Ch.25885. If You’re Going to Apologize, Do It to Yourselves! (2)

# Knight of the Giant

The nickname of Bariel Hamelot, who was once one of the Nine Heroes.

Dyke Hamelot, an imperial knight who rightfully inherited that title and was acknowledged by Bariel himself, could finally return to the imperial territory with some peace of mind.

“Dealing with the aftermath is more troublesome than the actual battle.”

“Haha! As if this is your first time experiencing it.”

Lurden, Dyke’s longtime companion in plate armor who had accompanied him from foreign lands to the empire and decided to stay by their side for a while, spoke with a powerful voice while wearing his helmet.

“…”

His navy-blue long hair had grown enough to cover his ears and nape.

Though he trimmed it occasionally, his patchy beard was quite troublesome.

“At least things have settled down, so it should be quiet for a while, right?”

“I’d like to think so, but those kinds of threats could be lurking anywhere.”

It remains a mystery why people encounter corrupt teachings, what medium leads them there, and why they fall into such traps.

The Empire was certainly more prosperous and comfortable than other countries.

Though disparities existed within it, how many would actually complain about that?

Unless one grew up in the heart of the city from childhood, surrounded by those they could only look up to or envy, taught that such things were great and admirable… well.

‘Some places were satisfied just to make it through the day safely.’

People who weren’t striving for honor and achievements like themselves, or trying to increase wealth, reach the heights of magic, expand territories, or even just fill their bellies.

Rather, those people seemed to have no worries or concerns… Dyke often thought:

…Perhaps we suffer because we pursue too much.

There’s no reason for breathing to become rough if you don’t run.

Walking for a long time might tire you a bit, but then you can just rest for a moment.

But because everyone is running and rushing forward, some riding horses, others flying like birds into the distance, Dyke sometimes wondered if we’re just blindly chasing after them without purpose.

“Still, I’m glad your sharp edges have dulled considerably.”

“…Me? Are you talking about me?”

“Yes! Your sudden departure was bewildering enough, but when you returned after so long, you were skin and bones, and incredibly irritable.”

“That… I had my reasons.”

“But you couldn’t tell us?”

“…I already apologized for that.”

The current condition of the Imperial Princess Elhermina was classified as top secret.

And for Dyke, who had admired her… it was only natural that he’d been on edge.

If Kariel hadn’t given his assurance that he would wake her up… Dyke would surely have fought him to the death.

“Anyway, I’m thinking of hitting the road again after the Imperial Jousting Tournament ends.”

“Why? Hadn’t you gotten used to life here?”

Lurden had been serving as a temporary member of Bariel’s knight order, the Giant Knights.

Bariel himself had completely set aside his armor, weapons, and defenses.

Yet he poured unmatched passion into guiding and leading the next generation.

He self-deprecatingly called it passing his burden to the next generation, but it was probably the best he could do.

Dyke’s father, Bariel, had become skeptical of combat in many ways.

Beyond dislike, it was closer to hatred.

Some express disappointment, saying he became afraid, a coward.

[I’ve done my part. Really. I don’t want to fight anymore, nor do I want to suffer needlessly because of irresponsible people everywhere.]

Fighting glorious battles and carving out great achievements.

He had already accomplished that.

So unlike the Emperor or the Radiant Knight, he didn’t want to take responsibility for what came after.

He was neither a monk nor a believer blindly following divine teachings.

Nor was he a fanatical mage obsessively pursuing truth.

“I hear Silein is set to become the knight order’s consulting mage?”

“…Yeah. She said she’d officially join this time.”

“You know that’s because of you, right?”

“…Yeah, yeah.”

Dyke gently curved his lips.

His feelings were complicated, but not unpleasant… that kind of feeling.

Elhermina still firmly held a place in his heart.

But that was a hope that could never be fulfilled.

He knew it, but it wasn’t easy to give up.

So he wouldn’t give up, but he wouldn’t be greedy either.

Admiring and longing for someone was his own feeling.

Perhaps that was the most beautiful form of love.

And another trial he would have to overcome… to face until his dying day.

