Chapter 21
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
Violet's First Words - Episode 21
This time, Violet drew closer to Ash.
"What will happen once I become that comfortable?"
"I'll remake you and perfect you. From that moment on, a new you will begin."
My heart beat softly. But... why would Ash do such a thing for me?
"No matter how much I think about it, I haven't lived a life fortunate enough to receive kindness without compensation. You must want something from me, don't you?"
Ash fell silent for a moment.
"Let me polish and refine you first."
"...Polish... and refine?"
"Your talent is exceptional. They say one in ten thousand, but this is the first time I've actually seen it. I want to develop that talent and make you stronger."
"If I become stronger, only I benefit."
"Later, once you're stronger, you'll pass interviews and join any Knight Order you wish. Perhaps even a first-rate Mercenary Company."
"That's probably true. And I'd like that."
The Empire always had high demand for knights. This land was filled with monsters and traps left behind by ancient foreign races.
Knights who faced and defeated them were highly sought-after professionals. Naturally, they earned substantial wealth.
Moreover, spirit users, barrier mages, and sorcerers all dreamed of joining first-rate Knight Orders or Mercenary Companies.
'If I were my original self, I wouldn't have received recruitment offers from any Knight Order.'
But if I continued developing my talent from now on, it seemed I could join anywhere.
Unlike me, those already renowned faced fierce competition for recruitment.
For example, someone like Ash could naturally join any Knight Order he desired.
And if he founded a Mercenary Company under his own name, success would be all but guaranteed.
'Could Ash be recruiting me in advance to establish a Knight Order or Mercenary Company in the future?'
If he viewed me so favorably, I would be infinitely grateful.
But... the unsettling vision from my future sight returned to mind.
I had clearly said I would conduct a human sacrifice ritual, offering hundreds of people.
That meant in the future, I would become entangled with a bizarre heretical cult that worships demons.
Seeing how well he treats me, Ash might belong to such a religious organization. The thought suddenly struck me.
'Could my future self be ruining my life, bewitched by Ash's beautiful face and silver tongue?'
In that moment, Violet became curious about Ash's future for the first time.
"I'm not affiliated with any strange organization, underground group, or especially any unauthorized religious sect, Violet."
Ash spoke as if exasperated.
"How do you know what everyone is thinking? Do you have mind-reading abilities?"
"You're easy to read at times like this."
He had said I was difficult just moments ago. I smacked my lips.
"Anyway, I apologize for suspecting you. But I once read in a book that when an attractive person treats you well, they're usually a member of a strange religious cult."
Of course, it was Miss Rosenis who had spoken again.
"...."
Ash fell silent.
"Are you upset, Ash?"
"Am I attractive?"
"Of course."
Did Ash not have a mirror at home? His boarding house looked quite respectable and pleasant.
"Did you just say that from somewhere.... No, never mind. Anyway, I'm a devout believer of the Main God Religion. In the conventional sense, at least. Besides, if you don't want to, you don't have to join the Knight Order I introduced."
"So that's all you want? Those are incredibly favorable terms."
"There's one more thing."
"Tell me."
"Don't withdraw from the Academy alone like someone who's given up everything and is exhausted."
"Ash, that's...."
Any good person in her life would have tried to dissuade her from withdrawing from the Academy, where she could pursue an elite path.
But it was already too late. She had lost all faith in the Academy.
She couldn't remain in such a place. If she were to become an excellent knight, the label of being an Academy graduate would follow her for the rest of her life.
"Don't withdraw alone."
"...."
"Let's withdraw together, Violet."
Ash whispered.
'That's right, just moments ago I was wondering if this guy had lost his mind....'
I was certain now.
Ash was not in his right mind.
'All the thoughts I've had until now vanish completely.'
That was the moment. Heavy footsteps echoed.
A man stood outside the Detention Cell.
He wasn't particularly handsome, but he was as tall as Ash and had an approachable appearance. And he was wearing the robes of a priest from the Temple of the Main God.
"Ash, it's a priest!"
"...Is that so?"
"This is serious! They usually call a priest before imposing severe punishment, to give time for final prayers. It seems Marlon has decided to ruin your future."
Violet's heart sank.
The priest regarded Violet with solemnity.
Then he looked at Ash. The two of them, excluding Violet, were suppressing their laughter.
"...For this young lady of such precious talent to think so. What do you think, Gran?"
"Prayer is indeed necessary. Whenever I think of how you've seduced yet another poor lamb, Ash—or rather, our temperamental lord. In that sense, it's good you came quickly. The longer we waited, the more your toxic ideology would have corrupted this young lady."
The priest called Gran shrugged his shoulders.
"This child doesn't understand jokes and easily misunderstands. Besides, the timing was bad. We were in a good mood, you know."
"How could the mood be good in here? It smells like rats."
"Cleanse your heart and look. The world appears beautiful when you see it beautifully."
"Are you now giving a lecture on mindfulness to the High Priest...."
A High Priest, no less.
I studied the man called Gran more carefully. A High Priest was a rank so elevated that few held it even in the Capital.
'Yet this Gran... somehow reminds me of those idle aristocrats you see loitering about town, all appearance and no substance.'
That was my assessment.
"Hasn't a verdict already been rendered?"
I asked cautiously.
"Of course not—we've secured a release on recognizance. Our lawyer is here, after all. Brown."
Gran said.
"Then get us out of here right now, and make it complicated. Violet seems to prefer the complicated approach."
Ash replied with perfect composure.
"Unfortunately, it appears it will be quite simple."
Gran withdrew a key from his waistband.
"Well then, shall we depart? You two troublemakers."
With a click, he opened the door. Gran swept his hand in an elaborate, theatrical gesture of greeting.
"Is this... a prison break?"
I followed him out cautiously, on guard.
"Hardly. It's all perfectly legal. I prayed to the God with sincere devotion, and He sent His messenger to aid me."
"Rather, let us call it the blessing of influence. That person there was fortunate enough to receive the structural blueprints of the Temple of the Main God."
Gran smiled and spoke.
Looking more closely, Gran appeared to be only two or three years older than Ash.
'For someone so young to become a High Priest... he must possess extraordinary ability.'
I found myself curious.
"Ash, what's your connection to the Temple of the Main God?"
"Every institution in the world hopes to earn the favor of a Sword Master."
Gran said.
'Ah...'
Certainly, the Temple of the Main God must have various departments that required knights. Perhaps they had been approaching Ash through those channels.
That was my understanding.
And true to his word, no one obstructed our departure.
Though the lawyer did require some time to process the paperwork at the end.
The office handling the final procedures was small and connected to a side exit.
Ash and I sat on a long bench in one corner of the room. Gran stood nearby, as if standing guard around Ash.
"Intimidating citizens on the street! This is unlawful arrest! What? The Knight Commander entered the Imperial Palace on urgent business? That's irrelevant! We can file suit regardless of who the defendant is! I will ensure they face appropriate consequences!"
Brown, Ash's lawyer, had brown hair and wore spectacles.
He was shorter than Gran and possessed a similarly unkempt appearance.
'What exactly is Ash?'
What was certain was that all of them treated Ash with subtle deference as a superior.
I regarded Ash for a moment.
'Is there any way I could see a vision of Ash's future?'
Would being close to Ash allow me to glimpse his future?
Violet drew closer to him with a curious tilt of her head, her thoughts turning in that direction.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org