The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 20

Eliza concluded that she could feed the yellow umbrella mushroom to the moon deer herself.

However, she had no intention of letting me go.

It was my responsibility and fault for answering ‘okay’ without fully listening to her saying ‘Don’t go.’

I will admit that.

However I couldn’t help but ask why.

“Why…?”

To my dumbfounded question, Eliza responded confidently.

“Because it’s dirty.”

“Pardon?”

“If I feed it myself, my hands will get dirty.”

That’s true.

The moon deer doesn’t eat mushrooms gracefully.

It chews them noisily, and saliva-covered remnants might fall off, and its tongue might touch her.

I am rather insensitive to such things.

I can just wash my hands clean with water afterward.

However, it’s a completely different matter for Eliza.

Isn’t she a high noble who wouldn’t easily let even a drop of water touch her?

I understand, but her answer was too shameless.

In the end, she didn’t want her hands to get dirty, so she would use mine instead. That’s what it boils down to.

I knew it, but the audacity of a noble is astounding enough to make one doubt their ears.

My mouth had already answered ‘okay.’

I can’t say no.

“Then, how long should I stay?”

“Why, do you want to leave?”

Her question hit the mark.

It was a casual question.

She wasn’t asking about my true intentions, I suppose.

However, Eliza’s red eyes looked as if they were seeing through everything.

Eyes that are always calm and serene, no matter the situation.

Eyes that only smiled beautifully when killing someone.

I pretended to be calm and said,

“No, I just think it would be a nuisance if I stay here too long. Moreover, it might interfere with my training.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll let you go when I’m certain that it fully serves me.”

“…Understood.”

Eliza stepped down from the pedestal and came to face the moon deer.

“When will you start serving me?”

As she stood next to me, I took a step back.

Eliza reached out to the moon deer’s neck just like I did.

The moon deer cautiously stepped back.

It seemed the moon deer had not yet fully accepted Eliza.

Watching the retreating beast, Eliza chuckled.

It was a somewhat bitter smile.

As Lia was wiping her hands, Eliza said,

“That’s enough grooming for today. I’ll come again. …Oh, by the way, I heard you had a gift for me. I’ve been busy and almost forgot.”

I was startled.

How did she know?

The cookies I bought back then.

I still haven’t given them.

I felt embarrassed to give them as a gift for some reason.

Eliza didn’t ask about them, so I thought she didn’t know.

“Did you lie or something?”

“Ah, well, that is…”

This situation was extremely embarrassing.

On the other hand, I was glad I hadn’t eaten the cookies.

I once contemplated just eating them to avoid misunderstandings from giving them as a gift.

Hesitantly, I took out a small pouch from my pocket and handed it over.

The pouch I had carried every time I met Eliza, wondering whether to give it or not.

The paper with a cute pattern suited Eliza and her age group quite well.

“They are cookies…”

“Cookies?”

They were small enough to be held in one hand.

“Can I open it here?”

“Yes…”

I felt so embarrassed and ashamed that I wanted to die.

‘Why did I buy those… Eliza will probably think they are insignificant…’

Eliza looked at me curiously and then opened the package.

Three small pieces of cookies appeared.

They were small enough to barely whet the appetite in a single bite.

‘They charged 30 florins for just those three tiny cookies…’

Eliza chuckled.

“They are cute.”

Insignificant and trifling.

There were many meanings in that.

Just those little cookies.

To Eliza, they probably weren’t even worth the price.

Anna said she accepted flowers, so will she accept these too?

Honestly, even if she threw them away saying ‘what is this,’ I would have nothing to say.

“You seemed to like the cookies I gave you last time?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. Of course.”

“Alright, I got it. Thanks for the gift. I’ll enjoy them.”

“…It’s an honor.”

Eliza left.

Bradley went to clean another stable, leaving only me and the moon deer in the barn.

“Whew…”

I sat down, leaning against the moon deer lying on the floor.

