The Escort Knight Who Is Being Obsessed Over by the Villainess Wants To Run Away

16. The center of the great flow (4)

“… ….”

Balak lowered his eyes slightly.

A spacious bedroom filled with burnt smell.

There was something burning next to it.

In front of you is something that has been split into several pieces.

He habitually took out a cigarette, lit it with a fire burning next to him, and held it in his mouth.

Take a sip and then exhale.

Smoke rose into the air.

As I looked at it from afar, the door opened.

Black armor.

A blazing symbol embossed on the chest. Sun pattern.

He was a member of the Dark Spot, the Bebel family’s dark gang.

Red blood flowed over the armor.

“All done. Lord.”

The knight lowered his head moderately and said.

Balak asked as he dusted cigarette ash on an object in front of him.

Eyes shimmering in scarlet.

It is the symbol of the Bevel family wizards who have inherited the power of fire.

When using magic, the eyes change.

“I’m sure you handled it without omission.”

“Yes. I checked it over and over again. No one is alive.”

“Yes.”

Balack took a long sip of his cigarette.

After that, exhale and throw ashes at the object in front of you again.

It was a human body that had been cut into pieces.

The one in front is the father of the Marquis of Sardis.

The one burning next to her is her mother.

As of today, everyone in the world who uses the surname of Sardis has disappeared.

After weeks of tracking, no seeds were left behind.

Women, the elderly, and children showed their true self.

They went extinct.

But the Marquis of Sardis has not disappeared.

The confidant selected by Balak will use that surname, and it will inform the existence of the marquess family.

Lest Elijah know about this.

The dismembered body of Sardis’s father was charred all over.

Except for the face.

Even though his head was cut, he was alive.

Balak used healing magic to force him to live.

But I couldn’t speak.

He just opens his mouth and breathes barely.

Immature eyes couldn’t see anything, so they stared into space.

Balak looked down at him and gestured to the sunspot.

The sunspot brought a sack right away.

This is the sack I was carrying for today.

While rummaging through his sack, Balak took out something round and placed it face-to-face in front of his father.

That was a human head.

The Marquis of Sardis who dared to do something terrible to Elijah. His head.

I kept it frozen so it wouldn’t rot.

Sardis’ father didn’t even know there was a son in front of him.

Balack rubbed a cigarette butt on the head of the Marquis Sardis to put it out.

Then he speaks nonchalantly.

“Go back.”

“Yes!”

*

Balak’s carriage pulled out of the burning mansion in the back.

All around, black spots on horses ran in formation.

Balak let out a long breath as he rode into the one-person carriage.

I buried myself in a soft chair.

There are clear traces of dark under the closed eyes.

It’s already been several weeks since I haven’t had a good night’s sleep.

It wasn’t only because of the extinction of the Marquis of Sardis and other official duties.

After she sent Narcissus into exile, all sorts of letters arrive from her.

How could this be?

No one could blame Balak.

I really didn’t know that Narcissus would hit Elijah.

But if she had paid more attention to herself, she wouldn’t have had such a thing.

His own fault was not small.

The children’s petition is also not easy.

Narcissi’s 5th daughter, who grew up with a lot of love.

Excluding Elijah, Sarah, the youngest daughter, whines every day.

However, Narcissus broke his family’s internal laws.

Even though my family was important, I couldn’t stand on the rules.

Moreover, Narsisi’s exile was very considerate.

The place she left is more like a resort than her place of exile.

Given her character, she would resent the fact that she was exiled.

She’s not the only one.

Judah.

A cheeky bastard.

I wanted to clean it up, but I couldn’t because of Elijah.

The child Elijah chose.

She remembers the look in her daughter’s eyes as she looked at Judas.

She had never seen her before, with a heartbreaking look.

Non-decorated bare face.

She obviously had it because she was an ugly father, but Elijah’s appearance was shocking beyond unfamiliarity.

So I decided to check it out.

What a great guy he really is.

Is it a vessel for that?

He couldn’t come forward himself, so he sent a few people to take his place.

No, I already did.

What on earth did Elijah do to order administrative measures directly from the mayor of Selene?

Talent and Gaston.

There are two cases where you do something you weren’t even told to do.

Excessive loyalty.

