Ch.394EP.82 – Not a Knight-Errant. Not Even a Knight (3)

In the fall of last year, a tragic and shocking incident occurred that no one from the southern regions could possibly forget.

The Grand Temple, the headquarters for followers of the Light of Radiance, was reduced to ashes…

However, what made this incident so shocking wasn’t merely the burning of the Grand Temple.

The crimes of the high priests and the evidence supporting these allegations.

The arrogant and nauseating atrocities committed by the Inquisitor.

The common people burning priests while testifying to the temple’s corruption.

Each of these alone was shocking enough, but what was even more shocking was that all of this happened in just a single night.

Yet the aforementioned incidents were merely the beginning. As time passed, more and more of the temple’s atrocities came to light, and the temple’s credibility didn’t just crumble—it shattered into pieces.

As a result, even believers in the Light of Radiance gradually turned their backs, and beyond that, they began to despise the temple, hurling harsh criticism and violence toward the priests.

Priests who had committed sins were tied to wooden stakes and stoned, and soldiers chose to turn a blind eye to these acts of judgment that ignored proper procedures.

…Perhaps this proved that once people begin to rampage, it’s difficult to stop them?

Soon, even priests who had neither been corrupted nor committed any crimes began to suffer and face stoning. Eventually, priests were frequently driven out onto the streets in towns and cities throughout the south.

For priests who had been devout and strived to carry out the mercy of the Light, this was nothing but unjust, but once someone is branded as despised, how they had behaved previously hardly matters.

What matters to people is venting their anger.

Therefore…

“It-it’s not my fault. Th-the temple and the priests are the bad ones! Th-that’s what people said!”

Thud, thud…

—It was only natural that tragic events would follow.

Blood spreads.

Pooling abundantly, as if to show the weight of the sins committed.

And as everyone’s sins deepened…

[…Haha!]

It was inevitable that there would be those whose laughter grew darker.

*

*

*

Rattle!

The sound of wheels rolling vigorously echoed in the ears.

If asked whether it was annoying, it certainly would be, but as if to prove that everything can be positive depending on one’s mindset, the knight used the sound of rolling wheels as his BGM.

“…Huff, huff!”

-He was in the middle of a marathon.

“…Wow.”

“They say knights aren’t human…”

“No, but is that even possible?”

People were simply astonished.

And for good reason—they had witnessed it.

They had seen the knight running steadily for over six hours since this morning during their journey uphill.

That’s why they were amazed.

Not on flat ground, but on an uphill path, the knight ran without any change in speed.

It was undeniable that his stamina was something even donkeys or horses would have to concede to.

Only the endurance of camels said to inhabit the western regions could be compared to his.

“I’m going to be a knight too!”

“Charge!”

“Waaah!”

While the adults were busy being amazed at the knight’s stamina, the children, inspired by the knight’s superhuman display, ran after him.

Armed with seemingly inexhaustible energy, the children didn’t hesitate to show their admiration for the knight.

Admiration for the hero who had saved them from bandits!

It was only natural for children to openly admire him and try to imitate him.

…The problem was…

“Heck, heack…”

“I, I might not be able to become a knight?”

“Hiiing.”

The children’s faces fell.

Despite having energy that normally drove their parents crazy, the children simply couldn’t keep up with the knight’s stamina.

Even the child who prided himself on never losing to anyone in long-distance running collapsed, yet the knight’s complexion remained unchanged from the beginning.

He barely even sweated as he continued to run silently.

“…If that’s not superhuman, then what is it?”

While the people’s expressions showed more disgust than admiration, in another sense, there was deep respect.

Who else should they respect if not him, who never skipped a day of “effort” during their journey together?

Reverence filled the eyes of the people.

…But in reality…

‘This feels refreshing.’

Unlike the awe he inspired in others, the truth—known only to his maid and not to others—was that he was simply jogging to stretch his stiff body.

* * *

It had been five days since he decided to travel with the merchant Giovani, who somehow seemed destined to leave his mark in history through finance and art patronage.

Though it was a short time, quite a lot had happened, and with each problem solved, their procession grew longer.

What had clearly been fewer than thirty people at the start had now grown to over 150, showing just how much had happened in those five days.

“I never thought the number of people would grow like this…”

“Are you saying that for me to hear?”

“How could I possibly dare to say such a thing to you, sir! I wouldn’t dare!”

“It’s a joke, so don’t take it so seriously.”

“…Sir, you have absolutely no talent for jokes.”

“……”

The reason for the increase in traveling companions was simple.

It was a similar process to how they met Giovani’s group.

– Hand over everything you’ve got!

– ……?

They encountered bandits.

They were bandits composed of deserters, and later through torture… no, counseling, they learned these men had committed crimes before deserting.

