Ch.105Chapter 105 – The Spirit of Tolerance

It was the tenth day since we had slain the giant boar.

Fire rain was falling from the sky.

“It’s hot.”

“Why don’t you just endure it? Or take off your helmet.”

“I can’t do that.”

At some point, I’d started feeling awkward without my helmet.

At this rate, I’ll become one with it.

Meanwhile, the rain flowing down from the walls began to fall onto the monsters crawling on the ground, burning them to ashes.

“Quite spectacular.”

“Now you see why mages are considered asymmetric warfare?”

Beatrice, the mastermind behind this situation, crossed her arms with a confident smile.

“Come on, say something. Helmet?”

“Why didn’t you use this earlier if you could do it all along?”

“What, no praise or anything?”

Beatrice glared at me slightly as she spoke.

So I started looking back at her.

After a brief, pointless exchange of glances, Beatrice sighed and opened her mouth.

“It’s purely an efficiency issue. Efficiency.”

“Efficiency?”

“Look, think about it. Using magic like this to eliminate one person wouldn’t be cost-effective. The incantation is slow too.”

Indeed, using a wide-area fire magic to deal with a single person would be wasteful.

Not to mention unnecessarily burning everything around them.

“So that’s why you don’t use it normally.”

“Well, yeah. Honestly, rather than putting in the effort to throw a fireball, it’s faster and more effective to just surround my fist with mana and punch them.”

I see.

Now I understood why Beatrice, despite being a mage, was particularly fond of punching things.

As we were talking, the rain of fire gradually began to subside.

Beatrice’s spell was coming to an end.

And as if they had been waiting for this moment, monsters began flying in from the sky.

“Open fire!!”

Diana’s voice echoed from afar, and the weapons positioned along the walls revealed their might.

Arrows flew from ballistas, and cannons placed on the walls began spewing fire.

The monsters that had survived the earlier magic began dying one after another.

Just as I casually sliced through a monster flying toward us with my halberd—

-GROOOOAR!!!

“Looks like a big shot came today.”

Beatrice muttered leisurely.

“Unlike last time, they’re not deploying it from the beginning but charging after my magic ends.”

Beatrice said as she took out a cigarette and began smoking.

“We have no problem dealing with the small fry now, but those big ones are an issue.”

“Because they can destroy the walls like that boar.”

I agreed with Beatrice while looking ahead.

The owner of the voice was beginning to reveal itself.

A one-eyed giant. Should I call it a Cyclops?

It looked even larger than the boar.

“Helmet, weren’t we told not to go out today?”

“Yeah.”

Since those big shots could destroy the walls, we would normally have to go out to intercept them.

However, today, Beatrice and I had been told not to leave the walls.

“Today, old man Rudger said he’d go out because he was bored.”

“Finally, I’ll get to witness the Paladin’s skills.”

Beatrice looked ahead with slight anticipation.

And soon the gates began to open, and Rudger could be seen moving out with the knights.

‘He told us to watch carefully.’

This morning, when scouts reported that monsters were approaching, Rudger had come to us.

He said he would go out and told us to watch him carefully.

While I was recalling the morning’s events, Rudger and the knights reached the Cyclops.

And Rudger could be seen drawing his weapon.

Then next.

Rudger took a step forward and swung his sword.

-BOOM!

“…Clean.”

The giant Cyclops was seen split in two.

It was a single strike.

‘…Is he showing this to me so I can learn it?’

Is he showing me the path I need to reach?

‘…It seemed like some kind of energy enveloped his sword.’

Maybe I’ll be able to tell if I see it up close next time.

“Ah, hot!”

While absentmindedly watching the scene, Beatrice, who had forgotten she was smoking, dropped her cigarette in surprise.

No more monsters came, and with victory cheers echoing, that day’s battle came to an end.

+

“Well then, let’s begin the meeting.”

Without giving time to rest after the battle, Diana called a meeting.

The attention of those attending focused on her, and Diana took out a piece of paper and began reading.

“First, regarding the damage after this attack, and the current status of the dragon.”

Even if they had successfully repelled the attack, it didn’t mean no one got hurt.

“Saint Aria, how many injured do we have today?”

“Today alone, 2 knights. About 100 soldiers and adventurers were injured.”

Diana nodded at Aria’s words.

Currently, priests from both the Hati Order and the Jeolei Order were at the fortress.

Their role was to treat the injured after battles, and now Aria was managing all of them.

The reason she was also managing the Jeolei Order was partly because they respected Aria, a saint from another order, and followed her control.

