The Northern Grand Duke’s Hamster

The given time was only one minute. In a world where everything except me had come to a halt, there was no question about what I needed to do.

I quickly ran toward Sen and deflected the arrow that was flying straight at her. Something that had been soaring with the intent to pierce through her heart fell pathetically to the ground.

It seemed Lorenz had planned with his knights to duel Belial for a while before targeting Sen. That was the only way to explain why not only the knights but also the mages were preparing to launch their attacks at her.

‘…The cowardly bastards.’

There was no time for anger. I swiftly turned my head, searching for Lorenz. He was smirking crookedly, as if he had already foreseen his victory.

And in front of him, Belial was…

‘…Looking this way?’

He was facing Sen. His upper body was almost completely turned toward her, leaving his vital points entirely exposed to Lorenz.

But I understood. Even at the cost of his own life, he wanted to save Sen. If I hadn’t intervened, he would have thrown himself forward to shield her— even if it meant his own death.

Even as I took in the sight of Belial, I moved without pause. I pulled the frozen Sen further back, trying to get her to a slightly safer position. I had deflected the arrow, but if she remained where she was, she would be struck by the fireballs hurled by the mages behind us.

Then, just as I was about to leap in to save Belial—

“No!”

I had only one minute. A time far too short to change everything in this world.

“Shu!”

A shout rang out from behind me.

It was Kyle. I had assumed he was still within my range of protection, but considering how quickly I had moved, his reaction was understandable.

However, I couldn’t turn back to look at Kyle. I stood frozen, as if turned to stone— or as if my time alone had suddenly stopped.

Because Belial’s eyes had met mine.

He smiled in relief, having confirmed that I had saved Sen. As if that was enough. As if he was grateful.

And the time I had to save him was…

“Belial!”

Something strange was happening. The item’s effect had clearly worn off, yet it felt as though time had stopped. No— as though it was moving unbearably slowly.

Belial was pierced by Lorenz’s sword. The blade, thrust precisely through his chest, was stained with dark red blood.

But I couldn’t get closer. A mage had hurled a fireball directly at me. I needed to dodge, but the magic was flying too fast.

‘If I could just… one more time…’

Even if it required a large amount of Miracle Points, now was not the time to hesitate.

However, before I could do anything, my vision was engulfed in darkness. Kyle had lunged forward and pulled me into a tight embrace.

Thud!

The sound of something violently colliding rang out. Kyle’s body lurched forward as if it would collapse at any moment, causing mine to tilt slightly backward along with him.

But that was all. Kyle held on, enduring the force while keeping his arms tightly wrapped around my waist.

“Ka…”

“Belial, Your Highness!”

Sen let out a sharp scream.

It wasn’t far.

Still holding me, Kyle swung his sword with one arm, sending a slicing shockwave toward Belial’s direction.

But…

“Don’t look.”

Kyle’s voice was low, distorted with pain as he held me against his chest.

I hurriedly tried to check his injury, but a chilling premonition ran down my spine. I shook my head.

“I have to see.”

“…”

“We’re past the age of denying reality and seeking shelter.”

At that, Kyle slowly let me go.

I stepped out of his embrace and approached Sen.

Sen was on the ground, kneeling. She pressed both hands against Belial’s chest, trying to stop the bleeding as he gasped for breath in her arms.

But human hands alone could not possibly stop the life pouring out of him. Blood continued to spill as if to prove that cruel fact.

Kyle’s attack had found its target. A mage had attempted to block it with a defensive spell, but not only had the barrier shattered pathetically— the mage himself was sent flying, coughing up blood before crashing to the ground.

The sword in Lorenz’s hand, still stained with blood, was struck by Kyle’s attack. Though the spellcaster’s sacrifice had weakened the blow, it was still enough to leave a deep gash.

“There was no need for us to fight in the first place. If only you had just surrendered.”

Lorenz clicked his tongue, feigning regret.

“The outcome is already decided. Do you still wish to continue?”

I quickly surveyed the battlefield.

The situation was dire.

We had only two knights left on our side. While the enemy had also taken considerable damage, they still outnumbered us. Worse yet, they still had mages among them.

Kyle looked disgusted by Lorenz, who had even stooped to cowardice in their final battle.

Perhaps he had already concluded that since they were bound to clash someday due to their involvement in the political struggle, it would be best to kill Lorenz now, even if it meant pushing himself too far.

But at this rate, Belial would die. And Kyle was severely wounded as well.

If not for his shoulder injury, he wouldn’t have sent out such a weak sword wave. His shoulder armor had nearly melted away from shielding me from the flames, and the skin beneath it was scorched black.

‘I need to separate the three of them first.’

I had to move Belial to safety and calm Kyle down.

“That’s enough.”

I stepped in front of Kyle, raising my voice.

“The duel is over, isn’t it? Or am I wrong?”

Kyle grabbed my shoulder and turned me to face him.

“…So, you want to run?”

“Are you planning to kill everyone left alive?”

