Reincarnated as a Farmer Gamer: Rising to the Top with the Evolution of the Weakest Job that Only I Know About!? - 53.2

With a loud bang, my body was thrown like a ball.

Ah… damn. That hurts… I should have increased my status in [Toughness].

My professional skill [Grim Reaper] is a complete evasion and counter-attacker. With knowledge from my previous life and a level of effectively 170, I didn’t expect to take such attacks, but… even from a weak opponent, a direct hit is incredibly painful.

I wish I had worn the armor Maria-san bought for me instead of my uniform, but… there’s no point in saying that now.

My body bounced on the ground several times, with pain shooting through me each time.

My opponent mercilessly continued to strike me.

After being thrown the second time, I spat blood from my mouth.

Ah… real physical pain is a rare thing and… it still hurts.

“Ha-ha-ha! You think a mere weakling like you can beat me! Don’t think you’ll leave here in one piece!”

I struggled to get up.

Because I took the hits head-on without any defense, my head was spinning a bit.

At that moment, I heard the lady’s voice from behind.

“Be-ril! For now, forfeit immediately!”

The big man’s third attack was a dropkick, and with another intense pain, I was thrown against the wall.

“Be-ril!”

Looking up, I saw the lady with tears in her eyes, looking down at me. She seemed about to lean over and fall, but Lin was stopping her, so she didn’t fall.

Ha… it would hurt to fall from such a height, Lady.

“—Hey, Lady.”

It was as if time had stopped; the lady and I locked eyes.

“The pain in the body can be healed as much as needed, and it’s only temporary… But do you know? The pain in the heart continues for a lifetime. What is life… what does it mean to live? Is it just breathing, eating, and sleeping? It’s not just that… Thinking with your own mind, walking on your own feet, saying what you want to say with your own mouth… that’s what living is. I might not be a great knight. But… I’ve decided to protect you. A man doesn’t go back on his word. Regardless of any contract, I became your knight by my own will. So… if you’re in pain, call my name. Lady. I’ll do whatever it takes. I am—your knight.”

I could see large tears forming in the lady’s big, cute eyes.

I alone cannot protect the lady’s heart. But, isn’t there a team around the lady now? Even Lin, though she delivered the lord’s message, is serving the lady in her own way. Lady Diana… and even Al… are watching over you.

So—

“Therefore—say it! With your own mouth! Command me! I’ll cut through any unfairness!”

Just one second.

In that instant, what the lady thought, I cannot know.

But—she wiped her tears with her own will.

**Later**

A loud sound of footsteps rushing was heard as we returned to the back of the arena, and, as expected, it was the lady.

“Lady, I’m back—”

“—You idiot Be-ril! Why didn’t you beat them from the start! You could have handled it easily!”

“…I’m a knight. I cannot go against your wishes.”

“Knights are supposed to… do as they please without worrying about my wishes… why, this time, are you so injured…”

“Oh? Is the lady crying? For me? …Huh? Lady?”

The usual words that would fly at me didn’t come.

“—”

She leaned her head against my chest.

“You fool… of course I was worried… fool…”

“Ahaha… I tried taking the hits, but it really hurt. But, well… compared to the heartache you’ve endured, it’s nothing.”

The lady quietly cried in my chest.