The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 64

[Name: Judas Defecit]

[Age: 18]

[Origin: Slave]

[Stamina: 52.0]

[Strength: 45.5]

[Agility: 46.9]

[Mana: 45.0]

[Skill List]

-Stealthy Footsteps, Weaponization of Objects, Swordsmanship and Shield (Lv.15), Hunter’s Sense, Survival Expert, Revelation Discovery, Horsemanship.

A few weeks before the final test.

I glanced over my status window as a check.

It’s already been five years since I arrived here.

I haven’t escaped yet.

Whether I couldn’t or simply didn’t is hard to distinguish, but for whatever reason, I’m still by Eliza’s side.

There are various reasons for this, but primarily, the relationship between Eliza and me is…

…not bad.

It’s hard to imagine a tragedy so severe that it would choke me to death.

The second reason is that the time for that tragedy has not yet come.

But lately, I have felt like that time is drawing near.

The vague vision of a tragic end involving both Eliza and me, both now adults, seems eerily similar to the present.

‘Is it time to decide what to do soon…?’

Anyway, a lot has changed in the past five years, but surprisingly, much has remained the same.

First of all, my skills haven’t changed significantly.

In the early days after entering the training camp, I got involved in several incidents and acquired a variety of skills.

However, after settling down and being acknowledged, there were no more such incidents.

It wasn’t smooth sailing.

There were many twists and turns, but I managed to get through them somehow.

As a result, only one new skill, Horsemanship, was added over the past five years.

Instead, my existing skills have grown considerably.

Before I knew it, my Swordsmanship and Shield level had surpassed double digits.

My stats had no choice but to improve significantly.

I have always trained voluntarily and frequently, so they rose quickly.

All these changes are visible only to me.

Something else stood out.

—Shaaah….

The pouring water is cold.

It cools down my body, heated from the morning training.

A foggy mark on the mirror.

I wipe it away with my hand.

A mirror that used to barely reflect my upper body.

Now, it shows my entire body.

A physique that fills the mirror.

I recall the first time I checked the mirror when I came here.

A small boy stood in front of it.

Literally, just skin and bones.

A body that has accumulated small scars and marks from grueling training and missions.

What stands out even more is the solidly built muscles.

‘Last time I checked, I was 186 cm tall and weighed 89 kg.’

I’ve developed almost the same physique as in my previous life.

The result of eating well, resting well, and exercising diligently.

Repeating what I had done once before was tough, but somehow, I managed.

“Hey, Judas.”

The shower room is one of the places where cadets frequently run into each other.

The one calling me is Leo.

A cadet who blocked my way five years ago when I went to find that Vinyl guy.

Because of what Sallaman did back then, Room 5 got kicked out collectively.

Two of them remained.

Leo and Cooper.

They avoided being expelled because they hadn’t been involved in what Sallaman and Gaston did.

Back then, we didn’t get along, but we’ve grown quite close since then.

“Not much time left before the final test, right?”

“About a week, I think.”

“Will you pass in one go again this time?”

So far, I’ve passed every test on the first attempt without failing.

“I’ll try to, if possible.”

“It’s impressive just to be able to say that.”

In the beginning, I fought a lot.

I have a personality that can’t back down if provoked.

After flipping over a few times, the fights became less frequent.

Since then, I’ve gotten along reasonably well with cadets from other rooms, including Cooper, who had blocked the way with Leo.

There are quite a few cadets with whom I don’t have a bad relationship.

“Well, you did rise to second place in the training camp in one go, so it makes sense.”

And now, I have become the second-strongest cadet in this training camp.

“We’re all looking forward to it, not just me but the others, too.”

Up until now, no cadet who became Eliza’s escort knight had reached the position I currently hold.

There wasn’t a single candidate who passed the final test.

There were even rumors circulating.

That Eliza had no intention of selecting a Escort knight.

That he deliberately set up an impossible test to make everyone give up on their own.

‘Well… I’m not sure if that’s true.’

Anyway.

The reason they’re pinning their hopes on me is simple.

If even I become a Escort knight, it will prove that those rumors are a blatant lie.

“My shoulders feel heavy.”

I don’t know whether to be glad about having such good relationships.

‘After all, I….’

***

After washing up, I was told that someone was looking for me.

“Sir Judas! Over here!”

Outside the training grounds.

A woman waved her hand from afar.

The authoritative black uniform of a knight from the Bevel family.

Her brown hair and freckles stood out in contrast with the rest.

