The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 52.1

I followed Hermes to a refuge near the front lines.

The landscape is desolate.

A dilapidated stone building that looks like it could collapse at any moment.

Tents made of wood and cloth.

Refugees with dirty faces and haggard appearances stared vacantly into space with powerless eyes.

Even though it’s a sunny day, the atmosphere feels gloomy and dark.

“This area is dangerous, so you must stay close to me, Sir Judas,”

Hermes said, as if instructing a child.

“I’m not that naive, you know,”

I grumbled in response, though it was understandable.

This place is close to the front lines.

The concern isn’t about encountering demons.

It’s a place where people are the scariest.

The lingering gazes are sticky.

If I were walking alone, many would approach me with impure intentions.

With the wide robe, it’s hard to guess Hermes’ status.

But the longsword at her waist was enough to prove that she was not just an ordinary swordsman.

I walked nervously, glancing around.

Even though I was an adult in a past life, places like this still scare me.

It’s the kind of neighborhood where you might get stabbed if you’re alone.

Hermes glanced down at me and smirked.

“Would you like to hold my hand?”

“No,”

I firmly refused and kept in step with her.

We are on our way to meet Eurydice.

“Eury probably knows the situation, but it’s still better to meet and explain in person.”

We soon arrived at a relatively intact building.

A fairly large four-story stone building.

There are soldiers guarding the area.

It looks like a military facility or a place where an important person resides.

It also looks like a logistics warehouse.

“Eury is waiting inside.”

The gatekeeper saw Hermes’ face and let us through without a word.

As we entered the building, Hermes whispered.

“This building is run by the guild. There is a place called Jericho nearby, which you said would soon be recaptured, and the guild is providing supplies for that operation.”

Since she spoke in a hushed tone, I nodded slightly.

Jericho is still in the hands of the demons.

Once the Empire retakes it, it will become an important city.

This is the first piece of information I sold.

The information guild used it to send their external business units here.

“But, since it’s guild-owned anyway, do we need to speak quietly?”

“Ears are everywhere, so we must be cautious.”

We climbed to the fourth floor.

Hermes knocked on the door at the end of the corridor.

“Miss Eury…”

Before she could finish speaking, the door swung open.

As if she had been waiting for us.

“Hermes!”

White hair like snow and purple eyes.

It was the same Eurydice who had greeted me before.

But I couldn’t see her clearly.

Mist-like smoke wafted out from inside the room.

Peach-scented mist.

Her figure was blurry in the fog.

Hermes frowned and waved her hand.

“How much have you been smoking, sis?”

Eurydice is a well-known smoker.

The cigarettes she specially modifies emit a peach fragrance.

In other words, this mist is cigarette smoke.

She was smoking when I first met her at the information guild.

She became dependent on cigarettes after separating from Orpheus.

“What can I do? It helps me relax.”

“It’s not good for the kid. Air it out and put on some clothes.”

“So strict…”

Eurydice’s grumbling voice faded.

Hermes waved her hand apologetically.

“I’m sorry. But I hope you’ll excuse this unseemly sight.”

“It’s fine, but what do you mean by ‘unseemly sight’?”

“What? You didn’t see? Eury was only wearing underwear.”

“I’m not curious, don’t want to see it, and it’s an unpleasant sight.”

Unable to resist, Hermes teased me.

Her smug smile was annoying.

When I glared at her, her smile deepened.

‘Do you enjoy teasing someone younger than you?’

Hmm.

Having tried it, I know it’s fun.

But I’m not younger than Hermes, am I?

Physically, yes, but my soul is… Ah, whatever.

Before long, the door opened again.

This time, there was no mist.

She looked exhausted, probably from airing the room out.

Fortunately, she was properly dressed.

I’m so glad I didn’t see that earlier sight.

She smiled awkwardly.

“Ahaha… Sorry for keeping you waiting. It’s been a while since we met. Would you like to come in?”

The room was spacious and luxurious.

It reminded me of a hotel suite.

A large window was wide open.

Hermes and I sat by the window.

It was the best-ventilated spot in the peach-scented room.

Eurydice sat across from us and spoke.

“First, thank you for coming to help.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“How much do you know?”

Eurydice’s real name.

Her relationship with Orpheus, and with Hermes.

“I know as much as necessary.”

I hadn’t heard that she was the guild master.

But that’s not crucial information for solving this case.

Just knowing it myself is enough.

“I see….”

“Don’t worry; I’ll keep it a secret.”

“It’s more about… asking someone so young to do this now….”

Wow, you sure are quick to feel embarrassed.

“You said you had no one else to ask but me anyway.”

“Yes….”

“Since it’s come to this, you need to act confidently. Are you going to be like this in front of your husband too?”

“…….”

Eurydice blushed and lowered her head.

“You seem so confident… it’s like watching a professional.”

Hermes remarked in admiration.

But I’m not a professional; I have no experience or knowledge.

My plan is simple.

Orpheus wants to see Eurydice, and Eurydice feels the same.

So, I’ll just make them meet.

I’ll drag them together if I have to.

