The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 77

“Sir Gawain, are you crying?”

I asked because Gawain’s reaction to hearing the news of my success seemed strange.

He faced away from me, exaggerating a series of fake coughs.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Then, as if it couldn’t be more obvious that he had been crying, he sniffled and spoke.

“Don’t, don’t talk nonsense.”

He cried. He really cried.

‘Turns out he’s pretty sentimental.’

I decided to pretend not to notice.

Without looking at my face, he took a sip of water.

Only then did his voice return to normal.

“Can I see it here, just once?”

“Sure, why not.”

Instead of gripping a sword hilt, I held a pen.

It’s much easier to manifest this than to recreate a hilt from my bare hands.

I do it the same way as before.

I imbue the object with magic.

When it’s full to the brim, the magic overflows, becoming visible externally.

The magic coats the surface of the object.

This is the principle of the sword aura.

And if I pile it up more precisely, with a larger amount…

“Oh ho…”

A pale ivory light rose from the pencil, like a sword.

However, it was a bit smaller and less stable than before.

‘Is it because my magic stat has decreased?’

“Impressive.”

“It was better back then though…”

“There’s no need to feel disappointed. It’s already more than enough. Besides, you’ve always been stronger in actual combat than in practice.”

That’s not wrong either.

Satisfied, I retracted the magic from Gawain.

‘Not something I’d want to do often.’

I had reforged the sword in less than a day.

Though I didn’t show it outwardly, my entire body was tingling with pain.

“You’ve accomplished an unbelievable feat.”

“Luck was on my side.”

That wasn’t just humility.

If it hadn’t been for the holy relic I knew, I might not have passed.

“Luck favors the prepared.”

“I owe it to Sir Gawain’s diligent teaching.”

“Hmm.”

Gawain, looking pleased, tucked his lips inward and nodded.

I could see the corners of his mouth twitching.

“You’ve kept up well.”

“That’s not wrong either.”

“I like that you don’t overdo modesty. When is the knighting ceremony?”

“The lady hasn’t told me yet.”

“Hmm… I see. You’ll find out when the time comes. You must be tired, so rest for today.”

“Yes, understood.”

He patted my shoulder.

A large hand with a tangible weight behind it.

I could feel his pride in me.

“You’ve worked hard. Keep doing as you have been.”

And, as always, his final advice was the same.

Today, he added a few more words after that.

“Do not hesitate. Now that you bear the responsibility of a bodyguard knight, if you hesitate, your master will suffer the consequences.”

I nodded in understanding, meaning he needn’t worry.

“I will keep that in mind.”

***

On my way back after reporting to Gawain, I ran into Shylock.

“Oh, look who it is. Isn’t it the first personal knight of the noble Lady Eliza?”

It seemed like I’d have to greet every person I met today.

Well, it’s understandable.

Just as Shylock said, I am the first personal knight of Eliza.

“I haven’t officially said I passed yet. How did you know?”

“It’s intuition. Plus, it’s written all over your face.”

I touched my face.

Hmm. I can’t tell myself.

“I really didn’t expect you to actually pass.”

“Do you think I knew either? Anyway.”

I glanced around and lowered my voice.

“Any word from Barak?”

Shylock also answered softly.

“Yeah. It’s strangely quiet. You’d expect something to happen, but….”

“Because it’s so quiet, it feels even more suspicious.”

“I feel the same.”

If I become a knight, what will Barak do?

By the time the Inauguration ceremony is over, it’ll already be too late.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out the answer.

After exchanging farewells with Shylock, I headed to Room 13.

It was lunchtime at the training center, and all the members of the room were gathered.

Except for Richard, who was missing without explanation.

“Oh, Judas ?!”

Lindel was the first to notice me.

Then the others rushed over.

Dylan, Argon, Lindel, Felin, Dyke, and so on….

They clamored, asking what had happened.

I raised my hand to calm them down.

“I passed.”

“Then…!”

“I’m set to become the first escort knight.”

A thunderous cheer rang in my ears.

They were happier than I was, the one directly involved.

