Chapter 102
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Chapter 102
The Holy Knight who wielded Rubeus's spear possessed no innate divine power whatsoever.
Yet, his exceptional martial prowess earned him direct consecration from the Holy King himself.
Without the talent for divinity, he ascended through consecration to the rank of First-Class Holy Knight.
Armed with formidable divine power, he went on to earn renown wielding Rubeus's spear.
Hilderd took great pride in the Holy Knight they had cultivated, spreading his fame across the continent.
His success resonated deeply with Theo.
'I too lack divine talent, but with enough effort, it should be possible.'
Within the Nemea Marquis Family, I was utterly worthless.
Constantly overshadowed by comparison to my sister, who possessed exceptional skill.
That's why I yearned to become a Holy Knight.
If I could rise to a high rank among the Holy Empire's knights, Father would finally acknowledge me.
Thus, at thirteen years old, Theo made my decision.
I slipped away from home and sought out the Holy Empire.
Resolved not to return until I received formal ordination as a Holy Knight.
And I truly did become a trainee, receiving Holy Knight instruction.
The training was grueling, yet each day felt fulfilling and worthwhile.
Here, no one hurled insults at me.
No one struck my cheek or threw punches.
I grew increasingly fond of my apprenticeship as a knight.
I resolved to become a Holy Knight without fail and devoted myself entirely to the effort.
I truly believed ordination would come to pass.
Until I met Benji.
"You're from the Nemea Marquis Family, right?"
Benji approached, mentioning my lineage, and extended his hand first to offer a handshake.
"I'm also from a noble house. Though it means nothing now that we're in the Holy Empire anyway."
His grin was remarkably sociable.
He knew many people, and even during our brief introduction and conversation, greetings of recognition came from all directions.
"Let's be close friends."
Benji, who approached me first, was a friend from whom I learned much.
Though mischievous and playful, he approached training with utmost seriousness.
Everyone adored Benji.
And I could not help but adore him as well.
He taught me countless small things I didn't know, occasionally sharing snacks, and looked after me as I suddenly found myself far from home.
I naturally made effort to treat Benji well, and we seemed to become excellent friends.
But one day, Benji began to change.
It started when I defeated him in a sparring match.
I had received consistent sword training in the Nemea Marquis Family.
Though my learning was slow, once I learned something, I never forgot it.
Learning the Holy Empire's swordplay was no exception.
It simply took some time to grow accustomed to it.
Once I had mastered it completely, I had no choice but to catch up in an instant.
"Theo, victory!"
The day I defeated Benji, the most outstanding among the trainees, in a sparring match.
Unlike those who gasped in shock when the judgment was announced, Theo remained composed.
It was only natural—I had anticipated the victory all along.
But Benji's face twisted in a terrifying grimace.
"...."
He sharply swatted away the hand I extended to help him up, then abruptly rose and vanished.
From that moment on, Benji treated Theo like an invisible man.
Not wanting to lose a friend, Theo eventually deliberated and intentionally lost to Benji in the next sparring match.
"What, so your victory last time was just luck after all?"
Benji smiled and extended his hand to Theo.
Theo grasped his hand and rose, and their relationship returned to normal.
I would have to live as a perpetual second-place, but that was acceptable.
There would be no problem receiving my knighthood.
But that was merely Theo's naive delusion.
A high-ranking Holy Knight arrived to assess the trainees' level.
The moment he observed the sparring match between Theo and Benji, he discerned the gap in their abilities.
Both were beaten severely, and from then on, they fell out again.
"That bastard did it on purpose to me."
Benji spread rumors that Theo had deliberately orchestrated such a scheme to make him look bad to the superiors.
Though I protested otherwise, no one believed Theo.
Theo became completely isolated.
The goodwill Benji had once shown became malice multiplied several times over, tormenting Theo.
Under Benji's direction, all the trainees banded together and tore into Theo.
Theo endured it reasonably well.
But the day I was locked alone in a dark warehouse for more than two days was unbearably difficult.
Exhausted by the desolate life with no one to confide in, I wept for a long time before sending a letter to my Sister.
The letter contained words that I was doing well and not to worry....
Unfortunately, the letter fell into Father's hands.
Father came directly to the Holy Empire.
And before all the trainees, he struck Theo's cheek.
"Insolent wretch!"
