The Red-Haired Knight's Return
Was that disgustingly awful medicine actually effective? By the time I woke from a deep sleep that evening, my body felt lighter and my mood had improved considerably.
Rai only wakes me when someone’s trying to enter my room, a monster’s appeared and I’m on the verge of death, or he himself feels like dying.
This time it was the first one. The moment the snake tail shoved me awake, I heard a knock at the door.
“Miss Jeanie.”
“Mmm…?”
The polite visitor who knocked but didn’t barge in was Ash.
I was still rubbing my eyes and burrowing deeper into the blankets when a low voice drifted through the door, as though he’d sensed I was awake.
“Someone downstairs is here to see you.”
The half-asleep thought that popped into my head was the classic thief’s foot itches—had I been found out? Or maybe the remnants of the slave traders had come for revenge?
Still half-dazed, I grabbed Rai like a weapon and slid out of bed.
Whichever it was, I’d just kill them and be done with it.
“He’s a knight in uniform.”
So I had been found out!
If you’re going to drag me away, you’d better survive first! I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth, flung the door open, and only then did Ash add the rest. His eyes were narrowing at me more and more.
“…It doesn’t seem to be what you’re worrying about. His attitude is friendly.”
“Then why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, it’s just… you look like you just crawled out of bed…”
“Never seen pajamas before? What does this knight look like?”
“First of all, he had red hair.”
…Red hair! Kill him! Robenin!
Killing intent surged up on pure reflex—an instinctive reaction I couldn’t control even if I wanted to.
“He looks to be in his mid-thirties.”
“Huh?”
Oh. Not Robenin, then.
My hostility wilted instantly. Instead, one person came to mind. There was only one red-haired knight in his mid-thirties that I knew.
He was also the second person to witness my miraculous survival.
Once ten years ago, and now again.
The first floor of the inn, which had been trashed by the Blood Wing rampage, was mostly cleaned up now.
The shattered windows couldn’t be helped, so they’d been crudely boarded over while business resumed. Even so, the place was packed because it was a well-known local favorite.
It was eight in the evening, the hour when people drank cheerfully and chattered at full volume.
“I’m telling you! They said every last one of the Blood Wing bastards is dead! Chopped up so badly you couldn’t even tell who was who!”
“No way! How could people die like that?”
“It’s true! Those guys made plenty of enemies, you know? My buddy in the security force went to the scene and he’s still puking. Said he’s never seen anything so horrific in his life.”
“Gives me chills! So who the hell did it?”
“Given how brutal it was, they’re saying it wasn’t human work. From what I overheard, it was magic… something like… spirit… uh, I forgot the exact word. Never heard it before… Anyway, magic!”
That’s not the same thing! I barely stopped myself from jumping in, my face twisting into a weird expression.
The moment I came down the stairs I was assaulted by the same conversation from every direction. Whether I wanted to hear it or not, the entire inn was passionately debating the exact same topic.
“What magic in this backwater town? Aside from one communication mage tower, you don’t even see the ‘m’ in magic around here. And even that’s so expensive only travelers use it, right?”
“You know about dark elves? Nasty bunch. Sounds like someone poked them.”
“Wait, really? I thought elves were supposed to be nice? Kind of stuck-up, though.”
“Apparently they’re a sensitive race with terrible compatibility with us—if you run into them, assume you’re dead. Anyway, my friend said not to go near the mountain behind the village for a while. Might be cursed!”
“That’s terrifying!”
Magic, curses, and spirit magic are all completely different, you know…?
I was unconsciously focusing on the chatter when Ash pointed somewhere. Only then did I remember that someone had come to see me.
The restaurant was especially crowded today, but I spotted the familiar face instantly.
That eye-catching red hair had nowhere to hide. It was lighter and drier-looking than Robenin’s, but still plenty noticeable.
The moment I opened my mouth to call his name, he turned my way and shouted as if fate itself had struck.
At the top of his lungs.
“Miiiiiiiss!”
It was a bit much by my standards, but it still felt nice to see someone genuinely happy to see me.
“Sir Hansen!”
“Miiiiiiiiiss!”
His face overflowing with astonishment charged toward me like a bull.
It was Sir Hansen—the knight I’d grown unusually close to during our time in the delegation.
He was now vice-captain of the 5th Royal Knight Order, married, and had a son. He and Philo still seemed to be the best of friends.
A knight in full uniform sobbing and shoving people aside as he ran was excellent at drawing every eye in the room.
I wished he’d show a little restraint, but the moment Hansen reached me he yanked me into a crushing hug, practically lifting me off the ground.
“Can’t—breathe!”
“Thank you! Oh gods, thank you!”
I hated cringeworthy scenes, but I endured it for about three seconds as a sign of affection and even gave his broad shoulder a light pat.
