102 – 25. Without hesitation (3)
“Everyone suffered a lot while I was gone. And those who followed me also suffered a lot. I hope you put aside all the burdens you have had for today and rest in peace.”
The dinner started with Xien’s toast.
Lichtenau’s vassals, senior knights, and even the castle’s internal managers.
A banquet was held only for Liechtenauers.
From the start, a cheerful atmosphere filled the banquet hall.
The main reason was, of course, what happened in Fiore.
“Isn’t it too easy for Fiore to believe that Lichtenauer blocked the second-class demon scene?”
“It will be just that. It must have been careless to say that it suffered minor damage. Didn’t the Fiore guys implicitly ignore our Lichtenauer?”
“You have been punished. To think that a place that is said to be famous for swordsmanship couldn’t abandon its arrogance.”
If there were people involved in Etriana or Fiore in this place, they would have protested.
They said they were neither vigilant nor arrogant.
I just made the best decision and acted according to the situation.
It was just that the problem was that the level 2 monsters were too strong beyond imagination.
Shien was barely aware of that fact.
He would have made that decision and issued an order at that moment.
If you keep holding on, the person will be the first to be physically driven.
Even those who couldn’t even sleep well because the battle broke out at dawn.
If the moment has come when you can hit it all at once, then that is the right thing to do.
However, Shien did not bother to mention that fact.
For now, I just let them crush Fiore to their heart’s content.
This is Lichtenau, not Fiore, and I am the head of Lichtenau.
“Obviously Fiore were too optimistic. That’s why I met that result.”
Of course, there was a need to properly control the overly excited atmosphere.
It’s because the pride and arrogance can’t sprout in their hearts.
“But it taught them a lesson. That the second-class Demonic World is a completely different existence from the ones before it. Thanks to that, Lichtenauer also learned a lesson. That we should never suffer such a defeat. If we lose, Fiore will be talking like we are now.”
At Shien’s words, the retainers nodded their heads with firm expressions.
If they didn’t want to face the current situation the other way around, they had to be even more vigilant.
Fortunately, I gained quite a bit of experience from previous battles.
Knights and soldiers will also grow one more level based on that experience.
If he was not vigilant or conceited, he would not be defeated.
“Come to think of it, my lord. Apparently, Sir Adele this time too… Hmmm. I heard that Adele’s servant did a great job.”
“Wouldn’t it just be great? I heard from the returning knights that they dealt with the Witchbeasts alone.”
“Is that even possible? Like last time, how are you alone?”
“What kind of person is Adele’s attendant, so that’s possible?”
“This makes me wonder if it’s the same person.”
Talking about Fiore naturally draws people’s attention to Adele.
Seeing that, Shien could barely hold back the laughter that kept coming out.
“It is. Adele. Is there anything you can tell them?”
I prepared in advance for such an occasion.
At Shien’s words, Adele took a moment to organize her thoughts and then sneaked forward.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to tell you for a while. Actually, I’ve been fighting demons for a very long time. And sometimes, I even fought people who hurt people.”
“ah… .”
“Are you saying you were a child soldier, Adele?”
“I guess you can look at it that way.”
The boy soldier was right. I was just living next to the emperor.
According to the law of the Empire, those who have not yet reached adulthood cannot be conscripted as soldiers.
It is also strictly forbidden to push them into the battlefield.
If Adele was forcibly recruited as a child soldier by someone, it would be against the law of the country.
Because of this, some people are waiting for the next word when they say that he was a child soldier.
“I volunteered. He stopped it, but I didn’t listen.”
At that, people nodded their heads as if they understood.
Hey, if you want to have that skill, you can’t be forced to fight because you’re forcibly conscripted.
Only those who want to, only those who want to kill the Witchbeast step forward.
Looking at the people who nodded at Adele’s words.
How will they react when they find out that he is the emperor?
Xian let out a small laugh inwardly.
Since then, stories about Adele have continued to flow.
As in Lichtenau before and in Fiore this time.
