Ch.115The Black Mage and the Dark Knight (3)

I quickly noticed that he was particularly intent on teaching me.

I wasn’t foolish enough to miss when someone was showing me favor.

I sensed that this wasn’t simply goodwill expressed out of admiration for my deeds. Of course, it couldn’t be that.

While I might be a charming person, I wasn’t appealing enough to earn the favor of a 300-year-old Black Knight I’d just met.

In other words, I suspected there was some ulterior motive behind this.

It might be worth hearing him out once.

The problem was that he had agreed with the casual remark I’d thrown out.

Knowing about divine power…

“It’s all over your face. You’d better hide it.”

I’m not particularly known for my poker face, but isn’t he catching on too quickly?

Indeed, he hadn’t lived 300 years for nothing. Still, I couldn’t just bow my head and say, “Everything you’re saying is correct.”

“I know you were just testing me. But the fact that I know doesn’t change.”

“What exactly do you know?”

“That the name ‘Pantheon’ didn’t come up by chance.”

That alone was enough to make my shoulders twitch, but I barely managed to contain myself.

“And that you are the rightful owner of that Pantheon.”

That was something he could reasonably deduce. I didn’t react, and the giant figure of indeterminate gender and age looked at me from within his helmet.

I couldn’t see his eyes. But I could easily tell he was testing me.

“I’m probably not the only one who knows. Even as the Cradle was crossing the ocean, I saw several competitors reaching the shore.”

“Is this the shore?”

“The shore of the Old Continent. But you should be cautious. All of them have the wealth or influence to cross the shore with ease.”

I had expected this to some extent. But I hadn’t thought it would be like this.

“You look serious. But you’ll be fine. There are many around you who will help, and both I and my school will assist you as well.”

He maintained a solemn demeanor throughout.

Faced with such a dignified Valterok, I couldn’t keep deflecting. After carefully choosing my words, I spoke.

“Do you intend to teach me?”

“If possible, I would like to.”

“What exactly do you want in return?”

“Isn’t it what everyone wants?”

The Black Knight countered. With the demeanor of a survivor, he gazed blankly at the sky.

It was a vast expanse of sky. Hard to believe that beneath it lay catastrophe and countless sufferings, but that was the reality.

Valterok, having lived for 300 years, would know this well.

“People living, dying, laughing, talking… I want a life that’s truly human.”

What came from his mouth was typical, and yet…

It wasn’t something I could dismiss as merely cliché.

The weight of 300 years prevented me from accusing him of being pretentious.

“How wonderful it would be if the whole world were like that. Unable to take the ordinary for granted, and unable to live that way… That’s where the Anti-Demon School began. Not from resentment and anger as is commonly known.”

Is that so? For something like that, the Black Knights’ behavior seems…

But thinking about it, it makes some sense. Regardless of what the founder thought, later Black Knights likely became what they were out of vengeance.

In a way, it was natural.

Valterok seemed well aware of this.

“But that doesn’t mean every Black Knight abandons their safety and the world in hope of revenge.”

His gaze turned toward the Cradle. The Black Knights were still busy moving around, scanning the surroundings, gathering resources, and building palisades.

This place would probably become something like a New Continent branch of the Black Knights before long.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I’m convinced that passing on what I know and what I’ve learned to you is the fastest path.”

In my sight, he had already grasped my shoulder.

His hand was massive enough to cover my entire shoulder with one palm. But I sensed no malice.

Rather, he patted my shoulder and said:

“Many of the powerful ones crossing to this continent probably have similar thoughts. The Sword Saint will likely want to take you as a disciple… and several others will be similar.”

“…The Sword Saint is coming too?”

That’s actually appealing. Reading my interest, Valterok smiled.

Wow, so this guy can smile too.

“You suddenly seem like a child. Not just the Sword Saint. When I departed, there was also the Blazing Lord crossing the sea in leaps.”

The Blazing Lord. My eyes widened at a name I hadn’t heard in a long time.

“The Blazing Lord seems convinced that the Imperial Guardian, not you, received divine power, but it would be good if you meet. It won’t harm you.”

That was true. Unlike Eshatherna, the Blazing Lord was a loyal companion who appeared in the first game and remained an ally through the second and third, one of the strongest fighters among the group.

With his trustworthy character on top of that, I nodded lightly.

“Of course, carefully selecting those who arrive from now on… that will be your responsibility. I will merely assist.”

But, Valterok began, as he patted my shoulder.

“The details, the teachings… they can wait. I think they can be done after you’ve rested.”

“What?”

“Of course, I understand what you’re thinking. You believe you’re like a sharp sword, ready to cut as soon as you’re polished. But a person is not a sword. Rest.”

No, I wasn’t thinking that at all.

I was actually thinking I should postpone this and talk to my sister first, since she’s waiting.

Still, I couldn’t sass such a dignified figure by saying, “I wasn’t thinking that at all.”

I pretended to agree, nodded, and left the place.

My sister was waiting for me at the Pantheon, not far away.

