Goddess's Knight?
"Ugh……."
Tiny was able to stay surprisingly calm, grabbing Luna's hand to hold her back as she bristled first. That was how shocking the Sword Emperor's words had been.
……Were things that bad between them?
There had been wars in his previous life too, but those came after the empire had fallen into chaos.
Silver Fang and the Sword Emperor weren't on such bad terms back then, were they?
So he'd thought it would be fine. Tiny stared at him in disbelief, but the Sword Emperor seemed oblivious to his gaze and continued voicing his concerns.
"If something like that happens again, the eyes of the international community will turn there immediately. And if those bastards use the distraction to stir up more trouble, we'll really be in deep shit."
"We also need to figure out why the demon worshippers stole a holy relic that's their natural counter," Jenas added, and the Sword Emperor nodded right away.
"I hear the Tower of Sages and the Imperial Magic Tower have started digging through ancient records because of it. Well, if we find the demon worshippers' hideout first, it'll be easy to learn the truth. Either way, the problem is we don't know what we should do right now."
"The name of the Knight of Glory is the hottest topic right now. Visiting each nation in that name to warn them of the threat doesn't sound like a bad idea."
"Not for other countries, maybe, but the werebeasts or the kingdom alliance might think we're the ones plotting something. Even if your alliance with Tiny isn't public knowledge, just the fact that this kid received an award at the imperial palace is enough for them to suspect us."
It was the kind of talk that left nothing but sighs in the air.
"Then……."
"But even so, it's a decent option in another sense."
"Pardon?"
"To be honest, Tiny, if I wasn't impressed by your achievements, I might've considered making you do it."
Eh?
"I figured if you wandered around alone, the demon worshippers in hiding might bite the bait on their own."
"Bait!?"
The two Mors reacted at once, but the Sword Emperor just smiled calmly.
"You've done plenty to piss them off. If I were them, I'd want to kill you first, no matter the cost. What, scared?"
"Hah. What bullshit."
Tiny snorted at the Sword Emperor's ridiculous provocation.
The Sword Emperor chuckled.
"Sure, using you to lure them out could work, but the plan might not go as expected. And worst case, you could die."
"Don't make me laugh. Like I'd lose to trash like that."
Tiny growled, but the Sword Emperor pressed on undeterred.
"That's not all. If you visit another country to warn them and no disaster strikes, those nations I mentioned might use it as an excuse to complain. It's a method with too many potential side effects."
"Then what should we do?"
"Well……."
Tiny looked at him with expectant eyes.
"……I don't know."
The deflating answer hit like a punch.
"What!?"
"Everything's changed. How the hell should I know what variables will pop up?"
"Eh!? But……."
"You think I'm a prophet or something, you punk!?"
A hand came down on Tiny's head like it had been waiting for the cue. He'd tried to dodge, but at his current level, it was impossible. The Sword Emperor's mana dominated the space, not even allowing a proper defense.
Thwack.
"Ow! Hey, fuck! I'm against violence! Let's talk it out!"
He clutched his head and yelled irritably, but the Sword Emperor just smirked.
"What're you whining about, the guy who said he communicates with his warhammer?"
"Where'd you even hear that……?"
I never told the old man that.
Tiny blinked in confusion.
"I communicated with the World Tree guardian."
"Eh?"
"Don't think I haven't been working hard to track down those demon worshipper bastards. No complaints from you."
Damn it, Estina.
Why tell him my old stories while hunting demon worshippers…….
"And honestly, you're the one who should be coming up with countermeasures, not me. If there's a prophet in this world, it's you."
"……Tch."
He couldn't argue with that. But it still felt unfair. If he'd known it'd be like this, why bother coming to see the Sword Emperor?
Fortunately, the Sword Emperor wasn't done.
"Still, coming back here was the right call."
Tiny startled at the words that seemed to read his mind, looking up in surprise.
"This morning, we got a report that God Hand, the Knight of the Goddess, visited the border city of First One. To see you."
"Eh!?"
Tiny's eyes widened at the unexpected news. He wasn't the only one shocked.
"The Holy Knight?!"
"Why would the Goddess's sword come here?"
The Knight of the Goddess, or Holy Knight. Legends of the freakish figure clad head to toe in pure white plate armor had circulated for centuries. A knight blessed by the Goddess, neither aging nor dying—a divine knight. In a way, he was the most famous of the continent's Seven Great Knights.
Of course, since he never showed his face, some treated him mysteriously, while others dismissed him as just a title passed down through generations to the aura user leading the temple knights.
But the world's power brokers—and those who'd faced God Hand directly—knew the impossible rumors were true.
Though the 'immortal' part is bullshit.
Even Tiny, who'd fought in the end times, didn't know his full story. He just knew that in the final battle with Glutterni, God Hand had healed him and died in his place.
