episode_0074

Holy Mace Knights Camp.

Malleus looked at the printed material distributed by the sergeant.

Location, organizer, number of participants, precautions and rules…

The paper gathered only the essential elements and summarized the main points, allowing us to know the personality of the current emperor, the final reviewer, without having to meet him.

Malleus took a few sips of coffee and slowly opened his mouth.

“Then let’s end this ordinance here. Everyone, please take care of your work.”

“Captain.”

Malleus raised his head at the sound he heard.

The youthful streak has not yet come off,

However, a member who had left his probationary period stood up and looked in this direction.

Paulo Martini. A new member of the Holy Mace 2nd Division.

“What business is it?”

“I have a few questions to ask.”

Paulo opened his mouth with a confident expression.

“I am telling you that there seems to be something missing in the printed material I received.”

“What?”

“The event date is not listed. This is because I believe this may be an administrative error on the part of the organizer.”

“Huh…”

At Paulo’s words, Malleus looked at the adjutant sitting next to him.

“Adjutant.”

“Yes. Captain.”

“It seems like the message was not conveyed properly. I don’t think it’s an appropriate question for a representative who is personally involved in the punitive system.”

“That, that.”

As Malleus glared at him, the adjutant, whose complexion became a little pale, glanced at the fearless Shinjin.

However, Paulo just rolled his eyes, not knowing what mistake he had made.

‘That spoiled…’

Originally, it was a proper organizational rule to report any questions or requests to superiors and receive orders. However, there is a line that is accepted to some extent.

‘I can’t believe a young chick who has just taken off her apprenticeship can make such a trivial direct comment to the captain.’

Originally, it was a matter that should have been called out separately and given careful attention, but everyone here, including Malleus, did not criticize his attitude.

That’s right,

Paulo participated in this event as the representative of the Holy Mace Knights.

Wearing the name of being the representative of a group, we are bearing the expectations of those around us. However, there is no need to kill the spirit of young people who are not intimidated and are trying to show their enthusiasm.

It has just been a year since I left the position of a general knight and became a regular knight. It was a time when he was full of confidence after being knighted by the Pope.

Because he was not unaware of that feeling, Malleus did not point out or scold the young man.

‘There was a boy who suddenly came with a severed head. To that extent…’

Malleus thought of Siron in the back of his mind.

Compared to a boy who was endless when it came to questioning him, Paulo’s rudeness was at a cute level.

He smiled with more peace of mind.

“It’s okay. It was like this 5 years ago too. Even 10 or 20 years ago, the date of the event was never written in the notice. So, just take a seat.”

“…Yes.”

Paulo sat down, scratching the back of his head. My youthful face turned bright red at the thought that I had made a mistake.

Paulo shifted his gaze to the paper in front of him.

[Date: ]

He couldn’t tell if it was because of the particularly noticeable blankness or because of Malleus’ gaze directed at him. His mind became a little dizzy.

*

I don’t know exactly when the start date will be.

The uncertainty was an element that was difficult to identify even as magic, allowing us to know that the subjugation festival was not a simple festival.

So now, there were spiers erected all over the Arwen Plateau to keep an eye on all directions.

Unlike the early morning fog that is formed when moisture condenses in the cold night air, the fog that constantly spits out demonic beasts appears when the sun rises at noon and is observed along with cloudy demonic energy.

and.

“It’s fog! It’s starting to fog!”

Two wisps of smoke rose from the watchtower.

*

96 meters from the ground.

Observation deck at the station.

Court Wizard Arak observed two wisps of smoke rising beyond the window.

“Your Majesty. It started to fog.”

“Hmm, hmm… I understand.”

The Emperor answered without even looking at Arak.

Even though there was a huge window in front of him all along, the emperor did not look at the fog. His only interest is in the bundle of paper in his hand.

‘There is none.’

The emperor’s expression became slightly distorted.

Forty-nine sheets of paper are the application forms for those who participate. However, among them, there was no application for the boy he was looking for.

The Emperor blinked several times as he saw that the name ‘Shiron Prien’ was not on the list.

‘If you’re going to refuse, then there’s no reason to come all the way here, is there?’

