The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 51.2

A day had passed since the group training ended.

Today, I was granted free time.

To be precise, all the members of our Room 13 who won could freely rest.

The atmosphere in Room 13 was excited and chaotic.

“Is it special food?”

“Are we getting special food?”

“Right? Tell us it is, quick!”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I answered the question with an obvious answer.

Everyone was half-crazy with excitement.

Room 13 had become the strongest candidate for the first special meal.

There were two reasons for this. First, Room 5 was considered top-notch throughout the entire training center.

In other words, it was a strong candidate for next month’s special meal.

However, due to a recent incident, Room 5 was dismantled.

Vinyl, who used a stone knife against the rules, as well as Sallaman and his followers who caused trouble under Gaston’s orders, were all expected to receive heavy punishment.

One surprising thing was…

“Leo and Cooper?”

“Yeah. For some reason, they just let Dyke and me go.”

This was what Argon, who was guarding Dyke at the time, said.

Leo and Cooper deliberately showed consideration for our team.

The reason was that they didn’t like what Sallaman and his gang were doing.

‘Weren’t they the two guys who blocked my way when I went to see Vinyl before?’

Hmm. It makes me think again.

Those two stood in front of me boldly because they didn’t like me.

I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to call it bold when two people step up against one.

Anyway, at least they didn’t scheme behind the scenes like Sallaman and the others.

“Well, thanks to that, we kind of won, didn’t we? But, Judas, didn’t you say you fought those two?”

“Hmm… I don’t remember saying that.”

“Judging by your hesitation, it must be true.”

Did I just get caught?

Am I that bad at lying?

Yeah, I guess I am.

“There are things you can hear even if you don’t say them. Is it like becoming good-natured after getting hit by you? Like Lindel.”

Lindel, who was beside them, flinched his shoulders.

“Why are you saying that to the hero of this victory?”

“It’s a joke, a joke. Lindel, you’ve grown up a lot.”

“Thank you…”

Lindel scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

I guess I’m becoming this training center’s etiquette enforcer by accident.

“But even Argon senior was like that to me at first…”

“Quiet. It’s not polite to dig up someone’s embarrassing past.”

“Yes, sir.”

After chatting about this and that, we had breakfast and left the room to exercise.

As I was leaving, Richard muttered behind my back.

“He’s definitely crazy…”

“Please call him diligent and exemplary.”

“If it’s do it much, you’re crazy. Doesn’t your body hurt?”

Richard was suffering from the aftermath of the last group training, saying his body hurt all over from being hit.

Richard wasn’t the only one.

It seemed like most of Room 13 had decided to take it easy and rest for the day.

“The doctor kept telling us to rest. Especially you, he specifically pointed out.”

Hmm… I did get scolded that time.

He told me not to act like I was going to die tomorrow.

And then I asked if it was okay to do some light rehabilitation exercises, and he hit me on the back.

Of course, just because I got hit doesn’t mean I won’t do it.

“It hurts less when you train while in pain. In that sense, let’s…”

“Just go. You’re scary…”

I laughed at Richard, who was shaking his head, and left the room.

***

While taking a break after lunch, someone from outside the training center called for me.

It was Hermes.

“What’s the matter?”

“Are you busy today?”

“Not particularly.”

I had planned some self-training for the afternoon, but I could skip it if necessary.

I realized while exercising in the morning that my body wasn’t in perfect condition either.

I was debating whether to rest since my whole body hurt.

I know I am not supposed to exercise when I am in pain, but I get anxious if I skip even a day.

Even after hearing my answer, Hermes didn’t immediately state her business.

She was unusually hesitant and fidgety.

I waited patiently.

Until she was ready.

Her brown eyes wandered as if in deep thought.

She played with the ends of her simply tied brown hair, and finally spoke.

“Do you remember asking me if something was wrong before?”

“Yes, I remember. You’ve been looking worried lately.”

“Haha… I shouldn’t have made you worry. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s nothing to apologize for. Everyone has something to worry about at some point in their lives.”

At my calm response, Hermes looked at me for a moment and then smiled.

A light wrinkle formed on her freckled nose.

“Sometimes I forget how old you are when I talk to you, Judas.”

“I hear that a lot.”

“I have a favor to ask, related to that time.”

“If it’s something I can help with, why not? Let’s do it.”

Hermes, who serves both as Eliza’s assigned bodyguard and an attendant sent by the Information Guild.

There’s no harm in maintaining a good relationship with her.

“However… this is a highly confidential matter. It’s not that we don’t trust you, Judas, but we must ensure strict confidentiality…”

The message was delivered with great caution.

What could this be about?

Curious, I asked.

“Just to confirm, is this dangerous?”

“I swear on my honor that you won’t be in any danger, Judas. However, I must warn you in advance that you’ll have to get close to a dangerous area. But I promise I’ll protect you, no matter what.”

“Well, isn’t that reassuring…”

Hermes’ gaze was not just reassuring but almost solemn.

To the point where it felt a bit overwhelming.

‘Just how important is this…?’

My contemplation didn’t last long.

“Hermes, you know I can’t lie, right?”

“Yes. You can’t lie to the point where it’s worrying.”

“…Is it that bad?”

Hermes didn’t answer.

She just smiled quietly.

That was answer enough.

“Anyway, as you know, I’m incapable of lying. So I’ll just be honest. Whatever you ask, I won’t tell anyone about it. I’ll keep it absolutely secret.”

I looked her straight in the eyes as I spoke.

Hermes met my gaze with a serious expression.

After a few seconds of staring at each other, Hermes smiled slightly.

