Knight and Guardian (2) - Am I the Only One Who's Weird?
Knight and Guardian (2) - Am I the Only One Who's Strange?
The return journey, leaving the swamp and heading towards Deluna,
continued in a silence much heavier and stranger than on the way there.
「The other party won't even be aware that it's an insult. Rather, he'll probably resent Rose-yang for not looking up to him. To a Knight, a commoner is such an existence.」
After the conversation with Carlton,
Rose changed her mindset regarding Theodore.
She decided not to get angry, show hostility, or engage in childish power struggles.
'He's just that kind of guy by nature.'
Wearing the shell of a Knight,
an irredeemable piece of trash who isn't even aware of his own violence and arrogance.
Even Lords far greater than him—Lucian or Balthazar—or commoners far humbler than him—Carlton right before her eyes—possess at least basic courtesy and dignity.
'Bark all you want. If I don't pay attention, it's over.'
The so-called 'Ignoring him like a stray dog on the street' strategy.
Once she made up her mind like that, she felt much more at ease.
Whether fortunately or unfortunately,
thanks to the threat Rose had shown by using Mana yesterday, even that stray dog didn't just bark indiscriminately.
He merely maintained a distance that wouldn't offend Rose's feelings and just followed behind the group.
However, if you ask if that trashy nature of his disappeared overnight, that wasn't the case either—
[Squeak... Splat- Splat- Splat-]
"Huuup...! Haaht...! Ugh..."
When night fell, obscene sounds unfailingly resonated from inside the tent.
Theodore abused Sherin, spewing even more vulgar abuse, as if to show off to Rose and the Mercenaries listening from outside.
"What's wrong, are you shy? Is there someone among those listening outside that you have feelings for?"
"Huuht... No... Ahh..."
"Just say the word anytime. If you want, I'll call anyone for you. A big guy who looks strong? Or is a young guy your type? Or if not that, how about that arrogant red-haired Guardian bitch?"
Ignore, ignore, ignore—.
The urge to kick that stray dog on the street with all her might arose, but Rose clenched her fists tightly and composed herself.
'It's not my business. Whatever their relationship, they'll handle it themselves.'
Actually, she wanted to ask.
Why she didn't resist even while being treated worse than an animal, and if there was anything she could do to help.
But Theodore, as if knowing all her inner thoughts, didn't let Sherin leave his side for a moment.
In the end, Rose could only look at Sherin's empty eyes with pity, and without exchanging a single word, she had to face Deluna's massive city walls.
"You've worked hard, Rose-yang."
In front of the Mercenary Guild building.
The Mercenaries, having finished organizing their various spoils and equipment, respectfully bowed their heads towards Rose.
"Thanks to all of you, I was able to become much stronger than I expected. Next time too, you must take my request."
"Of course. Just call us anytime."
The Mercenaries obtained hefty request fees and spoils, and Rose, as planned, was able to become significantly stronger by absorbing Mana.
The group parted ways with pleasant greetings.
From behind, it seemed like she heard a scoff, but.
Ignore, ignore, ignore—.
But to the futility of her efforts—
When only the three of them remained, Theodore spoke to them first.
pointing at Balthazar's Lord's Castle towering on the hill.
"Is the Lord's Castle that way?"
"......"
Instead of answering, Rose glared at him once, then silently moved her steps towards the castle.
Unintentionally, she ended up guiding the two of them, but since their destination was the same anyway.
When she arrived at the castle, passed by the familiar-faced attendants, and entered the main building.
Rose found a welcome face, enough to make her forget even the presence of Theodore following behind.
"Risolde!!"
"...Rose."
A person stood there, her black hair tied back tightly, dressed in light casual clothes.
Rose ran like a child and hugged Risolde tightly.
Until she left, she had been like ice—
The warm embrace she felt.
Her complexion was slightly pale, but,
even her characteristic strong and unwavering gaze was there.
"What a relief... It's truly a relief. Are you okay now?"
"Yes. I caused you worry. I'm fine now. Both my body... and my mind."
"Ah..."
What she worried about more than Mana depletion was,
the recurrence of a terrible trauma she must have experienced while suffering from the Monster.
'What a relief...'
