“If you do that, someone who can take care of that Saint Child will find you. When that time comes, mention my name, Audin Plumray, and ask for their help.”
The child had awakened to Divine Power. Left as she was, she would be pursued by the Order for the rest of her life.
She might not be easy to catch due to her skills, but it was better to hide her well than to have her spend her life running.
Besides, she needed someone to teach her how to handle the Divine Power she had awakened before she lost consciousness.
Audin knew just the right person for such a task.
“And who might that be?”
Audin had referred to his father, though there was no such person. Curious, Encrid asked, and Audin answered.
“My adoptive father, rumored to be dead.”
The man who raised Audin had once risen to the rank of the Pope of the God of War. Though he couldn’t see, he was said to possess insight into the future.
Audin knew his adoptive father’s true nature well.
His eyesight was so poor that he could only make out objects nearby, though he wasn’t actually blind.
Yet he often claimed to be, as people who believed this would let their guard down, giving him plenty of opportunities.
His poor eyesight was supposedly due to reading too many books by candlelight as a child.
He was accused of heresy and staged his death by stoning.
However, the place where he was ‘stoned’ was a corner of Legion, the city where he was born and raised. It was also where Audin’s father had grown up.
“Do you wish to carry the shield of God?”
It felt like he could hear his father’s voice echoing.
His father was likely still alive.
After faking his death, he would be living well, using his insight and Divine Power to help and heal others.
He would save children ignored by the Order and shelter fugitives branded as heretics.
Audin’s adoptive father still loved God and followed the teachings of the Father, wandering the continent as the “Forsaken Saint” or “Ragged Saint”.
‘I was a bit late, wasn’t I?’
Audin spoke inwardly to his father.
One day, he would seek his father’s forgiveness. But he knew his father wouldn’t scold him. He wouldn’t even say he was late.
That was the kind of man he was.
He would simply say,
“Come, I’m glad to see you again.”
One way or another, Audin had now broken his own shackles and emerged from the prison of despair.
The phantom of Phildin watched him from one side, narrowing his eyes. Then, his gaze softened, and Phildin smiled.
“Why didn’t you do this sooner? Why would I blame you? It’s not about that. Could I ask you one thing? Try not to create another child like me. You could do that, couldn’t you?”
Was this Phildin speaking, or just a hallucination created by his worn-out mind?
Or was it a revelation from God?
It didn’t really matter. Like his Captain Encrid, he would act as his heart led him.
“I will, without fail.”
Audin replied to the vision.
For the first time since he had started seeing these phantoms, he spoke to it. Even though his energy was drained and he felt heavy with fatigue, his words and will brought forth a faint divine light that illuminated him.
In the darkness, he alone became a source of light.
The glow seemed as if God himself was supporting him.
His will became Divine Power, casting light around him.
Encrid thought it was quite a sight to behold.
In any case, Encrid took charge of the Saint Child for the time being.
Overdeer had said she wasn’t part of his revelation.
In other words, it would be hard to keep her safe if he took her along.
Audin left with Overdeer without even taking a proper rest.
Encrid turned and carried the Saint Child back.
“That child will need to rest a while longer before she wakes.”
As Audin had said, the child showed no signs of waking.
“I’ll find the Ragged Saint and contact the Border Guard.”
Bert left as well.
The remaining group returned to the city. Naturally, Deutsche Pullman offered them his quarters.
Encrid soaked in a hot bath, politely declining the offer of a maid to scrub his back.
“But I could do it… I’d like to… I can…”
As the maid hesitated, Sinar stepped in and gently pushed her aside.
“It’s alright. That’s my task.”
“Oh, um, is it true that Sinar is over four hundred years old? Your age…”
Encrid commented to Sinar, and the Fairy smiled, an unusual expression. Only her mouth smiled, her eyes held no mirth.
Encrid recalled that asking a lady her age was nearly a sin.
When had he heard that?
It was something he’d overheard while escorting noblewomen at a party.
“You can’t even understand an Fairy’s joke.”
“That was a joke?”
“It goes without saying.”
“Then, how old are you, really?”
If four hundred forty-eight wasn’t a joke, it seemed fair to call her ‘grandmother’, even if Fairies and humans aged differently.
“A woman older than you is always attractive.”
Sinar turned without answering.
The amusing thing was that when she said those words, her tone held a certain resolve.
To put such conviction behind the statement that older women are attractive.
‘Remarkable skill.’
Regardless, she was indeed an impressive Fairy.
Beyond her age, her confidence in saying it made her seem quite charming.
Encrid thought to himself as he soaked in the hot water.
The Saint Child, he heard, was bathed by several maids.
After bathing, he sat at the table, where he was served warm soup and tender, perfectly grilled pork.
“Cooked just right.”
When Encrid commented, an attendant relayed the praise to the chef. In this city, Encrid was nearly as famous as he was among the Border Guard.
“It’s an honor to have you enjoy it.”
The chef, in a clean white hat and matching clothes, with a purple cloth tied in front, briefly came out to speak. The purple cloth indicated he was recognized by the Culinary Guild.
In other words, he was a fine chef.
Sinar, sitting beside him, ate fruits and greens, her meal heightened by chopped almonds and cashews in a dressing.
Even Sinar nodded in approval, it was not bad.
Deutsche also assigned them the best guest room.
They slept well and began their journey back the next morning.
“Come again sometime.”
Deutsche Pullman, the man of honor, said, and Encrid replied.
“If there’s trouble, contact the Border Guard. I’ll help where I can.”
“Will do.”
Deutsche didn’t hesitate to accept Encrid’s offer.
