[IYFILWATIP] Chapter 60

Marlon sighed, quickly grasping the situation from Kirona’s explanation. 

"I’m sorry, but it would be better if you two checked it out first. I need time to recover before I can be of any help. If the exit is open, leave me and go. If it’s closed, come back here, and we’ll figure out another plan." 

"That’s ridiculous. Do you think you can survive until then?" 

"Don’t underestimate me." 

Marlon gritted her teeth and, with trembling hands, pointed her sword at Jade’s stomach. Jade easily parried the feeble attack with his own sword. 

"You haven’t changed, even with death staring you in the face, Eclipse." 

"Jade, shut up. This is no time for bickering. Help Marlon gather her things." 

After giving Jade orders, Kirona picked up Marlon’s sword and handed it back to her. Jade held his tongue and, as instructed, gathered up the belongings that had fallen to the ground as Marlon’s paralysis wore off and tossed them to her. 

Kirona helped Marlon to her feet and gave her directions. 

"Marlon, if you follow this path straight ahead, there’s a cabin. You can get help there. If we don’t find an exit, we’ll come back too." 

"A cabin?" 

"An old mage named Sonia lives there. Mention my name—Natalie—and she’ll help you. And take Zelda Black there as well. Sonia might be able to find a way to help her." 

"Got it. I’m sorry I couldn’t complete the contract after taking your money." 

"But the path is rough, and your condition isn’t good. Can you manage to carry someone who can’t move?" 

"I can handle it. Unlike that arrogant mercenary over there, I keep my promises. And if there’s no exit, it’s better to have four of us than three." 

Marlon glared at Jade as she made this vow, then suddenly frowned and asked Kirona, "But how did you end up with that guy?" 

Before Jade could come up with a quick excuse, Kirona answered first. 

"We met by chance, and I hired him." 

"He doesn’t seem very trustworthy." 

Jade scoffed. In a world of down-and-out mercenaries, trustworthiness was relative. He was a mercenary bound by a contract, and as long as Beatrice held his leash, he would fulfill his contracts to the letter. In terms of reliability, that put him near the top. Marlon Dreha, who still clung to her high ideals, might not see it that way. 

Marlon Dreha wasn’t one to mock him openly, but she silently disdained him, seeing him as someone who tarnished the Eclipse name. It made sense. When her noble house fell, she would have chosen death over dishonor. 

Jade wondered how Marlon Dreha would react if she knew the client was a princess. Maybe it was time to reveal the truth since they were likely all going to die anyway. After all, Marlon Dreha might genuinely risk her life to protect Kirona, regardless of the money. 

Not that he would. He’d protect her because he had to, because he was a mercenary bound by a contract, and because Beatrice still held his two brothers' lives in her hands. 

If it weren’t for that, he would have left the princess behind ages ago. Too much hassle. 

"It’s okay. He can’t leave me behind even if he wanted to." 

At that moment, Kirona smiled at him. He couldn’t help but find it amusing that she fully understood the situation. She knew he wasn’t staying because he wanted to but because he had no choice. 

Marlon gave him a dubious look but warned him anyway. 

"Don’t tarnish your family’s name, Eclipse." 

If Kirona weren’t there, Jade would have flipped her off. But he was overcome by a strange feeling at that moment. There he was, with a real princess in his care, receiving a solemn admonition from a knightly mercenary. It was almost embarrassing. 

Serious people have a way of making those around them serious too. 

But really, it was because he was getting used to having the princess around. He had been trained as a noble until he was twelve, and in that intense indoctrination, the royal family was someone he was supposed to protect with his life for no reason at all. 

When you’ve been subconsciously brainwashed and you find yourself looking after a real princess every morning in the Navimi Forest, anyone would start to feel this way. Especially if you had to witness her crying at night. 

It wasn’t because he was an Eclipse that he was feeling strange. 

Jade furrowed his brow and shook his head, trying to rid himself of the unsettling thoughts. He grabbed Kirona’s arm and urged her forward. 

"We need to hurry. Let’s go." 

"Be careful. The basilisk sets mental traps, and they’re the most dangerous." 

"Shut up. You know I’m immune to those." 

"I wasn’t worried about you. I was worried about her." 

"I’ll take care of her."