The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 97

“Have you sent your armor for repairs yet?”

As soon as they exited the mage tower, Eliza asked.

She had dragged him out of Epona’s room in a hurry, but now she acted as if nothing had happened.

Judas was already accustomed to her erratic changes in behavior.

‘It’s easier to think of her as a cat.’

“No, it’s still in my room.”

He had been dragged straight to the mage tower upon returning.

There was no time to send it for repairs.

“Let’s go get it.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Without another word, Eliza grabbed Judas’s hand.

A blink of an eye later, they were in Judas’s room.

She frequented the place so often it felt like her own, requiring no calculation for coordinates.

A large shelf faced Judas’s bed.

It was where he kept his armor.

A somewhat crude gray plate armor.

In the center of the chest, a sun emblem was embossed.

Every time Judas looked at that emblem, he felt uneasy for some reason.

Even though it was his armor.

“If you’re taking it, you’ll need to wear it. Is that alright?”

The rigid plate armor couldn’t simply be stuffed into a container.

The only option was to wear it and move.

Though it took time, it was designed to allow him to put it on and take it off without assistance.

Eliza nodded.

As she waited, she quietly observed Judas.

Layering the armor piece by piece over his doublet and trousers.

The veins on the back of his hands bulged and pulsed with every movement.

Eliza shifted her gaze.

A mark remained on the chair’s backrest, where bolts had pierced through.

It was because of that.

That Eliza insisted on carrying Judas’s armor herself.

‘…This will take a while.’

Unable to bear it any longer, she stepped forward.

“I’ll help.”

“…What?! No, no, I can do it myself.”

Typically, assisting with armor was a subordinate’s task.

Occasionally, comrades in the guard would help each other.

But in any case, he couldn’t allow his master to do such a thing.

However, Eliza was firm in her decision.

“Stay still.”

“……”

Judas had nearly finished putting on the armor.

All that remained for her to do was fasten and connect the belts.

It wasn’t a difficult task, even for someone doing it for the first time.

She secured the belt from behind.

Judas’s broad back filled her view.

It completely concealed her.

His heavily armored figure was imposing enough to resemble a war chariot.

Even without the armor, his broadness was still…

“…Done.”

Judas glanced back at Eliza nervously.

Meanwhile, she calmly looked up at him.

Just like always.

“I only helped because it looked like it would take a while, so don’t overthink it.”

“…It won’t be easy, but I’ll try not to. But why did you suddenly ask me to bring my armor?”

“I’ll explain on the way.”

Eliza took his hand again.

Naturally. Habitually.

***

Back at the mage tower’s street.

Even with a knight suddenly appearing, people paid little attention.

It was a place where all sorts of people came and went.

Eliza led Judas by the hand as she explained.

“While the armor is being repaired, I also want to commission an enchantment. It feels too weak for practical use right now.”

In other words, she intended to transform Judas’s armor into an artifact.

“I could enchant it myself, but it’s not my specialty. Better to leave it to an expert.”

“Why so suddenly…?”

“You’re my escort knight, after all. It wouldn’t feel right to have you in just a basic set of armor.”

Though taken aback, Judas found the reasoning sound.

It was also a welcome and generous gesture.

“Thank you.”

In the Mage Tower district, it’s not just Mages who gather.

People in need of magical assistance also flock to the area.

Merchants, mercenaries, nobles, knights, and so on.

Thus, many facilities cater exclusively to these pure customers.

The two of them entered a building that was quiet and less crowded.

Judas knew this place well.

It was a shop run by an artisan couple specializing in enchantments and artifact crafting.

And in this area, their prices were among the most expensive.

When they opened the wooden door, a bell jingled softly.

A gray-haired old woman emerged from inside.

Her face beamed with a kind smile under her small glasses.

“Welcome….”

The moment she saw Eliza, her small eyes widened in surprise.

“…Lady Eliza?!”

Then, a voice called out from the back of the shop.

“The youngest lady of the Bevel family is here?!”

With loud footsteps, someone rushed out.

It was another elderly figure, exuding a similarly relaxed impression.

When he saw Eliza, his eyes also widened in shock.

Judas was taken aback.

‘They’re not usually this excitable…’

The old woman who greeted them first was Theodora.

The elderly man who dashed out afterward was Smith.

They were a calm and laid-back artisan couple, just as their demeanor suggested.

This was the first time Judas had seen such a passionate reaction from them.

“Oh my, have you finally taken an interest in our field?”

Eliza answered indifferently.

“No, I’m here to place an order.”

“Oh, come now. With your talent, you’d surely make a name for yourself in this field…”

“I’ll pass.”

They had been making this suggestion for years, but Eliza had always steadfastly declined.

Her current level of enchantment skills was sufficient for her needs.

At that moment, Theodora noticed Judas’s necklace.

“Isn’t that the one we made last time?!”

Eliza subtly stepped in front of it.

“Let’s focus on the commission, shall we?”

“Oh, uh, yes. Of course. Come on in.”

The elderly couple ushered them inside.

Judas, still feeling bewildered, followed behind Eliza.

He knew Eliza was talented, but not to this extent.

