35 – Sanctuary of Hybras (2)
The place we followed Sirien was a slightly high hill.
A place where you can overlook the surrounding coniferous forest while climbing up. It was high enough to see the path we had fought on.
In particular, I could see the cave where I fought the mother spider a little far away.
In the last fight, I definitely showed off my sword skills.
Although half a penny is a sword master, his level has risen anyway.
I wanted to check my sword as soon as my body recovered.
As was my habit, I looked around to see if there were any beasts or monsters, but at least in this area there seemed to be no worries.
Since it is a place where church members are, is it strictly protected?
Thanks to this, I was able to climb the mountain comfortably as if I was climbing a mountain in the back of the neighborhood.
“We’re almost there. Is it worth walking?”
“You never thought I would hear you say I’m good enough to walk with you.”
“What’s wrong with me? Besides, Razen is a patient.”
“It’s not to the point where I can’t even walk and have a headache. On the contrary, it feels refreshing and good to move around a bit.”
It was true. After all, I felt like I was a person who needed to move my body every day to relieve my frustration.
Even though I only walked a little, I felt much better than when I was lying in bed.
My body is already itching, and I feel like I want to do some exercise before going to bed.
If I really did that, I think I would get a lot of nagging.
Is it possible to do this secretly in Siri? I decided to take a chance later.
“Arrived. This is where I looked. “I saw it from below, but when I came up, it felt different again.”
Sirien grinned and spread her hands as if showing off.
This is the last of the hills. It was a place where a high cliff ended as if it were falling down.
A dense forest was visible at a glance below the cliff.
Old trees colored the green land like the horizon, and behind them, the white snow and plains came together.,
There might be a village where people live far away. Unfortunately, it wasn’t high enough to see there.
In the sky, blue paint and white clouds came together.
The wild grass smiled as the wind suddenly blew.
“Actually, I thought about it a lot. I even imagined one day making a fancy royal palace and holding an investiture ceremony in front of everyone. “Make it grand.”
“I think I like it better here.”
“That’s right. So do i. Of course, when I come across something precious, I like to keep it to myself. And we don’t need anyone else in our contract.”
“I think two visitors will be enough. “The seat will be empty, but we might be sitting there without us knowing.”
“I hope so.”
Our lives changed from the moment we entered this forest.
It was in this forest that Therion and Henna lost and struggled to the death.
Although we are deathly resentful of what happened in this coniferous forest, we do not hate this forest either.
If Sirien and I were to perform any important ceremony, such as being ordained a knight, it was only natural that it would take place in this forest.
I also didn’t need a luxurious official residence. This place where the souls of Therion and Henna rested was a much more meaningful place than the royal palace where everyone celebrated.
Sirien sat on a stone at the edge of the cliff.
An ornate ceremonial sword was held in her small hands.
Although it was not a light weight, it was a sword that I carried all the way here.
“Then shall we begin?”
I got down on one knee in front of Sirien.
Sirien stuck the silver-white blade straight into the ground.
Phew. A faint sound of breathing. After exhaling as if to relieve tension, her long silver hair flowed elegantly.
The blood-red eyes became even colder.
Since I didn’t have any clothes that fit, the priest’s uniform, which was a bit large, caught the wind like a cloak.
Two hands rose above the pommel of the sword. Behind a sharp long sword, the girl had suddenly become a full-fledged monarch.
Tuk. The blade hit the ground.
The subdued voice slowly began to become conscious.
“You. Razen Bertus came here to become a knight. Do you know that at the end of this oath you must bear faith and honor?”
“Yes. The oath may be momentary, but the bond is eternal.”
“Then engrave loyalty in your heart. “Swear to your soul that you will not retreat before the enemy, that you will not tell lies, and that you will be brave until the end of your journey.”
A ritual I learned a long time ago came to mind clearly.
She brought the fist of her right hand to her chest.
The first knock was a pledge to the heart, and the second knock was a pledge to the soul.
Loyalty until my body dies or Sirien dies. It meant that the beliefs I had to uphold as a knight would be maintained until my soul crumbled.
Sirien extended her right hand to me.
I kissed the back of his hand.
Although he maintained a somewhat dignified expression, his face could be seen subtly turning red.
“…… The gods will always watch over your oath.”
After the knight’s oath was over, it was the monarch’s turn.
It was a declaration in his own name that a knight had been born.
Originally, the monarch should have handed down the sword at this point, but we did not have a suitable sword.
So Sirien shouted loudly that he would one day fit my sword.
To be honest, I didn’t think it would matter if I used an ordinary iron sword, but I decided to hold off, saying that I wouldn’t be able to use that.
“I am the rightful monarch of Ilencia and the saint of Hybras, the god of rest. Sirien Ilencia declares to all gods that you have become a noble knight.”
Sirien clashed her sword against my shoulder once.
Left at first. Then it was on the right.
Lastly, the sword touched the top of my head once.
It was the end of the ceremony. Of course, the knight investiture ceremony was not a very long ceremony.
