Chapter 211: The Bird Yearning for Freedom
Ludenberg Lavante felt the flow of time accelerating once more. Just as it had the first time he encountered Hidea.
He watched the five heroes repeating their training, strengthening their bonds in the brief moments between sessions. Liberatus Ahad would occasionally smile as he observed them.
As time passed, Liberatus's disciples grew steadily stronger. Their skills improved at a steep rate, and they were flawless in character as well. Parrel was a bit precarious, but the other disciples knew his circumstances and spent much time talking with him to keep his thirst for vengeance from consuming him even in everyday moments.
Thanks to that, the five disciples complemented each other's shortcomings and advanced together.
Three years flew by in the accelerated flow of time.
Liberatus realized that his five disciples had become incredibly strong. But he also knew they still had a long way to go. Naturally, the disciples were aware of this too, and they made one request.
"Knight errantry?"
"Yes. We want to travel the empire, overcome hardships, and grow stronger."
It was Kyle's request.
Liberatus seemed to ponder for a moment before shaking his head.
"The situation is dire. Knight errantry means wandering the entire empire, and even though you've grown much stronger, it's still dangerous. The empire hasn't stabilized yet."
Over the past three years, Liberatus's valiant efforts had held back the great hordes of erosion beasts. Yet the empire still suffered from erosion beasts in many places.
In other words, setting out on knight errantry now meant thrusting themselves into that very threat.
"Still... if we stay in safety forever, our skills won't improve further."
"He's right. It's time for more real combat."
Orpina, standing beside Kyle, backed his opinion.
"It's still hard to say we've fully become knights on our own. The senior knights are far stronger than us. So... we want to catch up."
"Parrel's right. Staying safe won't make us grow."
Parrel and Hidea nodded, supporting Kyle as well.
"...Then, Istradim."
Liberatus's gaze turned to Istradim.
"Yes."
Her ability to read the future had been thoroughly verified over the past three years. Knowing this, Liberatus awaited her answer.
"If you set out on knight errantry, what do you see?"
At his question, she gazed into the distance as if dreaming, then replied.
"You will meet a bird yearning for freedom."
"A bird yearning for freedom?"
"Yes. And that one will become our comrade. I see it in my eyes—the figure of the final knight who will one day stand by our side, driving out the erosion beasts."
"......"
"To meet that person, we must leave Fermora, Master."
"If you say it that strongly, I have no choice. But I'll go with you. I'm your master, after all."
"...Shouldn't you stay to protect Fermora, Master?"
"There are plenty to defend Fermora without me now. Ridenah is there too. Her skill and leadership as vice-captain have been proven even in my absence. Besides, knight errantry is traditionally done with one's master."
"But then won't it be too safe? I'm worried the errantry will lose its meaning."
Kyle spoke with a slightly crestfallen expression upon hearing Liberatus would join them. It was welcome news in a way, but he feared it might render the errantry pointless.
"Don't worry. Unless your lives are in mortal peril, I won't intervene in your errantry."
"Ah."
"I'm just insurance. Erosions are breaking out across the empire, and erosion beasts are coming from the south. Wandering the whole empire in this situation carries great risk. That's why I'm coming."
"Understood, Master."
"Good. Tell me when you set the date. I'll handle the formalities."
"Yes."
The five disciples seemed overjoyed the moment Liberatus gave permission. It was like walking into the jaws of death willingly, yet they rejoiced. Perhaps because he approved of their resolve to embrace danger for growth—Ludenberg observed that Liberatus wore a clear smile.
"So... you're leaving again."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The emperor pondered deeply. His concern was simple: Could Fermora hold against erosion without Liberatus?
He voiced his doubt immediately.
"Can Fermora withstand the erosion without you, Liberatus?"
"Yes."
Liberatus met the emperor's eyes steadily, without a hint of hesitation.
"In the past three years, the knights have grown remarkably. Unless devourers emerge—no, even if they do... Fermora will not fall."
"Is that so."
"Yes. Three knights together can now fell a highest-grade erosion beast. So no need for concern. Especially Ridenah Dwin—she can handle a highest-grade one alone with ease."
"...I see. Very well. I permit the errantry. But you'll retain your position as knight commander."
"Understood."
"Will you leave Ridenah as acting commander?"
"Yes."
"Good. Complete the handover thoroughly."
