“Sir Gawain, is that you?”
I asked, puzzled by Gawain’s reaction upon hearing of my acceptance.
He turned his back to me and exaggeratedly cleared his throat.
“Ahem! Cough!”
Then, as if he were about to cry, he sniffled and said,
“Hey, don’t spout nonsense.”
He had cried. He had.
‘He’s surprisingly emotional.’
I decided to pretend I didn’t notice.
He took a sip of water without looking at my face.
Only then did his voice return to normal.
“Will I be seeing you here once more?”
“Let’s give it a shot.”
I picked up a pen instead of a sword’s hilt.
This was much better than trying to create a hilt from nothing.
I started off just like last time.
Infusing magic into an object.
When it gets full and overflows, its appearance reveals itself.
The magic coats the surface of the object.
This is the principle of creating a sword.
If I pile up more and refine it further…
“Oh ho…”
An ivory glow surged up from the pencil like a sword.
Although it was a bit smaller and unstable compared to last time.
‘Is it because my magic stat has lowered?’
“Impressive.”
“It used to be better than this…”
“There’s no need to lament. This is already enough. Besides, you’re someone who performs better in practice than in training.”
That wasn’t entirely wrong.
Just because I became Gawain, I reclaimed my magic.
‘This isn’t something I’ll be doing often.’
Less than a day later, I made the sword again.
I wasn’t showing it, but every part of my body ached.
“You’ve accomplished something unbelievable.”
“Luck was on my side.”
It wasn’t plain humility.
Had I not encountered that holy relic I knew, I might not have passed.
“Luck follows those who prepare.”
“Thanks to Sir Gawain’s diligent teachings.”
“Hmm.”
Gawain nodded as if satisfied, curling his lips inward.
I could clearly see the corners of his mouth twitching.
“You’ve done well to follow along.”
“That’s not wrong, either.”
“I like that it isn’t excessive humility. When is the installation ceremony?”
“The lady hasn’t mentioned anything separately.”
“Huh… I suppose we’ll know when the time comes. You must be tired, so rest today.”
“Yes. Understood.”
He patted my shoulder.
A heavy hand filled with a sense of pride in me.
“Well done. Keep it up like this.”
And as always, his final advice was the same.
Today, a few more words were added to it.
“Don’t hesitate. Now that you have the responsibility of being a knight, your hesitation may bring harm to your lord.”
I nodded, signaling not to worry.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
*
On my way back after reporting to Gawain, I bumped into Shylock.
“Oh, look who it is. The first knight of the noble Lady Eliya, isn’t it?”
Every person I meet seems destined to greet me.
Well, it’s a big deal.
As Shylock said, I was Eliya’s first knight.
“I haven’t told anyone about my passing yet. How did you know?”
“Intuition. It’s written all over your face.”
I touched my face.
Hmm. I can’t tell.
“I truly didn’t think you’d succeed, though.”
“Would I have known? By the way…”
I cast a glance around and lowered my voice.
“Any orders from Balak?”
Shylock replied quietly.
“None. It’s strangely quiet. There could be something happening…”
“Being quiet makes it even more suspicious.”
“I share the same opinion.”
If I become a knight, what does Balak plan to do?
By the time the installation ceremony is over, it will be too late.
Even pondering over it, it was an unsolvable issue.
After greeting Shylock, I headed toward the 13th Room.
The training camp was during lunchtime, and all the room residents were gathered.
Except for Richard, who was out somewhere.
“Oh, Judas?!”
Lindell was the first to spot me.
Then everyone rushed out.
Dillon, Argon, Lindell, Perlyn, Dyke, and so on….
They crowded around, asking what happened in a flurry.
I raised my hand to calm them down.
“I passed.”
“Then…!”
“I’ll be the first knight.”
Thunderous cheers rang in my ears.
They seemed more excited than I was.
“Wow, congratulations! You finally did it!”
Argon patted my shoulder and laughed.
“I knew you’d pass!”
Lindell chimed in.
