novelraw Chapter 108 : The Saintess's Proposal (2)
Chapter 108 : The Saintess's Proposal (2)
The Saintess's Proposal (2)
Ian didn't know much about Lady Marceline.
He had never had any connection with her in his previous life.
Marceline disappeared even before the Hisperion civil war began.
This was after Kargon had been killed by demonic humans in his past life.
Marceline set out herself for Kargon's revenge.
She led her direct knights and roamed the continent, devoting herself solely to eradicating the demonic humans.
Not long after, she vanished.
She disappeared without a trace, along with her elite knights who followed her.
This happened in less than a year after Kargon's death.
Ian didn't know whether her body had ever been found or what happened to her after that.
At that time, Ian hadn't even met Yuria yet.
Still, it was something he could guess. She was probably captured by the Demon Cult and sacrificed as an offering.
As nourishment of magic power to summon great demon nobles and grand dukes of the Demon Realm to this land.
'Lady Marceline was also a swordswoman at the Grandmaster rank. To the demon cultists, she must have looked like a bountiful and luscious lump of magic power.'
Her anger at losing her son must have made her reckless to the point of foolishness and driven her into certain death.
She must have quickly been caught in the demon cult's wicked trap—not surprisingly.
'But this time, that won't happen.'
In his previous life, Kargon's death turned her into an avenger, but in this life, Kargon wouldn't die.
Kargon was the brother Yuria had missed in her past life and the beloved child of the Heavenly Sword Lord.
That's why Ian had no choice but to watch over Kargon with special care.
'So, like it or not, in this life, I'll be seeing Lady Marceline quite often.......'
Lady Marceline smiled benevolently and spoke.
"If you ever need help, please come find this mother anytime. If it's you, young master, even your mischief is welcomed."
"...... Thank you for the honor, my lady."
He was meeting her for the first time, but his first impression was not bad.
She simply appeared to be a mother who loved and cherished her child.
Ian had no biological mother, so her words—telling him to think of her as one—gave him a strange feeling.
Of course, he couldn't tell how much of that was genuine.
"Well, then... This mother must not take up too much of your time. I'll take my leave now. I hope you have a wonderful time, Ian. Make lots of new friends too."
"Thank you, my lady."
"Fufu, see you next time."
Marceline walked away with elegant steps.
Ian quietly watched her back.
'I wonder what kind of person she really is. I still know nothing about her.'
But she was a Grandmaster-rank powerhouse.
If he could get close and make her an ally under these circumstances, she would indeed be reassuring.
When the Hisperion civil war broke out in the future, she would be a great supporter, and even in battles against the grand dukes of the Demon Realm, she would be a valuable force.
If possible, he wanted to continue getting along with her and make her an ally.
Would getting close to Kargon make Marceline an ally too?
—Swoosh.
"Did my mother bother you?"
'Speak of the devil and he shall appear.'
Ian had just been thinking of Kargon, when he appeared.
—Bow.
"I greet Young Lord Kargon."
When Ian bowed immediately with the etiquette of the Heavenly Sword Palace, Kargon's eyebrows furrowed with slight disappointment.
"...... You're still too stiff, you know. You've even saved my life. You should feel free to treat me much more comfortably."
"I'm glad you've recovered safely."
"That's thanks to you. I've heard the whole story. Some things I even remember."
"...... You remember?"
"I lost consciousness when I was kidnapped, but there are things I vaguely remember. Someone washed the demonic energy from my body and carried me on his back. Only after waking up and hearing from the others did I realize that it was you."
Kargon lowered his head, showing Ian his crown.
"Truly, thank you, Ian Greysel. I owe you my life."
"Y-young lord......!"
Ian promptly grabbed Kargon's shoulder and raised him up gently.
It was generally improper to touch one of direct bloodline recklessly, but it would have been even ruder to just blankly stare at the direct heir's bowed head in such a circumstance.
—Clap!
Kargon grasped Ian's shoulders in return.
"I was truly amazed when I heard it was you who saved me. Purifying my body of demonic energy by yourself there couldn't have been an easy task."
"...... It was nothing special."
Kargon's expression became serious.
"Nothing special, you say. That's something that could have endangered you through contamination, and it was even enemy territory. Plus, it's extremely difficult to do technically. But despite all that, you prioritized my treatment first. You didn't abandon me or run away. Thanks to your swift care, I was able to recover without any aftereffects."
"......."
Ian felt a bit embarrassed.
He never quite got used to receiving compliments and gratitude.
"And you also got me safely to the Heavenly Sword Palace. If you hadn't been there, I surely would have died. ...... Frankly, I collapsed without being able to resist them at all."
It was understandable.
Kargon was a late-stage user, and those guys were two expert-rank elites.
Besides, they even possessed a demon artifact, so there was no way Kargon could have handled it.
It wasn't that Kargon was incompetent. He was still just a young cadet.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of. They were simply being cowardly."
"But you, on the other hand, didn't even fall against them, and you weren't hurt. You escaped perfectly, too."
"......."
Comparing himself—a peculiar case—was a bit......
"So I've done a lot of soul-searching. I wasn't keeping my mind sharp. Maybe I hadn't worked hard enough. Or maybe both my spirit and my effort were lacking."
"......."
"So I feel the need to push myself more. I won't stop until I can stand where you stand."
"......."
Ian felt quite conflicted inside.
If Kargon compared himself to Ian, he would just make things harder for himself.
If Kargon pushed himself too hard to catch up, he might fall into inner demons instead.
