Chapter 12
“It’s nothing. Please, continue.”
“Anyway, I have no intention of becoming a saint. Sir Soleon said I just need to endure for another year, and then he’d let me be free. But… somehow, I can’t trust that anymore.”
“That… means…”
“Anyway, it just means I need a bit more time to think. It’s not like there isn’t another candidate besides me.”
If it were Rosalyn, she would probably be thrilled to hear this news.
Thinking of her happy face made my stomach twist a little, but perhaps it was for the better.
From the start, I had been thrust into the role of saint candidate without any preparation or determination.
If someone else were better suited for the position, then naturally, I should yield it to them.
“So, what do you plan to do going forward?”
“Well… to be honest, I’m not sure.”
“Skyler…”
“I don’t intend to stay here. Once I make up my mind, I’ll have to leave this place too.”
Listening to Skyler, Esther’s expression stiffened.
“I’ll make sure you can return whenever you want. Of course, on the condition that you never reveal this location.”
“No! That’s not what I’m worried about. It’s not that…”
“Then?”
“The heir to the paladin commander came personally to see you, and judging by his attitude just now… I don’t think he’ll let you go willingly.”
The gatekeeper soldier, Dorin, was extremely tense.
His first assignment after completing training was a very critical task.
“There’s no need to be so nervous,” his senior said.
“Aren’t you nervous, senior? Working in a place like this?”
“I was nervous like you at first, but now I’m used to it,” the senior shrugged and glanced around.
The place they were guarding was a stone mansion deep within the forest, hardly what you’d imagine for the paladin commander’s residence.
“Dorin, did you know this place is protected by several layers of wards?”
“Huh? Really?”
“Really. Anyone without permission could wander in this forest for days and never leave.”
“Why was it made that way?”
“Because all the monsters are desperate to attack this place, and they can’t kill the paladin commander.”
Hearing this, a chill ran down Dorin’s spine.
It felt like glowing eyes were staring at him from the darkness of the forest.
What kind of person could live surrounded by such an atmosphere as if it were normal?
After shivering, Dorin quickly changed the subject.
“Senior, if you could become a knight, where would you want to serve?”
“Hmm, I wonder. Where would be good?”
“Being a regular knight responsible for security and defense is fine, but if you have holy power, naturally, you’d join the paladins. But… I’d want to avoid the first unit under the paladin commander that hunts monsters directly. Maybe the third unit that handles aftermaths would be fine.”
“The first unit is a small elite squad. Even with talent, it’s hard to get in.”
“I know that!”
“By the way, the paladin commander has been in hiding for quite some time, right?”
“He was badly injured in the last monster attack. After the last purge, he stayed at his family estate to recover. That’s why candidate Declan has been busy in his stead.”
“So we’re guarding an empty mansion?”
“Not quite. Declan still uses it occasionally.”
“Have you ever met Declan?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Well, I’ve heard rumors that he’s extremely cold and ruthless, strict in discipline… and, well…”
“And?”
Dorin lowered his voice, glancing around.
“They say he killed his own older brother, who was once a candidate…”
“You…!”
Before the senior could react, KWAANG!
The carriage that had been nowhere to be seen suddenly appeared as if rising from the ground.
Shocked by the unexpected event, Dorin collapsed to the ground. Two black steeds neighed threateningly at the gatekeeper.
“Wh-who are you?”
The elder recovered first, adjusting his spear and blocking the carriage.
“The mansion has no owner at present. Anyone whose identity is unknown cannot enter, even if they have permission.”
The coachman glanced at the carriage, clearly unimpressed.
“Don’t recognize this crest?”
The senior gatekeeper peeked at the carriage door.
A crest showing two lions charging at each other.
Frozen for a moment by the crest, the senior quickly assumed a posture of loyalty.
“My apologies! Please enter!”
He signaled Dorin, and the massive iron gate opened to let the carriage through.
“Who was that just now?”
“Are you an idiot? You don’t know? That’s the person you were just talking about.”
“Huh?”
The senior whispered, lowering his voice.
“Sir Declan Krauss. The next paladin commander.”
It was a place that made your mood drop no matter when you came.
The traces of former paladin commanders had accumulated like dust.
“We’ll have to renovate everything as soon as we’re commissioned,” Arthur said.
“Of course. Just give the order, and we’ll start anytime,” the other replied.
“You’re getting more talkative by the day.”
Declan, clicking his tongue at Arthur, handed an overcoat to the shadowy figure approaching.
These shadows diligently managed the mansion and performed minor tasks, existing to avoid human contact entirely.
They were beings between humans and monsters. Without free will or selfhood, they were just tools.
“And Skyler?”
“Adapting well. Quiet on the first day, but today he seems more lively.”
Declan nodded at Arthur’s honest answer.
“When someone is idle, they tend to think too much. Give them something to do, like books or embroidery.”
“He seems to have a maid with him, though. I’ll follow your orders.”
“Maid?”
Declan stopped abruptly as he headed to the office.
“What maid?”
“Her name is Esther. She followed him. A persistent little girl. I couldn’t shake her off.”
“You didn’t back off because of her?”
“That’s…”
“Investigate her background thoroughly.”
“Understood.”
No excuses could be made. Arthur bowed and opened the office door. Declan stepped inside and turned his head.
“Right.”
“Huh?”
“The gatekeeper on the left… tell him to choose whether to cut his tongue or not.”
When there was no response, Declan raised his brows.
“Did he lose his hearing in the meantime?”
“N-no. Just startled for a moment.”
Arthur bowed deeply.
“I’ll follow your orders. You seem to be in a good mood today.”
It was an unusually lenient decision from him, unimaginable under normal circumstances.
Instead of replying, Declan sat heavily on the long leather couch in the office.
He intended to rest briefly in a place where visitors were rare.
But as soon as he closed his eyes, an unwelcome voice pierced his ears.
<Declan.>
He snapped his head toward the crystal orb on the mahogany desk.
A device for communication and a conduit for voices.
When there was no response, the voice prodded again.
<I know everything you’re doing there.>
“If I don’t answer, you’ll leave, right?”
Soleon let out a small laugh, but he sounded equally irritated.
<I would if I could, but who wouldn’t covet what belongs to someone else?>
“Oh, so you’re whining because someone stole it?”
Declan sneered, resting his feet on the desk.
“Want me to console you?”
<Thanks, but I’ll pass. To be precise, it’s more like I picked up what I had lost. Not sure about the thief, but it already had a name tag. I’d like it returned.>
“Then let the thief steal it again, or kill them and take it back.”
<Still as violent and simple-minded as ever, Declan.>
“If you’ve said everything, leave.”
It was originally his child.
The idea of acting as if the thief had stolen it, now that it was his, was absurd.
But the voice continued to irritate him.
<What will you do with that child? Take them as your wife?>
“What kind of nonsense is that.”
<Otherwise, you wouldn’t be so obsessed, right?>
