episode_0010

“I may lack strength, so be it. However, I could have gone to Leana Lydia….”

Her question made me forget the taste of the apple I had just sampled.

Here it comes.

From the princess’s perspective, her pride must have been hurt enough.

Because they were pushed to a neglected place like a backwater.

But I didn’t come here by underestimating them.

“Rather, it’s overwhelming power that burdens me!”

If I’m under them, I’ll have to participate in the hellish court competition once again.

In that process, many knights will die.

I’m tired of that now.

I don’t want to see my lifelong comrades die anymore.

A second life that has finally come.

I want to live quietly and die even in a remote place.

That’s what I thought.

However….

Irrena standing in front of me right now.

Somehow, seeing her makes a corner of my heart itch.

“There wasn’t any particular reason.”

Maybe it was because of a moment of sincerity.

“I just wanted to live quietly without any major incidents.”

Unintentionally, I became honest.

“Quietly without any incidents…?”

Irrena’s delicate eyebrows furrowed.

She seemed to be trying to understand my intentions as she placed her hand on her lips.

‘She probably can’t understand.’

Naturally, a princess is a figure who deals with subordinates.

She doesn’t reveal our position of being used.

However….

After thinking, Irrena gave an answer completely different from what I expected.

“I understand, your feelings.”

Irrena’s green eyes sparkled.

“Well then… could you wait for me?”

She smiled with her eyes.

And with her hand on her chest, she spoke earnestly.

“I will create a strong knight order so that you don’t have to worry.”

It seems like she completely misunderstood my intention.

I only built this wall out of utmost respect.

It seems as if the princesses are depicted as lacking something in me.

“When the time comes, will you become my knight…?”

She smiled with her eyes.

However, there was a subtle hint of sadness in that smile.

What should I do with this young girl?

Is she too young at just twenty to even understand what she’s saying?

Or maybe….

She might be deliberately engaging in psychological warfare to extract a promise from me.

“Yes, I understand.”

I reluctantly agreed.

“Really? Is it a promise?”

“It is.”

A laugh involuntarily escaped from her eyes, which were sparkling like a girl’s.

Since it’s practically impossible for her to properly organize a knight order with her current abilities.

Even if she tries to put up a facade, if I refuse, that’s the end of it.

However….

Irrena was a more cunning princess than I had thought.

As if she had anticipated all this, she pulled out a piece of paper from her bosom.

“Here, sign this.”

A contract painstakingly written in handwriting.

“If Irrena establishes a knight order that meets Veil’s standards, she will appoint him as the leader of the knight order.”

“The level of the knight order will be judged by the Grand Marshal, Valderian, and if he approves, Veil must fulfill the terms of the contract.”

When did she prepare this contract?

I carefully read through the crude contract.

“Fortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any hidden traps.”

I confidently held the pen.

And coolly wrote my name in the signature box.

“There, done.”

The princess casually took the handed-over contract.

And she eagerly absorbed my signature with her blue pupils.

Then, noticing something strange, she lowered the paper and asked.

“Um… Veil? What’s written below this signature?”

Irrena pointed with her finger to the small phrase written beneath the signature.

“Oh, that? It’s nothing special. It’s a kind of safety measure for me.”

“However, even if Valderian is satisfied, if it seems insufficient to Veil, this contract can be terminated at any time.”

At my unexpected condition, the princess’s lips pouted.

“Isn’t this practically a rejection…? Regardless of the state of the knight order, if you dislike it, you can just stop, right?”

Her melancholic face.

I couldn’t help but break into a wide smile at that face.

“That’s unlikely. Would I dare to play around with Her Highness the Princess? Once the Knight Order is well established, I will join at any time.”

She narrowed her eyes and stared at me intently.

Then she let out a deep sigh and flashed a smile.

“Alright… I understand.”

Surprisingly, the Second Princess easily agreed.

In the past, she was the type to thoroughly strategize and obtain what she wanted.

“For now, this will do.”

Irina chuckled as she held the contract in her hand.

Is she confident that she can create a Knight Order that will meet my satisfaction?

Her adorable confidence made the corners of my mouth involuntarily lift.

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”

The Princess turned her white robe inside out once again.

“It seems like I’ve taken up too much of your time, Sir.”

She carefully tucked the signed contract into her bosom.

“Allow me to escort you to the entrance.”

We descended together to the first floor of the building.

Soon, the dimly lit streets greeted us.

This area was particularly dangerous even among the capital’s outskirts…

To think she planned to come here alone, she truly is an impressive noble.

“I will summon a carriage.”

“No, I’m used to traveling alone.”

Irina raised her robe slightly, met my gaze, then waved her hand lightly.

“Take care, Vale. I’ll come visit again next time.”

“Please be careful.”

I bid farewell with one arm against my chest.

And I thought to myself.

I hope she doesn’t manage to create a proper Knight Order.

It’s not for my safety.

“It’s for all of us.”

The moment she possesses military power,

she will become the enemy of all nobles.

