The priest was astonished that Sir Lien followed him and could not say anything.
Now I could see that the guy's appearance was a mess, as if he had been chased for quite some time.
His neat attire was a mess, and his sparse hair was scattered like dandelion seeds, sticking to his scalp.
In addition, it looked like he was clinging to the wall.
Of course, it was because he was delivering urgent news, but if you didn't know anything, he would look like a crazy person.
As expected, Sir Lien, who looked him up and down as if I wasn't the only one who thought that, sighed as if she was tired and put away the sword she was aiming at him.
"I guess I was following the wrong person. I never thought he would have been lacking in some way or that he would have been a crazy person."
"Hmm–!"
I almost laughed. I would have really laughed if Cruel hadn't covered my mouth.
I couldn't laugh out loud, my mouth was still covered by that guy's hand, and my shoulders were shaking, and the hand covering my mouth loosened slightly.
While I was contemplating for a moment whether to take advantage of this opportunity to shake him off, Sir Lien's slightly softened voice continued.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to harm you, so you don't have to be so guarded."
"..."
"I think you got caught up in this place by mistake, but this is not a good place."
Help me. I'm dying from laughter.
The priest's mercilessly distorted face was funny, and Sir Lien, who commands 'support' with a serious face, was also funny.
It wouldn't have mattered if I just burst out laughing and walked out from behind the curtain, but considering the possibility that someone was still eavesdropping on the other side of that magic circle and the possibility of Sir Lien calling me in a loud voice, I held my breath as much as I could and her voice continued.
"If you're wearing clothes like this, you've probably been here for a long time, so you probably know the way around. Just go out that door and go back where you came from. Don't come to a place like this again."
"..."
"Do you understand?"
Still, she didn't say she'll take him outside. It was visible that the priorities of the current situation had been firmly established.
Unlike Sir Lien's happy response, the eyes of the man listening to her were shaking mercilessly as if there had been an earthquake.
That's right. If you prove that you are fine, your life will be in danger, and it will be too shameful and your pride will be hurt to remain silent.
Life and pride. The guy who seemed to be conflicted between the two options for a moment said, "Oh, okay."
In a way, it was natural that he chose life.
I couldn't believe he gave such a slurred answer when he had reported clearly just a moment ago. I felt like I was going to burst out laughing again, so I set my jaw firmly.
The guy, who was shaking with immense shame, ran out the door with tears falling from his eyes and a red face.
Sir Lien muttered, "It looks like he was quite scared." She looked around the room to see if there was another door, and then went out. Only then did I push away the hand covering my mouth, hurriedly step out of the curtain, and bend my knees.
There was a hand in a hurry to help me up, but I knew who the owner of the hand was, so I shook it off and crawled to my seat.
"..."
"...Sigh..."
I'm going crazy laughing so hard. I know now is not the time, but what should I do about this funny thing?
After reminding myself over and over again that I was running out of time, I finally calmed down and stood up. We need to check again o the magic circle that had an unexpected function, and catch Sir Lien, who was increasingly moving away from us.
Before examining the circle, I glanced outside the open door.
In the distance, Sir Lien could be seen walking straight ahead without hesitation, her head moving back and forth with her flashing eyes like a wild beast looking for food.
'...She walks so confidently because she knows so much about the roads here.'
Anyone who sees her will think she'd lived here for 10 years.
Even the girl I thought was normal was like that. Are you really saying that there are no normal beings around me?
Anyway, if I leave her alone, I don't know what kind of accident will happen again. Recalling the shock and fear I felt when she broke into this place, I hurriedly checked that no one was around and immediately took a step out of the prayer room and called out to her as she walked away.
"Sir Lien."
"..."
"Sir Lien!"
"Ah...?! My Lord! You're safe!"
Who is your lord again?
Anyway, I'm surprised that Sir Lien calls me lord. Even if you have no words to refer to me, I never thought you would call me your lord.
Most knights serve only one lord throughout their lives.
My relationship with Sir Lien was a simple contractual one. I requested a person capable of leading the Order of Murderous Knights, and the Emperor himself arranged for Sir Lien.
Since the Emperor had introduced her, employment was natural... In any case, in the end, she and I were simply tied together by money, not a master-servant relationship.
That's why I also used the honorific language towards her...
Sir Lien must have noticed my reaction, because she bowed her head and added an explanation as if making an excuse.
"I had no words to refer to you, so I had to call you my lord. I'm sorry if you felt bad."
"No... no. It's okay."
I was just a little surprised.
"Even though I had to call you that, I plan to take responsibility."
"...Yes?"
"Of course, I'm not forcing it. I've always respected you, Count... So, I, Lien Reiner, swear here and there."
Why was she like this? She didn't even stutter her words. This made it even more ominous. I don't know what it is, but just don't do it. No, can you please not do it?
Sir Lien, who couldn't possibly know how uncomfortable I was, turned her sword pointed down and got down on one knee.
And then she spoke solemnly in a serious tone–she was always serious, but now she was even more serious.
"I, Lien Reiner, acknowledge and serve Deon Hardt as my lord and swear to follow him and his orders for the rest of my life, as long as they do not go against the will of His Majesty the Emperor."
'Unless he and his orders are contrary to the will of His Majesty the Emperor.'
