Eliya handed the Dark Wizard over to the Temple Knights.
She let it go.
Recently arrived news from the Information Guild.
The relationship between the Royal Palace and the Dark Wizard.
And the Temple Knights raised by the Royal Palace.
It is procedurally correct to entrust the issues inside the temple to the Temple Knights.
Without any suspicion, it should indeed be so.
However, for some reason, Eliya found them suspicious.
They might not have surrendered him willingly.
As a potential victim, it would have been possible to raise various complicated and tricky demands.
She did not do so.
She simply let him go.
Curious to see where the end of this tail she caught would lead.
Eliya calmed Judas and handed the Dark Wizard to the Temple Knights.
While embedding a location-tracking spell.
*
During the initiation ceremony, there was no refreshing news from the Temple Knights.
They were in the midst of interrogation.
Their lips were sealed.
It seemed as if some kind of hint had been placed on them.
Such ridiculous answers.
Eliya nodded without pressing for more details.
And on the last day of the initiation ceremony.
“I’m sorry. The Dark Wizard… has escaped.”
The Temple Knights reported with gloomy faces.
“We were up against a much stronger Dark Wizard than we anticipated. Moreover, whether he had companions is unclear, but he snuck into the temple’s underground last night and took him away.”
Again, Eliya nodded without pressing them further.
Even though she knew the location of the Dark Wizard had been shifting since the dawn of the first day.
Eliya couldn’t help but be certain.
The Temple Knights had intentionally let him go.
And those Temple Knights act under the command of the Royal Palace.
‘What is the Royal Palace trying to do with the Dark Wizard?’
She decided to investigate directly.
She had nowhere else to rely on.
There were forces wanting to join hands with her, but she could not trust them.
It was a matter of digging between the Royal Palace and the Dark Wizard.
She couldn’t recklessly form any cooperation.
Thus, she had to move independently.
Hiding the truth about the Royal Palace’s involvement.
Using the excuse of selecting the Honor Guard, she could send them out.
‘But….’
The Dark Wizard’s coordinates had stopped.
This indicated he had reached a suitable destination.
That area was the Demon Realm.
It was too far away for Eliya to identify a specific location.
She could only roughly narrow down the range by unfolding a map.
‘Judas has to participate….’
Eliya informed Judas that he could join the exam.
At that time, she hadn’t yet decided to track the Dark Wizard as an exam.
‘It’s too far… dangerous…’
It wasn’t about questioning his abilities.
In Eliya’s judgment, Judas’s abilities were objectively excellent.
‘…What am I worrying about?’
Eliya suddenly felt strange.
Judas was her knight.
He had a duty to protect her.
He also had an obligation to follow her orders.
They were in such a relationship.
Thus, using him was a perfectly natural thing to do.
‘……’
Eliya quietly looked down at the ring.
An ivory-colored ring.
It could have been made in a different color.
But she found it odd that the ring was made in this color resembling the moon….
The most effective way to objectively assess her situation was to name it.
Or perhaps summarize it with a short word.
However, Eliya couldn’t define her state.
It seemed to be related to some kind of emotion.
But nothing concrete came to mind.
For her, who was confused.
Before leaving, Judas said.
“Don’t worry.”
“……”
Worry.
Eliya then faced one fact squarely.
She was worried about Judas.
The word she had almost verbalized at some point but halted.
It was confirmed by Judas’s lips.
Simply feeling an emotion and defining that emotion in words are quite different.
Only after confirming the name could she think deeply about that emotion and chew it over.
‘Worry….’
Judas judged his actions that way.
And he was not wrong.
He had indeed worried about him countless times.
‘Worry is… one of the most useless two emotions among humans….’
Does worrying solve the problem?
No, it doesn’t.
Then why does one worry?
Thus, worry is an entirely useless emotion.
Running alongside it is regret.
Can regret change the past?
Will being buried in regret lead to a better future?
No, it won’t.
It’s better to engage in more productive activities during the time spent worrying and regretting.
Eliya knows this truth all too well.
Yet, she had worried a great deal about Judas.
She poured her emotions and time into something meaningless.
That was, in turn, a sign of weakness.
