Chapter 47
“Wow, trying to make the holy knights sleep on the ground just to catch a few monsters? The goddess must be angry!”
“Oh, the grace of the goddess brought me to this land! I’ll use divine power—now give me some meat!”
As one knight dramatically raised his hands in fake prayer, the duke’s knights burst out laughing.
Sharp stares shot over from the holy knights’ side. Some reached for their weapons, and others adjusted the grip on their swords.
“They’re just jealous of those chosen by the goddess. Ignore them and keep preparing. They’ll see the glory of divine knights when we fight the monsters.”
A man who looked like the vice-captain of the holy knights shouted.
Even Anna, who used to quietly avoid trouble, was now used to the tension. She looked over casually and said,
“They’re fighting again today.”
“All the noise makes it fun.”
“Uh… they’re one step away from punching each other!”
“They won’t actually draw swords, though.”
“You sure about that?”
It didn’t take long for Anna’s prediction to come true.
“Maybe you think you’re special just because the goddess pampers you. Want to spar?”
Right away, a trainee knight drew a big circle on the ground.
First to step up was Talia from the duke’s side. She rested her big sword on her shoulder, dressed in tight leather armor that showed off her curves. Her long red hair swayed in the wind.
“If monsters catch you holy knights, I bet only your mouths will be left. Our swords are faster than your talking, so I’ll make sure you stay quiet.”
Dering came out from the holy knights’ side. He set aside his holy-marked sword and picked up a regular one. Cheers exploded from the crowd that had quickly gathered.
Even Rohan, who had tried to stop fights for days, didn’t bother anymore and just watched from a distance.
“This match is too fun to miss! Let’s bet!”
A knight walked around collecting coins. He soon came to Melody with a hat full of coins.
“Would you two like to place a bet?”
“Sure!”
Anna pulled out two shiny silver coins and dropped them in the hat.
“What about you, Melody?”
Melody squinted at the two fighters.
“Shouldn’t I at least know a little before choosing? It feels weird to pick just by their faces.”
“You’re very careful, I see. Well then, Talia from the duke’s side uses a big sword. Every swing is heavy. On the other hand, the temple knight uses a thin sword—he’s fast and hits several times in a row.”
Anna giggled beside them.
“Come on, don’t overthink it! We should cheer for our side. If we win, great! If not, we still cheered.”
Betting was supposed to be about winning. Choosing the side with the highest chance. But Anna wasn’t wrong. Cheering didn’t need logic.
Melody realized—she’d never picked a side before. Not between inside or outside the barrier. Not between mages or the temple.
She always stood on the border.
Except for her father, she had never been anyone’s “side,” and no one had ever truly stood with her.
So the phrase “our side” felt unfamiliar.
“Would you rather the duke’s knight win, or the temple knight?”
“That’s obvious.”
Without hesitating, Melody tossed a gold coin into the hat—for Talia.
“The duke’s side.”
Talia seemed to hear her and smiled brightly.
“I won’t disappoint the ladies.”
Dering raised an eyebrow and called out,
“Miss Magic Tool Maker! I thought we already made peace? I’m hurt!”
“Then you’ll stay hurt. Because our side’s going to win.”
Melody’s confident words made the duke’s knights cheer. The two knights stepped into position, raising their swords.
Then—
Clang!
The duel began.
Blades swung from above and across. Sparks flew every time their swords clashed. The crowd held their breath.
Each movement was like a dance. Narrow dodges, quick turns, flashing steel.
Then, in a split second, Talia spun and knocked Dering’s sword away. The hit was so strong that Dering stumbled back—
“Ah!”
He slipped and fell hard to the ground.
The next moment, Talia slammed her sword into the dirt next to his face.
“Yaaah!!”
“Wooooo!!”
Cheers erupted.
The duke’s knight had won.
That night, the lord of the land hosted a feast with food and wine. The smell of grilled meat filled the air. People laughed and sang.
Melody sat in a corner, staring at a full cup of wine.
Talia plopped down across from her.
“Why aren’t you drinking? Don’t tell me—you’ve never had alcohol before?”
“No, I haven’t.”
Melody spun the cup and frowned.
“My father said drinking makes you stupid. He even bought me books about it. He called it a dangerous liquid.”
The other knights with Talia laughed loudly.
“You heard that and really never tried it?”
“No wonder you’re like this,” one teased. “You must’ve been born drinking, Benjamin!”
Melody blinked at them and asked calmly,
“So you drink even though you know it’s bad?”
“Of course.”
Talia proudly raised her cup.
“Why?”
Melody asked seriously. Talia just grinned and pushed a cup toward her.
“Try it and you’ll see. It makes you dumb—but gives you something else.”
Melody hesitated… then drank it all at once.
“It’s bitter… and sharp… but kind of sweet too.”
“How is it? Do you feel dumber?”
Melody tried to remember a few magic formulas and shook her head.
“No. I must be too smart.”
“Haha! Good!”
Since it wasn’t as bad as she thought, Melody kept drinking what the knights gave her.
She didn’t know how much she’d had—but her head started feeling light and floaty.
“Anna, there are two of you now.”
Melody stared at her closely.
She tried remembering another magic formula, but it broke off mid-thought.
Maybe the alcohol didn’t make her dumb—but gave her an extra Anna.
“Wait, or is it three? If there are too many of you, I can’t protect them all. I’ll need a tool for that. To block monster attacks, I should use a light spell…”
“Please wait here! I’ll get some water!”
Anna quickly ran off.
Melody knew she should wait… but it was just too hot. She couldn’t sit still.
So, she stumbled to her feet, wobbling off in search of a cooler place.
—To be continued—
