Ch.157157. Meeting (3)

“Hah!”

The knights’ shouts echoed throughout the training ground. George stood with his arms crossed, wearing a stern expression. The knights stole glances at George’s face before swinging their swords again. It was clear their captain was in a foul mood. But no one dared to step forward and ask why.

“Your footwork is still weak. Don’t strike down with the sword as if you’re bullying it. You’ll damage the blade and lose your balance.”

George’s words were no different from usual. That was the problem. After getting married, he had been running the knights with a smiling face and relative leniency, but today he had reverted to his former self. It hadn’t been that many weeks since his wedding—had he already gotten into a fight with his wife? The knights harbored these disrespectful doubts while swinging their swords to George’s commands.

“Stand firm! Keep your wrists flexible.”

George moved between the knights’ formations, correcting their postures. The knights’ questions gradually subsided, leaving only dry tension. They feared that if their posture slipped any further, they would hear a harsh rebuke.

“Again. Don’t just swing—imagine a target in front of you.”

After giving these instructions, George walked back to the front of the formation. As he passed by, the knights straightened their postures under his sidelong glance. George was about to say something more but decided against it. Anything beyond this would just be taking out his frustrations. In truth, he was already taking out his frustrations on the knights.

“That’s enough for today. Dismissed. If anyone wants to stay for supplementary training, I’ll lend you the key.”

“Thank you for your guidance!”

The knights’ expressions brightened immediately. George waved his hand dismissively, and the knights formed groups as they left the training ground. As George sighed, one of the members approached him.

“Captain.”

The member looked at George with a somewhat suspicious expression. Just as George was beginning to regret whether he had been too harsh today, the man spoke.

“Is your marriage in trouble?”

“You insolent bastard with that loose mouth.”

George’s hand, as large as a pot lid, smacked the back of the member’s head. The member let out a short “Gack!” and staggered. He rubbed his stinging head and looked at George resentfully.

“Well, why were you torturing us like that today? Are you turning into one of those old fogies who’ve retired? Are you thinking about retirement soon?”

“Enough. Stop babbling and go home. I won’t torture you like this in tomorrow’s training.”

The puzzlement didn’t leave the member’s face, but he seemed relieved by the promise of less torment. George patted his back and sent him out of the training ground.

The training ground was now empty. George stood alone in the middle, looking up at the sky. His mind was in turmoil. Heading toward his mid-thirties, he never expected to be this troubled by friction with a party member. George let out a hollow laugh and grabbed his sword. Nothing cleared the mind better than mindlessly swinging a sword.

Whoosh.

The practice sword cut through the air. The movement was rough but without openings. George swung the sword from top to bottom aimlessly. After about an hour of this, his posture faltered, and the wooden sword’s trajectory changed. George put down the wooden sword and wiped away his sweat. He felt as if his distracting thoughts had flown away.

Yes, it’s something that can happen. I was the one who pushed him too hard, thinking of him only as a hero.

George shook his head. Taking a step back to look at things had helped quite a bit. Perhaps he shouldn’t have argued with Ilroy. George smiled bitterly.

“I’m still young too, it seems.”

In the end, only his body had fully grown. George felt the sensation of the ring on his left hand. In this state, he didn’t have the face to see his wife. He thought he should stop by headquarters to at least leave a message with Daphne. With that in mind, he headed outside.

BOOM-!!

And then, he froze in place at the sound of an explosion.

==

Around the time Bishop Andre returned to the Holy Nation and the warrant for Aryen’s arrest was expanded continent-wide, Marianne returned to the hero party of the Kingdom of Kairos. The summer that had made the entire continent tremble with fear had passed, and the spring wheat harvest had begun. That abundance and generous atmosphere had settled thickly over the royal capital. The comet had failed to change the capital’s atmosphere.

People glanced at Marianne as she passed. Some even gave slight bows to express their gratitude. They recognized her as a member of the hero party. Marianne returned their greetings while experiencing an unfamiliar emotion. She didn’t have the luxury to focus on that feeling right now.

Hero party headquarters. Marianne quietly entered through the door.

“I’m back.”

Marianne murmured out of habit. The headquarters was quieter than usual. Even with Ilroy absent, there should have been more people coming and going. Marianne looked around the nearly deserted lobby before heading to her room.

“Welcome back.”

In her room sat Daphne with a dazed expression. Marianne opened her eyes wide and sat down next to Daphne. Daphne turned her head to look blankly at Marianne before speaking. The room was chilly. The autumn chill was creeping up from the floor.

“George isn’t here right now. He probably won’t be back for a while.”

“What happened?”

Daphne let out a long sigh.