Not much different from a flaw.
‘I….’
“Miss? What’s wrong?”
Judas cautiously called her, who was silent.
“…It’s nothing.”
Eliya barely replied.
She couldn’t look at his face.
Mumbling, she absentmindedly fiddled with the tips of Judas’s fingers.
“…You mustn’t get hurt.”
You’re my knight.
You’re mine.
It’s only natural that I’d wish for my property not to get damaged.
So, this isn’t worry.
“Of course.”
A light voice answered.
It was then she raised her head.
Judas smiled at her.
A smile as if to reassure her.
Thud-thud.
Her heart raced like a fool.
Uncertainty released, replaced by a new kind of anxiety clinging to her heart.
Thus, entranced, Eliya watched as Judas moved further away.
To eradicate the Bevel family, she must not be swayed by personal matters.
She must not become weak.
Flaws are defeat.
She knows….
She knows it all too well….
If a weakness were to arise, then what should she do….
‘…!’
Eliya recalled a far more profound and serious problem.
Something that could threaten the peace of the world.
‘…When will he return?’
It was the mission of tracking the Dark Wizard who had escaped to the Demon Realm.
It was bound to take longer than the last trial.
It would take at least a week just to reach the area marked on the map.
Then just how many days would it take until the mission was completed?
So unfortunate.
Eliya felt a faint headache.
She stared intently at Judas, who was conversing with his comrades over there.
‘……’
It seems like he’s preoccupied with when they would meet again.
For some reason, she felt unfair.
That Judas was irritating.
She suddenly wanted to rush over and hug him to fluster him.
In that moment, she felt strange about herself.
Did she really want to see him flustered?
If not….
*
“Those watching must be dying of frustration — it’s nerve-wracking, isn’t it?”
“Please, don’t say anything strange.”
I walked towards the occupants of the 13th Room.
Though they were embarrassed, they welcomed me.
“Wow, but…”
Richard looked me up and down and then grinned.
“Wearing your knight’s uniform makes you look like a different person.”
“Hmmm.”
I touched the ends of my sleeves and brushed off my shoulders as if to show off.
“You’re a bit annoying, you know?”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“This is just…”
Richard nudged my shoulder, laughing.
I laughed along with him.
“So this is the Bevel family’s knight uniform….”
“It does look cool…”
Black and gold, mixed knight uniform.
The symbol of the Bevel family.
However, there was no phrase attached to the chest.
All the knights under Eliya did that.
All the other Bevel knights had red sun emblems attached.
‘Is it because I’m a bastard…? Tsk. Anyway, the noble world is… hard to understand.’
There was also a distinguishing feature for knights.
A small jewel adorned on the shirt collar.
Eliya wears red.
Dillon looked at me with pride.
“It suits you well. You indeed became a knight.”
“Thank you.”
“By the way, what’s that necklace? I haven’t seen it before.”
“Oh, this?”
Lindell asked.
“I received it from Lady Eliya. In case of emergencies, te….”
I was about to say it has a teleportation function, but they suddenly rushed at me.
“Lady Eliya gave it to you?!”
“Lady Eliya to you? Why?! Is it a betrothal gift?!”
“Then, te…”
“I’ve never heard of a noble giving a gift to their knight upon their installation.”
“Me neither.”
“Me neither.”
“Me neither.”
“Can we talk about something else?!”
Argon quipped mischievously.
“Oh, of course, feel free.”
“Ugh… it’s an artifact that can teleport during emergencies. It’s not just a simple gift.”
“An artifact that can teleport…?”
None among them would be academically knowledgeable about magic.
Well, I’m not knowledgeable either.
However, everyone knows how difficult and dangerous teleportation magic is.
It’s commonly known almost as a horror story.
“Is that really possible?”
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
“It seems possible for her ladyship. I tried using it as a test, and there were no problems.”
“Now the two of you can’t be separated even if you are far apart….”
“Enough already.”
I hurriedly shushed them.
I was scared Eliya might hear it.
Not to mention, what would anyone else think if they heard?
“Alright, alright. I’ll stop teasing.”
“But speaking of selection exams, what on earth happened?”
“Oh, that’s….”
