I Became a Righteous Knight in a Game

Chapter 129

There are those who see the flow of the world.

They sit in slightly higher places, thoughtfully observing things that ordinary people cannot see.

Those who had reached the pinnacle in their respective fields were like that.

Such people existed in the Imperial Palace, in the academy, in the knight orders, in the temples, in the demon cults, and also in the knight orders.

Because humans who surpassed a certain level were bound to have a wider field of vision.

They do not chase after immediate profits. They willingly accept immediate losses.

They move slowly but surely towards their goals.

Their plans were thorough.

But sometimes.

A small variable would twist the entire axis of the plan.

“Hmm. This is troublesome.”

Taylor, the Commander of the Paganoa Knights.

The head of the Empire’s greatest knight order, a group that confronts demons, scratched his beard and let out a sigh.

“A halo is not good. A human favored by a god is bound to provoke demons. Should I have paid a little more attention?”

“Reinhardt was still shining. But I saw darkness along with it.”

“It must have been so.”

In front of Commander Taylor was an illusion of Miya Luxpenber.

It was a high-level magic that only a very few in the Empire could enjoy the benefits of.

Miya was systematically reporting on the events that had recently occurred at the camp.

Reinhardt had saved Evangeline from a crisis.

It was something no one else could do. Returning a mentally broken human to their original state was beyond the scope of what a human could do.

“Reinhardt didn't drive it away. The opponent withdrew. Strictly speaking, one could say it was thanks to Reinhardt. If he hadn’t come in person, Evangeline would have never been able to escape that state.”

A demon had directly intervened in this matter.

For someone like Taylor, such a fact was obvious at a glance.

Evangeline had just happened to become a scapegoat for the demon.

As countless humans had been until now, her future would have been to struggle in a swamp of misfortune, but…….

“Is he that attractive of a prey?”

Reinhardt had made the impossible possible.

He had made the demon bend its will and retreat.

Taylor raised his internal evaluation of Reinhardt by about three levels.

And raising it by three levels meant that he had added Reinhardt to the list of ‘most important individuals’.

“All sorts of demons will gather in Serigel. It will become difficult to maintain balance. How were things in the Palma Mountains?”

“Everyone has grown a lot. Especially Evangeline and Fermil, they are so dazzling it’s hard to look at them properly.”

“And Reinhardt?”

“He is overwhelming.”

“He was like that from the beginning, wasn’t he? From the first time you saw him.”

“He was.”

When she had first discovered Reinhardt in Serigel.

Miya had reported the relevant facts to Commander Taylor early on.

But there were no additional measures. In Taylor’s judgment at the time, Reinhardt was a being that was helpful in maintaining the current situation.

He did not recruit him into the knight order, nor did he break his momentum.

That same Reinhardt had grown in an instant in the nest called Taton and had finally spread his wings wide and taken flight.

“A situation where attention is focused in one place is not very desirable for us. We need to disperse the gazes. Increase the intensity of the missions conducted in the mountain range.”

“Isn’t that too dangerous?”

“It is not dangerous. Serigel is more dangerous. The front line we have painstakingly built in the west will be moved all the way to the east. You wouldn’t want that situation, would you?”

To a demon, this world was like a playroom full of toys.

The gods were not much different.

They were beings who looked down from the sky in the first place. There was no way the well-being of humans would be important to such beings.

“The demons already have a great interest in Reinhardt. Magical beasts and warlocks will gather in Serigel. Wasn’t this the kind of role you expected from Reinhardt?”

“I had hoped he would draw their attention.”

“It will be so. But the problem is that the effect is better than we expected. The bait named Reinhardt has become excessively appetizing.”

“It can’t be helped then.”

“That’s right. The moment the front line moves to the east, countless humans will be massacred. A complex city is an excellent place for warlocks to hide their identities and operate.”

The Palma Mountains were where magical beasts first appeared.

To be precise, a few humans, including Taylor, had guided things to be that way.

They had driven the warlocks who create magical beasts into the mountain range. To a place where civilian casualties would be as low as possible.

“Push them. To the point where they feel that this situation is becoming troublesome.”

“What about Evangeline?”

“Deploy her.”

“I understand. I will assign Fermil with her. That way, she will be able to learn faster.”

“Was it Famia?”

Famia was the god of the earth.

But in Taylor’s voice, not even a hint of respect could be found.

He merely mentioned the name as if calling a close human.

“Famia is attached to Fermil. Evangeline has Lubra.”

“And the others?”

“There are a few members who are receiving attention. It’s just that those two are unrivaled.”

“Was Reinhardt the catalyst for awakening their talent as well?”

“Their light grew stronger after meeting Reinhardt.”

“Interesting. Move busily. No matter what happens, the balance must not be broken.”

“I know. Oh, and I relayed that you wanted to meet him. He said he would visit soon.”

“Soon.”

Taylor couldn’t help but laugh.

He was the Commander of the Paganoa Knights.

How many people in the Empire could postpone a meeting with such a person?

“Did he show any signs of hesitation?”

“Not at all.”

“A true knight. A fellow who is not swayed by appearances. I will wait with pleasure. I have no intention of rushing him. And, once things are settled, visit the academy.”

“Floran?”

“Yes.”

“You said you didn’t need my help?”

Miya Luxpenber sees human talent.

And she was not the only one with a similar power.

Floran Imperial Academy.

There was also a person who played a similar role to hers in the educational institution that nurtures mages.

“They must have realized that talent isn’t everything. No matter how much humans like us struggle, our limits are clear. That is, unless we gain a patron called a god.”

No matter how outstanding one’s innate talent was, there was a limit to growth.