In reality, it felt like Rudger had pulled rank.

“The number of casualties…”

Diana nodded after hearing the number from Aria’s lips.

It must have been fewer than she expected.

Soon, after organizing other agenda items, she opened her mouth.

“About the dragon, according to the scouts, it’s still sitting in the village.”

“Still?”

Diana nodded at Rudger’s question.

“I thought it would be highly aggressive.”

Diana glanced at me once.

I was among those who had reported it as being aggressive.

‘This is strange.’

The fact that it was being docile bothered me a bit.

After all, it had been flying around burning towns and villages for quite some time.

Based on my actual fight with it, it had a fundamentally aggressive nature.

While it might send its subordinates first a few times, it was suspicious that there had been no movement at all until now, especially when we were successfully repelling every attack.

“We prepared various weapons assuming we’d fight that beast. They’re being put to good use for defense, so it’s not a waste.”

Initially, the gate had been breached because the weapons hadn’t been properly positioned on the walls.

Now, with the weapons fully deployed, the walls wouldn’t be breached unless a truly dangerous large-scale threat appeared.

“Could it be afraid? Even if it is a dragon…”

When a knight raised his hand and spoke, Diana immediately looked at him.

Then she smiled and said:

“Are you stupid? It flies. Why would it fear walls?”

Walls don’t mean much to creatures that can fly.

The reason casualties continued was because of those attacking from the sky.

While those creatures couldn’t breach the walls, a dragon was a different story.

With its size and powerful breath, neutralizing the walls wouldn’t be too difficult.

Of course, I’d heard that orders had been given to carefully watch the sky from each tower on the walls in preparation for this.

“The harpoons, are they being properly inspected?”

“Yes.”

Another knight nodded at Diana’s question.

He was in charge of the fortress’s weapons.

Particularly important were the harpoons with chains installed on each wall.

They were equipment designed to prevent the dragon from escaping into the sky once it descended.

“The positioning of each weapon is also fine. But the important one isn’t coming.”

Diana spoke with a hint of disappointment.

However, it seemed unlikely that many would agree with her.

After all, most people were like flies before a dragon.

After looking around once, Diana spoke again.

“Any questions?”

“Um, I’d like to ask…”

A knight wearing what looked like an expensive armor raised his hand, and Diana looked at him.

“About the Emiris Order’s…”

“You want to know when the Dragon Slayer is coming, right?”

“Yes.”

‘Again?’

I remembered the meeting at the royal palace.

People who became energetic just by his mention.

The hero everyone was waiting for.

Even here at the frontline, everyone seemed to have the same expectation, looking at Diana with anticipation.

They seemed eager to know if the Dragon Slayer was nearby, or how long it would take for him to join.

‘But this question comes up every other day.’

While I understood the high expectations for the Dragon Slayer, I wished they’d tone it down a bit.

“Tch.”

Beatrice, also displeased, leaned back in a slouched posture.

Rudger and Aria showed no change in expression.

After looking around at the people I knew, I turned to Diana.

Diana, receiving everyone’s gaze, closed her eyes and quietly nodded.

Then her lips opened.

“I don’t know.”

With the irresponsible words of the person in charge, the meeting came to an end that day.

+

“Well, the Emiris Order has always been a bunch that does whatever they want. It’s natural that Diana doesn’t know.”

I was caught by Rudger as I was leaving the meeting room.

Beatrice was gone. She had left with Aria.

“By the way, did you see my sword strike today?”

“If you mean splitting it in two, yes, I saw it.”

Rudger smiled at my answer.

“That’s the level you need to reach.”

“What level is that?”

“A level where, regardless of how big or tough the enemy is, you can cut through any foe.”

“That explanation is too vague.”

Rudger smiled slightly at my words.

“They say that when a swordsman reaches a certain level, they cut not with the sword but with the mind.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s quite an uninterested tone, you have.”

Rudger said as he stroked his sword once.

“But, if you become a Paladin, I think it’s good to aim for that level.”

“Is that so?”

“In my opinion.”

Rudger looked at me for a moment.

“You might need to reach the level I mentioned.”

Rudger tapped my chest with the back of his hand.

“Putting what you desire, that heart, into your sword.”

I looked at Rudger, intending to ask for more explanation.

But Rudger, seemingly unwilling to answer, just smiled slightly.

“By the way, Kei.”

“Yes.”

“You think it’s strange, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

I nodded at Rudger’s words.

“It’s a creature that was burning villages one by one on its way to the capital. It’s suspicious that there’s been no movement for ten days.”

