Only Obedient to Me! Sir Knight Chapter 38

“Did you see it on your way in? Everything’s completely changed! We overhauled the whole place a short while ago. We thought it would be profitable. Ah, is that not the right thing to say to someone from the temple? My apologies.”

“…”

Van pretended not to hear the apology and averted his gaze. However, Seilan, completely unfazed by Van’s lukewarm reaction, spread his arms as if proud.

“But it really went just as I thought. Once the talismans started going viral, it was an absolute hit.”

Seilan chuckled, saying that he was even getting inquiries for reservations from nobles in other countries now.

“With this opportunity, I’m going to make Marzen the second Serafilla! Who says you have to go to the beach to relax? Mountains are great too, right? Don’t you think?”

You can’t make money by just following what everyone else is doing. Take note of that. Seilan’s boasting, with his nose in the air, continued endlessly. Business is all about this and that…. So-and-so. Van just nodded along to the story that showed no signs of stopping. Rowy, next to him, nodded along as well.

“So that’s why you insisted on coming to Marzen with me.”

“That’s different. The Duke needed a reliable guardian, obviously.”

“Hmph.”

Reliable, my foot. Rowy snorted. Seilan, naturally ignoring Rowy, asked Van.

“So, how exactly are you going to do this release spell?”

“…First, I think I need to discuss it with the High Priest.”

Those belonging to the Elysion Temple were all people prepared for battle against demons. Among them, the High Priest possessed power specialized in defense and purification against demonic curses. Since Rowy’s curse seemed stronger than expected, it felt best for the High Priest to verify it personally.

“Hmm.”

Seilan nodded at Van’s explanation. Then, he whipped his head toward Rowy.

“By the way, Rowy, did you pay for the release spell? That’s a special order, so you’ll have to negotiate the price with me.”

“Miser.”

“Yep. Thanks for the compliment?”

“You don’t even know what a compliment is.”

“I think I know better than you do.”

Here we go again. Van stepped between the two, who had begun their childish bickering again.

“In that case, can we see the High Priest now?”

“I’ll only let you meet him if Rowy pays up.”

“…Mr. Seilan.”

“…Alright, alright. Follow me.”

Seilan, who had been dying to tease Rowy, gave in to Van’s serious tone and rose from his seat. He led the way naturally, looking more familiar with the place than Van, who had been born and raised in the temple. Seeing that, Van felt strange for no reason.

‘I wondered why he knew so much about the Elysion Order…. Come to think of it, he even put The Holy Sword up for auction.’

He didn’t know who the priest was that had sold The Holy Sword back then, and Rowy’s curse remained unlifted….

He thought everything had ended with the extinction of The Great Demon Mamon, yet despite the long peace, everything was unstable once again. Van, with a stiff expression, held Rowy’s hand tightly.

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

The place they arrived at, following Seilan, was a small building located in the deepest part of the temple.

“I’m going to get back to work, so let me know when you’re finished.”

Whatever was keeping him so busy, Seilan ended the conversation there and hurried back the way they came. Van watched his back for a moment before taking Rowy toward the front of the building.

“What is this place?”

“It’s a prayer room.”

“A prayer room?”

“Yes.”

If the prayer room where they had looked at the Mamon paintings earlier was for everyone, this small building was a prayer room prepared solely for one person. That is to say, for the High Priest. Van, catching his breath for a moment, pushed hard against the heavy wooden door.

“…”

The door opened, and the first thing visible was a large window filled with the glow of the sunset. In front of it, an old man wearing white priestly robes was kneeling and praying. Rowy and Van stopped at the threshold for a moment so as not to disturb the prayer. But the High Priest, having felt their presence before that, was already lifting his head.

“Hmm…? My, Deor!”

“High Priest.”

Discovering the familiar face, the High Priest stood up in a hurry.

“Deor, how long has it been!”

Van bent one knee before the High Priest, who had run up in one breath, and bowed his head deeply.

“My goodness, by Elion.”

The High Priest placed his trembling hand on top of Van’s head and kept muttering something. It must have been a prayer.

“…”

Rowy stood still at the doorway, staring blankly at the spectacle.

‘So that man is the High Priest.’

The High Priest was an old man with completely white hair and deep wrinkles on his face, but his body was very upright and vigorous. He was tall and had a substantial build, so even with the large-bodied Van next to him, he didn’t seem small at all. Rowy, who did not know that the priests of Elysion all received training in preparation for battle against demons, looked down at his own thin body for no reason.

“…”

While Rowy was lost in his own thoughts, Van remained kneeling in front of the High Priest.

‘…So when exactly is that going to end?’

