The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 51.1

A character who targets Judas under Barak’s orders.

One of them is Dallant.

He died right before his eyes.

He died at the moment the interrogation was about to begin.

As if determined not to leave any clues.

A magical suicide.

Eliza considered the forces behind this and identified the most likely culprit.

‘The Helios Imperial Family.’

A power that divides the continent with the Duchy of Bevel.

If Barak is the emperor with the black crown, then the true emperor wears the golden crown and holds the royal scepter.

‘Johan Revelatio Helios.’

Could Emperor Johan be directly involved in this?

It’s unclear.

There’s a lack of evidence.

However, the possibility is quite high.

If Eliza’s conjecture is correct.

‘The Empire used the Moon God Church to try to kill me.’

The Moon God Church must have been promised something in return.

They likely acted independently of the imperial family, resulting in Gaston.

An infiltrator who attempted to enter his mansion.

However, Gaston is not a key figure either.

The true purpose of the Moon God Church is unknown.

Even considering Gaston and Dallant, the assumption that the Empire moved the Moon God Church remains valid.

Then why would the Empire want to kill him?

‘To eliminate Bevel and monopolize power?’

This is the most straightforward and plausible reason.

‘The reason it’s me is because I’m isolated and easy to target, and I have a talent for magic.’

It’s not just any ordinary talent.

The Mad fire.

Her talent is so outstanding that even she is sometimes surprised.

However, it doesn’t provide a clear answer.

‘Why?’

Anyone who knows understands that her relationship with the Bevel family is bad.

The Empire belongs to the forces that would know.

If the goal is to bring down the Bevel family, it would be better to ally with her.

She also wishes for their downfall.

Eliza is willing to cooperate if it means killing Barak, Narcissa, and their children.

‘Why didn’t they do that…?’

She couldn’t understand the reason, no matter how much she thought about it.

In the first place, all these assumptions could be wrong.

The Empire wants to kill her and annihilate the Bevel family.

This is merely speculation made to fit a predetermined conclusion.

Speculation starting from a fixed conclusion is often wrong.

‘The closer I get to the truth, the further it seems to get….’

Eliza felt a faint headache and frowned.

She placed her small hand on her forehead and sorted out her thoughts.

‘First… I shouldn’t tell anyone.’

Gaston, Dallant, and Shylock

From the beginning, Barak intended to bury the fact that he had planted three spies.

After all, it’s quite common to place spies within enemy forces.

Even he had considered placing spies within his own family.

Didn’t he even try to select the spies he would plant in his own family?

If you go in detail, unnecessary wars of attrition will continue endlessly

So, it’s common to just bury it.

Important information is shared only with trustworthy people.

Eliza has no such person.

At best, there are Lia and Miguel.

But even they cannot be fully trusted.

Therefore, she decides to keep her deductions to herself.

Likewise, she doesn’t inform Barak.

Two of the three spies he sent are double agents.

One for the royal family, the other for the Moonsin Religion.

Does Barak know this or not?

If he knows, informing him is pointless.

If he doesn’t, holding onto this information alone is advantageous.

She cannot predict what this information might lead to in the future.

Nevertheless, holding unique information creates a significant gap.

Even at the risk of death, she has no intention of joining hands with Barak or his direct descendants.

Perhaps it’s better to reach out to the Empire?

It’s unappealing and dangerous.

The Empire must have considered the possibility of forming an alliance with her.

If they haven’t, it means there’s a reason they shouldn’t.

Without knowing that reason, Eliza couldn’t propose an alliance.

After organizing her thoughts, Eliza gave quick instructions.

“Check the belongings of the corpses for anything that might identify them, then dispose of them. Also, investigate the accommodations they used at the training center. After that….”

The remaining figures are Gaston, Bols, and Shylock.

For now, she has no plans to touch Shylock.

“You go.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

“The other two will have to stay here for the time being.”

Gaston cannot be killed yet.

There might still be information he hasn’t revealed.

Or she might need to press him further using information that comes to light later.

“However, you should treat that mage well.”

“Thank you!”

Bols repeatedly bowed, his forehead touching the ground in gratitude.

Then, he raised his head and taunted Gaston with a middle finger.

“See that? I’m the winner, you idiot! What are you looking at? Looking at me like that won’t change anything, huh? Oh, right. That’s all you can do, stare like an idiot, huh? Ha!”

Eliza passed by the commotion indifferently.

The management and routine of the prison could be left to the servants.

There was still work to be done to clean up the situation.

‘Tired…’

Following Barak, now the Moonsin Religion and the royal family.

As if she didn’t already have enough enemies, there were more things to worry about.

Out of habit, she pulled up her blanket.

She tucked her chin and took a deep breath.

The familiar scent that always calmed her.

A comforting presence that seemed like it would stay by her side forever.

***

[Hidden Quest, ‘The Correlation Between Adversity and Trust’ has been completed.]

[Please choose your reward.]

[1. Horsemanship (Lv.3)]

[2. All Stats Increase Including Magic (10)]

[3. Archery (Lv.2)]

The reward list that appeared after the mock war ended.

‘Oh… What should I choose this time?’

