Ch.116Then the Devil Came Through the Front Door (10)

“Wrong.” Astrid raised her head arrogantly. “I wanted to see how well a Valkyrja fights after leaving her homeland. You’ve become terrible. Absolutely terrible.”

Though it was clearly meant to provoke Kain, he merely smiled. Her intentions were too transparent.

“If you say so.”

* * * * *

Black Forest. Outside the Mine.

The former serfs-turned-mountain bandits moved about busily. They were making fires and cooking porridge in a flurry of activity. The children’s condition was visibly serious to anyone, but among the bandits were midwives who cared for them.

These people had fled to the mountains to survive, but lacking fighting skills or ruthlessness, they had resorted to petty scams. Now they were working desperately to save dying children.

“Don’t give them bread, you fools! They can’t digest it! Soak it in water, boil it, let it cool, and then give it to them! Feed them slowly with a spoon. They’ll die if they eat too quickly!”

Albin and his wife glanced nervously at Kain. Though he had wiped away most of the blood, the repulsive smell bothered even Kain himself. But Albin’s hesitation was due to the murderous look in Kain’s eyes.

“We… we were all hiding. Really. We were about to go down, but the Count and those idiots came up and we got stuck.”

Behind the Count, he explained, was a group of captured bandits. They were being taken to the “Mine” for refusing to reveal where they had hidden their goods.

As luck would have it, Albin had stepped away from the group to relieve himself when he encountered a masked White Blood Knight. Instead of revealing his identity, the knight dragged Albin before “the scary gray-haired lady.”

“She asked where the mine was. I told her right away… Wow. She moved through the trees like a squirrel, then sliced through the guards. Thanks to her, my friends survived too…”

The White Blood Knights had descended into the mine, and Albin had waited, feeling he should at least thank them properly.

“I saw some terrible things because of that, but still… the children…”

“Albin!” someone shouted.

“The baby’s coming!”

Albin rushed off immediately. Kain, who had been dazed for a moment, got up. He wanted to see Lily.

* * * * *

In the medical tent.

Lily groaned. The wounds on her back had reopened and bled considerably, and the crossbow wound was also problematic.

She had twisted her body at the last moment to avoid vital spots, but the wound was still quite deep. The knight who had finished treating her whispered to Kain.

“This is just emergency treatment. She needs to be evacuated. It could get dangerous if it worsens.”

Kain nodded. The knight left the tent. Now only Kain and Lily remained in the medical tent.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

Kain gently held Lily. Despite her pain, Lily smiled.

“You’re not hurt, are you…”

“But you are.”

“It’s okay. I’m alive.” Lily coughed softly. Kain shook his head, signaling her not to speak. But Lily was stubborn. As always.

“For the first time, I feel alive. Kain.”

“Kairos.”

Lily tilted her head. “What?”

“Kairos. That’s my name.” Kairos revealed his name. Lily’s face flushed.

“Kairos. Kairos…” Lily pulled at Kairos’s collar with trembling hands.

“It’s a beautiful name. Kairos… I’m Liliana. Nice to… meet you.”

Liliana closed her eyes. Kairos kissed her.

“…It’s a beautiful name. Liliana. Nice to meet you too.”

“Kairos. I love you.”

“I love you, Liliana.”

Liliana sobbed. She cried with hiccupping sounds.

“I don’t want to go back. I want to stay with you. We can do it. Really…”

“Who said you have to go back?”

Kain smiled. Smiling, he stroked Liliana’s hair.

“Wait for me there.”

“…Will you come?”

“I’ll come find you. So rest now.”

Kain thought of a fairy tale. Of a brave knight kissing his lover to wake her. He thought that if his younger self could see him now, he would laugh quite a bit.

A lover kissing the brave knight to put him to sleep.

* * * * *

Even as Lily was loaded into the Count’s luxurious carriage, Astrid remained rigid. For someone who valued procedure, emotional fluctuations were nonexistent.

“Thank you.”

She ignored Kain’s greeting as if she hadn’t heard it. Kain had expected this and didn’t mind.

“I was hoping you could postpone the tournament.”

She responded to this because it was an “outrage of an outsider interfering with White Blood procedures.” The usual Astrid would have drawn her sword, but instead, she folded her arms.

“Explain why I should tolerate your presumption.”

“People like these are rising up all over the Empire. It’s something more sinister and dangerous. Enough to hurt a Valkyrja. Not because she’s weak. Something is coming that could bring down even the White Blood.”

“Who would dare?”

“It might be white blood. That’s what you people say, isn’t it? Until white blood flows.”

When rudeness becomes excessive, it becomes laughable. Astrid dismissed Kain’s rudeness with a snort.

“Humans can’t bleed white blood.”

“Then the White Blood must be immortal.”

“White blood refers to the perpetual snow at the peak of White Blood Mountain.”

This was the first time he’d heard this.

“The mountains of White Blood are covered in snow. Snow that has remained for ten thousand years. If an avalanche occurs, everything beneath it is buried. Even the White Blood are mere leaves before such natural forces. That is the power the White Blood seeks to emulate.”

“You people…” Kain grumbled. “Sometimes you’re fanatical. Other times rational.”

“So are you,” Astrid quietly retorted. “Your eyes rolled back as you killed them. Don’t call yourself a warrior anywhere.”

