episode_0023

First, I decided to do my father’s will.

As my father wanted, I went down slowly, but first looked around.

Once stopped -.

Maintenance was carried out sequentially.

“Matt, come here for a moment.”

And then a mercenary called by Jack approached.

“First, scout the area.”

“Yes? Me?”

“I don’t think it’s time to joke, so listen to me.”

Matt nodded at Jack’s serious words.

Then, carrying a torch, he took the lead and went out.

I looked at his appearance closely.

The distance gradually increases, and only the outline is visible.

As the distance grew further, a small image of the mat began to appear.

I think I went further than I thought.

Matt shouted from afar.

“Let’s take a closer look first!”

Even though we’ve come that far, is it still not enough?

And the mat seemed to go deeper… .

Moment-.

‘hmm? ‘Is it an illusion?’

It felt like the mat disappeared for a moment.

But it seems like you’re saying it’s my mistake. Matt was still standing there.

And then Matt started walking back without saying a word.

With a torch in his hand.

however-.

All mercenary members, including Jack, began preparing for battle. Each person touched their weapons and began to look out for the approaching mat.

An incomprehensible situation.

In this situation, Jack came out and spoke to his father.

“Chris, it would be best for you to retreat with Baron Fletcher.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“It would definitely be a good idea.”

Did my father see something too?

I agreed with Jack.

First, without even knowing what was going on, I headed toward the cove with my father. Still, I watched the approaching shadow closely.

As the distance grew closer, its outline emerged. The mat looked completely different from when I went there.

I thought it was a mat, but it wasn’t a mat.

The identity of the approaching shadow.

It was a knight wearing black armor.

***

Baron Fletcher recalled what happened in Moldir Territory.

A red-haired woman.

The black knight the woman was talking about. The black knight appeared here.

In my honest opinion-.

‘no way… ‘Is this a trap set by that woman?’

I thought it was a trap set by the Red Woman.

but-.

I didn’t understand.

If you were planning to deal with it yourself, why did you come now when you could have done it then?

That said, at least there was a high probability that the red-haired woman was not the culprit.

So why?

‘Why on earth did the Black Knight appear here?’

The Black Knight, a being only rumored to be operating behind the scenes in the church.

Why would such a being target us, the nobles of the empire?

Baron Fletcher thought deeply.

And one possibility came to mind.

A person who is connected to his son and connected to the church more than anyone else.

Renia Louver.

It was clear that this was not what Renia wanted. That means -.

Baron Fletcher muttered.

“Does it mean that there should be no man by the side of a saint…? .”

After hearing Baron Fletcher’s muttering, Chris came to a realization.

“Father. Could it be that that being… Did the church send it to you?”

That that being is the being of the church.

Baron Fletcher hesitated for a moment in response to Chris’ question. I decided to tell the truth.

“… Maybe so. No. That seems very likely.”

Baron Fletcher looked at his son intently.

My son is still young.

It was clear that the son had become a target of the cult.

Anger soared.

I wonder if this child, who has grown up a lot but doesn’t even look like a young adult yet, is guilty of something.

Baron Fletcher arrived at the cove and got into the carriage.

And he brought black cloth, which was one of the prizes.

And then he covered Chris with that black cloth-.

“Chris… ”

Baron Fletcher somehow felt that this moment was the last.

That’s why his voice was more serious than ever.

“Survive.”

The ominous feeling I have felt until now.

Baron Fletcher realized that it was probably because of this moment.

And now.

I had a gut feeling that it was my last time with my son, but even so, I didn’t say much. There was no need to delay.

So just survive.

All I could say was that one word.

Chris whispered softly at his father’s actions.

“What on earth is that? And you said it was sent by the church? Why does the church… !”

To Chris, who was full of excitement, Baron Fletcher summarized it as best as he could.

“It seems like the author is targeting you. So, survive somehow.”

In contrast to the excited Chris, Baron Fletcher’s calm actions.

The screams at the head of the carriage gradually grew louder. The sound of weapons clashing and being hit.

The sound came closer and closer to the rear.

Baron Fletcher realized that time was running out.

“This is… Use it in preparation for any unexpected situation.”

Baron Fletcher handed Chris a sword.

Chris holding the sword.

He gave his father a worried look.

“What should my father do?”