Or, the camouflage of excessive loyalty.

I have so many things to do that I don’t even have time to check them myself.

All of these problems were at least minor.

The real problem lies elsewhere.

A cause of her own.

Knowing Elijah’s sense of alienation, she partly neglected her long-cherished wish.

She knew it was an excuse, but Balak couldn’t help it.

It was such a big and ambitious thing.

One of the reasons for putting Ria next to her is prayer.

The news of Choi’s most important contact to accomplish her great cause has been cut off.

Because she is going on a pilgrimage.

‘If you succeed in that task, everyone will be rewarded…. Why at this point….’

Angra.

Balak was looking for him.

***

“Do you think Ballack is after Dylan and Richard? As a means to pressure you?”

Shylock said.

I didn’t answer right away.

I did confirm that possibility.

However, it is a bit unclear. To be directly affirmed.

“Maybe, but I think…. It seems to have a different purpose.”

“For example, what?”

“… Don’t you know that?”

“… ….”

“I said there might be other purposes, but I never said I knew what they were.”

“There must be a reason for thinking that way.”

“Just…. Isn’t that a bit awkward?”

Shylock and Hermis were silent for a moment, as if pondering over my words.

“Actually, at first I also thought that the Archduke was targeting Dylan and Richard. It wasn’t just Gaston this time, there was another similar incident. I went to a commission last weekend….”

I told Shylock what had happened over the weekend.

Richard collapsed in an alleyway.

The adult men who assaulted him.

It overlaps with the scene where Dylan was hit.

“At that time, the men recognized Miss Elijah at once.”

“Suspicious. I didn’t even know what the young lady looked like until I came here.”

“Someone told me, right?”

“Perhaps. Where did you go then?”

“Cell….”

… Pounding!

Selene.

This is the name of the city I was looking for to help Priest Aquines.

I tried to name the city.

Because I remember.

But for some reason, a corner of my heart felt choked.

My heart was beating so hard that it hurt.

It was like this last time too.

Even when he checked the mission from there, a part of his heart felt strange.

“Judas? Why are you suddenly…. Oh damn. Is the place you hit earlier painful? I should have taken him from the infirmary….”

“Mr. Judas? Are you okay?”

Worriedly, he waved his hand at the two watching.

The symbol of the Bebel family embedded in the clothes of Shylock and Hermis.

Sun pattern.

Seeing that made me feel even more twisted.

“Oh, no. It’s okay.”

I struggled to vomit.

That didn’t sound like a good answer at all.

‘Why are you doing this… ?’

I kept feeling stuffy, but I couldn’t wait too long.

“It didn’t even fit in the first place. I’ll visit you later. Anyway, Selenium is a city.”

“Celene? Are you sure?”

“Yes. Why?”

“I didn’t tell you, but I’ve been eyeing Talent and Gaston all along.”

From the time they told me the truth and promised to be on my side, Shylock is said to have observed the two of them carefully.

To report anything suspicious to me.

“By the way, for the past few days, Talent has been going to and from Selene often. I didn’t think much of it at first, but now that I hear what you said….”

“The talent must have been involved in touching Richard.”

“With a very high probability.”

Then the anglerfish fits.

Why Richard’s childcare costs have skyrocketed in the last few weeks.

The reason why those bullies recognized Elijah.

It’s all for one reason.

The intervention of the talent that Ballack moves.

‘Did I really need to tell you about Elijah’s appearance?’

Shylock answered that question.

“Talent, you seem more careful than I thought.”

“Yes?”

“As soon as I found out that you were going to Selene, I immediately informed them. They did not ignore the possibility of meeting you at all, and even tipped off Lady Elijah.”

It is said that Shylock did not pay much attention to my movements.

Because Hermis followed her around, she had no reason to worry.

The other two are not.

They always kept a close eye on my movements.

To seize the chance to touch it at any time.

It’s very plausible.

Balak is trying to pressure me somehow.

As a means of that, he touches Dylan and Richard, who are close to him.

This is a naive and common trick.

“It makes sense, but that makes it feel very strange.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know the Archduke very well, but are you the kind of person who would use a method that goes back like this?”