“How could I stay calm when Lily was hurt?”

“…How stupid. That’s a matter of tactical judgment. The swordsmanship was Imperial style. But the thrusting and countering were Eastern staff techniques. I see you learned to counter fiercely after taking a beating from Liliana. It’s a technique she excels at, and you seem to have unconsciously adopted it.”

“What did you just say?”

Kain glared at the Chief Executor with suspicious eyes. The Chief Executor sighed deeply, as if annoyed at having to explain this.

“Liliana’s combat technique is suited for slaughter. Overwhelming force that crushes opponents. That’s the power she’s honed her entire life. Even her brother in his prime couldn’t match her.

Why do you think such a person couldn’t handle these… men? It’s because of you. The defensive fighting style isn’t her technique.

And you? You show signs of reluctantly learning assassination techniques. But staff techniques focus more on neutralizing opponents and breaking their will.

‘I won’t kill you, but I will break your will.’ That’s your way. Whatever the reason, your premise remains unchanged—both you and your opponent survive. So, the defensive fighting style suits you better. You should have switched positions.”

“I couldn’t let Lily become a slaughter-maniac.”

“How do you think a woman feels having a slaughter-maniac for a lover?” Astrid twisted her lips. Kain, left speechless, closed his mouth and turned away.

“Ha.”

She laughed. Astrid laughed. Nervously. If that could be called laughter.

“…Showing defensive swordsmanship to someone who’s only learned to kill and destroy all her life… I wondered what had gotten into that child.”

“What do you mean?”

“No matter how strong a person is, everyone has a desire to be protected deep inside. That child had strong such feelings. Even she, standing at the pinnacle of the White Blood, had that thirst.”

“…Why?”

“Human eyes face outward, so people don’t know what they’re holding. They just reach out for what they don’t have. Tsk… teaching that child that you can win without killing. Where did you learn such mischief…”

Astrid shook her head.

“…Either kill or save. You have no talent. You can’t master both. Once you’ve chosen one, hone only that. Then… you might become a captain of ten in the White Blood.”

“Ha. And now?”

“You won’t find it in the White Blood, but maybe in the Holy Grail Knights. Among those who have neither grail, nor are knights, nor even a group.”

“How about an apprentice knight?”

Astrid laughed, “Paha.”

“Why? Want to join?”

“No. The person Lily, Maria, and I are looking for was a White Blood apprentice knight… or claimed to be. An apprentice knight who left the White Blood with the Children’s Crusade when the Demon King rose about ten years ago.”

“You’re misunderstanding something…” Astrid tapped the ground with her foot in dissatisfaction.

“Do you think the White Blood is some neighborhood alley? There are more than five knight training centers and over ten fortresses. Three cities and dozens of villages.”

Kain’s spirits sank.

“So there are no records?”

“There are. The White Blood isn’t like that rootless Holy Grail Knights. Every apprentice knight must be registered and recorded. But only the Grand Master can view those records.”

“I need to see them.”

“Become the Grand Master. Or put Liliana in the Grand Master’s seat.”

“…Even by the Emperor’s order?”

“For an Imperial Security Bureau agent, you’re quick to invoke the Emperor’s orders. The White Blood won’t accept it. We have recognized autonomy. Have you forgotten that orders from the Emperor to other nobles must be made public? If the White Blood accepts the Emperor’s orders when the Empire isn’t in danger, do you think the Electors would stand idle?

One more thing. The White Blood exists because of absolute authority. The authority of rules that everyone must follow. If it’s established that only the Grand Master can access something, then that’s how it must be. If such small things start to unravel, the White Blood will collapse. And if they ‘collapse,’ it’s obvious what will happen.”

People who stab and kill with each breath, neither rejoicing nor sorrowing at it—impassive people. Kain understood.

“…I understand. I apologize. I overstepped.”

Kain apologized respectfully, even bowing his head. Because of this, he didn’t see Astrid’s internal conflict.

“…But why do you need that? Is it related to this matter?”

“Yes. Hard as it may be to believe… I can’t say more than that. Please understand.”

It felt like they had returned to the same point. Circling with Astrid.

Perhaps Astrid would ask how grand this matter must be to warrant such secrecy… but her question was unexpected.

“Do you know how to catch mice?”

Surprised by the unexpected question, Kain blinked. Mice? Why suddenly talk about mice? Astrid slowly looked around, seemingly checking if anyone was eavesdropping.

“There are quite a few mice in the ancient document repository. These stupid knights can’t even catch a single mouse… Come to think of it, some cleaning needs to be done too. And… it would be good if you know how to handle paper properly. The mountain is quite humid, so paper deteriorates quickly.”

“I know how.”

“Proof?”

“I’m an Imperial official and civil servant.”

“Ah. Right. For the first time, I find your words credible.” Astrid’s face turned grim.

“…It still makes me angry thinking about it. Taking a White Blood warrior… sitting them in a chair and making them do paperwork…”

“…Ahem. As a superior, I must say, she was really good at it. The best among her peers. Good instincts too. All the superiors liked her.”

Astrid rose with a flushed face. “How deficient must they be…”

Though she said this, Kain saw the strict Chief Executor smile slightly.

* * * * *

Maria leaned against a rock with bloodless eyes. When Kain approached, she weakly lifted an empty leather water flask. There was a faint smell of alcohol.

“How are you?”