Five years.
It felt disgustingly long.
The first time Gawain taught Judas how to wield a sword was more of a punishment than anything else.
At that time, he had to accept disciplinary action for neglecting training, and Eliya transferred the responsibility to Judas.
Judas wanted to learn.
He asked to be taught sword fighting to become stronger.
Gawain accepted it out of obligation.
That’s just what he had to do.
Yeah.
At first, it was just that.
An obligation.
There was nothing but the sentiment of doing what had to be done.
But before long, he was inspired by the relentless golden-eyed kid who seemed determined to achieve anything, even if it meant dying first.
It was inevitable.
While Judas didn’t have an innate talent to absorb everything he was taught, he also never failed to absorb anything.
He digested Gawain’s teachings with sheer determination.
That relentless tenacity was dazzling.
He genuinely began wanting to teach.
He felt pleased watching Judas grow each day.
He couldn’t help but smile behind the scenes when Judas went off to take tests, sometimes worried he wouldn’t do well, only for him to return triumphantly.
Sometimes he imagined awkwardly how it would feel if he had a son, but even he knew that was silly.
Suddenly, when Judas grew up and became an adult.
When he jokingly called Gawain “Master.”
When he received the knighthood from Eliya as a fully-fledged knight.
In the midst of an endlessly boring routine, witnessing the growth of his pupil was the only joy.
However, in the end, they served different masters.
Judas served Eliya.
Gawain served Balak.
Long ago, Balak had lifted Gawain’s crumbling family, the Prudein household, from despair.
It was a connection forged in battle.
Back then, Balak recognized Gawain’s talent and took him under his wing.
From that moment, Gawain swore he would live and die as his loyal dog.
So, Gawain and Judas becoming adversaries in this situation was inevitable.
There were no regrets.
He could only accept it.
Still, he remembered how Judas used to glare at Eliya defiantly when his eyes were shut.
When he opened his eyes, that cheeky brat had grown to match his size and was charging at him.
Swinging his sword as if he was going to kill him.
Knowing this was the last lesson, he had no intention of taking it easy as before.
“Then use everything you have, Judas.”
He must pour out even more than he had taught him.
A pupil who merely receives instruction and executes it is a foolish student.
A truly exceptional disciple should surpass their master.
—Boom!
Two shields clashed violently.
For a moment, they struggled like two bulls pushing against each other.
Then Judas held his sword upside down.
He swung it toward Gawain’s ankle, taking advantage of the openings created as their shield blocked their upper bodies’ view.
He hooked the cross guard around Gawain’s ankle and pulled it quickly.
Both were leaning forward, trying to push each other back.
Gawain fell backward.
It was too late for him to correct his sword grip and stab.
He attempted to slam down with his shield, but—
—Screech!
Fallen Gawain thrust his sword out.
It scraped against Judas’s breastplate.
He wasn’t pierced but couldn’t close the distance.
Gawain swung his sword to create space and quickly got up.
As he regained his stance, Judas pounced at him.
Gawain lifted his shield immediately.
—Thud!
Judas slammed his shield down.
He caught the underside of Gawain’s shield with his own, pulled it back, flipping the shield and stabbing through the opening.
Seeing his pupil executing a technique he had taught him perfectly in practice, Gawain couldn’t help but smile beneath his helmet.
Yet, despite his relaxed smile, his reaction was tense.
He barely ducked.
The sword sliced through the air near his face.
Gawain swung his sword toward Judas’s arm, but it was intercepted by the shield.
An intense battle with no interruptions.
As the fierce struggle continued, two groups arrived on the scene.
“Judas!”
Eliya’s royal knights and—
“Sir Gawain!”
Balak’s covert group, the Black Spot.
The two factions faced off, unable to interfere despite coming to support.
Instead, both charged at the opposing factions.
Dillon yelled.
“Be careful to avoid getting caught up in fighting the Black Spot! After those two finish their fight, we need to see which side has more allies!”
For the same reason, the Black Spot fought against the royal knights.
By then, Judas and Gawain were slowly wrapping up their fight.
They were exhausted and dragging it on wouldn’t yield any benefits.
Both threw their shields aside.
They would use only swords.
Gawain gripped his with both hands, while Judas kept one hand free.
He planned to use it if necessary.
Gawain kept an eye on that hand.
Judas’s swordsmanship was so skilled and exquisite that even he had to be cautious.
