novelraw Chapter 93 : Chapter 93
Chapter 93 : Chapter 93
Chapter 93. Exit
“Do not come again.”
Gaf uttered the cold words and walked away.
His attitude was unlike usual—too curt.
Shaferia lowered her head.
‘It must be because he discovered my identity.’
She was a spy of the Order, hiding in the lord’s castle and deceiving everyone.
Now that the truth was known, of course they would be angry.
Even Yohan, kind as he was, must have trembled with betrayal.
Shaferia let out a long sigh.
She had betrayed those who had shown her goodwill. She had only fulfilled her duty, but guilt was a separate matter.
She felt sorry toward Yohan and everyone in the castle.
As her shoulders sagged, a boy carefully took her hand.
“You’re a good person, Holy Knight.”
His name was Raon, grandson of the slash-and-burn village chief, once possessed by Zal’karin.
Nearly dragged away by the Order because of that possession, he had been saved by Yohan.
Shaferia looked at him.
“I’m neither a Holy Knight nor a good person.”
She had been a trainee Holy Knight, but she had lost even that title. With her Holy Power gone, she was now just an ordinary paladin recruit.
Raon shook his head.
“The Scripture says, ‘Those who protect others are Holy Knights.’ You protected us all the way here. So you are a Holy Knight. And a good person.”
From the southwest to the Miyatro territory was hundreds of kilometers.
The long journey had been full of dangers.
Low demons appeared, and once, a band of brigands blocked their way.
Each time, Shaferia had resolved the threat.
Without her, the slash-and-burn farmers would never have reached the Miyatro lands safely.
Shaferia gently stroked Raon’s hair.
“Thank you. That helps a little.”
He smiled brightly.
Looking at his smile, she couldn’t sit idly.
At least the farmers had to meet Yohan.
After such a long journey, she couldn’t simply send them away.
She raised her head, chasing after Gaf with her eyes.
“Wait! Please, just a moment!”
Shaferia ran. She quickly caught up to Gaf.
He turned to face her, expression still rigid.
“What is it? I’m busy.”
“Please hear me out. It won’t take long.”
Gaf frowned.
“If this is about your espionage, there’s no need for excuses. I already know everything.”
On Yohan’s orders, he had been watching her.
He had overheard every word of her talks with the Inquisitor.
Shaferia said,
“It’s about something else. Did you see the migrants earlier?”
About forty people had traveled with her.
Of course, Gaf had seen them.
“Yes. Why?”
“I don’t care about myself, but at least let them meet Sir Yohan—no, the Baron. He promised to accept them as his people. It was an oath.”
Gaf’s face tightened.
“The Baron has no time for such trifles.”
Shaferia’s voice grew heated.
“Trifles? They walked for days from the quarantine zone, trusting only his word. Their survival depends on it. Don’t dismiss it as a trifle.”
Gaf sighed heavily.
“Do you know how many slash-and-burn farmers and vagrants come seeking us every day? If we accepted them all, the territory would collapse.”
Since Yohan had taken over, Miyatro’s reputation had soared.
The baron’s house hadn’t even collected taxes this year.
Hearing such rumors, many had come seeking refuge.
But Yohan couldn’t take them all.
Shaferia pressed on.
“They’re not just farmers. They saved the Baron’s life.”
“Saved him?”
“Yes. They cared for him when he collapsed by the river, and in return he promised them entry.”
Gaf paused, recalling that Yohan had mentioned something similar.
Still, he spoke stiffly.
“I’ll confirm it with the Baron. But if this turns out to be another lie, the Order will face formal protest.”
Shaferia softened her expression.
“I’ll apologize for what happened before. Please, speak kindly on their behalf.”
Gaf turned back toward the keep.
“No need to apologize. It was the Order’s command. Wait in the village. I’ll speak with the Baron.”
He strode quickly back.
As soon as he entered, the gates slammed shut.
Soldiers guarded the sealed gates like iron.
Shaferia found it strange.
Has the lord’s house always been so closed? In just two months, the castle had changed greatly.
She stared at it.
No matter how she thought, the atmosphere was very different from before.
***
Yohan sat in his office, staring blankly at the air.
