The Blue-Haired Knight (2)
When Ashu first brought me to this luxury inn,
I stayed silent.
Because I didn't even have the strength to walk.
Then, when Ashu stripped off my filthy clothes,
I groaned.
Because I only had the strength to twitch my fingers.
Then, when she carried my naked body to the bath,
I nodded.
Because I wanted to wash away the caked blood and sweat.
And when Ashu dressed the freshly bathed me in women's clothes,
I had no will to resist left, nor any clothes to change into.
Just like that, my dignity and shame flew away in less than an hour—not even a full day—along with my embarrassing new appearance.
Being bathed helplessly by another person transcends mere shame and humiliation; there's a refreshing pleasure to it. Something subtly, mysteriously enjoyable.
Women's clothes. A skirt, specifically—I had reservations before putting it on, but once I did, it's surprisingly comfortable. I get why men in some ancient corner of our world wore dresses or skirts like this.
It's weird finding men's clothes in a woman's room, though. When Ashu said, "There's no way my room would have men's clothes in it," I felt unnecessarily sorry, like I'd made a weird suspicion.
But these skirt frills are a bit annoying. She didn't dress me up like a doll for playtime, did she?
Probably not... I hope.
At any rate, seeing Ashu delight in toying with me—someone who couldn't resist even a finger's worth—was at least a small comfort.
Ashu must have been exhausted from tending to me all day; she ended up falling asleep before I did. It's tough enough bathing and carrying a little kid around, but doing the same for a full-grown adult? Even with her strength, she had to be worn out.
At least I had enough strength left to stroke her face and hair as she breathed peacefully in my arms.
And so, the next day.
I snapped my eyes wide open first thing in the morning, still in that dress-skirt, and my immediate thought was:
If I stay like this, I'll definitely fall into depravity!!
Regain my sanity!
Reclaim my dignity!
...I resolved myself, but I still had no strength to move.
My upper body could manage to sit up, somehow, but my legs were useless. My arms moved, but they trembled if I tried to hold them up.
Anemia kept the dizziness going strong. A little exertion, and I'd be short of breath. Damn...
Still, a good night's sleep had me recovering bit by bit.
That sword, though—Killgent's Oath. They said it took my blood, but if it's leaving me this weak, it feels like it took something more.
Ashu was still asleep.
Last night, I nearly gave up being human to become a girl's doll, but I was still grateful.
Anyone who's lived alone knows: when you're sick on your own, it's not just the pain that's hard—it's the loneliness of having no one to help you right then.
Sick and alone in a foreign land? It's not just tough; it's life-threatening. No public hospitals here—no ambulances rushing to the fallen. If you collapse without getting robbed blind, count yourself lucky.
Grrrrumble...
With nothing to do, idle thoughts made me hungry. My body was trying to recover, so of course the hunger hit harder.
My stomach growled loud enough that Ashu stirred beside me, slowly sitting up. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at me.
"Pfft!! What is that outfit? Hehe."
'You put me in these women's pajamas!'—but protesting wouldn't help.
In my current state, reclaiming my dignity was impossible today.
As a final act of defiance against her smug grin, I threw my whole body at her, dumping my weight into her lap.
Then, pressed together, I whispered softly in her ear:
"Thanks. I'm really glad you're here for times like this."
Only then did Ashu's laughter stop.
What was there to be surprised about? Having someone to care for you in moments like this is pure gratitude.
We lay there wordlessly, our breaths mingling pleasantly. But I couldn't savor it long.
My stomach hurt too much from hunger.
This was the princess's lodging, so the inn was far more luxurious than our previous stay. A high-end hotel, basically. The breakfast Ashu ordered was fancier than most restaurants—practically a full course meal.
Makes sense for a place where nobles stay. Service for the poor is limited by efficiency, but for the rich, there's no such restraint. No price limits either.
Ashu never flaunted her nobility and slipped in and out of dingy spots without issue, but when it came time to pay, she'd casually pick the priciest, most luxurious option.
Anyway, after a hearty breakfast, a massive bundle of packages arrived addressed to me moments later.
The errand boy who brought them came with a message from Rauga of the Piterio Merchant Company: "Please visit us again soon," plus some precious fruits and tea as gifts.
