Only Obedient to Me! Sir Knight Chapter 11

“It’s cheaper than even a pair of tongs. I should have just commissioned the sword at Marzen from the start.” The price of the sword continued to grate on Rowy. Beside him, Van was still subtly urging him to get a refund. Hmph. Trying to avoid Van, Rowy turned his head away. Just in time, dessert was delivered between the two of them. They were small cakes. Along with them came the wine that he had turned down.

“You can’t have any.”

“I didn’t even say anything.”

Van whisked the wine far away and pulled the dessert in front of Rowy. Rowy poked at it absentmindedly before putting down his fork. It was dried out, and he really didn’t feel like eating it.

‘And they claimed they bought this from a dessert shop.’

A dessert shop, my foot—it looked like something made a long time ago. Sensing Rowy’s dissatisfaction, Van ate all the cakes instead. Rowy wanted to go back and just sleep now. The payment must be taking a long time, as there was still no word on The Holy Sword. Giving a small yawn, Rowy opened his mouth.

“I’ve never heard of this ‘The Holy Sword’ thing before.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. I’ve never been to the Elysion temple.”

“That is likely the case for most. There are far more Solanis temples on the continent, after all.”

Of course, he had barely been to a Solanis temple either. Back when he was a child—well, around ten years old—that was his first and last visit. Rowy traced his memories. Hmm, he didn’t think he had really prayed back then, either. Then or now, Rowy didn’t particularly want anything from the gods. In the first place, they don’t even really exist, do they? The gods, I mean.

“I don’t believe in gods.”

“Because you are a mage.”

That’s right. Mages don’t believe in gods. To those who understand everything in the world through magic, the existence of a god was a realm that could not be explained. Perhaps it was just a sanctuary for the mind that those in need of something to lean on sought out, nothing more.

There were tales that priests used divine power in ancient times, but the priests of the current era did nothing more than pray, calling it a blessing. And Rowy didn’t believe in the efficacy of those blessings either.

‘They’re just giving well-wishes, that’s all.’

Rowy thought bitingly to himself. Still, he didn’t show it. The man in front of him seemed to believe in gods more deeply than he had thought.

Throughout the sleepless night, Van, who had stayed by his side, kept praying for Rowy in a low voice. Even while Van was drifting off to sleep, Rowy hadn’t missed the sound.

‘Oh, Elysion.’

He had definitely said Elysion. If Van was a follower of Elysion, and considering the meaning that The Holy Sword held… He couldn’t forget Van’s serious face as he gazed at the sword. Hmph, refund, indeed.

“Van, why do you believe in God?”

At Rowy’s sudden question, Van looked at Rowy.

“Well, that is…”

If asked why he believed in God… it was likely because this whole situation was divinely ordained. Even this very moment, sitting face-to-face waiting for The Holy Sword. However, Van did not speak those words aloud.

Even if Rowy denied the existence of God, God existed, and because it was self-evident, Van did not want to argue with Rowy about it. Van knew very well how mages felt about the gods. A battle mage who had joined the Holy Knights to kill demons had doubted God constantly, even after seeing miracles performed right before their eyes. Even until the very moment they died.

‘If there is a god, I can finally confirm it now.’

Those were that mage’s final words. Are all mages like this? Since he had only just met two mages he knew, he couldn’t be sure. In any case, Van had no intention of forcing his faith on Rowy just because he didn’t believe. If Rowy didn’t believe in God, Van could just pray twice as hard for Rowy’s share. Instead of testifying to his faith, Van brought up a story that Rowy would find convincing.

“Demons that come to the surface do not die; they simply return to hell. The only way to return their very existence to nothingness is with The Holy Sword, Ignis. That is enough to feel the presence of God.”

Certainly. Demons do not die. Rowy knew this well, too. If it were possible to drive a demon to death, then it was certain that some power was at work. Whether that was God, or something else entirely.

“A sword that kills demons…”

Born as a mage, Rowy enjoyed understanding and defining everything in the world. Naturally, Rowy felt a deep interest in The Holy Sword as well.

“Does that holy weapon really have magic-like power? Or that jewel, the one they called the sealing stone? Is a demon actually sealed inside it?”

