episode_0055

“Perhaps I went a bit too far.”

“…”

I gazed silently at the knights sprawled around me, some unconscious.

Among them, those who managed to hold on were Cecilia’s subordinates, trained directly by her, led by Jo Man, enduring and lifting their heads despite the odds.

Despite their noble status, these individuals were willing to acknowledge their skills humbly, ready for instruction after rigorous training. They had grown through perseverance and effort, even capable of handling superior demons with ease.

But in just a few moments, despite being outnumbered seven to one, not even managing to swing their swords twenty times, they were defeated.

It would be beyond imagination to think they lost merely to combat maids in a group.

“People tend to feel awe when faced with differences that surpass comprehension.”

The current situation was precisely that.

Uriah, who sealed almost all her attributes using pure magical power and graceful swordsmanship, was a walking disaster, an exceptional talent.

With a mere thought, she could probably split this grand mansion in half effortlessly. Each swing of her sword unleashed a gust of power that hinted at her true strength.

Piercing a mace like it was made of sand, or slicing through metal armor as if it were butter with a sword resembling a hammer—she achieved all this without even using the Aura Blade, a superior compatible technique.

She simply “crushed” the blade and shattered the sword.

Even if the blade edge somehow managed to touch her body, it would be futile, bouncing off harmlessly.

The reason was clear—the verdant aura extending from her body, absorbing magic with each breath, maintaining a precise and calm mana breathing technique, minimizing magical usage.

“You. You’re quite different from the usual riff-raff around here.”

A man, barely standing on one knee, wiped his cheek stained with charcoal dust and looked up at Uriah.

“To become someone worthy of assisting Sir Ian, you must endure at least what you are facing now.”

Arrogant and refined, more akin to a high-ranking noble’s offspring than a maid. Many even mistook her for a fallen noble considering her appearance and swordsmanship.

Seolsan. If Uriah couldn’t be by his side due to some unfortunate event, he needed resilient individuals who could at least serve as a meat shield. In fact, she didn’t even expect to face opponents who could land a blow on her.

However.

About three minutes later, there was someone unexpected.

“Haa… haa…”

Heaving breaths, the knight commander gazed quietly at Uriah.

His sword nearly torn in half.

Yet, in the hand that held Uriah’s struck sword, an undeniable tremor and a hint of blood dripped.

An impossible situation to continue the duel. Uriah, tilting her head slightly, gazed silently at the slightly wounded hand, as if not fully comprehending the situation she found herself in.

…A reckless yet sophisticated swordsmanship that seemed fitting for a dark alley rather than a refined combat style.

“…Is my husband trying to protect me with that look?” Her expression momentarily turned cold, but she didn’t pay much attention afterward, as Ian, holding bandages, warmly treated her. She is the top-ranked. Every day, she visits his room and handles everything meticulously. Creating a “righteous fact” wouldn’t take too long.

…

Lately, Brittna and Ian’s days were so busy that they barely had time to enjoy a cup of coffee.

Mornings were for training, lunch involved discussions about the Holy Maiden and the Holy Kingdom, evenings meant meeting various nobles reluctantly, and after sunset… yeah. It was truly exhausting.

What’s even more frustrating is that my body endures it all.

My basic physical abilities surpass those of most knights. Add to that borrowing a vampire’s abilities from Yuria and receiving an unprecedented blood emperor’s unparalleled biting power; unless my body is pushed to its limits, exhaustion is non-existent.

Thinking about Rachel handling the immense workload at the mansion every day… How does she keep up with it?

And as night grew deeper,

-Knock, knock, knock.

“Master, it’s Yuria.”

The task she was assigned.

She had to come every night and fulfill her duty.

Status window, message window.

Living in such accumulated physical and mental exhaustion, squeezing out even the dawn.

Fortunately, she doesn’t show any pitiful sight to Yuria on the bed every night, but still.

“…Could you please stop coming?”

Seriously. This body. It’s impressively resilient.

Despite feeling like my waist could break, being squeezed, scratched by sharp nails, and marked with red streaks, the next morning, I’m eager to exercise and regain vitality.

