Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Secret Task Force
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Hooves pounded against the barren roads of Norten.
A magnificent white horse trotted gracefully down the dingy streets.
As it reached the edge of the street, an old office building came into view.
The white horse stopped right in front of that office—not some fancy mansion.
A polished military boot descended from the saddle.
Followed by sleek thighs and a finely tailored red uniform.
Ekina, the next captain of the Crimson Flame Knights.
She straightened the collar of her uniform as she arrived at the Defense Knight's office.
“Prfffrrr.”
“It's okay, Lucy.”
The white horse, exhausted from galloping over rough terrain.
Ekina soothed her beloved steed and led it around to the back of the office.
“A swordmaster hanging out in a place like this...?”
Ekina headed to the rear of the office, her mind filled with questions, the air thick with the scent of earth.
But the moment she arrived,
her confusion only deepened.
“The Thorman tribe...?”
The Thormans, a fierce minority even the empire's army avoided.
They were actually farming behind the office.
Some sat in a pavilion by the vegetable garden, even eating their meals.
“Come on, everyone—eat up hearty! We've got quotas to meet today!”
Steaming soup and freshly baked bread.
The ones infamous for their brutality wielded two-headed axes and spears no more—they savored bread and soup instead.
“Hey... you finally made it!”
Her eyes met those of a particularly rugged-looking man among them.
“Wh-what...?”
Ekina swallowed hard as the hulking figure approached.
Her hand instinctively went to her waist in the face of his burly silhouette.
But the man posed no threat.
He simply bowed his head deeply in polite greeting.
“Please, come on in. We were waiting, but since you were late, we started eating first.”
This rough tribe showing her such courtesy.
Ekina pointed at her own face with a bewildered expression.
“You know me...?”
“Of course. Sir Veil said to guide you here when you arrived today.”
Orun approached slowly and took the reins of her horse, Lucy.
He skillfully led the delicate white horse to the stable without startling it.
In the meantime, the lady knight glanced at the tattoo etched on Orun's shoulder.
The bear tattoo of the supreme ruler, awarded to the last survivor after battling hundreds of men.
The stable hand before her was none other than the chieftain of the Thorman tribe.
‘Veil Mikhail...’
Only then did Ekina truly grasp Veil's existence.
Her defeat hadn't been mere chance.
But
this was just the beginning.
Guided by Orun, she reached the first floor of the office.
There sat two muscular young men on benches.
Shirtless, no less...
“Eek...!”
Ekina hurriedly covered her face with both hands.
She asked in a flustered voice,
“Y-you're Eastern Knights, aren't you?”
“We are, yeah?”
The exhausted knights gave her a listless reply.
Ekina peeked through her fingers, her scarlet eyes flashing.
She caught sight of their chiseled, rock-hard abs.
“If you're knights, act like it and keep some dignity! What kind of sight is this?”
“You try working here—you wouldn't last thirty minutes in your fancy getup.”
Tau smirked cynically at the lady knight.
Ekina swallowed hard as she looked at his face.
“What in the world are the Eastern Knights' vanguard doing here?”
“What else? Training.”
The vanguard captain pointed to the pristine hoe beside him.
An artifact hoe refined from magic stones, and even a pickaxe.
All expensive tools Lydia had made for their diligent farm work.
Ekina frowned at the equipment.
“Those farming tools are your training gear?”
“Yeah, they're pretty useful.”
Tau stretched his knotted muscles and stood.
He prepared to head back to the garden with his junior.
“Let's go, Biju. Spring's almost here.”
“Spring? I can hardly wait, senior!”
Their conversation sounded like scheming villains plotting.
Complete with lecherous grins.
“Just you wait till those sprouts poke through... We'll water 'em and control the sunlight just right.”
“Heh heh... We'll make 'em germinate no matter what.”
Ekina watched the two knights stride out boldly into the blazing sun.
Their imposing figures like monsters heading out to slay beasts.
But to think those physiques were for mere sprouting—absurd.
“What... what the...?!”
The potent mana pulsing strongly in their chests.
Stronger than veteran Crimson Flame Knights, wasted on a garden.
“No way gardening actually helps with training...?”
Ekina bit her lip, pride wounded, as she climbed the stairs to the second floor.
As she reached the landing, her eyes met those of a water mage lady knight smoking by the window.
Her hair in a sharp bob, a beauty mark under her eye.
She looked feisty at first glance, but her face lit up at the sight of Ekina.
“Senior?!”
“Miya...? You're with this unit too?”
Miya grinned at her old academy senior.
“Nah, just visiting for a bit.”
“You look much happier now. Last time, you said you felt like dying because of your senior.”
The lady knight forced a smile for her long-lost junior.
Miya giggled like a schoolgirl and spat out some harsh words.
“Yeah, that bastard's gone now.”
“For real? I thought his lord family ties made it impossible for the water mage higher-ups to boot him.”
The two strolled down the office hallway together.
Miya walked with hands behind her back, smirking as she thought of someone.
Her life had gotten so much comfier since he showed up.
“Our ‘treasure’ took care of it.”
“Treasure...?”
“Yeah, this lucky charm rolled in outta nowhere.”
Miya turned the doorknob as she spoke.
“But what brings you all the way out here, senior?”
Miya asked casually, and Ekina hesitated before mumbling an excuse.
“Oh... I had some business with a knight named Veil?”
“Huh? With him?”
