Ch.194EP.44 – The Knight Hate Romance Fantasy Events (6)

…I knew for a while that someone was unpleasantly spying on me.

Yet the reason Ihan hadn’t caught them was because he feared that if he acknowledged their presence, whoever was hiding would run away.

‘As expected, quite skilled.’

Ihan nodded as he examined the overall musculature of the man who had been hiding in the forest until he finally got his stomach pierced by Ihan’s axe.

Just by looking at the muscles and skeletal structure, he could tell this was quite a “skilled individual.”

Indeed, his acting had been the right choice. Otherwise, the man would have definitely fled.

“That person is…!”

“A familiar face?”

“…He’s Senior Inquisitor Toner, who transferred to the Holy Knights. He’s a skilled fighter I can’t even compare to. Why would someone like him be hiding? No, before that, how did you take him down with just one strike…?”

“So now Holy Knights are showing up too?”

Ihan stepped firmly on the stomach of this Toner or whatever Holy Knight he was.

Crunch!

“Aaaaargh!”

Indeed, quite skilled.

Despite having his stomach pierced by an axe, he was still alive.

It was proof of his powerful vitality, and Ihan pressed down harder, stomping on his stomach.

“Urrrgh! S-stop, please stop…!”

Though Toner, who had regained consciousness, was pleading, Ihan pretended not to hear.

These people’s repertoire was predictable anyway.

First they’d threaten with “The Temple will not forgive this!” and when that didn’t work, they’d try to persuade with “I promise compensation! So cooperate with our work!” and finally, when all else failed…

“D-do you think the Light of Radiance will forgive such actions?!”

“…This is truly tiresome.”

Now they’re selling the name of god…

Ihan was tired of dealing with these lunatics.

Why did they insist on bothering him when he was living quietly?

So.

“Sooshim.”

“Y-yes?”

“Go call some people.”

“Which people are you referring to-?”

“The black one and the chick’s father.”

“……”

“What?”

“…Just thinking that peace is finally over.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Peace? There never was any to begin with.

* * *

Not long after contact was made, people gathered around Ihan’s house.

“Greetings, Lord Ihan.”

The shadow of Galahad.

“Pleased to meet you, Lord Turtle. I’ve heard much about you. I deeply regret that our first meeting is under such circumstances.”

A knight of Lionel.

The two most powerful forces representing the southern continent had gathered, and they silently got to work.

“Is this the worm who dared to insult Galahad and our lady?”

“How dare the Temple-!”

“You will not die peacefully. No, I will teach everyone connected to you! That hell exists in this world…!”

From what he’d heard, Galahad already harbored resentment toward religious forces, and now their shadows had completely lost their minds after Irene was insulted. It seemed likely that everyone connected to this nameless priest would face a fate worse than death.

“I’ve always been curious about the Temple, and now I get to satisfy that curiosity.”

“Don’t handle him too roughly. The young master specifically ordered us to bring him back alive.”

“That’s true, but we should cut off his arms and legs in case he tries to escape. Ah, Lord Turtle, don’t worry. We won’t spill blood here.”

Lionel didn’t seem particularly resentful toward the Temple, but they were thoroughly following orders they had received, and their mechanical execution of the task without any personal feelings was quite admirable.

“By the way, Lord Ihan, could you hand over those Inquisitors to us as well? They seem like they could betray us at any moment. If possible, please give them to us.”

“Wouldn’t our side be better than Galahad?”

“…The snow cat doesn’t know its place.”

“Wouldn’t we be better than you sneaky bastards? You little colts.”

“……”

“Don’t just glare, come at me if you want. I’ll take you on anytime.”

“…If you’re going to fight, go somewhere else.”

Perhaps calling both forces at once was a mistake after all?

The tension was considerable, and Ihan shrugged his shoulders.

The ones who should be giving him something weren’t even thinking about it, yet they were fighting amongst themselves.

“E-excuse me, a-are you planning to hand us over?”

“L-Lord Ihan! P-please, I beg you! Don’t hand us over!”

“We didn’t know anything-!”

The Inquisitors had been trembling with pale faces as if sitting on pins and needles since the arrival of the knights from Galahad and Lionel, and now they were desperately fighting for their lives.

If Ihan were to hand them over to those people, they might face a fate worse than death.

So they clung to Ihan.

To their only lifeline.

“Anyone watching would think I’m trying to kill you. I just spared your lives, didn’t I? I have no particular intention of killing you.”

“Ah, Lord Ihan!”

“…Well, that’s assuming you’re innocent.”

“…Pardon?”

“It seems they’ve arrived.”

“??”

He gestured with his chin toward the front, but there was nothing where he pointed.

What exactly had arrived…?

“-Hoho, impressive. Can you now sense my presence? That’s remarkable progress.”

…How long had he been standing there?

People widened their eyes.

It was as if a person had suddenly sprouted from the ground where no presence had been felt.

Like being possessed by a ghost.

Yet despite the knights’ focused gazes, the elderly butler in his uniform just smiled kindly and moved at a leisurely pace.

“It’s been a while, Butler.”

“I am pleased to see you as well.”

“…I didn’t actually say I was pleased.”

“Isn’t pleasure expressed through the eyes rather than words? I can see the pleasure in your eyes, Lord Ihan.”

“M-maybe it’s fear and trembling rather than pleasure?”

“You’ve developed a sense of humor too, hohoho.”

“…If you say so, Butler.”

Ihan could only bow his head in submission.

While Ihan was normally respectful to elders (with exceptions for those who weren’t human-like), he was being even more polite than usual, and at some point sweat began to drip from his brow.

