Chapter 103
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Chapter 103
Silence fell over the surroundings at Hailon's words.
Everyone stared at him with their mouths agape.
Chesa, who had been perched on Theo's shoulder acting as a teddy bear pilot, was no exception.
So it seemed he meant 'the child I've taken under my wing as a guard knight'.
But shortened like that....
'Why does that make her my child!'
He'd abbreviated it far too much.
It was practically begging for misunderstanding.
Holy Knights who had devoted their bodies to God must preserve their chastity.
Yet Hailon, the most revered figure among the Holy Knights, was acting like a doting father.
The eyes of the Holy Knights who heard this shocking statement trembled violently.
However, regardless of what anyone looked at or how they looked, Hailon remained indifferent as always.
He approached calmly and attempted to take Chesa into his arms.
But Hailon's hand was immediately blocked.
Belzeon, who hadn't yet sheathed his sword, turned its blade toward him.
Belzeon issued a warning while holding his sword at the ready.
"Perhaps you should clarify the misunderstanding."
Chesa covered her eyes with her hand.
Her head throbbed.
'Our child isn't like this....'
He was clearly supposed to be the one stopping others when they drew their swords.
She couldn't fathom when Belzeon had switched roles to become the one drawing his blade.
Watching Belzeon—the only one in the Basilian Family who had remained rational—fall into corruption, Chesa felt sorrowful.
Blue eyes fell upon Belzeon's dark sword.
It wasn't black like Kieran's, but rather a deep navy blade.
The dark demonic sword's edge, gleaming pure white, clashed terribly with the radiant Holy Empire.
Hailon, who had been staring at the incongruous blade, spoke coldly.
"Have you forgotten this is the Holy Empire."
It was a warning to restrain himself.
Belzeon, who immediately grasped the brief implication, narrowed his eyes and sheathed his sword.
Theo hesitated for a moment before following Belzeon's lead and withdrawing his blade.
The Holy Knights still hadn't recovered from their shock.
Only then did Hailon belatedly offer a single clarification.
"She is the child I've taken under my wing from the Pure Child Prayer Ceremony."
"Ah...."
The Holy Knights exchanged glances and made ambiguous sounds.
Yet despite hearing the correction, their bewilderment didn't fully dissipate.
The reason was obvious.
'It's because Hailon isn't the type to step forward and defend someone like this.'
He was indifferent to everything, and thus fair in all matters.
With no personal bias clouding his judgment, there was no room for prejudiced decisions.
It made no difference, even when the child in question was the one he served as a guard knight.
If those under the child's command had committed wrongs, he would have condemned them with cold precision—yet now he was openly abusing his authority.
Hailon was showing blatant favoritism.
The Holy Knights were at a loss before such partiality from him.
The very fact that he was shielding someone felt so foreign and strange to them.
Who was this child?
Curious gazes poured down upon Chesa like a deluge.
Word was already spreading that the Holy King himself had come to greet House of Basilian, making the onlookers even more intrigued.
Those passing through the Central Square who witnessed the unexpected sword clash held their breath and stared in this direction.
Thanks to Hailon, Chesa was becoming the Holy Empire's most famous person in real time, and she leaned her weary body against the bear's head.
She already wanted to go home.
But Hailon would not leave the exhausted Chesa alone.
He extended his hand toward her once more, and finally drew her into his embrace.
Hata, who had been nestled in Belzeon's arms, began growling and snarling in protest.
It sounded as though Hata was crying out, "Leave the white-haired one alone!"
Ignoring the small wolf's warning, Hailon gazed intently at Chesa.
"...So this is the face you make."
At the moment I tilted my head in confusion at his cryptic murmur.
He added words that were utterly unhelpful to the situation.
"I missed you."
A soft yet distinctly clear voice spread through the air.
It was an unusually tender tone, his usual coldness completely melted away.
Several of the Holy Knights visibly dropped their jaws.
Their expressions suggested they suspected they were experiencing auditory hallucinations.
'Have I lost my mind...'
He was never the type to speak so tenderly before—so why now?
Chesa exhaled a quiet sigh internally, then carefully observed Hailon.
He seemed slightly thinner than when we last parted.
His eyes held their usual composure, yet they appeared oddly weary somehow.
He had been summoned to the Holy Empire first—perhaps the Holy King had scolded him harshly.