“Right. That’s why I’m a bit worried.”

“Worried?”

Just as Rudger was about to say more—

“…Excuse me, please move…”

“…Don’t be like…”

“…This is rude…”

It was Sera and Christina’s voices.

Leaving Rudger, I quickly walked forward.

As the corner ahead approached, I immediately turned.

“What are you doing?”

“Mr. Kei!”

A knight was pushing Sera and Christina against the wall.

Looking closely, he was wearing a high-quality armor with some kind of emblem.

‘A noble, perhaps?’

But that was all I could tell.

It’s not like I had connections with nobles to know who was from which family.

As I moved in front of the knight, he took a step back.

Then I turned to look at Sera.

“What’s going on, Sera?”

“He, that person kept asking us to…”

“He invited us for tea.”

Sera and Christina said as they hid behind my back.

“Let’s hear him out.”

Really, in the one-in-a-million chance that this man approached with pure intentions.

It’s right to give him a chance to explain.

Yes, the spirit of tolerance.

I am generous.

“…This is none of your business.”

I kicked the wall with my leg.

I must have put in quite a bit of force without realizing, as the bricks cracked and dust fell.

“Let’s hear him out.”

The man’s face turned pale.

That was natural.

Ordinary people can’t casually destroy stone walls.

In other words, he realized I wasn’t an ordinary person.

“Do, do you know who I am?”

As I stepped forward, he retreated slightly.

After backing up about two steps, he suddenly flushed red and stepped forward.

“You, do you dare to do this knowing who I…”

“Who might you be?”

As Rudger, who had followed me, appeared from the corner, the knight backed away.

“Tell us. Who are you?”

“I…”

“If you don’t want to say, then don’t.”

The knight’s expression brightened slightly at Rudger’s words.

However, Rudger’s expression was far from gentle.

“I’ll just have to hear from Diana later.”

“I…”

The man’s eyes began to roll rapidly.

From Sera, to Christina, to me, to Rudger.

He seemed to be trying to come up with wisdom to navigate this situation.

“Alright. Go. I’ll hear from Diana later.”

“I…”

“Didn’t you hear me say go?”

When I also joined in telling him to leave, the knight finally turned and fled.

His slumped shoulders suggested he thought it was over.

“That was a bit scary…”

“Sorry.”

Christina sat down slightly in relief.

And from behind, Sera spoke with a slightly displeased face.

“…Those kinds of people have been increasing lately.”

“Increasing, you say.”

“That’s right.”

Rudger stepped forward, seemingly wanting to talk about what he couldn’t earlier.

“It’s only been ten days, but since the dragon hasn’t shown its face at all, I guess they’re starting to feel at ease.”

“You mean discipline is beginning to loosen?”

Rudger nodded once.

“I’ve heard that the number of men making advances toward the priestesses of the Hati Order has been gradually increasing. I was going to tell you to take good care of Miss Seraphina and Miss Christina just in case.”

I nodded at Rudger’s words.

I had thought such incidents wouldn’t happen, but I was mistaken.

Sera sighed and said:

“This was the first time we’ve been harassed.”

“But why are you two here?”

“Well…”

Sera took something out from her bosom.

It was the ointment she applies to my burn marks.

“After the meeting, we wanted to go back together and apply it…”

“And Christina?”

“I also wanted to check on the burn today.”

So, they had this unpleasant experience because of me?

“…Sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“We came because we wanted to. You don’t need to apologize, our benefactor.”

Sera and Christina answered with smiles.

“If anything happens, you’ll protect us, right?”

Christina said with a bright smile.

“That’s right.”

If they were to suffer any harm while trying to show me kindness.

I would never forgive it.

“…Well, this is getting a bit mushy.”

“Ah!”

Only now noticing Rudger, Sera and Christina started slightly.

No, were they really that oblivious to his presence?

“I’ll be heading in, Kei.”

“Yes. Please go ahead.”

“See you next time!”

With Christina’s cheerful farewell, Rudger turned around.

“That’s right.”

And as if remembering something, Rudger turned back and looked at the three of us one by one.

Then he solemnly opened his mouth.

“I don’t intend to give advice on romantic matters, but handle the aftermath well, alright?”

“Pardon?”

“And don’t stay up all night in the room. The soundproofing here isn’t as good as you might think.”

“What?”

Rudger immediately turned and began walking away.

Not understanding his meaning, I looked at Christina, who was also tilting her head in confusion.

And Sera was blushing and lowering her head.

It was only after taking about four more steps that I realized what he meant.