Curses and blows followed.
The trainees watched it all unfold.
Whispered voices, sidelong glances, stifled laughter.
Theo's face flushed crimson with shame as tears streamed down my cheeks.
That was the end.
Theo left the Holy Empire and returned to the Nemea Marquis Territory.
Yet here, of all places, I encountered Benji once more.
"...."
Theo felt a sharp, suffocating pain constrict his chest.
As expected, Benji had become a Holy Knight.
Given his exceptional skill, he must surely hold a high rank among them.
Watching Benji shine in the form I had once yearned to become, I felt myself grow smaller and more pathetic by comparison.
"I'm genuinely grateful for everything. Oh, since we haven't seen each other in so long, shouldn't we go see the others?"
Benji kept tapping me and trying to engage me in conversation.
Tap-tap-tap.
The sound of rapid footsteps approached.
Theo looked up in surprise.
Belzeon stood there with a slightly irritated expression.
Chesa thrust the puppy toward Belzeon and reached out her hand toward Theo.
Without thinking, Theo naturally pushed Benji's arm from his shoulder and lifted Chesa into his embrace.
Chesa, nestled against Theo's chest, climbed up onto his shoulder and settled there.
Benji, who had been flustered, caught sight of the small child and let out an awkward laugh.
"You came as an escort for the young lady attending the Pure Child Prayer Ceremony? And you, supposedly from a marquis family, doing something like this...."
He was about to mock me openly when he suddenly fell silent.
Chesa had fixed him with a sharp, piercing glare, her round eyes narrowed dangerously.
With a tiny finger no larger than a cookie, she pointed accusingly at Benji.
"Don't be mean to Theo!"
Her stern warning left both Theo and Benji frozen.
Benji, startled for a moment, soon wore an expression of utter bewilderment.
Meanwhile, Chesa tugged firmly on Theo's ear and whispered into it.
"Beat him up."
It was a thoroughly violent suggestion.
Theo looked at Chesa.
The child, clearly displeased about something, had even raised her eyebrows in displeasure.
Her plump lips moved in agitation.
"Theo is stronger anyway. So why are you scared?"
Her simple words struck me like a blade.
Without realizing it, I examined Benji once more.
He was small, and I was far larger.
Earlier, he had only managed to appear equal by standing on his toes and draping his arm around my shoulder.
This is not a training ground.
I am no longer a child, and I have no reason to heed Benji's moods.
And I... am far stronger than Benji.
The truths I had only now recognized felt strangely unfamiliar.
'Why am I still afraid?'
I gazed at Benji quietly, slowly turning over this belated realization in my mind.
"...."
Benji's face crumpled.
He too had read the shift in Theo's gaze.
Benji stretched out his arm with a twisted smile.
"Ha, you bastard...."
But the arm he extended had to stop in mid-air.
Two blades were drawn simultaneously.
Both Belzeon and Theo unsheathed their swords without hesitation, pointing them at Benji.
In the Central Square before the Grand Temple, teeming with Holy Knights of the Holy Empire itself, they had drawn their weapons.
Benji cried out in shock.
"Are you insane?"
The Holy Knights nearby rushed forward at the sight of blades gleaming incongruously in the peaceful square.
Yet watching them swarm as if to arrest us immediately, I felt neither worried nor afraid.
The old Theo would have already been seized by terror.
But the small weight and warmth resting upon my shoulders gave me courage in the strangest way.
Theo answered slowly, meeting Benji's wide, bewildered stare.
"...I'm escorting someone of great importance."
"What?"
Glaring at the dumbfounded Benji, Theo issued a warning.
"So don't you dare lay a hand on her."
Benji's mouth fell open in disbelief.
He had never intended to touch the child in the first place.
Yet this entire mess had erupted simply because the child was in Theo's arms.
"Sheathe your weapons at once!"
The Holy Knights surrounding them barked harshly.
Just before the situation devolved into all of them being arrested by the Holy Knights—
"Stop."
A voice as glacial as an ice sheet cut through the tension.
The Holy Knights flinched and immediately lowered their blades.
"H-Hailon, sir!"
They quickly bowed and explained the situation, pointing to Chesa.
"There is a dispute with those escorting this child...."
Hailon, dressed in his uniform, raised his hand to silence the Holy Knights.
And spoke without expression.
"She is my child."
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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