When I was little my height had barely reached his waist, so he had seemed enormous. Now that I was an adult too, the feeling was noticeably different.
“What a relief! You don’t look injured at all! How can you look exactly the same as always? It’s truly a relief, Miss!”
That was something I couldn’t just let pass. Same as always? I’d just woken up after being sick, covered in sweat with my hair a total mess. Was I usually that much of a wreck?
I see… I didn’t realize it was that bad.
“This time I really thought you were gone… I even… sob… attended the funeral!”
“Sorry, sorry. So you really did that, huh?”
It was a memory now, but during the delegation I’d fallen behind and everyone had assumed I was dead. I really might have some immortal tendencies.
“It was a funeral without a body! The whole place was a sea of tears! When the priest read about your spirit of sacrifice… well, I did think, that doesn’t sound like her at all… I even wondered if they’d picked the wrong funeral hall…”
“What? You want me to die a gruesome death?”
“I got carried away by emotion and misspoke. Please pretend you didn’t hear that. Anyway, I’m truly overjoyed that you’re alive!”
I’d done plenty of killing yesterday, so I decided to hold back today. I chose to believe Hansen’s words for now.
Also because he was gripping my hand tightly and shoving his overly earnest face right up to mine.
“All right, that’s enough. Back off a little.”
“Now that I think about it, I haven’t told you yet! How incredibly proud the entire nation is of you—”
“Let’s go up to my room first. Too many eyes here.”
Unless he planned to shout to the whole neighborhood that Jeanie Crowell was staying here.
“How did you find me?”
I sat cross-legged on the bed and asked. Even though I’d offered him a chair, Hansen stood ramrod-straight in perfect posture.
“Using the mage tower’s communication leaves traces.”
“Even so, this quickly? I shouldn’t underestimate our intelligence network.”
“Your survival is currently a matter of utmost interest to the higher-ups. Above all, the dean exerted some effort. His Majesty the King is paying especially close attention as well.”
“I hate being the center of attention…”
It meant I couldn’t cause any trouble.
“An order came down at dawn. His Majesty’s direct command was to permit use of the royal warp room and confirm whether you are truly safe.”
“Hmm, letting you use the palace warp room is pretty special.”
“When it’s a matter of Jeanie Crowell being alive, that much is only natural… Ah! I was chosen because I know your face for certain.”
There weren’t many knights who knew what I looked like.
I didn’t have many close relationships to begin with. All annoying things originated from people, after all.
“Now that we’ve confirmed your location, a mage to assist with communication will be dispatched here shortly. His Majesty wishes to see your face and confirm your survival with his own eyes as soon as possible. It is a great honor.”
“It really has to be like this, huh.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
Ugh. So annoying.
The arrival of a communications mage from the palace meant I would inevitably have to speak face-to-face with the King.
It wasn’t that I disliked the King, but one-on-one conversation with the highest authority was never comfortable.
Other people would bribe, scheme, or even sell their own children for such an opportunity, so I knew I was speaking from a place of privilege.
I simply wasn’t good at groveling, so anyone too far above me felt uncomfortable.
The dean was at just the right level—pushy but manageable… though I sometimes forgot he was technically a marquis.
“Delivering this is also part of my duty. Please accept it.”
While I was sighing deeply in annoyance, Hansen held out a plump leather pouch and a single golden-hued envelope. The familiar seal of Drike Academy was stamped on it.
“Money?”
“The dean prepared it separately in case you lacked travel funds. He is very worried about you.”
127 gold, 53 silver
Wait, how do you even know that?
He could tell exactly how much was inside just from me holding the pouch in my palm.
Another useless function had been added to this guy… He wasn’t a calculator, for crying out loud.
“I also delivered news of your safe return to the Crowell family. You should receive a reply as early as next week.”
“Really? But I won’t be here by then.”
“Ah… so you plan to travel by land?”
Hansen was one of the few who knew about my warp sickness, so he seemed to have roughly guessed that my journey home wouldn’t be short.
If not for that, there would have been no need to dispatch a mage; I could have simply warped back to the palace myself.
“I’d rather go back to the dragon’s lair than take another warp.”
I openly shuddered. Honestly, that would be preferable.
“I’m very curious how you survived the dragon’s grasp… but since I’m on duty, I’ll restrain myself for now. Please take these as well. They are letters entrusted to me by Miss Iruse and Miss Mia.”
“Wait… just how many letters are in that bag? And how did those two know you were coming here?”
“As expected of your friends, their intelligence network is no joke… They were waiting outside the dean’s door when I went to see him. It seems the rumor has already spread like wildfire throughout the academy.”
“That I’m alive, you mean.”
“Yes. Soon the entire continent will know. That you are alive! Everyone will be delighted.”
Hansen smiled with genuine warmth and satisfaction, but I didn’t share his enthusiasm. What they would be delighted about was the return of the Saint.