Once again, everything is quite appealing.

First, horseback riding.

It will turn me, who has never ridden a horse, into a pretty decent rider.

Second, stats.

Not just some, but all stats, including magic.

It would be a shame to miss this.

Since the fight with Sallaman, I feel like I might or might not be able to control magic on my own.

It’s an ambiguous situation where I have a vague sense of control.

Raising my stats would make things much easier.

Especially with a 10-point increase.

Archery is not to be underestimated either.

Having a means to counterattack from a distance is never a bad thing.

‘Hmm… Let’s go with this.’

[You have chosen to increase all stats, including magic, by 10.]

Horseback riding is attractive, but it’s not something I need right now.

Most importantly, I’m still young.

With this small body, it would be hard to ride a large horse.

No matter how skilled I am in horseback riding, I can’t ignore physical limitations.

‘I do want to ride a moon deer… but it’s still too big for me right now.’

[Due to ‘Revelation Discovery,’ the increase in magic power is doubled.]

‘…Oh. Wait a minute. Does that mean?’

[Stamina: 27.8]

[Strength: 25.5]

[Agility: 31.3]

[Mana: 28.0]

‘Wow…’

The steadily accumulated stats have suddenly surged.

I opened and closed my hands.

I don’t feel any overwhelming surge of power in my body.

Honestly, it doesn’t feel much different from usual.

‘I guess I’ll find out when I train later.’

The other stats are not what’s important right now.

Suddenly, my magic power has reached 28.

‘Should I be happy about this or not…?’

Eliza will probably aim for this power.

I’m not sure if having more is necessarily a good thing.

‘At least it’s much clearer than before.’

It’s not as liberating as when I’m fighting.

It feels like a cup filled to the brim with water, almost overflowing but not quite.

Compared to before the fight with Sallaman, it’s a huge improvement.

Back then, I couldn’t even feel this sensation.

‘Well… It’s never a bad thing to get stronger, so it’s probably a good thing.’

Anyway, Eliza is someone I can’t control.

I decided to just accept my changes.

It’s good to be good.

‘I think I can use this when I spar with Gawain next time.’

***

“Oh my, oh dear, goodness…”

Bradley muttered as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

Even so, he busily moved his broom, glancing over at me.

Exactly, it was me and Eliza sitting side by side.

After the time spent petting the moon deer, she said she had something to tell me.

Then she overturned an empty feed trough and sat beside me.

That part was fine, but then Eliza leaned on my shoulder.

‘What’s with her these days, really…?’

More than anything, I hate that my heart races over something like this.

“Today, you know.”

Eliza said.

In a small voice, as if only for me to hear.

“Yes, yes….”

“Gaston tried to snipe you from a distance. He brought a mage.”

…Ah.

That’s why the discovery of the prophecy activated during the battle.

“I was watching to see what he would do, but now I’m going to take care of it. …It could have been dangerous.”

Indeed, to think he brought a mage to carry out his mission.

It really could have been dangerous.

Is this also Barak’s order or not?

“And that knight named Gaston, he was sent by the Moon God Church.”

“…Yes?”

“I don’t know if the Duke knew about it when he sent him, but that’s what happened.”

From the Moon God Church, for Eliza?

…Why on earth?

Could this incident be related to the disappearance of the Moon God Church later on?

“And there’s more…. But it’s a bit hard to say.”

Today, Eliza looked especially forlorn.

She also seemed tired.

Excessive interference from her biological father.

But in the midst of that, one of them is from the Moon God Church.

What kind of life is Eliza surrounded by?

“Judas.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“You…”

Eliza looked at me, stretching her words.

She lifted her head from my shoulder and came close.

So close that I could feel her breath, as we sat close together.

I quietly pulled my head back.

She seemed about to say something, but then she shook her head.

“It’s nothing.”

Then she took my hand.

Her touch was unceremonious.

I couldn’t bring myself to push her away.

“…Hmm?”

Eliza suddenly started feeling my palm.

“It’s rough here.”

“That’s from calluses from training.”

As if curious, she rubbed the calluses with her small hand and pressed them.

She looked just like a curious cat.

‘She’s touching so persistently…. And why are her hands so warm….’

Embarrassed, I blurted out anything.

“Um, well…. Any cadet who trains hard would have these.”

“I’m not interested in other people.”

“……”

She took my other hand and massaged and examined it.

“Doesn’t it hurt?”

“It might hurt a bit before they form, but once they do, it doesn’t feel much. It’s actually more comfortable to have them.”

“Ah, I see…”

Eliza looked alternately at his hand and mine.

Her hands were white and small.

Unlike mine, they were delicate and smooth.

She fiddled with my hand for a long time.

‘It feels like I’m some kind of toy.’

It seemed like it was time for her to leave, as Eliza stood up.

“Are you taking good care of the anemone?”

“I check on it every morning.”

“If you’re lying, you’ll be in trouble.”

“I-I’m not lying…”

I stuttered without realizing it, and Eliza chuckled.

“I know. I’ll be going now.”

“Yes. Have a good night.”

Eliza left with Lia.

Watching her small figure get farther away, a question suddenly occurred to me.

‘…How did she know?’