“Thinking about it again, it was really a good decision.”
It seems like a good idea to me, too.
The escort of a wizard for the sake of resonance stone.
Deciding to undertake this was truly a brilliant decision.
It was the best mission possible under the current circumstances.
It’s a mission that takes place in a safe area.
Unless something unusual happens, there shouldn’t be any great danger.
‘Besides, there are troops prepared for any contingency.’
I glanced around at the people bustling about in preparation for departure.
Among them, two strong men stood out, clearly different from the regular soldiers.
The Imperial Regular Knights, the Azure Lion Knights.
Not only was I dispatched for this escort mission, but members of the knights as well.
Although officially it’s support, the real purpose might be different, but that doesn’t concern me.
As I made eye contact, the two knights talked to each other and slowly walked towards me.
“Sir Julian, you have worked hard. I am Fern Tellund, a member of the Azure Lion Knights.”
“Likewise, a knight member, Heinrich.”
The two knights greeted me politely.
However, despite their polite words and actions, their eyes revealed a wariness.
The emotion that seemed like <The Color of Malice> was purple, indicating they were feeling fear towards me.
Although it wasn’t as clear as with ordinary people, given that knights are physically and mentally trained.
What a vile character, truly vile.
Internally disgusted once more by Julian’s usual conduct, I responded to their greeting.
“It’s not too far to the tourism district of Yulin, but we can’t be sure what might happen, so let’s all be cautious. Azure Lions, huhu.”
As I spoke in a manner befitting Julian, the two swallowed nervously and replied, “Understood.”
“But, Sir Julian, how about we use a carriage to Yulin?”
“A carriage, you say?”
“Yes.”
Knight ‘Fern’ nodded.
“Wouldn’t it be more comfortable than riding a horse?”
“Was there a carriage?”
“There is one prepared for the escort of the wizard. Considering it’s a long journey, it might be more comfortable for you.”
“Hmm.”
After a short hum, I looked at Fern.
It didn’t seem like he was speaking for my convenience.
I know best that Julian isn’t a figure worthy of such consideration.
‘There’s also a strange intention I can feel.’
Is it a struggle between powers?
It seems they don’t like the idea of placing me, who belongs to the ‘Royal Court’s Closed Eyes,’ at the forefront.
Probably, they want to take command by beating me to the punch, intending to manipulate the troops assigned to the escort mission as they please.
‘Such petty pride.’
Most of the regular knights are made up of nobles.
In contrast, ‘Julian’ is a noble from a collateral branch of a distinguished family. The fact that they have to follow the command of such a person probably doesn’t sit well with them.
Moreover, they have gained the upper hand over ‘Julian.’
They will likely boast about this later, so their pride is even more inflated.
“Well, let’s do that.”
Knowing their intention, I readily agreed.
There was no need to fall for it right there.
No need to get involved in such shallow battles.
Moreover, there was no reason to choose a horse over a comfortable carriage.
“Understood, Sir Julian!”
A flush of color returned to Fern’s face at my response.
“Then, when the wizard arrives, I’ll make sure to inform them…”
“What will you inform them of when I arrive?”
“Ah, have you arrived?”
It seems the wizard assigned to repair the resonance stone has arrived.
I turned my head to casually greet and check the face of the newcomer.
“Ah.”
A short sigh from the wizard who saw my face.
And internally, I felt a similar reaction.
Why is she here?
Aileen de Donacien.
Commonly known as Aileen.
A 5th rank, righteous class wizard who had shown me intense hostility, stood there.
“Sir Fern.”
“Yes, Sir Julian.”
“I apologize for changing my mind, but the reason I came here is for the escort, isn’t it?”
“…Yes? Oh, yes.”
“So, I will also ride a horse. We don’t know what might happen, and we must be able to respond immediately.”
“Sir Julian, your words are different from earlier.”
Fern’s face briefly twisted.
I would have liked to travel by carriage, but then I would have to be in the same space as Aileen.
That’s something I must avoid at all costs.
‘Being with someone whose thoughts you don’t know is dangerous.’
Obviously, I couldn’t tell him the real situation, so I brushed it off ‘Julian’ style.
“A simple whim. Do you have a problem with that?”
***
Adratan Empire’s ‘Smiling Guillotine’
Julian Crypart Frason.
A man armed with overwhelming force and cruelty, known as someone not even Odwin, the leader of the Royal Court’s ‘Closed Eyes,’ can handle.
He’s an incredible force that a newly joined knight of the Azure Lion Knights couldn’t possibly challenge, despite not having a significant difference in status or rank.
Yet, Fern was able to say plainly that he disliked this sly man.
‘A whim? Just a simple whim?’
The reason was not only due to the notoriety that came with the name ‘Julian,’ but also because of his near-reckless temperament.
Behaviors indicating a belief that he could be forgiven for anything he did, or genuinely thinking it was the will of the royal court.
For Fern, who had just obtained the position of a knight, it was an unacceptable presumption.
The reason he wanted to put him in a carriage was also because of that. He didn’t want to see that unpleasant face.
At the same time, he intended to bring the control of this mission to his own group, the ‘Azure Lion Knights.’
Although it was a ‘considerate’ offer with an ulterior motive, Fern was very upset when it was absurdly rejected, especially for being labeled a whim.
‘No, wait.’
During his thoughts, Fern suddenly realized something.
If Julian knew his intention and acted this way, could it be?