“Umm…. That’s it too. Archduke Balak is famous for his sure-fire handling. Once a target is chosen, it must be the person who will root it out.”

Shylock agreed with my suspicions.

“Although we could ask for guilt-by-association and kill the family together. This is kinda…. It’s ambiguous. By the way, what wrong have you done to the Grand Duke?”

The same bed as Elijah….

No. Is this my fault?

Has Elijah invaded on his own?

“Why did you make her face turn red all of a sudden?”

“… Isn’t it?”

“Are you very blushing?”

Even Hermis looked at my face and asked.

I hurriedly shook my head.

“That, anyway. At the last lady’s birthday banquet, I challenged the Grand Duke.”

“Why did you do that?”

“Ah, there was a reason for that. Could it be that I asked you to kill me?”

“It wouldn’t be strange if it were you.”

“It’s a little too much to tell you in detail because it’s related to the lady.”

“Hmm, yes. I understand the feeling of caring for the owner who shows favoritism….”

“As expected….”

“Both of you be quiet. Anyway. I don’t know if it’s okay to use such words, but isn’t it too childish for someone like a grand duke to use it?”

“It’s a perfect expression.”

I felt the same way last time.

I think what Balak is doing is childish and crude.

This is just like….

“This is my impression, but it is strangely like testing me….”

“… Test?”

Shylock and Hermis repeated the word with puzzled faces.

Then he grabbed his stomach and laughed wildly.

“… Why are you laughing?”

“Ah, ha ha ha! Grand Duke you? You test? Why, no way, as Lady Elijah’s son-in-law?”

“Right! Ah yo! It is a law that requires a strict verification process to become a son-in-law!”

“No! When did I say that!”

Shylock and Hermis laughed hard.

I grabbed my throbbing head in front of him.

After a while, Shylock pressed her eyes and came to her senses.

Hermis smirked at me, still unconscious.

“Ah, this is the first time I’ve laughed like this lately. Thanks.”

“… ….”

“Yes, it is a test. Hmm.”

“If you want to stay by my lady’s side, of course you will need a test.”

“Please….”

“But didn’t Judas speak?”

“Yeah, but….”

Hermis chuckled.

Shylock, who still had a smile on his face, came up with a pretty plausible story.

“First of all, let’s assume that what you say is true. Then it will be the arbitrary act of Gaston and Talent, right?”

“A test to see if Judas is a legitimate son-in-law….”

I shut Hermis’ mouth.

“Whatever! If my hypothesis is correct.”

“Hmm….”

Shylock thought for a moment and then said.

“I wonder if it was to impress the grand duke.”

“To look good?”

“Yes. You received the order, but to carry it out, you, the target, aren’t you an ordinary idiot?”

“… ….”

“That’s why I wonder if it was to find another breakthrough and prove loyalty somehow.”

“There may be other reasons.”

Hermis removed my hand.

I gave him the right to speak because he seemed to be saying something normal.

“Usually, when you are trying to hide some secret of yourself, you are trying to be overly loyal.”

“That makes sense too.”

“In the end, nothing is certain.”

Unbeknownst to me, an old sigh came out.

“Why are there so many enemies….”

“I have monopolized Elijah di Bebel’s attention.

Shylock said lightly, like a joke, to comfort him on purpose.

I answered with a pained voice.

“If I get attention twice, I will die…” .”

“From now on, I will have to watch you at the training center. Be more careful than before.”

“Yes. I wish you well.”

I asked you to keep an eye on Gaston and Talent.

He readily agreed and replied that he would report immediately if there was something suspicious, even if it was trivial.

I was about to leave now, but Shylock asked as if tossing it.

“You know that Young Ae knows about this, right?”

“Yes. I heard.”

“Why don’t you ask for help yourself?”

“Help?”

“Yes. As you’ve heard, I’m also on Lady Elijah’s side now. The young lady will also know what I did today with you. Actually, I don’t know what the little lady was thinking. So, if you ask for help yourself, won’t you do anything? This is a request from my favorite young knight.”

In an instant, Elijah’s subtle smile comes to mind.

The face that smiled like an innocent child, touching the moon deer’s forehead.

Just thinking about it made her feel a little at ease.

She quickly brushed off those weak feelings.

I have to do my own work.

