The Path They Walked (6)
Maxim gently pushed away Christine, who was staring at him with persistent, gleaming eyes.
“So, who exactly is she? Your fiancée?”
He hadn’t expected Marion to come up in a situation like this. Maxim did his best to ignore the throbbing in his temples.
“…No.”
“Then who is she? Senior, did you go and make yourself a mistress while I was asleep? Should I run off and tell your fiancée everything?”
“No, what mistress? Do you always have to talk like that?”
When Maxim shot back, Christine narrowed her eyes and glared at him instead.
“Well, that’s exactly how you were treating me. It wouldn’t be strange at all if you had a mistress or two tucked away somewhere.”
“Anyone listening would think you actually know someone who became a mistress in some household.”
“Unlike you, Senior, I enjoy reading. Romance novels and such. So, Senior. Are you really not going to tell me who she is until the very end?”
Then Christine looked down at him with an icy gaze. Lying in a sickbed like this felt utterly miserable.
Maxim let out a small sigh as he met Christine’s relentless, questioning stare.
“A knight from the Benning family.”
At Maxim’s answer, Christine’s face went blank. She tilted her head, wearing the classic expression of someone wondering if they had misheard.
“…What on earth happened that made you end up protecting someone from that family in the Royal Guard?”
“There were circumstances. Rather complicated ones.”
Maxim sighed again and looked at Christine. She wiped the playfulness from her expression and straightened up to listen properly. Of course, the faint trace of displeasure in her face didn’t disappear.
Maxim carefully chose his words, retracing his memories to decide where to begin.
“You know that the royal family and Count Benning joined hands to investigate the Magic Tower’s corruption, right?”
“Yes. I even know that you spoke with His Majesty separately and came to rescue me.”
“She was one of the knights from the Benning side who was mobilized for that investigation. Somehow we ended up in the same group and moved together.”
Christine looked like she was itching to snap something back, but she seemed to have decided to stay quiet until Maxim finished. She crossed her arms and nodded.
“…She was cursed.”
At the word curse, Christine’s face turned deathly pale. Curses themselves formed another curse that bound people tightly.
“Please continue.”
“Because of the curse and the Count’s brainwashing, that knight became a slave who faithfully followed Count Benning’s orders. Her sense of self and her memories had grown faint.”
“Is she still in that state?”
Maxim told her everything that had happened afterward. How Adeline had suffered from the remnants of dark magic, how she had harbored doubts about the Count’s words yet still tried to obey his commands.
“…So now, the Royal Guard is protecting her separately.”
When Maxim finished, Christine remained silent for a long time, as if turning his words over in her mind. Maxim recalled the last time he had faced Adeline.
“I need to go meet her once.”
That was what Christine said after organizing her thoughts and opening her eyes. Maxim looked at her with concern.
“Don’t overdo it. This isn’t something you’re involved in…”
“Still, I have a feeling you would ask me for something like this someday. And the guilt I feel isn’t at a level where I can rationalize it by saying it’s fine as long as it doesn’t involve me.”
Christine answered with a hardened expression. Seeing that look of firm resolve, Maxim didn’t know whether to be happy or worried, so he simply sighed.
“…Tomorrow. I should be able to go out for a short while tomorrow. Let’s go see Adeline then.”
“Alright.”
A breeze slipped in through the slightly open window. Maxim looked at Christine, who seemed lost in thought again.
After some time had passed, Christine called out to Maxim as he watched the clouds drifting outside.
“By the way, Senior.”
“Yeah?”
“…Isn’t it a bit too familiar, calling her by name like that?”
Her tone made it impossible to tell whether she was joking or serious. Maxim rubbed his head, thinking he would really have to watch his words from now on.
Contrary to what most people believe, the elements required for a curse are by no means something like deep resentment. As long as the target, the caster, and the appropriate curse technique are prepared, a curse will seek out its victim without discrimination and destroy them.
Yes. Even without profound hatred, a curse can be cast if the conditions are met.
That is why, the moment curses revealed themselves from beneath the surface of society, they were immediately forbidden. Not only this kingdom but other nations as well joined forces to burn every curse technique that had spread across the world. They hunted down curse casters and those who commissioned curses, executing them with extreme cruelty as examples.
They flayed the living victims’ skin, or so the stories went. The skins of those criminals, turned completely into leather, were hung on stakes erected in the kingdom’s largest square until they dried and shriveled.
Even so, obsession with curses never ceased. After all, there were still many who needed them even after they had been outlawed. People like Count Leon Benning, for instance, who harbored pitch-black shadows deep within his heart.