“Wow, congrats! You finally did it!”

Argon patted me on the shoulder, laughing.

“I knew you’d pass!”

Lindel said.

Then Argon playfully put his arm around him.

“Oh? Is this the same guy who treated Judas so differently when he first arrived?”

“T-that was…! How long ago do you think that was!”

Everyone laughed, and many took turns congratulating me.

‘They’re happy because I confirmed that I could become Eliza’s escort knight, but…’

Even considering that, they’re such good-natured people.

At the end of it all, Dylan asked quietly.

“Isn’t Richard coming with you?”

“No. We acted separately, so I’m not sure where he is.”

“Hmm. Well, he’s not the kind to get into trouble anyway.”

Exactly.

Two days later, Richard returned.

Completely unharmed.

He even knew I had found the Sun Statue.

“How did you know that?”

“I saw it from afar.”

“From afar…?”

“I saw you returning with the Sun Statue. And, what was that in your arms…?”

“Wait, wait! How did you…?”

“I’ve got my ways, kid. But why was the young lady there?”

“That’s….”

Richard didn’t know everything.

About Hazel or the Imperial family.

When I hesitated, Richard waved his hand as if it didn’t matter.

“If you can’t say, you don’t have to.”

“Thank you….”

“If it’s some secret relationship with the lady, it’s only natural to keep your mouth sh….”

“Please, just stop talking.”

Richard mimed zipping his lips, but soon spoke again.

“Oh, by the way.”

“What now.”

“Why have you become so prickly? You weren’t like this before. Is it because your romance isn’t going well…?”

“…….”

“…Sorry. Anyway, while we were apart, I ran into some secret operatives.”

“Secret operatives?”

I had also been attacked by people who seemed to be secret operatives.

It seemed Richard had experienced the same.

“I’m not sure if they were after me specifically, but yeah, all sorts of things happened.”

He said he had already reported the incident to Eliza.

‘Secret operatives… could they be from the same group?’

There wasn’t much I could do about this.

Eliza would handle it, and if I was needed, I would be called upon.

Richard had returned safely, and life at the training center went back to normal.

***

A few days passed.

I had no idea when the Inauguration ceremony would be held.

Every time I met with Eliza, I wanted to ask, but it felt like I was pressuring her, so I refrained.

‘Does she not intend to hold it?’

There’s no law that says it must be done.

But if that’s the case, shouldn’t she let me know?

‘At this rate, her coming-of-age ceremony will happen first.’

That thought became reality.

Without any mention of my knighthood ceremony, it was Eliza’s 18th birthday.

The day of the coming-of-age ceremony had arrived.

***

The Sun Church.

The largest temple of the Sun Church, dedicated to serving the Sun, and owned by the House of Bevel.

The place, entirely coated in gold, was dazzling even without light.

Round light fixtures, shaped after the sun, emitted light from every corner.

For this day, important figures who held sway over the continent gathered at the Sun Temple.

The emperor of the Helios Empire, Johan Revelatio Helios.

The empress, Damar, and the crown prince, Gomer, along with other members of the Imperial family.

The king of the Bevel Principality, known as the emperor with the black crown.

Barak de Bevel, along with his direct descendants.

And other members of the Bevel family’s collateral branches.

The pope of the Moon Church, Nadab.

Bishop Harold, who accompanied him as an attendant.

Aside from them, a multitude of people entered the temple.

Countless high nobles, whose names alone carried great weight, were present.

The central figures that moved the Levantine continent had gathered.

There was only one reason they all came here.

Eliza de Bevel.

The youngest direct daughter of the Bevel family, and the day a coming-of-age ceremony would be held for the mage known as the reincarnation from the Age of Myths.

At the center of all this, stood Judas.

Standing alone without issue, he wanted to bite his tongue.

‘Why in the world…!’

Today was Eliza’s coming-of-age ceremony.

And simultaneously…

“Judas Deficit.”

Eliza called out to him.

Judas swallowed a sigh and stepped forward.

People stared at him.

Emperor Johan, Grand Duke Barak, and countless others.

