Ch.2222. My Knight (4)

Some time had passed since Sione buried her head in my arms to compose herself.

The trembling of her body had gradually subsided, and now she was simply being held while fully conscious.

We couldn’t stay like this forever.

I carefully spoke to her.

“Have you calmed down?”

“…Thank you.”

Sione, who had been embracing me, finally let me go.

I was worried that snot might have gotten on my leather armor, but fortunately that wasn’t the case.

What a sight among all those corpses.

This was quite something.

Sione moved away from me and stood up.

Her eyes seemed a bit swollen, as if she had shed some tears.

She looked down at me with curiosity.

“Get up quickly. This is no longer a place to stay, so let’s hurry back.”

I stared up at her.

“You’re suffering from mana exhaustion, aren’t you? Unfortunately, I still can’t move my body easily.”

“Ah.”

“Would you carry me?”

I stretched out my arms.

As Sione said, there was no point in staying in a place like this any longer.

I too wanted to leave quickly.

“…Alright.”

Previously, when I asked her to carry me, she was so embarrassed.

This time, for some reason, Sione picked me up with a calm expression.

I was carried on Sione’s back.

Being slumped on her back made me feel somewhat sorry, as her shoulders were now thin from dieting, unlike the broad, soft shoulders she had before.

It definitely seemed more comfortable to be carried by pre-weight-loss Sione.

While passing time with such trivial thoughts, I felt a bit sorry for being quietly carried, so I tried to make conversation.

“Am I not too heavy?”

“Not particularly heavy, so don’t worry.”

“That’s a relief then.”

Well, if she says I’m not heavy…

If it gets difficult, she can always use mana.

After protecting me from that monster, what wouldn’t she do for a benefactor like me?

I quietly closed my eyes while being carried on Sione’s back.

* * *

When we arrived at the inn, I could see Diolia.

Seeing Sione carrying me, she approached quickly with an expression of disbelief.

Diolia looked at me with a face that showed she couldn’t understand what was happening.

Soon, her expression hardened as she noticed the faint smell of blood and bloodstains on Sione and me.

“Would you explain what happened?”

Diolia demanded an explanation in a calm voice.

Sione, who had been walking straight ahead, briefly glanced at her before looking away again.

Diolia remained silent at Sione’s cold response.

“Rather than that, let’s take care of Ray first. Could you ask for bath water at the inn?”

“…I will do so.”

Diolia looked me over and then moved away.

She asked an employee for bath water.

Thanks to that, I was able to take a bath shortly after.

“Can you wash yourself?”

“Of course. I was carried here, but after resting a bit, I’m able to move now.”

Though it’s still difficult as my body lacks strength.

But I can manage this much somehow.

I went into a separate prepared room, washed off the blood, changed into servant clothes, and came out.

When I emerged after changing clothes, I could see Diolia waiting on the other side.

“We have a conversation to finish, so let’s go to Sione’s room.”

“I’ll follow.”

“I heard you have mana exhaustion. Will you be alright without support?”

“Yes, I’m much better than before, so I’ll walk on my own.”

“Hmm… alright.”

I followed Diolia toward Sione’s room.

Since Sione’s room was on a higher floor than the bath I had just finished using, stairs appeared before me.

…I don’t think I can climb stairs yet.

My original body would barely feel weakened even with completely depleted mana.

This wretched body feels too drained every time mana exhaustion hits.

I quietly looked back and forth between the stairs and Diolia’s back before speaking.

“…Could you help me climb the stairs?”

“Sure, come here.”

With Diolia’s help, I managed to climb the stairs.

After releasing her support, I bowed my head.

“Thank you for your help.”

“It’s nothing.”

After that brief exchange, we hurried to Sione’s room.

Entering the room, I could see Sione sitting on her bed waiting for us.

Her gaze fell on me.

“You must still be suffering from the aftereffects of mana exhaustion, so sit over there.”

“Thank you.”

I approached the chair she pointed to.

