Chapter 58: Salvation Church

The priest, aghast that Sir Lien had tracked him down, could only gape, his mouth opening and closing without a sound.

Judging by his appearance, he’d been running for his life.

His once-tidy attire was a mess, and his thinning hair clung precariously to his scalp like dandelion seeds.

To top it off, he was plastered against the wall as if trying to merge with it.

Of course, he was in a state because he was delivering urgent news, but to an outsider, he looked like a lunatic.

Sir Lien, apparently thinking the same thing, scanned him from head to toe, sighed as if she’d been let down, and lowered her sword.

“False alarm. Just a…disturbed individual, it seems.”

‘Hnnngh!’

I almost laughed. If Cruel hadn’t clamped his hand over my mouth, I really would have.

Unable to laugh out loud, I could only stand there, my shoulders shaking as his hand muffled my mouth. His grip loosened slightly.

As I briefly considered trying to break free, Sir Lien’s voice, now calmer, continued.

“My apologies. I meant no harm, so there’s no need to be so alarmed.”

“……”

“It seems you’ve been tricked into getting involved here as well. This place isn’t good. So… bad? Bad news. You shouldn’t come here. These clothes are bad too, you should change.”

‘Pffft—!!’

Help me. I feel like I’m going to die laughing.

The priest’s ridiculously contorted face and Sir Lien’s earnest pronouncements of ‘bad news’ are too much.

I could just burst out laughing and step out from behind the curtain, but considering someone might still be eavesdropping beyond that gemstone and the possibility of Sir Lien calling out to me loudly, I held my breath. Her voice continued.

“If you’re dressed like this, you’ve been here quite a while, so you probably know your way around. Just head out that door and go back the way you came. And don’t ever come back here.”

“……”

“Understand?”

She’s not even offering to escort him out. Her priorities are clear.

Unlike Sir Lien, who seemed pleased with her handling of the situation, the man’s eyes darted around like there was an earthquake.

Well, of course. Proving he’s not crazy is dangerous, but staying put is humiliating and damaging to his pride.

Life or pride. The guy seemed to weigh his options for a moment before saying,

“Ah, okay.”

Predictably, he chose life.

He was so articulate when he was delivering his report earlier, but now his answer is so clumsy. I had to clench my jaw to stop myself from laughing again.

The man, trembling with immense shame, tears welling in his eyes and his face beet-red, dashed out the door.

Sir Lien watched him go, muttering, “He must have been really scared,” before looking around the room for other exits and then heading out.

Only then did I remove Cruel’s hand from my mouth and stumble out from behind the curtain, my knees buckling.

A hand reached out to steady me, but knowing who it belonged to, I smacked it away and collapsed onto the floor.

“……”

“…Hic, heh…”

Seriously, this is killing me. I know this isn’t the time, but what am I supposed to do when it’s this funny?

Reminding myself of the urgency, I finally managed to calm down and get to my feet. I need to re-examine the gemstone with its unexpected function and catch up with the increasingly distant Sir Lien.

Before checking the gemstone, I peeked out the slightly ajar door.

In the distance, I could see Sir Lien striding confidently, her eyes gleaming like a predator searching for prey, scanning her surroundings.

‘…How does she know the way around here so well?’

Anyone would think she’s lived here for a decade.

Even she, who I thought was somewhat normal, is like this. Are there no sane people around me?

Anyway, if I leave her to her own devices, she’ll probably cause more trouble. The shock and horror of her initial intrusion here flashed through my mind, and I quickly checked that no one was around before stepping out of the prayer room and calling out to her as she walked away.

“Sir Lien.”

“……”

“Sir Lien!”

“Ah…?! Your, My Lord! You’re safe!”

Who’s My Lord now?

Still, it’s surprising that Sir Lien is calling me My Lord. Even if she doesn’t have another way to address me, calling me that is unexpected.

Most knights serve only one lord throughout their lives.

Sir Lien and I have a simple contractual relationship. I requested someone capable of leading the Killer Knights, and the Emperor himself introduced me to Sir Lien.

Since the Emperor recommended her, hiring her was a given… but ultimately, she and I are just bound by money, not a lord-vassal relationship.

That’s why I’ve been speaking politely to her…

Perhaps sensing my reaction, Sir Lien bowed deeply and added an explanation, as if making excuses.

“I had no other way to address you, so I was forced to call you My Lord. I apologize if it offended you.”

“Ah… no. It’s fine.”

I was just a little surprised.

“Although I was forced to use that title, I intend to take responsibility for it.”

“…Huh?”

“O-Of course, it’s not forced. I have admired you for some time now… Therefore, I, Lien Riner, pledge myself here and now.”

What’s wrong with her? She even stuttered. This makes me even more uneasy. I don’t know what’s happening, but please don’t do it. No, please don’t?

Oblivious to my discomfort, Sir Lien inverted her sword and knelt on one knee.

Then, in a serious tone—she’s always serious, but this was another level—she declared solemnly.

