(Guard)
In the pitch-black night, the dimly lit stone bricks of the desolate castle corridor extended endlessly, adorned with a long red carpet.
The chilly moonlight pierced through the windows, casting its glow upon my armor as I stood guard, sword in hand. Unable to suppress it any longer, I sneezed.
Damn it, in my younger days, I could endure any cold without a care, brimming with confidence and vitality.
But now, oh well, I've grown old, truly old.
... I joined the military and have spent over thirty years here, now serving as a guardian of the treasury.
Born in the village of Totokuta, my friends from the hometown call me Old George.
When I was twenty, I left my native Totokuta village and became a soldier here.
Ah, yes, before that, I spent five years as an adventurer. Then, by chance, I aspired to become a knight and enlisted in the army in the capital... but eventually, I came to accept reality.
Although I possessed the skills of a swordsman, a [Fighter]to be exact, my talent in combat was not that good, slightly superior to ordinary villagers. I still couldn't become a knight.
In the end, I became a soldier and eventually rose to become a guardian of the treasury, which, all things considered, wasn't a bad outcome. Now, my wife is expecting our second child, and my eldest son, a [Mage] will come of age next year.
"George, are you alright?" said the young lad in armor standing beside me.
He is my partner, Jack, and well, he's someone that I'm mentoring... if I retire and my son decides to become a soldier, he might end up being his partner.
"I'm fine, I'm fine, just feeling a bit useless, haha," I replied.
Though, technically, we're not supposed to chat while on duty... but guarding the royal treasury is incredibly dull, and nobody will notice, so let's bend the rules a bit.
"Is that so... anyway, George, have you seen Princess Derisha again? I heard she snuck in recently," Jack asked.
"She snuck in again? The palace must have turned into a chaotic scene, huh?" I responded upon hearing Jack's words.
To be honest, this incident has become quite well-known among us soldiers.
The second princess of this country is incredibly down-to-earth, without any airs of nobility. It's said that during her vacations, she wanders around the streets and can even be seen haggling with street vendors at inconspicuous stalls.
During evenings at the tavern, you can sometimes run into her, mingling with the crowd and drinking. If a generous young man offers to buy her a drink, she'll cheerfully join in the revelry like the people around her.
Furthermore, as an adventurer, she possesses formidable strength that doesn't match her delicate princess persona, guarding us common folk as if we were family.
It would be wonderful if she could become our future queen.
Throughout history, I doubt any kingdom or place has ever had a princess quite like her.
After being assigned to guard the royal treasury, it's been a long time since I last saw her graceful figure... Back when I patrolled the gardens, I often witnessed the playful antics of the young Second Princess.
...That lonely yet optimistically spirited figure.
...It's been so long, Second Princess, and you've grown so much.
...
...
...Huh? What is this sudden sense of unease?
While casually chatting with Jack, I suddenly felt an inexplicable shiver.
Almost reflexively, Jack and I grabbed our weapons, aiming into the dark corridor.
The sound of footsteps gradually approached.
"Aaaaahhhh….. Lady Lori, even though I've worked so hard for you, how could you reject me? Haven't I been chosen by Lord Herobrine himself?" A voice murmured in a disordered tone.
"Who goes there!" Jack shouted angrily, aiming at the "mass" of darkness.
What is that?
"My lady. . . . . are you doubting my loyalty?. . . . . If that's true . . . . . In that case . . . . I'll just have to prove. . . . . that I am . .. . . . . a loyal follower . .. . . of Lord Herobrine's..."
"Who goes there! Show yourself!" Jack's voice ceased.
Because his body couldn't speak after being diagonally cleaved.
The pitch-black and tainted gas engulfed my vision, and finally, as my gaze rolled on the ground, watching the headless body slantingly collapse, I understood what the thing before me was.
The taint of death.