The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 136

5 years.

It was disgustingly long.

The first time Gawain began teaching Judas swordsmanship, it was a kind of punishment.

At the time, Gawain had to face disciplinary action for negligence in training supervision, and Eliza passed that responsibility to Judas.

Judas wanted the training.

He asked to be taught swordsmanship to grow stronger.

Gawain accepted out of obligation.

It was simply what he had to do.

Yes.

At first, it was just that—a duty.

There were no feelings attached beyond the sense of fulfilling a responsibility.

But before he realized it, he was moved by those tenacious golden eyes, determined to accomplish anything, even at the cost of his life.

He couldn’t help it.

Judas lacked a natural talent for absorbing everything taught to him, but he never failed to absorb it in the end.

Through sheer determination, he digested every lesson Gawain imparted.

That relentless perseverance was blinding.

To the point where Gawain genuinely wanted to teach him.

He found himself proud of Judas’s growth.

Watching him improve day by day inexplicably warmed his heart.

Even when he doubted whether Judas would perform well during tests, he’d find himself smiling in relief when Judas succeeded and returned.

Sometimes, Gawain caught himself imagining foolish things—wondering if this is how it would feel if he had a son.

When Judas suddenly grew up into an adult.

When he jokingly called him “Master.”

When he was knighted by Eliza as a full-fledged knight.

In countless tedious days, his student’s growth was his only joy.

But in the end, the two served different masters.

Judas followed Eliza.

Gawain served Barak.

Long ago, Barak had revived the declining house of Gawain’s family, the Frudein clan.

It was a bond formed on the battlefield.

Barak had recognized Gawain’s talents and taken him in.

From that moment, Gawain swore to live and die as Barak’s hound.

Thus, the current situation—where Gawain and Judas stood as adversaries—was inevitable.

There was no regret.

He simply accepted it.

Even now, when he closed his eyes, he could see Judas glaring stubbornly toward Eliza.

When he opened them, that arrogant kid had somehow grown tall enough to charge at him with all his might.

Swinging his sword with killing intent.

Since this was their final lesson, Gawain had no intention of holding back as he did before.

“So, use everything you’ve got, Judas.”

Judas had to exceed what he was taught.

A student who merely performs their master’s teachings is unworthy.

A truly excellent student must surpass their master.

-Boom!

Two shields collided violently.

Like bulls locking horns, the contest of strength lasted only a moment.

Judas reversed his grip on his sword.

Holding the blade, he swung it toward Gawain’s ankle.

It was a surprise attack exploiting the blind spot created by their shields blocking their upper bodies.

He hooked Gawain’s ankle with a cross guard and yanked swiftly.

At that moment, their weight was leaning forward from the clash.

Gawain toppled backward.

It was too late for Judas to adjust his grip and stab.

He tried to grab his shield’s edge and strike downward instead.

-Screech!

The fallen Gawain extended his sword.

The blade scraped against Judas’s breastplate.

It didn’t pierce him, but it prevented Judas from closing in.

Gawain swung his sword to create space and quickly rose to his feet.

As soon as he readied his stance, Judas leaped at him again.

Gawain immediately raised his shield.

-Bang!

Judas slammed his shield down.

He hooked the edge of his shield under Gawain’s and pulled, flipping it over.

In the opening, Judas thrust his sword.

Watching his student flawlessly execute the techniques he had taught in a real fight, Gawain couldn’t help but laugh under his helmet.

Despite the relaxed smile, his movements were razor-sharp.

He barely ducked in time.

The sword grazed the air just past his face.

Gawain swung his own sword toward Judas’s arm, but it was blocked by the shield.

A fierce battle that no one could interrupt.

Amidst the intense clash of strategies, two groups arrived at the scene.

“Judas!”

Eliza’s Royal Guard.

“Sir Gawain!”

And Barak’s covert force, the Black Spot.

The two factions confronted each other, centering on Judas and Gawain.

They had come as reinforcements, but neither could carelessly intervene in the duel between the two.

Instead, they engaged the opposing forces.

Dylan shouted.

“Focus on dealing with the Black Spot without getting caught up in their fight! It’s crucial to see which side has more allies left after their battle ends!”

The Black Spot also faced off against the Royal Guard for the same reason.

By that time, Judas and Gawain had begun wrapping up their fight.

Both were exhausted, and dragging it out any longer would serve no purpose.

They simultaneously cast aside their shields.

Using only a single sword.

Gawain gripped his sword with both hands, while Judas kept one hand free.

He planned to use it if necessary.

Gawain focused on that hand.