Well, is it like a religious ceremony? As the unknown act dragged on, Rowy looked at the two with a pout. Prayers and whatnot—what good is all that? Besides, why does that guy kneel so easily anywhere? I’m the master here.

‘Still, it looks like they haven’t seen each other in a long time.’

Even with a face full of spite, Rowy unusually waited quietly for their greetings to end.

“…”

How much time had passed? Finally, the High Priest and Van stood up. Rowy approached them quickly.

“Hmm? Ah, my apologies for leaving you standing, guest. Please, come this way.”

Even seeing Rowy looking at him with a pout, the High Priest smiled with a kind face. Leading them to a table with that constant smile, the High Priest personally brewed tea with a tea set he’d brought from somewhere.

“I apologize for not having anything proper to serve you. But the flavor is quite good, isn’t it?”

“…Yeah.”

It really was. Rowy’s expression softened slightly at the unexpectedly delicious tea. Van, who had been tending to Rowy’s teacup, finally greeted the High Priest properly.

“Have you been well all this time?”

“Haha, as you can see. You’ve gone through hardships you didn’t need to because of me.”

The High Priest laughed and waved his hand. However, despite the High Priest’s reaction, Van only darkened his expression.

“Hardship? That’s not true at all. Rather, I…”

“Oh, that’s enough.”

It’s been a while, yet you’re still the same. The High Priest shook his head as he watched Van digging a hole for himself with a depressed look.

“So, who is this believer? Don’t tell me you aren’t going to introduce him.”

“Ah….”

The High Priest’s gaze moved back to Rowy. Before Van could answer, Rowy cut into the conversation as if he’d been waiting.

“Hi. I’m Rowy. And Van here is my slave.”

“…Pardon?”

The High Priest, not understanding a word Rowy said, asked him to repeat himself. But Rowy just took a sip of his tea, ending it there. What on earth does that mean? The High Priest looked at Van with a bewildered expression. But Van was the same—only saying what he wanted to say.

“The demon who cast the curse has been extinguished, but what should I do if the curse still won’t break?”

“…What?”

What is this now? The High Priest’s face was filled with confusion. However, Van, ignoring the High Priest’s state, started telling him about everything that had happened up to now. It was because he wanted to check Rowy’s condition as soon as possible. The High Priest, who had been bewildered at first, gradually turned to a serious expression as Van’s story continued.

“…So, you met a demon summoner who utilizes sacrifices…. On top of that, a mid-level demon. Hmm….”

Having heard the whole story, the High Priest groaned deeply. Knowing that demons were still running rampant, he couldn’t help but be worried.

“Were there any other strange incidents?”

“Aside from that….”

‘Of course, there were many other suspicious things, but…’

He thought it would be better to find a separate time and place to discuss that later. Van glanced at Rowy, who was still drinking tea. The High Priest, understanding Van’s intent, nodded slightly and spoke to Rowy.

“So, you met a demon?”

“Yeah. My memories seem to have been erased.”

“How long has it been?”

“About two years?”

“Hmm….”

At those words, the High Priest’s expression stiffened even further. Cases like this weren’t common even when The Great Demon Mamon was alive.

“Then, let me check for a moment.”

With a serious expression, the High Priest raised his hand and brought it to Rowy’s head. At that moment, a formless energy began to burrow into Rowy’s mind. Rowy jumped up in surprise.

“What is this?”

“Ah, can you feel it? It’s rare for people to notice, but… your senses are sharp. It’s alright. It is divine power.”

“This is divine power?”

Divine power? Rowy’s eyes widened, never having imagined he would actually be able to feel divine power. But before Rowy could even be surprised, an even stronger divine power began to pour into his body. Rowy, wearing a dazed expression, closed his eyes obediently.

‘It’s a power I’m feeling for the first time…’

It was completely different from mana. How should he put it? It was a bit more ambiguous in form, and… a bit warmer. As the power dug deeper into his body than the paths mana usually followed, Rowy’s expression gradually smoothed out in peace.

“Hmm….”

However, unlike the peaceful Rowy, the High Priest’s face became increasingly serious. As the check took longer than expected, Van’s expression also stiffened. The High Priest, who had been examining Rowy for a long while, finally pulled his hand away.

“How is it?”

Van, who had been waiting for the check to end with a nervous face, asked. But the High Priest’s expression still wasn’t good.

“…It’s a stronger curse than I thought. It’s the first one I’ve seen since The Great Demon was extinguished.”

“That can’t be….”

“I’ll have to prepare a release ritual.”

At those words, Van wrapped his arms tightly around Rowy’s shoulders. But Rowy, not knowing exactly what a release ritual was, just blinked his eyes.