After I quietly sat down, Diolia finally asked, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“Now can you tell me exactly what happened?”

Looking at Diolia asking this, it seemed she hadn’t heard anything from Sione while I was washing up.

In response to Diolia’s question, Sione, having apparently organized her thoughts, spoke without any change in expression.

“We were attacked. They were demon worshippers targeting me, a Sianella, as a sacrifice.”

“…Why would demon worshippers be here?”

“Five people attacked, and Ray protected me. That’s all.”

“But.”

Diolia’s gaze turned toward me.

Judging by her expression, she clearly wanted a more detailed explanation than Sione’s overly abbreviated account.

“Could you explain in more detail?”

“…Of course. A total of five people, who appeared to be demon worshippers, dared to attack Sione. Three of them had reached the level of sword users.”

“Three sword users?”

“Yes, I saved Sione from three sword users. As a result, I suffered mana exhaustion, and Sione saved me.”

“Wait.”

Diolia fixed me with a stare that seemed to ask what on earth I was talking about.

I expected this reaction.

Indeed, it’s hard to believe that a frail man who would struggle to even awaken mana could kill three sword users.

It’s like saying a neighborhood dog killed an elephant—that level of disparity.

If I were Diolia, I wouldn’t have believed it either.

“You killed sword users. Three of them.”

I nodded.

This is the truth, what can I do?

I simply explained the situation in more detail.

“They may have been sword users, but they were mere half-wits. They only knew how to enhance their physical abilities with mana; their swordsmanship was terrible.”

“No matter how poor their swordsmanship, they’re still sword users. Besides, as someone with slave status who likely never properly learned swordsmanship… how could you possibly evade and counter their sword paths?”

“…I was barely able to dodge using mana.”

Diolia shook her head at my words.

“Even if you’ve awakened mana, it doesn’t make sense. The small amount of mana a man gains upon awakening would be insufficient to enhance physical abilities.”

“But—”

Clap!

Sione, who had been quietly listening to my conversation with Diolia, clapped her hands to change the atmosphere.

Simultaneously, both Diolia and I turned our attention to her.

“Lady Diolia, that’s enough interrogation. What’s important now is not how he protected me, but that he did protect me, wouldn’t you agree?”

As if her mood had been disturbed.

Though her tone was flat and even, it was colder than any words Sione had spoken so far.

Diolia closed her mouth at Sione’s cold words.

“…I understand.”

As Diolia quieted down, Sione looked at me again.

“I will finish the rest of this conversation with Diolia alone, so go back to your room. Get plenty of rest today.”

“I will do so.”

I nodded at Sione’s words and stood up.

Then, before leaving the room, I bowed my head toward Diolia and said:

“The demon worshippers mentioned a sorcerer. It seems there are still remnants left, so I request your protection.”

“…I will continue to stand guard, so you can go back with peace of mind.”

With those words, I returned to my room.

If Diolia stands guard, there shouldn’t be any more dangerous situations.

Now I can finally rest easy.

* * *

After sleeping soundly in bed, I woke up to find dusk had already fallen outside the window.

As I had just awakened from sleep and was quietly looking at the dark outside while having a casual conversation with Ian.

Knock knock.

The sound of someone knocking on the door was heard.

Ian glanced at the door where the knocking sound came from and said:

“I’ll go check who it is.”

As he got up and opened the door, I could see who the knocker was.

“Lady Diolia, what brings you here?”

“I have something to discuss with Sione’s servant. Would that be alright?”

At Diolia’s words, I got up.

I’m not sure what business she has at this hour, but since she says she has something to talk about with me.

There’s no point in having Ian deal with Diolia.

As I approached Diolia, Ian bowed deeply before returning to his place.

Diolia and I stepped outside the room and began our conversation.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

Diolia hesitated before answering my question.

I wish she would answer quickly.

Only after a moment passed could I hear her response.

“…Sione is anxious.”

“Sione is anxious?”

