The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 68

The second son of the Bevel family.

Levi read the document and pondered deeply.

It was the same document that Jezebel had read.

It had arrived from Lia.

Tracking the Sun Statue that Eliza worships.

Three people were participating in this matter.

Hazel, Judas, and Richard.

A tempting bait.

If things go well, they could seize the Sun Statue.

Additionally, they could eliminate the three strongest current candidates for knight escorts.

At first glance, based on Lia’s information, it certainly seems that way.

‘Is that really the case?’

However, Levi did not accept it at face value.

He was born with a frail body.

To stand as a child of the Bevel family with a weak physique, he had to use his wits accordingly.

He excelled in understanding, analyzing, reassembling information, and then using it to manipulate people.

That was his only way to survive.

Ever since Eliza took Narcissa away and essentially opposed the Bevel family, he had been steadily gathering information on Eliza.

‘First of all, that second-in-command Judas. He’s not an ordinary guy.’

A candidate favored by Eliza.

According to the information obtained, it is likely more than just simple favoritism.

Anyway.

He’s no ordinary candidate.

It may be due to growing up in the training facilities of the Moon Church and passing through Judeca.

‘Even before that, he supposedly lived near the Demon Realm. At such a young age, to survive in that place, if it’s not a lie, he’s no ordinary human.’

The results are gradually becoming apparent as he grows.

The number and difficulty of missions he performs as a candidate are already at a level close to that of a formal knight.

‘Richard, the one closely trailing him, is the same. As for this guy Hazel, strangely, information about him is concealed, but he’s not much different.’

The shadow units are not exclusive to Barak.

His children each have their own shadow units.

They don’t have notable names like the Black Spot, and they’re much weaker compared to the Black Spot, but still, they are quite useful.

According to the information sent by Lia, it seems that these three could be dealt with using just the children’s shadow units.

That’s how it was written.

But when compared with the information Levi had, it’s impossible.

Those three cannot be handled with just the children’s shadow units.

‘Maybe if we joined forces, but that’s not going to happen. By the way, does Eliza have a knack for attracting people? Where did he find these monstrous fellows?’

Levi anticipated.

‘Jezebel. She will take this bait.’

‘Cain. My brother wouldn’t care. He’s too busy training to confront Eliza’s power directly.’

‘Then I will.’

Not take the bait.

Nor inform Jezebel.

To verify his suspicions, he still needs a sacrifice to take the bait.

‘Lia… something’s fishy.’

Looking back, this wasn’t the first time.

During the proceedings, Lia constantly leaked information to her siblings.

Things that seemed like clues that would make the proceedings favorable.

Or what Eliza was recently preparing.

Things to be wary of or not.

‘The result was always a loss. If you dissect each instance, Lia’s information has never actually been helpful.’

Even when questioned, Lia always evaded skillfully with excuses.

She claimed she did not mean to convey it that way.

There seemed to be some misunderstanding in the communication process.

‘Indeed, the information she brought was always rather ambiguous. It sounded like it would be helpful, but even if it didn’t end up being useful, there was no logical flaw… things like that.’

If she is not competent, why did Barak keep Lia by Eliza’s side?

If she is competent, why handle things this way?

‘I need to check all previous records.’

Levi immediately instructed his secretary.

To bring all the records Lia had reported to Narcissa before.

***

Eliza looked at the back of Judas as he departed.

‘He’ll be alright….’

Her gaze soon shifted to the side.

Hazel.

The current top rank in the training center.

Different emotions quickly filled her compared to when she looked at Judas.

‘That’s probably… the chess pieces they use.’

Why did Judas have to participate in this test of all times?

I had expected it.

I could have guessed based on Judas’s growth rate.

But that didn’t mean I could delay my plans.

So, I proceeded with today’s task as planned.

It felt a bit uncomfortable, having to use Judas in this way.

In truth, there was no reason to feel uncomfortable.

It wasn’t the first time I had used others for my purposes.

Keeping Judas close, seeking him out, and clinging to him were all part of my strategy.

Still, it felt like a stone was rolling around in a corner of my heart.

That’s why I stayed up all night crafting the artifact.

There’s been no word from the Tower this week, but I’ve gathered other useful information.

The artifact creation method was part of that.

“The holy relic is just bait. I’ve let some information slip, and there are plenty of ears around to catch it.”

It was true that I had more allies than before.

However, that didn’t mean I could trust them all.

Eliza made no effort to filter them out.

Letting the enticing information flow naturally.