Elijah must be busy with her own business.

Above all, she is not something she is unaware of.

Since you seem to have an idea, you should take care of yourself.

Besides, there is no reason for Elijah to help me to the extent of taking her troublesome troubles and risks.

I answered Shylock with a smile.

“No way, that could be the case. And the lady seemed to have something in mind. I can’t just intrude and bother you.”

“… Oh.”

Shylock said as if realizing it.

From the side, Hermis also clapped with an enlightened expression.

“Was it not a one-sided love, but a two-way affair?”

“… Aha!”

“I’m leaving.”

*

After me, Richard and Dylan entered in order.

It didn’t take long either.

Judging by the atmosphere, Dylan doesn’t seem to be telling the truth as it is, even in his private counseling.

After comparing things with Shylock, I got to know the rough story.

Ballack. Gaston. Talent.

Their goals, Dylan and Richard.

However, rather than Balak’s instructions, the opinion was tilted by the two’s independent actions.

‘Did they become dangerous because of me….’

I think I can understand why Dylan wants to keep quiet.

It is a story involving Gaston, an instructor and engineer at the training center.

He must have judged that he couldn’t confide in his fellow instructor, Shylock.

I had something to say to Dylan and Richard, so I sent Hermis out for a while.

“Follow me.”

Richard said to Dylan, who just came out.

Dylan followed without a word.

With me, of course.

We went to a corner of the training center.

“Are you still going to shut up?”

Dylan looks back and forth between me and Richard.

Reluctantly, he opened his mouth.

The truth revealed was almost in line with my expectations.

This is how the case began.

Last weekend.

Staying at the training camp, Dylan had just seen the mob swarming, including Envinil and Salaman.

They are all members of the same room.

Room 5.

So it’s nothing special.

However, Dylan says he’s heard rumors of me circulating on the other side of the block.

The fact that Envinyl is close to the epicenter.

I don’t think I’ve even been able to find out about Shylock.

“Rumors? What rumors?”

Richard asked, frowning.

“It’s just, it’s no big deal. There are idiots everywhere who chew on things they couldn’t say in front of them.”

I said lightly.

I don’t really care.

I know the background of why it happened, and about half of it is within my control.

But Richard and Dylan weren’t as calm as I was.

“Judas…. You knew.”

Dylan said self-deprecatingly.

“You man, if there is such a thing, you should tell me at least. Are you kidding?”

Richard was nervous.

This kind of reaction was completely unexpected.

I know that these two are far apart.

But I didn’t expect you to worry about me this much.

“What…. How great do you say it is? Anyway, listen to Dylan-senpai.”

I scratched my cheek for nothing.

The two glanced at me for a moment.

Then Dylan started talking again.

“Anyway, I followed the group including Envinil and Salaman, and your name came up, Judah.”

My name?

If Shylock and I are guessing right, then Gaston is targeting Dylan.

Salaman and Envinil are the candidates he uses.

However, Dylan says they mentioned my name.

“I haven’t heard all the stories. Sooner or later, I will secretly target and attack you, the conversation was roughly like that. Then I made a mistake….”

I was caught following and overheard by them.

After that, I was beaten for silence.

Dylan says he realized it right then.

A chain of command centered on Salaman.

Violence wielded without the slightest thought.

Someone believes in something, they say.

From noble mtl dot com

“Then Lord Gaston appeared. Like before By the way, they weren’t too frightened when they saw Gaston. I did a bit of a surprise performance. Maybe he’s looking after you.”

Dylan came to the truth in his own way through what he went through.

Suspicious Salaman and Envinil.

And Gaston, who looks after him.

Perhaps Gaston told me to do something, not just Dylan.

Dylan heard about it at just the right time and became the target.

“By the way, it’s a bit strange, isn’t it? Why is Sir Gaston looking behind them? Judas, do you know anything?”

Balak is involved behind this incident.

They don’t know that.

Should I tell you or not?

After thinking about it, I decided not to say it.

To say that, you have to tell them one after another, starting with Balak, the current internal strife in the Bebel family, and even Balak’s henchman who infiltrated the training center.

The more you know, the more likely you are to be exposed to danger.

Above all, these two aren’t likely to stay still after hearing that.