“Why do you seem taller than yesterday?”

She stood on her tiptoes to look at my head.

Hermes.

There was a time when I had to look up at her, but now I looked down.

“If I grew that much in a day, I’d be more of a bamboo shoot than a person.”

“When I think back to the day we first met, you did seem like a bamboo shoot….”

Hermes still follows me as my guard.

Because Barak’s surveillance isn’t over yet.

Barak no longer poses a direct threat as he used to.

Instead, he watches.

Whenever I go out, Hermes warns me.

Someone is always watching.

I’m trailed at all times.

According to Shylock, there are people even within the training grounds watching me.

Shylock also received such orders.

Fortunately, Barak has not yet discovered that Shylock is a double agent.

‘But it’s strange. After the Sallaman and Gaston incident, I heard Eliza personally reshuffled the personnel inside the training grounds….’

Yet suspicious people remain within the training grounds.

Maybe it’s something even Eliza couldn’t handle.

After all, I don’t know everything about Eliza’s affairs.

“Five years is enough time to grow this much.”

“Not usually… but seeing it makes me envious. I wish I could grow just a bit more.”

“You’re already tall enough.”

Hermes is taller than most women her age.

By a rough guess, about 173 cm?

“Still, there are times when you think that way while working as a knight. Anyway, that’s not the important topic. Regarding the land ownership you mentioned before….”

Hermes took out a file from her bosom.

While I skimmed through it, she continued.

“It’s been finalized. From now on, a portion of the Jericho territory will belong to you, Sir Judas, in the division outlined below.”

I had made contact with the information guild early on and assisted them.

For one purpose.

To secure a place to stay after fleeing this place.

And now, the result was right before my eyes.

A territory reclaimed by the advance of humanity.

Jericho.

The information guild bought it, and I bought a part of that land from them.

It greatly helped that I had connected Eurydice and Orpheus.

‘About a quarter of the entire size of Jericho.’

Enough space to build a house and still have plenty left.

‘…Running away.’

Tragedy. Eliza.

Is it the right decision to run away, leaving her behind…?

“Sir Judas?”

“Yes?”

“Is something troubling you? You don’t look pleased.”

“…Oh, no. It’s just….”

I had unconsciously furrowed my brow.

I smiled as if it was nothing, trying to brush it off.

“I was just thinking about what to build on this land.”

It wasn’t just an empty remark.

I bought land, not a house.

And this was land that had only recently been reclaimed.

There isn’t a house worthy of being called one.

“Oh, is that so? Eurydice just happens to have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal?”

“Yes. She plans to build a wall around Jericho and form a city.”

Hermes moved closer.

She placed her finger on the map I was holding and traced an imaginary line.

“Right now, I’m thinking of a design that encloses the center like this. But originally, I had a larger circle in mind. Like this.”

Hermes drew a bigger circle.

“But for this, we need Judas’s approval.”

“Since it encroaches on my land, that’s correct.”

“If you grant permission, compensation will be provided. We’ve also offered to consider any other requests you might have that could benefit you.”

It was a tempting offer.

In fact, the Jericho I know from the future is also a fortified city surrounded by large walls.

“I like it.”

“I’ll inform Eury right away. Is there anything else you desire?”

“I’d like to have a house…”

“Do you have any specific conditions in mind? Like the style or size?”

“Not really. Not yet.”

“Understood.”

Hermes jotted down the message to be sent to Eurydice.

Watching him, I silently sighed.

The plan to escape is coming together step by step.

In fact, it’s almost complete.

Now, I could leave this place anytime I decide to.

I have the strength to do so.

I’ve also secured a place to stay.

I’ve grown close enough with the information guild that they can help conceal my identity and whereabouts.

‘But…’

The final test, just a few weeks away.

What should I do?

***

Today’s official training at the training camp is relatively easy.

It’s a kind of theory class.

It’s about how to behave when serving a master as a Escort Knight.

The mindset you should have in such situations, and so on.

They check how you act when escorting a random target in a carriage.

A Escort Knight is practically an accessory to a noble.

So, they too are expected to uphold dignity and manners.

This is the time I dislike the most.

‘I could be doing a few sets of pull-ups during this time.’

But just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean I can skip it.

The path to the training grounds was bustling.

The schedule was divided according to each group, based on the candidates’ skills and the tests they had passed.

Only the top candidates could participate in this training.

So, the ones chattering around me must be top candidates like myself.

“Isn’t it enough that we won? We cut off that bear’s head, so why does the process matter so much?”