Miya tilted her head like a curious cat at the name Veil.
Her swaying side bangs tickled her cheek.
“Yeah, you know him?”
“Sure do—my direct junior.”
Miya opened the door.
She showed her the office interior and said,
“The lucky charm I mentioned? That's him.”
The lavish interior, unbelievable for a lowly knight office.
I looked up from my desk, documents in hand, as Miya entered from the entrance.
“Hey, Veil! Senior's here!”
Miya patted my shoulder familiarly, papers still in my grip.
Ekina watched in shock.
Just days ago, this man had threatened her life,
yet here her junior treated him like a buddy—surreal.
“Junior... didn't I tell you not to fling the door open?”
I muttered irritably.
Miya just chuckled and shook my shoulder like a toy.
“But we've got a super important guest!”
“Important guest?”
I looked up, annoyed.
And in that instant,
My eyes met those of the Crimson Flame vice-captain I'd threatened days before.
Ekina flinched involuntarily at my gaze.
But oblivious, Miya introduced her senior casually.
“This is one of the empire's premier knight orders' vice-captain—the Crimson Flame vice-captain!”
Her grandiose intro made my lips curl up.
Ekina, embarrassed, let out a deep sigh.
“Oh, you made it? You're late.”
I set all my documents aside.
And welcomed Ekina leisurely.
“V-Veil... ‘you made it’? She's my senior—even I call her ma'am!”
Flustered, Miya looked back and forth between us.
But instead of snapping at me, the lady knight smiled at Miya to cover.
“No, Miya... it's fine.”
Miya ignored her and slipped behind my chair.
And without warning...
“Apologize to senior right now!”
She pinched my cheeks lightly and stretched them like jelly.
Ekina paled at the sight.
She tried to stop Miya in a panic.
“I-it's fine!! Could you step out for a sec? I have important business with Veil—I mean, junior!”
“Sure thing.”
Miya left, staring at me pointedly.
Eyes asking what the big talk was about.
I gave her a reassuring grin—don't worry.
“Haa...”
With the cat-like junior gone, the Crimson Flame vice-captain sighed in relief.
“From Miya's reaction, she has no idea what you're really like.”
Ekina looked down at me warily.
I met her gaze coldly.
“As long as you don't pull the crap you did, you'll never see my true colors.”
“...”
Pricked by conscience, the lady knight clamped her mouth shut.
To her, I handed over a pre-prepared magic contract.
“You're here—sign this first.”
“An oath contract...?”
Ekina took the enchanted paper, her face twisting.
‘Can't be helped.’
Oath contract.
An absolute pact formed when the creator and agreer drip their blood on the document.
Violators pay with their lives.
A rarity even nobles rarely saw in my past life.
But thanks to me, the recovered Leah handed them out like receipts.
“Took a lot to get this—don't mess up, sign quick.”
I pointed to the leather sofa with my finger.
“Damn...”
“I can hear you grumbling?”
Ekina slumped onto the sofa, resigned.
And the moment she did,
she jolted at the black-robed dark mage elder beside her.
“T-Tolkien Elder...? Why are you here...?”
“I got caught too...”
“Where's your cult leader? You alone?”
“The c-cult leader...”
The elder stammered in fear.
I answered for him.
“The cult leader's dead.”
Ekina's face went sheet-white at my blunt words.
She never dreamed even that veteran shadow of the crown prince—more seasoned than her—had fallen.
“The guy who did the arson with you? The First Imperial Princess's side already took him out.”
I stood casually from my chair.
Approached them with a stern expression.
“Now you've sold out even your master's name.”
I sat between them and slung my arms around their shoulders amiably.
“In other words, traitors.”
I boldly placed the needle from the table before Ekina.
The elder had signed long ago.
“Nowhere left for you to crawl back to.”
Only she remained.
“Sign. This is your chance to live.”
The lady knight picked up the needle with trembling hands.
Slowly pricked her finger.
A drop of blood fell onto the paper.
Then she signed her name with the quill.
“Good. Secret knight order formed.”
「Knight Captain, Ekina Orchid. (True Crimson Flame Knight Captain)」
「Vice-Captain, Allen Mitrov. (True Verdant Knight Captain)」
「Exclusive Knight Order Mage, Tolkien Arihenta. (True Nemesis Cult Leader)」
「Vanguard Captain, Tau Demiros. (Eastern Knight Vanguard Captain)」
I smiled satisfactorily at the roster.
Raise these right, and it's like having two knight captains on my side.
“No need to worry—won't be official till the crown prince starts his civil war.”
I eyed the gloomy lady knight and dark mage on the sofa.
Continent's top dark mage exec and next captain, both in my pocket.
“What's the knight order's name...?”
“Dunno... a name...”
Got one that fits you perfectly.
I stared intently at Ekina.
“Redemption Knights.”
“Redemption?”
The lady knight recoiled at the shady name.
But shut her mouth at my glare.
“Wanna change it? Redeem yourselves hard. Till then, that's your name forever.”
“Understood...”
The first captain of the Redemption Knights bowed, awed by my naming prowess.
She muttered under her breath.
‘Alright, the crown prince's dark shadows are all purged.’
Next up: alliances between the princesses...
I turned my head to catch my breath.
And spotted the Samid leopard pelt by the entrance.
‘Start with Lydia.’
Perfect timing—need to recruit a ‘true Eastern Knight Captain’ too.