Only Obedient to Me! Sir Knight Chapter 43

“You mean they went as just a trio to face the Great Demon? Isn’t that practically suicide?” Rowy nodded with a serious expression. It was a signal to continue the story.

“And unfortunately, they were ambushed by demons while returning to the temple. There were so many wounded that a proper battle was impossible…. In the end, only Max survived. Everyone was desperate to protect their youngest.”

The scene discovered by the High Priest, who had gone to help them with a group of priests, was horrific.

“Oh, Elion….”

Recalling the tragedy of that time, the High Priest recited a short prayer with a mournful expression.

“Then, what about Mamon? What happened after just the three of them went?”

Of course, Rowy had no interest in what happened to the others. At Rowy’s urging, the High Priest continued.

“They succeeded in killing Mamon. However, they didn’t return unscathed, either. Dare brought back Shane and Turner, who had lost consciousness due to Mamon’s curse.”

A cleansing ritual was urgently conducted to save them.

“Shane and Turner thankfully woke up, but….”

However, Mamon’s curse was too powerful. Shane and Turner, their souls gnawed away, could never return to their former selves.

“…It was too great a sacrifice. They were all like family who had been together since childhood. Dare, in particular, blamed himself for a long time, saying he should have sent Shane and Turner back with Max. He said that if he had, everyone would have survived. Dare was in such agony. I can understand why he couldn’t take it anymore and left the temple.”

Family-like… Rowy tried to think if he had ever seen Shane and Turner, but he couldn’t quite recall.

‘…I don’t think I’ve seen them at meal times, either.’

Of course, he didn’t know for sure since he hadn’t talked to them that day. If he had known this, he would have at least greeted them.

“…”

As Rowy’s face turned gloomy, the High Priest intentionally changed the subject in a brighter voice.

“Now, let’s stop with the dark stories. You’ve returned so much brighter now, haven’t you? Dare always had a slightly gloomy side to him, but now that he’s always walking around smiling like this, I believe it’s all thanks to you being by his side.”

Brighter? At those words, Rowy recalled the first time he met Van.

‘Well, I did think his gaze was fierce when we first met.’

His expression was stiff, too…. But Rowy hadn’t done anything to make Van smile as kindly as he did now.

‘…Actually, it was Van who comforted me.’

Rowy smiled softly, remembering the day they first met, when Van had clumsily hugged him while he was crying. And… the High Priest, who had been observing Rowy’s face, asked abruptly.

“So, when are you getting married?”

…No, why does every conclusion lead to marriage?

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

With Rowy’s purification prayer being the last step, the preparation for the ritual was finally complete. The cleansing ritual was scheduled for tomorrow dawn. Seilan had fluttered off somewhere again, saying to contact him once the ritual was over; it seemed he thought of this ritual as nothing more than a blessing. And that wasn’t much different for Rowy, either.

That meant… Van was the only one who was nervous. Even though it was long past bedtime, Van was still pacing the room with a stiff face. He looked full of worry. Rowy, lying in bed, called out to him.

“What’s wrong? Let’s sleep. You said you have to get up at dawn tomorrow.”

“…Yes. Please get some rest.”

“Come here quickly.”

At Rowy’s urging, Van approached the bedside with slow steps. His face was still full of sorrow.

“What are you so worried about?”

“…I’m just feeling uneasy about something.”

“Like what? It’s just a cleansing.”

“…”

“Anyone would think you’re being dragged off somewhere.”

Despite Rowy’s words, Van’s expression showed no signs of loosening. Rowy yawned and pulled on Van’s hand.

“Honestly, why do you have so many worries?”

“…I shouldn’t think this way, but what if the cleansing fails….”

“Even if it fails, nothing will happen. First of all, I have perfect control over my magic, and if that’s the case, it’s difficult for anything to touch my mind any further. I’m a totally powerful mage, you know.”

Rowy said, tilting his nose up. Van found him cute and chuckled softly. However, his expression darkened again immediately.

“It’s not just that, but you lost your memories. What are we going to do about the memories already lost? What if the curse gradually gets stronger and you lose even more in the future?”

“So what? I don’t even have any precious memories to begin with. What’s the harm in losing a few?”