So please…

I hope she doesn’t intend to fight them.

I don’t want to see her die again.

I waited until the sound of her footsteps faded away.

A quiet night street.

Only the sound of my boots echoed through the empty space.

However…

Suddenly, I realized I wasn’t alone on the street.

I sensed mana energy from a distance.

It was so well controlled and concealed that it was powerful.

‘Were they hiding it all this time?’

I turned my head towards where I felt the energy.

Rows of trees lined up in a straight line.

Staring intently, I finally found the source of the mana.

‘It’s in the tree!’

I locked eyes with purple irises perched on a branch.

In that moment,

the hidden black silhouette dashed towards me in an instant.

Faster than Richard.

In response, I swiftly drew my sword.

And clashed with the assailant’s dagger.

“Who are you.”

Is this really a mercenary sent by Rupher this time!

Flames erupted from our blades.

Gradually pushing back the rogue with force.

He stepped back and threw several short knives.

￣￣￣!!

I focused mana into my arms.

And decisively parried the attacking blades.

Loud clattering as they hit the ground.

When his throwing knives failed, he began to retreat hesitantly.

“Is that all you’ve got to show?”

I rolled up my uniform sleeves.

Though I deflected them easily, he didn’t seem entirely inexperienced.

Seemingly not intending to kill me, he even showed the luxury of avoiding vital spots.

Rupher, this bastard.

Did he send you to threaten me?

If he shows up like this from the first day…

‘I owe you big time!’

Hiring assassins is a serious crime.

If I catch Rupher’s weakness, I could reign like a king in the underworld for life.

Just thinking about it makes my tail wag with delight at the prospect of a glorious knight’s life.

“You’re an assassin, right? It’s okay, I won’t capture you!”

I approached him with the most harmless expression possible.

“Why did you come now? How long have you been waiting!”

The assassin furrowed his brow at my changed attitude.

Normally when faced with death, people beg for mercy.

His reaction of welcoming me was eerie.

He quickly turned his head.

And swiftly began to run away.

“Why are you running? Let’s have a chat for a moment!”

Log hastily climbed up the tree.

He darted away with ninja-like agility, leaping from one tree to another with each long stride.

At the astonishing speed, a bitter laugh escaped involuntarily.

However, I too will not give up here.

No, I can’t!

How could I miss this golden opportunity?

Focusing all my strength on my legs, I began to track him.

Even though I lack skill in climbing trees, my legs are sturdy enough.

“You’re going to catch me? That’s why you came!”

However, he paid no attention.

Instead, he came down from the tree and hid in an alley.

I chased after him and turned the corner.

Even if I couldn’t see him right away, I relentlessly pursued him.

If he jumped over a fence, I would crawl up after him.

If he climbed a building, I would follow even if I had to turn back.

Continuously tracking him led to one outcome.

He eventually reached a dead end.

“Sigh… You’re fast at running, really…”

Breathing heavily, I blocked his way.

“I thought knights couldn’t chase.”

The masked assassin took a step back as I approached.

But no matter how hard he tried, it was a dead-end.

“It’s okay, I won’t hit you.”

Confidently, I walked towards him.

“If you tell me who’s behind this, I’ll let you go. This is for real.”

As we got closer, he drew his dagger.

As if trying to hide his affiliation.

His actions only piqued my curiosity further.

As he came closer, the assassin swung his dagger.

However, I didn’t dodge his attack.

Instead, I focused mana into my arm and intercepted his blade barehanded.

“You blocked my blade with your arm…!”

In a situation I’d never seen before, his purple eyes widened.

In that moment, I grabbed his wrist.

And in the same motion meant to capture him, I flipped him over.

But this time, it was my turn to be surprised.

As he hit the ground, he swiftly moved his slender waist to escape my grip.

As he escaped, he pulled out a black orb.

And with force, he threw it to the ground, causing an explosion.

“Smoke bomb…!”

Suddenly, my vision was obscured.

Quickly covering my mouth with my sleeve, I urgently tracked his silhouette.

Perhaps due to being cornered.

His mana, unlike when I first saw it, became highly unstable.

Thanks to that, even in the darkness, I could sense the irregular fluctuations.

Pretending not to see clearly, I glanced elsewhere.

And as he tried to pass me unnoticed.

I immediately grabbed his face.

“I finally caught you.”

I slammed his captured face against the wall.

￣￣￣!

A strong cracking sound as the wall caved in slightly.

Most knights would have been knocked out by this.

I pulled the captured man away from the wall.

Now, shall we take a look?

At the gift Ruper senior sent me.

I pulled her towards me to see her face.

And the moment she removed her mask.

I briefly made a dumbfounded expression.

Her white skin peeking through the loosened mask.

She was too delicate to be seen as a rugged assassin.

“A female assassin…?”

Gradually, her purple irises were revealed.

From her long eyelashes to her feminine features.

Up close, her figure was sleek like an hourglass, and her wrists delicate.

The fierce assassin uncle in my imagination was nowhere to be found.