Resolve
Thus, the silk cloth was laid out before Tiny's eyes. Upon it rested a transparent necklace.
It was strung with glass beads so clear they barely caught the light, giving it an unassuming appearance at first glance. But Tiny narrowed his eyes, sensing the massive reservoir of mana contained within.
'At least 6th circle pure mana! Damn...'
Just from the mana it held, he could tell it was an artifact of the highest grade.
Artifacts were extraordinary items that skilled mages or artisans might craft only once every few years, using materials with exceptional mana affinity. And one containing this much mana? Its creator had to be among the world's top craftsmen or mages, with materials rarer than any treasure in the mortal realm.
"One of the artifacts used by the Adventure King: the 'Mana Necklace.' I would have loved to give you one of his Transcendent Weapons, but those are all designated national treasures..."
The king trailed off apologetically, but it was only natural.
Transcendent Weapons. Tiny nearly let out a hollow laugh at the king's earnest tone as he mentioned artifacts infused with 7th circle, superhuman power.
'I knew he had big ambitions, but...'
It was obviously impossible. Even in his previous life as one of the continent's top ten knights, the only Transcendent Weapon Tiny had ever wielded was Nocturne, obtained from the Great Labyrinth. The other top knights, excluding the Weapon Master, had possessed at most one or two each. Just as the gap between Aura Users and Challengers was vast, Transcendent Weapons offered effects on an entirely different level from lesser artifacts. They were spiritualized armaments that required special conditions to wield. Of course, few demanded conditions as unique as Nocturne's, but not just anyone could use one simply by holding it.
Besides, these were the Adventure King's Transcendent Weapons—the very ones that had founded Carun. Beyond their performance, their symbolic value was incalculable. Accepting one would turn Tiny from Carun's benefactor into its enemy overnight.
'So even this is too much.'
The other knights escorting him were already wearing sour expressions just at the sight of this necklace. Knowing full well what Tiny had done for Carun, their reactions spoke volumes about the Adventure King's significance to the kingdom's knights—regardless of the artifact's utility.
"No, no. This is already far too generous."
"...Is that so? I'm glad it pleases you. Your injuries and those of your companions have weighed on my mind constantly."
"Ah..."
...Oops.
He'd only meant to decline the excessive reward, but the king had seized on it and made it official. As Tiny pulled an awkward face, the king smiled warmly and continued.
"The Mana Necklace contains mana that the user can draw out and expend. Even if fully depleted, it recharges in about a day—perfect for the road ahead."
Tiny had vaguely brushed off his injuries as "overbound," avoiding details, but the king had remembered. An artifact recharging 6th-circle mana daily was overkill for Tiny right now. But treasure was treasure. If he couldn't use it, he could give it to a companion.
There was no need to refuse King Henry III's overflowing goodwill.
Tiny gazed at the necklace, naturally thinking of Jenas.
'I'll give it to Sir Jenas.'
It was a given for him. Items or money he didn't need went to those who did. This lack of materialism from the slum-born hammer knight had often gifted windfalls to those around him in his previous life, unknowingly softening their resistance to his reckless ways.
"...Then I gratefully accept."
"Good. And whenever you look upon it, remember this: Carun will always remember and support you. If someday you have nowhere to rest, return to Ortus. I will always await you."
It shouldn't come to that, but the sincerity in those words touched Tiny deeply.
"Your benevolence humbles me, Your Majesty."
However...
"Yes. When do you depart? I'd like to send you off with a grand farewell ceremony..."
The goodwill was so excessive it was hard to dissuade him.
* * *
"To me? Heavens! This is too much, Tiny."
Jenas initially refused, but after repeated persuasion, he finally accepted the necklace.
"I'll return it once you've grown enough to use it yourself. With your talent, it won't take long."
'...Tough sell.'
Jenas might not realize it, but this was unusual for Tiny. Normally, if the recipient refused, he wouldn't push. But this time was different.
'Maybe this one thing will keep Sir Jenas from dying.'
He suddenly recalled the Sword Emperor from his previous life—his temperament so different from now, his wrinkled face. Perhaps this young genius's death had contributed to forging that man.
'...Though he's still a pain in the ass now.'
Remembering the psycho who had pinned him atop the spire with reddened eyes and hurled him into the sky made his blood boil anew. By contrast, the previous life's Sword Emperor—calm, measured, without excess in word or deed—had been a paragon of noble integrity, instinctively distancing the back-alley orphan that Tiny was. They'd saved each other's lives once, but never shared casual talk until moments before death.
Tiny shuddered unconsciously at the memory.
'...Yeah, the current one's better.'
And in his heart, as he reached that conclusion...
"Or return it the day I become an Aura User. Want to bet which comes first, Tiny?"
...was the hope that this cocky genius would truly become a reliable force against the Demon King Army.
"Whichever. So for that, let's head out now."
"...Now?"
Jenas blinked in confusion at Tiny's words. The night sky held only a faint new moon, stars obscured. Tomorrow's weather would be poor.
Yet Tiny smiled and nodded.
"Yes, now."
"...Why?"
"Perfect weather for sneaking away."
His follow-up left Jenas even more baffled.