The doctor finished changing the bandages while offering advice.
“Don’t push yourself too hard, and make sure to use the crutches. If you don’t manage the wound properly, your hospital stay could stretch from one week to two or even longer.”
After the doctor left the room, Maxim ran his fingers over the scar on his chest, which had now truly become nothing more than a mark. The sensation at his fingertips still felt strangely awkward.
Knock, knock.
At the sound of someone rapping on the hospital room door, Maxim straightened his collar and looked up. Christine’s familiar voice followed right after.
“Senior? May I come in?”
“Come in.”
Christine was wearing the same uniform as yesterday, with a hood pulled over it. Maxim could see a wheelchair placed in the hallway outside the room. She couldn’t have dragged that here, could she?
Christine must have noticed his gaze. She nodded and pointed at the wheelchair outside. Maxim’s expression crumpled instantly.
“Shall I give you a ride?”
“Absolutely not.”
Maxim stood up, leaning on his crutches. A sharp pain stabbed through the wound, making him twitch at the corner of his mouth. Christine watched him with worried eyes as he tried to act like nothing was wrong.
“Senior… maybe you should just get on that thing…”
“I don’t want to. Let’s just go quickly.”
When Maxim stepped into the hallway, one of the 1st Royal Guard’s soldiers greeted him. The knight maintained a calm expression even after watching the two bicker and took the lead.
“I will guide you, Sir Arsen.”
A carriage was waiting outside the hospital. It rattled along as it headed toward its destination. Maxim grew puzzled when he realized the carriage wasn’t going toward the Royal Palace.
“She’s not at the palace?”
The soldier nodded calmly.
“Yes. No matter that it was a request you made to His Majesty, we judged that she is not someone we can completely trust. We could not place her in any important location within the palace. Besides, keeping her outside the palace was far better if we wanted to avoid the Benning family’s eyes.”
That made sense. Maxim nodded, hiding his discomfort.
The carriage was heading toward the outskirts of the Royal Capital. It eventually stopped in front of a familiar building.
“The Guild?”
Another group that had joined hands with the king—one Maxim had forgotten about for a while. He frowned as he watched adventurers glancing at the carriage with suspicious eyes.
Then he saw a familiar face pacing outside rush toward the carriage in a hurry. It was the guild branch manager. The adventurers seemed unaccustomed to seeing their branch manager running like that; they began whispering among themselves as they watched his back.
“This way.”
The branch manager guided Maxim and Christine through the guild’s back door so the adventurers wouldn’t notice. The soldier who had driven the carriage stayed behind, saying he would wait inside it.
On the third floor of the guild, the branch manager—already panting after climbing just one flight of stairs—pointed to one of the rooms lining the hallway. Maxim frowned faintly.
“It’s been a while… I heard the matter in the east was resolved successfully. If you could convey my congratulations to His Majesty, I would be grateful.”
The branch manager bowed to Maxim, recalling the events from back then. After continued contact with the royal family, the guild had completely taken the king’s side. Now well-versed in the palace’s internal affairs, the branch manager looked at Maxim with somewhat tense eyes.
“Yes, it has been a while. Is Pierre doing well?”
“Yes. He’s probably out on a mission right now, running around busily. He occasionally mentions you… what a shame that he’s on a mission precisely when you’ve come to visit.”
Christine, who had been watching quietly from the side, asked carefully.
“The east? Senior, it sounds like you’ve been traveling quite a bit.”
Maxim shrugged.
“I’ll tell you everything later. It’s a rather long story.”
The branch manager smiled brightly and waved his hand.
“Traveling is putting it mildly. It hasn’t become a rumor, but Sir Arsen accomplished quite a significant feat in the east. In Count Agon’s territory in Murat…”
Maxim gave an awkward smile, clearly uncomfortable with the branch manager’s words.
“…Could we go to the room first?”
This wasn’t the time for that. The branch manager shook his head and got to the point.
“The knight is staying in that room. When I first heard she was a knight from the Benning family, I can’t even tell you how nervous I was.”
“How has she been?”
“There hasn’t been any particular trouble. Surprisingly, she’s been very quiet. Even though her blindness must make daily life inconvenient, she hasn’t shown any sign of discomfort.”
The branch manager stopped in front of the door.
“Then I’ll take my leave here. Please let me know when you’re ready to depart.”
With those words, the branch manager walked down the hallway and disappeared down the stairs.
Maxim stood in front of the door, hesitating before reaching out. Christine looked at him with clear displeasure, then grabbed his wrist and quickly knocked on the door. Maxim looked at her in surprise, but Christine simply shrugged with an innocent expression that said she had done nothing at all.
