༺ Hodrick (1) ༻
Leaving the closed gate of the King’s Palace behind, what Renee spat out was neither anger nor resentnt, but a question.
“…Is it okay?”
It was about the condition that Vera had proposed.
She didn’t ask out of emotion.
Knowing full well that Vera wasn’t the kind of person to propose such a condition without any thought, and acknowledging that it would be sothing to pique Maleus’s interest, she suppressed her anger, knowing that it would just be a tantrum in this situation.
“I apologize.”
What ca back was an apology.
Renee clenched her hands tighter.
“You always cause trouble and apologize after.”
“I’m ashad. However, I want you to know that this is sothing I absolutely need.”
She bit her lip tightly.
In the silence that followed, Renee took a deep breath and then responded.
“Just try and lose. No, just you dare try and get hurt. If you do, I really won’t let it go.”
With her back turned to Vera, she gave that reply.
She thought it was the right thing to do, because if they faced each other now, her worried face would give her emotions away.
Despite intending to say, ‘I’m okay, so cheer up,’ her emotions were hindering her ability to speak, taking her words in a different direction from what she wanted to say.
Vera bowed his head to express gratitude towards Renee, who had turned her back to him.
It was because he knew that Renee didn’t like such impulsive actions and that it took a lot of patience for her to move past this situation.
After the storm had passed, Miller, who had been keeping his mouth shut until then, opened it in a lively tone, as if trying to lighten the mood.
“Well, well! It looks like we’ve got our tasks sorted out! Vera will prove himself! And we’ll find that Apostle of Death…”
We’ll find and… do what?
Miller’s eyes rolled at the sudden thought.
The mood was about to get ugly again.
It was Norn who stopped it.
“…I think it’s best to bring her to the Holy Kingdom. The Holy Kingdom’s rule is to not force people to beco believers, but Apostles are different, so we should at least try to persuade her.”
“R-Right! That! Let’s do as the uncle said and try to persuade the kid!”
Norn’s expression soured at the word ‘uncle’. It was a pouty, bumpy expression that reminded one of a sulking child.
…It was an expression ill-suited for a middle-aged man.
Of course, Miller wasn’t considerate enough to notice Norn’s expression, and this ti too, Norn had to swallow his anger with Hela’s lifeless consolation.
“So, let’s settle on that and go get so food, shall we? My gosh~ I’m starving to death!”
With Miller’s final chatter, the group headed toward the restaurant in a sowhat calm atmosphere.
***
The group started moving in earnest the day after they t with Maleus.
Leaving Vera behind, who now had to act alone, Renee and the other mbers gathered in the reception room and sat around a table to discuss how to persuade Jenny.
“…What should we do?”
Renee’s face showed a troubled smile, and all traces of the gloom from the day before were gone.
She had managed to sort out her emotions overnight and was now able to show a more composed appearance.
The mbers who had been worried about Renee before coming here felt relieved to see her like this and began voicing their opinions one by one.
“First, we need to gather information. Isn’t background checking essential to finding a way to persuade her?”
“Professor, that’s insensitive. Investigating soone before eting them is rude.”
“Right. The professor is a gloomy and pathetic male.”
“What the fuck?”
…A fight broke out imdiately.
As usual, Norn started diating between the three, while Hela, who seed to consider the chaos as soone else’s problem, spoke to Renee with a blank expression.
“How about starting with getting closer to her? In order to persuade her, shouldn’t you beco friends first?”
“But…”
Renee added more to Hela’s suggestion with a deep sigh.
”…She was really shy, wasn’t she? I’m not sure how to get closer to her.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
Hela nodded her head in agreent.
Indeed, even to Hela, who was usually oblivious, Jenny seed to be very shy and fearful.
For once, Hela was racking her brains and agonizing about the situation.
This was the ssy situation from five minutes ago, where a fight broke out on one side, and ‘hmm’ sounds could be heard on the other side.
For so reason, Renee felt unsure and asked Aisha her thoughts.
“Aisha, what do you think?”
“Huh?”
“Do you have any idea how to persuade Jenny… or rather, beco friends with her?”
Aisha tilted her head.
Of course, she hadn’t thought of anything. The reason was because…
Jenny’s reactions weren’t interesting.
Aisha enjoyed teasing or provoking those who would get angry, but Jenny was boring, so Aisha had no interest in her.
However, she couldn’t say that out loud.
Aisha closed her eyes and began pondering Renee’s question.
“…Do you think she’ll co with us if we teach her a lesson?”
She gave a very Aisha-like answer.
“Threaten to beat her if she doesn’t follow!”
Her eyes sparkled as she gave a response that made it difficult to pinpoint where she went wrong.
For a mont, Renee felt the urge to hit Aisha on the head for the first ti since they t.
***
Vera stood in front of the castle gate with a resolute expression.
[What is the matter?]
On the opposite side, Death Knight Hodrick faced Vera and asked that question.
At Hodrick’s indifferent inquiry, Vera took a deep breath and spoke.
“…I want to prove myself.”
A tense, resolved tone. His heart was firm with determination.
It was a situation he created impulsively, risking Renee’s disapproval.
Therefore, in his current position, Vera had no choice but to show a serious attitude when facing Hodrick.