“I, Lien Riner, acknowledge Deon Hart as my lord and will serve him. As long as his commands do not contradict the will of His Majesty the Emperor, I swear to follow him with my life.”

‘As long as his commands do not contradict the will of His Majesty the Emperor’.

Imperial knights who haven’t sworn fealty to a lord primarily serve the Empire and the Emperor. When they do get a lord, they decide whether to prioritize their lord or the Emperor. It seems Sir Lien has chosen to prioritize the Emperor.

She’s really something else. Couldn’t this have waited until we got back? Why do it in this mess?

Of course, this benefits me, so I responded solemnly in kind.

“I pledge to do my best to ensure your loyalty is not in vain.”

Great, it was a bit sudden, but now I have a handler for these crazy dogs for life. I’ve always been worried, but now I can relax a little.

Now it’s time for what I put on hold. I turned back to the prayer room and ran my fingers over the gemstone on the wall behind the platform.

It’s only noticeable when you lightly, very lightly press your fingertip against it. Placing my hand on it and muttering something opened the door, and pressing and twisting it made contact.

Could it have other functions?

“I’ll need a capable sorcerer.”

“…I know. Aren’t you leaving yet?”

“……”

Cruel disappeared without argument at my annoyed words.

No, not without argument. He probably went to find a sorcerer before I did. I can’t lose.

“Sir Lien. Let’s go back.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Hearing the sound of many footsteps approaching from afar, Sir Lien and I climbed back out the window.

***

While Deon Hart was struggling in the Salvation Church, Emperor Eudoardo Deserte, who had given him the order, was taking a late afternoon nap.

He didn’t usually sleep outside of his designated sleep schedule, but recently his sleep deprivation had become severe, making these short naps necessary to function.

Sleep deprivation wasn’t new to him. Eudoardo hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since ascending the throne.

How could he sleep peacefully when the people he killed visited him every night?

When he rose to power and during the eight years of war to gain the title of ‘Emperor,’ he killed countless people.

If their corpses were piled up, they could probably form a mountain.

That’s how many specters haunted his dreams. Most people would have gone insane long ago, succumbing to more than just insomnia.

But the Emperor endured, and the departed seemed resentful of his resilience.

!

The Emperor jolted upright in bed.

He sat there for a while, catching his breath, before letting out a deep sigh, seemingly regaining composure, and pushing his damp bangs off his forehead. His palm was slick with cold sweat.

And then—

His palm instantly turned black—

—his entire hand contorted, and a grotesque human face emerged.

An enraged face shedding tears of blood. A voice filled with malice, screaming that it hated and cursed him.

[Emperor, I hate you.]

[Die, die, why are you the only one alive? I died like this, so why you!!]

This wasn’t a dream, but reality.

How much resentment must they hold to manifest in reality and torment him like this?

The Emperor silently watched it, and then a quiet voice, considerate of his recent awakening, spoke.

“There’s still time before dinner.”

The Emperor only moved his eyes to look at the speaker.

As his gaze landed on him, Crown Prince Elpidius, who had been leaning against the wall near the door, slowly straightened up and approached.

“I heard your meal portions have decreased significantly recently. I was worried you might be unwell…”

“……”

“You seem to have had another nightmare.”

Elpidius, standing before the Emperor, assessed his uncle’s condition.

Through the disheveled gown, he could see muscles glistening with cold sweat. His golden hair, also damp with sweat, appeared darker than usual, and the faint shadows under his eyes betrayed his exhaustion.

He looked utterly drained.

This is dangerous.

He has so many enemies. What will happen if his health deteriorates further?

“Perhaps I should summon the physician…”

“No need.”

“Uncle.”

Elpidius, trying to persuade the Emperor, paused.

The Emperor’s eyes seemed unfocused, something was off.

His gaze was fixed on something beyond him.

He turned around, but all he saw was the normal scenery of the room.

Confused, he turned back to see the Emperor pressing his eyes with one hand, looking tired.

“Uncle…?”

“Annoying pest.”

…Could it be?

The unsettling feeling he’d had for a while now made Elpidius’s expression darken.

“Surely… you’re not seeing hallucinations now, are you?”

“It doesn’t interfere with my daily life.”

“That’s not the point! I’ll call the imperial physician immediately…!”

“Elpidius.”

“…Uncle…”

Eudoardo, having regained his composure, looked directly into his nephew’s worried eyes.

He felt sorry for Elpidius, but he had no intention of getting rid of these nightmares and hallucinations.

Would he even believe him if he said he was glad?

“I was reviewing war documents recently and saw things. It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”

“But…!”

He had been worried he might forget his sins and live comfortably, but if they came to him like this, he would never forget.

Elpidius tried to calm himself, running a hand over his face several times. Even then, his voice was strained when he finally spoke after a moment.

“…Even in this condition… do you really need to… wage war?”

“I…”

“I’m not asking ‘His Majesty,’ I’m asking ‘Uncle.'”

“…What kind of answer do you expect?”

Elpidius’s face twisted in anguish.

“Then you’ll recite the names again!”