Naturally, they were men with bad mindsets, and Ihan easily trampled them and rescued people who were about to be sold into human trafficking.

Although the kingdom’s laws clearly stated “prohibition of slavery” and “prohibition of human trafficking,” this seemed to prove that the more chaotic a country becomes, the less effective its laws are.

Anyway, after beating up bandits and rescuing dozens of people this way, as well as saving some slash-and-burn farmers fleeing from monster hordes, they suddenly found themselves with a procession of over a hundred people.

For Ihan, who hadn’t intended this situation, it was simply absurd, but since he couldn’t bring himself to abandon these people, he decided to take them to the city that was their destination.

“I find it absurd too. How did we end up with so many people in just five days?”

“…It’s because you’re too generous, sir.”

“It would feel wrong to help them once and then abandon them.”

“In these times, having such a conscience is already unusual.”

“Is that so?”

“……”

Giovani secretly clicked his tongue at his casual attitude.

‘In a way, he’s truly remarkable.’

This is an era of war.

It’s a time when tragic events occur endlessly.

There must be pitiful people everywhere, and if one tried to save them all, there would be no end to it.

Therefore, even if they are pitiful, there’s no obligation or reason to save them all.

Yet he tries to take minimal responsibility.

Because they are people he saved…

He takes them to a relatively safe place.

If one were to see this as merely being kind-hearted, he would be nothing but a pushover, but…

‘He doesn’t indiscriminately show kindness to everyone.’

About two days ago, they encountered bandits and he swept them away, and this time too, he saved people who were about to be trafficked, but those who received salvation were grateful at first, then suddenly…

– Is this all the food we get?

– Let’s go to my hometown first! I have family I left behind!

The shamelessness of asking someone to take responsibility for their entire life after being saved from drowning in a river.

To such people, he said:

– I’ll give you one minute.

– ?

– Get out of my sight.

– !!?

– 50 seconds left.

– Um, sir knight…

– I’m not a knight, you idiot.

– ……

He was cold and resolute.

They knelt and begged forgiveness, but he didn’t give second chances.

Finding this unexpected, Giovani asked:

– Is it alright to drive them away like that?

– If you’re concerned, you can help them.

– Haha, of course not. I’m a merchant too. I have no obligation to help someone at my own expense. But I’m surprised to see you being so harsh…

With some curiosity, he asked, and the man replied:

– I have criteria for helping people.

– Criteria?

– It’s just my personal standard.

– …May I ask what that standard is?

– It’s nothing special. I just look at a person’s ‘desperation.’

– …Desperation.

– Or urgency, if you prefer. Look at our procession now. Even the people there must all have their own hometowns and families. Yet they’re following us obediently and cooperating. Why do you think that is?

– Because they’re afraid of being caught by bandits or encountering monsters without you, sir knight?

– Exactly. In other words, these people don’t complain because they want to live. Even though they surely have things they want.

– ……

– And it’s not just because they’re nice people that they follow so well. It’s because they want to survive somehow, because they have things they want to achieve even if it means taking a detour, so they put aside their pride or whatever and follow me. In contrast, those guys earlier weren’t desperate, which is why they acted that way. They weren’t hungry enough, and they still had the luxury of maintaining their pride.

– When you put it that way, it does make sense.

– At least by my standards, those guys weren’t desperate. Just holding their heads up stiffly… *sigh* Should I go after them now and break their backs?

– P-please restrain yourself.

That’s when Giovani realized.

Ah, this knight is not a kind-hearted person.

He’s simply…

‘A man with firm personal standards.’

Some might call it dogmatic, but Giovani knew the importance of having such standards.

Because to live while constantly worrying about others’ standards…

‘A person’s life is too short.’

For Giovani, who lived as a merchant, the knight’s life showed him much to learn from.

It wasn’t the knight’s words themselves that were impressive, but the fact that he ‘lived by’ his own standards.

‘Everyone knows wise sayings, but few practice them.’

Perhaps to grow as a great merchant, he needed to learn such an attitude toward life.

Thus, Giovani wanted to observe this man a little more, no, for quite a long time, but…

Clop-clop-

“Is that the city we’re heading to?”

“…Ah.”

It seemed the moment for their journey together to end was approaching.

…Much to his regret.

Unlike the clumsy merchant who couldn’t hide his disappointment as if his heart was sinking, Ihan’s expression was peculiar.

It was as if he was trying to gauge something, and he tilted his head while looking at the city.

‘…What is this?’

Ihan felt something subtle as he looked at the city surrounded by massive walls.

It certainly seemed to be a bustling city, and it appeared to be full of human vitality, but somehow…

‘Surely, nothing strange is going to jump out from there, right?’

The man who had unintentionally earned the nickname “demon hunter” over the past month frowned, completely unaware that he had just made a statement that was walking right into a cliché.