He was a reliable ally against demons, for sure.
"……Given our situation—especially yours, Tiny—it's hard to believe he's coming with pure intentions. That's why we're denying him entry into imperial territory, citing the non-aggression pact between the temple and empire."
Everyone sighed in relief at his words. But.
"……It won't hold for long."
"Hm?"
Tiny's grim mutter drew all eyes.
"If he's come this far, it's probably by oracle or the temple's consensus. For someone whose life's purpose is to follow the Goddess's will, worldly laws and restrictions won't keep him out forever."
"……Breaking the pact would spark open conflict between the empire and the temple, no?"
"He doesn't care about consequences. To him, the Goddess's will is everything."
A heavy silence settled over the room at his firm declaration. Then.
"It, might not, be for a bad reason?"
"Hm?"
"He's coming, to meet you? Not, to catch you."
"Maybe, but the risks if you're wrong are too great. If the secret of your regression gets out? Time travel invading the Goddess's domain? Every priest would revolt. A Holy Knight……."
"We can't gamble Tiny's life on even a slim chance."
Luna, who'd spoken cautiously, fell silent with a sullen look as Jenas and the Sword Emperor countered.
"It's fine. That could happen."
Tiny gave her a wry smile and patted her shoulder. The Sword Emperor sighed softly at the sight.
"……Well, even so, he can't just do whatever to you. He wouldn't dare come to Asrian and make enemies of me and my house. And……!"
Clapping lightly to lighten the mood, the Sword Emperor addressed the group again.
"I got sidetracked, but no matter the variables, our goal is clear if we focus."
"Pardon?"
"Smashing the demons' thick skulls and saving the world. That's the goal, right?"
"Sure, but……?"
"Unite humanity's strength. Build power to face legion commanders and above. And one of us needs to become strong enough to crack the Demon King's skull."
The Sword Emperor's burning gaze fixed on Tiny.
"Luckily, you've already surpassed my expectations. So if you don't know what to do next, just train. I'll handle shaking up the world, catching demon worshippers, and forming alliances. Got it?"
His strange charisma instantly dispelled the heavy mood since the Holy Knight's name came up.
Then Luna piped up.
"Tiny, my brother, family, continue. No, dangerous stuff, alone."
Tiny gaped at her odd declaration.
"Right. We'll all work together here."
The Sword Emperor chuckled, interpreting her words positively.
And.
"Then it's decided? Until new variables arise, you focus on training. The young lady beside you too."
"Luna."
"Yes, Miss Luna as well. Can you manage?"
The Sword Emperor smiled, but Luna eyed him with lingering resentment from earlier.
"……I'll try. But first, test, your strength."
Jenas yelped in shock at her bold challenge.
"Miss Luna!"
What does she take an aura user for?
He looked to his lord in dismay, but surprisingly, the Sword Emperor reacted favorably.
"Hahaha, I like that spirit. I'll spar with you anytime."
Tiny just smirked watching them. No reason to stop a spar between them.
Lots of that happened in my past life too.
The situations were different now, but for mana user Luna, sparring an aura user was priceless experience.
However.
"Fine. I'll watch this young lady's skills, so you head to the palace, Tiny."
"Eh?"
He panicked as the conversation veered toward him.
"Suddenly?"
"Cloi at the palace says she's been lonely lately. His Majesty is busy too."
He'd heard their delayed wedding hadn't happened yet.
Months later and the palace still isn't sorted?
Tilting his head curiously, the Sword Emperor continued with a bitter expression, thinking of his daughter there.
"Vivian is with her, and I visit sometimes, but it doesn't fully ease her loneliness."
"Ah……!"
Tiny nodded instinctively, but for some reason, it irked the Sword Emperor.
"Don't get the wrong idea—my daughter wants to see your spirit, not you. Summon just the spirit and send it if possible. You've grown as a spirit user, so that distance should be fine."
"Huh……."
Tiny eyed the Sword Emperor's sudden shift in amusement, and he flushed slightly, coughing awkwardly.
"Just in case weird rumors start! Your fame's gotten too high."
Suuure.
"Right, crowds will swarm if you go out, so definitely just the spirit."
……That excuse sounds made-up on the spot.
As Tiny narrowed his eyes, the Sword Emperor looked away guiltily.
"What?"
"Nothing……makes sense. Got it."
He was a bit disappointed not to see Cloi-noona's face in person, but Wolrang would help her trapped in the palace.
"You can go, right?"
Whoosh.
Tiny asked his partially materialized spirit.
"Woof!"
Wolrang barked cheerfully. Its rhythm had a strange beat, and its tail wagged wildly as it pushed the door open and scampered off excitedly.
Tiny could only watch its ridiculous retreating figure in disbelief.
Didn't you hate Cloi before……?
- Woof! As if denying it.
Wolrang's antics lightened his mood a little.