You gave yourself the one and only sword.

So how does my father protect himself?

“… First of all, I have to run away too. Anyway, go quickly.”

Chris thought for a moment.

and-.

It wasn’t long before I got the answer.

‘If it’s me that black armor is targeting… ! then… !’

If he runs away, the author will chase him too.

Chris thought so.

If so, others would be able to escape too.

Chris decided not to waste any more time.

That’s how I ran away.

but-.

Uliver, the black knight who was dealing with mercenaries.

The one he runs away from the back of the carriage.

I found Chris.

at the same time-.

“I will join you.”

Next to Uliver-.

Three black knights approached.

The mercenaries fell into despair because they could not deal with Uliver alone. Leaving them behind…

“Then, please clean up after this place.”

Uliver started chasing after Chris.

***

‘I said he was a year younger than me.’

Lenia heard from Archbishop Porsipia.

The hero is one year younger than himself.

Therefore, Renia decided to take care of the hero as an older woman.

It would be nice if we could become friends as a bonus.

“Hero? What are you doing now?”

Renia cautiously approached the warrior.

My mouth was itchy, but I pretended not to notice that the hero was a woman.

however-.

The hero’s reaction was the exact opposite of what Renia had thought.

“Are you planning on shaking your butt in front of your reputation as a warrior?”

A warrior who always spits out harsh words.

The expression on the warrior’s face as he spoke those words seemed close to nothingness.

“What… ?”

To the unbearable insults.

Renia was angry.

“Why are you saying such harsh things!!!”

Renia says that or not.

The warrior’s mouth did not stop.

“Tsk, not all saints are noble beings. It seems like he wanted to live happily by the side of the hero who will one day defeat the Demon King.”

Lenia recalled Archbishop Porsipia’s words.

It is said that the warrior is harsh.

But this-.

‘Master, you are not at the level of being picky!!!’

He wasn’t picky, he was just a bad person.

That’s enough to not even be considered a hero.

at the same time-.

‘After all, the only friend I have is Chris!’

Renia missed Chris.

The hero in front of me is a bad person himself.

That’s why I didn’t want to be friends.

Renia didn’t even respond and walked away from the hero.

Still, I thought of Chris.

“He should have returned from his trip by now… . A letter will arrive soon, right?”

The letter has become quiet due to the brief departure.

Lenia healed her broken heart with the thought that the letter would come again sooner or later.

“I want to quickly tell you about the hero!”

The hero was a very bad person.

It was Renia who wanted to quickly tell it to Chris.

***

Going down a dark mountain path without a torch.

It was not an easy task at all.

Moreover, he even had a heavy sword in his arms.

Still, I ran.

I was out of breath and fell a few times, but I still ran.

I had to live.

To keep my promise to Renia.

and-.

‘I have to live so other people can live too.’

Mercenary members, including my father.

I thought there was only one way to save them all.

My successful escape.

If so, they will focus their attention on me to chase me. Then my father would be able to escape too.

I ran like that for a while.

I’m afraid that running away down the mountain would be too obvious. I deliberately ran away up the mountain.

I thought that when the sun came up, I would be able to escape more easily.

For a long time like that…

I ran for a really long time.

It was strange.

The sound of footsteps was strange.

The sound of footsteps as if they were two overlapping.

A crunching sound was also heard.

At first, I thought it was a sound coming from the sword in my arms.

That wasn’t it.

It was clear that someone was following me. The clattering noise must also be the sound made by the pursuer.

So I ran with all my might without even looking back.

however-.

“Have I been abandoned by God? .”

I felt sorry for God.

Did God also not like the fact that I was next to Renia?

The place we reached with difficulty was a distant cliff.

I tried to run again, but it was already too late.

Because the pursuer came right behind me.

“… Don’t resist. At least I’ll send you off in peace.”

For a moment, I became angry.

Don’t resist? At least they let me go comfortably?

It was as if he had no choice but to do it.

That motivated me.

“… Don’t be funny!”

Since you told me not to resist, I was going to resist.

Pull out the sword in your hand.

He praised the man in black armor.

A cool sense of real combat.

It’s my first time holding a real sword.

Everything about the current situation awakened my senses.

rather-.

Defeat the being in front of you.

I will survive.

That’s what I promised.

I won’t be running away anymore.