Judas’s skill with his hands was so precise and masterful that even Gawain had to be cautious.

‘Then, I’ll make him use both hands.’

Gawain closed the distance in an instant and swung his sword with all his strength—a downward slash.

It was impossible to block clumsily with one hand.

As expected, Judas gripped his sword with both hands.

Not on the hilt, but one hand on the blade and the other on the hilt.

‘Half-swording?’

Judas controlled the center of his grip, blocking with the strongest part of the blade before deflecting the strike to the side.

Unable to overcome the momentum, Gawain stumbled forward.

Although he had been wary of Judas’s hand skills, his pupil had countered using pure swordsmanship instead.

Judas immediately struck Gawain’s face with the pommel, then swung the sword, holding the blade.

The crossguard struck Gawain’s helmet with a resounding impact.

“Urgh…!”

As Gawain staggered, Judas seized the opportunity to raise his sword for another strike.

Gawain’s torso was slightly out of reach.

At close range, the wrist and arm were easier and effective targets, as he had been taught.

Indeed, Judas was perfectly positioned to slash Gawain’s forearm.

In that fleeting moment when time seemed to slow.

Doubt surged in Judas’s mind, but it was quickly drowned out by an echo in his brain.

‘Hesitate, and you die.’

Judas gritted his teeth.

He couldn’t afford to hesitate.

Carving Gawain’s teachings into his heart like a blade, Judas swung his sword.

And finally.

-Thud!

The strike landed.

With a shattering sound, Gawain’s armored arm was severed, accompanied by an explosive noise.

“Aaargh—!”

Gawain’s severed right arm flew through the air.

Judas kicked the fallen weapon far away and pointed his sword at the collapsed Gawain.

“Hah… hah…”

His ragged breaths made his chest heave.

Gawain was no different.

He struggled for air, his chest rising and falling heavily.

Judas placed his blade at Gawain’s neck.

The tip trembled.

“Sir Gawain….”

Five years.

Not as long as Eliza, but five years was enough for Judas to grow attached to Gawain.

Even though he pretended otherwise, Judas knew Gawain was proud of him, quietly regarding him with admiration.

He had learned so much.

It wasn’t just swordsmanship.

He learned the demeanor of a knight, loyalty.

How to wield, manage, and maintain a sword and shield.

What to consider when choosing armor.

When he learned horseback riding, Gawain gave him all sorts of advice as he mounted Yuel.

Those clumsy attempts to care for him made Gawain a true mentor Judas had never experienced in his past life, even somewhat like a father.

But in the end….

“Judas.”

Gawain, clutching his own sword, looked up.

Though defeated and on the verge of death, his eyes remained resolute.

With a tone that carried the weight of teaching, he asked.

“Who is your master?”

“Eliza, my lady.”

“And who do I serve?”

“The Duke of Barak….”

“Then what am I to you?”

“…An enemy.”

“Think first of the people who follow you, and the master you serve. For their sake, you must not hesitate.”

“……”

“And do not insult my chivalry. I will die with honor.”

Gawain let go of his sword.

He glared, as if telling him to finish it quickly.

“…Understood.”

Judas stabbed his sword into the ground.

He drew a dagger from his chest.

It looked like something meant for execution.

Seeing the determined expression of his disciple, the master lay down peacefully.

The disciple knelt by his side.

The raised dagger gleamed crimson under the moonlight.

–Thud!

The dagger plunged into his chest.

“Ugh…!”

Gawain’s eyes widened, his teeth clenched as he suppressed a scream.

Blood gushed from his mouth.

After a fit of coughing, he looked at Judas.

With the light behind him, his expression was hard to make out.

His vision blurred, and his consciousness faded.

Images of his family passed by.

The siblings he protected.

Their children.

Everyone in the House of Frudein, including his niece, Annun.

Among them, Judas quietly appeared.

Gawain smiled unknowingly.

He thought no master could help but smile, seeing a disciple surpass them.

“Exce…llent… disciple….”

Judas gently closed his master’s eyes.

“…Rest in peace, Master.”

When Judas stood, the surroundings were silent.

The royal guards and the Black Spot had arrived at some point.

Those who had been fighting were now watching him.

Both sides were subdued.

Though they had won, Gawain was Judas’s master.

Even the royal guards understood this and could not laugh.

Someone from the Black Spot strode toward Judas.

Black armor with a blazing insignia.

Though it was the same armor as Cain’s, Judas no longer felt disgusted.

The knight spoke.

“My name is Mordred Flintshire. I once served as Sir Gawain’s squire and was taught by him.”

“…Judas Deficit.”

“What was Sir Gawain’s end like?”