Sometimes dozens of people are ordained, and if the ceremony lasts too long, it could be a terrible thing for both parties.
The small mouth smiled.
“As my knight, destroy the enemy with your life. I will reward your bravery with honor and be a witness to your convictions. “I will engrave the loyalty you swore in your heart into my bones and remember it forever.”
Sirien reached out with her other hand.
It was her hand with her stigmata.
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“Wake up. “My noble knight.”
As I stood up holding her hand, Sirien hugged me.
It wasn’t something I was conscious of.
“Ahahahaha. I did it. Now you really are my knight. “My article that no one can say anything about.”
“Yes. “Shall I call you master?”
“No. “I prefer to be called by my name!”
* * *
[Sirien Ilencia]
After the investiture ceremony where it was just the two of them, her heart was pounding even though a long time had passed.
The corners of my mouth did not come down the entire time I was coming down the hill.
I felt like I had put my stamp on something. I felt like I was recognized by the world.
Rajen is my one and only knight, and I am Rajen’s only lord.
It felt like a dream I had vaguely dreamed of since I was young had come true.
But before the lingering feeling could even pass, I had to get away from Rajen under the pretext of returning the ceremonial sword.
After that, it seemed like the world was gradually losing color.
I could no longer feel the bright, warm sunlight.
It had been a while since I had been separated from Razen, but I felt like a chill was already running through my body.
Isn’t that particularly strange? A building located in the opposite direction from Rajen’s accommodation.
Because really cold air flowed in this sparsely populated place.
Among them, the place I needed to find was a dark basement.
Ttogak. Again.
I could hear my feet walking on the stone floor.
Rusty iron bars were seen in the basement. Also the appearance of the man inside.
“You woke up? “It just worked out well.”
I opened the iron window and went in.
The man raised his head at the sound of making noise, and our eyes met.
I spoke softly and did my job.
“Listen, something very good happened to me today.”
“… ….”
“It’s true. It was a damn good thing to have to come see something like you. So I don’t want to see you for a long time. “I hope this ends quickly.”
The man was tied to a shabby wooden chair.
The tendons in the limbs had already been severed, and there were many traces of torture that one did not want to see.
There was a fishy smell of blood coming from him. I didn’t get closer because I was afraid the smell would get on me.
I don’t want Razen to feel even a hint of that bad smell from me.
She pushed away all the clean cutlery as if she had prepared it for me.
“I’ll tell you in advance, you’re going to die anyway. They say it’s necessary for consciousness. Since he is the god of rest and death, death is also necessary for rituals. They say that for something to be even slightly good, it has to be someone with whom fate is tied, but fortunately for me, I had you.”
What I chose was the soldering iron.
The iron was placed on a hot furnace. The iron, which had been heated for a few minutes, became bright red.
They say we should first tell you what kind of pain awaits us.
I was told that I had to try my hand at least once before starting.
I touched the man’s thigh without any questions. The smell of grilling meat was disgusting.
“I appreciate that. If it weren’t for you, it would have been really difficult. That’s why I’m telling you. Don’t waste time needlessly. “Now, let me take off your muzzle.”
“hehehehe. “They said she was like a flower in a greenhouse, but somehow there wasn’t any correct information about her.”
“It wasn’t really a lie back then. It’s just that people change depending on their environment. “I’ve only changed a little.”
Through Count Roxen’s betrayal, I learned a lesson that no one should be trusted.
Losing my brother and Henna taught me a lesson that my enemy always targets my precious people.
I have always been a quick learner.
Since I decided not to trust anyone, almost everyone was meaningless or an enemy to me.
I must not show any mercy to my enemies.
Therefore, from now on, I have decided not to hesitate in hurting others.
As expected, the only exception was Razen.
Because we lost two people who would have been exceptions besides Razen.
This man was the leader of the chase team that was chasing me.
Normally, they would have succeeded in chasing me by now, but what can they do?
This is what reality has become.
A man with green hair. In other words, the guardian of this sanctuary was quite capable.
Although they killed all the other pursuers, they captured this man alive.
The reason it was kept alive was because it was needed for consciousness. But I also had business with this man.
I plan on going around with Rajen starting tomorrow, so today was the only thing left.
“I promise. “If you just answer the questions I ask, I won’t touch you.”
It’s true. I never had a hobby of torturing others.
On the contrary, seeing that scene made me feel sick. Even now, it was painful to see that man’s wounds.
Still, I will do it when necessary.
“It won’t be such a difficult question. Since you’re going to die anyway, there’s no harm in answering. Okay, first question. My parents “What happened to Grand Duke Ilencia?”
“He died.”
“Yes. I thought so. Do you know when and how he died?”
“I was told that he died during the battle with Eligus. I don’t know if it’s true. “I don’t know any more than that.”
“Okay. I’ll believe it. Then the second question. There are currently no direct blood relatives in the Grand Duchy, so how does Count Roxen maintain power? “That person has no power of lineage and is merely an collateral.”
“That…… “
My eyebrows furrowed at his answer.
“I feel bad, that. After all, that person must be killed.”