She didn't know for sure, but Balthazar must have surely comforted her in many ways by her side—
Rose, whose eyes were welling up with tears before she knew it.
...watching her,
"What a tearful reunion. Deluna's Guardians are truly overflowing with affection."
A sarcastic voice came from behind.
"And you?"
"Theodore, Knight of Helios."
[Thud.]
Risolde bowed her head respectfully towards Theodore without hesitation.
pulling Rose, who was in her arms, away immediately.
With respect.
"...??"
"Well, fine. Even that much isn't very satisfactory, but still, you're certainly different from that ill-mannered red-haired Guardian. Protector of Deluna, Guardian Risolde."
Theodore scoffed—looking at Rose.
Flaring up, she clenched her fists, but Rose muttered "Ignore—ignore—" to herself.
On the other hand, Risolde had an unperturbed expression despite his rude words and actions.
"I've come to see Deluna's Lord."
"Yes. I will guide you."
Risolde led the way without a word.
Why are you bowing your head to such trash—!
Swallowing those words internally, Rose could only follow behind.
The deepest part of the Lord's Castle, the reception room.
Where Rose first met Balthazar.
'Surely not... today too... is he surrounded by women...?'
[Creak—]
To her uneasy feelings' dismay—
Balthazar was sitting at his desk, looking through a pile of documents.
The serious face of the Lord, groaning with a deeply furrowed brow, as if she was seeing it for the first time.
Rose inwardly sighed in relief.
"Theodore, Knight of Helios, greets the great Lord of Deluna."
"Hm? Helios?"
At the sudden visit of guests, Balthazar raised his head, and his gaze briefly swept past Theodore—
then he spotted Rose standing next to him and made a face that said, 'Why are you there?'—
Finally, his gaze turned to the silver-haired Sherin, who was standing at the very back.
"Hmm. And that beautiful lady over there?"
"She is my squire and apprentice Knight, Sherin."
"Ohh—Sherin-yang. This is truly a rare beauty. As it is, my eyes were blurry from suffering through piles of documents, but for three such beauties to suddenly visit, it's dazzling. Wahahaha!"
Balthazar, laughing heartily and offering seats as always.
Risolde, with an expressionless face as always.
'Why am I embarrassed...?'
Rose, who unnecessarily felt shy and bowed her head, and
Sherin, blushing at the sudden compliment.
Only Theodore,
'The words he said, without even greeting me—'
his expression slightly twisted at the thought.
"Right, Sir Theodore. And Lady Sherin. It must have been quite a long journey from Helios. What brings you to this distant place?"
"Yes, my Lord. Before that... the matter I need to speak of is not a light one. I would appreciate it if those unrelated would leave."
'That guy, to the very end...!'
Anyone could see the target was herself.
While Rose was flaring up inwardly,
Balthazar, with a 'Hm?' expression, looked around at the people, then saw Rose pouting and burst out laughing.
"Ah, you mean Rose-yang. It's fine. She's a trustworthy person. I can vouch for her."
"But since it's a serious matter, I cannot speak of it in front of an outsider..."
"Hm? Didn't I say I can vouch for her? Does that mean you can't trust my words now, Sir Theodore?"
It was still Balthazar with a beaming smile, but—
Perhaps because of the Lord's authority,
or because of the Lord's power.
Theodore unconsciously bowed his head and avoided eye contact.
"Ah... No, it's not. I have committed an impropriety."
"No. Not to the point of impropriety."
He apologized to the Lord?
Theodore, raising his head with an absurd expression.
She interfered, knowing it?
Rose, smiling gracefully.
Theodore, grinding his teeth inwardly,
trying hard to ignore Rose's triumphant face, turned towards Balthazar.
"......Since you must be busy, I will speak directly. Our Lord needs Deluna's, no, your Lordship's 'power'."
'...?? Hm??'
What's this suddenly, asking for power out of nowhere?
As Rose stealthily looked around,
Theodore, who brought up the topic, and his companion Sherin had heavy expressions.
Risolde still had an inscrutable face.
Balthazar, as if understanding the meaning, made a 'Hmm—' sound and slightly furrowed his brow.
In other words, Rose was the only person in this place who didn't know what that conversation meant.