“Yes~”
The person who opened the door and faced Maxim was not Adeline, but Charlotte of the Royal Guard. Caught off guard by the unexpected encounter with his senior, Maxim blinked and hesitated mid-step.
“Senior? Why are you here…”
“I’m on watch duty. And that’s my line. Look at the state you’re in. Why did you crawl all the way here instead of lying quietly in your hospital bed? You don’t look like a single part of you is unharmed.”
Charlotte frowned as she looked at Maxim. Then her eyebrows rose when she saw Christine standing behind him.
“Ah, the new recruit came too. Come in first. You’re here to see the knight you brought in, right, Arsen?”
Maxim nodded awkwardly. Charlotte opened the door to reveal the inside of the room. It wasn’t small. It seemed to have been converted from a storage room; there was a faint dusty smell, but it wasn’t uncomfortable enough to hinder daily life.
There was a single bed near the window, and the person they were looking for was sitting on it. Adeline. Instead of the armor or light combat gear she usually wore, she was dressed in simple white everyday clothes. Her neatly arranged dark blue hair and the black cloth covering her eyes remained the same.
Adeline, who had been sitting demurely, turned her head toward Maxim as if sensing his presence.
“They told me not to interrogate her and just keep watch, but it feels so awkward I can’t stand it. I’ll step outside for a walk. You two talk.”
Charlotte practically fled the room. The moment the door closed behind Maxim, Adeline spoke carefully.
“Arsen?”
It was the kind of voice a lost puppy might make upon seeing its owner again. Hearing that tone, Christine once again made a clearly displeased face.
“Have you been well?”
“…I’m truly relieved that you are safe.”
Adeline seemed to notice the oddity in her own voice and returned to her usual emotionless tone. Then, as if realizing there was someone standing beside Maxim, she tilted her head and asked.
“The person next to you is…”
“I’m Christine Watson. I’m the mage who entered as Sir Arsen’s junior.”
Christine introduced herself to Adeline, somehow putting extra emphasis on the three syllables of Arsen. Adeline responded to her greeting in a slightly withdrawn voice.
“My name is Adeline. My surname… I’ve forgotten it.”
At Adeline’s greeting, Christine let out a deep sigh. A person cursed. Christine looked at Maxim, who had nearly ended up in the same situation.
“Senior, you talk with her first. I can examine her later.”
As if to say she wouldn’t listen to their conversation, Christine pulled over a chair that was some distance from Adeline’s bed and sat down. Maxim glanced back at her with an apologetic look, but Christine simply pushed him forward.
“Just go talk to her. I’ll get even with you later.”
Then she turned her back sharply. Maxim smiled bitterly, patted her head a couple of times, and approached Adeline. From behind came the sound of Christine burying her face in her hands.
Adeline pointed to the chair beside the bed. Maxim sat down facing her.
“Have you had any discomfort?”
When Maxim asked, Adeline quickly shook her head.
“I am a prisoner. You are not someone who should be asking me that.”
“Are you still planning to pick a fight with me?”
Adeline’s mouth opened and closed, but she couldn’t say anything and simply shook her head.
“…There has been no discomfort at all. If anything, the discomfort comes from being treated too well by an enemy knight.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Adeline let out a sigh. Her head turned toward Christine, who was sitting behind Maxim.
“Is that person the comrade you said you had to save?”
“…Yes.”
Maxim smiled faintly.
“She is a precious comrade I had to save no matter what.”
“…I see.”
At Maxim’s confident words, Adeline gave a somewhat lonely smile.
“When you first said you would save her no matter what, I thought you had truly gone mad.”
“Since I succeeded, it proves I wasn’t crazy after all.”
When Maxim answered, Adeline laughed softly. She placed her hand over Maxim’s. He flinched for a moment, but seeing how she seemed to lean on the sensation his hand provided, he left it there quietly.
“It has grown faint now, but we cannot know when the Count’s command or this curse will awaken again.”
Adeline placed her other hand over her chest. Maxim was looking at the smile that had appeared on her lips. For a smile, the expression was far too sorrowful, steeped in grief.
“Arsen, what do you plan to do with me—with this cursed knight whose curse might one day aim for your throat?”
Before Maxim could answer, a long sigh filled with equal parts irritation and apology rang out. When he turned toward the sound, he saw that Christine had already approached them with her arms crossed.
“It’s not about what Senior will do. It’s about what I will do.”
So, could you please remove that hand first?
Christine looked at Adeline and spoke with clear displeasure.