The Knight Who Protects the Weak

Chapter 194 : A Love Never Seen Before

"......If everyone is done watching, go back."

I spoke to the gathered people.

Those who were prostrating themselves jumped up, made a fuss, and scattered.

In no time, only the two girls, Tiaro, and I remained. McRay had tagged along behind the crowd but was dragged back by Tiaro who grabbed the back of his neck.

The short-haired girl who was giggling while watching the two men stared at me intently and said,

"He's like His Majesty the King."

"Masa! You shouldn't say such things carelessly."

"What does it matter? There's no one to tattle anyway."

"Ah, true?"

I was so dumbfounded that a hollow laugh came out.

It seems nobles these days don't even teach basic manners.

'.......'

Well, is it okay.......

If history goes as it should, these kids are the generation of the Kingdom's destruction.

Perhaps the most pitiful ones in the world, whose young and brilliant times of life will be trampled by war.

"In my opinion, they are just crazy bitches."

Tiaro whispered in my ear.

In my opinion, neither of us was in a position to say anything.

"Masa Springeus. My name."

Without even being asked, the short-haired girl abruptly introduced herself to me.

'Springeus.'

It is definitely a name I am hearing for the first time. Sorry, but for now, that's that.

I looked at the two alternately and said,

"Fine. Roxy Windermere, Masa Springeus. How did you come here?"

I don't know well whether they came out on their own feet or were chased out, but―

Looking at their state, it doesn't seem like it has been long since they ran away from home.

'......If I take them in carelessly, it will become a headache.'

Noble young ladies in Brackenport.

It would be better to draw a line in advance.

"She says this one is carrying her child."

Tiaro pointed at Roxy and Masa alternately.

The annoyance on my face must have shown.

"What nonsense is that?"

"I don't know either. She says so."

As soon as I turned my gaze, Roxy raised her hand high as if she had been waiting.

"It's true! I am carrying Masa's child!"

"......."

"Tiaro and McRay promised to protect the two of us!"

Tiaro screamed.

"These crazy bitches― When did we do that! We only said we could give you one meal for free!"

"Isn't that helping?"

"Please just shut up, McRay!"

Sudden dizziness rushed in.

After calming down the guys who were squawking like baby birds, I snatched Roxy's arm.

Tap.

I placed my index and middle fingers together like a Sword Finger on Roxy's wrist.

The pulse of the heart was transmitted to my fingertips along the flow of blood.

'......The pulse is more honest than the breath.'

I recalled a sentence Karim left.

Like a person who handled all poisons in the world, he was a person mastered in human physiology.

The Way of Medicine he left taught me deep principles that were hard to realize with just a sword.

'Poison and medicine, life and death, blade and reverse blade.'

In the end, they are not different.

Since they are two sides originating from a single source.

'.......'

The pulse was uneven.

Thin, fast, and anxious.

Swish.

When I took both hands off, Roxy quickly hid her wrist behind her back.

A slight flush was spreading on her cheeks.

"A-act nonchalant!"

My eyes narrowed without realizing it.

Having a child was real.

"What did you do just now? Are you okay, Roxy?"

"I'm not okay! You should have protected me!"

"Sorry."

Masa patted Roxy's shoulder.

I quietly looked at the two alternately.

The situation was roughly drawn.

Roxy, who committed a dangerous affair with someone somewhere and ran away from home in fear, and her close childhood friend from the neighboring family, Masa, who followed her side.......

So this is―

'A deviation of immature young ladies.'

A sigh came out without me realizing it.

What should be done.......

If a rumor circulates that two noble young ladies are hiding in Brackenport, which is already called by all sorts of notoriety in the world―

'Terrible.'

It won't be seen as a refuge they sought on their own feet, but as a kidnapping, leading to the worst human trafficking den.

I must stop it. I cannot let this place, which has just started a new beginning, fall into an irreversible swamp again.

"Tiaro, McRay."

I raised my head toward the two guys.

"Go bring water, food, and some clothes to wear. As much as possible."

"Yes, y-yes......!"

After checking the two people running away in a hurry, I spoke to Masa and Roxy.

"Leave quietly."

"......."

"This is not a place for you to be."

The shoulders of Masa and Roxy, who were bowing their heads quietly, trembled simultaneously.

The sound of swallowing breath was heard.

"......Who are you to say that?"

Masa slowly raised her head.

Her gaze had changed.

"A place for us to stay―"

"......."

"We can decide that ourselves."

Those are correct words.

If this were not Brackenport. Where should I explain from?

While contemplating, I opened my mouth, but a tongue-clicking sound like an adult came out unknowingly.

It was then.

Masa waved her hand in the air.

'......!'

My pupils must have dilated greatly.

Sharp killing intent poured out from the trajectory Masa stirred with her hand.

Clang!

I raised the Heavenly Demon in front.

My grip throbbed from the heavy impact.

I felt a sense of déjà vu instantly.

I have definitely seen this somewhere.

'Luke.'

When I cut down the Alkabang Gang guarding the altar and when we had a chase―

This single strike right now resembled that of Luke from that time.

Like a Formless Sword.

Rattle-rattle-rattle!

Goosebumps rose instantly.

The sound of blades interlocking precisely scratched my eardrums.

This time it was Roxy.

Before I knew it, she was standing at a distance with her arm stretched straight.

From the sword hilt held in her hand, a blade uncoiled like flowing water.

The flexibly curved long blade cut through the air.