It wasn’t every day the Knight of Iron Wall said he owed a favor. Just that alone was enough for Deutsche.
And so they climbed into the carriage Deutsche had arranged.
“We’re off.”
The unconscious Saint Child, Sinar, and Encrid settled into the carriage.
It slowly began moving along the road.
As they passed through a field full of bright yellow marigolds, known as the ‘Virgin’s Flowers’, the Saint Child awoke.
* * *
Overdeer was born the son of a nobleman with an orchard and had met many people in his life on his way to his current position.
Among them, regardless of good or evil, a few stood out as exceptional individuals in his mind. But even Overdeer had never met someone quite like Encrid.
People who stood firm in the face of threats and blades? Sure, he’d seen plenty of those.
But someone this immersed in madness? This was a first.
The tales of Mad Knights were no exaggeration.
‘He doesn’t retreat.’
It felt like he was witnessing an impenetrable iron wall.
Had he been holding back?
No.
Yet the other side had no intention of yielding. There hadn’t been the slightest wavering in his resolve.
No one could watch that and not be astonished.
Death, defeat, despair, and failure.
It seemed as if those things didn’t even exist in his mind.
“That brother of yours seems like quite the man.”
The words slipped out. They were his honest thoughts. More honestly, he couldn’t fathom what exactly Encrid was aiming for.
He knew he was someone who kept moving forward.
Once someone attained the rank of Knight, they would either push forward or remain stagnant.
This was something any Knight of skill would acknowledge.
Some saw the rank of Knight as the end of the road, unable to overcome the limits of their own heart despite surpassing the limits of talent.
On the other hand, some continued to advance, even after becoming Knights.
Encrid was clearly the latter.
In terms of skill, the man by his side, Audin, was probably better.
In terms of talent, he wasn’t exceptionally outstanding either.
Yet the impression he left was the strongest.
The flames of resolve burning in those blue eyes were unforgettable once seen.
“If you mean the Captain, yes. You’re right.”
Audin, walking beside him, replied.
It was a quiet forest path. Both had exited the mountains and were walking briskly.
Overdeer wasn’t in perfect condition, but this level of walking was no problem, and for Audin, it was hardly worth mentioning.
Autumn leaves scattered on the ground as the two continued along the path, with Overdeer opening his mouth to speak.
“Will you be returning someday?”
Overdeer asked. Honestly, he’d been yearning to recruit talent after seeing Audin’s divine pillar.
If possible, he wanted to keep him close as a successor.
There were aspects of character he would need to assess, but…
But Audin nodded without hesitation.
“Yes, I’ll return.”
For him, it was an obvious answer.
There was no hesitation because his resolve and purpose were set. Overdeer wanted him to stay, but he knew words wouldn’t sway Audin.
Should he trick him into staying? It wouldn’t be easy, nor did he truly want to. Ordinarily, he wouldn’t have hesitated to use any means necessary.
‘I don’t want to stand against him.’
He didn’t want to become Encrid’s enemy.
Normally, one wouldn’t willingly face a madman, but he had a feeling. Working for the Order, their paths would cross again.
To stand on the opposite side of a man steeped in that kind of madness?
No, thank you.
Even though he’d beaten Encrid and could defeat him whenever he wished, Overdeer genuinely didn’t want to.
Those blazing blue eyes. If they’d been in the care of the Divine Kingdom, he’d have gladly taken him on as a disciple.
That made it all the more regrettable.
If he could harness that madness and bring him into his fold…
‘Oh, it would be incredible.’
But it would be no easy feat.
How could he entice him into joining the Order?
Idle thoughts like these drifted through his mind. If he had the chance, he’d like to bring him over to the Order’s side.
‘By marriage?’
Both the War Order and the Order of Abundance encouraged marriage.
Maybe he could connect him with a priestess of remarkable beauty?
The thought brought Sinar’s face to mind. Her beauty was otherworldly, even by Fairy standards.
Priestesses, especially those called ‘sacred maidens’, never neglected honing their bodies, but even so, it didn’t seem feasible.
In the end, it wasn’t as though bringing him to their side was entirely impossible.
‘But it’s not like there’s no way at all.’
Overdeer was certainly more capable than the hawks from the Empire or the emissaries from the South. He was on another level.
The solution he silently offered proved it.
‘I could just join their side.’
It was simple enough. If he couldn’t pull the other over, he could just go to them.
That would make them allies and place them on the same side.
Of course, if Encrid’s purpose was just and his will true, he would do it.
Whether that would work or not, he’d find out by observing this bear-like man walking beside him.
This man would tell him about Encrid’s nature and reveal his purpose and resolve.
Finally, Overdeer nodded deeply.
“Good.”
“What do you mean, good? If you have any sinister intentions, let go of them, brother. At your age, you should know better.”
“Haha, it’s not that. Let’s go for now.”
Audin’s words carried no real malice. Overdeer recognized that and simply laughed.
Although Audin didn’t particularly like this Knight, he respected his purpose.
Even if he lost his life and couldn’t uphold his honor in the future, he’d already shown his commitment to purifying the Order.
Naturally, Audin had believed there were people like him within the Order, and Overdeer embodied that hope.
Just as Overdeer saw Encrid’s resolve in Audin, Audin, in turn, sought to find the last remnants of purity within the Order by watching Overdeer.
If Overdeer was only interested in securing a high position within the Order, Audin would have no qualms about bashing his head in.
Fortunately, there would be no need for them to spill each other’s blood.
Together, they focused on what Overdeer called ‘revelations’, and their mission succeeded with relative ease.
This event would later be known across the continent as the Reformation of the Order, though that’s a story for another day.
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