The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 40.1

I was assigned the task of escorting the priest while he gathered herbs.

The person I was escorting was an apprentice priest, Aquines.

He took the lead and entered the path.

“Thank you for coming to help so willingly.”

“Although it seems too late to ask now,”

I said,

“But… is it really okay for us? As you can see, we are quite young.”

“There are no particularly dangerous wild animals. At most, just wild dogs. However, I find even those wild dogs challenging, so I had to hire someone.”

“Even wild dogs can be quite dangerous. They’re not something to be taken lightly.”

“I trust you.”

Even his optimistic personality…

He’s just as I remember.

Well, I suppose I can trust him.

“Yes, you can trust us. This fellow, Judas, is quite remarkable.”

“…Senior?”

“Yes, yes, I know, I know.”

“What do you know?”

Argon was blabbering on about my merits unnecessarily.

Hermes joined in from the side.

It seemed like they were deliberately trying to embarrass me.

“He is indeed remarkable. Yes, in many ways. Recently, he even received personal training from Sir Gawain, and even I can see his skills are quite…”

“Enough. Please, stop….”

In fact, there’s no need to worry too much.

If anything happens, Hermes will step in.

But I have no intention of relying on her.

This is my request and my opportunity to grow.

Although the real purpose is not the request itself.

Anyway, Hermes promised to step in as little as possible.

Her purpose is to protect me, not to lead me.

Aquines looked at me with a satisfied smile.

“It’s okay. You have golden eyes, after all.”

“Excuse me?”

“Golden eyes are said to be a symbol of the savior.”

I think there was such a setting.

It wasn’t emphasized in the original, so I don’t remember the details.

Hermes and Argon also seemed unaware of it.

Aquines said with a smile.

“There is a record in the earliest scripture. It says that the primordial being was completed with gold, and with the two unified forces, it sealed the void-dwelling evil god, the beast that devours the sun. Since then, golden eyes have been considered a symbol of the savior.”

He asserts that he knows the character.

The future Aquines also frequently mentioned the earliest scripture.

But it’s been a long time since I heard this, so my reaction was awkward.

The other two also seemed somewhat unsure, showing slightly puzzled expressions.

Aquines laughed awkwardly.

“Ha ha… It’s understandable that you don’t know. It’s a very old story, and the earliest scripture is not well received. Nowadays, it’s rare for anyone to know about it.”

I know the reason.

The sun and moon are divided into two religions.

But the earliest scripture defines the sun and moon as one.

Even though polytheism is acknowledged, it is difficult to accept that the two gods worshiped were actually one.

“Um, this might be a bit out of the blue, but may I ask one thing?”

Hermes suddenly asked Aquines.

“Please go ahead.”

“The villagers have been looking at us with discomfort. Is there something going on?”

“Ah, that’s….”

Aquines hesitated, trailing off.

“You must be a believer in the foreign gods.”

At those words, I looked at Hermes.

A knight in armor harmoniously blending black and gold.

She had pauldrons on her shoulders.

The blazing sun depicted in red.

It was the symbol of the religion followed by the Bevel family and the main religion of this world, Solarism.

“This area is under the influence of Moon.”

Lunism and Solarism are famously at odds with each other.

So much so that, in the future, Moon God disappears.

It is eradicated because of the Bevel family.

I don’t know the details.

In fact, that’s one of my worries.

I wonder if it’s alright for me to be involved in something related to Moon God at this time…

However, one thing I’ve learned at this point is that the relationship isn’t as bad as I feared.

The mutual hostility was from a long time ago.

I’ve heard that they’ve now reached a reasonable peace agreement and reconciled.

‘So that raises more questions. If the relationship isn’t so bad, why did the Bevel family suppress and eradicate Moonsin?’

Hermes asked again.

“But it wasn’t like this when I was in other Moonsin territories.”

“That was in the past… No, never mind. Hmm. I shouldn’t bring this up recklessly.”

Aquines changed the subject.

“Perhaps it’s just that life is hard. People tend to create external enemies to hate in order to avoid facing harsh realities.”

The long-standing war with the demons has yet to end.

As a result, life for the lower class in this world is harsh to the point of being cruel.

I haven’t seen it directly because I’m within the confines of Eliza’s training camp.

‘It’s portrayed brutally in the game…’

Selling one’s children is a daily occurrence.

Taxes keep rising due to the war, and the lives of commoners and serfs continue to deteriorate.

Yet the nobles indulge in luxury and pleasure.

Far from the battlefield, in safety.

Aquines’s words were a heavy truth.

His voice, tinged with loneliness, made both Hermes and me stop wondering further.

He added with a belated smile.

“Especially in times like these, people like me need to remain strong. For everyone’s happiness.”

Hermes cautiously whispered in my ear.

“He’s a very devout and upright believer. Somehow, I find it uncomfortable when such kind people are around…”

I nodded slightly.

It’s not that I dislike it.

I think it’s only natural to respect him.

But somehow, excessively kind people feel uncomfortable.

“It makes me feel inadequate and lacking when I see him…”

As I whispered, Hermes nodded in agreement.