“Both help in stopping demons, but the direct power that drives a demon to death is the holy fire. Only the true master of the sword can summon the holy fire.”

“You kill demons by roasting them with fire?”

“To be precise, it is fire imbued with the power of God. Demons do not die from ordinary fire.”

A very detailed explanation poured out of Van. As expected, he really must be a believer of Elysion.

“You know a lot about this…”

Naturally. Because he is the person who knows the most about The Holy Sword. The former Holy Knight commander, Van, who added nothing more, shrugged his shoulders.

“But that sword, it looked kind of ominous. I felt strange just looking at it.”

“Since it is a sword that has killed countless demons, its energy will be different from that of ordinary holy relics.”

“Uh-huh.”

Having never even seen an ordinary holy relic, Rowy nodded vaguely. Still, his questions remained unanswered. A sword that kills demons? He still didn’t understand the principle behind it.

“I don’t really know. I’ve never even seen a god.”

“I don’t think anyone has ever seen a god in person.”

“How can you believe in something without seeing it?”

Rowy tilted his head. Following Rowy’s movement, Van carefully swept aside the hair that fell with the motion. It was a gentle touch.

“Because there are things that exist even if you cannot see them.”

The voice saying that reminded him of Van reciting prayers all night long, and for a moment, Rowy lost what he was about to say and pressed his lips shut.

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

“But why is it taking so long?”

“You’re right. They ran off with just the money.”

Running off with five billion sen…? Van’s face turned deathly pale in an instant. Of course, Rowy was only joking. This wasn’t just some run-of-the-mill black market, and there was no way such a thing would happen at a formal auction house catering to nobles. Rowy rang a bell to summon an attendant. However, the tightly shut door showed no signs of opening.

“Something is strange.”

“Let’s go out.”

“Stay behind me.”

Van, who had grabbed Rowy as he started to stand up and placed him behind himself, carefully opened the door.

“What is it?”

It had been a long time since the auction ended, and all the customers had already returned. Even so, it was strange for it to be this quiet. There had definitely been several auction house staff and security personnel in the hallway, but now there was no one.

“I hear sounds from below.”

“I don’t hear anything.”

Rowy grumbled. Van, keeping a firm grip on Rowy, strained his ears. Rushed footsteps, shouting, and… the smell of blood.

“It seems there has been a conflict.”

“Let’s go see.”

Rowy stepped forward immediately. Van pulled him back.

“It is dangerous.”

Van shook his head with a grave face. Even if they were hiding their faces, he knew from their demeanor alone that most of the customers at this auction house were nobles. It was strange for a place dealing with nobles to allow a situation to arise where they couldn’t attend to a client who had paid as much money as Rowy.

Something much bigger than expected had clearly happened. He couldn’t take someone so carefree to a place like that. What if he got hit by a stray attack, or worse, if they were targeting this person? Van gripped his sword tightly.

“What is it? Who’s fighting?”

Even though his face was hidden by a mask, it was obvious from his sparkling eyes that he was incredibly excited, constantly peeking outside. Rowy clearly wasn’t thinking about the fact that he was in danger at all.

‘I have to fight while protecting such a thoughtless child?’

What if something went wrong? What would he do then? The former Holy Knight commander was rapidly losing confidence in his own abilities and falling into fear. However, there was no time to dwell on it. The sounds were getting closer. With a stern face, Van hid Rowy completely behind his back.

“Sir! Please, come this way!”

The person who appeared before the two tense men was an attendant. Van exhaled in relief internally.

“What is happening?”

“Strange men have attacked! They are aiming for The Holy Sword… We are holding them off for now, but there are strange fellows mixed in… Anyway, please come this way! I will guide you to a shelter!”

“Where is The Holy Sword?”

“The Holy Sword is in a safe place! They can’t open it without the key anyway, so they won’t be able to do anything about it. I’ve already reported it to the Knights, so if we can just hold out until they arrive…”

This is preposterous. To dare to invade the Veloa Trading Guild! The agitated attendant rambled on. However, Van and Rowy had no reaction to the attendant’s words.

“Where is The Holy Sword?”

People draped in black robes were already stepping into the end of the hallway.