I briefly explained.
Eliya tried to abolish the training camps, and I stopped her.
I figured there should be at least one last chance.
“Then it’s all thanks to you, Judas?”
“Uh? Well, it’s not entirely true…”
Now that I think about it, it’s not wrong.
I did propose that we hold this exam.
I didn’t want to take credit for it.
It would be good for me if they passed the exam.
Having reliable comrades nearby would be that much of a support.
Of course, passing the exam is a different issue.
If the 13th Room were to drop out, it would have to be accepted graciously.
I would do so.
It’s not an issue I can decide based on my selfish desires.
“Judas. Your consideration for your seniors is truly admirable. This Richard is moved.”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re right, senior.”
“Your attitude suddenly became disrespectful…”
We received a map from Sir Gawain as usual while joking around.
It was a map recording the location of the Dark Wizard.
It was similar to the map we received when we went to search for the Sun Symbol during the last trial.
A certain range was striped.
This means there’s a Dark Wizard in there.
‘The Demon Realm is quite deep… But was there a Dark Wizard around here? I have no memory of it.’
Dillon stroked his chin while looking at the map.
The leader of the 13th Room and the brain of the group.
Whenever we had group training, the focus was always on him.
“The Demon Realm. Who among us has been sent deep into the Demon Realm?”
Several hands went up.
Me, Richard, Argon, Lindell.
Including Dillon, that makes five of us.
“Even if it’s not deep, it’s fortunate that everyone has at least been to the Demon Realm once. But the bigger issue is moving….”
It’s far to the destination.
I brought Yuel, but they are different.
They don’t have any means of transportation.
“First, there’s a train route to ‘Gethsemane’ nearby. We’ll take the train there and march to our destination. But….”
He looked at me.
“Judas, it would be helpful if you can ride the Moon Deer to guide the way or patrol the surroundings. But that would increase your workload.”
I chuckled at those words.
It was always like this.
He’s a comrade to undertake the mission with and also takes the lead in directing.
He could just give orders, yet he always asks my thoughts.
“Why would you worry about that? Just leave it to me.”
“Thank you. But a Dark Wizard is… It’s truly a dangerous task. Is there anyone who wants to drop out now?”
No one answered.
A solemn atmosphere hung in the air.
“Alright. For now, that’s it. It would be better to think about the rest while moving.”
Dillon folded up the map.
As we were about to set off with the members of the 13th Room, Gawain suddenly approached.
“Judas.”
“Yes, Sir Gawain?”
“Hmm.”
He looked me up and down as if examining me.
He nodded as if he found something to his liking.
“I should have congratulated you earlier. I was busy on the day of the installation ceremony. Congratulations on becoming a knight. Anun also asked me to send her regards.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“And, here. Take this.”
Gawain handed me something long.
“A scabbard?”
“Yes. A great sword deserves a scabbard that matches it. And this too.”
It was a large bundle.
When I opened it, I found several dry cloths and a small oil can inside.
Gawain babbled on.
“The sword is a knight’s second life. Thus, you must manage it thoroughly. After using the sword, first, wipe off any dirt with the dry cloth, then lightly apply oil with another cloth. Since it’s a magnificent sword, a cumbersome process could be detrimental. It’s best to keep it as simple as possible. And about the scabbard and shield….”
Gawain continued with his lengthy monologue.
I had never seen him speak so long.
“…That’s all. Did you remember everything?”
“Yes. I did.”
“Good…. It’s a pity I couldn’t tell you how to manage your weapons until now, but now things are different.”
I was already contemplating how to find a scabbard.
To match the size of the moon’s pupil.
Since I didn’t have a scabbard until now, I just wrapped it in leather.
When I slid the sword into the scabbard, it fit perfectly.
“Oh…. It goes in smoothly. But how did you know the size?”
“I’ve seen that item before in the storeroom. I remembered it then. You have a good eye for selecting swords.”
“I’ll make good use of it.”
“Hmm.”
When we first met, I had to look up at him painfully.
Now our eye levels are similar.
Gawain patted my shoulder.
The weight transmitted by his thick and wrinkled hand was heavy.
“Well done.”