As Argon slyly linked arms with him.
“Oh, how the tables have turned, considering how you treated Judas when he first came!”
“T-That was…! How long ago was that?!”
Laughter erupted as everyone took turns congratulating me.
‘Since I confirmed they could be happy that Eliya’s knight was me, it’s understandable.’
Still, even considering that, what a good bunch they are.
At the end of it all, Dillon casually asked,
“Isn’t Richard-senpai coming along?”
“Yes. He’s acting separately, so I don’t know where he is.”
“Hm. He’s not the type to run into trouble anyway.”
That much was true.
Two days later, Richard returned.
Looking perfectly fine.
He even knew that I had found the Sun Symbol.
“How did you know?”
“I saw it from afar.”
“From afar…?”
“I saw you returning with the Sun Symbol. And in your arms…”
“W-wait a minute! How did you…?”
“I’ve got my ways, man. But why was the lady there with you?”
“Well, that’s…”
Richard didn’t know everything either.
About Hazle and the royal family.
I hesitated, and Richard waved his hand as if to dismiss it.
“You don’t have to say it if you can’t.”
“Thanks for….”
“If it’s a secret relationship with the lady, then naturally, you should keep your mouth shut…”
“Please shut that mouth of yours.”
Richard pretended to zip his lips, only to opening them again.
“Oh, but…”
“What now?”
“Why has she become so prickly? She wasn’t like this before. Having troubles in love…?”
“……”
“…I’m sorry. Anyway, while I was out after breaking up with you, I ran into some clandestine organization.”
“A clandestine organization?”
I also had a run-in with those suspected of being in such an organization.
Richard seemed to have experienced the same ordeal.
“I’m not sure if they were after me or not, but let’s just say a lot happened.”
He said he was already on his way to report that to Eliya.
‘A clandestine organization… What if they’re the same force sending people after us?’
There’s nothing I could do about this part.
Eliya would handle it, and if necessary, she’d assign me tasks.
Richard returned safely, and life in the training camp returned to its usual pace.
Days passed by.
I was still unaware of the date of the installation ceremony.
Every time I met Eliya, I wanted to ask, but it felt like I would be pressuring her, so I held back.
‘What if she isn’t planning to do it…?’
There’s no rule that says it must be done.
But if that’s the case, shouldn’t she let me know?
‘If this continues, Eliya’s coming-of-age ceremony might come first.’
That thought turned into reality.
Without a word regarding my installation ceremony, it was Eliya’s 18th birthday.
The day of her coming-of-age ceremony arrived.
*
The Sun Symbol Temple.
The largest temple dedicated to the Sun Church that serves the Sun and is owned by the Bevel family.
The entire place was so lavishly gold-plated that it shone even without light.
Glowing orbs shaped like the Sun illuminated every corner.
Here, key figures controlling the continent gathered for today.
The Emperor of the Helios Empire, Johan Libelatio Helios.
Along with Empress Dama and the Crown Prince Gomel, members of the imperial family.
The king of Bevel Principality, known as the black-crowned emperor.
Balak de Bevel, along with his direct descendants.
Other branches of the Bevel family.
The Pope of the Molsin Church, Nadab.
With his attendant Bishop Herald.
Alongside them, countless throngs entered the temple.
Numerous high-ranking nobles, recognizable by mere mention of their names, were present.
The pillars of the Levant continent had gathered.
The reason for their visit was singular.
Eliya de Bevel.
The youngest direct daughter of the Bevel family, whose coming-of-age ceremony would celebrate the mage of the mythical era.
At the center of it all stood Judas.
Alone and unbothered, he wished to chew his tongue.
‘Why…!’
Today was Eliya’s coming-of-age ceremony.
And simultaneously….
“Judas Defecit.”
Eliya called him.
Judas swallowed a sigh and stepped forward.
People were watching.
Emperor Johan, Duke Balak, and others.
All the rulers of the continent were focused on him.
Before the throne that looked down on everyone.
