"Why are you here?"
Ilia Marcus, my fiancée and a stunning beauty with the Sword Empress trait, stood before me in radiant armor.
Behind her, knights in armor emblazoned with a hammer on the left chest stood in formation.
"Who's this?"
A handsome man walking with Ilia asked, eyeing me.
"Yuren Rox, young master of House Rox and my fiancée," Ilia introduced without hesitation.
"Oh, that Rox…"
For a split second, I saw the man's face harden.
"To meet the young master of Rox in a place like this—what a surprise. I'm Musk Malone, fifth deputy commander of the Steel Hammer Knights under House Marcus."
He piled titles onto his name, but in short, he's a nobody.
Wait—Musk Malone, As Castle's fountain… No way!
I stood up and scanned the area, spotting a man with black hair passing by.
Damn it, I'm too late. How did I forget? This is the moment!
The fountain, As Castle, Musk Malone—it clicked. This was the story's intersection where Ilia and the protagonist were supposed to meet.
In the original plot, the protagonist saves a child endangered by blocking the knights' path, sparking a conflict. Ilia intervenes, starting their connection.
But Ilia saw me and moved first, altering the scene. The child passed safely, and the presumed protagonist walked away.
Unlike the minor changes I've caused so far, this shifts the story's main plot.
"Yuren, what're you doing?"
While I was lost in thought, Musk was still holding out his hand, smiling for a handshake.
Bet he wants to kill me right now.
"Yuren Rox," I said firmly.
His face stiffened again at my blunt greeting.
"Deputy, I'll talk with him briefly. Go ahead."
"Understood."
Ilia sent the knights ahead, grabbed my arm, and pulled me aside.
"Why are you here, Yuren?"
"Looking for a craftsman."
"A craftsman? You mean a blacksmith?"
She seemed surprised.
"House Rox has plenty of skilled ones."
"True, but I wanted my own."
"You could've told me. I'd have helped."
"It's fine. Found a good one."
Ilia smacked her lips, disappointed.
[Is she really your fiancée?]
'Yeah.'
[What's with her?! Her talent's overflowing! It's like it's bursting out of her!]
Agnes, sensing Ilia's talent, squealed excitedly in my head.
Yeah, she'll become one of the strongest later.
"Heading back now?" Ilia asked.
I paused. In the original story, Ilia faces grave danger on her mission and is saved by the protagonist she bonded with. Without that connection now, she'll die.
No choice. I can't let her die.
"Ilia, where are you going?"
"Villagers near As Castle have been increasingly attacked by orcs, so we're ordered to scout and subdue them."
As expected. If she goes, she won't survive.
"Ilia, I have a favor."
"A favor?"
"Yeah. Take me with you."
"What?"
She tilted her head, trying to read my intentions.
"Why?"
"I'm training too. I want real combat experience. And to see your skills."
"That makes sense. It's probably that phase. It shouldn't be too dangerous, but is it okay not to tell the Marquis?"
She seemed worried about not reporting to him.
If word gets to the Marquis, I'll be detained. I have to prevent that.
"It's fine. It's not dangerous, and it won't take long."
"True, but… Yuren, you seem different somehow."
She can't sense my inner energy, so what's she noticing?
"It'll be fine. Let's go."
"Thanks."
Ilia agreed easily because she's the fifth squad's commander. She's not fully recognized yet, but after this mission, she'll be acknowledged as a true knight.
"Oh, I'm bringing my craftsman."
"Where is he?"
"There."
I pointed at Giranox, nervously scanning the area.
"Oh, Lord Yuren!"
"You're here. All packed?"
"Yes, thanks to you, it's done neatly. Haha."
Giranox seemed more at ease, smiling lightly.
"This is the craftsman you chose?" Ilia asked.
"Yup."
"Guh!"
Giranox gasped seeing Ilia—not because of her talent like Agnes, but purely her striking appearance.
"Uh, Lord Yuren, who's this?"
"My fiancée."
"Wow! As expected, you're incredible!"
He seemed more shocked than when he saw Agnes yesterday. Typical guy reaction.
"Let's talk while we move. The knights and soldiers are waiting."
"Alright. Giranox, follow."
"Yes."
The knights and soldiers waited outside As Castle's gate. Ilia informed the other knights that Giranox and I were joining.
"Commander, this isn't a picnic."
"Exactly. Even orcs are dangerous if we're careless. We don't have the resources or reason to protect them."
"Rethink this!"
The knights, displeased with me, protested harshly to Ilia. To them, I'm probably a parachuted commander dragging along for romance.
"I'm the commander. We proceed as is."
"Ugh…"
"But."
Ilia ignored them, asserting her authority. Honestly, she's cooler than me.
"Let's move out. Commander Ilia's right. If you're upset, become a commander," Musk said, stepping forward, his words subtly undermining Ilia.
"We're departing."
Unfazed, Ilia took the lead, confident in her skills.
At her command, the unit left the castle. Giranox and I stayed in the middle.
"Uh, Lord Yuren?"
"Call me Young Master from now on."
"Yes, Young Master. People are glaring a lot. Even I, who's usually oblivious, can feel it…"
"Don't worry. They're just cowards who can't say anything to my face."
They know my status, so they won't confront me directly—just whisper behind my back.
After about four hours, the vanguard stopped. Ilia moved to a visible spot.
"This is where people were attacked by orcs. From now on, we could encounter them anytime. Stay combat-ready."
"Yes!"
"Yup."
The soldiers shouted loudly, but the knights' responses were barely audible.
This is bad.
"We'll split into eight groups to scout for the orc village. If you find it, don't engage—fall back and fire a signal flare."
"Yes!"
Ilia swiftly divided the knights and soldiers and ordered the scout.
Impressive. Her commands are precise and firm.
Ilia was beautiful, but her bold personality was even more captivating.
"Yuren, let's go."
Giranox and I were, of course, in Ilia's group.
Aside from me replacing the protagonist, it's still close to the novel's plot.
Our group headed toward the northwest forest, following a soldier skilled in tracking.
"No signs yet?"
"There are clear orc traces, but they're too scattered to pinpoint. This is unusual."
"Keep tracking."
"Yes."
Tracking's pointless. The orcs already know we're hunting them and are stalling.
We wandered for a while but found nothing, like chasing shadows.
"Sorry, the traces are still too messy."
"No choice. We head back. Stay vigilant."
"Yes!"
As night fell, Ilia ordered a return to our starting point.
Here it comes.
I was calculating what was next when—
Whoosh!
Boom!
Whoosh!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Signal flares went off in multiple directions.
It's starting.
"What's that?"
"Signal flares, ma'am."
"How many?"
"F-Five."
Can't even count—it's four.
"Which is closest?"
"The west."
"We head west. Stay alert and move slowly."
"Yes!"
We started toward the western flare.
"If combat breaks out, stick close to me," Ilia said, coming to my side before returning to the front.
"Got it."
If I don't, you'll die.