Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Compassion
Although the decision to attend the Academy came out of nowhere, Rudian wasn't opposed to going to the Academy itself, just a bit dumbfounded.
'It's fine by me.'
Originally, the Academy was the place Rudian wanted to go to the most, but because he couldn't afford the tuition fees, not to mention the exorbitant living costs in the capital, he had only thought about it and given up on that option.
If given the choice, of course he would accept it.
"We meet again."
"Ha, haha...!"
Rudian let out a hollow laugh upon seeing Kaitel's triumphant expression.
He had shown a strange demeanor when they parted ways, but was this his intention all along?
But regardless of that.
'This is a bit awkward....'
Kaitel seemed to have judged that Rudian possessed talent or genius based on his Magic, but sadly, that was a complete misunderstanding due to the 100% pure effect of the Tembal.
As soon as they had one practice match, he would immediately realize the truth.
"I'll give you a week to settle your affairs. After that, come with me to the capital."
"...I understand, Your Excellency."
"Rudian, accepting my uncle's offer was a good choice."
"I will do my best not to tarnish the princess's reputation."
"Please, I'm just happy to have a good junior!"
Princess Lucilla was already in her third year at the Maha Empire Academy.
With that combat ability and background, her position within the Academy would be obvious without even looking.
'At least I won't have to pass on the squire job.'
As he was formally enrolling in the Academy, Rudian would naturally quit his job as a squire.
Calline would also go up to the capital without a servant, and Rudian felt a peculiar mix of joy and regret at not having to see the junior who would become Calline's next victim.
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
And so, the one day of vacation that had remained was extended to a week.
***
"What! The Maha Empire Academy? And the Knight Department at that?"
Naturally, when Baran Village heard that Rudian would be entering the Maha Empire Academy's Knight Department, the village was literally turned upside down.
On top of that, when they heard he would be traveling to the capital under the patronage of a high-ranking nobleman, the village chief Marco called all the villagers together that evening and held a feast.
Although it hadn't been long since the attack from the Kingdom of Rohans, they couldn't forgo celebrating such a joyous occasion.
"HAHAHA! Who would have thought our village would produce a knight? Come on, Rudian, have a drink!"
"I'm just a knight aspirant, not a knight yet."
"Hey, we're talking about the Maha Empire Academy! It's a done deal! Becoming a knight is certain; the only question is which nobleman you'll serve under!"
Village Chief Marco, proving his military background, was much more knowledgeable about these matters than ordinary people.
"Ru, Rudian! Would you like to try some precious wheat wine we brewed at home?"
"He, here's something my father wanted to give you..."
After hearing that Rudian was entering the Academy, the villagers completely changed their attitude and started acting friendly toward Rudian as if nothing had ever happened.
Especially those who had been burning with envy when he became Calline's servant now approached him with such servile demeanor, wringing their hands.
Of course, the village chief chased them away with a bark when he noticed Rudian's displeased expression.
"Stupid bastards, that's why I told you to be kinder."
The village chief clicked his tongue as he watched the young men scatter at his single rebuke.
When Rudian became Calline's servant, his status was underestimated due to Calline's poor reputation, but being a student of the Maha Empire Academy, especially in the Knight Department, carried such tremendous social standing that even most local nobles would find it difficult to interfere.
The Maha Empire Academy itself was what they called "the big pond" in the empire, and being able to swim in that pond was the quickest shortcut to central political advancement.
To those who had lived in the village their entire lives, Rudian might as well have already earned a noble title.
"Congratulations, Rudian."
"Don't forget about us."
"Thank you, Mrs. Helan, Mr. Kyle."
Even so, not everyone in Baran Village had disrespected Rudian.
Along with the village chief, those who had cared for Rudian approached him comfortably to offer congratulations, and Rudian gladly smiled and accepted the drinks they offered.
"Come to think of it, where's Rebecca?"
