I am Being Chased by My Husband

(athanasiafrost)

In an instant, my body froze, as if time itself had come to a standstill. Every muscle ceased to function, leaving me speechless and stunned.

“Tha, tha, that… What are you talking about?”

It dawned on me that we were still deep within the forest. Johannes hadn’t taken me to the forest entrance.

It was an obvious defeat. I bit my lip in frustration.

Despite his serious demeanor, I found myself surprisingly at ease. I had somehow categorized him as someone who was harsh towards the Blue Ruby but kind to everyone else. That’s why his gentle explanation didn’t strike me as incongruous.

Under the bright full moon, with no stars visible in the sky, it was just the two of us in the woods.

Johannes wasn’t answering my questions out of consideration for me. He simply felt no need to be nervous because he believed he had me completely figured out.

Upon closer inspection, there is no way Johannes will tell a woman he had just met information that is not shared with others.

“Well..”

When I heard the shocking revelation that Leo Noavik wasn’t his biological son, I berated myself for not detecting anything suspicious earlier.

“How likely is it that a person will pass twice through a dark, haunted forest road, around midnight?”

There was another reason why I felt more relaxed than I should have. I had once managed to elude his pursuit, which made me strangely proud.

Back then, I was on crutches, and he had crouched down, carefully adjusting my fake bandages.

I had slipped out of his sight before, and he couldn’t recognize me as the Blue Ruby just by looking at my appearance.

But it seemed as though Johannes had no intention of letting me slip away again, as his arm around me tightened.

“What’s your relationship with the Blue Ruby, Miss Eloise Renoir?”

Knowing my name so accurately… It meant that he had thoroughly reviewed the list once more after failing to capture me. Darkness clouded my vision.

I couldn’t fathom it. After searching for numerous individuals, I couldn’t imagine he would remember a country girl on crutches.

But in hindsight, the situation became clear. After missing the Blue Ruby that day, he had memorized the names and appearances of around ten suspects.

Moreover, upon encountering a suspicious situation, he would promptly apprehend the person. Hence, upon seeing Eloise Renoir, who limped with crutches on the same forest road around midnight, his deductions were swift.

And yet, I pretended not to recognize him and even asked for his name. I questioned him about the highest-level demons without a shred of hesitation. It was a decision I would come to regret.

“Anyway, I have some new information.”

His calm tone seemed to mock me, and I swallowed the dry lump in my throat.

“The fact that the Blue Ruby was interested in the Time Stone. Maybe that’s why you only hung around the capital?”

“…me?…”

I caught my breath. My voice cracked.

“Are… Are you planning to turn me over to the temple?”

It was a foolish question. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have relentlessly pursued me if we had no connection. If it wasn’t the temple, then there was no other reason. I asked, my voice soft.

“Or perhaps, is there something else you’re curious about?…”

It was just as when Johannes was about to open his mouth to answer.

“IHHIHIHING!” [1]

The horse carrying us suddenly bellowed, running amok. Along with the familiar yet terrifying sensation that accompanied the presence of demons, I witnessed a miracle before my eyes.

It was something I had never seen before, despite having faced countless demons. It was an entity larger than any demon I had encountered, radiating a blue aura. I could immediately recognize it.

‘… The highest demon!’

(athanasiafrost)

And I didn’t miss that fleeting moment when the horse panicked.

Using the crutch I held, I struck the horse’s head with all my might. It was an illogical move, but Johannes’ horse responded remarkably well.

“IHHIHIHING!”

The horse shuddered as if about to bolt, throwing us off its back.

“Damn it!”

Johannes would have been able to calm down and balance himself if he was alone, but he was holding me to the end and he fell with me.

He fell to the floor on his back, holding me tight all the way.

We fell, rolling on the ground, but I struggled to free myself from his grasp. His sturdy body clung to mine, refusing to let go. As we tumbled, the crutches I had held slipped away.

“Still… Stay still!”

“If it were you, would you be caught staying still? Huh? The dog of the temple!”

I raged, swinging my legs wildly. Any semblance of composure I had maintained earlier had vanished.

“What? The dog of the temple?”

Even in the midst of it all, Johannes seemed dumbfounded by my retort. I screamed at him, pouring out everything I wanted to say.

“Yes! You’re lying flat on your stomach and huffing like the temple told you to! Let go! Let go! Let go!”

