The Blue-Haired Knight (1)

After the purification ritual ended, Inadia had passed out, so Hodo hoisted him onto his back and carried him off. I, suffering from severe anemia, was riding on Ashu's back.

The saintess had no intention of handing over her nursing duties to anyone else. The moment we set off, she silently lifted me onto her back without a word.

Being carried on a woman's back like this was the first time since I was a little kid riding on my mother's back.

Normally, this would be a situation where I'd feel embarrassed for not acting very manly, but in this world, "manly" doesn't mean being strong or tough. As I've emphasized several times, Ashu is stronger than me thanks to her divine protection.

If anything, it's more like I'm not acting very warrior-like.

Riding on her back, I quietly whispered into Ashu's ear.

"Feeling a bit better now?"

"No."

Ashu answered without even turning her head.

No one else might notice, but right now, Ashu was so furious at Inadia that she didn't even have the composure to smile.

She called it a purification ritual, but anyone could see it was just her venting her anger.

"I'll never forgive what he tried to do to you."

When she's in a good mood, Ashu puffs out one cheek slightly while saying things like that. When she's upset, she hides it with a bright smile.

Right now, her face was solemnly expressionless.

Even in this other world, a priestess without forgiveness or mercy felt downright ominous—like a dark priestess.

"You're so mad that now I feel bad for no reason. Guess I need to get stronger from now on. At this rate, the saintess might end up corrupted."

Only then did Ashu glance back at me with a slightly surprised look.

"Hearing you say that actually calms me down a little. I'd love for you to get stronger too. But don't get the wrong idea. It's so you can get famous without dying."

"If you risk your life fighting for something like that... I'll really fall to corruption."

"Says the one who set up that roadside duel with Inadia."

"Th-that was different! You're not the same Kirgil from back then."

"Yeah, a lot's changed. Not just me—you too."

Only then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠did Ashu let out a small pfft of laughter.

She seemed to be calming down at last.

Embarrassed by the laugh that had slipped out unbidden, Ashu cleared her throat awkwardly and readjusted me on her back.

"Kirgil."

After walking in silence for a bit, Ashu called my name again.

"Yeah?"

"You're truly my light. You've already swept away the darkness in my heart."

"Getting all dramatic over a little chit-chat? You take things so seriously sometimes it's scary."

"Try thinking some normal, fun thoughts once in a while. Like what you wanna do after the adventure ends."

"...Fun things."

Ashu's expression softened to its usual gentleness. She finally seemed to be thinking beyond revenge or punishment for Inadia.

"You're right. Like you said, there are some fun things I have to do once we get back to the Forest Hideout."

"Yeah, sure... Wait, what? Things you have to do?"

"First off, a bath. Change clothes, eat something delicious for once. But looking at you now, you won't be able to do anything for a few days."

"Uh, yeah, fair enough."

Ashu's expression grew even softer than usual.

But why was I starting to get chills?

"Unfortunately, there's no family or relatives there to take care of you."

"That's... uh... true."

An immense threat loomed. Not a threat to my life, but to the dignity of Kirgil as a human being.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of you all day long."

Was it really that fun to wash, dress, and feed a grown man like me? Why?? How??

All I'd done was try to cheer her up normally, so why was my dignity in crisis?

Faced with this ever-approaching menace, would I really end up going waaah~ like a baby?

And.

Hairil, you were eavesdropping the whole time, huh.

Turning your head away the second our eyes met was way too obvious.

What does this kid wanna be when she grows up?

Not job-wise—gender-wise.

Riding along on Ashu's lighter footsteps, we'd arrived at the dungeon entrance before I knew it.

Sart discovered his brother's remains and silently pulled a wooden box from his bag, then dug out the bones by hand.

Others tried to help, but Sart waved them off wordlessly.

This, he wanted to do with his own hands.

Watching him made the atmosphere turn solemn somehow.

Feeling awkward being carried, I asked Ashu to let me down so I could stand on my own two feet, but my legs still had no strength.

Even for severe anemia, this was ridiculous.

It was probably the backlash from using the sword's power too.

"Sarma, you're one lucky guy."

Sart spoke conversationally as he placed the bones in the box.

"Mom and Dad left me with nothing but you kids. No idea where they went or what they did or where they died. They just vanished completely. Even from our memories of them.

But you, Sarma—they'll remember you forever. Buried near the house, you can mess with your siblings for eternity."

His matter-of-fact words encapsulated the life of an ordinary adventurer. Aside from a few famous ones, most adventurers never returned and were simply forgotten.

I recalled Agnes telling him to come back even if he ended up a beggar. Being forgotten was sad, but wasn't the one who had to be forgotten sad too?

"There, my brother's all boxed up nice and tight so he won't cause trouble. Let's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠get going.

But what're the hero and saintess staring at? Something on my head?"