I felt drained of energy.

I thought I could leave this place, but it wasn’t the case.

Eliza’s aristocratic mindset was beyond what someone like me could follow.

‘Still, it seems like I won’t stay long, so let’s hang in there a bit more.’

The moon deer snorted softly, seeming to be in a good mood, and rubbed its antlers.

The act was cute, not matching its large size.

“Yes, yes.”

I stroked the hard antlers.

Then, cold energy seeped into my body through the antlers.

I had a similar experience when I first touched these antlers.

I vaguely knew it then, but now I feel it more clearly.

This is the moon deer giving me its magic.

Since the first day, the moon deer has intermittently injected magic into me.

Thanks to that, I was able to unleash my magic while fighting Gulliat.

“What a commendable creature.”

I stroked the moon deer’s neck as if scratching it, then placed my hand on its horn again.

I focused on the sensation flowing into my body.

Beneath the skin.

Something flowing through my veins.

It’s cold but neither chilling nor threatening.

My mind clears up.

It feels like a blocked path gently opens.

The fatigue accumulated from fighting Gulliat washes away.

“Whew…”

As I slowly regulated my breathing, I focused more deeply.

No thoughts came to my mind.

An empty, blackened consciousness.

Fragments of memory floated up.

‘Jaewon, you know you’re good. We all know, but… whew… let’s just get through this one, okay?’

‘Coach, no matter how I think about it, this is…’

‘So why did you intervene, huh?! If you had just stayed put, it wouldn’t have involved the police…! Hah. Jaewon. Just hold it in this time. Next time, I’ll definitely get you to the Olympics. Let’s listen to the chairman this time, okay?’

‘Yeah, you should have done well, or at least been born well.’

“…Sir. Judas?”

“…Huh?!”

I opened my eyes, startled by someone calling me.

“I came looking for you since you hadn’t come back late.”

“Oh…”

It was Anna.

I wiped the drool from my mouth and recalled my memories.

‘I fell asleep while touching the moon deer’s horn.’

There had been a lot to do since morning.

I must have been tired.

‘…But why do so many embarrassing things happen today?’

I pretended it was nothing on purpose.

“Sorry. I dozed off.”

“I heard you won a hard-fought battle in the finals today. You must be very tired. Please go to your room and rest.”

Before leaving, I checked on the moon deer.

This creature had also placed its chin on the ground and was sound asleep.

Magic doesn’t just appear out of thin air.

The moon deer had been giving me a bit of its magic each time.

After doing this, the moon deer would always fall asleep like this.

It must be tired too.

I stroked the head of the commendable moon deer and followed Anna out.

***

Eliza received a diagnosis from May, her personal physician and the house’s doctor.

Mei’s conclusion was simple and obvious.

“You need to rest.”

Dizziness from overwork.

What was needed wasn’t medicine or a doctor but rest and sleep.

It was a meaningless diagnosis.

Eliza and May both knew well that Eliza couldn’t rest.

To begin with, she couldn’t sleep deeply because of the nightmares.

“Alright.”

Uttering words she couldn’t keep, Eliza headed straight to her office.

She tried one of the cookies Judas had given her.

Small.

The taste was so-so.

Not bad.

She had learned that people tend to give gifts that they themselves liked.

“Lia.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Tell Anna to pack cookies for Judas every morning from now on. Mix the ones we had last time with the new ones.”

“Understood.”

In the office, two anemones welcomed her.

Flowers that had now wilted over time.

She felt an odd sense of regret about that.

***

It was still the weekend.

Gawain came to see me.

He wanted to check my use of magic.

“Go ahead.”

He led me to the indoor training ground.

“Yes.”

The magic I used against Gulliat.

Only a day had passed since then.

I felt exhausted as if my energy had been drained, but thanks to the moon deer, my strength had returned.

I focused my mind.

Like when I fought Gulliat.

Magic.

Magic…

“It’s not working?”

