I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend

 “Bloody hell!” 

I felt my body tingle at the same time as Lord Leona’s harsh curse.

 “Uh, huh?” 

My vision cleared, and I saw Lord Leona and Lord Ethan’s figures directly in front of me. Even their figures were rapidly receding.

 

I stared blankly ahead, then snapped back to reality and shouted.

 “Lord Kassar?!” “Stay still. Unless you want to die.” 

There he was, running with his arms around me.

 

No, I want to stay still, but how am I supposed to stay calm when I’m suddenly being lifted like a piece of luggage and bobbing up and down like a madman?

 

‘Ugh!’

 

I didn’t have the presence of mind to ask him to get off, so I just clung to his back and hoped we’d get somewhere fast.

 

But where he dropped me off was even worse.

 

It was right on top of the horse I was so afraid of.

 “I, I can’t ride a horse…!” “It’s okay, I can ride it…” 

Turning red in the face, I exclaimed urgently.

 “No, it’s not that, just that I’m afraid of horses, I can’t ride them, they make me throw up!” “Oh, hell, it’s all my finely bred horse!” 

He hauled me down obediently, still fuming.

 

Watching me struggle to the carriage on shaky legs, he took the reins instead of the coachman.

 “Well, you’ll have to hang in there, then.” 

He then began to drive the carriage very roughly.

 

Indeed, he was a northern outlaw.

 

The carriage rattled and jolted as if it were going to fall apart and overturn at any moment, as if he were a gentleman who had ridden in it on his way north.

 

I couldn’t scream and had to hold on desperately to the sill.

 

‘Just hold on, a little longer…!’

 

Honestly, it’s not like there’s anything I can do about it. If the demon caught me right now, I wouldn’t be able to resist and I’d be a screaming mess.

 

So for now, I have no choice but to hurry and leave the dangerous area. I prayed with all my might.

 

‘Please let me return safely!’

 

But the heavens would never hear my wishes.

 

The carriage, which seemed like it would never stop until we reached the dukedom, suddenly stopped moving.

 “The goblins have come out in hordes and I don’t think we can move anymore!” 

I gasped at the knight’s exclamation as I regained my composure.

 

Goblins, I’d only seen them in books my whole life, never in real life, and not just one, but a whole swarm.

 

Whether I was frightened or not, Kassar’s nervous voice continued.

 “Is it because you can’t handle that kind of thing? Stop freaking out over a few goblins, not orcs, and get to work…!” “Ha, but we’re outnumbered, you know how swift they are, and if we make a mistake, the Princess might be harmed…” “Ha…” 

He sighed deeply. Then suddenly he leaped from the coachman’s seat and came straight toward me.

 

I was rolling my eyes in confusion, wondering if I should get off too. When he was close enough, he abruptly rolled down the window of the carriage and said briefly

 “Make it quick.” 

With those words, the combat began.

 

I cowered inside the carriage. Outside the carriage, a barrage of noise ensued.

 

Clashing swords, the sound of something being cut, urgent shouts, and a cry that was at once desperate and inhuman.

 

Clenching my hands together, I closed my eyes tightly. Just hang in there, Kassar was the next best thing to Rudrick, surely things would be sorted out soon.

 

I was in the dark, talking to myself. Suddenly, goosebumps broke out all over my body. As if I were in danger of perishing, I raised my head in instinctive fear.

 

At the same time, I heard Kassar’s urgent shout.

 “Get out of the carriage now!” 

Without further thought, I launched myself toward the door.

 

I sprawled on the dirt floor. My body throbbed from the impact, but I didn’t care.

 

Dazed, I stared ahead, where a half-collapsed wagon lay, crushed under the creature’s feet.

 

There was a giant in front of me that I had to look up at for some time. I heard someone groan, a strangled sob.

 “My, oh my. How did the Cyclops get here…” 

The words trailed off as the giant’s gaze turned to me, and as its one eye and gaze locked, I instinctively knew.

 

‘Death.’

 

With a single gesture of the giant’s hand, I would die before I could do anything to resist.

 

I froze and trembled as if I were facing a beast right in front of me. I couldn’t move my hands or feet, let alone make a sound.

 

When the giant’s massive body turned toward me, I finally closed my eyes, unable to resist the lingering sensation of its enveloping presence.

 Screech! 

Out of nowhere, I snapped my eyes open. And someone was standing in my way.

 

It was the familiar back of someone I knew.

 

The back that had been so small when I was little that I thought I was supposed to protect it, but then it had grown up, and now it was protecting me…

 “Rudrick!” 

My sobbing voice made him turn around quickly, and when he saw the mess I was in, he sighed slightly and opened his mouth to speak.

 “Kassar.” 

Kassar, who was soon at his side, bowed his head.

 “I’m sorry, Your Excellency, I wasn’t able to carry out your orders…” “The Cyclops’ weakness is its eyes. But he’s fast for his size, so it’s not easy to take him down alone.” “…” “Distract its limbs. I’ll stab him in the eye myself.” 