Of course our eyes were drawn to the glowing female figure polishing Sart's bald head to a shine.

Back in my old world, I'd hoped for an afterlife but didn't really believe in one. Seeing this, though, I had no choice but to believe in this world.

Then again, my current life was pretty much an afterlife.

"Sir Sart, it seems your late sister dearly loved her big brother's shiny head. She still wants it gleaming bright."

Ashu, with her wealth of experience dealing with spirits, calmly explained the wondrous sight in a way everyone could accept without qualms.

"Heh, you can tell that much? The saintess's miracles are the real deal. When I get to Prosek, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'll thank the kids and Kalderan first. Think if I pray or something, I could smack dead Sarma upside the head?"

"Yes, the sun always shines above you. Even now."

Tears welled up in Sart's eyes. Not wanting to show weakness, he quickly turned away.

"Sniff! ...Thanks."

To let him cry freely, we each gave his shoulder or back a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠light pat in turn, then slowly walked away from the spot.

We decided to give the armor we'd gotten from the dungeon to Sart.

We didn't need it anyway, and we'd not only cleared the dungeon but destroyed its core—plenty of achievement there. Inadia was practically a war trophy already.

Gifting this to our lifesaver felt only natural.

"Was worried the kids wouldn't believe me with just the ashes. This'll convince 'em. One might try wearing it like her sister and make a fuss, but she won't listen if I tell her not to...."

"It's no ordinary gear since the dungeon made it. If you sell it, get a proper appraisal first."

"Nah~ I'd sell my own body before selling my sibling."

Calling it his "sibling" already showed he'd treasure or preserve it.

Sart wanted to head straight home, so we parted at the crossroads.

"Drinks on me when you hit Prosek," he said in true adventurer fashion, then vanished into the distance.

Our party entered the road where carriages passed, arriving at the Forest Hideout before evening.

On the way, Ashu revealed her identity to a patrolling cavalry unit and explained the situation, so armed knights were waiting at the entrance.

Spotting Ashu, one knight approached briskly and in formation.

They wore tunics emblazoned with the sun emblem. Not just knights—cathedral knights. I'd clashed with some back in Prosek.

The apparent leader skipped needless ceremony, asking politely but curtly.

He must've judged it an emergency.

"Saintess, what are your orders?"

Hodo set down Inadia, still tightly bound and unconscious, in front of the knights.

"This man is a criminal who tried to kill everyone here, who violated me and insulted the divine, and who plotted to assassinate the princess of Darania.

His crimes are beyond redemption by his life alone, so we cannot even allow suicide.

Thus, keep him under strict watch until he's held accountable and duly punished."

"We'll guard him so he can't escape even in death."

Ashu really held a position high enough to command these forces. A fact that felt both novel and obvious.

Reason being... being on her back right now was way too uncomfortable.

The knight captain or whatever kept glancing at me. I could practically hear him thinking, "Who's that punk on the saintess's back??"

As the cathedral knight went to pick up Inadia,

"Let go!! Let me go!! Why are cathedral dogs here?! Where's the magistrate!? Call the town guard!! Not you guys!!"

The guy had been playing possum, waiting for his chance. Impressive. Staying that petty to the end was a talent. Or maybe just ordinary.

Upper crust using every trick to dodge punishment seemed universal, no matter the world.

Ashu, knowing this well, had preempted his escape by summoning her loyal cathedral knights.

"Someone tell them!! I'm Inadia, son of 2nd Knight Commander Inario!! Tell the magistrate... mmph!"

Inadia's mouth was promptly gagged.

No matter his nobility, the cathedral knights wouldn't be kind to someone who'd defiled their saintess.

Wonder how Ashu would deal with him next.

We headed straight to the adventurer guild in town. Needed to report survival, the dungeon, and the incident.

After the interviews and reports, it was evening.

We were all slumped in the guild, tension gone and fatigue setting in.

We agreed to celebrate tomorrow.

They were all nobles' kids in their own right—needed to report to their nations and tie up loose ends.

Above all, we were exhausted. Me included. Everyone needed rest to recover.

As we disbanded, Ashu said,

"I'll take Kirgil with me."

Felt like I'd become Ashu's war trophy. Actually, I pretty much was.

Ashu slung me over her left shoulder and grabbed my huge backpack in her right hand. Right now, I looked like prey hunted and hauled to the slaughterhouse by a strong merchant.

Hodo and Panash saw me off with pleased expressions; Hairil with a face like she was sneaking peeks at some naughty book.

What do I do? My dignity was crumbling already.

"First a bath, change clothes, then lots of good food."

"Hey, Ashu, I'll manage on my own, so..."

Ashu ignored me.

My body ignored me too.

I had no idea where she was dragging me off to.

I could only tremble and squeeze my eyes shut like a shy girl.