Of course, it wouldn’t work just because I was told to do it.

I didn’t know how I did it back then either.

It wasn’t of my own will.

It was purely by chance.

“………”

Thinking that it might work if I just exerted my strength, I clenched my fist tightly until it trembled, but it was no use.

Gawain looked down at me with a complicated expression.

Somehow, it seemed like a look of disdain?

“Stop and recall the emotions you felt at the time.”

“Emotions?”

“Yes. Think about how you felt when you fought Gulliat. What were you thinking?”

The feelings at that time. Thoughts.

Not much.

I was angry because he kept picking fights, and I was exhausted from being beaten up.

And I wanted to win no matter what.

I desperately wanted a single attack.

As those moments of anger and desperation came back to me, a faint light began to flicker at my fingertips.

I could sense Gawain’s expression changing slightly.

“That’s it, keep going.”

At his words, I focused even more.

Anger, desperation, and the desire to win.

These emotions came together and once again brought a light to my fingertips.

Only one attack was desperate.

However, after the last time, it couldn’t be as intense as then.

Of course, magical release was impossible.

“…It’s not possible.”

“I had a feeling, but as expected.”

Gawain nodded as if he understood.

“How much do you know about magic?”

I only know about game stats.

Of course, that’s not what he’s asking.

“…I don’t know.”

“Everyone has magical power in their bodies.”

Gawain began to explain.

“The amount is extremely small, and it’s difficult to use, but that’s a clear fact. Using this magic can achieve transcendental power or special phenomena. But as I said, it’s not easy to use.”

Gawain paused for a moment.

I nodded to confirm that I was listening well.

“Generally, magic is learned through steady training. However, it seems you’ve had an unusual experience.”

“An unusual experience?”

“Yes. There are cases where magic is used without training, driven by a threat to life or a goal worth risking death.”

That’s right.

At that time, I didn’t want to die even if I was hit by a monster, and I wanted to win.

“Without additional training, you can exert greater power than usual usage methods. However, there’s a fatal flaw that it’s difficult to use voluntarily, as you opened the magic circuit due to emotional outburst.”

The method of magical release started to imprint on my circuit.

“You’ll have to learn to control it through training, but it will take longer than others.”

“How long will it take?”

“It varies from person to person. There’s no need to be discouraged. Without being able to use magic, you can’t become a true knight, and occasionally there are those who can’t use magic even with training.”

“It may be impertinent, but can I participate in magical training at the training ground?”

“You cannot.”

Gawain immediately shook his head.

“It’s training conducted only for candidates who passed the 6th exam.”

A strict adherent to principles.

I vaguely knew his personality, so I accepted it immediately.

My request was unreasonable.

I asked just in case.

“Understood.”

“You seem to have talent, so if you persist steadily, who knows what might happen. You might even be able to self-study.”

In the end, I obtained only the result that I still couldn’t control the power with my will.

I wasn’t particularly discouraged.

Anyway, it meant that I had found a corner to trust in a dangerous situation.

“But by the way…”

“Yes?”

“Do you follow any religion?”

“Nothing special.”

This world recognizes various religions and also acknowledges not following any god.

However, no one denies the existence of gods.

Whether to believe and follow those gods or not is a separate issue.

“…I see.”

“Why do you ask?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Gawain waved his hand disinterestedly.

He made me curious for no reason.

“Looks like you haven’t even received magical training, so it must be my mistake….”

The muttered words as they left were barely audible.

***

Eliza gives cookies.

Every morning.

Since the day after I gave cookies as a gift.

Why is this happening to me?

It’s scary.

If you do well, you should like it, but it’s scary because Eliza is the subject.

There’s a story about preparing dinner before slaughtering a pig.

Could it be that?

Are they planning to catch and eat me?

Even if they were a wicked person, they never ate human flesh.

“…I must be out of my mind. What an absurd imagination.”

Anyway, a few days have passed since then.