“I don’t know who will take the bait, but no side will be able to harm Judas at this level. …And just in case, I gave him that item. It should be fine…”

Judas probably wouldn’t be able to retrieve the holy relic.

It wasn’t a test designed for that.

If I wanted to use this test as an opportunity, I had no choice.

Judas’s appointment as a knight was postponed.

I felt oddly regretful about that.

“…!”

And then, belatedly, a new worry crossed my mind.

“When… will he return?”

This test had no set deadline.

And knowing Judas’s personality, he would persistently search for the holy relic, no matter what.

In other words, I didn’t know when Judas would return.

In the worst case, I wouldn’t see his face for more than two days.

“…….”

We had spent five years under the same roof.

We’d never been apart for more than a day.

And this was the first time we’d been so physically distant.

Eliza had to make a conscious effort to calm the heart that trembled with anxiety.

***

The final test with no deadline.

Of course, it wasn’t within walking distance.

There was no train route either.

Thus, one had to ride a horse.

However, I didn’t have a horse of my own.

Neither did Richard or Hazel.

Around here, a knight-worthy horse is outrageously expensive.

They call them ‘warhorses,’ and a single one is about the price of a decent house.

In modern terms, a warhorse is like a sports car.

Fortunately, Eliza agreed to lend us some warhorses.

Everyone except me.

Because I don’t need a horse.

“Oh wow, every time I see it, I’m amazed!”

Bradley, the stableman of Eliza’s estate, was waiting for us outside.

“Didn’t it grow even more since yesterday? Hmm?”

“No way. It’s probably just because I’m wearing armor.”

We’re heading into dangerous territory.

Naturally, I’m heavily armed for the occasion.

I saved up the money I earned from previous assignments.

When it wasn’t quite enough, I withdrew some funds from what I had deposited with the Information Guild.

If my equipment looked too advanced, Eliza might suspect the source of the money, so I kept it moderate.

The chest, shoulders, and hands were armored with plate metal, while the rest was covered with chainmail or sturdy leather.

I still couldn’t afford a full plate armor.

“This level of gear should be sufficient.”

It looked a bit patchwork, but it was a combination carefully selected by the Information Guild.

I also had a heavy iron sword and shield.

Because of the armor, I might appear bulkier than usual.

“Haha! That makes sense. With your build, you look like you could take down an orc with your bare hands!”

“If I ever have to fight with my bare hands, I’ll be sure to try.”

I made a light joke, and he burst into hearty laughter.

Bradley was here to lend us the horses.

He brought two warhorses.

One for Hazel, and one for Richard.

I didn’t need a horse.

The reason being…

“Yuel!”

The large and sturdy beast standing behind Bradley.

The moon deer leapt toward me in bounds as I called.

“Yuel.”

It’s a name Eliza gave a few years ago.

I don’t know the meaning.

One day, he just suddenly decided on it.

“Oh, good, yes, yes, that’s right.”

Yuel, who had run over, eagerly pushed its face toward me.

Whenever we come out together, it seems especially excited.

“Oh, you like that, yeah, yeah.”

When I pet it, it gets even more excited, pushing its face closer.

I had to brace myself not to be knocked over.

When I first brought it home, it wasn’t fully grown.

As I grew, so did it.

It now rivals the size of a decent military horse.

When it lifts its head normally, its eyes are higher than mine.

I petted its neck and naturally climbed onto its back.

The custom-made saddle and stirrups fit me perfectly.

That’s why I don’t need an expensive breed of horse.

I just ride Yuel.

“Ah, I’m so jealous I could die.”

Richard grumbled as he approached, mounted on his horse.

“It’s hard to find even one horse, and you’re riding a divine creature. Isn’t that just too unfair?”

Yuel, the moon deer, isn’t an ordinary animal.

In the Moon God’s faith, it is even revered as a sacred beast.

A divine creature.

Now that Yuel has grown, it understands me to some extent.

It can even adjust its direction and speed without being told.

Therefore, Yuel doesn’t wear a bit.

A slight touch on its antlers is enough.

For convenience, I only put a rein on its face.

Surprisingly, it seems to like the reins.

It enjoys being led when we go for walks.

‘A truly giving creature, indeed.’

I scratched near the moon deer’s neck and replied to Richard.

“So, you should have trusted me and kept following me during the hunting competition. Who knows? You might have found a moon deer too, senior.”

During the hunting competition five years ago, Richard and Dylan started by following me.

They said they trusted my luck.

But when the results didn’t come quickly, they left on their own.

‘Not that I can guarantee they would’ve found another moon deer if they’d stayed.’