‘Then, I’ll lead him to use both hands.’
Gawain closed the distance and swung his sword with all his might.
A strike that couldn’t be blocked with only one hand awkwardly.
As expected, Judas grabbed his sword with both hands.
One hand on the hilt, one on the blade.
‘Half-swording?’
He centered the split grip.
Deflected with the sword’s strongest point and then swept it sideways.
Gawain lost his balance and stumbled forward.
He had been wary of the hand techniques, but his disciple relied solely on swordsmanship.
In an instant, Judas struck Gawain’s face with the pommel and then swung his sword.
The cross guard struck Gawain’s helmet hard.
“Ugh…!”
Taking advantage of Gawain’s stagger, Judas raised his sword high to swing.
Gawain’s torso was just out of reach.
Close enough, he could easily target his wrists and arms — areas deemed effective hits.
Currently, the angle was perfect to slice into Gawain’s forearm.
In that moment, time seemed to slow down.
As hesitation surged up, a voice echoed in his mind.
‘Don’t hesitate.’
Judas clenched his teeth.
He couldn’t hesitate.
Etching Gawain’s teachings into his heart, he swung the sword.
And at last.
—Thwack!
He struck.
The sound of armor breaking rang as his sword slashed through.
“Grah—!”
Gawain’s severed right arm flew into the air.
After kicking the fallen weapon away, Judas aimed his sword at Gawain, who was now down.
“Haah, haah….”
His heavy breaths made his body shake.
Gawain was no different.
He struggled to catch his breath as his chest heaved.
Judas placed the blade against Gawain’s neck.
The tip trembled.
“Sir Gawain….”
Five years.
Not quite as much as Eliya, but he had grown attached to Gawain over the past five years.
Despite pretending otherwise, he knew Gawain was proud of him.
He had learned a lot.
Not just about swordsmanship.
The stance required to be a knight, loyalty.
Handling, maintaining, and storing swords and shields.
Things to keep in mind when choosing armor.
While learning horseback riding, Gawain had given him various advice while he was on Yuel.
That awkward care he displayed was that of a true teacher—something he’d never experienced in his past life—and at times almost a father.
But in the end….
“Judas.”
Gawain looked up, gripping his sword.
He’d been defeated, and was on the brink of death, but his gaze was still unwavering.
He spoke as he taught.
“Who is your master?”
“…Lady Eliya.”
“And who do I serve?”
“Lord Balak…”
“Then what does that make me to you?”
“…An enemy.”
“Think first of those who follow you and of the lord you serve. For their sake, you must not hesitate.”
“…….”
“And do not dishonor my chivalry. I will die honorably.”
Gawain dropped his sword.
His gaze was straight, as if urging him to finish quickly.
“…Understood.”
Judas plunged his sword into the ground.
He pulled out a dagger from his pouch.
It looked almost like an executioner’s dagger.
Seeing the resolute expression on his disciple’s face, Gawain relaxed.
His disciple knelt beside him.
The raised dagger glinted red under the moonlight.
—Thud!
The dagger pierced his chest.
“Ugh…!”
Gawain’s eyes widened in shock as he bit down on his pain, suppressing a scream.
Blood erupted from his mouth almost immediately.
After a harsh cough, he looked at Judas.
His back was turned, and his expression wasn’t visible.
His vision blurred, and his consciousness faded.
Flashes of family passed through his mind.
The siblings he had defended.
Their children.
All of the Prudein family, including niece Anun.
And among them, Judas casually blended in.
Gawain smiled unknowingly.
Seeing a worthy disciple who had surpassed his master, how could any mentor not smile?
“Excellent… disciple….”
Judas gently closed his eyes.
“…Rest easy, Master.”
When Judas stood up, the surroundings fell silent.
The royal knights and Black Spot were there, though he had no idea when they had arrived.
They had been fighting amidst the chaos and now turned their attention toward him.
Both factions had calmed down.
Even victorious, Gawain had been Judas’s mentor.
The royal knights recognized this and couldn’t just celebrate freely.
One of the members of the Black Spot approached Judas with heavy strides.
In gleaming black armor, a fierce emblem adorned it.
It was the same armor that Cain wore, yet Judas’s discomfort wasn’t as intense as before.
The knight said,
“My name is Mordred Flintshire. I once served as Gawain’s retainer and learned under him.”
“…I am Judas Defecit.”