Eliza has become quite close to the moon deer.

It seems like it’s about time to let me go, but for some reason, there’s still no word.

[Health: 11.5]

[Strength: 6.2]

[Agility: 13.1]

[Mana: 3.1]

Thanks to consistent exercise, my stats have also increased diligently.

Now I can do at least one pull-up.

I still have a long way to go.

The magical power that I couldn’t raise by myself has also increased a little now.

It seems to be thanks to the moon deer.

Thanks to bringing high-quality cookies every morning, the members of Room 13 are seriously considering founding my religion.

These days, there’s a dispute over who will be the bishop.

I don’t know either, now.

Honestly, watching what they’re doing is interesting, so I’m quietly watching.

Isn’t it true that even when man grows up, he is still a kid?

“Are you really fighting over that now?”

Dylan, who is somewhat rational, stopped the grumbling members.

Richard stood up against Dylan.

Currently, he seems to be the most likely candidate for bishop.

“Dylan. If you keep insulting the dessert god, we’ll have no choice but to execute you. It’s troublesome.”

“Pyre! Pyre! It’s a pyre! Unjust judgment to an incompetent chief!”

Lindel and Argon intervened beside them.

And Esmo, Dyke, Felin, etc.

Booing members blew up their thumbs.

“But today….”

“And wipe the cookie powder off your mouth before you speak, inmate.”

Dylan quickly wiped his mouth.

“Today is Eliza’s birthday.”

That’s right.

Finally, the day has come.

And all the members of Room 13 had to go to Eliza’s mansion by tonight.

The carriage is ready outside, so all you have to do is go.

I don’t know how much everyone has been waiting for today.

Some couldn’t sleep at all last night.

But not a single one of them took the initiative.

The reason they’re chattering away today like they’ve lost their minds about cookies or whatever is simple.

They’re all nervous.

“Don’t you think it’s politer to arrive early?”

“W-well, that’s right? Um, yeah…”

“I know, but, um…”

It’s enough to make anyone nervous.

Direct descendants of the noble Bavel family.

They’re going directly to Eliza’s mansion, striving to show loyalty.

Sitting in a corner, I fiddled with my hair in front of the mirror.

“How’s it look? My skills.”

Tall with lots of freckles on his face, Felin patted my shoulders.

He just finished cutting my hair.

It was so stuffy that I wanted to cut it, but I didn’t have time so I left it.

Originally, I was going to see a hairdresser, but I heard Felin learned how to cut hair before coming to the training camp, so I asked him.

“Your skills are better than I expected.”

I was a little anxious at first.

How good could he really be at cutting hair?

But it’s beyond my expectations.

It’s neat yet not too tidy.

I checked again while flipping my bangs.

“I think you could make a profession out of this right away.”

“Hmm. Well, then. My father was a renowned barber in Yeoji. I learned by watching him. He even trimmed the head and beard of the lord?”

In this world, a noble’s barber is a highly esteemed profession.

Indeed, he has the skill to match.

“Just let me know next time. I’ll do it for you for free, anytime.”

That was the price for bringing cookies.

“Then I won’t decline and ask.”

“Anytime.”

“This kid, this…”

Richard approached and put his hand on my shoulder.

“Are you doing this to impress the lady?”

I almost said something bad for a moment.

No matter how well Richard has treated me so far, he’s crossed the line.

“…Not at all.”

“It’s not nothing. Why did you dress up like this today of all days?”

I swear it’s not to impress Eliza.

It just happened to be time today.

What do I care if I look good to her?

No, what am I to this kid who’s about the same age as me…

“Kid, you’re a man now?”

“I don’t think it’s just one person trying to look good.”

I said that and looked around.

Several people turned their heads, coughing.

Guys with slicked-back hair, which I don’t normally see.

Their clothes are neatly dressed.

I understand.

Even apart from rationality, he wants to look good to Eliza, who will someday be worshipped as the master.