Humans cannot face demons. It was the same no matter how excellent a knight or a mage they were.

But a human who monopolized a god’s interest.

A human who had made their existence known even to the heavens with their innate, brilliantly shining talent, was different.

They destroyed evil with a god at their back.

They gained the power to stand against demons with a human body.

“I will go as soon as my schedule is finished. I heard there is a remarkable kid over there as well.”

“The Incarnation of Flames, they say. Mages are originally full of bluff, so it’s not a reliable evaluation.”

“I’ll know when I see him in person. Anything else you need me to do? Or anything to confirm.”

“Nothing.”

“I understand. Then….”

Miya Luxpenber was about to turn away, but she paused and glanced at Taylor.

“Are you okay these days?”

“Much better.”

“And the nightmares.”

“They are a friend who is always with me.”

As Taylor answered, darkness flickered around him. Each time, light barely pushed the darkness away.

It was a phenomenon that only Miya Luxpenber could see.

But she did not mention it. It was because she knew that no advice would be of any help.

“I’m leaving.”

She had her role.

The task of being cooped up in the commander’s office and fighting with oneself was solely Taylor’s share.

***

Countless requests for handshakes came in for the knight with a halo, Reinhardt.

“S-Sir Reinhardt! I am Dwen, a knight of Paganoa!”

“Evangeline spoke so much about you….”

“Sir Reinhardt! Please remember my face!”

The Paganoa Knights were a group of the Empire’s best knights.

Among them were arrogant humans like the past Fermil, as well as noble knight-like individuals, and also those who were active somewhere in between.

But there was a commonality.

As knights, the pride that they were the best.

Because of that pride, they do not bow their heads to outside knights.

Even if they show respect and ask for a handshake, it meant they would never try to ‘make a good impression’.

“What a wonderful sword! I heard you gave a gift to Dame Evangeline as well? I also visited the smithy in Elmore, but….”

“My greetings are late. I heard you saved Evangeline? As a senior knight, it is only right that I express my gratitude first. I am….”

“Sir Fermil said so. That you did not run away even when you met Agrio-s’s eyes. To be honest, I didn’t believe it at the time, but seeing you like this….”

Reinhardt became an exception.

Rumors had spread throughout the camp, and knights who had been resting in their barracks crept out one by one and gathered around Reinhardt.

They asked for handshakes, exchanged greetings, and made an impression so that he would remember their faces.

“Sir Reinhardt needs rest! You shouldn’t be doing this!”

“My, Dame Evangeline. I heard you have a close relationship with Sir Reinhardt? Look at this. My sword is so old, oops, are you okay? You’ve recovered, right?”

“Yes. I have fully recovered.”

“That’s a real relief. I was very worried. If I had my way, I would have wanted to save you right away, but, Dame Evangeline? Dame Evangeline!”

Evangeline and Fermil ran around, pulling the knights away from Reinhardt.

The two of them seemed more urgent than Reinhardt.

And naturally.

Reinhardt was not uncomfortable with this situation.

‘The setting that they are all pure has not changed.’

In fact, the knights of this world were not such clean beings.

Just look at the past Taton Knights.

They had accepted all sorts of requests with their eyes practically closed, and their behavior was no different from that of a mercenary corps.

But Paganoa is different.

Because they were the ones who had reached the pinnacle of knighthood, they were greedy only for things befitting a knight.

They did not know the ways of the world.

They were those who only knew how to slay enemies, help allies, and devote and sacrifice themselves.

That is why they willingly bow their heads to Reinhardt.

Because outstanding equipment was one of the few things they were greedy for.

The heat of the camp cooled down after Miya Luxpenber appeared.

The Personnel Officer, who wielded absolute power, immediately cleared up the situation upon her appearance.

“Everyone, return to your barracks! Immediately!”

They were knights who would receive looks of respect wherever they went, but they did not dare to resist the words of the Personnel Officer.

“Please remember me! Sir Reinhardt!”

“I-I am Dwen…!”

“Evangeline! Please!”

In the place where they had disappeared, only their dying words remained, echoing.

“I’m sorry! I should have stayed by your side!”

“It does not matter.”

“B-by the way, did something happen? Why did everyone flock to you, Sir Reinhardt….”

“I promised to supply them with equipment made in Elmore on a priority basis.”

“Aha.”

Miya Luxpenber smiled bitterly as if she had understood the situation at once.

“I thought it was because of the light. I was just looking into ways to hide the light on Sir Reinhardt’s way back.”

“No one paid any attention to the halo.”

“…So that’s how it was.”

A shining knight is not a subject worthy of attention here.

Here, there were knights who made a booming sound by swinging a spear, and knights who wielded a cold that could cause frost to form.

It might be different for the ‘higher-ups’ like Miya or Inquisitor Taibon.

But to a regular member, a halo was merely something that would be convenient when walking in dark places.

“Evangeline, Fermil. You’ve worked hard. Could you please step aside for a moment?”

Evangeline and Fermil, looking mentally exhausted, disappeared somewhere.

Only after the two were left alone did Miya get to the main point.

“Sir Reinhardt. You will be returning soon, right?”

“Yes. I will be returning within the day.”

“I will prepare things so that there is no inconvenience. Regarding this matter, I would like to express my gratitude once again.”

“It was what I had to do.”

“The reward will be delivered through the Taton Knights. I know that you are not interested in such things, Sir Reinhardt, but just….”

“I will gratefully accept it. It will be a great help to the knight order.”

There was no reason to refuse the offer.

In the face of the impending crisis, the more money, the better.

In addition to that.

After a moment of hesitation, Miya brought up the main topic.

“Sir Reinhardt. By any chance, have you had any nightmares recently?”