"Ahem. I vaguely heard that the situation in Helios wasn't very good, but I didn't know they would need my power. The Lord of Helios doesn't particularly like those who use Mana like us, does he? To borrow their expression, wasn't he something like a human supremacist?"
'......???'
Still an incomprehensible story.
What's the situation in Helios, and what does it mean that he doesn't like Lords or Guardians?
As she pondered whether she should raise her hand and interrupt, asking them to tell her too—
"It's a misunderstanding. His Lordship is a person with strong self-reliance and tries to solve problems himself, but when a great cause requires it, he is a person who does not hesitate to gather wills and unite as one."
"Well, fine. You could package it that way. It's not wrong. But my answer is no. You've come a long way, it's a pity."
"...My Lord."
"There seem to be Lords who have gotten involved here and there, but I have no interest in conflicts between humans."
She didn't know what it was, but—
a fight had broken out somewhere, and
they had requested to lend power for that fight, and
Balthazar, having no interest, refused.
Up to this point, she could understand.
And one more pleasant thing was—
Balthazar's refusal now was clearly not good news for that Theodore.
'I don't know what it is, but it's a relief.'
With a relaxed mind.
Rose savored Theodore's uncomfortable demeanor as he slowly raised his stiff face.
"......May I take your words now as meaning that Your Lordship will not even stand on our opposing side?"
"Of course, certainly. As long as no harm comes to Deluna, I will not interfere in either side. Protecting the people of this great city and embracing beautiful women alone is enough to consume my time. Wahahaha!"
'......Please, some dignity, my Lord.'
Why is the embarrassment mine—
Blushing and turning her head, Rose suddenly saw a strange sight.
"Thank you. Just with those words, that there will be no threat from Deluna, neighboring Helios. This Theodore's duty seems to be fulfilled."
The arrogant Knight's face, smiling with a satisfied expression.
'......?? What is it?? This is all??'
A strange sense of incongruity was felt.
She didn't know what was happening, but a big fight that Helios alone couldn't handle had broken out, and
Balthazar's help seemed to be needed.
After coming all that long way, he's satisfied with the words 'I won't help you'?
'No, more than that, just a moment ago, he had clearly frowned at Balthazar's refusal, hadn't he?'
Even if she looked around, wondering if she was the only one who felt this was strange—.
As expected, Risolde with an expressionless face.
Balthazar, who had already entered lecherous mode and was intently looking at Sherin.
And Theodore, smiling as he saw the Lord's sticky gaze.
"My Lord."
"Hm? Do you have more to say?"
"Sherin was originally an attendant in our household who assisted with night duties."
"...Hm?"
"By chance, she was recognized for her talent with the sword, and I take her around like this, but this child's true talent is in satisfying men in bed."
Theodore gently wrapped his arm around Sherin's bowed shoulders.
"As a token of gratitude for Your Lordship's generosity, while we stay in the castle, would you grant this child the honor of serving Your Lordship?"
"Ohh..."
'......????'
The sense of incongruity she had felt from a moment ago rushed towards its peak.
Night service? Like those men at Barman Estate?
What kind of opportunity must someone who did such work have to become a Knight?
More than that, did Balthazar bestow some favor to the extent of offering a woman?
Gradually, the conversation was flowing strangely.
Rose hastily looked at Risolde, but she still only stared at Balthazar with an expressionless face.
Right, Risolde knows Balthazar well, so—
'Indeed. There's no way Balthazar would accept such an absurd proposal...'
As she thought this and turned her head, what she saw was.
A bright smile spread across his entire face.
Somewhat lecherous, yet on the other hand, innocent like a child.
"Well now, is this the Goddess's help? I can't embrace Rose-yang, and our Risolde is not yet fully recovered, so my nights have been lonely. For such a beauty to join me, it's truly a blessing! Hahaha!"
"......"
Rose was dumbfounded, her mouth hung open.
He said he wouldn't violate women by force, didn't he—
"I will serve you with my utmost effort."
Sherin, blushing, demurely bowed her head.
Right, it's not by force, but.
Isn't something strange—
Rose inwardly burst with indignation, but.
The two men were laughing as if satisfied, and
the two women seemed to have no thoughts.
It was as if everyone else was normal, but she alone felt like she had become the strange one.
< Illustration - Sherin's Past >