Yesterday, the Emperor received a report that Johann Urheim had arrived at Arwen Station with a group of knights.

Since Hugo’s Knights regularly participated in the punitive system as they frequently went in and out of the Demonic World to replenish their ranks, their arrival could be expected without being reported.

And, in addition, there was news that two young children were present this year. Among them, the black-haired boy was clearly Siron Prien.

‘I thought you wouldn’t refuse…’

“Chamberlain.”

“Yes. Your Majesty.”

“Is this the entire application?”

“Is there anyone else you are looking for? I’ll call someone and look for it.”

“…was done.”

The Emperor quenched his appetite as he looked at the top of the Chamberlain’s head as he bowed his head. There was a separate piece of paper sitting next to him.

[Lucia Prien]

‘I never thought I’d send my younger sister away instead.’

Although what he held in his hand was a copy rather than the original, Lucia’s crooked handwriting remained intact on the application form.

‘But I wasn’t forced to participate.’

There were only three pieces of information: name, age, and affiliation, but Franz was able to find out many other facts. If you look at the handwriting, it was natural and uninterrupted.

The Emperor tapped the armrest of his chair as if he had something to think about. He twitched the corner of his mouth and realized that his head was a little hot right now.

‘Is it embarrassment or anger?’

The emperor didn’t know the emotions that were in his heart right now, but what was clear was that those two emotions were difficult to feel right after sitting on the throne.

“I don’t know if I’m smart or stupid.”

Even after seeing a personal letter written by the emperor, the most powerful person in the empire, they do not participate. Even for the emperor himself, it was an insane act to say he did it without thinking.

But it just stops there.

Considering his close friend Hugo Prien, it would have been foolish to exert force on a child who had not yet shed breast fat.

‘Was it true that you sometimes seem crazy?’

The emperor suddenly remembered the story he had heard while eating with Victor over the past few months.

“Chamberlain.”

“Yes. Your Majesty.”

“Let’s find out if Siron Prien’s mind is not sound.”

*

“Hurry!”

As the fog appeared, the tent village became busy.

The merchants packed their luggage, and the men rolled up their sleeves and organized the tents. It was a festive atmosphere until just yesterday, but now a line of refugees has begun forming, as if they are fleeing a war.

and.

“I repeat, never go into the fog.”

John tightened his leather belt while explaining the precautions for the punitive system. The skin armor, which was worn over several layers, was distorted to fit Lucia’s small body.

“The important thing is to focus on the enemy in front of you. Also, please take a seat with enough distance between you and others.”

“…”

“Because you could get hit by a blind knife?”

“Yes.”

Instead of Lucia, who did not respond, John closed his eyes tightly at Siron’s answer.

“I’m just trying to get noticed… That’s not it. I say this because every year, I have seen countless people turn their eyes away in fear of the approaching demonic beasts.”

Yohan turned his head and looked at Siron.

“Master, are you okay?”

John’s eyes looking at Siron were full of worry.

Whether it was because of the witch’s attack or the demonic energy, a feeling of anxiety began to form in his heart.

Siron smiled as if telling him not to worry.

“It’s okay. All you have to do is pretend to swing a sword from behind.”

“Then you are safe.”

John smiled in relief and patted the two children on the back. Siron and Lucia began walking toward the fog without John saying anything.

The air is cold. My body is heavy.

These are all illusions that the body reacts to due to the dense magical energy.

Lucia looked around.

Large figures in armor raised flags and surrounded the fog, and dozens of people were wandering around the battlefield, each holding weapons, looking for a place.

“Hey.”

Lucia, who drew the black iron sword, opened her mouth.

She seemed to be in a bad mood as she had been frowning with her mouth shut a little while ago.

“Be honest. If I tell you right now, I can tolerate at least a pinch.”

The girl opened her eyes and glared at the boy next to her.

“This is not a festival.”

“No? Is this a festival?”

In the distance, demonic beasts began to emerge from the fog.

Siron smiled heartily at Lucia.

“I won’t lie to you.”

As soon as the wave of demonic beasts hit the two, Siron disappeared from Lucia’s sight.