After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 87

‘That monster!’

Logan glared at the back of Leo’s head with bloodshot eyes.

It had already been five days since he started waiting for an opportunity to inject Leo with the Aura Restriction Potion.

‘To go without sleep for days on end and still be perfectly fine like that. Is he even human?’

Experiencing it firsthand, he truly felt that the nickname ‘Night Slaughterer’ wasn’t given for no reason.

The knights seemed accustomed to Leo hunting demonic beasts without sleeping at night, but to Logan, it was an astonishing sight.

‘Damn it. I can’t wait any longer.’

To gain trust, he had thrown himself into battle against the demonic beasts without regard for his own safety and stayed by Leo’s side, but he couldn’t find a single opening in Leo.

At this rate, he himself would be the one to tire out and collapse first. Moreover, wasn’t it said that they would return to the Imperial Capital tomorrow?

Suppressing his anxious heart, fearing he might miss his chance forever, Logan recalled his efforts so far.

After participating in the martial tournament and obtaining the Aura Restriction Potion, Logan headed to the northern region, which could be considered Leo’s base.

This was because it was difficult to find an opportunity to approach Leo in the Imperial Capital.

First, he would naturally blend in with the people around him and create an opportunity.

That was Logan’s plan, but the opportunity came sooner than expected.

While stopping by a restaurant near the border outpost, he overheard the knights’ conversation.

“Somehow, the gate discovered this time seems unusual.” “Right. If it grows larger, we’ll have to report it to the Captain.”

Logan, who was eating at the next table, didn’t miss his chance and approached them.

“I heard the northern knight order doesn’t discriminate based on origin. How can I join?”

At first, the knights were wary, but when Logan shared his past, their attitude changed.

The story of being sold to slave traders as a child and raised as a gladiator was a painful enough past to dissolve their wariness.

The knights took him to the outpost to test his skills, and recognizing his expertise in survival swordsmanship rather than knightly swordplay, they allowed him to stay as a trainee.

“Official membership requires the permission of our Captain, but he’s currently away in the Imperial Capital.” “It’s fine. I just need a place to settle my wandering life; this is enough for me.” “Are you sure? Staying tied down in a place like this might feel stifling.” “Haha. I’m just a guy whose only skill is wielding a sword. At this age, if I can help the world with the ability I have, what more could I need?”

His words, bearing the weight of experience, moved the young knights, and thereafter, they began to trust him as they saw him fight demonic beasts without sparing himself.

And so, about ten days passed.

Short as it may seem, it was absolutely not a short time to gain sufficient trust while repeatedly facing life and death.

“The Captain has arrived!”

With a knight’s shout, Leo, with his icy, frost-like cold impression, appeared leading the knights.

With a face so handsome it felt unreal, he was a man envied by the knights.

The knights naturally introduced Logan to Leo, and, as if his efforts weren’t in vain, he was easily able to join the demonic beast subjugation operation.

Even in the face of the threat from high-ranking demonic beasts, which he was experiencing for the first time, Leo and his knights stood firm.

Logan, too, momentarily set aside the enemy before his eyes and hunted them down with all his might.

It was a chaotic battle.

Yet, the fact that there were no casualties was thanks to Leo, who appeared like a ghost every time danger arose and protected the knights.

How many times had he saved Logan alone?

‘Is it right to kill such a man? No, can I even kill him?’

Just as his resolve was unavoidably wavering, Edward appeared leading the Imperial Knights.

Edward, who bore a striking resemblance to his master, bravely pointed his sword at the demonic beast, but was knocked down in a single exchange.

Logan gritted his teeth.

His master desired only one thing: for Edward to become the Crown Prince.

To achieve that, Leo absolutely had to be eliminated.

Logan tightly closed his bloodshot eyes and thought of her.

Tatiana Everett.

The woman who rescued him from his life as a slave gladiator, kept him by her side, and smiled warmly at him—she would be his first and last love.

For her sake, there was nothing he couldn’t do. He reaffirmed his resolve once more.

“Kuuuuuuu──.”

Suddenly, the cry of a demonic beast struck Logan’s ears.

Three demonic beasts revealed themselves.

Their grotesquely twisted forms and glowing red eyes exuded an oppressive aura.