After that, they’ll take care of things on their own.

“Please tell me where Orpheus is. I’ll handle the rest.”

***

“Orpheus? It’s been a while.”

I suddenly barged into a tent.

In front of me stood a blond man.

His roughly trimmed beard was short and scruffy.

‘A faint smell of alcohol… the wife smokes, the husband drinks. What a troublesome couple.’

The young man, who would be hard to distinguish from a beggar if he wore rags, looked at me.

“Who… are you?”

“My name is Judas.”

He scratched his head as he looked at my face.

“Yeah… It’s the first time I’ve seen your face, but have we met somewhere before?”

“You helped me a long time ago. You probably don’t remember.”

After parting ways with Eurydice, he wandered around dangerous places helping people.

It was a kind of penance and self-reproach.

By helping others, he tried to divert his attention from the misunderstandings and mistakes between him and Eurydice.

He naturally liked helping people.

Orpheus gave an awkward smile.

“I’m sorry. I can’t remember.”

Given how many people he’s helped, it’s not surprising if he doesn’t remember.

“It’s okay. I didn’t come for you to remember. Actually, there’s someone who wants to meet you.”

“Me? Who?”

“I don’t know either.”

I can’t lie.

But I can at least pretend I don’t know.

“I was just asked to do this.”

“Hmm….”

Orpheus groaned as if troubled.

He was a skilled individual who roamed the front lines alone.

There were a few people who approached him recognizing his value.

Each time, Orpheus refused.

He said he couldn’t dare to accept.

Still, I’m confident I can take him out.

‘He’s weak to children.’

“They said just a quick face-to-face would be fine. They’re not a strange person, but they asked me to do this because they thought you’d feel burdened if approached directly.”

I kept pressing.

Orpheus reluctantly nodded.

“Alright. Lead the way.”

***

What I saw when I took Orpheus to the appointed place was, in many ways, embarrassing.

It’s a skill to make someone feel secondhand embarrassment even if they’re not close to you.

“Hermes! Let go of me! Quickly! I’ll… I’ll come back next time!”

“Stay still!”

Eurydice was struggling, not ready to face Orpheus, and Hermes was holding her back.

“…….”

I felt embarrassed.

I turned my head and pretended not to see.

Orpheus couldn’t do that.

“How…?”

His trembling voice repeated.

I explained.

“The person who wanted to see you is right there.”

“No way…. That’s impossible….”

“…….”

While Orpheus was flustered, Eurydice also noticed us.

She froze as she made eye contact with Orpheus.

A sigh, close to a groan, escaped from her slightly open mouth.

“Ah….”

Neither of them moved from their spots.

They were frozen like statues.

Fearing they would just keep staring at each other forever, I pushed Orpheus’s back.

From the other side, Hermes also pushed Eurydice’s back.

Both, who were dazed, couldn’t resist the sudden force.

They lost their balance and barely stopped in front of each other.

There was a long silence.

They just glanced at each other, their lips moving as if to speak but not making a sound.

Finally, Eurydice spoke first.

“…Orpheus.”

A voice that barely pushed out, suppressing emotions.

She was crying.

The two lovers reunited after crossing a long misunderstanding.

***

While Eurydice and Orpheus were talking, Hermes and I stood at a distance.

Far enough to not hear their conversation, but close enough to see them.

Hermes spoke.

“Thank you, Judas.”

Her smile, watching them, seemed pleased and proud.

“To think those two finally met…. This wouldn’t have been possible without you from start to finish.”

“Well, it was nothing….”

“I will never forget what you’ve done.”

Hermes’s voice suddenly became serious.

“Not just me, but Eurydice will also remember today and be grateful for it for the rest of her life. It’s hard to explain in detail, but considering how much she has suffered, it’s almost like you saved her life.”

It’s not entirely wrong.

In the future I know, Eurydice meets Orpheus again, but in a different form.

Meeting with the Already Deceased Orpheus.

Afterwards, Eurydice goes missing, and later she is also found dead.

Hermes struggles to keep the Information Guild going alone.

Because of this incident, such a future is unlikely.

“I would appreciate it if you remember. I’ll probably have many more favors to ask in the future.”

To escape, I must make full use of the Information Guild.

There’s no harm in earning their favor.

In fact, it might even be useful.

“I will do my best to serve.”

Hermes smiled confidently.

As they exchanged smiles, Orpheus and Eurydice embraced.

Both seemed to be crying, their shoulders shaking.

“Hmm… Sharing your emotions is fine, but shouldn’t you greet Sir Judas first…?”

“It’s okay. Let them be.”

“Thank you for understanding. They’ve probably accumulated a lot over time. We’ve left many misunderstandings unattended due to lack of communication…”

Most problems arise from that very reason.

Lack of communication.

It’s easy to clear up misunderstandings by being honest.

But that brief moment of honesty is difficult, and misunderstandings and misconceptions arise.

Fearing to know the other person’s true feelings, communication is further severed, and ultimately misunderstandings become one’s own convictions.

“Most problems are like that, aren’t they?”

