314. Childhood Friends – The Knight of Revenge

Leaves floated sporadically on the Irotashi River. Despite being a massive river, approximately 2,000 feet (600m) wide, its swift current caused the leaves to dart through the air like fish skimming the surface.

And then, a drop of dry spit landed with a plop in the river. Sir Iron gazed downstream from the stone bridge.

It would have been nice if we could have brought a boat. Unfortunately, there was nowhere to dock a ship. After finishing our work, we would have to gallop downriver for several days.

He spat again, mixing the saliva with phlegm and sending it far away. When he looked back, he noticed his companions were also unwinding in their own ways. Some were chatting while burning incense; others, like Bart, were standing tall on the bridge, staring intently ahead.

These comrades, having spent more than ten years together, were almost like family. At that moment, Iron realized one person was missing.

It was Galen. Iron shouted toward the far end of the bridge.

“Hey! Galen—! How long are you going to stay there? Hurry up!”

When the comrades turned around, Galen waved as if to say he was coming soon. He was tending to the seven horses they had ridden. He excelled in horsemanship, but more than anything, he loved horses.

Soon, Galen climbed onto the bridge to rejoin the group. His knees were covered in mud.

“What were you doing that you ended up like that?”

“I was fixing a few shoes. Iron, …never mind.”

“What? What is it?”

“…Your horse’s condition was the worst. It’s like it was being treated by a fisherman… Please take better care from now on.”

Sir Iron chuckled.

“Fishing is my father’s thing, and you take good care of them, so what’s the problem? I’ll rely on you from now on…”

“Quiet. They’re coming.”

Bart’s low comment rang out. The knights, who had been laughing and chatting, immediately hardened their expressions. It was as if they hadn’t even just been smiling; now, they stared ahead with burning eyes.

The cursed red shield.

A carriage adorned with the Tertan Duke’s insignia was ascending the opposite side of the bridge. Bart wanted to draw his sword and charge in an instant, but he only pressed his helmet down harder.

Damn Duke. Duke Rupert Tertan’s grandson is over there. If I kill him, the old devil will come rushing out of the capital.

In truth, what wrong could Palas Tertan, the grandson, have done? But for Bart, just having the Tertan name was enough to deserve death.

Even without that cursed name, if someone had a connection to the Duke’s house, he had killed them, regardless of age or gender, and he would continue to do so.

As if trying to set up a checkpoint, seven knights disguised as soldiers readied themselves, their eyes flashing with madness hidden behind their helmets. As the line of carriages drew nearer, the long-awaited moment of revenge also approached. Soon a messenger was galloping from the other side.

“Who are you? A checkpoint isn’t necessary, step aside. This is the procession of Palas Tertan, the Duke’s son.”

“…”

Fearing the carriage might halt, the messenger waved his hands. But the seven knights remained unresponsive, not even budging.

The messenger became flustered, and the procession, which had been crossing the narrow stone bridge in a line, was forced to come to a halt. The head knight escorting Palas Tertan, Tadian Lofero, stepped forward with displeasure.

What’s going on? The coachmen and soldiers, peeking their heads out, were the same. Bart whispered,

“I’ll take that bastard down.”

Then, a girl jumped down from the third carriage. Dressed as a handmaiden, she ran forward shouting, “Wait! Just a moment!”

“Sir Bart! Stop!”

With arms wide open, Leah clumsily obstructed the knights’ path. Reb had not yet arrived.

*

I wonder if he has arrived by now?

Riding in the carriage, Leah anxiously chewed on her nails as they had clattered onto the bridge.

Reb had gone to fetch Marisa, Bart’s wife, but he still hadn’t shown up.

He had said he would appear later for dramatic effect, but at the very least, he should have told me yesterday that he had arrived.

But even as the procession had entered the Conrad Kingdom, he had not shown. Surely, he would come soon… but in the end, he didn’t appear, resulting in this situation. Lady Hirie Gaidan and Palas Tertan had reached the riverbank.

Leah was currently a handmaiden.

She had split roles with Reb after receiving the prince Lean de Yeriel’s orders. While Reb was to bring someone to persuade Sir Bart, Leah would stick around with Lady Hirie Gaidan’s entourage.

Since the lady wouldn’t readily hand over her necklace, Leah thought it would help if there was someone to persuade her, but the real reason was that she had no money.

Some sort of initial funds, I suppose. With the money Reb had, he could barely travel alone.

“Hey? You’re a Swordmaster, right? Can’t you squeeze some cash out of someone?”

─ I later mentioned this, but Reb looked at me with a dumbfounded expression as if he had never heard such a thing. That it was a bad idea or something.

“Hey! Who doesn’t know this is bad? A life’s on the line here!”

“…Doesn’t seem like it to me.”

“What doesn’t?”

“It’s about whether you and I can go or not; time can be adjusted some other way. And…”

“And?”

Reb blushed as he spoke.

“Right now, I don’t know what I might do to you. If we travel together… so let’s keep our distance for a bit.”

Leah was at a loss for words but, with her own face flushed, shot back.

“W-What are you thinking? You’re being ridiculous! I might have suggested getting married, but that… that’s not what I meant!”

“…”

“…A kiss would be fine, though.”

“……”

“Why, why are you silent? Hey!! What are you thinking? No matter how much I’ve married you twice, that’s that, and this is now!”

But vivid memories came flooding back. If it were a dream, I had already had them all.

I had wandered the continent as a priest but was searching for Reb, and conversely, I had been chased out of the Monastery Church, with Reb coming to find me in a dream.

We had married.

Including the few times we had our wedding in the village instead of heading to the Cathedral, there had been two times. It’s said that according to the prince Lean’s words, we had married once more afterward. And… we had been happy.