All the influential figures who held sway over the continent focused their attention on him.

The throne overlooking everyone.

In front of Eliza, who sat there arrogantly with her legs crossed, he knelt on one knee.

“I will ask.”

“……”

“Do you swear to me your eternal loyalty, one that not even death could sever?”

Judas didn’t hesitate.

It was an answer he had already prepared.

Yet, for some reason, Eliza’s decision to make this such a spectacle annoyed him.

“…I swear.”

“Will you be willing to die for me?”

“I will offer my life.”

Today was Eliza’s coming-of-age ceremony.

And it was also Judas’s knighthood ceremony.

This was all Eliza’s doing.

She had decided to hold the knighthood ceremony alongside her own coming-of-age ceremony.

She hadn’t informed Judas.

Because she didn’t see the need to.

It was only natural that Eliza wouldn’t know Judas found this vexing.

All Eliza intended was to announce, to the world, who her knight was.

There was no other motive behind it.

She wasn’t sure why she wanted to make this announcement, but she simply felt like it.

There was nothing wrong with doing so.

“Prove it.”

The oath of a knight.

It is sealed with a kiss on the master’s foot.

Judas raised his head slightly.

He saw Eliza’s foot.

Small, white, with a hint of pink.

Above it, her leg extended from beneath her skirt.

Judas moved his hand carefully, minding his gaze.

He supported her slender ankle and gently held the sole of her foot.

‘Why do I have to do this in front of so many people… And why does her foot smell so good… This is driving me insane.’

With her soft foot in hand, he slowly lowered his head.

He pressed his lips to the warm top of her foot.

In that moment.

[‘Twist of Fate, the Beginning of Cause and Effect’ updated.]

[An interim reward is provided based on the current flow of progress.]

[1. The Comedy’s Chapter]

[2. The Tragedy’s Inscription]

Judas froze on the spot.

It was happening again.

Something unknown discovered five years ago.

A guide related to fate.

The reward is similar.

At that time, Judas chose the sentence of tragedy.

Within the tragedy, Eliza was strangling Judas’s neck.

Recalling that fact sent a chill down the back of his neck for no reason.

‘That tragedy that I narrowly avoided back then….’

There is one difference.

Back then, he had to choose between one of the two, but this time, both are being offered.

[Which would you like to see first?]

Judas made his choice right away.

Tragedy.

He was more curious about that than comedy.

‘If a different scene appears, I can assume I avoided that tragedy back then… right?’

[Would you like to check it now?]

‘Yes.’

A scene surged into Judas’s mind.

The frozen scene pieced together like a puzzle.

‘…….’

Seeing the completed future, Judas stiffened.

A room.

A familiar room.

It was Eliza’s office.

There was a person.

Eyes ablaze.

Eliza, with the eyes of mad fire, was activated.

She was looking at him.

Her glaring eyes and furrowed brow made her seem angry.

Very intensely so.

And tears were streaming down her face.

That Eliza was pouring fire magic at him.

Clearly with murderous intent.

He was about to look at the comedy next….

“…da. Judas?”

A gentle voice brought him back to his senses.

Only then did Judas hastily return to reality.

When he lifted his head, Eliza, who had bent down, was looking down at him.

His heart seemed to stop at the sight of those red eyes.

Just moments ago, she was trying to kill him in the vision he saw.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-no, it’s nothing….”

“Then, you can let go of my foot now.”

“…Huh? What?”

After choosing his reward and glimpsing the future, he had frozen in place.

As a result, Judas had been pressing his face into Eliza’s foot for quite a while.

“No, no…!”

He hurriedly, but carefully, released her foot and backed away.

The gazes from those around them felt odd.

As if they were looking at someone suspicious.

Side glances and whispers.

From the perspective of an outsider, the sight of him pressing his face into his master’s foot in silence would surely seem suspicious.

Judas had to defend himself as best he could.

His face flushed as he sprang to his feet and shouted.

“I-I’m not into that kind of thing-!”

Only after saying it did he realize that his defense wasn’t very convincing, and in fact, sounded even weirder.