I Transmigrated as an Extra in a Trashy Dark Romance Game - Chapter 45

Volumes 1 - 3 of TETDRG is available uncensored on ko-fi!

※ This work contains depictions of coercive relationships, explicit language, and other graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

Thud.

A sharp sound of something piercing flesh, followed by the bear’s savage roar right in front of her, forced Edith’s eyes open, her ears ringing.

The bear had turned its gaze away from her, looking toward the direction the arrow had come from. When Edith also turned her gaze that way, she saw the Duke of Blackford on horseback, discarding his spent bow onto the ground.

Then, drawing his sword, he spurred his horse toward the bear.

“Miss Moulton, get out of the way!”

Her body moved as he commanded, and Edith dodged. From the Duke of Blackford’s sharp blade, a faint light shimmered before cleanly slicing through the bear’s neck.

Blood gushed out like a fountain in all directions, splattering onto Edith’s face and dress as she stood before the bear. At the hot, coppery smell of blood, she felt nauseous and dizzy.

‘Urgh! I think I’m going to throw up…’

Stressed by so much blood and the brutal sight of an animal losing its head right before her eyes, Edith felt a sense of encroaching dread.

In her status window, forgotten in her field of vision, the numbers rose, and the red light flickered precariously once more.

“My lady, are you alright?”

Jumping down from his horse and rushing to Edith, the Duke pulled a handkerchief with a hand clad in the black leather gloves he always seemed to wear and wiped the red blood from her pale face.

“My goodness, you’ve had quite a shock.”

It took a little time for Edith, still dazed by the lingering terror and stress, to find her voice.

“…Thank you, Your Grace.”

The gruesome scene painted behind the Duke, who smiled at her with an angelic, flawlessly clear expression even in this situation, seemed truly bizarre and eerie. Still, she tried to shake off the feeling, reminding herself he was her savior.

“But how did you come to be here, my lady? Shouldn’t you be outside the forest?”

“Ah, I… had something to give to the Saintess, so… I borrowed a knight’s horse and followed them in.”

Of all people to run into, it had to be the Duke, leaving her with no way to explain. No matter how she racked her brain, only nonsensical excuses tumbled out incoherently.

“And where on earth did that knight go, leaving you behind?”

“We… got separated along the way somehow…”

Even to her, it sounded unbelievable. Expecting to be pressed further, she was surprised when the Duke simply said, “Is that so?” and let it go far too easily.

“The Saintess? I think I saw her with His Highness as I passed by earlier. Shall I escort you that way?”

It was suspicious how readily he accepted her unbelievable excuse and offered his hand, but for now, finding Serenity and the Crown Prince was her priority. She took his hand and rose from the ground.

He helped her onto his horse and mounted behind her, roughly turning the reins. His body pressed closely against her back from behind.

His frame was slender, unlike any swordsman she’d imagined, completely different from Carlton, who wielded the same weapon.

Carlton’s body was large in build, his muscles big, of ample thickness, and resilient. In contrast, the Duke’s body was slimmer and leaner, yet his firm muscles were distinctly palpable even through his clothes.

‘My preference is… hmm-hmm.’

The arm wrapped around her, holding the reins, and the chest and abdominal muscles she could feel against her back—the posture was so close she could sense how firm they were. As she compared the two, she felt a fluttery yet embarrassing emotion and let out an awkward cough.

Watching the back of her head, her ears reddened, the Duke’s face was no longer angelic. Instead, he wore a quiet, sinister smile that was downright diabolical.

How far had they ridden in a direction completely different from where she’d come? A female voice seemed to be calling from a distance.

The voice of a woman shouting, as if afraid beasts might approach, gradually reached her ears.

“…Neither Edith nor I are your possessions, Your Highness!”

“No matter that you are the Saintess, I will not forgive anyone who obstructs my path. And Saintess, even without you…”

Rustle.

Edith grabbed the Duke’s arm and gave him a look to stop, but he couldn’t possibly have missed her signal. He deliberately kept guiding the horse forward, revealing their presence.

The situation was different from what she’d expected. Serenity and the Crown Prince were off their horses, glaring at each other, but it didn’t look at all like a situation right before an assault.

At the sound of hooves, they turned to look at Edith and the Duke. Their eyes widened, surprised by the unexpected visitors.

“Edith! How did you get here…? No, more importantly, that blood!”

Seeing the beast’s blood splattered on Edith’s dress as she dismounted, Serenity seemed to misunderstand and rushed over, checking her body up and down.

As Serenity fidgeted, looking as if she might use holy power to heal her, Edith stopped her hand and reassured her.

“It’s not my blood, it’s the beast’s. You don’t need to worry.”

“My, what an unexpected pairing you two are…”

His gaze was different from the flat, emotionless eyes she’d seen last time. It was sharp, scrutinizing Edith as if she were prey, as he addressed the Duke.

“Mikael, I didn’t know you were acquainted with Lady Moulton?”

Mikael.