At his calm tone, Van let out a deep sigh. Then, he stubbornly burrowed into Rowy’s arms. Why is he like this? He’s heavy. Rowy grumbled but spread his arms for Van.

“…What if you forget about me?”

Van, who had been rubbing his face into Rowy’s chest, finally revealed the anxiety in his heart. But Rowy just let out a dry laugh at the words.

“Are you an idiot? How could I forget the person right beside me?”

That… was true, but. Van closed his mouth again and buried his face in Rowy’s chest.

“Jeez, are you relieved now?”

“…”

Van didn’t answer that and started moving his hands stealthily. Rowy squirmed and got annoyed at the hand that kept digging into his waist.

“What is it?”

“Please comfort me a little more.”

“Are you a kid?”

“…”

“Ugh!”

Rowy glared at Van with all his might and eventually started awkwardly patting Van’s back. Van, who had been burying his face in Rowy’s chest for a while, suddenly lifted his head.

“…Would, uh, a kiss of comfort be possible?”

“Do you want to sleep alone?”

“No….”

Even while scolding him, Rowy held the stubbornly clinging Van tight all night long, unlike his usual self.

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

It was early dawn before the sun had even risen. Arriving in front of the main hall where the cleansing ritual would take place, the priests who would preside over the ritual were already gathered.

“Hello.”

“You are here.”

Rowy, who had waved his hand gently, asked the priests point-blank.

“But why do you do the ritual at dawn? Is there a reason?”

“Pardon? Ah, we have to conduct business starting in the morning.”

“Hmm….”

Business…. As expected, it seemed Van was the only one taking this seriously. Rowy looked up at Van, who was frozen by his side, with a sour expression. Sensing the gaze, Van finally looked back at Rowy and forced a smile.

“…Please go in now. If you just follow what the priest says, nothing will happen.”

“I know.”

“Don’t worry.”

“I told you I know.”

“Yes, please go in now.”

“…”

However, Rowy didn’t leave and just stared blankly at Van.

“Um, you need to let go of my hand….”

“Pardon? Ah….”

Finally, Priest Robert, who was beside them, spoke up. Van then let go of Rowy’s hand, which he had been holding tightly without realizing it.

“Don’t worry and wait here quietly. Okay?”

“Yes…”

After giving the stern instruction to the seemingly dazed Van, Rowy followed behind Priest Robert and entered the main hall. Van, left alone, just stood there and watched blankly until Rowy was completely out of sight.

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

“Haa….”

Van, pacing in front of the main hall, sighed for the umpteenth time. Rowy told him not to worry, but it wasn’t as easy as saying it. This time spent waiting for the cleansing to end… kept making him recall the past.

‘Shane, Turner….’

Thinking of the two, Van sighed deeply once again.

The cleansing had ultimately failed. Even so, how many times had he prayed every night for the two who couldn’t wake up, just hoping they would stay alive. That was why, when he heard the news that they had woken up, the person most overjoyed was definitely Van.

“…”

“…”

However… the moment he faced the brothers he had waited for so long, Van couldn’t help but hesitate.

‘Why….’

Vacant eyes without a soul—the moment he saw those eyes, he knew it instinctively. In the final battle with Mamon… he had failed to save his brothers.

“Are you here?”

Priest Alex, who had been taking care of them nearby, saw the frozen Van and greeted him with an intentionally bright voice. Then he started introducing Van to Shane and Turner.

“This is the Captain of the Holy Knights. Say hello.”

Watching the two bow their heads with those empty eyes that had forgotten everything, Van had only one thought.

‘…I led my brothers to their deaths.’

Of course, the High Priest was angry at Van for that. He scolded him, asking how he could call such a noble sacrifice that way.

‘A noble sacrifice, huh….’

However, Van still didn’t know if he could agree with that. Even while watching Shane and Turner receive training for basic daily life and seeing Max continue his grueling rehabilitation, Van always carried that doubt in his heart. Even so, Van had always pushed himself not to doubt God. Up until the very moment he left the temple.

And yet…. After paying so many sacrifices, why was something like this happening again? If so, what exactly was the meaning of their sacrifice?

‘Oh, Elion, is the path I am walking truly Your will?’

Thinking of Rowy, Van squeezed his eyes shut.