*

Thanks to my strength and willpower that exceeded common sense, I reached the Pantheon without much delay.

“The lady is waiting for you inside.”

Eshatherna was the one who greeted me.

Her shabby robe with a belt, arm guards, and faint smile suggested she had adapted to this place.

No, she just got here, how could she…

But I had no time to bicker with Eshatherna.

My sister was waiting for me.

Following Eshatherna’s guidance, I got off the elevator and passed by people, greeting them.

Fortunately or not, Isla wasn’t present. She had gone hunting, apparently.

Considering what was about to happen, that was beneficial. Trying to handle two matters at once would only lead to disaster.

I composed myself and entered the room where my sister was waiting.

“Hello.”

There, I faced my sister, who smiled awkwardly.

“We just saw each other earlier.”

“Yeah, that’s true. But…”

She trailed off and chuckled, sitting on the bed, fidgeting with her hands and glancing at me occasionally.

I could understand why she was acting this way.

Earlier, caught up in the moment, I had acted impulsively, but this was clearly an unexpected reunion.

“Esha, could you give us some privacy?”

“Oh my, I thought this was my chance to be doted on. No?”

“Yeah, not right now!”

“Then I’ll come back later.”

After Eshatherna left, silence fell. My sister and I just kept eyeing each other, finding it difficult to start a conversation.

I didn’t know where to begin.

Should I ask how she’s been, something like that?

Anyway, there was no point in just standing there awkwardly. I opened my mouth.

“So, have you been well?”

My sister gave a faint smile.

“You just said we saw each other earlier.”

“No, not that. I mean, since you fell into this world… I’m asking if you’ve been well.”

My sister didn’t answer easily. With a face crossing through various emotions, she carefully chose her words.

I could clearly see what she was feeling.

Since I had confirmed with my own mouth that we were siblings, she must be feeling both regret and longing.

And she’s probably anxious about whether I’ve discovered the thoughts she’s been harboring.

Unfortunately, I already have, but I wasn’t sure if I should reveal that.

After all, I wasn’t sure how I should handle it myself.

“…I think I’ve been doing okay. There are many good people around.”

“I know. Though Eshatherna is a bit of an exception.”

“She’s kind—no, actually she’s not. Hehe.”

After laughing foolishly, my sister tried to correct her slip-up by counting on her fingers.

“Anyway, she treated me well. And there’s also Melody, the Blazing Lord, everyone treated me well. So it was manageable.”

“That’s good.”

“But… it wasn’t that comfortable.”

The reason was obvious. My sister showed me sympathy.

“Sejin, right?”

Yoon Sejin.

That was my name. The only name left by parents I couldn’t even remember, and the only thing proving the connection between my sister and me in this world.

Though my face and body had changed a lot.

It was something that proved my soul and heart weren’t Luvellin’s.

I nodded.

“Yes. Yoon Sejin.”

“…So it really is you.”

My sister’s expression relaxed. Perhaps she had worried that I might deny it later.

Or that I might say I was someone else who had just heard about it.

Or maybe she was concerned that someone other than her brother had possessed this body.

That was so like her.

“Sejin, how have you been? Or…”

“Are you trying to ask how long it’s been since you possessed that body?”

“…Possessed? Um, yes. That’s right.”

My sister seemed displeased. Ah, I guess “transfer” might be more accurate than “possession.”

Anyway, as long as we understand each other, it’s fine. I smiled bitterly.

“It was quite tough at first after you disappeared.”

My sister’s expression hardened.

“At first, I distributed flyers, got help from friends to search around… reported to the police. But there was no progress.”

My sister couldn’t speak. Her head gradually lowered.

“I’m sor—”

“At first, I might have resented you a little.”

My sister’s shoulders trembled abruptly. It was painful to watch, but I wasn’t saying this to torment myself or her.

“But later on… I came to hope that wherever you were, you were happy.”

My sister, who had been hanging her head, slowly raised it to look at me. The despair in her eyes was gradually clearing.

“Even if you had abandoned me, I thought you must have had your reasons. I accepted it. And I hoped you were happy somewhere. Because I’m a person with some decency.”

“No! How could I, how could I ever abandon you?”

She cried out and then hastily covered her mouth. As she stumbled over her words, I approached her.

“It’s okay. I’m not blaming you.”

“…Really?”

My sister looked up at me with trembling eyes.

Had she expected me to think that way?

She was more shaken than usual.

But it’s okay.

“But hearing that you didn’t abandon me, that you weren’t unhappy here. That’s a relief.”

Because I truly didn’t resent my sister.

“Sejin…”

I reached out, grabbed my sister’s shoulders, and pulled her into an embrace.

Back on Earth, I was definitely shorter, but now my sister was small enough that her head rested against my chest when I hugged her.

That’s one good thing.

My sister, caught in my arms, flinched briefly before wrapping her arms around my back and burying her face in my chest.

Her breathing was rough.

“I’m glad to see you again.”

“…Me too.”

My sister held me tightly and took a deep breath.

It tickled a bit. In more ways than one.