Of course, it wasn’t all good.

I had also dreamt of being swallowed by the terrible Evil God Barbatos.

I saw Reb, who had saved me when I was struggling in the river, being murdered by the knight Bart, and in Nevis… I had hanged myself.

Reb had been very sorry.

He cried tears as if everything were his fault, and I told him in front of the shattered mirror not to be such a coward.

That happiness outweighed the pain, even if it was just for the one time when we initially married.

Reb had cried loudly.

After that, we held hands again. No matter how many lives I lived, we were meant to be together. There was no reason to hide it any longer. Still, moving ahead felt awkward.

A dream is ultimately just a dream.

No matter how many times it was repeated, the truth remained that each day must be lived with diligence. At least, that’s what I thought. Thus, I hoped to regard Reb as just a childhood friend who had just begun to date and wanted to rebuild our relationship.

But it seemed he found that challenging. So Leah finally declared,

“Alright. Go cool your head and come back!”

And let go of her desire to travel with Reb. As she had mentioned at first, Leah headed toward Bosppo.

The third stop in reverse, just as in the dream, there was a search for handmaidens at the Lord’s Castle in Bosppo. Handmaidens to serve Lady Hirie Gaidan.

There, Leah bid farewell to Reb and met the blue-eyed head handmaiden, learning the ropes of the job.

Maybe it was thanks to the dream, but the work wasn’t that hard.

Rather, it was far better than the time when I had been trapped in the village, anxious about whether I could indeed become a priest.

The assurance that God was watching over us gave me peace of mind.

As Priest Leslie said, whether I go to the Monastery Church or become a priest didn’t matter. I had already devoted my heart to God.

So God, please look after Reb. Since you have given us trials like flames, help us prove ourselves. We will repay you with splendid spirits.

The head handmaiden admired her, not a single time neglecting to mop the floor.

Leah became the personal handmaiden to Lady Hirie and soon opened a conversation with her. Hirie quite liked Leah. One day, while receiving a makeover from Leah, Hirie said:

“I heard you’re going to become a priest in the Jerome Holy Kingdom.”

I had lied there. Sorry about that.

“Yes. Since I’m a lord’s subject… I need permission to travel.”

“Hmm~ Right. I’m sorry, but… I don’t think I can grant it.”

“Excuse me?”

Hirie flashed a smile. Recently, she had been feeling very cheerful.

“I’m sorry. It was a joke. With such a lovely lady wanting to become a priest, I must permit you. Just… could you help me a bit longer?”

“How?”

“Actually, I’ve been asked to go to the Conrad Kingdom. Palas wants me to visit.”

“Oh my, congratulations. It seems your matchmaking went well. No wonder you’ve been smiling more these days.”

“Yes. I seem to have met someone way more lovable than I deserve. It’s also thanks to you, Leah, for doing such a wonderful job. But as you know, I haven’t brought many maidens with me. It would be great if you could come along… what do you say?”

Hirie assured Leah that she would be back in a few months, promising to write a recommendation to the Cross Church. She even mentioned raising her wages, and Leah noticed Hirie wearing a necklace she hadn’t seen before and said,

“Sounds good. But I have two requests.”

“What are they?”

“Please send the wages I’ve received and will receive to my parents in Demos village. And… the remaining one, I’ll tell you later. Is that okay?”

“The first part isn’t a problem, but what kind of request are you planning to make later?”

“Hmm… It will probably be a request to trust my words just once.”

Hirie turned back and smiled.

“You love to make mysterious statements. That’s fine. I already trust you a lot, Leah. Just… I’m not fond of dressing you too simply. I’m not a clergyman, you know.”

“Please bear with it a little. Otherwise, Palas will get annoyed. He wouldn’t know where to look every time.”

Ha ha! Laughter passed, and several weeks later, Leah was nervously biting her nails.

Reb hadn’t arrived as promised, and the carriage had already come. Leah realized she was out of options.

The carriage clattered to a stop, and when Hirie asked what was happening, Leah stepped out to check. Springing down from the high noble’s carriage, she didn’t even recognize anyone but ran forward shouting.

“Just a moment! Please wait!”

Why is that handmaiden acting like this all of a sudden?

Ignoring the confused looks of the soldiers, she sprinted past Tadian Lofero, who was approaching the seven knights, and stopped in the middle of the bridge. Swallowing hard, she addressed the figures behind their helmets.

“Sir Bart! Stop! You’re misunderstanding!”

“Bart?”

As Tadian closed in, the atmosphere grew tense. Bart looked at the girl suddenly blocking his way and roughly tossed his helmet aside.

– Clang!

“It’s been a long time, Tadian.”

Disheveled and eyes filled with madness, Leah realized he had no interest in her whatsoever.

“Bart! I knew you would come!”

At the front, the seven knights simultaneously drew their swords, while Tadian Lofero shouted back angrily. Leah’s outstretched arms trembled in indifference. She screamed.

“Sir Bart!! Your wife is coming! Marisa! It’s Marisa!”

At that, Bart finally reacted, his face twisted like a demon. He seized Leah by the collar with one hand and threw her toward Tadian.

“Gah!”

“Whoa!”

Tadian’s horse stumbled, and Leah fell into his arms, catching a glimpse of blood pouring from her side as she collided with him. Meanwhile, Bart had closed in, covered in blood, and looked up at Leah with burning eyes.

“How do you know my wife?”

But hope emerged.

With her neck gripped tightly, Leah stammered, pointing distant without mentioning the prince at all.

“Over there… she’s there.”

“Leah!!”

The incandescent Oblivion Blade.

Reb was charging madly, with Marisa and their two grown sons following behind him. Bart was at a loss, unsure of where to be surprised first.