As soon as Rudian realized that the familiar orange-haired girl wasn't around while looking around, he turned his gaze to the village chief.
"Slow one, you just noticed?"
The village chief looked at Rudian with an expression that said, 'This hopeless guy.'
"She's still lying down. The shock from back then doesn't seem to have worn off."
"...Is that so?"
"She's not usually like that, but it seems the trauma was quite severe. Right now she's been moved to my house, and my wife is taking care of her."
So that's why I haven't seen the chief's wife.
When the festivities were in full swing, Rudian excused himself and went to visit Rebecca.
She greeted Rudian in a half-asleep state, as if suffering from a severe cold.
"Are you okay?"
"...I'm a bit better than before."
She weakly smiled and responded to Rudian's question.
Although she said she was better, she didn't look any better from the outside.
"I heard. You're going up to the capital?"
"...Yes."
"Do you have to go?"
"...!"
Rudian's eyes widened at Rebecca's sudden request.
It was the first time she had asked him for something so directly.
Rebecca continued quietly with her eyes downcast.
"I just thought... It would be nice if... We could live quietly and happily together... Working here."
"..."
"I know it's selfish of me... But I just wanted to say it in case. Hehe..."
After saying that, Rebecca closed her mouth.
"...Rebecca."
Rudian stared at Rebecca with a blank expression for a while.
He knew how she felt.
If he couldn't notice when she was being this obvious, he'd be a eunuch.
Saying that he avoided Rebecca because she was an obsessive heroine in the original work was just a convenient excuse.
The original description was just that—the original—and the Rebecca that Rudian had experienced was truly someone too good for him.
But Rudian was aware of her significance and importance in the original work.
And he had turned away from her feelings, pessimistic about his own helpless situation in the face of the coming age of war.
'But now....'
Rudian placed his hand on Rebecca's forehead.
The heat of a fireball transmitted through the skin of his palm.
FLINCH!
Rebecca involuntarily flinched at Rudian's action.
The village chief's wife had apparently read the mood between the two and left her seat.
In that situation, Rudian opened his mouth.
"I'd like that too, if possible."
"...!"
This time Rebecca's eyes opened wide.
"The villagers think I've made it big, but I don't really care much for success."
He did have an interest in magic or aura-type abilities.
But if he could give that up and live peacefully with Rebecca, Rudian would certainly abandon those abilities and choose the latter.
The problem was...
"But I have something I absolutely must do."
If he sat back and did nothing, this Baran Village would disappear within 10 years.
The border area would be devastated by the invasion of the Kingdom of Rohans, and Rebecca, having lost her home, would meet the protagonist Abel and set out on an adventure.
'Even if I just stay here, Abel would drive away the demons on his own, but this place I know would surely disappear.'
That wouldn't be good for either Rudian or Rebecca.
Something that only Kim Seong-jun, an avid reader who knew this world was a story in a novel, could do.
"It's difficult, hard, and arduous... But there's something only I can do. For that, I have no choice but to take this path."
"..."
He never expected Rebecca to understand the meaning of these words in the first place.
He just wanted her to smile brightly as she had until now.
One reason for the journey Rudian was about to embark on was to protect this smile.
"What if..."
"Hmm?"
She seemed to hesitate for a moment, then blurted out a shocking statement that jolted Rudian's mind.
"What if I awaken my blood... Would that help you?"
"...!"
At those words, Rudian's expression hardened.
"Somehow... Rudian, you knew all along."
"How did you...?"
In , Rebecca was just an ordinary village girl who didn't know the origin of her own blood.
The catalyst for her awakening came after the destruction of Baran Village when she became entangled with the protagonist Abel.
But now, for some reason, Rebecca was mentioning her origin, and even directly using the keyword "blood."
Rudian spoke firmly to Rebecca.
"Never do that."
"Why not?"
"Nothing good will come of it."
Rebecca's power, Demon Eater, is the ability to devour demons and employ their powers.