I’m sure he’ll do anything to help me.

These are the kids who have already suffered because of me.

I can’t let you get caught up in it any longer.

It’s better for me to handle it alone now.

… I might be drinking kimchi soup by myself. What. Anyway.

“I knew even the rumors, but I was the first to know more than that.”

“Ugh. Anyway, these idiots.”

Richard looked at me and Dylan and clicked his tongue.

“How stupid are you to not even talk about this and only know it….”

“I really am not a big deal, am I? What about some rumors…. I found out about Sir Gaston and Room 5 today. And seniors do that on the weekend….”

“Noisy man.”

“Yes.”

“Weekend?”

Dylan asked, and Richard glared at me, then reluctantly confessed.

Dylan seemed to already know about the nursery school.

But it was not a protection fee.

After hearing the story, Dylan shook his head.

“Senior is the same.”

“Then shall I ask you to lend me some money?”

“At least talking….”

Dylan, who was about to retort, shut his mouth.

I laughed out loud for no reason.

We can help each other if we talk, but I kept my mouth shut because I didn’t want to cause trouble.

Even if it wasn’t of any real help, it might have been comforting to just talk about it.

All three were the same.

I had no excuses.

Richard and Dylan also laughed hysterically.

“So, now what to do with those bastards in room 5?”

“What should I do? Gaston will be looking after you.”

“Are you just being silently treated like that? Me and him can’t do that?”

Suddenly, he became a human similar to Richard.

But it was true, so I just nodded.

Honestly, if I added more, I would have added more. Hmm.

“But why are you going to break into room 5?”

“Is that so?”

“Please pretend to be worried….”

I’m worried.

Is there any other way….

*

We move by carriage, but Hermis is strange today.

Touch your chin and make a serious expression.

As if there were worries.

“Sir Hermis?”

“… Ah! Sorry. I was thinking about something else for a while.”

“Do you have any concerns?”

“Um….”

Hermis stares at my face.

Say or not.

A worried expression.

Soon she laughs lightly.

“No.”

“No matter how you look at it, it seems like it is there.”

“I will tell you later.”

“Well, yes.”

I have no intention of forcibly digging it out.

I also have problems to worry about.

‘Balack, Gaston, Salaman. And even talents.’

Balack is too big a deal to mess with right now.

I don’t even know what I really mean.

So let’s move on.

Then what about the rest?

Most likely Salaman.

It’s the same candidate.

What can I do to get this job back?

It was a problem I didn’t have to worry about.

The incident to confront them head-on came by itself.

***

Gawain was in her office, recalling Judah’s next personal training schedule.

Then someone knocked on the door.

Smart.

Gawain tapped the desk in the same way.

Smart.

It was a signal that it was okay to come in.

It was Gaston who opened the door and entered.

One of the three people currently listening to Balak’s instructions at the training center.

After a brief silence, he held out a piece of paper.

“This is a mock war plan.”

Guard knights are different from ordinary knights or soldiers.

Because the purpose is to protect the side of the master you serve.

It is far from defending territory or going to war when necessary.

So, escort knight candidates do not study ‘war’ in earnest.

It’s not necessary, it’s secondary.

Only very basic content is taught at the training center.

I’ve never taken a test either.

As it is now, the content of ‘group mock war training’ brought by Gaston is, of course, unfamiliar.

Gaston explained.

“I think it is a good time to check the strength of unity and cooperation among the current candidates. It is also suitable as an evaluation tool to provide the special meal ordered by Lady Elijah. It does so in that it can be broken down into rooms and scored.”

The justification was plausible.

“Therefore, we plan to hold a mock war like this once a month.”

Gawain looked down.

The brackets of the rooms you will fight in your first Mock War.

Room 13 belongs to Judas.

And room 5, where Salaman belongs.

The two met at an early date.

Gawain easily guessed what was going on.

‘Are you trying to do something?’

I remembered the order I received from Balak a few days ago.

Shylock, Gaston, Talent.

If those three ask for something, help them appropriately.

He had no right to decide.

He had to be loyal to Balak.

I owed something more precious than my life.

After that, I decided to be his dog.

Gawain brought out what Gaston needed most at this point.

“We will look at the results of the first trial and decide whether to continue or not.”