Before he knew it, Leo and the knights, having reformed their ranks, were ready for battle.

“There are still high-ranking demonic beasts left. Everyone, be careful.”

After a brief warning, Leo stomped the ground. A fierce wind rose, and his sword flashed sharply.

Logan’s gaze hardened with determination.

‘This is the last chance.’

Judging from the battles so far, Leo would move without fail whenever he thought his knights’ lives were in danger.

‘If I aim for the moment he appears to save me.’

Logan recalled the injector of the Aura Restriction Potion hidden in his bosom.

It was specially made by a skilled alchemist. Its front part, shaped like a sharpened bamboo, would cause a large wound instantly upon stabbing, and simultaneously, pressing the button on the back would rapidly inject the contents.

Deflecting the demonic beast’s claws with his sword, Logan made a decision. He resolved to be prepared to die.

Logan immediately slowed his movements, creating an opening.

As if not missing the timing, the demonic beast’s sharp claws dug into his flesh, and blood spurted.

“Kheuk…!”

An excruciating pain enveloped his entire body, but Logan gritted his teeth and held his ground.

The situation became precarious, and Leo reacted.

As a shadow fell, Leo’s blade sliced through the demonic beast’s shoulder as it flew in.

With a sound tearing through the air, the demonic beast’s roar erupted.

‘Now!’

Finally seizing Leo’s back, Logan pulled the injector from his bosom and in one swift motion, plunged it into his side.

The plan was a success.

The moment he felt pain in his side, Leo thought.

‘I’ve been had.’

It wasn’t surprising, nor was it particularly unexpected.

It was just something that was bound to happen, happening.

But his actions came reflexively.

He immediately extended his left arm, grabbed Logan by the collar, and threw him, while simultaneously using his sword-wielding right hand to precisely deflect the demonic beast’s attack.

“I see. An Aura Restriction Potion, is it?”

The energy enveloping his blade was gradually fading.

Aura could no longer protect his body, and the thick hide of the demonic beast had to be cut through with pure strength alone.

But that was all.

With or without aura, Leo was Leo.

Nothing more was needed to deal with the demonic beasts. However.

‘Strange.’

Common sense dictated that if his aura was bound, it was time for an assassin to appear.

But with nothing happening, Leo felt a subtle sense of incongruity and hurriedly stabbed his sword into the remaining demonic beast.

Instantly, his face contorted in pain.

“Kuh…!”

His breath tangled roughly, his insides grew hot, and then a gush of blood surged up.

“Captain!” “Captain!”

The startled knights rushed to him.

Wiping his blood-stained lips, Leo stared directly at Logan.

He was sprawled on the ground, checking his own condition.

“ You used poison.”

Certainly, it was a more cunning method than sending an assassin.

Mixing poison with an Aura Restriction Potion.

Unable to use aura now, there was no easy way to slow or expel the spreading poison.

“You bastard! Was this your doing?!”

A knight who grasped the situation grabbed Logan by the collar and shouted.

“Give us the antidote!” “If you don’t hand it over right now, I’ll kill you!”

Logan looked at them with a somber expression.

The knights, who just moments ago were fighting back-to-back with him, were screaming.

They were knights younger than Logan.

Though somewhat rough around the edges, they were good fellows who had welcomed him with smiles as one of their own.

Logan thought.

Ah. I’m sorry to you all.

He genuinely felt regretful too. A life laughing and chatting with them, living quietly here, might not have been bad.

But he had a master he had to protect.

A precious and invaluable master, irreplaceable even with himself.

“Unfortunately.”

Logan smiled faintly.

“There is no antidote.”

“You bastard! I’ll kill you!”

Amid the situation that had turned into a hellscape in an instant, Leo, supported by Ian, spoke while placing a hand on Ian’s shoulder.

“Ian.” “Don’t speak, Captain. Right now, we need to get a priest.”

Leo cut off Ian’s suppressed voice, breathing raggedly, and said.

“The moon will rise soon.”

Understanding what he meant to say, Ian shook his head.

“No, Captain. No!” “Finish up here, and return.” “Captain! In that condition, how can you?” “It’s an order.”

At Leo’s firm words, Ian bit his lip and lowered his gaze.

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