Above him, the ceiling was blackened, sunken, and cracked.
Debris occasionally fell from above.
All marks of battle.
Ilea and Gawain had ruined the castle.
It was a huge headache. He had told Ilea not to worry, but in truth, he had no idea how to repair it.
‘…Should I just abandon it and build anew?’
That might be best.
If he called laborers to repair it, the archive’s location could be exposed.
‘Build. That’s the right choice.’
Leave this as the old castle, and raise a new one.
He swallowed hard and began writing a letter.
He planned to lean on the Count’s wealth.
Surely, the Count could not refuse.
As he wrote, he suddenly snapped the pen.
Clutching his head, he muttered to himself.
‘Idiot. The castle isn’t the problem right now.’
The real problem was Gawain.
No matter how he racked his brain, he couldn’t find a solution.
Thinking of reconstruction was just avoidance.
His head hurt so much, he wanted to run from the issue.
‘No avoiding it. Stop Gawain’s corruption first.’
Even in the original work, no solution had been given.
He had to find one himself.
He reviewed the situation.
Gawain’s corruption had come as backlash from the Holy Spear’s fall into the Cursed Spear.
So what if he reversed it—purified the Cursed Spear back into the Holy Spear?
He shook his head.
There was no such method.
The lore of Inmalog said so.
He clutched his head again, sinking into thought.
Time passed.
Someone entered the office.
He snapped out of his thoughts.
“Coming in without knocking…,”
“There’s no door to knock on.”
Gaf leaned against the doorframe.
Indeed, the door had been blown away.
Yohan clicked his tongue.
“A ruin indeed. Well? What is it?”
Gaf answered plainly.
“Shaferia came.”
“Later than I expected.”
Gaf frowned slightly.
“You knew she would return?”
By royal command, all investigations into the baron’s house had ceased.
Her mission to watch them was over.
By his logic, she had no reason to come.
Yohan nodded.
“I promised to open the Abyss gate. She believes she can regain her lost Holy Power in a sacred site there.”
It was just superstition. Few ways existed to regain Holy Power.
Gaf asked,
“Then will you see her?”
Yohan hesitated.
He had once accepted her as a way to spy on the Order.
That reason was gone.
Keeping her around now brought no benefit.
“Send her away. I don’t have time to waste.”
“And the slash-and-burn farmers from the southwest?”
Yohan looked puzzled.
Gaf explained briefly.
At last, Yohan remembered.
“Give them land and homes. I owe them my life, so I must repay it.”
Gaf nodded.
“Send Shaferia away, take in the farmers. Is that right?”
Yohan opened his mouth, then stopped.
‘Wait.’
An idea struck him.
‘What if I used Shaferia…’
She and Gawain had similarities.
Their talents were alike.
Both were beloved by the Great Saint.
Maybe she could help purify Gawain.
Yohan stood.
“I’ve changed my mind. Bring me Shaferia. Now.”
Gaf was used to his sudden shifts.
“You’re planning something again.”
“Just lead me. I’ll explain later.”
Without a word, Gaf gestured.
Together, they went down to the village.
***
In the village hall, Shaferia sipped tea given by the chief, waiting for Gaf.
Villagers came in to see her.
Rumor already called her a Holy Knight.
In the southern countryside, such a sight was rare.
Their curiosity was natural.
‘Everyone looks so cheerful.’
All their faces were bright.
So different from two months ago.
‘A new lord really changes everything.’
She was marveling when noise rose at the entrance.
“My lord, it’s been so long!”
“How have you been?”
“Please visit the village more often!”
“A calf was born—we want to dedicate it to you!”
Amid their welcome, Yohan entered the hall.
Shaferia rose, straightening her clothes.
She felt she had to show respect.
Their eyes met.
She bowed.
“Sir Yohan… no, my lord.”
He approached with a blank expression.
She grew nervous. Something heavy lingered in his air.
He spoke calmly.
“Lady Shaferia, it’s been a while.”
Her expression turned solemn.
“Thank you for meeting me. As for what has happened… I sincerely apologize.”
Yohan smirked. The stiff air dissolved.
He lightly tapped her shoulder.
“If you’re sorry, then grant me one favor.”