Gaston is just a means to achieve his orders.

It is a plan that does not require more than two visits.

Gaston bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

Gawain signed at the very bottom.

You cannot pass without your consent.

“Take it.”

“Thank you.”

Gaston handed over the papers and left.

Gawain looked at his back and lowered his head.

It can’t be helped.

*

Even Gawain’s permission was easily obtained.

It’s not long now.

‘I’ll show my loyalty by carrying out this order.’

I will scold even the cheeky Judas.

A guy who dares to climb without even knowing the subject.

Gaston left training camp straight away.

Now, only the final preparations remain.

It’s time to pick up the wizard for long-range sniping.

*

“… This is the end of the report.”

Shylock concluded.

The subject of the report was Elijah.

She nodded and patted her desk.

A habit that comes out when you’re struggling.

“Gaston, talent…. I even did that, that’s it.”

The cold sunken eyes look at the window.

As if watching two people somewhere over there.

Red eyes full of weight.

Shylock was involuntarily nervous.

Even though she is not the target.

Gaston and the talents.

It was clear that something was wrong with the two of them.

“You’ll need to keep an eye on them both.”

Maybe you can check the effect of the newly learned magic.

Elijah smiled faintly at the thought of Judas.

A child like a little rabbit running around and making accidents.

She should be, though all of her is not in the palm of her own hand.

‘He needs a lot of work.’

Her own possessions are in danger, so she has no choice but to be willing to step out as their owner.

*

Mock war joint training.

First, rooms 13 and 5 faced each other.

The power difference between the two rooms was obvious.

Room 5, the top rank.

Room 13 is the middle class.

Everyone predicted that Room 13 would be defeated.

On the day of training, Elijah came out to the field where a mock war would take place.

She heard that it was Gaston who planned this. She

She was sure something was going to happen.

I wondered what Judah would show her this time.

I can see the personnel in Room 13 in the distance.

The first thing that caught my eye was Judas.

It was inevitable.

She had the color alone.

Next, a boy screaming loudly in the center.

It was Richard.

“Kill all the bastards in room 5! Any complaints!”

“No!”

“After killing, I will kill the corpse again! Got it!”

“Yes!”

Even Dylan didn’t say no killing today.

He’s not really going to kill anyway.

All weapons used are wooden swords without blades.

I am just saying this to raise morale.

Among them, Judas also prepared for the war by properly controlling his excitement and coolness.

Elijah was amazed at the sight and stared at it.

It’s clear that they’re excited now.

What enthusiasm. Kinship. Like friendship.

She also heard about what happened to Judas.

Even the story of Richard and Dylan that happened around them.

Judas was furious and acted as if their affairs were her own.

She found it very strange.

What are they?

Their relationship.

I flipped through the dictionary in my head.

The answer came quickly.

‘Friend.’

It’s not a difficult word, but Elijah found the word very difficult and unfamiliar.

It’s because she doesn’t have a concept for herself.

Even the family that exists is all a facade.

How much more can there be a friend who is a relationship that must be formed after birth.

Elijah, who was thinking about what kind of relationship her friend had, suddenly thought of Judas.

When it comes to yomojomo, Judah is quite close to Elijah’s relationship as a ‘friend’.

After thinking that far, Elijah burst out laughing.

‘Nonsense.’

There’s no way I’ll ever have that kind of relationship.

Judah is just an interesting subject.

If I had to categorize it, it would be something like a research subject.

This is an object that can be used at the same time.

Above all, the two had a thorough top-down relationship.

The owner, Elijah.

Judas, who must serve her.

It is a relationship in which personal feelings cannot intervene.

In the future, never.

Elijah spread a great notification magic around this field.

A magical curtain that covers the ground in the shape of a hemisphere.

A triple barrier.

There were too many people targeting him, so it was the magic he learned first.

After learning it, I used it everywhere.

The feeling of not being caught in the barrier gave me a subtle sense of relief.

‘If Gaston does anything, he’ll be caught in a barrier.’

Around that time, someone stepped out in front of rooms 13 and 5.

It was Gaston.

He was the representative of the instructors who will supervise the mock battle today.

“From now on, I will explain the rules of ‘Capture the Flag’, which will be played today.”