Judas knelt before Eliya, who arrogantly crossed her legs.
“I ask you.”
“……”
“Do you swear eternal loyalty to me, one that cannot be severed even by death?”
Judas did not hesitate.
It was a predetermined answer.
Yet still, Eliya, who created such a situation, annoyed him.
“…I swear.”
“Will you die for me?”
“I will sacrifice myself.”
Today was indeed Eliya’s coming-of-age ceremony.
And it was also the day of Judas’s installation as a knight.
This was an act orchestrated by Eliya.
She decided to hold the installation ceremony alongside her coming-of-age ceremony.
Without informing Judas.
She didn’t feel the need to.
She naturally didn’t know Judas found her annoying.
Using this occasion, Eliya simply wanted to announce to everyone who her knight was.
That was her only intention.
Why she wished to announce was unclear, but she just wanted to do it.
There was no reason it couldn’t happen.
“Prove it.”
The knight’s oath.
It is sealed by kissing the lord’s foot.
Judas raised his head slightly.
He could see Eliya’s feet.
White, slightly pink-tinted little feet.
Above them, her legs extending from under her skirt.
Judas moved his hands, being careful with his gaze.
He supported her slender ankle and gently grabbed the sole of her foot.
‘Why do her feet smell good in front of so many people…? It’s maddening.’
With soft feet in hand, he slowly lowered his head.
He pressed his lips against her warm foot.
At that moment.
[“Twist of fate, the beginning of causality” updated.]
[Mid-reward will be given according to the flow of progress.]
SDVIMVFoanVzY1YwSVhjamMzUkt1UmdldzREcFFqL3BPcFBXaDk2bTB1N1E3NjlBSEpVZ2Y0bTBxenF3cGIyMw
[1. Comic excerpt]
[2. Lines from tragedy]
Judas froze.
Again.
Something he discovered five years ago.
Guidance related to fate.
The rewards were similar.
Back then, Judas chose the lines of tragedy.
In the tragedy, Eliya had been choking him.
Recalling that fact made his neck feel cold.
‘This time, I’ve likely avoided that tragedy…’
There was one slight difference.
Back then, he had to choose one of the two, but this time, they offered both.
[What would you like to see first?]
Without hesitation, Judas made his choice.
Tragedy.
It was more intriguing than the comedy.
‘If a different scene unfolds, I suppose I could say I avoided that tragedy, right?’
[Do you wish to check now?]
‘Yes.’
Scenes surged into Judas’s mind.
A scene frozen in time pieced together like a puzzle.
‘……’
After seeing the completed future, Judas stood frozen.
In a certain room.
A familiar one.
Eliya’s office.
Someone was there.
Fiery eyes.
Eliya, activated by madness and fire, was glaring at him.
She was looking at him with fiercely narrowed brows and wide-open eyes.
Moreover, tears were flowing from her eyes.
In that state, Eliya was unleashing fire magic against him.
Clearly filled with intent to kill.
Next, as he was about to see the comedy…
“…Judah?”
A gentle voice shook him back to reality.
Only then did Judas hurriedly snap back to reality.
When he looked up, Eliya, slightly bent forward, was looking down at him.
His heart stopped at her crimson eyes.
The girl who had just aimed to kill him in the scene he’d seen moments ago.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, n-no…!”
“Then you can let go of my foot now.”
“…Yes? Ah?”
After choosing a reward and glimpsing the future, he stood petrified.
As a result, he had pressed his nose against Eliya’s foot and remained still for a while.
“Ah, no…!”
He hurriedly, yet cautiously withdrew his hand from her foot, stepping back.
The looks around him felt strange.
As if they were looking at a suspicious person.
Whispers surrounded him.
To a third party, the sight of a person with their face buried in their lord’s foot was undoubtedly suspicious.
Judas had to do his best to defend himself.
Turning bright red, he suddenly stood up and shouted.
“I-I’m not into that kind of stuff—!”
It wasn’t particularly persuasive and felt rather odd, a defense he only realized after he spoke.
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