I voiced my judgment.

“Despicable! You know everything yet pretend not to, making people feel foolish! Is it satisfying to capture someone like this?”

As I desperately fought back, speaking my mind, Johannes finally lost his composure and grew angry.

“Oh you little! Stay still!”

In a situation that had become more complicated than expected due to the appearance of the highest-level demon, Johannes abandoned his composed demeanor and shouted in frustration.

“The highest level demon has appeared! Do you really want to die? demons attack the weak first!”

Of course, even in this moment, he spoke from the perspective of a stronger being. Well, even if it wasn’t by chance, he wasn’t wrong. I was the weakest, without any divine power.

“Yeah, that’s right. that’s right… .”

I hesitated as I agreed, and then I let go all my strength.

“Okay, for now, be quiet… .”

It was when Johannes tried to soothe me with a voice that contained a multitude of suppressed emotions.

“Am I crazy? Will I be quietly taken by you?”

Seizing the momentary lapse in Johannes’ focus, I clutched his arm and struck with all my might, pouring out my pent-up frustration.

Among the many self-defense techniques I learned in ‘Ace’, I was able to do quite well. All the people who taught me advised me, ‘You have no talent for fighting, so aim for the most serious weakness and run away.’

“Ugh!”

As I managed to break free from his grip dramatically, I turned and made a beeline for my fallen crutches. However, Johannes hadn’t rolled far and swiftly rose to his feet, cursing under his breath.

It was a rather disappointing outcome for me. To make matters worse, my injured leg prevented me from running at full speed after falling from the horse. Nonetheless, I was desperate.

‘… All I need is my gun, all I need is my gun. If only I had a gun in my hand!’

I had never engaged in close combat with a demon before. My role had always been that of a sniper, maintaining a safe distance. The highest-level demon before me was terrifying, as was Johannes wielding his sword from behind, but still, I was determined.

‘If only I had my gun…!’

As I ran desperately, picking up my crutches, I felt a dull ache in my back. The demonic assault had commenced.

“Aaaagh!”


I had heard that even a mere brush against an demon could inflict severe injuries, and now I understood the truth of those words.

Even though it only touched the end of the act for a moment, it was as painful as Barbara’s highest level of torture. It was even an attack from the highest level of demons, so it seemed that his whole body was being torn apart.

“Ah, heh….”

(athanasiafrost)

The pain was unbearable. Yet, I had no choice but to summon all my mental fortitude and endure. For being sick was far preferable to meeting death’s embrace.

An involuntary scream escaped my lips as tears streamed down my face. Desperately clutching onto my senses, I forcefully slammed my crutches against the rocky ground. Ideally, I should have loosened the screws beforehand, but time didn’t allow for such preparation.

“Why? Why won’t they break? Please, please!”

But with my weakened grip, the crutches refused to shatter instantly. I bit my lip once more and struck the crutch with all my strength. Meanwhile, I braced myself for the next onslaught from the encroaching demon.

“Keeeeek!”

However, the anticipated demonic attack did not materialize. Instead, only the agonizing screams of the demon filled the air.

His strikes were a graceful dance, swift and precise. Even without holy power, he executed a series of advanced techniques, relying on critical physical strikes. Johannes moved so swiftly that not a single wound marked his body.

Despite the urgency in my heart and the injuries I had sustained from the previous attack, I found myself entranced, unable to tear my gaze away from Johannes.

His attacks were graceful, yet ridiculously quick. Since he doesn’t have holy power, despite using a series of high level skills that require multiple physical critical hits, he was so quitck that Johannes didnt have any single wounds on his body.

It was as beautiful as dancing. The full moon clearly illuminated his battle.

The demon had now redirected its attention solely to Johannes. Although their instinct was to target the weakest first, they possessed a tendency to retaliate when faced with an adversary who dared to challenge them.

“Ki, Kiiiih!”

Only after the demon let out another piercing cry did I snap back to reality. I struck the crutches once more with determination.

Finally, the gun emerged from the shattered remnants of the crutches.

Trembling hands reached out to seize the weapon as I turned around. Johannes’ eyes widened at the sight of me holding a gun.

“You…you!”

It seemed as if he wanted to ask a question.

Ignoring his face that had shattered my composure, I took aim at the demon without hesitation. Although it was my first time confronting a target at such close range, I pulled the trigger without faltering.

(athanasiafrost)