Chapter 88 Lili’s Knight
A week has passed since the war ended.
I was worried.
It was an agony comparable to, or perhaps even more than, the experience of devising a strategy for the war against Mangot.
‘… … What should I do with Selena?’
Yes. My concern was Selena’s treatment.
Now that I’ve said goodbye to Selena, my employment relationship has ended. Selena also accepted it.
Selena did ask me to ‘save her’ right before we broke up, but that was just a request, and it didn’t really have anything to do with our relationship.
Of course I will keep my promise to Selena. I will find her family ‘Vanier’ and take her there. Now that Mangot has collapsed, we can now get to work on that.
But, or rather, because of that, maybe it was right to break up with Selena then.
Wouldn’t it be right for Selena to become Selena de Vanier and live as a noblewoman from now on?
Selena is beautiful and wise. Moreover, he is a close combat master who can become a professional or a knight. As long as he hides his assassination habits well, he’ll do a great job no matter what he does. If you want, you can now live a life that has nothing to do with fighting.
… … It would be a waste to have him as my escort. More than anything, would Selena want it?
“Even though you said that, you ended up coming here.”
I stopped in the vacant lot behind the mansion and sighed.
This is where Selena and I meet and talk. This is also the place where we last parted ways.
After all, I need Selena. My experience in close combat is overwhelmingly lacking, and I cannot anticipate every situation.
When an unexpected attack occurs, having Selena is very reassuring. This is especially true now that I have entered a part of the world that I don’t know anything about.
But Selena doesn’t need me anymore. Now there is no need to act as a double spy, and there is no need to learn ancient languages.
Open your mouth quietly in a place where no one is around.
“… … What should I do with you? “Sele,”
Sigh─
“Did you call me?”
“… … .”
Before I could say my name, someone came out. Of course it was Selena.
I blankly looked at Selena who appeared behind me.
Selena’s outfit was one of the clothes I gave her as a gift.
“… … “Selena.”
“yes.”
“When did I become my shadow again?”
“… … .”
Selena’s eyes slowly shifted to the side.
“By any chance, was it at the end of that war?”
“… … That’s right.”
A combination of my attack and defense and Ospreet’s space magic that occurred during the fight with Belphegor. Through the workshop’s door, many of Constell’s students, including Selena, moved from the Empire to Cape Man.
I was busy fighting Belphegor, but that was probably the closest Selena was to me.
So it was the perfect time to reconnect my shadow, and I’m not dissatisfied with Selena being reconnected with my shadow.
… … only.
“… … “Selena, it’s been a week since the war ended.”
“Yes that’s right.”
“If you had connected the shadows, you wouldn’t have come a long time ago.”
Yes. If I had known that she had already connected the shadow, my worries wouldn’t have been so deep. It wasn’t even supposed to take a week to begin with.
This concern was not only about my intention, but Selena’s intention was also very important.
It would be very difficult for me to find her if she wanted to. As long as you don’t come to Constel, the empire is wide.
But Selena looked at me and tilted her head as if asking what I was talking about.
“What are you talking about?”
It wasn’t as if he was saying something, he was really asking me.
“Since Frontier didn’t call me, I just naturally didn’t show up.”
“… … huh?”
“We’ve been like this from the beginning, right?”
I looked at Selena quietly.
I looked up at the sky and looked at that face for a long time, as if it had no shame whatsoever.
‘… … ‘You shameless guy.’
Selena went beyond whether or not she would become an escort again, and was acting as if she was an escort in the first place.
As if we had never broken up.
Moreover, the face that looks at me in confusion as if the acting has increased makes me wonder if I have really forgotten everything.
“… … “Then why didn’t you show up at the mansion?”
“I returned after completing my deployment at Mangot.”
… … It’s dispatch. It’s an amazing setting.
‘okay. If Selena wants it.’
For me, this is welcome news. If you act like nothing happened, there is no reason for me not to accept it.
“Selena, then just ask me one question.”
“yes.”
“Are you injured anywhere at Mangot?”
“… … .”
“It may have been a pointless meddling, but I should have taken action in advance regarding that outfit you are wearing right now… … .”
I put a needle filled with Slavic poison. Selena would have noticed.
From Noble mtl dot com
If that helped, I think I’ll feel proud when I see her again.
“… … ah.”
Selena’s eyes instantly became bright, and tears streamed down her face.
“Ah oh.”
As if Selena realized later that she was crying, she lowered her head and wiped her eyes in embarrassment.
Of course, I was also confused.