Knights of an empire that do not have a lord follow the Empire and the Emperor. Later, when the lord was decided, it was decided who will take priority between the lord and the Emperor, and it seems that Sir Lien decided to give priority to the Emperor.
Anyway, this one was really special. Do I really want to do something in this mess that could have been put off for a while and then go back? Of course, since this was to my benefit, I solemnly answered accordingly.
"I pledge to do my best to ensure that your loyalty is not in vain."
Okay, this was a bit unexpected, but with this, we now have a trainer who will take care of the rabid dogs for the rest of their lives. I was always anxious, but now I felt relieved.
Now it's time to do the work I've been putting off for a while. I turned and went back into the prayer room and ran my fingertips over the carvings on the wall behind the podium.
A presence that could only be felt if you go in very slightly and touch it with your fingertips. I put my hand on it and mumbled something, and the door opened. I pressed the gem in the center and twisted it to the side, and I was able to make contact.
If so, wouldn't there be other functions as well?
"You'll need a competent alchemist."
"...I know. Are you there yet?"
"..."
Cruel obediently disappeared at my annoyed words.
No, he didn't obey. He probably went to find an alchemist before me. I can't lose either.
"Sir Lien. Let's go back."
"Yes."
Sir Lien and I climbed through the window again as we heard the sound of countless footsteps approaching from a distance.
***
While Deon Hardt was struggling at the Salvation Church, Emperor Eduardo Desert, who had given him orders, was taking a late nap.
Originally, he didn't sleep unless it was a set time, but lately, his lack of sleep had become so severe that it was difficult to survive without even a short nap like this.
Sleep deprivation was not new. Eduardo had not been able to sleep properly even for a single moment since he ascended to the position of monarch.
How could he sleep comfortably when the people he killed come and harass him every night?
When he ascended to the throne as a king and during the Eight Year War fought to obtain the title of 'Emperor', he killed countless people.
Perhaps, if all of those corpses were gathered in one place, there would be enough to build a mountain.
That's why so many people come to see it as a nightmare.
Most people would have gone beyond insomnia and gone crazy right away.
But the Emperor held on, and the dead seemed to have been offended by him.
"!"
The Emperor jumped up from the bed. He sat there for a while, breathing heavily. After a while, he seemed to have calmed down a bit, sighing deeply and wiping his wet bangs. Cold sweat appeared on his palms.
End.
The palm of his hand turned black in an instant–the entire hand was distorted and a strange human face popped out.
An angry face shedding bloody tears. A voice full of malice shouting that it hates and curses you.
'Emperor, I hate you.'
'Die, die, die, why are you the only one alive? I died like this, so why don't you!!'
Now this was not a dream, but reality.
How angry must they be to come out and harass him in real life?
As the Emperor watched this in silence, a soft voice was heard, as if considerate of the man who had just woken up.
"There's still time until dinner."
The Emperor just turned his eyes and looked in one direction.
As soon as his eyes met Crown Prince Elpidius, who was leaning against the wall near the door, he slowly stood up and approached.
"I heard that your food intake has decreased a lot recently. I was worried that you were unwell..."
"..."
"You seem to have had a nightmare again."
Elpidius, standing in front of the Emperor, checked his uncle's condition.
Through the messy hem of the gown, you could see muscles glistening with cold sweat. Likewise, his golden hair, soaked in cold sweat, had a darker saturation than usual, and the subtle shadows under his eyes contained telltale fatigue.
His overall appearance was haggard.
It would be dangerous if things continued like this.
There were so many enemies, what should they do if his physical condition deteriorated here?
"As expected, calling a congressman..."
"That's done."
"Uncle."
Elpidius, who had called him to persuade the Emperor, paused for a moment.
The focus of the Emperor's eyes was somehow strange.
His gaze was fixed on somewhere beyond himself.
He looked back, but all he saw was an ordinary room. When he turned his head again with a puzzled expression, he saw the Emperor pressing his eyes with one hand as if he were tired.
"Uncle...?"
"...You're being annoying."
...No way.
Elpidius' expression became even more serious as he remembered the sense of discomfort he had been feeling for some time.
"No way... are you hallucinating now?"
"There are no problems in daily life."
"Is that the problem? You are right now!"
"Elpidius."
"...Uncle..."
Eduardo, who seemed to have regained his composure and looked the same as usual, looked straight into his nephew's worried eyes.
Sorry, Elpidius, but he had no intention of chasing these nightmares and hallucinations away.
Rather, if he said he was happy about them, would he really believe him?
"Recently, as I was processing documents related to the war, I felt tired and lost my mind for a moment. It's not a big deal, so don't worry about it."
"What the hell...!"
He was worried that he would forget my sins and live in peace, but if they came to him like this, he would never forget them.
Elpidius washed his face dry several times, as if he was trying to calm down. Even then, his emotions seemed to be out of control, and his voice started to fade away. It was only after a little more time had passed that it was difficult to come out.
"...Even in this state, the war... Do you really need to do this?"
"I..."
"I am not asking 'Your Majesty', but 'Uncle.'"
"...What answer do you think I will give?"
Elpidius' face changed . It was painfully distorted.
"Then you're going to memorize the list again!"