Richard let out a deep sigh.

“How was I supposed to know…?”

“Consider it a crime to have not trusted your reliable junior.”

While we were chatting, Hazel took off without a word.

Richard clicked his tongue as he watched him go.

“Seriously, what a weird guy.”

“If we don’t want to be late, we should start too.”

“Yeah, let’s give it a go. No hard feelings, whoever wins?”

“Just don’t complain and call it insubordination when I win, senior.”

“When did I ever say that?”

“When you said….”

“Just get going, junior.”

I chuckled and nudged Yuel forward.

Richard quickly caught up beside me.

“Don’t get hurt.”

“You be careful too, senior.”

We rode at a similar speed.

The final test had begun.

***

We advanced without obstruction.

There were obstacles, though.

Thugs blocking the path.

A band of bandits setting up camp in the woods.

As we neared the demonic realm, not only human enemies but also monsters appeared.

Simple ones like goblins and orcs.

However, thanks to me, we were able to pass by without confronting them.

The instincts of a hunter and a survival expert.

And Yuel’s animal intuition.

All combined, we avoided danger.

Though we reluctantly faced some, none were enough to stop Richard and me.

A few days later, as we were about to enter the demonic realm, we parted ways.

We decided to move separately near the area marked on the map.

Only one person would pass the test.

It’s impossible for everyone to pass together.

‘Hmm. I feel a bit sorry. In the end, I’m the one who’s going to pass.’

Still, well, since I’m going to pass, I can’t just tell them not to.

Richard will handle it on his own.

I don’t know about Hazel.

Anyway, since I’ve parted ways with Richard, I have to camp out alone.

Strictly speaking, I’m not alone.

I have Yuel with me.

There is no clear boundary that distinctly separates the land of humans from the land of demons.

Except for the front lines, other areas are ambiguous.

The forest where I’m camping is one of those places.

It lies at the border between the two lands.

You never know what enemies might appear around here.

It’s cold as the sun sets, but it’s bearable.

“It’s nice and warm.”

Thanks to Yuel.

I leaned against Yuel’s body, which was curled up on the ground.

With its warm body heat, it wasn’t cold.

“Hoo…”

My breath scatters in white puffs.

The night sky opens up above the tall coniferous trees.

Scattered stars twinkle.

It’s a view I couldn’t have seen in the place I originally lived.

I suddenly become curious.

‘If I use the Sun Statue here, could I return to the original world?’

It’s as hard to use as it is to obtain.

Right now, even if I had it, it would only be a finely crafted statue.

If I ask myself whether I want to go back or not, well…

Honestly, I’m not sure anymore.

Maybe because I’ve adapted too well to life here.

‘Eliza is here too…’

…Not that it matters, but if I become a knight, it would be troublesome to suddenly go somewhere without Eliza….

‘…What am I even thinking?’

Still, I can’t help but wonder.

Why did I end up in such a place?

Is there no way to return?

It’s a worry I’ve pondered often over the past five years.

I always reach the same conclusion.

There’s nothing I can do about it.

So, I just focus on what I can do now.

‘I wonder if Eliza is doing well.’

She probably wouldn’t even eat properly without me.

She already has a lot of work, so why does she skip meals so often?

At least she doesn’t starve completely like when she was a child.

Even without me, she’s learned to manage a minimum diet on her own.

How admirable.

‘Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve been separated from Eliza like this.’

It feels uncomfortable and awkward somehow.

But it won’t take long.

Since I remember both the location and the method, I must resolve it as quickly as possible and return.

…It’s best to finish things quickly if possible.

There’s no other special reason or meaning. Really.

‘It’s a full moon.’

No wonder Yuel seems so lively today.

Yuel curled halfway around me as if to shield me, resting her head on my legs.

Her breathing was steady, as if she was about to fall asleep.

I stroked her horn and closed my eyes too.

“Sleep well.”

Her short tail fluttered as if in response.

***

“Kyiing- keeng…”

A sound that was a mix of a dog, a cow, a sheep, and a whistle.

Something hard, thick, and blunt was poking my face.

“What is it…?”

When I opened my eyes, Yuel was waking me up.

She was nudging me with her horn.

It was still dawn.

“It’s not time to wake up…”

I stopped scratching her neck to soothe her and froze.

Instinctively, I held my breath.

Something caught in my widely spread senses.

It was a faint vibration, like something had disturbed a thin, transparent spiderweb.

I looked warily in the direction of the dark forest.

I carefully placed my hand on my sword.

‘Someone’s there.’

Correction.

Someone is approaching.