Is this really an act too? Now that I’ve given up on trying to figure out Selena’s acting, I’m even more confused at times like this.
Selena muttered while crying.
“… … Most.”
“Most?”
“I was trying to forget it as much as possible.”
To forget?
Was my arrangement that bad? I thought it was a pretty good device.
I don’t know how Selena fought in Cape Mangot, but the needle I gave her didn’t seem to be particularly effective.
… … Looking at the reaction, it may have been a hindrance rather than an effect.
‘When I think about it, I only know about the structure of attaching a needle and ejecting, but I don’t know what kind of problem will occur when only one foot is inserted.’
Since the needle is always inserted in multiples of 4, could it cause problems if only one needle is inserted? There was a lack of consideration.
“… … greatness. Anyway, it worked out well. “I have something to tell you.”
I put aside my slightly hurt feelings and changed the subject.
“What is it?”
“It’s a vacation for the time being. You made a great contribution in this war, so think of it as part of your reward. You can go somewhere to have fun, or you can stay at the mansion. You can go to Constel once school starts again. For me, I recommend it. “Everyone wanted to see you.”
“What’s going on? “If you want to go somewhere, I will follow you.”
“It’s true that I’m going somewhere, but I don’t want to show it to you.”
I sighed.
If the issue of Selena’s treatment was my concern, this issue is my struggle.
“If you don’t want to show me, where are you going? “Is it that dangerous of a place?”
“okay. It is a very dangerous place. I didn’t tell you. “You were at Mangot.”
I adjusted various conditions to minimize the damage of the war with Mangot.
And in order to meet the conditions, some promises were made.
Now it is time to fulfill that promise.
“… … Where are you going and what are you trying to do? “I have told you this many times, I will follow you and protect you even to the end of hell.”
Selena’s expression hardened. In an instant, you can see the determination in his eyes.
I was swept away by the momentum and spoke without realizing it.
“… … “I’m going to sell my soul to the devil.”
“yes?!”
“Sorry, that’s a metaphor. “Not literally.”
I said that to reassure Selena.
But while I’m talking, I feel anxious for some reason.
“… … The analogy would be correct.”
“yes?!”
I ended up saying one more unnecessary word.
* * *
After the war ended, the empire became very busy.
The damage was much lighter than expected, but that was only because what was expected was such a devastating blow.
In fact, many people died and the restored wall was not without scars.
Above all, at this point the road to Mangot is somewhat open.
The empire began its first territorial expansion since the Demon War.
Although the monsters outside were not pushed out or the monsters in the abyss were slain, it was clear that the path had been opened.
The monsters attacking all sides of the wall have retreated, and now is the time when the number of monsters between the empire and Cape Ten Thousand is at its lowest.
The empire announced that it would improve the road to Cape Bay, and it was not surprising that the citizens of the empire were excited about this.
… … In this way, the empire spreads only good news that is easy for the world to understand,
In order to resolve the issue that is difficult to deal with right now, a meeting was convened once again.
“… … “Are you retired?”
In response to Empress Fili’s question for confirmation, Medart nodded.
“yes. I realized this clearly during this war. I am already an old body. It doesn’t suit me to be in the place of the Zodiac.”
Medart de Thebene.
As the eldest of the Zodiacs, he teamed up with Cybel and blocked the barrier during the war against Mangot.
He was fatally wounded by one of the shepherds of Cape Mangot, and barely escaped with his life.
In fact, Medart’s defeat was one of the things that Frondier did not expect, and when he heard about it later, Frondier was also very surprised.
Although he believed that Cybel had changed, Frondier did not know what that change would ultimately look like.
“… … The Imperial Palace does not prevent you from stepping down from the Zodiac. Medart has fully fulfilled his role, and he is at an age where it is not strange to think about retirement.”
With a dark look on his face, Fili began to say things that seemed to be followed by ‘but’.
“But if possible, couldn’t you delay it a little bit?”
“Postponing… … ? “What is the reason?”
When Medart asked, Lili, the other Zodiac nearby, shook her head.
“Oh, right. “Medart fainted, so he doesn’t know much about the current mood in the empire.”
“What do you mean?”
“If Medard retires now.”
Lily raised her finger with a mischievous look on her face.
“Frondier de Roach might suddenly become the Zodiac.”
“… … !”
Medart’s eyes opened wide. He looked around the conference room, unable to believe Lili’s words.
However, it was only Medart who was surprised; the people around him seemed to agree with Lili’s words. Some even nodded.
“… … Frontier, that little boy?”
“okay. You did an amazing job. Moreover, my skills were discovered by the citizens of the empire.”