The shop’s interior was so spotless that it almost felt empty.

The only decorations were some potted plants and a few warm-toned paintings.

There wasn’t a single magical artifact on display.

It made sense, though.

The couple crafted each item by hand, exclusively through commissions.

There was no reason for them to have pre-made, mass-produced items lying around.

The shop’s emphasis on craftsmanship and pride was evident.

“What kind of request do you have in mind?” Smith asked.

“I want to enhance my knight’s armor.”

“Ah, I see. Judas, is it?”

“…You know me?”

“Of course! You’ve become quite the talk of the town lately.”

Judas stroked his chin, deep in thought.

‘Why would I be famous?’

‘Is it just because I’m Eliza’s knight?’

‘Would that really be enough to spread rumors all the way here…?’

Eliza also tilted her head, puzzled.

‘Why is Judas famous?’

‘Who’s been paying attention to him?’

‘Why are they interested in what’s mine?’

‘Should I just lock him up already?’

‘I haven’t even decided which mountain to bury them in yet…’

“Handsome young man, come stand over here,” Smith said.

Judas stepped forward.

Smith expertly measured various parts of Judas’s body with a tape measure.

Meanwhile, Eliza was discussing the details with Theodora.

“What kind of features do you want to add?”

“I’d like to improve its durability and strength.”

Eliza didn’t know much about enchantments.

Creating artifacts with magical properties from scratch and adding magic to non-magical items were entirely different processes.

Thus, Eliza would state her desired features, and Theodora would propose specific methods.

“The most common method is to weave layers of magical energy into the inner surface of the plate armor. Think of it like crafting fabric with magic to create a defensive shield.”

“What’s a sturdier method than that?”

“Imbuing magic directly into the plate armor to increase its hardness is an option, but… If done carelessly, the magic could shatter the armor itself. In such cases, repairs would be tedious as well.”

“I’ll go with the earlier suggestion. Also, for automatic defense against projectiles from rear blind spots….”

As they exchanged various ideas, Eliza periodically glanced at Judas.

Judas, who had been taking measurements while wearing armor, was now measuring over his plain clothes after removing the armor.

Looking at his slightly dazed expression, Eliza felt like laughing for no reason.

She observed closely as he measured the circumference of his neck.

A tape measure. A collar. Neck circumference. Hmm….

Unaware of Eliza’s thoughts, Judas was calculating the costs involved in the work being done here.

By listing the enchantments Eliza mentioned and their scope, he could estimate the rough total.

‘Just how much are we spending here…?’

As the discussion neared its conclusion, Eliza made a final suggestion in a soft voice.

“And, I’d like to participate in the enchantment process.”

“Huh…?! Really?!”

Eliza nodded.

Theodora adjusted her glasses and chuckled heartily.

“If the young lady is willing to join, it would be an honor for us.”

It wasn’t full participation but more of periodic inspections.

Ordinarily, this would be unthinkable.

To join a master craftsman’s production process without charge? That would never be allowed, no matter how much money one offered.

But this was Eliza.

Anyone involved in the field of magic would dream of collaborating with Eliza, even just once.

A reincarnation of the mythic age.

For the elderly couple, it was an honor in reverse.

“But aren’t you busy?”

“I’ll make time.”

Eliza was more than willing.

After all, this was about personally working on Judas’s armor.

There was no way she could leave it to others entirely.

However, she had another purpose in mind.

Once the enchantments were complete, she planned to inscribe a special word inside the armor.

There was no deeper intention.

Just a mark of ownership, left by the master.

Like branding a slave. Exactly like that. Truly.

***

“Oh-ho.”

The Emperor, Yohan, let out a satisfied exclamation.

The creation before his eyes left him immensely pleased.

A culmination of his history.

An early masterpiece of the new era, created with black magic and divine power.

“Kheheh… heh….”

The ‘human’ before him seemed to cry while smiling.

Teeth bared.

Lips softly curling upward.

But from the gouged-out eyes, tears of blood flowed.

Bound by dozens of chains, gagged, the figure made clanking sounds that echoed hollowly in the dark every time it moved.

Beside him, the head of the Imperial Mage Corps, Geist, clapped his hands.

“Finally, it is complete, Your Majesty. With this and the other two holy relics, the unification plan will proceed smoothly.”

“I believe so too. But we can’t just reveal it to the people out of nowhere.”

“As befitting someone destined to become the god of a new era, your mercy knows no bounds. How about using the Founding Festival to announce it?”

“The Founding Festival….”

“It would be an opportunity to herald the arrival of a new world. The people need time to prepare.”

“Then we could also use this finished creation during the festival.”

“At Judeca, you mean?”

“Yes. As an overwhelming presence.”

“A wise decision, Your Majesty.”

In the darkness, the two men laughed heartily.

A laughter so satisfied it seemed as if nothing else in the world could compare.

Overlaying their laughter was the clanking sound.

And the grotesque laughter of the first and final experimental subject.

“Once the Founding Festival is over, it will begin.”

“Yes. The very first….”

The Emperor spoke in a distant voice, as if dreaming.

A long-held aspiration.

It was, indeed, a dream.

“The killing of Bevel will begin.”