“You speak as if you’ve experienced it yourself?”

Hmm.

I haven’t really experienced such misunderstandings between a man and a woman.

The lack of communication doesn’t only happen between men and women.

“You don’t need to experience it…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence.

Hermes was sharply glaring at something.

Orpheus and Eurydice were still embracing, talking.

Following Hermes’s gaze, I saw an old man standing there.

A shabby hood was pulled down low, revealing a bushy beard underneath.

“What brings you here?”

Hermes asked cautiously.

The old man’s beard moved.

He seemed to smile.

He greeted us politely and said,

“I apologize if I startled you.”

The voice that flowed out was old but firm.

‘…?’

The soft yet powerful voice felt somehow peculiar.

It was hard to pinpoint, but there was an odd familiarity.

It was kind, but somehow reminded me of a scolding voice.

I couldn’t figure it out.

‘Is he someone Judas knows?’

But the old man didn’t seem to recognize me.

“My name is Spenta. I am a child of the light that illuminates the darkness, I am on a pilgrimage.”

The man, who introduced himself as Spenta, pulled something out from his bosom.

A thin platinum chain.

The ivory circle at the end resembled a full moon.

It was a relic of the Moon God.

A pendulum symbolizing the moon.

The guide that illuminates the darkness.

This refers to the moon.

Being called a child of it means he is a believer in the Moon God.

“A pilgrim, I see. My apologies.”

Hermes lowered her head as she relaxed.

Pilgrims are respected regardless of religion.

I also bowed slightly, following her lead.

“I understand. It’s a world where even those who give have to fear others.”

The old man smiled kindly.

“If it’s not too much trouble, could I ask for a favor?”

He was asking if we could provide food or money to buy food.

The purpose of a pilgrim is to fill their heart solely with faith.

They must always be empty-handed.

That is, they should not possess items out of personal greed.

This is a principle observed across all religions.

Therefore, they rely on others for lodging and meals.

‘It’s similar to… what do they call it in Buddhism? Almsgiving or something?’

Anyway, it’s a similar concept.

The only difference is that pilgrims in this world are not ordinary people.

Their divine powers are miracles that an average person might never witness in their lifetime.

Most people willingly give to pilgrims and receive their prayers and divine power in return.

“Of course. I don’t have any food, but I can give you some money.”

Hermes rummaged through her pockets and asked,

“Are you staying here as a military chaplain?”

“Yes. It’s hard to ignore those who are suffering.”

“You are worthy of respect.”

She handed over a few gold coins.

Three florins.

Enough for one meal.

It’s inappropriate to give a pilgrim more than they need.

His gaze turned to me.

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

“Uh… I’m sorry. I don’t have anything in my pockets…”

The old man, who had been looking at me gently, smiled warmly.

“Asking for charity from someone with nothing is called robbery. No need to apologize.”

What is this?

This person… is excessively kind.

He’s like the priest Aquines I met before.

So kind and exemplary that it makes me feel like a terrible person…

“Thank you for your kindness. May your future be bright.”

With a short prayer blessing us, the old man left.

Hermes nodded, watching him go.

“He’s a rare priest these days. A person worthy of respect, regardless of faith.”

“Indeed…”

It was true.

But for some reason, deep down, I felt a resistance to that statement.

‘What is it…?’

I couldn’t figure out my feelings about the old man until the end.

Hermes suddenly looked up at the sky.

“It looks like it’s going to rain.”

A bright day.

Clear skies.

Dark clouds like a flock of sheep are gathering in the distance.

Just as she said.

As if it would rain soon.

***

The pilgrim confirmed the boy.

There was a cold foreboding about him.

It was something resembling the power of God, something that hadn’t existed before.

That’s why it was even more puzzling.

The boy didn’t recognize him.

He only had the gaze of someone observing a stranger.

The boy didn’t carry out his duty.

There was only one conclusion.

‘Eliza’s magic…’

A bastard of the Bevel family.

Unfortunately, she had awakened her ancient innate talent recently.

What if that Eliza had cast a spell manipulating the boy’s mind?

For example, removing his memory.

It was a plausible story.

Mind-altering magic is hard to come by, but she might have used an unknown method or route.

There was a very slim chance that she used the same method as himself.

But why would she do that? What was the purpose?

How much did she know?

There were other questions too.

What was that oppressive aura emanating from the boy?

It was something so thin and faint that it was hard to notice unless one was sensitive to divine power or magic, yet it was chilling and distinct.

The pilgrim, Anggra, who had been staring at the pendulum, set aside his complicated thoughts and succinctly summarized the current situation.

Eliza had kept the child of prophecy alive.

The second attempt had been hurriedly sent, and as expected, had failed, and it indeed failed.

Eliza would be chasing that trail.

They might be caught at any moment.

Anyway, the child of prophecy was alive.

As long as that child was alive, the mission would be accomplished in some way.

Since Eliza had awakened, the existing plan was to be abandoned.

It was time to adjust the plan in coordination with the Imperial family.

First, remove his own memory.

The pilgrim, Anggra, decided so.