'......Snake Belly Sword (Whip Sword)?'

Crunch-crunch-crunch!

The blade wound around the Heavenly Demon.

It was like a snake coiling around prey.

"Now! Masa!"

As Roxy shouted in a shrill voice, Masa lowered her upper body and dug into my range.

With both arms drooping like bird wings.

'She is definitely similar to Luke.'

He was like that too.

Movement swaying as if all strength was drained from the whole body.

'She can't be a disciple.'

Appreciation should end here.

Right now, punishing these immature kids stingingly comes first.

"Ah."

Masa, who was digging into me, hesitated.

I was aiming at the Blood Lion held in my empty hand at the tip of her nose.

"Undo this. The kid's face will get scarred."

I shook the Heavenly Demon while looking at Roxy.

The sound of metal pieces rubbing consecutively was extremely annoying.

"Roxy. Let's surrender."

"Huh?! B-But!"

"He blocked Ethereal. This person is a real monster."

I lowered my eyes.

Ethereal, she says.

It was when Roxy was restless.

"Oh my, you guys―"

It was Noser. Ellen was also with him behind.

"Eek!"

Masa screamed shortly. Roxy slyly covered her own mouth.

"Truly astounding. To think we would meet in a place like this. Isn't that so?"

Masa and Roxy stepped backward while frozen stiffly.

Their terrified pupils were shaking frantically.

***

For now, I brought the two people to the Ellen Gang's hideout.

On the way, I could hear about Masa and Roxy's identities.

"Windermere and Springeus are powerful knight families counted on one hand in the entire Kingdom. They have produced many famous knights for generations. Thus, the two families are also called the Two Great Mountains of the West."

Noser smiled bitterly.

"There was a time when Springeus symbolized the Sharon Faction and Windermere symbolized the Langster Faction."

"So it's different now."

"Yes. Nowadays, such distinctions have become meaningless. Even knight families don't particularly put forward factions. It's just that like wandering knight nobodies who left their families or those following romance, they take pride in saying they are closer to one side. As those who pursue the order of the Sharon Faction and those who worship the supremacy of the Langster Faction."

Suddenly, the words Jewel told me before came to mind.

"Like a trend?"

Noser chuckled.

"A trend that has passed long ago."

To summarize―

It meant that only the lower ones divide sides and fight saying Sharon Faction or Langster Faction, while the higher-ups actually don't have much interest in such distinctions.

My head nodded naturally.

'As expected, it was the Phantom Demon's trick.'

The reason the concepts of Sharon Faction and Langster Faction did not exist in my past life was that the Phantom Demon passed a sentence of doom called memory annihilation in this atmosphere.

No, perhaps even this natural forgetting might have been a conspiracy designed by him.

'To erase the soul engraved in the sword......'

In other words, a sorcery worked on for a very long time to eradicate the Sword's Will of the Kingdom knights by the roots.

'.......'

I gulped.

If so, the disappearance of Chivalry was also an aftereffect of that sorcery in the end.

If the life of Chivalry had continued, it would have remained as a spiritual pillar binding the Kingdom knights as one, and such solidarity would have been a thorn in the eye more than anything to the Imperial Family, and furthermore to the Eight Demons.

"Bihen?"

"......Ah."

I raised my head.

Noser laughed as if it was trivial.

"Putting that aside―"

He turned his gaze.

The gang kids were surrounding Masa and Roxy in a circle.

They were chattering noisily, bursting out exclamations repeatedly as if watching people from another world.

"It has become a headache."

Masa and Roxy were laughing kya-rur-rur while looking at the kids.

They seemed to have met friends of similar age.

"Of all people, those two."

"You seemed to know them."

"Of course I know them. They are the ones who competed for top and second rank at the Royal Capital Academy back then."

I learned about it thanks to Ellen a while ago.

That there is a place called an Academy in the Imperial Capital that trains knights.

It was an educational institution where only children of nobles could enroll.

Thanks to that, Ellen had grumbled for a long time that commoners had to compete with them in the Imperial Capital Knight Order entrance exam without receiving formal education.

"They used strange swordsmanship."

Noser nodded.

"Ethereal and Whip Sword. They are the unique swordsmanship and secret techniques of Springeus and Windermere respectively."

My eyes opened wide. Earlier, Masa also said something about blocking her Ethereal.

If so―

'The identity of the Formless Sword Luke used was Ethereal.'

In other words, Luke is a person of the Springeus family like Masa.

"Springeus and Windermere are famous rival families since ancient times. Even if they just see each other's faces, they growl taking the lead as if to protect their respective traditions symbolizing the Sharon Faction and Langster Faction."

"Not showing off that they are distinguished families in that way?"

Noser marveled as if I hit the mark.

It is nothing great. Seeing the state of the Kingdom now, it is natural to have such thoughts.

"That is also correct, but Springeus and Windermere are sincere."

"Hmm."

"Because they are guys anxious to catch each other's faults."

My and Noser's gazes turned simultaneously.

The young ladies of the two families were laughing brightly.

"While their grades see-sawed, their skills were truly neck and neck too. The problem was that the young ladies of the two enemy families were that close to each other."

"......."

"So imagine how famous those two must have been."

Noser muttered like talking to himself. Running away from home―

I spoke.

"Roxy is carrying a child."

Noser opened his eyes wide.

He did not know the reason the two ran away from home.

"Whose child?"

I lifted my chin forward.

"Masa."

Noser frowned.

"Are you joking with me?"