Richard.

“Making decisions based only on results isn’t good. By refining the process in detail, we can increase the success rate if a similar situation arises again….”

Dylan.

“Come on, stop fighting already. That mission ended a while ago.”

And, Lindel.

They’re ranked 3rd, 5th, and 10th in the training camp, respectively.

The topic they’ve been heatedly debating for weeks is our last mission.

The mission where the four of us hunted a bear.

Not just any bear, but a monstrous bear that had grown enormous due to the influence of mana.

It was probably bigger than a four-seater carriage.

Even the ones who looked as young as me have grown up by now.

Richard is about the same height as me, and the other two are slightly shorter.

There’s not much difference.

It’s because we’ve been almost exclusively enjoying the special meals provided by Eliza in Room 13 for the past five years.

There are several reasons, but primarily, our room hasn’t seen any changes in members.

We’ve stayed together, honed our skills, and cooperated well, making it easier to win special meals.

As a result, we’ve been eating well, growing stronger than others, and winning more easily, creating a virtuous cycle.

“Hey, Lindel. It’s not like I want to fight, but just thinking about this guy nitpicking makes me angry, so what can I do?”

“So, you’re saying you couldn’t control your emotions and got angry just from imagining it?”

“Anyway, it’s your fault!”

“Honestly, if Judas hadn’t intervened at that moment, you would’ve been seriously injured.”

“Hmm….”

At that point, Richard fell silent.

This is how their arguments always end.

Back then, Richard recklessly charged in and lost his balance.

The bear’s massive paw came down fiercely on him.

A paw as big as a person’s upper body.

And I barely managed to step in and block it.

“Well, that’s true….”

“Be forever grateful.”

I said in an exaggeratedly solemn voice.

In response, Richard chuckled and exaggeratedly bowed his head as well.

“Yes, yes, thank you very much.”

And so, the pointless argument finally subsided.

“…This atmosphere feels strange.”

As soon as we arrived at the location, Lindel muttered under his breath.

He was right.

There was a tense atmosphere for some reason.

Especially the knight in charge of training seemed stiff.

He gestured for us to come closer when he saw us.

“Before today’s training begins, there’s something I need to announce.”

At his next words, my body stiffened.

“Lady Eliza has informed us that she will be observing today’s training.”

As my plans to escape became more concrete, I grew more uncomfortable with facing her.

I wasn’t sure what this feeling was.

It resembled guilt.

When I look at her, it feels like someone is stabbing a corner of my heart.

So I try not to see her too often, if possible.

But things don’t always go as I wish.

We live under the same roof, after all.

Maybe it’s because the purchase of Jericho’s territory has been confirmed, but it feels even more uncomfortable.

I have to run away.

I had decided I would.

Because Eliza is a villain.

I might even die because of her.

But now, five years later…

I had no choice but to admit it.

She is not the villain I once knew.

As an illegitimate child with many enemies, she must have handled a lot of dirty work.

Perhaps she could be called a villain.

But she is not the madwoman I once knew.

She is not a murderer, nor an arsonist.

Why did she change?

After much thought, I could only arrive at one conclusion.

A conclusion that is very arrogant and presumptuous.

Because I intervened.

I don’t know the exact reason, but somehow, she changed because of me.

Still, is it right for me to leave her like this?

In hindsight, though this is merely speculative…

Looking back,

Everything—being able to grow up to this age, having a place where I could feel a sense of belonging and live safely—all of it was thanks to Eliza.

I can’t help but be grateful to her.

‘…Is that really the only reason?’

We’ve been together for a long five years.

She still feeds me, and sometimes even crawls into my bed at night.

Eliza still seems clueless about romantic love.

I quickly guessed the reason for her slightly abnormal reaction.

Sardis.

The horror she almost experienced that day became a trauma, leaving a scar in Eliza’s mind.

Because of that, Eliza unconsciously rejects anything related to romantic or physical affection.

That’s what I thought.

However, there’s one problem.

‘Not me…! Sorry, but I’m completely normal…! Oh, seriously!’

It’s maddening whenever she grabs my hand or hugs me out of the blue.

Especially when we sleep together.

Of course, Eliza doesn’t care much about my situation.

It’s frustrating for various reasons.

Even though there was that first tragedy, somehow, at some point, I…

“Ah…”

At that moment, someone shouted.

“Lady Eliza has arrived!”

Everyone lowered their stance and turned their gaze toward one spot.

My head turned in that direction, too.