Chapter 262: Over the Affection for the Deceased

There was a strong, impolite knocking on the door of the priest’s room.

“It’s me, I’m coming in.”

“No, you can’t.”

“I see, understood. I’m coming in anyway.”

After this exchange of non-conversations, a knight-like man entered the room. He bore the mark ’13’ on his shoulder, a former member of the Thirteenth Knights. Now, under the care of the Fourth Knights led by Victor, he should have changed his armor’s emblem to ‘4,’ but he had neglected to do so, making various excuses. Not only him, but all the members of the Thirteenth Knights did the same.

It was a violation of regulations. However, their leader, Victor, was a hearty, or rather careless man who simply let it slide with a “It’s not a big deal.”

The young knight’s name was Keith. He didn’t dislike Victor. On the contrary, he was grateful for him picking up the scattered Thirteenth Knights. He still hadn’t sorted out his feelings. If he changed the emblem now while feeling like this, he felt like the existence of the Thirteenth Knights would disappear.

It was just his imagination. Leonard wouldn’t want sentimental gestures. That’s what they, his former subordinates, knew best. Still, those who were left behind needed something like a trigger to overcome the death of the beloved leader they admired.

He couldn’t just rely on Victor’s favor forever. As long as he didn’t discard the emblem of the Thirteenth Knights, he couldn’t fit into the Fourth Knights. He knew that, felt sorry for it, and that’s why he was anxious.

“Sacred one, today I’ll take Leonard-sama’s sword.”

“No, um… that’s impossible.”

Priest Arjan said in a joking manner.

… What’s up with this guy’s change?

Keith had known a man named Arjan since before the orc attack incident. He was the kind of man who flattered those above him and bullied those below him, the type of man you’d want to list under “small-time villain” in a dictionary. If a knight serving the capital acted a little authoritarian, he shouldn’t immediately kneel down and start rubbing his hands together. But when it came to Leonard’s sword, he became strangely stubborn. Keith couldn’t understand it.

“It’s your convenience to say it’s impossible and futile; it has nothing to do with us. Knight’s equipment is all purchased with taxes, in other words, it belongs to the Knight Order.”

“Normally, that would be true. However, that sword was bestowed as a reward by His Majesty the King, meaning it’s Leonard-sama’s personal possession. There’s no reason to return it to the Knight Order.”

“It’s not yours either!”

He raised his voice unintentionally. But Arjan didn’t flinch. Despite the difference in strength that would allow Keith to twist his neck with one hand if he wanted to, he remained calm, as if he had gained such courage in the meantime.

If it were a few months ago, he would have bowed his head at a single reprimand and said, “Oh, I’m sorry! I’ll get it right away!” and run to the warehouse like a mouse.

Keith didn’t know. The source of Arjan’s confidence was his mission to protect Leonard’s sword. Leonard’s back had changed Arjan’s outlook on life entirely.

“Keith-sama, after being attacked by monsters and having our village burned down, we need emotional support. That’s the light of hope that Leonard-sama showed us, and the symbol of that is his broken sword. Please understand these circumstances.”

“If it’s emotional support, isn’t that what the gods are for? Aren’t priests there for that?”

“For the wounded villagers, any form of emotional support is welcome. It’s not about whether we pray to the gods or to Leonard-sama, both are important.”

“We also need Leonard-sama!”

The Thirteenth Knight Order was a newly established organization, and its knights were all newcomers. For better or for worse, they were united by the presence of the hero, Leonard.

They were willing to go to any hell for him, willing to die as his shield. However, with Leonard’s sudden death, the Thirteenth Knight Order collapsed. While their bodies were taken in by the Fourth Knight Order, their hearts remained adrift. Everyone in the Thirteenth Knight Order longed for proof that Leonard’s spirit was with them.

“Lord Keith…”

Arjan narrowed his eyes and spoke.

“This village was protected by Leonard-sama. Are you trying to take away hope from us, who were attacked by monsters and had our village burned down? Are you trying to kill us?”

“I’m not saying anything about killing. I’m just asking for the sword to be handed over.”

“People cannot live without hope!”

Arjan didn’t back down. When asked if he, as Leonard’s subordinate, was trying to kill the villagers Leonard had protected, Keith didn’t know how to counter. Although the Knight Order had more ownership than the village, he couldn’t win against the priest’s eloquence.

“Is that all you have to say?”

Arjan said coldly. It was as if he was telling him to leave quickly.

“No, the patrol of the village is the main topic. Has anything changed recently?”

“Thanks to you, nothing in particular.”

“We will soon investigate if there are any orc settlements nearby. I won’t ask you to provide individual rooms for all the knights, but I would appreciate it if you could provide a roof over their heads.”

“In that case, we will lend you the chapel. We will also prepare blankets.”

“Thank you.”

An awkward silence fell between the two of them. There had been no progress in the negotiation to take over the sword. Keith had wanted to extract at least one condition favorable to the Thirteenth Knights, but he didn’t know what else to say.

“Is there anything else?”

“No, it’s nothing. I’ll come back.”

Arjan couldn’t tell the knight who would patrol the village to not come back. He knew it wouldn’t be good to worsen relations with the Knight Order, but he still couldn’t hand over the sword.

Keith stood up and left the room. The two of them had been silent the whole time.

No, nothing could be said.

Outside the church, the sky was cloudy and gloomy. Irrational anger surged in Keith’s heart, as if the heavens were mocking him.

The fact that he had come to patrol was true. Keith started to stroll around the village.

Every villager he passed looked exhausted, as if radiating a negative aura from their entire bodies. Yet, only their eyes gleamed with determination to move forward.

…If they were to take the sword from them, would that light disappear too?

…Then what would happen to us, the Thirteenth Knights? Would we remain as empty shells without any hope?

He didn’t know. There was no man to consult with at times like this. A silent, dark man who you couldn’t quite figure out what he was thinking, but who listened to his subordinates’ anxieties and questions and answered them firmly.

He liked him, admired him, and he was his goal as a knight. The vague affection had taken on a clear form only after Leonard’s death.

Several wagons were parked in front of the mayor’s house. Villagers gathered and unloaded food and goods from the wagons.

As Keith wondered where that money had come from, he mounted a horse and left the village.

“Domine, quo vadis…?”

He recited a passage from the Bible. Lord, where are you going?

He knew. Even if he asked, he wouldn’t have received an answer.

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