The company can wait. Packages first.
The thrill of delivery is timeless.
Letters and parcels from Agnes Village and Prosek Castle were mixed in. Most of the contents were Agnes's medicines.
Time to check the letters and packages. First up: the huge load and dozens of pages from Agnes herself.
Just like the professor in my heart, she'd organized the letters by topic.
On Killgent's Oath.
Killgent is one of the gods long revered in the Kataril region. The entrance to their temple bears this inscription in the ancient language:
"Your achievements prove your worth."
The priests there teach the faithful this prayer to invoke miracles. Remember it well:
"I place your prayer on one pan of my scale."
"I place your [sacrifice] on one pan of my scale."
"When my scale tips toward [the sacrifice], your prayer shall be granted."
"When my scale tips toward the prayer, all shall vanish."
The faithful offer their desires as prayers and a fitting sacrifice in return for miracles to occur. Offer something worthless, and both prayer and sacrifice disappear.
Killgent's Oath originates from this rite.
Since one cannot quantify the value of prayer or sacrifice in numbers or volume, the faithful must steel their resolve and offer accordingly.
This phrase is used thus:
"I offer all my wealth with Killgent's Oath." ...to signify bold resolve.
"You think you'll succeed without Killgent's Oath?" ...to emphasize the effort required.
"Not even worth Killgent's Oath." ...to dismiss something utterly worthless.
However, as an ancient god and archaic expression, it's rarely used even in Kataril these days.
Such is the origin of that sword's name, and this concerns Agnes greatly.
Use it with utmost caution. To slay your foes, it will surely demand something precious of yours as sacrifice.
And take heed.
The value is set by the god's will.
The worth of your sacrifice is not what you decide, Kirgil—it is the god who judges.
Speak lightly of its value, and you may lose everything at a critical moment. Remember this.
For reference:
Ask Ashushikara by your side about the gods' will; she will know.
She was called a dark, ominous princess for her strange behavior in the palace, but from what this Agnes observed, she was merely suppressed by her surroundings—a child brilliant and resolute at her core.
It's heartwarming and wondrous to see that girl, who once flinched and cowered at my slightest gesture, now stand proudly as a saintess at your side. At any rate, she should provide an answer that satisfies even me.
Agnes's letter on Killgent's Oath ended there.
Ashu and I read it together.
"Ashu, have you met Agnes before?"
"Yes, when I was little. People thought I was cursed or ill, so they summoned sages from across the kingdom—famous pharmacists and mages. Agnes was the only one who said there was nothing wrong with me. She gave me ointment for my wounds. I still remember her kindness."
"...Sounds like Agnes."
"That ointment greatly upset my mother. I heard she had to leave for a remote place because of it."
"So that's why someone with the title of Grand Mage lives in the boonies."
"Most people in the palace are petty and image-obsessed.
And about Agnes's question? Simple enough.
'The gods' will is beyond human comprehension.'
As you know, even I—who symbolize the light of the Kalderan gods—merely follow their will, never speak for it. Any human claiming to voice the gods' will is either a heretic or a fraud."
"I see. That's actually harder to grasp. Tough stuff. The more I learn about this sword, the harder it is to use. Might as well just charge it with mana like before."
"So the sword's name is Killgent's Oath. Guess I'll have to fill it with mana again like last time. But I should head out now."
Ashu gave my cheek a light kiss, bidding me farewell like a newlywed office worker heading to work.
She was in her white priestess robes now.
She still had Inadia business, cathedral duties, guild work, and more to handle.
For me, the priority was recovering fast.
Low blood meant my sponge down there weakened too. Even in a skirt, that had to stay manly!
Agnes's letters were plentiful. I pulled out the next one.
On the Basilisk's Eyes.
Kirgil, because of you, this Agnes now wakes each morning yearning for the missing warmth beside her.
A bed without you feels vast and lonely. This emptiness won't fade with mere self-consolation... You must take responsibility!
"Wha—!?"
I flipped the letter over without thinking.
Is this really about basilisk eyes? Did Reshi prank me or something?
The writing was embarrassing enough for others to see.
Hmm, no doubt—it's Agnes's handwriting.
She must have written it assuming only I'd read it. That's why it's so candid with her feelings.
Never showing this to Ashu.