[I know I gave you a token. Is that not enough?]
“…No, it wasn’t enough. Maleus did not accept the false proof.”
[…I will tell you myself. Go back now. You don’t need to prove yourself to .]
Though Vera had prepared himself for this, the response was the sa as before.
Ignoring him, Vera added another plea, bowing his head and uttering the word.
“…Please.”
As receiving the crown and honing his sword skills could only happen through facing Hodrick, Vera felt no sha in bowing his head.
Hodrick looked at the bowing Vera and fell silent for a mont, then spoke again.
[You don’t need to prove yourself to .]
The sa words repeated.
Just as Vera was about to protest, Hodrick added to his statent.
[Calm down and listen. I’m saying that even without proving yourself to , you are more than worthy.]
Hodrick bowed his head slightly, sighed, and continued speaking.
[Don’t be impatient. It seems you’re just frustrated by your current lack of power. But don’t worry. You have talent. The power you have at this age is proof enough. I’m certain that in a few decades, you’ll beco so strong that you can’t even compare to now. You’ll beco a formidable force, making even this wraith seem laughable.]
The lengthy speech contained embarrassing praise, along with his own personal justification.
[You’ll likely beco one of the strongest in the continent’s history. I think it’s a talent to be envious of as a fellow swordsman. So, the point I wanted to make is this. You don’t need to rush or prove yourself to to beco strong, so this is a aningless duel. Don’t waste your energy on needless things.]
Vera and Hodrick’s gazes t.
Naturally, those words ant nothing to Vera.
“I am in a situation where I can’t afford to be patient.”
Vera spoke with a polite tone.
“I am facing opponents that I cannot handle with my current strength. I have sothing I want to protect within all of this conflict. Therefore, I cannot simply stand by optimistically like this.”
Vera knew as well.
That he was overflowing with talent. That he was young and had ti. And like Hodrick said, the potential to beco infinitely stronger.
That it wasn’t just empty praise.
However, what did that matter?
Protecting Renee, who was beside him now, was more important than becoming an unstoppable force in the future.
So, Vera showed his unwavering resolve and waited for Hodrick’s answer.
[…It’s quite a predicant.]
Hodrick spoke while stroking the hilt of the sheathed sword by his waist.
[I am speaking sincerely, you know? Hastily built castles are only as strong as their weakest link. Just like a sandcastle that collapses with the slightest push. I can guarantee this. Facing may promise imdiate power, but it will be a poison for the deep enlightennt you should gain later.]
Firm words of conviction burst forth.
[The human heart is truly tricky, easily falling apart at the slightest provocation. It regrets in the face of adversity and despair. I don’t want you to regret today’s events when you face a wall in the future.]
It was still an indifferent statent, but Vera felt that it wasn’t just an excuse to discourage him.
Like every other undead they encountered here, the Death Knight seed to be offering his own form of kindness.
Despite knowing that, Vera didn’t give up.
For Vera, there was already sothing he regretted more than anything else.
“I will choose what I want to protect. I am more afraid of a life filled with regret for losing what I have now than one regretting my swordsmanship not improving.”
Vera, knowing how empty it is to live for oneself, chose Renee over any level of swordsmanship.
Hodrick fell silent.
He just looked at Vera.
As if trying to find sincerity in those words, his ghostly eyes shone within his helt.
After a long ti had passed, he finally responded.
[…Even I do not know what will happen.]
With that, he drew his sword.
“…Thank you.”
Vera followed suit and drew the Holy Sword as well, inwardly feeling happy.
The outco… was, of course, Vera’s utter defeat.
***
At the entrance of the ruined castle.
Vera leaned on the Holy Sword, gasping for air.
A look of disbelief spread across his face.
‘I couldn’t catch up.’
It felt like chasing a mirage. Even though his sword clearly made contact, it didn’t feel like it. Despite evading, he was struck by every attack.
It wasn’t a simple matter of strength and speed, but sothing else entirely.
‘Intent…’
That must be it.
Vera’s expression beca even more twisted.
’…Not even my power worked.’
He had used his Apostle’s power to confront Hodrick’s intention, but even that had been aningless.
No oath. No vow. No declaration.
Despite using everything against Hodrick, it still wasn’t enough.
Why, then, did even the power of the gods not work?
As he began to get a headache from these thoughts, Hodrick, who had sheathed his sword, spoke.
[You make an oath so easily.]
It was criticism directed at Vera.
Vera’s head snapped up, his gaze fixed on Hodrick.
[Why do you make so many aningless oaths? Did you know? An oath carries the weight of words that must be kept. It’s not just sothing you blurt out. Yet, why do you burden yourself with a weight you can’t bear and choose to fight?]
At the bitter words, Vera trembled. His expression hardened.
It wasn’t for any other reason. It was because Hodrick seed to know a lot about his power.
In fact, he was talking about the very issue Vera had been worrying about.
“How do you…”
His words flowed out in desperation.
Hodrick stared at Vera for a long ti without answering.
It felt more like hesitation than avoidance.
Stroking the hilt of the sword on his waist, Hodrick remained silent. This ti, too, he sighed and lowered his head, giving an unexpected answer.
[…Did you think you were the only one who used that power throughout this long history?]
It was an answer that made Vera’s breath stop.
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