I was worried because I had released the Fairy, after all.
Still, as a Heretic Inquisitor, there was only so much scolding one could receive, or so I thought...
Yet concern welled up unbidden.
Chesa found herself asking without thinking.
"Are you hurt somewhere?"
Hailon's eyes widened slightly.
A faint smile crossed his lips.
But the brief change was quickly concealed.
"That's not something you need to worry about."
It seemed something had indeed occurred.
Chesa's expression was beginning to turn grave when suddenly Benji stepped forward with a loud cry.
"Lord Hailon!"
His face was flushed with excitement.
As though merely standing before him was an honor, his hands trembled visibly.
Benji gasped for breath as he offered his excuse.
"I-I sincerely apologize. I made a mistake, unaware that Lord Hailon himself had taken charge of the escort."
To be precise, it was Theo and Belzeon who had erred, not Benji, but no one pointed this out.
Even Benji himself smoothly glossed over it as though it were his own fault.
His obsequious smile betrayed an unmistakable eagerness to exchange words with Hailon at this opportunity.
As though seizing an opportunity he could not afford to miss, he rushed forward with reddened eyes.
Watching this display, I was struck anew by how impossibly distant Hailon stood in the eyes of the Holy Knights.
Yet Hailon did not spare Benji even a glance.
Instead, his gaze turned toward Theo.
Theo, who had been standing like a great bear, startled visibly the moment their eyes met.
Without a word spoken, Theo shrank into himself and offered an apology first.
"My apologies...."
Chesa tapped Hailon lightly.
It was a gesture urging him to be kind to the bear.
Benji, who had been carefully reading the mood, quickly interjected.
"I apologize for the trouble. There is no need for further concern—I shall resolve this matter myself."
His demeanor appeared quite trustworthy.
As the atmosphere seemed to shift in Benji's favor, Chesa tapped Hailon again.
Tap, tap, tap.
Understanding the gentle urging, Hailon asked slowly.
"How?"
"Pardon? Well, through discussion, I would...."
Hailon pointed out in an indifferent tone.
"Are you deciding matters concerning my people?"
At those bluntly spoken words, Benji's smiling expression cracked audibly.
He had instinctively grasped that he had chosen the wrong path.
Benji's words became faltering.
"...That is not... that is not what I meant, I merely... I caused this problem and wished to resolve it...."
But that was all.
The moment Hailon's final words fell, a Holy Knight under his command pressed forward sharply.
"How dare you be so presumptuous! Are you the one with authority to decide? Rather than humbly awaiting Lord Hailon's judgment, you spout such insolence...!"
He seemed ready to slit Benji's throat on the spot.
The knight glared at Benji with eyes that burned like fire.
"State your rank and name!"
Benji collapsed to his knees, trembling violently as he spoke.
"I am Benji, Twenty-Eighth Rank of the Holy Knight Order."
His pallid face glistening with cold sweat, Benji suddenly lifted his head.
"Forgive me, but I have something urgent to report."
He pointed an accusatory finger at Theo.
"This man once trained to become a Holy Knight. Back then, he sowed discord among his peers and made false accusations, tarnishing the honor of the Holy Knights, until he was finally expelled from the training grounds."
Benji's eyes gleamed desperately as he made his plea.
"I cannot allow such a person to remain at the side of the noble young lady whom Hailon protects."
It was a desperate flailing—a refusal to go down alone.
'Does this bastard have a death wish?'
My dear Theo would never slander anyone.
He's only ever been on the receiving end of such treatment!
Chesa, burning with fury, pounded Hailon's forearm repeatedly with both hands.
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.
Hailon, understanding her sentiment, gently patted Chesa's lower back and opened his mouth to speak.
"Are you certain this man has brought dishonor to the Holy Knights?"
"Yes, absolutely!"
"...No, that's not true!"
Theo protested belatedly, but Hailon did not even glance at him.
Instead, he continued while fixing his gaze upon Benji.
"Then prove it yourself."
"...Pardon?"
Benji's eyes widened, his earlier smugness evaporating in an instant.
There was only one way to prove a knight's honor.
A duel with Theo.
As the situation spiraled in a direction he had never anticipated, Benji's face went blank with shock.
"Since you have staked the honor of a Holy Knight..."
Hailon added casually.
"Lose, and I will strip you of your rank."
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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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