‘It’s possible… That guy is like a monster who survived the chaotic politics of the royal court without a faction.’
Maybe calling it a whim was a kind of provocation, recognizing the intention to take control of the mission.
After all, it doesn’t make sense otherwise.
Why choose a horse over a comfortable carriage?
In essence, rejecting the offer was his own kind of declaration of war.
‘Let’s give it a try, then?’
Fern unwittingly smirked.
***
That the assigned wizard was Aileen.
I should have read the orders more carefully.
I was so excited that I failed to check the important details properly.
‘A lapse.’
I looked at the carriage moving at a similar pace next to me.
Aileen was riding inside.
The woman who showed hostility towards me during the entrance test for ‘Closed Eyes.’
Fortunately, it seems she doesn’t show ‘disgust’ like before.
But if you ask whether that makes it less awkward, of course not.
Emotions are unpredictable.
Apart from fear, if the cause of other emotions isn’t properly understood, there’s no way to predict how the other person might react.
Thinking about it to the extreme, hostility could manifest at any moment, potentially escalating to a life-threatening situation for me.
So, what should my course of action be here?
‘Avoid it as much as possible.’
This includes avoiding conversation and being careful not to run into them.
Currently, I have absolutely no knowledge of what the relationship between Julian and Aileen was like, or what had happened between them.
In such a situation, recklessly getting involved could spark an unnecessary incident.
‘Let’s finish the mission as quickly as possible and return.’
The longer it takes, the more likely it is that I’ll run into Aileen.
That would be really problematic!
“It seems that no wizard has been assigned to the Yulin district.”
While I was lost in thought, Fern, a member of the Azure Lion Knights, approached me and started a conversation.
He was smiling in a friendly manner, but I could faintly see the color of ‘fear’ above his head.
“To think we have to send people out from the system like this… It seems the so-called district is quite small.”
“The district isn’t large enough to be called a special zone to begin with. It’s just a place that got the name of a tourism special zone because the nobility and bureaucrats from the countryside wanted to revitalize the city, using the name of Karun Forest.”
“Oh…….”
As I shared the little knowledge I had, Fern let out a short sigh.
“You seem to know a lot about the situation outside the system. Have you been to the Yulin district before?”
“Well, ‘seeing different places is part of the job when you’re working with the Closed Eyes.”
“Different places…….”
Truth be told, it was from things I’d seen through a monitor.
And that, from the perspective of ‘Hayden Reich,’ the protagonist of <Let’s Kill the Demon Lord>, not ‘Julian.’
That’s why I consider it trivial knowledge.
After all, knowledge can’t replace experience.
But of course, it’s better than having none at all.
That reminds me.
‘Did I know how to ride a horse?’
I hadn’t realized because I was deep in thought, but I was riding a horse proficiently. This was actually my first time riding one.
Perhaps Julian’s body remembers how to do it.
“Sir Julian. I was thinking of taking a short break up ahead. What do you think?”
Fern suggested taking a break.
Indeed, some time had passed since we left. It might be time for the foot soldiers, who aren’t riding, to feel tired.
“No, let’s continue as we are.”
However, I declined.
There’s no time to rest when we need to finish the mission as quickly as possible.
Fern opened his mouth to speak again after my response.
“We’ve been traveling for three hours. The soldiers are very tired. Wouldn’t it be better to take a break?”
“We’ll be able to see the Yulin district soon. If we rest now, it’ll be dark by the time we return.”
“Then we can camp.”
Fern answered without a moment’s hesitation.
It’s a valid point, but no.
I want to finish the mission quickly!
“I don’t see why we need to camp unnecessarily. The soldiers would want to return as soon as possible.”
“But if we encounter a demon in our current state without having rested properly, it could be very dangerous, Sir Julian!”
We’re not getting anywhere with this.
Isn’t he being too cautious when it’s unlikely to happen anyway?
While I couldn’t understand Fern’s reasoning, a thought crossed my mind.
‘Is this an extension of the intention to put me in the carriage before departure?’
Historically, the empire’s knight orders haven’t been fond of the ‘Closed Eyes.’ The members of ‘Closed Eyes,’ although skilled, are commoners by origin.
Perhaps Fern is burning with a spirit of opposition due to the inferiority complex that comes from there.
Normally, I would have complied with his suggestion. Camping, despite being undesirable, would be a perfect situation to gain real battle experience.
Moreover, I had no intention of wasting energy on unnecessary disputes.
But the situation now is very different. To avoid creating a problematic situation, I need to finish this mission as quickly as possible.
“A great danger, you say? It seems Sir Fern lacks confidence.”
Although I didn’t want to, I decided to steer the conversation in a Julian-like manner to quickly conclude the mission.
“Confidence?”
“Yes, be it demons, barbarians, or the liberation army. What do you think makes them dangerous?”
Fern’s gaze sharpened. It seems he caught on to what I was trying to say.
“Isn’t it because you lack confidence in your own abilities, huhu.”
I even added a small laugh at the end.
The line and expression I delivered were truly perfect. A perfect example of human trash!
“Now… are you saying that I, a member of the Azure Lion Knights, am scared?”
Hostility was present in his eyes.
But unlike with Aileen, I’m not worried. Knowing that the source of this hostility is my provocation, I can clearly see how he will move.
“Then why don’t you prove it?”
I provoked him further.
“That my words are wrong.”
That way, he’ll act exactly as I expect.
Cliche Novel 