The Hero is Standing in My Way - Chapter 33
Before you read, (CP)=Count Paresa, (A)=Ariel, and (S)=Siegfried
Chapter 33
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I threw a dagger at the crow’s head, which was about to peck at the Count. The crow, dagger still stuck in its head, fell down with a squeak.
“Thank you, Young Lady Ariel. If it wasn’t for the Young Lady, I would have been – !”
As I hurriedly approached the Count, he staggered and sat down as he groaned. Blood was gushing out from his shoulder.
“Where is the first aid kit?”
Yes, this was normal. While Abbysion and Siegfried were incredibly strong, most of the party had either large or small wounds. It wasn’t that we came here without any priests, but it was just reality that it was impossible to take care of each patient as the number of wounded continued to increase.
I ran to the place Count Paresa had pointed out and grabbed some medicine and a bandage to disinfect the wound.
“Can you take off your clothes? Or maybe I’ll have to tear it off.”
“I can’t raise my arms right now.”
The Count simply explained his situation clearly. I nodded quickly and pulled out a dagger as I calmly tore off his uniform. There were long and deep claw marks on his shoulders. I wiped off the blood and poured disinfectant on it.
“Ugh…!”
“Can you still hold on?”
“Yeah, ugh.”
I think you just let out a cry?
Without paying much attention to it, I spread the medicine evenly over the cleaned shoulder and wrapped a bandage around it. When his shoulder was finally fixed, the Count’s expression slightly softened. He frowned and faintly smiled.
“There’s nothing that Young Lady can’t do.”
“It’s kind of like that.”
“Haha, it’s better because you’re not humble.”
“Huh…don’t say that. As you know, 190 cm tall (is my type)…”
“I know. That you already like His Majesty the Crown Prince.”
How was Siegfried mentioned at the height of 190cm? Count Paresa must’ve been very impressed with him when he was standing in the garden that day.
“It’s not like that. You are misunderstanding.”
“You don’t have to do that. I haven’t told anyone before, and I won’t in the future.”
Yes, thank you for doing that for me, but I would like you to know the truth. I sighed and opened my mouth.
“First of all, I have nothing to do with the Crown Prince, and that day, the Crown Prince just wanted to embarrass me.”
“Yes? Are you saying that you are maintaining such a close relationship with the Crown Prince?”
No, this man! I want to hit the back of your neck and make you faint! Just how much were you misunderstanding me?
Well, Siegfried should have done a little better. Where should I start explaining? I paused for a moment as I chose the right words to say.
“Ah, Ariel!”
It was then. A voice that was full of dark schemes came from somewhere as if he had waited for this moment. The thought of wanting to ignore that filled my head, but I couldn’t do that since the Count next to me also heard that voice. The Count reacted first.
“It’s like the voice of His Majesty the Crown Prince!”
“No, it might be a siren. They mimic voices well.”
“Yes? I never heard of that….”
You can’t be like this even if you don’t have any tact.
I groaned as I got up on the floor. Siegfried, who had been fighting very well from afar a moment ago, stumbled against a tree and slid down. I couldn’t help but applaud at his flawless acting in my heart. Would someone who doesn’t know him think that he had an injury?
All I could see was how he was imitating Count Paresa when he fell.
(CP) “I’m alright Young Lady, so you can go and see to him.”
(A) “Yes, I guess I should bring His Highness the Crown Prince a priest.”
(S) “I don’t need a priest, so hurry up!”
How clear was your hearing that you can even hear me from over there?
I had no choice but to walk towards Siegfried. It’s really not that funny. I always thought that he wasn’t quite normal, but I never thought he could go to this extent.
“Ugh, it hurts so much…”
As I walked for a while and dawdled, Siegfried suddenly covered his face and wept. Even from a fairly close distance, he looked completely fine except for the fact that he was covered in the blue blood of a monster.
I moved forward to see whatever excuses he will give me this time. I would be able to see his expressions at this point, but Siegfried continued to act like a patient regardless. I finally arrived at the feet of the wailing Siegfried. He raised his head.
“Where does it hurt? I think you suffered a head injury.”
“How did you know? It’s something similar.”
I don’t know anymore. He was clearly injured no matter where it might be. Otherwise, there’s no way he can do this.
“Actually, the cheek you slapped yesterday is cold.”
“……”
As I was about to grab him and start to sermon him, I had no choice but to close my mouth. I actually had nothing to say to him. Since my hands were a little bit ferocious, I couldn’t control it as I slapped his cheek.
“So, heal me too.”
“From when were you watching?”
“From start to finish.”
“By any chance, are you bored?”
“Is that possible? It’s just that I killed all the monsters around me.”
While I was approaching Siegfried, I somehow didn’t see a single monster. But, are you saying that while you were in the middle of doing that kind of stunt, you were watching what I was doing from where I was?
I think someone needs to be able to do this much to be a male lead. One man would be enough to kill all those monsters if it was Siegfried, and I didn’t even want to ask any more questions. Besides, all those monsters were crippled. It would be unclear if I was to nag him when he handled all of them alone.
“Are you really sick? Then why didn’t you say that yesterday?”
“Because I wasn’t sick yesterday.”
“But you’re suddenly ill now?”
I was at a loss for words once more at his very confident answer. Siegfried looked up at me with his twinkling eyes.
“Why? Since I got treatment today without fighting?”
“To be precise, since you helped Count Paresa.”
“Then why did you call me now?”
“If you didn’t help, the Count would be dead, right?”
Fortunately, he was a little sane. You know how to tell the difference. But still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. There was something else that came to my mind as I watched what Siegfried was doing. This time, it wasn’t like a sense of déjà vu.
I once heard a word that can perfectly describe a person like Siegfried. What do they call that? There was often a term that maids used. Oh right, attention seeker?
“Stop thinking to yourself and quickly sit next to me.”
Siegfried tapped the space beside him. As if he didn’t mind the dirt that was on his palms, he naturally removed the stones so that I could sit comfortably. He smiled like a naughty boy when I looked at him with an expression I-knew-it.
“It’s like you’re cursing me with your eyes.”
“I didn’t.”
“Actually, it doesn’t really matter.”
“That can’t be.”
Is Siegfried not aware that he is a prince? I sat down next to him, vowing to be more careful in the future.
“I worked hard to kill even your share since you weren’t here, so I deserve a reward.”
“Have you ever thought about the position of the person giving the prize?”
“I will definitely think about it next time.”
Even the room for reform appealed to me, so I couldn’t rebuke him any more. I opened the lid of the water bottle that was attached to my waist. Siegfried sat quietly next to me and watched what I was doing. I turned away from his curious gaze and wet the towel I took out of my arms.
“Oh, it’s cold.”
Siegfried frowned as the wet towel touched his cheek.
His black hair, wet in an instant, clung to his cheek. He looks pretty up close. The corners of my lips almost unconsciously rose, so I had to pull them down with as much force as I could. He was easily forgiven with such a face even if he was only seeking attention. Even though he clearly knew I wasn’t a pushover, he would make it my problem.
“Hold on for a moment. Well, actually, I didn’t pour it, but as a reward for the Prince’s hard work… Ah!”
Siegfried suddenly pushed me away and picked up the bow. He then shot the arrow into the Siren’s forehead that was crawling towards us at a frightening speed. That moment was so fast that it happened in a blink of an eye – because he was faster in dealing with the Siren than when he pushed me back and touched the floor for balance.
He even grabbed my waist as soon as he put the bow down. The grip strength that came out of his strong arm was so surprising that I wondered if it was the same boy with a pretty face.
I accidentally buried my nose in his chest and blinked blankly.