Gawain grinned with satisfaction.
A clear smile directed at me.
It was the first I had seen.
He had always smiled subtly behind his beard.
I’ve learned a lot from him.
Though there were various influences, Gawain’s impact was considerable.
His training often felt like actual combat and became a part of my bones and flesh.
It’s been five years now.
Five years since I learned from Gawain.
I returned his smile.
“Thank you, Master.”
“…Hmm. Master, my foot.”
Oh, how bashful.
He spoke while turning his back.
“Still, don’t be arrogant. This trial is dangerous.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“If you should draw your sword, don’t hesitate even for a moment.”
“I know.”
“I believe you’ll do well this time too.”
I confidently stated to his back.
“Of course.”
*
When I stepped outside the training camp, I spotted a familiar face.
“Hermis?”
“Oh, Judas!”
Hermis approached with a smile.
“It’s been a while. Ahem. Oh dear….”
Hermis looked over my clothes.
She wore a similar black knight uniform.
“It looks good on you! You truly look like a knight now.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh, by the way, Lady has decided my fate.”
Hermis was originally my knight.
But when I became Eliya’s knight, the relationship got complicated.
“Lady ordered me not to follow you.”
“As expected, it turned out that way. So, where will you be staying now, Hermis?”
“I won’t be sent away. I proved my loyalty to Lady long ago. I’ll be staying at the mansion, carrying out Lady’s orders with the other knights.”
Eliya has quite a few troops under her command.
Threatening enough for a single bastard to possess.
Hermis seemed to be among them.
“I won’t be far away, so there shouldn’t be any problems conveying news from Yuli.”
“That’s a relief.”
“And regarding the mission to track the Dark Wizard. I’ll be participating too.”
“You, Hermis?”
“Yes. You must be cautious, as I won’t go easy on you.”
“Oh dear…. This is a big deal.”
Hermis playfully tapped my shoulder.
As if saying I was being dramatic.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave. You must return safely!”
“Be careful, Hermis.”
“Yes!”
She waved with a bright smile as she walked away.
“Haa….”
Richard sighed as he sidled up to me.
“Judas, if you start eyeing other girls, it’ll be a real problem….”
“Let’s head out.”
I ignored his words and led Yuel.
Our first destination was Gethsemane.
Behind and beside me, the eleven members of the 13th Room followed along.
Richard, Dillon, Lindell, Argon, Perlyn, Dyke, Esmo, Jerry, Hador, Gauss, Nils.
Comrades I had known for five years, family now.
*
Gethsemane, close to the Demon Realm, was almost a terminus.
The train ran for several days.
There were no special events.
Once there was a large-scale bandit group trying to rob the train.
The problem was that a considerable number of soldiers boarded the train.
Not just the 13th Room.
Among those hunting the Dark Wizard were others on the same train as us.
Two squads, totaling 24 people.
A combat-ready force of 36.
The bandits suffered a mass wipeout.
After that, the greatest enemy was boredom.
And finally, we arrived at Gethsemane.
“Wow…. What’s with the atmosphere here?”
Jerry shivered and trembled.
Although it was a recently opened area, it was near the Demon Realm, so it wasn’t a developed city.
It didn’t have the ambiance of a derelict slum, but the scarcity of people made it feel desolate.
‘If my memory serves me well, it won’t be a developing area even in the future.’
Though I hadn’t visited often, I knew the village.
But… I felt stranger than anyone else.
‘It’s familiar… but… here….’
It’s not the familiarity from playing a game.
It’s familiar yet weirdly unfamiliar.
My memories differed.
I have.
I have been to this village in the past.
Before the train routes were established.
To carry out a certain mission…. This place was the waypoint, and I… had to assassinate someone….
The first target… his name was Ma…
“Judas? Why are you standing there in a daze?”
“…Ah, nothing.”
I snapped back to my senses late.
I couldn’t afford to space out.
I had important tasks to carry out.
I should either ride Yuel ahead to scout the way or patrol the surroundings.
There were riders among us, but only Yuel permitted my and Eliya’s backs.
“Let’s go.”
I mounted Yuel and took the lead.
The strangely nostalgic village gradually faded behind me.
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