Beside us, Argon looked at Hermes and me with a suspicious gaze.

That guy… no, it seems he’s imagining something strange again…

***

“This is where we start gathering medicinal herbs. I trust you will do well.”

Aquines said.

Argon and I followed him on his left and right, keeping an eye on our surroundings.

Hermes followed behind.

Aquines walked slowly, surveying the area, distinguishing herbs, and putting them into the bag he brought.

‘Hmm…’

This shouldn’t be, but for some reason, his presence felt frustrating.

Since entering the forest, I’ve learned that I’m familiar with the medicinal herbs growing here.

Furthermore, a ‘survival expert’ had detailedly distinguished between herbs and weeds.

‘For now, let’s not get involved… Hmm?’

I raised my hand to stop the group for a moment.

“What’s the matter?”

Aquines asked cautiously.

I stepped forward and examined the ground.

The hunter’s senses picked up the traces sharply.

Footprints Impressed on the Dirt

They are the footprints of wild dogs.

A group of several animals.

And bushes lying in a certain direction.

“Relatively recent footprints. Is this near a path used by wild dogs?”

Hermes and Argon lowered their postures and remained vigilant.

“Do you usually have a path you take?”

“It’s not exactly a path, but there are frequently used routes or directions. Why do you ask?”

“There are recent footprints of wild dogs.”

“Really….”

“Where?”

Argon asked, curious.

“Here. Do you see it?”

The three of us gathered simultaneously to observe the spot I pointed out.

Hermes nodded, but the other two only frowned.

“And if you look over there, the grass is unnaturally pressed down as if a low-to-the-ground animal had passed through. This area seems to be a path used by wild dogs.”

“…What exactly do you see?”

“Have you had professional hunting training? It’s impressive how you can read these signs.”

“No, well… just…”

Embarrassed, I scratched my cheek.

Hermes smiled at me with a mischievous grin.

It made me feel uneasy.

“Yes, indeed, isn’t it amazing? Even though you’ve only recently joined the training camp, you stand out in many areas. You’re truly deserving of Lady Eliza’s favor…”

Argon, excited, joined in teasing me.

Unaware of this, Aquines looked at me with a proud smile.

“You’re really remarkable for your young age.”

“Thank you…”

“You’ve acknowledged it! You know you’re amazing, don’t you?”

“Indeed, Sir Judas!”

“Please, both of you, enough already… Anyway, I think it’s better to change our route. Is that alright with you? Something like daily quotas.”

“Safety comes first.”

Aquines agreed with my opinion.

We decided to change our route.

The difference now was that I was leading, and Aquines followed closely behind me.

Hermes still kept his distance at the rear.

As a result, Argon had to move from side to side.

Though it got busier, he didn’t complain.

Another change with me leading was:

“What kind of herbs do you need?”

“We mostly need herbs for treating indigestion or high fever. We also need ingredients for ointments for minor abrasions…”

I gathered herbs with him.

Or I informed him about things he didn’t know.

I don’t dislike overly kind people, though they can be uncomfortable.

There should be more people like that in the world.

People like me don’t need to be many, honestly.

It’d be a problem if there were too many.

In that regard, even if it wasn’t particularly beneficial to me, I just wanted to help more.

Though this is part of the commission.

Argon looked at me and gave a wry smile.

“What don’t you know?”

“Surprisingly many things?”

“I guess so. To be honest, when Lindel and Felin talked about you during the exam, I thought half of it was exaggerated. But now it seems completely true.”

Thanks to me, the herb gathering ended quickly and safely.

Aquines, wiping his sweat, smiled contentedly.

The bag in his hand was tightly packed.

“I think we can head back now.”

“Uh? It seems like you haven’t filled the requested time. Is that alright?”

Argon asked.

Originally, we had planned to escort him for about three hours.

But it felt like it hadn’t even been two hours since we started.

Hermes checked his wristwatch and confirmed.

Exactly 1 hour and 48 minutes had passed.

Aquines smiled and nodded.

“Of course. What we have collected so far is enough.”

In the end, we followed Aquines back to the church.

Aquines seemed pleased to have finished early.

Since the work was done quickly, it was good for both me and Argon as well.

We returned to the church at a time not much different from when we left.

“Here is the promised payment.”

Aquines handed 3 florins to both me and Argon.

It was the agreed-upon payment.

In Korean currency, it’s about 12,000 won.

For two hours of work, it doesn’t seem bad, and considering it’s a forest with wild dogs, it’s actually quite cheap.

“I’m sorry, but for the knight…”

Aquines hesitated.

He seemed sorry for not being able to give Hermes a reward.

Hermes quickly waved her hand.

“Don’t worry about it. I came here to work for Sir Judas.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

While the two briefly talked, Argon patted my shoulder.

“Thanks. It would have taken longer or been dangerous without you.”

“It’s nothing, really.”

Three florins.

To be honest, it’s not significant money for me right now.

Well, I could use it somewhere if needed.

The real purpose for accepting this request was different.

“Father Aquines, may I ask one more thing?”

“Yes, Sir Judas. Anything you wish.”

“I would like to pray.”