Of course, what the citizens of the empire saw was a very brief scene, but it was clearly proven that Frontier had overwhelming power, at least in terms of destructive power.
“… … Wow, that’s amazing. No matter how much it is, at that age… … .”
“Yeah, so that’s the problem.”
When Lili nodded, there was someone crossing their arms and tilting their head.
“Is that the problem?”
It was Zodiac Ludovic.
“If Frontier is qualified to be the Zodiac, then it would be natural for him to ascend to the position of the Zodiac. “Being young won’t be a problem there.”
“… … That’s surprising. “I thought Ludovic hated Frontier.”
“I? No way. Although I first met Frondier during the demon incident, I highly value his calmness and judgment. “At the time, it was just a situation where I had no choice but to have doubts.”
As Ludovic said that, he shook his head and said, ‘Hmm, but I never thought he had that much power.’
Empress Fili’s sigh continued for a long time.
“Being young is such a huge problem. Frontier hasn’t even graduated from Constel yet. “I don’t have enough experience as a professional or a knight, and I haven’t accomplished anything worthy of being promoted to Zodiac.”
“If it’s an achievement, didn’t you set it up a week ago?”
“… … Well, that’s it, but.”
On rare occasions, Fili is speechless.
In fact, of course, it’s not that Philly doesn’t like Frontier. Rather, since I deeply trust Frontier, I need to be cautious about this issue.
Put the current Frontier in the Zodiac?
Of course, the citizens of the empire will be enthusiastic. Only a week has passed since his glamorous side was seen on that huge electronic display board.
Soon, people will realize not only his splendor, but also that what he defeated was the leader of Mangot. It’s not a problem that can be hidden by hiding it.
But Frontier is young. He was so young that his older brother and father were both Zodiac candidates.
Ampere, the father, himself rejected the offer, and even Azier, the eldest brother, hesitated on the Zodiac offer due to Ampere’s rejection and his own youth. So he skipped both his father and eldest brother and put Frondier in the Zodiac?
This is not because the Roach family is carrying the imperial palace on their backs, but even if the imperial palace is trying to crawl under Roach’s feet, there is nothing to say.
‘I can’t force that kid into this sh*tty political world.’
Ultimately, it’s politics.
The Zodiac is a symbol of power, but it is nearly impossible to reach that position and then become apolitical. If that were the case, Ampere wouldn’t have refused to become Zodiac so much.
In other words, Ampere cannot avoid politics if he becomes the Zodiac, so Ampere does not become the Zodiac.
Knowing this very well, Fili does not want to make Frontier the Zodiac.
I still want to let Constel enjoy her life. Like other people, I hope to make a living doing something that everyone can do, whether it’s becoming a professional or an engineer.
Now it has become a very difficult topic, but it is still not impossible.
Yes, like Aten.
“yes. “Frondeer is the Zodiac. That doesn’t make sense.”
And fortunately, Philly has a few helpers.
One of them, Zodiac Monty.
He shook his head deeply with a solemn face.
“Frondier is going to be my best disciple. We made a blood pact. Frontier agrees and I agree, this is a decision.”
Ludovic is surprised by that.
“What, really?”
“… … “I don’t know if it was a blood oath, but I heard there was talk about it.”
Zodiac Ridwi, who was watching quietly, sighed and spoke in his unique, strange dialect.
He hit the desk and Lili raised her head.
“What are you talking about! Before that, Frontier decided to become my knight! I made a soul pact!
“What, really?”
“… … “I don’t know if it was a soul pledge, but there was talk about it.”
Monty shook his head.
“Lily. As I said last time, that was just a month-long story. After that period is over, naturally,”
“hehehehe, Monty. “Do you really think Frontier will come to you in a month?”
“… … .”
Lili’s confident smile.
Common sense tells us that Frontier made a promise to both Riri and Monty.
Lili decided to become a knight for a month, and Monty decided to become his best disciple.
So after a period of one month, of course Frontier will go to Monty. Because I made that promise.
Of course, that’s common sense.
“Hey, Ridwi. Is that true? Frontier becomes Lili’s knight? Did Frontier really agree with that?”
Ludovic suddenly asked Lidwi again with a serious look on his face.
“Instead of agreeing, Frontier suggested it first.”
“… … oh my god.”
Ludovic makes a miserable face, like a person watching the destruction of the world, and bites his lip.
“Frondier, what have you done… … .”
“hey! “I’m listening!”
The inside of the conference room was filled with sad faces of everyone except Lili.
Ahhhh yes, there was that too.