MILWTG 72

~Chapter 72~

Back at the duke’s residence, where flowers were to be delivered by the promised date, shocking news awaited Riden.

“The baron’s daughter?”

“Yes. We’re tracking the two who disappeared.”

They said materials were found in Henji’s room—materials that could turn an ordinary person into a vessel for a demon.

Merrick explained that since she had vanished, it seemed she had gathered the materials but lost her nerve and fled without carrying it out.

“This is the material, right?”

“Yes. It’s called the blood powder of Verbes.”

Riden stepped back uneasily from the glass bottle of red powder, but Merrick reassured her.

“Don’t worry. The powder alone can’t harm anyone. To make a demon vessel, you need the person’s consent, the blood powder, and a curse practitioner.”

Merrick was right.

Without the person’s agreement and a curse user, the blood powder was just that—powder.
Even if someone accidentally drank it in water, nothing would happen.

But the fact that it came from Henji’s room… that meant she wanted to become a demon vessel to harm someone.

And the target was surely me!

A chill ran down Riden’s spine.

She had only thought the baron’s daughter would be punished—never imagined she’d been dragged to the duke’s estate to lose her title, all while plotting such a scheme.

A demon vessel could wield power beyond humans—though two or three knights were usually enough to subdue one.

Riden looked up at Merrick with a worried face, folding her small hands as if in prayer.

“Count… I’ll be safe, right?”

I want to be safe. There are still so many things I want to do.
I want to live at least 80 more years.

Merrick placed a firm hand on her shoulder.

“Feeling uneasy, young lady? It’s my fault for not expecting they’d stoop so low. Don’t worry—I’ll do everything to prevent trouble.”

“Thank you, Count.”

Riden’s face softened at his reassurance.

His hand on her shoulder pressed a little more firmly.

“So stay as close to Ethan as possible.”

“…What?”

Aren’t you supposed to reinforce the guards or capture the baron’s daughter?

“Yes. By his side, you’re safest.”

“….”

Her eyebrows lowered into a frown.
Seeing her distrust, Merrick quickly corrected himself.

“Haha, I was joking. I’ve already arranged the necessary measures. You can rest easy—truly.”

Then his expression grew serious.

“From what we’ve seen, before losing her title, she must have been planning marriage with a nobleman. A priest’s presence is required for such unions. I contacted the temple, and word has already reached us.”

“Already? Then she’ll be caught soon.”

“Yes.” Merrick added lightly,

“Because of this, priests will visit the duke’s residence often. I wanted you to know so you won’t be alarmed.”

Time flowed smoothly.

Instead of training, the knights prepared a play to close their golden holiday.

In an open-air theater set up before the barracks, many from the ducal family gathered.

The knights took to acting instead of their usual sparring, and each clumsy performance brought bursts of laughter.

The title: “The Return of the Legendary Knight.”

It told of a harsh commander who trained the knights brutally, only to be humiliated by a young knight.

In this scene, the villain forced a ridiculously heavy iron sword on the hero.

“Take it. In real battle, you’ll need even heavier weapons.”

The villain sneered.

“Weaklings have no place in our order. Take this!”

He swung his light wooden sword mercilessly, certain the boy couldn’t even lift the iron blade.

As the villain’s blow came down, the audience held their breath.

The boy will be hurt!

But then came a twist.

The young knight rose and swung the iron sword easily.

“Argh!”

The villain went flying, clutching his ribs, and the crowd buzzed.

“How’s that possible?”
“He’s only just become a knight—can he really do that?”

The young knight looked down at the writhing villain and declared,

“In truth, I am the legendary knight Gawain! I fell slaying a dragon, and when I awoke, I was in this boy’s body. Nobody knows! To their eyes I’m the weakest—but that’s not true!”

The crowd fell silent, a bit startled by this web-novel twist Riden had written in.

Not quite the reaction I hoped for…

But the play continued.

The hero sneered,
“Does it hurt? Stand up. In real battle, the blows are far heavier.”

“What’s with the sudden tone? Who are you? How do you swing that so—ack!”

The legendary knight in the boy’s body beat the villain soundly.

As the villain collapsed unconscious, the hero declared again,

“As a legendary knight, I never knew. But living as the weakest, I finally see—the true evil was not above, but below! From now on, I’ll live as the weakest, hiding my power, and destroy all evil!”

With the last line of Act One, the hero raised his fist high to the sky.

Riden scanned the knights’ faces.
Most looked stunned.

I wanted to give them a cathartic story, but maybe I went too far…

Then—

“Bravo! Bravo!”

One voice rose, and soon cheers erupted everywhere.

“Wow, that was so satisfying!”
“Wherever the hero goes, he’ll be treated as the weakest, right? Then whoever mocks him is—”
“Dead meat!”
“I want to keep watching!”

Riden relaxed her tense shoulders.

My choice wasn’t wrong!

Classic stories of marrying the lord’s daughter were nice, but trying this had been worth it.

“Here’s a drink for your throat.”

“Thanks.”

Taking a champagne glass from the attendant, Riden glanced at Ethan beside her.

He too was smiling faintly as he watched the knights’ excited faces.

Riden clinked her glass with his and pointed a finger at herself.

“…?”

“Here—the playwright.”

Her shamelessness made Ethan laugh.

“That was a fine play.”

“Of course. I poured my heart into it.”

They touched glasses. The sparkling wine slid smoothly down her throat.

Above, the full moon shone.
Riden’s right hand inched toward Ethan’s left.

Timidly, she brushed his fingertips.

“Oh? Look at this.”

Earlier that day, Riden had accidentally overheard Victoria and another maid talking.

“Isn’t it strange how the olive tree in the young lady’s room and the study grew so quickly?”
“Really does seem so. None of the other pots are like that.”

When they left, Riden checked.

The olive tree in her room truly looked taller than before.
Comparing it with those in other rooms—it was only hers that grew so much.

Could it be… I have a power?

If so, maybe the ability described in the book was real.

And she couldn’t forget the original Riden asking Ethan to hold hands.

As their nails brushed, Ethan turned with a curious look.
She blurted an excuse.

“Well… Chapter Two is about the ‘Eyes of the Soul’ to see illness, and then Chapter Three says… uh…”

“I see. So your goal is healing?”

“…Yes! Exactly. You understand so fast.”

Why am I stuttering?
Be confident! It’s not like I have a hidden motive.

Then—something unexpected.

Ethan, still gazing at the night sky, covered her hand with his large one.

“Because it’s a full moon.”

“….”

“It means—I don’t want you to hurt.”