Chapter 92
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: The Holy Knight Cannot Rest
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During the grueling march, we were together, yet apart.
Because I hadn't let them stay by my side.
"Genius isn't just about extraordinary talent. It's about nurturing a skill that can save your life, your family's, your friends', and your neighbors'. That's what makes it a heaven-sent gift."
I saw people with uncertain futures as worthless connections.
"The one who makes use of that skill is the true genius."
I didn't know all their talents.
But I knew their names.
"Live the life you've been given— the life you've fought for— fully as your own."
I repeated each name in my mind, etching their faces into memory once more.
Walter, Gazdal, Sergei, Luca...
Burdensome bunch.
"I'm proud of you all."
Luke's kid had this annoyingly earnest temperament.
What was I supposed to do with all this solemnity?
Kruk cautiously raised his hand.
I nodded permission to speak.
"As you know, boss, we've got some thick-headed guys here, so I have to explain it again. But honestly, I didn't get it either."
Ah, right, that kind of crew.
I could understand.
I often only grasped what Luke meant after the fact myself.
"Do what you want more freely than anyone. Judge by your own sense of justice, free from interference. Cultivate your talents, but live ordinarily. It won't be easy. That's why you must strive without rest. That's life."
"You said freedom is hard-won through battle, and justice requires resisting temptation—"
Did I say that?
Id nagged Kruk so much that he remembered well...
'Vaguely recall saying something like that...'
If a guy who took notes diligently and memorized them said so, it must be true. Still, I couldn't trust it 100%. He had a habit of embellishing plain words with flowery language.
"—but ordinary? That's a new one. Isn't that the easy part?"
"You lot are geniuses. Look at what you're doing now. In this sanctuary, no one has more presence than you. Geniuses can't help but stand out. And once you do? Temptations and pressures follow, and with them, the loss of freedom."
I wanted them to stay here and live together.
Since they treated my words like law, I was tempted to invent sayings to convince them.
I could just order it, but I didn't want to force them.
"Living ordinarily is the hardest thing for a genius."
Words from an interview with the chairman I admired.
"Even if you end up standing out and catching eyes, keep reminding yourself to live ordinarily. That's all I wish for—your safety and your brothers'."
A long silence fell.
They were each pondering the meaning.
Rarely, Gazdal raised his hand.
"How should we live from now on? Just keep doing what we're doing? Boss, this Gazdal doesn't get it. I'm worried. Things are changing too fast."
"You've lived shackled and trapped in shells all this time. That's why the present feels disorienting. But the world changes overnight. The changes you're facing aren't fast at all."
"Ah, so then... You said to eat, sleep, fight, and keep eagle eyes on sky and earth today and tomorrow. Just keep that up?"
I nodded slowly with exaggerated motion.
I wasn't sure if I'd said exactly that, but it sounded plausible coming from Gazdal.
"The people multiply. The money from selling ogre parts will run out soon. You want to go back to starving then?"
The bandits' eyes gleamed.
They'd survived on thin gruel as mere grunts in the mountain lair.
Even gnawing jerky while running day and night was better than that.
Now they ate thick porridge with whole grains, roasted meat, and stew packed with dried vegetables.
No matter what anyone said, this was the bandits' most abundant, worry-free time.
Any who wanted to return to ragged hunger was a heretic.
I'd beat that one dead on the spot—. Focus.
"Build the city. Take in people, give them clothes, food, shelter. Give jobs, let them work to repay. Treat them not like slaves, but like the brothers sitting here. Repair worn walls, rebuild collapsed ones. Repeat."
I paused.
High-pitched snoring was the only sound— Hama sleeping soundly.
"Years, decades from now, a strange stillness will settle in your hearts. Stand tall then, look around. What you've built will shine brilliantly."
Not just the bandits, but the resident representatives listened intently.
"The sanctuary will become a blessed land no one can scorn."
Only then did the bandits nod.
Not fully comprehending, but still.
"Ah... The boss shared words like scripture for our sake."
"Wisdom beyond any crystal's worth."
What? Any middle school grad could grasp this.
"As expected of the Starlight Holy Knight."
Bullshit.
It's Extraordinary, not Starlight!
'At least the farewell's done.'
My parting words, in my way.
They placed hands on chests, moved—no one found it odd.
'Won't hear I slipped away like wind in the night.'
I'd thought them nuisances.
