Ch.9090. It’s Been a While

“Follow me.”

Charlotte murmured in an indifferent voice as she stepped boldly into the rift. Rex hesitated before finally entering the rift flowing with dark blue light. The transition took less than a second. As a strange sensation swept across his skin, the gateway to Lindvale came into view.

“It’s nothing special.”

Charlotte remarked bluntly as she watched the other companions transfer one by one in sequence.

“This is only possible because I’ve been to Lindvale before. Even then, due to distance limitations, I couldn’t fully enter the city interior. It’s a technique with clear limitations. Saying it merely saves time would be the correct description.”

Rex nodded with a sour expression. Inwardly, however, he disagreed with Charlotte’s assessment. Distance limitations? Even riding a strong military horse, it would take at least half a day to travel between the forest and Lindvale. This was absolutely not an ability to be dismissed as mere technique. Even if the distance had been shorter, the very act of cutting through space was something most Sanctified wouldn’t dare attempt.

‘Unless they were an Apostle.’

Come to think of it, Shaharon had used a similar ability, albeit in a different form. Perhaps becoming an Apostle meant transcending the constraints of space and time. Before an Apostle, even those at the Radiance stage were no different from insignificant creatures. Shaharon and Charlotte had instantly grasped Rex’s inner strength, but Rex couldn’t comprehend even a fraction of their power.

“We’ll talk after we get inside. Everyone must be tired. As for the injured, it’s just you, Berger. Weakling.”

When Charlotte snapped in a displeased voice, Berger responded with a bitter smile.

“Is there anyone who isn’t weak by your standards, Master? Having held my own against an Apostle this well, I deserve praise rather than criticism.”

“Shut up. I simply don’t like the fact that disciples who received my teachings lose to anyone. Whether it’s an Apostle or whatever, once you’re in a fight, you should at least land one hit before going down.”

“Haha, it’s all due to the disciple’s inadequacy.”

“You understand well. I’m in a bad mood because you’re inadequate. Your senses must have dulled from being away from the Order for so long. Before we leave Lindvale, I’ll educate you wholeheartedly like in the old days. Don’t think about resting. It’s quite regrettable that our remaining time is so short.”

Berger closed his mouth and averted his gaze. Before Charlotte, even a decorated knight regarded as Lindvale’s finest was merely an ordinary disciple. Seeing Berger like this for the first time, Rex couldn’t help but snicker.

“Don’t laugh. That’s your future.”

“Ah.”

Rex’s smile vanished at Berger’s whisper. Charlotte, who had been walking ahead, turned around.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you following quickly?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Rex moved his legs while making an awkward excuse. Just then, his eyes met Cloe’s. Until a moment ago, her expression had been tense, but now she seemed relaxed, walking with her hands behind her back and a grin on her face.

“You’re in trouble, Rex.”

“So you were teasing me.”

“Huh? What did I do?”

Cloe tilted her head with an innocent expression. Rex’s lips twitched. Ellin, who had quietly approached, patted Rex’s back.

“Hang in there.”

Though her voice carried a faint trace of amusement. Rex swallowed the sigh that was about to escape.

‘Let’s look on the bright side.’

That’s what he decided to think. He knew how rare it was to have the opportunity to receive guidance from an Apostle. From what he’d seen in their brief time together, Charlotte was quite hot-tempered, and her training seemed harsh enough to make even Berger shudder. But Rex wasn’t foolish enough to kick away this opportunity for such trivial reasons. Honestly, his heart was racing with excitement.

‘It’s endless.’

He felt like he was finally standing at a proper starting line. The elation that had filled his chest as he reached higher realms had subsided, but the goal he had reaffirmed remained in his mind. It was a dream he could never have imagined while living in his hometown. His commitment to protect his loved ones remained unchanged. Based on that foundation, he had developed a greater purpose.

To become strong enough to lose to no one.

Even having reached Radiance, that dream remained impossibly distant.

But it was definitely attainable.

Rex cleared away his thoughts.

For now, he needed to focus on concluding today’s affairs.

***

The guards at the city gate allowed them to pass through the checkpoint immediately.

There was no way Lindvale’s soldiers wouldn’t recognize Berger’s face. Of course, they still had to explain the situation despite passing through the checkpoint. If they left the soldiers bewildered at the sight of Berger covered in blood, who knew what rumors might spread.

They didn’t share the details. If they straightforwardly revealed that the Chaos Order and an Apostle of the Abyss had visited nearby, it would cause such an uproar that baseless rumors would be preferable in comparison.

The group entered Lindvale after thoroughly silencing the guards.

However, they didn’t lie before the lord of the domain.

“Waldenbrook was… attacked…”

Raimund sighed dejectedly. It was truly difficult to listen to the entire story without interruption. The fact that he managed to hold back his words several times was purely due to Raimund’s exceptional patience. With trembling hands, he picked up a silver cup and gulped down water repeatedly. Even though the cool water moistened his throat, his burning insides remained unchanged.