“Yes, it seems to be because of what happened earlier today… Since she relies on you quite a bit, I thought it would be good for you to be by her side.”

“I understand. I’ll go right away.”

I nodded at Diolia’s words.

She must be suffering alone again because of what happened earlier.

Despite her reputation as an arrogant recluse, Sione actually has a fragile disposition.

Just as I was about to move:

“Wait…!”

Diolia briefly grabbed my wrist.

“What is it?”

“…I think I spoke too harshly earlier today. I… wanted to apologize.”

If she’s talking about speaking harshly earlier—

She must be referring to her response when I said I took down mana users.

Since it’s nearly impossible for a man in this world to defeat a sword user.

I completely understand her reaction and had long forgotten about it.

“There’s no need to apologize. Even I would find it hard to believe if a man claimed to have defeated three sword users, so I completely understand your position.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Diolia showed a faint smile.

“Indeed, I should have been by her side as her guard. Thank you for protecting Sione in my place.”

Then she bowed her head to me.

For a promising knight of Sianella to bow to me.

This seems like too much honor.

I raised the corners of my mouth slightly at her gesture.

“May I request that you guard Sione tonight?”

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

With those words, I ended my conversation with Diolia.

Then I immediately went to Sione’s room, where she was probably trembling alone.

Knock knock.

I knocked politely and then opened the door to enter the room.

Upon entering, I could see Sione’s condition.

Sione looked haggard, as if she hadn’t been able to rest properly, and seemed anxious about something.

Seeing her gaze occasionally unfixed and trembling, it seemed she was recalling the scenes from earlier.

I sighed softly upon seeing Sione.

She really does require a lot of attention.

“Sione, I’m here.”

When I spoke, Sione startled and looked at me.

She had pulled the blanket up to cover half her face as she stared at me.

“…Ray? What brings you here at this hour?”

Looking at her with just her eyes peeking out above the blanket, she seemed normal.

But I had already seen her looking like an anxious puppy just moments ago.

“I came because I wanted to talk a bit… but if I’m intruding, I’ll leave right away.”

She, who had been staring at me with wide eyes, soon lowered the blanket she had been holding with both hands and smiled faintly.

“You’re not intruding at all. Rather, you’re welcome.”

Only then did Sione lean back on the bed with a relaxed face.

“May I sit on the chair?”

“Make yourself comfortable.”

“I understand.”

At her words, I sat on the chair.

Sitting there, I realized that although Diolia had called me here, I didn’t actually have anything specific to say.

As I was thinking about what to say, we naturally fell into silence.

Sione too was quiet for a while, just watching me.

Come to think of it.

Before those demon worshippers appeared, Sione was about to say something.

She was trying to bring up something in a rather serious atmosphere.

It didn’t seem like light conversation.

“Sione, you were about to say something after we looked around the market earlier.”

“Ah, that.”

Sione blushed with embarrassment at my words.

I gave her a bright smile while putting my index finger to my lips.

Shh—

Sione quietly closed her mouth upon seeing my smile and gesture.

I slowly continued what I was saying.

“Since you didn’t enjoy this market visit, perhaps I could hear it at the Marquisate of Feiosha?”

“You mean—”

“Would you tell me after we explore the streets once more?”

Sione finally broke into a bright smile at my words.

“Of course.”

“Aren’t you looking forward to the Marquisate of Feiosha?”

“Yes, it sounds fun. Being famous for its wealth even in the southern region of the kingdom, there should be much to see.”

I playfully added:

“Of course, Lady Diolia will join us this time.”

“Hehe, isn’t that obvious?”

Sione finally seemed completely relaxed as she comfortably settled into her bed.

Her relaxed expression showed no signs of deep concern anymore.

With her eyes closed, Sione spoke as she gradually drifted off to sleep.

“Ray.”

“Yes?”

“…Thank you.”

I chuckled at Sione’s words.

“This much is nothing.”

Sione, who had been trembling alone in her bed, could now sleep comfortably with a slight smile on her lips.