“How was Sir Gawain’s last moment?”
“He was an honorable knight.”
“…Is that so.”
Mordred nodded as if that was enough and fell silent.
That was the end of the conversation.
The two factions clashed once more.
Whoever emerged victorious, today, the war would end here.
*
The battle concluded in an instant.
It was a victory for Eliya’s side.
Before differences in skill, morale among Balak’s forces, including the Black Spot, was already dwindling.
The deaths of Cain and Levi, along with Gawain.
And the rising sun in the distance, a manifestation of Eliya’s magic.
It seemed Balak was also dead.
There was no longer any unifying point left for them.
“I’ll report to the lady for a moment.”
Judas attempted to step away from the scene of the bodies.
Dillon nodded as if to say he could go.
Even Richard, who would usually mess around, was quiet today.
“Yeah. Go ahead. We’ll take care of things here.”
Judas distanced himself from the gruesome scenery.
First, he needed to remove his armor.
It would be too stiff and painful to leave it on.
He didn’t consider the possibility that Eliya might not embrace him when he arrived.
He thought of embracing her first.
Due to the intense battle, fatigue clung to him in a thick layer.
He longed to melt it away in Eliya’s warmth.
As soon as he sent a signal with his necklace, something warm enveloped him.
“Judas!”
Eliya, who teleported in, buried her face in his chest.
Despite not smelling particularly fresh, she didn’t seem to care.
“Lady.”
Judas embraced her tightly, feeling delighted.
Today, the scent coming from Eliya wasn’t the best either.
There was a faint smell of smoke.
But he too didn’t mind.
He surrendered himself to the warmth and the rhythm of their heartbeats, which beat in unison.
Her arms wrapped around his waist pulled him closer.
He felt his fatigued body melting away.
Judas leaned his head against her crown and asked,
“Are you alright?”
“Mm-hmm. And you?”
“I’m fine.”
To be honest, he was not entirely fine.
He had managed to evade all of Cain’s attacks, but he took quite a few hits from Gawain.
He sustained no serious injuries, thankfully.
But now, he felt perfectly fine.
The second he held Eliya, all the little pains ceased to matter.
“The battle ended in victory, and the casualties…”
Just as Judas was about to speak, Eliya shook her head and nestled closer.
“Eww, no. Not yet. I want to stay like this now.”
Her cuteness took his soul out of him, and Judas wanted to clutch his forehead.
It was hard to believe he had just come from killing Balak the regent, the emperor wearing a black crown.
What’s more, she didn’t seem even aware of her own cuteness.
It came so naturally and instinctively, it was even more harmful to his heart.
Unknowing of the racing heart that grew stronger, Judas silently held Eliya closely.
And soon after, he began to report.
There wasn’t much to say.
No casualties on their side.
The Black Spot was obliterated. The remaining defeated soldiers were awaiting processing after their surrender.
“Lady.”
“Mm-hmm?”
“I have a request I would like to make.”
Eliya smiled broadly.
“I’ll grant any request you have.”
Judas explained slowly.
It was about post-battle handling.
To be specific, it was a request regarding Sir Gawain’s treatment.
It was a sensitive matter, and he approached it cautiously, but Eliya accepted the suggestion without hesitation.
“Is that all?”
“Yes. That’s sufficient.”
“Understood. That’s not a difficult task. By the way, it’s the first time you’ve asked me for something directly.”
Perhaps that was to be expected.
It was rare to request something from someone they were meant to serve.
“I’m glad I can help you.”
“…Thank you.”
Judas’s face flushed as he averted his gaze from her innocent smile.
Eliya took his hand and led him.
“Well then, let’s finish cleaning up.”
The entire Bevel direct line was gone.
There was no reason for Eliya to continue the war.
*
Johan Libelatio Helios.
The Emperor of the Helios Empire stroked his beard as he read a valuable parchment.
A peace treaty proposal had arrived from Eliya, the leader of the anti-imperial alliance.
The content suggested that continuing the war would yield no benefits for either side, so why not end it here?
‘The remnants of the Bevel family. If anything, they’re a branch line and the council with weak power. However, Eliya is not someone to be dismissed….’
Should he conclude the treaty or not?
Johan’s deliberation didn’t last long.
The child of prophesy who went to Eliya.
She had become someone precious to her.
The calculations were cued up quickly.
‘That’ll work.’
*
“…….”
Gawain slowly opened his eyes.
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