“Thank you, Judas.”

It seemed my sincerity had gotten through.

“So, what do you need help with?”

“I’ll explain as we go. It’s not actually that difficult… but you’re the only one I can ask for this. It’s something only you can do.”

“The more I hear, the more uneasy I feel.”

“There’s no need to worry.”

“So, where are we going?”

I had to ask the next question.

“We’re going to the front line.”

“…Excuse me?”

“We need to go to a refugee village near the front line.”

“……”

Is it really safe?

***

Even though today is a day off, leaving the training camp without permission isn’t allowed.

But that doesn’t apply to me.

Hermes used her authority to get me out of the training camp.

Since it was a long distance, we took a train.

Though I’d experienced trains in games, riding one in real life was a new experience.

It was a train with compartments separated like rooms.

It must have been an expensive cabin, as the interior was quite comfortable and cozy.

The scenery passing by outside was also worth watching.

The delicate green of spring starting to emerge after winter’s end.

Hermes explained during the journey.

As I’d heard, it really wasn’t that dangerous.

“I heard that you know ‘the Sun that rises at night.'”

“Yes, well, to some extent.”

Hermes looked at me for a moment.

It seemed like she had made up her mind, with a determined look in his eyes.

“I will speak honestly. The Sun that rises at night and Eurydice, whom she was searching for, were married. They were indeed a couple. And, Eurydice is the blind star dealing with Sir Judas.”

“…Yes, yes? Really?”

I pretended to be surprised even though I knew.

Why is she telling me this information?

“Yes, it’s true. And the name of ‘the Sun that rises at night’ is Orpheus… but I assume Sir Judas already knows that.”

I had lied about knowing him.

So, of course, I must know his real name.

And I do know it, in fact.

“Anyway, due to conflicts and misunderstandings between their families, they had to live apart. By the time Eurydice realized it was a misunderstanding, it was already too late. She searched for Orpheus for a long time but heard nothing. Then Sir Judas brought that information.”

Up to this point, it was all information I already knew.

I listened silently.

“Thanks to Sir Judas, Yuri… oh, ‘Yuri’ is a nickname for Eurydice. And one more thing, I am a relative of Yuri.”

Since she started speaking, she continued without hesitation, revealing more important facts.

I responded with a moderately surprised reaction, acting seriously.

“Anyway, Yuri did find Orpheus. That was several weeks ago.”

“That’s good news.”

“Yes, it certainly is good news. However, for several weeks, Yuri couldn’t go see Orpheus.”

“…Yes? What do you mean?”

As I listened further, it became clear.

Eurydice desperately wanted to meet Orpheus.

And Orpheus felt the same way.

But Eurydice doesn’t know that Orpheus feels the same.

Perhaps I’m the only one who knows Orpheus’s feelings.

So, Eurydice is scared.

She’s afraid that Orpheus might push her away.

That all the searching she did might have been for nothing.

Even though I subtly hinted that he was looking for her, she couldn’t overcome her fear.

“I understand Yuri’s concerns. But if we leave things as they are, they might never meet. No matter how scared she is, even if the result is a complete break, I think they should face each other.”

They chose me as the mediator.

I lied about knowing Orpheus, and they believed it.

“Indeed, I might be the only suitable person for this.”

The identity of Eurydice.

And the relationship between Eurydice and Orpheus.

This is something that needs to be revealed.

There wouldn’t have been anyone else to take on this task but me, who personally knows Orpheus.

“Even though it’s a lie… there’s a way.”

I’ve ended up playing the role of a messenger of love, but it’s not something I can’t do.

“Are you sure of the location?”

“Yes. Yuri is also nearby.”

“Alright. Let me show you something.”

As I reassured her, Hermes smiled as if relieved.

“Thank you.”

***

“Thank you. Truly, thank you, Father.”

In a village near the front line where an endless war with the demons rages on.

An old woman, holding a child, bowed her head repeatedly.

“I don’t know how I can repay this grace….”

The priest, wearing a worn-out robe, shook his head with a gentle smile.

“I only did what I ought to do.”

“Thank you…. I will pray that your pilgrimage is blessed with a smooth and bright journey.”

“That alone is enough.”

The priest helped the wounded as he traveled around.

He healed wounds with a divine power that the common people could rarely experience in their lifetime.

It had been weeks since he fled under the pretense of a pilgrimage.

Beneath his benevolent smile, he hid a sense of impatience and anxiety.

‘He’s alive. How could this be….’

A few days ago, he received news from a herald.

The shocking news that the blade he had chosen and nurtured was alive.

He had thought he was dead.

The nameless priest, who came to this village under the name of ‘pilgrim,’ wandered around.

He hid his anxious heart.

Then, without realizing it, his gaze was drawn to something.

A cold and eerie energy.

It felt like some intangible aura, sharp as a crescent moon.

There stood a boy.

His tidy appearance didn’t fit with the village, nor did it match the image of the boy when he first saw him.

But he recognized him clearly.

Black hair.

Golden eyes as vivid as those of a beast.

It was the symbol of the child of revelation mentioned in the scriptures.

Next to the boy stood a woman, who was a knight.

Her wide robe, reaching down to her ankles, made it impossible to discern her affiliation.

However, the sleek longsword at her waist was unmistakably a symbol of a knight.

Such a fine piece was not something a mediocre mercenary would possess.

The woman spoke.

“This area is dangerous, so please stay close to me, Sir Judas.”

The boy grumbled.

“I’m not that much of a child.”

The pilgrim’s eyes did not leave the two as they walked away.