“The Empire is great. If you only live within it, you truly come to feel that this place is right and just in every way.”

But you know what? We know better.

“Outside of here, many people are making their own lives. Helping those who suffer and fall victim to injustice—that’s my chivalry… that’s why I can’t stay here.”

“Lurden, as always, I respect your opinion. I just hope you won’t push yourself too hard alone out of some misplaced consideration.”

“Am I not shameless? If things get tough, I’ll boldly ask for help, so don’t worry about that. Well… let’s discuss those things later… for now, I should go see Silein.”

“Right. For now, for now, we still have time.”

====

“Dad, you’re not going away anymore?”

“…That’s right. I’ll be staying in the imperial territory for a while.”

“Wow!”

Lueld embraced the child who was the spitting image of himself and smiled faintly.

“Where’s Mom?”

“Prayer room.”

“…I see.”

Lueld nodded slightly.

“Silphia, has anything unusual happened in the household?”

“No, sir. Everything has been peaceful without incident.”

“I see…”

The girl who had grown considerably since before was now a proper young woman.

The child Kariel had brought, who was considered his personal employee.

And now, Elimion’s…

“In the prayer room, these days… that… what was it…”

“You mean the sounds?”

“Y-yes. That… are they still heard?”

“……”

Silphia didn’t answer in the negative.

So… that must be the case.

Lueld had only found out recently.

Normally, if someone was in the prayer room, he would wait until they came out unless it was urgent.

But when he once approached the vicinity due to something truly urgent… he heard sobbing.

Even that was so muffled that it was barely audible.

Given that the prayer room itself was designed to prevent sound from penetrating, the fact that such sounds could be heard…

Moreover, if Lueld wanted, he could hear those sounds from anywhere in the house.

That means… Ermina had been thoroughly restraining herself when Lueld was around.

“Tell her not to push herself too hard when her health isn’t good.”

“If you’re going to stay for a while… wouldn’t it be better to tell her yourself?”

“Ah…”

Despite how obvious that was, why hadn’t he thought of it?

…Am I once again choosing to do something foolish?

Am I still unable to shake off the guilt and self-blame from back then?

If such worries cast a shadow over our family and what I need to do.

That would surely be a sin.

“Yes. I should.”

Lueld calmly agreed.

“Dad? I think I’m starting to understand how to handle a sword now!”

“Starting to?”

“Yes! I thought I was doing well, but as I practiced, it got more difficult…”

More difficult.

What could be difficult?

Rather, this child’s skill for his age was downright extraordinary.

Yet now this child says it’s difficult.

‘The stage where wielding a sword becomes difficult…’

If it were simply a matter of physical ability, it wouldn’t be worth mentioning, but the boy could swing a wooden sword of appropriate weight for more than half a day without collapsing, just getting tired.

Children are full of energy, but this… this is different.

‘His control of force and tempo is perfect.’

His physical condition also perfectly complements this.

That’s why, as long as he doesn’t overdo it when tired, as long as he has enough determination to endure, the boy could swing a sword all day.

And that’s despite not focusing solely on it, learning many other things as well.

‘Just like…’

In terms of sword talent, this child is overwhelmingly superior to even Kariel in his childhood.

While Lueld was pleased about this, he also felt a small, hard stone rolling around in his chest, creating a sense of constriction.

“Dad?”

“Oh, yes. What is it?”

Lueld no longer wanders around looking for Kariel.

Because he had heard what Geornia said when bringing the comatose Imperial Princess Elhermina:

[That child said he would restore her with his own hands. So… please believe and wait.]

Missing each other or failing to meet by a hair’s breadth.

To avoid such errors again.

Lueld now chose to wait.

“……”

But still, Lueld couldn’t understand what journey that child had been walking for.

‘Did he want our recognition?’

He didn’t need to.

It would have been enough if he had just stayed healthy and well, but was the problem that we were a bit too greedy?

When did things go wrong?

Did we place too much expectation on that child?

After returning to the imperial territory and reporting directly to the Emperor, Lueld heard one fact from his comrade and Emperor.