Meanwhile, my mind, the owner of this body, screams that it’s exhausted.

-“Master, lately, the closer I am to you, the better you seem to feel, which is a problem.”

-“Ian, have you… been feeling better lately?”

-“Master Ian… I believe harboring such thoughts is a significant blasphemy… but exceedingly, no… more than before…”

It’s not just one or two people sending heated glances my way.

In short, am I emitting some dangerous pheromones around here?

Yeah. Well… now,

I’ll handle it myself.

With that thought in mind, I quietly gaze at Cecilia.

“…Phew.”

You’re somewhat better.

Among the figures who seem to be getting closer, Cecilia is actually the most docile. The damn status window isn’t saying anything either. It felt like the safest place for me, too.

She doesn’t chase me with a leash like others do, nor pounce on the bed… Just seems mentally absent, thinking unfiltered thoughts unlike usual.

“I-Ian, sir? If I made any mistake…”

Cecilia immediately apologizes at my sigh. Seems like her self-esteem has taken a hit. Even though it’s been a while since I saw Yuria shed blood. Despite the constraints, breaking through a fortress like that deserves praise. At least in terms of offensive power, she might even surpass Rachel.

I push aside these thoughts and part my lips.

“Mistake? You just took a breather for a moment. It’s just that I’ve been really busy lately. And Cecilia, you’re actually doing well, aren’t you?”

At the mention of doing well, Cecilia, who seemed slightly deflated, froze for a moment. Perhaps she’s still reeling from the clash with Yuria earlier today.

Pressing her temples tightly to alleviate the throbbing headache, Cecilia spoke to me with a slightly defeated tone.

“…If you could assign me some other tasks-”

“It’s fine. It would be shameful not to receive more help from you now.”

“Oh, no! I just-”

“For weeks, you’ve been tirelessly by my side without rest. You’ve pushed yourself today, so go inside and take a break.”

…”

Initially, Cecilia gazed at me with a slightly despondent and powerless expression.

“I-I can also be of assistance-”

“No need to push yourself unnecessarily.”

“Ah, okay.”

As Ian’s demeanor faltered, Cecilia, on the verge of grasping his sleeve, heard a chuckle escape his lips.

“Hehehe,”

“Why are you acting like this?”

Assured that his words were all in jest, Cecilia, noticing his playful demeanor, breathed a sigh of relief, brushing her chest and taking deep breaths.

“No one else allows me to banter so freely. I might as well say I couldn’t live without you.”

“T-That’s…!”

Crimson flushed Cecilia’s face, accentuating her embarrassment against her already pale complexion.

Whether she had unknowingly accumulated merits or not, she gazed calmly at the sky, lost in thought, when a letter tied to a bird’s foot suddenly interrupted her reverie.

It was news from the Holy Kingdom.

Just as she was enjoying her leisure, stretching and looking around, Cecilia, with her face deeply flushed, bowed her head.

Why.

What did I do now that she’s not saying anything…?

Ian, no longer concealing his smirk, pondered this question.

In the midst of his musings, he noticed Cecilia’s swollen wrist.

“Could it be from Yuria handling you roughly this morning?”

Now, there were subtle signs of discomfort in her movements. She was clearly suppressing pain in her ankle or another area.

Given the number of women around, Ian had a rough idea of Cecilia’s temperament.

She was the type to stubbornly endure until she collapsed, meticulous in observing others but lacking introspection herself.

Seeing her struggle silently, Ian supported Cecilia, who was forcing herself to walk normally despite her evident discomfort.

“If you’re hurt, please tell me right away.”

“It’s not about disappointment. It’s a matter of your health. That’s what angers me most and what matters.”

“You’re precious to someone, and if you don’t rely on yourself, how will they feel?”

Her pupils dilated.

She blinked rapidly.

Confusion clouded her mind, causing her hands to fidget and her lips to repeatedly close and part.

What does it mean to be precious?

And is it really okay to say I can rely on you?

Though Cecilia was undoubtedly a sharp and pragmatic knight commander, in Ian’s presence, she was a rustic maiden swept away by his relentless charm.