"Thank you for your permission, Your Majesty."
Liberatus informed Ridenah right away. Seeing her juniors' resolve to throw themselves into peril for growth, she gladly resumed as acting commander.
The other knights saw off the five departing knights and Liberatus.
"Come back safe. You too, Commander."
"We will, seniors."
"Alright, we're off."
Watching them go, the knights chatted among themselves.
"Man, we had our own errantry days. Kinda nostalgic."
"Our time wasn't this chaotic, though."
"True that."
"Kyle, Orpina, Hidea, Istradim, Parrel... Come to think of it, they're all terrifying. They might surpass us by the time they return."
"Jealous all of a sudden?"
"Nah. They're young prospects heading out to protect the empire—we should welcome it. The stronger they get, the more of our loved ones survive."
"Fair point. They're barely twenty, green as they come... but their skills are the real deal."
They bantered, eagerly anticipating how much stronger the juniors would be upon return.
And so the six knights wandered the empire. They traversed lands tainted and desolate from erosion, etching into their eyes the sight of people suffering under erosion beasts.
Witnessing that, the five knights excluding Liberatus engraved in their hearts what they must do: exterminate the erosion beasts and save the people from them.
Their budding conviction grew ever stronger.
Before long, they reached a ruined city. Its collapsed form closely resembled Nadempir, where Ludenberg had undertaken his first trial.
"This place..."
"Byenta. It was a city of outlaws. We had no choice but to leave it be... a sort of quarantine to keep the empire's lawless from spreading elsewhere."
The disciples nodded at Liberatus's explanation.
"I see."
"I heard it fell to erosion beasts recently... but I didn't expect this."
Liberatus's eyes scanned the city's interior. The gates were shattered, no longer functional, so peering inside posed no issue.
Roaming the ruined streets were not people, but erosion beasts.
Kyle spoke upon seeing the scene.
"Damn, there sure are a lot of them."
"...Yeah."
"Let's clean them up."
Everyone nodded at Parrel's gleaming-eyed words. The six knights charged forward as one, rushing toward the erosion beasts.
It didn't take long to clear the erosion beasts.
"Whew. No strong ones, at least."
"You've all improved a lot."
"Thanks to you, Master."
"It's your effort. No matter how well a teacher instructs, without excellent students, there's no result."
As they talked, Istradim suddenly took the lead.
"Istradim?"
They saw her walking somewhere, light-footed as if in a dream. Everyone except her knew what this meant—she had reached a place seen in her visions of the future.
"The future you saw... it connects here?"
"......"
Istradim pressed on without answering, her eyes glazed. In the end, Liberatus and the other disciples followed.
Her steps led into a crumbling building. Inside, she found stairs descending underground... and under her guidance, they all went below.
Whoosh!
A sharp dagger flew at Istradim, who led the way, aiming for her throat. Without hesitation, she caught it and hurled the attacker away.
"Ack!"
"...A person?"
What entered their eyes was a slender woman in ragged clothes, with teal hair.
"Found you."
Istradim spoke clearly. The other knights examined the woman closely.
Soon, they noticed the burn scar on her shoulder, like something branded by fire. The moment Liberatus saw the hideous mark, he knew her status.
"...A slave?"
At his mutter, the woman pinned by Istradim cried out hysterically.
"No! I'm not a slave! I was just a normal person! Those damn Byenta bastards branded me as one, that's all!"
"Calm down. We know slavery is illegal. Even the illicit slave trade in Byenta. So relax. We've come to this erosion-fallen city in case any survivors remained."
"...Lies."
The teal-haired woman, who had been rambling, glared fiercely at Liberatus, not lowering her guard despite their claim.
"It's true. I am Liberatus Ahad, commander of the empire's knights. What is your name?"
"L-Liberatus Ahad...? R-Really...?"
"Yes."
Liberatus promptly drew a badge from his bosom proving his rank. The woman couldn't know its specifics, but the noble metal gleamed more regally than anything she'd seen in Byenta.
"N-No way. Why would someone like you come here? You're lying, right?"
Still not fully convinced, she eyed him suspiciously.
"Believe or not, we mean you no harm. Everyone, lower your weapons."
"Yes, Master."
"See? No intent to harm you. Now, your name."
"...Adalin. Adalin Cielm."
The teal-haired woman, Adalin Cielm, still eyed them all with lingering doubt.