Though he was sweating as if caught in the rain, Ihan didn’t dare wipe it away and just kept his head bowed.

…He didn’t realize it before, but now that he had grown a little, he understood.

This person was truly-

‘A [superhuman].’

It was something he had known before, but the moment he directly gauged that power, he felt the truth with his entire body.

The other was a separate species wearing the disguise of a human, and Ihan gasped for breath as he recognized this again.

It seemed strange to be so exhausted without having fought, but it wasn’t easy to conserve energy in this person’s presence.

Just exchanging a few words felt like running five full marathons in succession.

To such an Ihan.

“You’ve grown too rapidly. That’s why there are still awkward aspects to your sensory and physical distribution. If you fix that, breathing will become much easier.”

The butler offered advice without reservation and patted his shoulder as if to encourage him.

Then the butler turned his gaze toward the Inquisitors.

Unlike the gentle gaze he had for Ihan, this was a cold stare like glass beads had been embedded in his eyes.

The moment they met that gaze, all the Inquisitors were struck speechless, and no one moved their lips.

…It was instinct.

The biological instinct that one must not defy this person.

And so.

“Follow me. I will guide you.”

He silently “told” them to follow, and the Inquisitors,

Trudge, trudge…

Followed as he said.

With the “certainty” that they must not “defy” him.

“-If you are forthright and speak only the truth, you won’t die.”

Ihan nodded.

It seemed he had made the right decision to send the letter.

However.

‘I didn’t expect the Butler himself to come.’

He had thought they would send someone, but he never expected they would send the Butler of all people.

“Albert, John Ray Albert…”

“L-Lord Ihan, you’re acquainted with him!?”

The knights immediately seemed to realize who the butler—no, Albert—was.

Well, they weren’t unskilled individuals, so they must have recognized that he was a powerful figure beyond their comprehension.

Besides, a superhuman who went around in butler attire was somewhat famous, so it wouldn’t have been difficult to guess his identity.

“We just happen to know each other’s faces.”

“You seemed quite close from your conversation.”

“It’s not that we’re close, it’s that I’m completely submissive to him. Let me ask you instead, could you be impolite to that gentleman?”

“…That would be impossible, wouldn’t it?”

“Right? That gentleman is like a forced politeness injector.”

“Y-you called him ‘that gentleman,’ so you must be close after all.”

“…It’s a misunderstanding.”

It seemed an unnecessary misunderstanding had arisen, but he didn’t strongly deny it.

Above all.

‘Thanks to the Butler, it seems the pointless conflict has disappeared, which is fortunate?’

He had originally thought about handing the interns over to either Galahad or Lionel, but if he favored one side, there was concern it might cause a major incident.

Additionally, if he took a particular family’s side, even he might be misunderstood.

So he had brought in the royal family, or more precisely, his sister.

Sure enough, as soon as contact was made, they immediately sent personnel, and thanks to that, the two families didn’t engage in unnecessary posturing.

However.

‘Somehow I feel like a different misunderstanding is developing about me…’

He could see the looks of those who were alternating their gaze between Ihan and Albert with expressions that seemed to say “Could it be…?”

It was clear that numerous misunderstandings were being created in real time, and Ihan swallowed.

Perhaps.

‘That woman, did she orchestrate all this?’

He had wondered why they sent the Butler specifically, and now he suspected the princess might be sending a warning to other forces.

[-He is mine.]

It was as if he could hear such words, and he smiled bitterly.

This is what they call a needless misunderstanding.

“Haah…”

“A sigh, how nice. They say breathing deeply like that is good for mental health, so I recommend doing it often.”

“…Doesn’t it make good fortune run away?”

“Why would fortune run away?”

“…It was just nonsense.”

“Hmm?”

Albert still wore an expression with an unreadable smile.

He would probably answer whatever Ihan asked, but Ihan had a feeling the answers would be ambiguous.

Therefore.

“I’ll see you later. I’ll buy some decent wine and bring it. Let’s have a drink then.”

“Oh, drinking with Lord Ihan? I’m already looking forward to it.”

Albert expressed anticipation at Ihan’s words, and somehow he seemed to be showing cheerfulness.

It felt like he was showing genuine emotion for the first time, and Albert stared at Ihan for a moment.

Suddenly.

“…I had originally planned to just see your face and leave, but let me tell you something interesting before I go, Lord Ihan.”

“S-something interesting?”

“Yes. It’s about why the Temple is suddenly acting so crazy and targeting Lady Irene Windler.”

“…?”

…Weren’t they just going wild trying to grab power?

Albert continued as Ihan blinked in surprise at this unexpected topic.

“It seems Lady Irene Windler is the most promising ‘saint candidate.’ Therefore, the Temple appears determined to kidnap or persuade the young lady, hoho.”

“?”

“It’s an interesting situation. Well, if they could get their hands on a saint, even the Church King wouldn’t be a problem. With a saint in their possession, the Temple could reclaim the title of [Pope] that was taken by the Military God. I suspect there will be many targeting the young lady in the near future, which is quite fascinating.”

“??”

“But don’t worry. If they truly try to cross the line, ‘I’ will pay the Temple a visit, hoho.”

“……”

…Ihan knew he wasn’t being polite, but he couldn’t respond at all.

That’s how speechless he was right now.

And for good reason.

‘W-who said what?’

…A saint?

That trash-?

“……”

Swish.

Ihan’s eyes, with vision rivaling that of prairie people, turned toward the neighboring house.

“That thing is… a saint (candidate)?”

He could see the yellow chick who was out in the yard, spying on his house with a telescope and grinning stupidly, and Ihan’s distrust of the Temple only grew stronger.