Kassar’s head swiveled up at Rudrick’s firm words, but he quickly raised his arms in submission and replied briefly.

 “I will.” 

At the same instant, the two figures disappeared.

 

Indeed, they were so well-matched that Kassar offered himself as his right arm.

 

Kassar rushed forward first, drawing the giant’s attention. With a swift motion, he slashed lightly at the creature’s limbs, forcing it to move, and Rudrick followed.

 

He climbed up the giant’s arm, which was pinned to the ground, and onto its body.

 

Dodging the giant’s struggles and gestures to drop him, he reached the top of its head in an instant and raised his sword high in the air.

 Thwack! 

A deafening roar sounded.

 

I clamped my hands over my ears and stared straight ahead. Rudrick had plunged his sword into the giant’s eye.

 

It had happened in an instant. 

 

The giant was flailing its arms frantically in agony from the sudden attack,

 

Rudrick skillfully sidestepped the giant’s gesture and jumped back.

 

The beast was too strong to be killed by a single blow, but it was only a matter of time before it fell.

 

Unlike the giant, who was badly wounded, Rudrick still had plenty of time.

 

‘I can live…!’

 

Watching the scene, I felt my heart tremble.

 

To be honest, when I encountered the giant, I felt like my eyes were going blind. After all, people don’t just die. I was saved by the most reliable savior in the world.

 

Now all I needed Rudrick to do was defeat the giant and return safely to the ducal residence.

 

Then I should never have to step outside again. After all, I think I’ve gotten enough information, so I should release the people and find the fiendish insect.

 

But if my life was going to be so easy, I wouldn’t be going through all this.

 

I was so engrossed in watching Rudrick in action that I didn’t even notice a figure approaching from the side…

 “Princess!” 

A scream made me turn around and freeze.

 

It was the goblins. I hadn’t seen one before, but I knew instinctively. The green skin on their tiny bodies, half the size of my own, and the strange color, it was obvious they were goblins.

 

As soon as I realized this, I quickly jumped backward. The goblin’s long nails ripped the hem of my skirt. My breath caught in my throat.

 

‘I, I have to dodge it.’.

 

But there might not be a second time.

 

In the distance, several knights are running toward me, and in front of me, the goblin salivates at the sight of me.

 

I must flee now. With only that thought in my mind, I frantically stumbled backward, eventually tripping on the slippery ground.

 

And somehow, just as I was beginning to wonder why there was no ground to step on.

 “Huh?” 

My body was tilting backward.

 

I didn’t know what to do, my body felt heavy, and my surroundings slowed down in an instant. I reached forward, unconsciously, through the distorting landscape. But all I grabbed was thin air.

 

Time slowed down again as my vision spun and swirled.

 

There was no scream as my body began to plummet downward, and all I could do was squeeze my eyes shut and hope it would end soon.

 

At one point, I felt a vicious force grabbing my arm.

 

At the same time, I was pulled into someone’s arms. A firm grip was pulling my body into a tight embrace.

 

As my face was crushed to the point where it was hard to breathe, I involuntarily strained against the hand that held me. Suddenly, I heard a low voice in my ear.

 “It’s okay.” 

I didn’t ask what it meant. As if by magic, my body relaxed and my consciousness faded.

 

For a moment, I stared at the black hair fluttering in front of my eyes and thought.

 

‘That’s just like back then.’

 

The first thing I knew, it was over.

  

It was a dream.

 

As soon as I woke up, I knew. I realized I was dreaming.

 

Otherwise, Rudrick wouldn’t be crying, hugging my helpless, shriveled-up body desperately, unable to make a sound, and feverishly.

 

I wanted to ask him what he was crying about, to wipe his tears away, but my body wouldn’t listen.

 

Then I realized, I wasn’t just lying there. I was bleeding to death.

 

‘Why?’

 

But I couldn’t think anymore. My body’s strength was draining out of me, as if it were all real, even though it must be a dream.

 “No, please, Dahlia, not like this. Not like this, please…” 

Looking at me, Rudrick kept muttering to himself.

 

He clung to me desperately, holding on to me in an almost frantic, half-conscious way, as if he couldn’t believe what was unfolding.

 

For a moment, I wanted to say something to him.

 

What gave me the urge, I don’t know. But I felt like I had to do something right away, so I mustered up what little strength I had left and managed to open my mouth.

 

But I didn’t know what to do next.

 

Over Rudrick’s shoulder, I spotted a figure.

 

‘Huh?’

 

Long silver hair swayed gently in the room that reeked of blood.

 

Her pale face was frighteningly expressionless, and her cold, lifeless hazel eyes were fixed on mine.

 

Worst of all… she was holding a sword. A sword that looked like it had just slashed someone, and was covered in crimson blood.

 

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

 

‘O’Neill?’

 ~ I’ve been waiting for the OGFL to appear, then here she is!