It sounds good, but it's fundamentally a power that absorbs magical energy fatal to humans.
In other words, the more powerful the Demon Eater becomes, the more it corrupts the mind.
"It's a power that will make you unhappy."
"..."
In the original work, Abel's care slowed the progression of the disease, but over time, Rebecca became increasingly dependent on and obsessive about Abel, eventually becoming a time bomb for the protagonist's party.
'...And it actually exploded near the end of part 3.'
Knowing Rebecca's fate, Rudian hoped she wouldn't follow the path of the original work.
Even if it meant twisting the destiny of the protagonist Abel.
"I want you to live happily here."
Rudian conveyed his thoughts to Rebecca without holding back.
"..."
She covered her face, which had turned as red as a ripe persimmon, with both hands.
Rudian's true wish was for Rebecca to continue existing as a bright and energetic person, far from the bloody path of .
'If I could substitute for Abel...'
There was a good chance that her future would not involve bloodshed.
Receiving Rudian's deep gaze head-on, Rebecca fidgeted with her fingers and remained silent for a long time.
Then, with a small, shrinking voice, she nodded.
"Okay. I'll just stay put."
"Good thinking."
There seemed to be some dissatisfaction remaining in her expression, but it couldn't be helped for her future's sake.
"But make me one promise."
"What is it?"
"When everything is over, don't go anywhere else. Come back to me."
"...Of course."
Even if it wasn't entirely to his liking, this place was as good as home.
Rudian gladly nodded at Rebecca's proposal.
***
After the village chief's feast concluded successfully.
As soon as Rudian returned home, he took out Diablo and glared at him fiercely.
"It was you, wasn't it?"
-What are you talking about?
Diablo aggravated Rudian by responding glibly.
"I'm talking about Rebecca's condition! It was your doing, wasn't it?!"
No matter how many causes he considered, the conclusion pointed to none other than this guy.
The ambiguous smile Diablo had shown last time, plus the various suspicious aspects about him, all added up.
-Oh my, such harsh assumptions.
"It's not an assumption. The hereditary activation of the Demon Eater only responds after direct exposure to magical energy. And it has to be at least from a high-ranking demon. Using magical energy on others without my consent would be a breach of contract, wouldn't it?"
-Kukukuk, truly an interesting fellow. To think a human of this era would possess such knowledge. I was right to follow along.
"Are you admitting it?"
The promise of a high-level entity possessing divinity carries tremendous compulsion, even if it's just a verbal agreement.
That was a setting directly mentioned by the author early on and was used throughout .
But Diablo shook his head at Rudian's words.
-No, if that woman's awakening was truly my doing, I should have received a significant blow by now. But as you can see, I'm perfectly fine.
"That's...!"
-Ah, of course, I do admit that her awakening symptoms might be due to my great power. But that's merely an indirect cause.
"...Don't tell me?"
At that moment, there was a sudden realization.
Rudian slowly raised his hand and placed it on his heart.
Along with Diablo's laughter, the heartbeat could be heard.
-Kukuk, you seem to have figured it out.
"Damn it!"
The minuscule amount of magical energy existing inside Rudian's heart as evidence of his contract with Diablo.
But no matter how minute the amount, given its source, its purity was extremely high.
High enough to influence the dormant Demon Eater blood.
'So it was because of me.'
The smile Diablo had at that time was the smile of someone who had anticipated the current result.
"I'd appreciate it if you could tell me in advance next time."
It was like closing the stable door after the horse had bolted, but he still had to say it.
-I doubt the outcome would have changed even if I had told you, but I'll keep that in mind, kukukuk...
"..."
Rudian sighed and fell silent in the face of Diablo's barrage of facts.
Certainly, even if reason had decided to stay away from Rebecca, emotion was a creature that moved independently of reason.
It's not like he didn't have feelings for her.
'I just hope this incident doesn't cause a major butterfly effect...'
All Rudian could do was hope that Rebecca would keep her promise to him.