“First… I must express my gratitude.”

Thud. Raimund put down the cup and bowed his head.

“Margrave Edenhart, House Lindenbach will never forget today’s assistance. To think an Apostle would storm into the territory… Without Your Excellency, I don’t know what would have happened…”

“Raise your head.”

Charlotte spoke with a faint smile. No one found her natural use of informal speech strange. Though differences in titles don’t necessarily determine hierarchy, even setting that aside, Charlotte was a woman who sat in a position far above Raimund.

“I didn’t do it expecting gratitude. As a master, I couldn’t ignore my disciple being in danger. Besides, we were lucky. I was able to save him because our path happened to coincide with their direction.”

“Although I am the head of an insignificant house compared to Your Excellency, I know how to properly treat a benefactor. I will prepare compensation and send it to House Edenhart as soon as possible.”

“That’s unnecessary, I said. Well, since you’re offering, I won’t refuse.”

Only after Charlotte’s permission did Raimund nod with a more relaxed expression.

“Hartmut would be pleased. His son has grown up so admirably.”

“Your Excellency hasn’t changed at all. I envy that.”

“Not really. It’s just inconvenient. Do you know how annoying it is to have flies swarming around because of this unnecessarily youthful appearance? You wouldn’t understand unless you experienced it.”

Charlotte grumbled in a displeased tone.

“Oh, and I have something to say.”

“Yes?”

At Raimund’s puzzled question, Charlotte pointed somewhere with her finger. Rex flinched. He had been standing back silently observing the conversation after finishing his explanation, when suddenly Charlotte singled him out.

“That child, I heard he’s scheduled for an investiture ceremony.”

“That’s correct. Although it deviates from convention, I’ve determined he has sufficient qualifications, so I’m planning to appoint him as a free knight soon… Is there some problem?”

“No. That’s not it.”

Charlotte said, raising the corner of her mouth.

“I want to take him with me.”

“…Pardon?”

“He kept going on about promises and how they must be kept, such tedious talk. Not realizing how precious time is. Since my personality isn’t harsh enough to refuse a child’s whining, I ended up agreeing. But I’m still too impatient to wait. So move up the investiture ceremony as much as possible.”

Typically, an investiture ceremony spans several days.

In the past, it was treated as a sacred ritual, but in modern times, it’s a kind of festival. The entire city joyfully eats bread and drinks ale to bless the birth of a new knight, while the knight makes their name known to the city—that’s how the process should unfold. Raimund had spent considerable time preparing for Rex’s ceremony. With it being a rare investiture, he wanted to make it even grander than usual.

But all his plans were completely reset with Charlotte’s single statement.

“I’ll make it as simple as possible. Then… we should be able to start within four days at the latest.”

“Good.”

Charlotte nodded with a satisfied expression.

“That concludes my business. Handle the rest as you see fit.”

“I’ll provide you with a room in the inner castle.”

“I’ll go to the room where I stayed briefly before. I should also check on Berger’s condition while I’m at it.”

“Sir Berger is receiving treatment, but…”

“His mind is clear, so it doesn’t matter. Anyway, call me if you need anything.”

Charlotte opened the door with an indifferent tone. A hand waved limply through the slightly opened door. Bang. As the door closed, a heavy silence descended. Rex spoke with an awkward expression.

“Um…”

“She’s quite unpredictable.”

Raimund muttered as he sat back in his chair. Rex wore an embarrassed expression.

“You must be tired too, so you may go now. You’ve been through a lot. Your hardship is over, and now it’s my turn to suffer.”

“Suffering, you say?”

“Aside from the Chaos Order, the attack on Waldenbrook was the work of bandits, which means the territory’s security has been compromised. I need to increase patrol frequency and send an investigation team to the village. I must also send word to neighboring lords.”

Raimund picked up a quill pen with a tired face. It was always the lord’s role to maintain composure and remain unshaken by any situation.

“Then… I’ll take my leave.”

Rex bowed awkwardly. As he left the office, Cloe and Ellin, who had been waiting outside the door, turned their heads sharply.

“Let’s go.”

He thought about checking on Berger but quickly dismissed the idea. Berger needed rest. Whether he could properly rest with Charlotte around was another question.

‘I can visit him tomorrow.’

After parting with his companions, Rex returned to the inn. He was in terrible shape after the intense battle.

“Wash up before coming in.”

Wolfram snapped in a grumpy voice. Rex smiled bitterly, washed himself at the well, and then went up to his room. Only then did delayed fatigue wash over him. The wound from Malacor’s sword had almost healed, but a stinging pain still ached throughout his body.

Rex collapsed onto the bed.

‘Let’s just sleep.’

His exhausted body fell asleep instantly.

[It’s been a while, my warrior.]

A voice he hadn’t heard for a full half year.