“Ilroy left alone to capture Aryen. There was friction, of course. George was extremely angry. He probably wanted to help Ilroy.”

The situation roughly took shape in Marianne’s mind. It made sense that Daphne, caught in the middle, would be exhausted. But this was Daphne after all—someone who would literally jump through fire and water for Ilroy.

“Why didn’t you try to persuade Ilroy?”

“He had eyes that seemed to say ‘don’t ask.’ I don’t think he’s forgotten the promise we made in the barrier. I believe he must have had a good reason.”

“Our party never seems to have a peaceful day.” Daphne said, briefly glancing out the window. Marianne quietly observed Daphne’s worried eyes.

“Was there any other news from the Holy Nation?”

“The Holy Knights were busy for a while, but nothing concerning happened. The mass casualties among the Inquisitors… that was painful.”

Marianne’s voice rarely carried emotion, but it did now. Her tightly clenched fist had turned pale white.

“The Bishop who was sent back to the Holy Nation issued strict orders not to act rashly. He said Ilroy would handle it, so we should wait without worry. This time, I decided to follow orders, but…”

“How is the Bishop’s condition?”

“The Saint helped him. He wanted to act immediately after treatment, but… the Pope issued an immediate activity ban. He’s probably unable to move an inch in the Holy Nation right now.”

Marianne set her holy spear on the floor.

“The Bishop seemed to feel great responsibility for this situation. After all, the person he personally brought in has changed so drastically. I understand the Holy Knights are currently surrounding the Bishop’s room to prevent him from rashly taking action.”

Marianne concluded by saying that even Bishop Andre wouldn’t try to act in such a situation. After hearing this, Daphne nodded and lay down on the bed.

“We have no choice but to trust and wait. Rather than acting rashly and complicating the situation, we have no option but to wait for more information to come in.”

7th Circle Archmage. A title held by only two people across the entire continent. It would be disadvantageous not to act together. Ilroy must know this. There’s no one left in the hero party who would be a hindrance if they acted together. Yet Ilroy didn’t take them with him because…

Knock knock knock.

Daphne suddenly came to her senses at the faint knocking sound. Marianne gently turned her head to look at the door, and Daphne slightly furrowed her brow. The knocking was coming from the main entrance. After a brief interval, the knocking sounded again. Marianne turned to Daphne.

“Were you expecting any visitors?”

Daphne slowly shook her head. There were no scheduled visitors. Perhaps a messenger from the palace? Or maybe a visitor from the Holy Nation?

“Well… I’m not sure. Could it be some new information?”

Marianne followed behind Daphne as she got up. While they were deliberating, the knocking sound came once more. Whoever it was, their persistence in knocking suggested they knew someone was in the headquarters. Marianne tilted her head, wondering who it could be.

Who among those who would know this fact had come to visit?

“Coming now.”

Daphne responded to the knocking. They reached the lobby. Before that, Marianne had extended her magical senses as far as possible. But Marianne’s senses detected no presence. A sense of unease crawled like an insect from the soles of her feet up her legs and throughout her entire body.

“Yes, yes.”

Daphne approached the entrance. Still no presence. Judgment—and the subsequent action—had to be swift. As Daphne grabbed the doorknob and opened the door, Marianne grabbed her remaining wrist.

The door opens.

A blade rushed toward Daphne.

A protective spell unfolds.

Marianne’s hand pulled Daphne backward.

A shattering sound rang out. The 7th Circle Mage’s protective spell cracked.

Daphne’s consciousness accelerated. Marianne deployed her holy weapon in her free hand.

An explosion of magical power erupted from Daphne.

BOOM-!!!

The lobby’s main door blasted outward, and dust billowed up. From the impact, Daphne and Marianne were thrown back, tumbling into a corner of the lobby. The wooden floor shattered into countless splinters, spraying wooden shards in dozens of directions.

“Are you alright?!”

Marianne’s voice was half a scream. Daphne nodded. Her pink hair was completely disheveled and falling down. Too many things had happened in less than three seconds. Daphne immediately expanded the scale of her protective spell and used wind to blow the dust outside.

“Why is that person here…!”

Daphne exclaimed in shock as she faced the figure standing at the entrance. Marianne searched the floor with trembling eyes, but her holy spear wasn’t there. Looking at the two tense women, the black-haired mercenary smiled. Though disguised as a bitter smile, it was closer to maniacal laughter—a smile no ordinary human could comprehend.

“It’s been a while.”

Aryen said, lowering his sword. His gaze was directed at Daphne. At that seemingly welcoming look, Daphne tensed and drew up her magical power. Aryen deflected and blocked the magic Daphne shot at him by swinging his sword.

“As expected, persuasion won’t work.”

Aryen shook his head.