7th Time Loop WN Vol. 6 Fan Translation

238

Arnold shielded Rishe. Recognizing this, her heart felt frozen.

(His Highness is bleeding!)

Her sixth life flashed before her eyes. As a knight, Rishe drew her sword and pointed it at "Emperor Arnold Hein." In a life-or-death struggle, even when she finally managed to nick his cheek, a few drops of blood fell. The fear Rishe felt now was something she couldn't have imagined back then.

But in the next moment, despite bleeding, Arnold remained unwavering and swiftly struck the man's wrist with his hand blade.

The man released the dagger. The strength of Arnold's blow seemed to ripple through the air.

As the woman screamed and the man instinctively recoiled, the sword that had injured Arnold fell to the deck. The red-stained blade made a loud noise, startling Rishe.

(What should I do now...)

"Rishe." Arnold removed his sword and handed it to Rishe.

Presumably, he meant for her to protect herself with the sword. However, Rishe took it and immediately moved.

As the man tried to regain his stance, Arnold grabbed him by the collar. With a swing of his right leg, Arnold drove his knee into the man's abdomen.

"Gu...!!"

There was a sound like bones grinding, but it seemed to come not from ribs but from the arm the man had instinctively raised. Under his deep hood, the man's mouth twisted into a satisfied smile.

"Arnold Hein――..."

It seemed the man, apparently armed beneath his robe, drew another dagger in front of Arnold. Just as the man was about to step towards Arnold again...

With a sharp, high-pitched sound, the deflected dagger danced through the air. It seemed the man hadn't anticipated Rishe emerging from his blind spot at all. Arnold's intense aura concealed Rishe amidst the flames.

"Your Highness!"

The man narrowly dodged Arnold's kick. His hood grazed, briefly revealing his face, but he wore a mask over his eyes.

As the man evaded Arnold, Rishe swung her scabbard downward. The man caught her powerful strike with his arm. But before he could reach out to Rishe, Arnold's heavy kick sent him flying.

Still, it wasn't a fatal blow. The man laughed and regained his stance on the blazing deck.

(He's strong...!)

There wasn't the slightest opening for us to exploit. Despite his seemingly composed demeanor, a bead of sweat traced its way down Arnold's temple. Along with the crimson drops falling onto the deck, it revealed that Arnold wasn't unscathed.

(I can't let this go on. I have to stop this...)

Just as Rishe was about to dash forward, the man gripped another dagger. But instead of aiming at Rishe, he hurled the blade towards the trembling woman near the flames. In response, Arnold's commanding voice rang out.

"Rishe."

Protecting the woman here meant she couldn't fight that man.

Arnold understood this and called out Rishe's name. By doing so, he ensured that Rishe would have no choice but to let go of the blade meant for confronting the man and return to protect the woman.

As always, Rishe was in Arnold's hands. She deflected the thrown dagger with her blade and then hurled her sword at Arnold as they passed each other.

Rishe moved towards the woman, while Arnold headed towards the man. They both stepped forward back-to-back. Just before the burning sails crashed down, Arnold grabbed the woman's hand and pulled her along.

"Move!"

"Y-yes!"

As Rishe turned around, Arnold flourished his sword.

Without hesitation, Arnold's jet-black blade drove straight into the man's abdomen, the tip reaching the edge of the deck on the other side. 

The man let out a pained breath and grabbed Arnold's hand holding the sword.

Blood poured out the man's mouth as he smiled. "...Indeed, your blood cannot be denied..."

The man's words made Arnold furrow his brows slightly. While sheltering the woman from the flames, Rishe looked at the man in the robe.

(Is he someone who knows Arnold's father...?)

But in the next moment, the man looked up at Arnold closely and spoke unexpected words.

"...Your beautiful countenance greatly resembles that of Her Majesty."

At that moment, the ship lurched heavily.

"Aaah!!" In Rishe's arms, the woman screamed. 

"I-It's okay, calm down...!" Rishe told the woman.

The man smiled once more and took a large step back. As the sword fell out of the man's stomach, blood flowed. Just as Arnold was about to grab him by the collar, the man fell backward into the canal.

"Rishe," Arnold calmly wiped the blood off his sword as Rishe attempted to stand up. "You don't need to pursue him."

Halted by his quiet voice, Rishe pressed her lips together. Along with the sound of something falling into the water, knights rushed over from beyond the flames.

"Your Highness Arnold, Lady Rishe! Putting out the fire is no longer possible, we must escape!" They shouted, unaware of Arnold's injuries.

"Immediately set up a cordon on the shore. Once you find the man injured in the abdomen and arm, capture him."

"U-Understood." The knights nodded, oblivious to what was happening. Arnold continued to behave as usual, hiding the fact that he was bleeding profusely.

(Your Highness Arnold is concealing something. I can't cause a commotion here and reveal it...)

The ship would soon be engulfed in flames. The knights scattered barrels of water and secured a path for Rishe and the others to evacuate.

"Lady Rishe, please leave that woman to us. We'll ensure her evacuation!"

"I beg of you, please do..." Rishe managed to respond in agreement and tightly grasped Arnold's sleeve.

In her life as an apothecary, a hunter, or a knight, she must have seen many injured people. Yet, her fingers trembled.

Arnold narrowed his eyes slightly and gently stroked Rishe's hand to reassure her.

And so, Rishe and the others hurriedly left the ship as it engulfed in flames.