Between Ian and Kargon, there was the regression, the Authority, the relic, and other insurmountable gaps—a few, at least.
He wondered how he should talk him down, how to dissuade him.
As Ian was worrying about that, Kargon spoke again.
"Ah. This wasn't what I meant to say in the first place. I talked so much about myself. You must have been bored."
"Not at all."
Kargon looked deeply into Ian's eyes.
"I want to make a vow to you. That's the real reason I'm here."
"...... A vow?"
"You saved my life, so now a part of it belongs to you. Someday, I will stake my life for you."
"Uh, um."
No, that's not necessary.
In fact, that sounded more dangerous, as if he might do something reckless.
"Your words alone are more than enough. Please, think of your own well-being first, young lord......"
"No. I've already decided. I'm making my vow to you right now. When the time comes to risk my life for you, I won't hesitate."
"Uh, uhh......"
"And if you ever need my help or support, just say the word. Ian, you're now like a brother to me."
"......."
Saving someone's life was no small thing, but he hadn't expected this much gratitude.
"I am overwhelmed by your gracious words. But please, young lord, I hope you'll value your own life first. That's all I ask."
Ian could manage well enough on his own without anyone risking their lives for him.
"Heheh."
Kargon chuckled softly.
"You always put me first. Just having you stay with our family is a huge stroke of luck. But my words are sincere. Remember that. Call on me whenever you need to."
"...... If you insist so much, I'll remember."
He wanted to persuade him more firmly, but it only seemed like Kargon would get more stubborn.
For now, it was best to agree and simply avoid leading Kargon into danger from Ian's side.
"Well, I should get going too. The instructors are starting to give us looks."
At that, Ian glanced around. Some of the instructors were glancing their way.
Their faces weren't stern, but they gestured and smiled toward the apprentice holy knights.
It was their way of telling the dragon sword academy cadets not to stick only to themselves but to go and meet new friends.
"Young Lord Kargon."
Just then, a middle-aged priest came to greet Kargon.
"It's been a while. Do you remember me?"
"Ah! You're..."
It seemed they knew each other, as Kargon greeted him warmly.
"Well then, Ian, I'll excuse myself first. See you later. Have a good time."
"Yes, young lord. I hope you enjoy yourself as well."
—Bow.
The middle-aged priest also politely bowed to Ian.
Kargon and the priest walked away together.
"......"
Ian was soon left alone, feeling awkward.
The instructors had told him to make new friends, but Ian was not an outgoing person.
If anything, he was almost a total introvert.
If it wasn't a familiar face or official conversation, he had no idea what to say.
Go up to strangers first?
He'd rather be tossed in the middle of the jungle.
'Guess I'll just fill my stomach quietly.......'
So Ian, studiously ignoring the instructors' looks, awkwardly sipped his drink alone.
"Young master Ian?"
A bright, youthful voice called out to him.
"......?"
Turning around, there was a small girl.
She was about a head shorter than Ian.
Eleven? Maybe twelve years old?
"...... A child?"
Why was there a child here?
"What!"
The girl bristled.
"A-a child?! I'm a year older than you, you know!?"
"......?"
Older? Really?
As Ian just blinked, the girl cleared her throat.
"Let me introduce myself. The name of this delicate servant is Seraphina the Third. I am the Saintess of Selveris Holy Kingdom and the one who spreads the doctrine of the Holy Radiance."
"Ah. The Saintess."
Only then did Ian realize she was the Saintess.
No wonder.
He'd been told the Saintess would be here, but hadn't seen her—because she was too small to notice.
"It's nice to finally meet you, young master Ian."
Seraphina placed her hand to her chest and bowed in the Holy Kingdom's manner.
"Pleased to meet you, Saintess Seraphina. It's an honor."
Ian also placed his hand over his heart and bowed his head, following Hisperion etiquette.
If she was the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom, her rank was more or less equal to a direct line of Hisperion.
She must be very busy meeting various political figures right now.
So why had she personally sought him out, who was just standing off in a corner?
"You're wondering why I've come to meet you like this, judging by your expression."
"......."
She'd read him.
She seemed quick-witted.
"I'll just tell you the reason for this humble servant's visit right away. That's the main point."
—Step!
Seraphina took a large step closer to Ian.
"......."
It was too close for comfort, so Ian took a small step back.
—Step!
Seraphina stepped forward even more.
"......?"
The distance between them closed to about half a handspan.
So close their breathing could almost touch.
—Grab!
Suddenly, seraphina grasped Ian's hand with both of hers.
"......!"
Ian stiffened in surprise.
Normally, he would have immediately pulled his hand away, but now he could only stand still.
If he pulled away at such a close distance, he might end up hurting the Saintess.
"...... What are you doing?"
"I will now tell you why I personally sought you out, young master Ian......!"
Seraphina's fine sandy hair fluttered in the breeze.
Her eyes, which had been hidden by her bangs, now shone in a clear purgatory hue.
"It is to declare that I will take Young master Ian to our Selveris Holy Kingdom!"
"Wha—!?"
What was this all of a sudden?
Take him with her?
Says who?
Who said he would go?
'But before that.......'
The Saintess's voice had been quite loud just now.
It had drawn a lot of the surrounding attention.
"......."
He felt all eyes piercing him.
"First, could you please let go of my hand......?"
Ian tried to pull his hand free.
"No!"
But Seraphina wouldn't let go so easily.
"......."
"I would like to propose a bet to you, young master Ian!"
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Another weird one appeared...
Does Ian have the same constitution as Bang Sung-yun?
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】