Just wanted them safe and out of the way.
Safety achieved.
Yet parting felt strangely heavy.
'Grown attached, huh. Still, this is fine...'
A satisfied smile tugged at my lips.
Whether from shedding the hump or seeing them happy, who knew.
'Doesn't matter.'
I didn't crave thanks or praise.
I'm a crazy exhibitionist pervert, but not some validation-starved mess.
'What's next...'
I turned and left.
Kicked Hama's butt lightly as he slept, then exited the meeting hall.
'Now, focus on waking Silver Star.'
My overflowing heart power told me.
Silver Star's awakening was near.
I'd leave letters for Requiya, Fred, and Yuderg.
'Once Silver Star wakes...'
Time to go.
Where to?
I climbed the central tower and called Silver Star.
'Silver Staaar—!'
Desperately.
'Get up, damn it!'
Bellowed like a drill sergeant.
'Wassup, Silver Star?'
Gangster style.
'You up?'
Like an ex.
'Still far off.'
I'd gathered humans' expectations to expand the vessel.
Inhale: divine power. Exhale: mana.
Sniff sniff—.
Nostrils flaring, I checked my condition.
'Let's see...'
Divine Power + Mana <<<< Inactive Toolsep.
'Ah, too predictable?'
Nothing new.
When had Toolsep ever been weak?
When had I ever lived without it?
'Need to empty my head. Let go of obsession, stray thoughts, stubbornness, bedding—no, can't ditch bedding. Or Hama.'
I was an overthinker.
Even sitting still, thoughts raced every which way.
And I thought about overthinking too.
"Boss, it's night. You sleeping? Bedding's crashing first."
Thinking was how I endured pain.
My only shield.
"Boss, breakfast time. Not eating again? Bedding'll fetch it."
I thought pain's end would stop the thoughts, so I kept thinking.
"Boss, rain's coming. Spring rain. Bedding'll cover you with cloak."
Now as Kalruk Seid, even more thoughts.
"Boss, Bedding's bathing with Hama."
Thoughts spun faster than planetary spin or orbit.
So many in such short time, head might overheat.
"Boss, moonflower bloomed loads. Wish we could see together."
Nothing resolved.
No breakthroughs from brooding.
Still, I thought.
"Boss, birds attacking Hama. Can Bedding kill the chicks?"
What?
"Bedding. How many days have my eyes been shut?"
"As many as toes on Bedding's fingers."
Two weeks inside, no eat, no sleep.
Eyes opened to noon sun pouring down.
East wind hot, ominous.
"Where's Hama?"
I bolted to overlook the below.
Grooo— Pffooo—.
Slightly bigger than a pig, Hama dove and surfaced in fortress plaza fountain repeatedly.
Each head surfacing, dozens of birds attacked.
"Something happened, right? Bedding gets it? Woke boss good? Say yes."
"Good job, Bedding."
"Hehe— Huh?"
I patted Bedding's shoulder, then leaped toward the plaza.
"Boss is crazyyy—!"
Bedding's scream faded in the wind.
How long since screams and surprise?
Forgotten in uneasy peace.
The Holy Knight cannot rest.
Each stair felt like luxury.
'With my power now, this height's nothing.'
Figures watching Hama get mobbed by birds in the plaza grew huge instantly.
I shouted at them.
"Clear out—!"
Like rats fleeing a cat, crowd scattered, space opened.
Enough.
Leaned forward.
Four-limbed landing would cushion ground impact.
Boooom—!
Stone floor cratered, cracks spiderwebbed.
Just some dust, no shockwave hitting people.
"Kruk! Steron! Roginin! Assemble!"
Yelled heading to main hall.
Hama still bird-battered, but armor's fine.
Key members gathered soon.
Left details to Kruk, kept my words minimal.
"Their leaving was by choice. I didn't follow sooner because unseen threats— neighboring countries, monsters— could strike anytime. I trusted Requiya, Fred, Yuderg's abilities. But now, something's wrong."
"Roginin and I will go with you."
"No. Kruk's capable, but if force is needed—"
"Boss."
Steron cut in firmly.
Not loud, but laced with subtle mana.
"Why try to shoulder everything alone?"
"Not alone— someone must protect the sanctuary's people—"
"Aren't they the brothers you call family?"
Steron interrupted again.
No, I'm swamped— why's he suddenly like this?