over you," Ilia said.
"Urgh!"
The other knight dropped to his knees.
"I'm sorry! Please spare me!"
"What happened to the soldiers?"
"H-He killed them all! He said we had to kill them since they saw us flee!"
He pointed at the knight clutching his wrist.
"Don't lie! You were laughing as you killed them too! Don't act innocent—you killed more than me!"
The wounded knight, stopping the bleeding with aura, glared murderously at the other.
"Lady Ilia, my Fredeng family has served House Marcus for generations! This was a mistake!"
The kneeling knight banged his head on the ground.
"Please forgive me just this once! I'll talk to my father—"
Slash!
Ilia, approaching, beheaded him without hesitation.
"Aaagh! Spare—"
Thud.
She turned and drove her sword through the wounded knight's throat.
Clang!
Her sword, piercing the ground, broke. Tossing the shattered blade aside, she said, "Trash."
Wow, what a badass.
At dawn, Ilia returned to the battlefield to recover the soldiers' bodies.
Despite her exhaustion, she scoured the forest, determined not to miss a single one.
But the deserter knights had likely thrown the soldiers' bodies into the river—no trace remained.
We gave up searching and returned to As Castle.
"Wooaah!"
"Welcome the heroes!"
"Thank you for protecting us!"
"Long live the heroes!"
"The hero who defeated the orc warrior!"
Crowds swarmed As Castle, cheering. The reason was simple: the wizards who took Ka-Ruda's body identified him as an orc warrior. Since orc warriors cause massive human losses, defeating one with minimal casualties earned immense praise.
"Long live the Ironblood Knight!"
"That's Lady Ilia, who faced the orc warrior alone!"
"Ironblood Knight, look this way!"
"You're beautiful, Ironblood Knight!"
Ironblood Knight was Ilia's title, earned for standing against Ka-Ruda without retreating, even at death's door. Just like in the novel.
"Iron Wizard!"
"Lord Yuren!"
"The Iron Wizard is so handsome!"
"Thank you, Iron Wizard!"
This time, women's cheers rang out.
[Iron Wizard, pfft.]
'Agnes, shut up.'
[No mana, yet they call you a wizard. Pfft!]
'This jerk.'
Iron Wizard was, absurdly, me. Survivors' accounts painted me as a wizard manipulating steel.
"Yuren."
"Yeah?"
Ilia, silent amid the cheers, called me.
"Thank you for saving me twice."
"It's only natural."
"If you hadn't come, I'd have died yesterday…"
She lowered her head, shoulders trembling.
"I won't lose again. I'll stand at the top. I won't yield to anyone."
Now, she'll awaken her形式的 her true talent, becoming a knight worthy of her Sword Empress trait.
"Yuren, come to our estate."
"What?"
"My father wants to see you."
As expected. I'm just replacing the protagonist.
Might as well "borrow" some treasure while I'm there.
I'd planned to raid another place, but I'll hit the hidden treasures in the Marcus estate instead.
"You'll come, right?"
"Well…"
"You're not?"
Even tough Ilia seemed to soften around me since yesterday.
Guess saving her boosted her affection.
[Creator's Eye activated.]
[Name: Ilia Marcus]
[Traits: Bewitching Beauty, Sword Empress]
[Affection: 45 (Favorable)]
She was hostile last time. A few saves and it's this high? Dating sims aren't this easy.
"If the Marquis calls, I have to go."
"Good!"
As Castle to the Marcus estate was close, but due to battle fatigue—or the Marquis's orders—wizards teleported us there.
"Been a while, huh?"
"Yeah."
I've never been here. First time.
The Marcus estate was as massive as Rox's. The gardens were vast, but the plants differed due to the climate.
"This way."
Ilia led me to the mansion. Unlike Rox's typical grand estate, this felt like an apartment complex.
I didn't set this up. Who designed this?
The novel seems to fill in its own details—nothing here is ordinary.
"Welcome, Lord Yuren Rox!"
"Welcome!"
Butlers and servants lined up to greet me.
"I'm Regi, the head butler. This way, my lord."
"See you soon," Ilia said, waving as she headed upstairs.
"Please wash up here first."
As expected, a bath first.
After a grand bath, I was whisked to a fitting room where a tailor adjusted a slightly large ceremonial outfit to fit perfectly.
Now, dinner.
Used to noble life, I knew what was next. Tired of chirein soup at home and jerky yesterday, I looked forward to a lavish noble meal.
"Lord Yuren, to the dining hall."
Following Regi, I entered the dining hall, filled with a fragrant aroma. Though huge, the table was modest, meant for the Marcus direct line.
"Been a while," said Marquis Rayen Marcus.
"Yuren Rox greets His Excellency Marquis Rayen Marcus."
I bowed per noble etiquette.
"No need for formality. Sit."
"Yes."
I avoided sitting opposite the Marquis—it felt heavy—and sat across from Ilia.
"First, my thanks."
"Sir?"
"She's my daughter before your fiancée. Thank you for saving her life."
"It was my duty."
"Haha."
Rayen, a bold man, appreciated confidence over humility.
"You've really changed. They say people don't change, but you prove them wrong."
"I've worked hard."
"That's what counts."
Liking me, he glanced between Ilia and me with a subtle smile.
"Dinner is served."
A butler brought in the food.
Here it comes. But this smell… no way.
The lid lifted, revealing a familiar dish.
"Oh…"
"Haha, after your ordeal, we prepared Marcus's special chirein soup. It'll make fatigue and aches vanish like feathers."
"Oh…"
My hopes shattered. I wanted local specialties, but it's the same soup I've eaten endlessly. Different ingredients and color, but still soup.
"Yuren, we always eat this soup after battle. It's delicious," Ilia said.
Sure, it's tasty for you. I've been eating it with poison!
"Haha, yeah, delicious."
I forced a professional smile.
"Phew…"
Hungry, I lifted my spoon, but dropped it at Rayen's next words.
"So, when's the wedding?"