And here are kids about Eliza’s age who have such expectations.

“Oh. Anyway, you’re included in that, right?”

“Ah, it’s not like like that…”

“Yep~ I’ve already acknowledged it~”

Richard teased me next to me.

Suddenly, a few others, including Argon, joined in.

“I wish someone would hit them each once…”

Unfortunately, such a thing did not happen.

No matter how nervous I was, I couldn’t delay the departure any longer.

The occupants of Room 13, including myself, emerged outside, receiving jealous glances from other candidates.

Room 15 couldn’t hide their envy either.

However, none of them were caught.

They haven’t been seen for a few days now.

I don’t know what happened, and I’m not particularly interested.

He’s the one who tried to kill me during the showdown, whatever happens.

Outside the training camp gate, several carriages were prepared.

Carriages adorned with the sun emblem symbolizing the Bevel family.

“Sir. Judas.”

Anna was there too.

“I’ve come to escort you.”

As she greeted me, a few people around us murmured in admiration.

“Hey, she really looks like a noble…?”

“Judas, this guy must be getting special treatment….”

The candidates who were already nobly born seemed relatively indifferent.

Ignoring my embarrassment, I asked Anna:

“Could I perhaps visit somewhere else before we leave?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I want to buy a gift.”

“…A gift for the young lady?”

“Yeah.”

Covering her mouth nervously, Anna glanced at me with anxious eyes.

She seemed to want to say something but couldn’t bring herself to.

Richard discreetly approached me.

“Someone said you don’t care about appearances?”

“What does that have to do with gifts?”

“Well… Judas.”

Dylan cautiously spoke up.

“Nobles don’t accept gifts from just anyone. Especially on special and meaningful occasions like birthdays.”

“…Ah.”

That’s right.

This is a strict class-based society.

Someone like me couldn’t freely give gifts to Eliza.

Even if a candidate came from a noble background, it would likely be the same.

Anyway, it was to become Eliza’s escort knight.

It was an unreachable difference.

“Anna said something similar last time.”

So that’s why the others didn’t even think about buying gifts.

“Then why did Eliza accept my flowers and cookies? Was it just a gesture… Well, it wasn’t a birthday gift then. It must be different.”

“Judas. I know your feelings for the young lady, but…”

Richard was about to say something irrelevant again, so I interrupted him.

“If she doesn’t accept it, there’s nothing I can do. But still, I feel uncomfortable going empty-handed.”

“If that’s really the case… Separate arrangements are possible. We have enough time.”

So, I ended up departing separately from the group.

Instead, Richard joined me as my companion.

The carriage had me, Richard, and Anna. That’s how the three of us sat.

“Sir. Judas. By any chance…”

“It’s not like that.”

“I understand.”

Anna immediately cut in, sensing she might ask a strange question.

Richard seemed about to say something but hesitated, then closed his mouth when our eyes met.

‘Everyone seems lost in thought……’

***

Eliza walked with a bored expression.

A messy dirt path contrasting with an out-of-place red carpet.

Far from her, several young men and women knelt with one knee and bowed their heads.

In a line, they were aspiring knight candidates.

It wasn’t officially the time to select the 14th batch.

However, it was said that special individuals were chosen to coincide with her birthday.

Lady Narcissa, the Duchess.

Eliza scanned them with bored eyes.

‘How uninteresting.’

She recalled Judas a few weeks ago.

He dared not kneel and stared challengingly at her.

She could have killed him then, but Eliza didn’t. It was amusing.

Eliza sighed as if yawning.

“Clear them all.”

After saying that, she turned her body to leave.

“Miss!”

Gawain’s urgent call to grabbed her attention.

As she turned her head, she saw a young man rushing towards her.

Something gleamed in his hand.

Eliza instinctively knew.

‘Assassin….’

Disguised as an applicant, an assassin reached out a small, sharp weapon towards Eliza’s throat.