I didn’t agree with Lorenz’s way of life, but there was one thing he said that I found undeniably true.

There is no honor greater than survival. Once you die, that’s it. Life is singular—once lost, it never comes back.

I, who had once lost everything, couldn’t simply let this happen.

“……”

Kyle looked past me at the knight kneeling on one knee in the distance, barely holding on.

The only remaining knight from the Blake Order. Someone who had risked his life solely for Kyle.

He couldn’t let him die for a fight that had no real gains.

Kyle bit his lip hard, then lowered his head.

“We’re getting out of here!”

The two surviving knights quickly escaped into the forest.

Lorenz didn’t stop them. But the moment Sen tried to get up, the knights and mages stepped forward, ready to fight again.

“You have to leave Belial behind.”

“……”

Kyle gritted his teeth and readied his sword.

No, that’s not the plan! We need to retreat first!

The key was to not turn our backs right in front of them.

In that case…

[Emergency Escape Pumpkin Seed Stick | Consumes 8% Miracle Points | Instantly teleports you within a 10-meter radius.]

I bought two without hesitation and tossed one to Sen.

It was a ridiculously expensive item, but there was no other way right now.

“Eat this, Sen! Give one to His Highness Belial too!”

Then, I bought another one and handed it to Kyle, who looked down at me with a slightly reluctant expression.

“You take one too, Your Highness.”

“A magical item, I presume. What about you?”

“I have my own way, you know. That thing.”

Since Lorenz might overhear, I simply gestured with my eyes instead of explaining.

“I’ll follow right after you, so don’t worry. Move outside the forest—head toward the campsite we used.”

“Let’s go together. Can’t we share one?”

Huh?

Wait, is that possible?

[‘Emergency Escape Pumpkin Seed Stick’ applies to only one person!]

I sighed deeply at the system message. So much for efficiency.

“It’s a single-use item. You go first, Your Highness.”

“Don’t you have another?”

“These are expensive snacks, you know. I already bought too many, and my wallet is crying.”

Kyle still hesitated.

He clearly didn’t want to leave me behind.

I understood, but we didn’t have the luxury of time.

Hurry up and go! Do you even realize how pricey this thing is?!

I snatched the pumpkin seed stick from his hand and shoved it directly into his mouth.

“Make sure to find me, okay? Getting kicked hurts like hell.”

I forced a lighthearted smile as I spoke.

In the next instant, a brilliant white light enveloped Kyle.

He opened his mouth as if to protest, but before he could say anything, the light swallowed him whole and whisked him away.

Seeing Sen and Belial disappear had already put Lorenz’s men on edge, but when Kyle vanished as well, their eyes nearly popped out of their skulls.

Even the mage stood frozen in shock.

‘Yeah. This is a first for you too, isn’t it?’

The Northwestern Mage Order prided itself on its magic. This wasn’t much, but seeing them so flustered was oddly satisfying.

“So, do you have anything else to say?”

I turned to Lorenz with an expression of feigned ease.

Of course, I was fully prepared to teleport out of here at any moment.

I had already saved my teleportation destination to the exact place Kyle had been sent.

“Fascinating.”

Lorenz, his face dripping with blood, looked almost… monstrous.

“A magician, huh? You relocated them in an instant. And I didn’t even see you chant a spell.”

“That’s none of your business.”

I shrugged.

“Are you satisfied? Things turned out the way you wanted. You won the duel.”

“That’s not why, but yes, I’m satisfied.”

Lorenz spat out the blood pooling in his mouth and smiled.

“I’ve obtained valuable information. I never expected Kyle Blake to have recruited such a skilled magician. You really caught me off guard.”

“You’re the one who brought a magician into this.”

I cut him off coldly.

“Anyway. If we just respect each other’s territories, there’s no reason to fight further, is there?”

Now that things had come to this, Lorenz would become the next emperor.

But that wouldn’t be as simple as it sounded.

He still had to suppress Belial’s faction, and since his position was won through political strife, he’d have many things to deal with.

He wouldn’t be able to focus on the North for a while.

That would give us time to investigate the matter regarding mages and stabilize the Northern region.

“I’ll let you leave if you answer just one question.”

Lorenz’s arrogant tone made me smirk.

‘As if I need your permission. I’m leaving regardless.’

“What is that power you use? It seems stronger than magic.”

I crossed my arms and shifted my weight to one side.

“Well… a miracle, maybe?”

“A miracle?”

“Yeah. So you’d better be careful. Because that miracle…”

I dragged a finger across my throat in a slicing motion.

Take care of your neck, Lorenz. If you mess with Kyle again, I won’t let it slide. Even a hamster bites back when cornered.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

I waved my hand casually.

The knights behind Lorenz raised their swords, and the mages lifted their hands as if about to cast spells.

But Lorenz held up a hand, stopping them.

“Let him go. Even if he makes it out alive, he won’t be able to do anything.”

That remains to be seen.

I didn’t bother thanking him.

Instead, I deactivated the ‘Recall’ function—

And teleported straight to Kyle’s side.