And it was an extension of what he had heard from Nedes.

[The cult uprising in the Empire… I mentioned before you left that it was a kind of operation to cover up the new Demon King’s invasion of the World Tree? It seems certain now.]

Demon King.

That name is mentioned again.

[But it’s strange that they were repelled. Even with our comrades joining in… it shouldn’t have been that easy. Information from that side remains opaque. They seem to be taking special measures to prevent information leakage.]

To this, Lueld recounted the fragmentary information he had heard from Nedes, which Loroana had conveyed.

Then.

[According to numerous reports I’ve received, there must be some missing information. That would include the identity of the Demon King, the identity of the one who defeated the Demon King, and… the nature of that commander you mentioned, who is more dangerous than the Demon King.]

Anyway, the timing of the Imperial Jousting Tournament coincided perfectly with when they would all gather for a meeting.

Exquisite timing, one might say.

Otherwise, they would have just exchanged pleasantries, caught up for a few days, and parted ways.

[And, I’m not sure if I should tell you this part…]

Lueld asked the Emperor what he was hesitating about.

[I heard this news from the east.]

A strange rumor that Grandeus had been resurrected and was leading spirits and ghosts to judge falsehood and evil.

[The rumor might be exaggerated, but… it’s certain that a being similar to him is rampaging no less than Grandeus himself.]

Lueld asked how this being was rampaging to generate such rumors.

[Single-handedly disrupting wars, alone wiping out sizeable bandit groups, single-handedly stirring up corrupt noble castles… You know Feis, right? They even invaded the royal castle there, removed the crown, and damaged part of their fortress. With a black sword, they say.]

A black sword.

…Is that referring to Grandeus’s beloved sword, Elbat?

[And there were also sightings that his beloved horse was with him.]

Beloved horse?

Lueld hadn’t paid much attention to that aspect.

He was, well, not particularly close with horses from the old days.

Despite leading a knight order and being called the Radiant Knight.

He still wasn’t comfortable with cavalry battles or handling horses.

Riding itself and movement weren’t issues, and he could handle combat if needed, but…

[And recently, there were sightings that he headed to Dabas. Wasn’t the God-Body Tournament about to end there?]

But he didn’t participate, they say.

And there, his appearances became sparse again.

[What do you think?]

Lueld recalls for a moment.

The existence of Grandeus.

He was a being who had shocked Lueld in many ways.

But in the end, he fell by Lueld’s hand.

…Even if he hadn’t used his full power, his full heart.

Even that was his choice.

Lueld could not help but respect the decision he made, the will he held.

So Lueld answered the Emperor like this:

If there is a connection.

Surely we will encounter each other in some way.

Whether he has come back to life.

Or whether his successor comes looking for him.

Surely, we have a karmic tie that binds us.

Lueld remembers.

When he cut down Grandeus.

The few who were watching.

What was in their eyes was neither fear nor dread.

They were all the same.

Sworn enemies.

Enemies worthy of hatred.

What was in their eyes was only such emotions.

At that time, Lueld made a promise.

Even if they harbored resentment and showed malice toward him. Even if they expressed hostility.

He would bear it.

Not by dying for them or apologizing.

If they came at him, he would face them with full force.

That would be the basic courtesy he could offer them, whether it was Grandeus or his followers.

…But.

Was the target of all this actually Kariel?

He understands well that they didn’t do it openly.

It would be excessive to say that they led Kariel to be ostracized just because they said a few words to Count Esdina.

Right now, in one of the imperial detention centers, the blind man who orchestrated it is properly imprisoned.

“So that’s why! I was just—”

“……”

While listening to Elimion’s animated story with gesturing hands.

Lueld waited for Ermina to exit the prayer room.

And also.

He constantly thought of a child who should be here, but wasn’t.

All circumstances, past and present, were telling him.

For reasons unknown.

The rightful successor to Grandeus.

Was none other than that child.

Is that child returning to the imperial territory to take responsibility for Elhermina in her condition?

If not.

Or if there are other reasons included…