"Sneaking... away? Why?"
"You don't have to. If you want to endure that grand send-off tomorrow—dyeing your hair red again, disguising as my squire, lasting eight hours."
Tiny's defeat in refusing the king's goodwill. Jenas instantly understood, his lips twitching awkwardly.
"We leave now."
"Yes."
Carun's two greatest benefactors scaled the palace walls that night. And precisely 30 minutes after fleeing, Jenas began regretting it.
"Urk... ugh."
The massive wolf sped across the sea like the wind. Jenas, riding behind Tiny, began retching atop the beast's dynamically writhing back.
He now desperately understood why humans, unlike orcs, didn't tame giant wolves.
"Guhhh."
"Hold it in! I said hold it!"
"Sl-slow... down..."
Tiny snapped irritably at the ominous sounds from behind.
"This burns mana too! You planning to swim the ocean!?"
Crossing half a day's boat ride via Wolrang's space-stepping wasn't easy for Tiny either. Water-walking consumed steady mana, even if not as much as air-stepping.
But Jenas, leader of the mounted knights, couldn't agree.
"Th-that might... be better..."
The blistering speed meant 50cm vertical oscillations every 0.1 seconds—an excruciating motion sickness even for a Challenger knight.
"What nonsense! Just endure it a bit!"
"Urp... ugh."
"H-hey!? H-hold on! Hold it!"
"Gruuuuh."
"No way!?"
"Blaaaargh!"
"Turn your head awaaaay!"
A young man's wail echoed over the night sea. The next day, Carun's palace was in uproar over the vanished VIPs.
Thanks for the overly generous hospitality. I'm off now.
Hoping to meet again under better circumstances someday.
—Tiny
"Haha, what straightforward youths. Isn't that right, Sir Liam?"
King Henry III chuckled at the note left in the room. Liam nodded with a smile beside him.
"Indeed. Remarkable young men."
Dark circles under his eyes from preparing the knights all night for the sudden send-off—his smile was utterly genuine.
'Truly grateful, Sir Tiny.'
Meanwhile, the young knight and companion who had so impressed Carun's king and royal captain were drenched in seawater and rain on Enaxen's docks.
"What the hell are those beggar bastards? Suicidal in this weather...?"
A dockworker tilted his head at the two sprawled on the beach amid the downpour, bamboo umbrella aloft.
His colleague yanked his hem urgently.
"Shh! See the armor? Leather! Weapons too, idiot. Watch your mouth if your eyes are bad."
"...Casual mercenaries."
Hearing the whispers through the rain, Tiny painfully lifted his lolling head from the pier.
This much rain was nothing normally, but his condition was abysmal now.
"God... damn it."
Huff, huff.
"Cough."
Saltwater sprayed from his throat. Fresh fury surged; his glare at his sprawled companion sharpened murderously.
"Wh-what the hell is this suffering..."
He'd first dived to wash off the vomit on his back. Later, Jenas—dead-set against riding Wolrang—insisted on swimming, forcing Tiny to join. If he hadn't summoned Wolrang when Jenas passed out, they'd be corpses washing ashore now.
Tiny's glare inevitably turned lethal. Jenas, now awake and aware of his fault, flushed and averted his face.
He thought it beyond human endurance, but what could he say?
"...Ahem. Now, to the capital—how shall we proceed, Tiny?"
"Changing the sub—"
"At this pace, we'll reach the capital Asrian on time. But attending the duchess's wedding in person will be impossible."
"...Probably."
Too vital to dismiss, Tiny reluctantly nodded.
"Likely just Blue Wing's elite few like me, plus the imperial knights' select guards for the wedding escort. Even if you go, you'd watch via restricted magic projections like other nobles or citizens."
His "Knight of Glory" title wouldn't sway the empire. That was Jenas's point.
"...Won't Duke Valentia have a way?"
"He ordered us straight to Elvenheim, not the capital. He probably hasn't considered us."
Tiny clamped his mouth shut. He hadn't thought that far.
"You didn't even consider that before heading to the capital?"
"...We'll figure it out en route."
"Huh?"
"Arriving on time comes first, right?"
Not wrong, so Jenas nodded despite his exasperation.
The problem was...
"...Huh? Wh-what?"
Tiny rummaged in his bosom, face paling in panic.
"No way...?"
Jenas, guessing the issue, frantically checked his own—gone.
"Damn... the money pouch!"
"Sir?"
Obvious in hindsight. A leather pouch tied by string surviving knightly superhuman thrashing through waves? Unlikely.
"...Crap."
Jenas's face hardened. Everything else aside, they needed horses. No way he'd ride that spirit again; horses were essential for timely arrival.
"All my fault... I have no face left. Damn..."
Had he ever blundered so repeatedly? Self-loathing burned his cheeks.
Tiny shrugged it off.
"Eh, we can steal some money."
"Pardon?"
"Oh, you don't know? Cities always have money pouches ready for times like this."
"What...!?"
What nonsense? Jenas's expression twisted, but Tiny grinned and stood.
"Follow me. Might take a while."
"...Alright."
Curiosity piqued, Jenas trailed him. That day, a bloody storm swept Enaxen's rain-slick back alleys from midday.