“He was an honorable knight.”

“…I see.”

Satisfied with that, Mordred fell silent and nodded.

That was the end of their conversation.

The two factions clashed once more.

Whoever emerged victorious, the war would end here today.

***

The battle concluded quickly.

Victory belonged to Eliza’s side.

More than a difference in strength, the morale of Barak’s forces, including the Black Spot, had plummeted.

Cain, Levi, and Gawain were dead.

And during the battle, Eliza’s magic caused the sun to rise from afar.

By all accounts, even Barak himself was likely dead.

There was no longer a unifying force to rally them.

“I’ll report to the lady for a moment.”

Judas excused himself from cleaning up the battlefield.

Dylan nodded as if telling him to go ahead.

Even Richard, who would normally crack jokes, remained quiet today.

“Alright, go on. We’ll handle things here.”

Judas left the grim scene behind.

The first thing he did was remove his armor.

Wearing it would make an embrace stiff and uncomfortable.

He didn’t consider the possibility that Eliza might not want to embrace him.

He planned to embrace her first.

The intense battle had left him utterly exhausted.

He wanted to melt into Eliza’s warmth.

As soon as he sent a signal through his necklace, something warm was in his arms.

“Judas!”

Eliza, who had just arrived via teleportation, nuzzled her face into his chest.

Even though his body didn’t have the most pleasant smell, she didn’t mind.

“My lady.”

Judas, equally happy to see her, hugged her tightly.

Today, even Eliza’s scent wasn’t exactly fragrant.

There was a faint burnt smell lingering.

But Judas didn’t care either.

He surrendered himself to the warmth of her embrace and the synchronized beating of their hearts.

The arms wrapped around his waist pulled him closer with more strength.

His tired body felt like it was melting away.

With his face resting on the crown of her head, Judas asked softly.

“Are you unhurt?”

“Mm-hmm. What about you, Judas?”

“I’m fine.”

In truth, he wasn’t completely fine.

While he had dodged or deflected Cain’s attacks, he had taken hits here and there from Gawain.

At least he hadn’t sustained any fatal injuries.

But now, none of that mattered.

The moment he held Eliza, all those minor pains became irrelevant.

“The battle ended in victory, and the casualties…”

As Judas began to report, Eliza shook her head playfully, pressing herself closer.

“Mm-mm, no. Not now. Let’s stay like this for a bit.”

Her irresistible cuteness made Judas want to hold his forehead in exasperation.

The fatigue and worries that had been weighing on his body and mind seemed to dissolve.

‘Why is she so adorable…’

It was hard to believe she was the one who had just killed Barak, the grand duke who wore the black crown and called himself emperor.

On top of that, she didn’t even seem to realize she was acting cute.

Because it was so natural and instinctive, it was even more dangerous to his heart.

Judas held her quietly, his heart pounding obliviously.

And after a while, he resumed his report.

There wasn’t much to say.

No casualties on their side.

The enemy’s Black Spot were annihilated. The remaining stragglers had surrendered and were awaiting their fate.

“My lady.”

“Mm?”

“There’s one request I’d like to make.”

Eliza smiled brightly.

“I’ll do anything you ask.”

Judas carefully explained.

It was about post-war arrangements.

Specifically, he had a request regarding the handling of Sir Gawain.

Because it was a sensitive matter, he approached it cautiously, but Eliza readily agreed to his proposal.

“That’s all?”

“Yes, that’s more than enough.”

“All right. That’s not a difficult thing to do. But you know, this is the first time you’ve directly asked me for something.”

It was only natural, in a way.

There were few opportunities to ask anything of the one he served.

“I’m happy I can help you.”

“…Thank you.”

Her pure, innocent smile made Judas blush as he averted his gaze.

Eliza took his hand and led him along.

“Then, let’s finish up.”

The direct line of the Bevel family was gone.

There was no longer any reason to continue the war, at least not for Eliza.

Johan Revelatio Helios.

The Emperor of the Helios Empire stroked his beard as he read the valuable parchment.

It was a proposal for a peace treaty from Eliza, the leader of the anti-Empire alliance.

The message suggested that both sides would only suffer further losses by continuing the war and asked if they should end things here.

‘The remnants of the Bevel family. At best, they’re just weaker branch members and the Elder Council. But Eliza is not someone to be underestimated…’

Should he accept the treaty or not?

Johan’s calculations didn’t take long.

The child of prophecy who had gone to Eliza’s side.

That child had become someone precious to her.

The answer came quickly.

‘That’s how I’ll handle it.’

“……”

Gawain slowly opened his eyes.