It was only natural that he wandered between the monsters by himself.
“I’m writing an article about Adele.”
Therefore, it was necessary to mention that part again.
Adele was too overwhelming to be called an attendant.
Even if you give him the position of knight, it seems that he is not an attendant.
Currently, the will of the vassals and various knights has come together.
“It’s not possible.”
However, Cien clearly expressed his intention to refuse this time as well.
“I cannot make exceptions. I admit that Adele is stronger and better than anyone. Other attendants acknowledge and follow him, and even the knights ask Adele to train him. But he hasn’t taken the knight’s exam yet. Even if you pass the test, it is important that you have not taken the test yet. My intention is firm.”
At first, no matter how good the intention is, they make an exception.
No one knows how it will be exploited in the future.
It is the duty of the person at the top not to make that exception.
Shien thought so, and that’s why he made that decision.
“I am okay.”
Adele, the person involved, also seemed not to care at all.
If he really wanted a knight position in the first place, he would have appealed more actively.
However, the only thing Adele was interested in was the battle with the Witchbeast.
“Stop talking about that, and fill up your glasses.”
When Shien raises his glass, everyone follows suit.
“For the genius attendant who made our Lichtenau shine.”
“For Adele.”
“Because of you, Lichtenau will shine forever.”
“Forever, Lichtenau! Your Majesty the Emperor. May you enjoy your heavenly life!”
* * *
“Are you really okay, Adele? Aren’t you sad?”
Shien said that there were no exceptions in front of his vassals.
However, being alone with Adele made me feel sorry for that.
“Really fine.”
“but… .”
“If I wanted to be a knight, I would have stayed in the imperial family.”
At first, Adele did not consider herself to be in such a position.
Isn’t the existence of a knight a place to protect someone with a sword?
On the other hand, he was still focused on swinging his sword and harming him.
Perhaps even after a long time, you will never be able to erase that instinct.
“Xien-nim, you don’t have to be sorry for anything.”
“I’m even more sorry to say that.”
“sorry.”
“I don’t even have to apologize.”
Shien sighed and leaned against the balcony.
The cool night breeze cools the body warmed by alcohol.
The nights of Etenberg, Imperial Castle, and Fiore were also beautiful enough.
In this way, the night sky seen from my hometown felt the most beautiful.
Swept away by that atmosphere, Shien decided to be a little more active.
– Because it’s stronger than you think. You have to go first. Sien. –
Before leaving the imperial castle, Princess Ekaterina whispered while laughing.
She knows a lot about Adele, but says that the man is a total jerk.
It could be because there is no woman like her by his side, but he says he doesn’t know anything about male-female relationships.
So, inevitably, Shien himself had to slow down.
Fortunately, it was something that Shien was confident about.
I remember seeing a few novels of that kind when I was living alone in the center.
A beautiful love story between a man and a woman, just the right read for her age.
“Adele.”
“Yes, Shien.”
“Would you like to come aside for a moment?”
Adele immediately followed Shien’s words.
“how is it? night sky. Isn’t it pretty?”
“yes. It looks very pretty.”
To be honest, that was Adele’s intention.
There are countless stars, and the moonlight is very bright.
I don’t know if it’s beautiful or if it’s just bright.
It’s just because Shien is smiling, because she says she’s beautiful.
I was thinking that it would be like that.
“Then. Hmmm! I will ask you something else.”
“yes. Please tell me.”
“Me and the night sky here. Which of the two is prettier?”
It was a question that made my face feel hot, but I thought it was a necessary step.
There will still be a slight shame towards each other.
I thought that erasing it was the priority, so I am asking this question.
In novels, it is said to be as beautiful as the night sky, or embarrassed.
I remember how things like that were described.
And as we face each other and smile, we get closer little by little… .
“Xien-nim is much prettier.”
“… yes?”
“You are much prettier. than the night sky.”
Adele far exceeded expectations.
There was not even a single second of worry or thought.
It flew right in front of me and bang! and hit it off.