SOTBW - 183

Boris left the relief center and returned to the Romsoa Knights after the morning had come. The priests had tried to persuade him to stay at the accommodations they had prepared at the church, but Boris stubbornly insisted on staying in Gwyneth’s room.

The reason Gwyneth had given Boris the room at the Romsoa Knights was precisely because of this issue. Boris was still young and hadn’t officially become a priest. Although he had been raised under the Pope’s care and was practically a priest, Gwyneth insisted that Boris should be given time to choose his own path.

Unlike Gwyneth, who was confused after suddenly becoming a sacred power wielder, Boris had accepted his existence without much trouble after being resurrected at a young age. Being a priest meant being forced to make sacrifices and to view them as a matter of course.

Boris was young and had infinite possibilities ahead of him. Even though he had been raised by the Pope, if Boris did not want to be a priest, Gwyneth was willing to help him walk a different path. However, the priests constantly bothered him, asking to hear good words despite Boris not even being able to memorize a single verse from the Bible.

Boris also liked Gwyneth’s accommodations. Gwyneth always placed a holy flame on the table for Boris and would send someone to check on him to make sure he was adjusting well, even during busy times.

Healing people at the relief center was hard work. Although the number of casualties had decreased since the Seriths stopped attacking, the center was still filled with people suffering from severe injuries.

Boris felt conflicted as he treated young soldiers who were only a few years older than him. At first, he met soldiers whose torn abdominal skin had been hastily stitched together, and seeing the bulging intestines beneath the crude stitching almost made him vomit.

Though he had heard about the events happening at the Noctis Fortress while staying with the Pope, seeing the aftermath with his own eyes was a different experience entirely.

The stench of rotting flesh and blood filled the air as Boris continued to treat the soldiers. His work was limited to placing his hands on the wounded areas and channeling his divine power, but the soldiers who were revived left the relief center thanking him repeatedly and in high spirits.

Exhausted, Boris removed his robes and climbed onto the bed. A servant would soon come to announce mealtime, but he was too tired to respond. Holding the pillow close, Boris closed his eyes, contemplating whether he was doing well or if he could do better, when he suddenly felt a familiar energy and opened his eyes wide.

Unknowingly shivering, Boris turned around. There, a blurry figure of a person appeared. Boris hesitated and lowered his glasses. Fearing it might be something terrifying, Boris’s stiff expression relaxed when he saw the guest’s face.

“Hello. You’ve come again.”

Sitting up, Boris politely greeted the air.

Boris, who had been gazing somewhere in silence, soon tilted his head.

“How’s that person’s health? Uh, well… I’m not sure what to say about that… Ah, yes. They used sword energy, which is problematic, but… there’s also a strange ritual on their body... That ritual has made things worse… I’m afraid I can’t solve it… Huh? Are you asking if they’re still a knight? Uh… I’m not sure about that either… But teacher, if you keep wandering like this… you might lose your… uh, your… what was it again? Anyway, if you don’t find a place to settle soon, it could become a real problem…”

Just then, someone knocked on the bedroom door.

Startled, Boris quickly pushed his glasses up his nose.

“Divine power wielder, I’ve brought breakfast. May I come in?”

It was the voice of the maid who always brought breakfast.

Boris quickly jumped off the bed and opened the door. The maid smiled and showed him the food on the tray.

“You said last time that you liked the carrots cooked thoroughly, so I added a lot to the stew. This is cinnamon chocolate for dessert… Oh, and this is warm milk. It’s prepared by Lord Spello, so you must drink it all. Understood? That way, you’ll grow tall.”

The tray was filled with delicious food. Boris bowed politely to the maid and accepted the tray. The maid nervously watched as Boris walked quickly to the table and set the tray down.

Although the Pope had raised him to be independent, the maid had offered to help with the meal, but Boris had politely declined, managing everything himself.

After preparing the meal, Boris smiled brightly at the maid. She looked at him cutely as he held a spoon and fork and waved at him as she said goodbye.

“I’ll come back in an hour to collect the tray. Enjoy your meal.”

“Yes! Thank you as always!”

Boris cheerfully responded and waited for the door to close before looking up at the air again. The woman was still standing there. Holding the spoon and fork, Boris gazed at her with a regretful expression.

“I’m also worried about that person’s health and want to visit, but… there’s really, really terrifying people there. I think their name was… um, Lord Elgort? They didn’t seem human… Ah, anyway, I don’t have the courage to go there alone… Huh? What are you saying, I can’t hear you very well… Ah, Spello? Yes, Spello is probably staying with Lord Luamars these days, probably working on something… I think they’re trying to do something for that person, but… I don’t understand it well, so… I’m not sure what Spello is doing. I remember they mentioned something about the heart…”

Boris closed his eyes, trying to focus and recall the story Gwyneth had told him, but since the context wasn’t coming back clearly, he sighed.

“Sorry, I can’t remember very well…”

Opening his eyes, Boris glanced around and trailed off as he noticed the woman was no longer there.

________________________________________

“It was quiet again tonight.”

Belshua, who had returned from the field, reported to Jacob. Jacob was leading the Romsoa Knights alongside Belshua, taking over the duties of Maximón, who had been confined to his residence.

Since Najane had collapsed, Maximón had not gone out to the field. While there hadn’t been any major issues due to the lack of Seriths attacks, murmurs of dissatisfaction were spreading among the soldiers. When the commander neglects to lead the knights into battle, the morale of the knights drops and discipline weakens.

But Jacob couldn’t say anything to Maximón. In fact, he thought it was a relief that Maximón hadn’t abandoned his duties entirely and had kept his administrative work within the residence.

To other members of the knights, it was explained that Maximón was recovering from the sudden collapse in the field. However, some had seen him strolling through the black market in good health, which had complicated Jacob’s situation.

It seemed as though Maximón had forgotten that they needed to fight the Seriths. Although the monsters had retreated for reasons unknown, the fortress was still not safe.

Jacob was worried that Maximón, absorbed in his feelings for Najane, wasn’t paying attention to the surrounding situation. If another knight order took issue with this, it could become a hassle. Of course, no one could replace Maximón’s skills, so no one was likely to dismiss him hastily, but if this continued, it was only a matter of time before rumors reached the king’s ears.

Jacob had been concerned about this since Maximón first became aware of his feelings for Najane. No matter how cold and composed Maximón was, in front of Najane, he was just an anxious and inexperienced man in love.

Jacob, who had been writing Belshua’s report in the ledger Maximón should have been filling out, let out a deep sigh. Belshua, who had been about to leave, stopped in her tracks at the sound of his sigh.

“Did something happen in the knights overnight?”

At Belshua’s question, Jacob realized he had shown too much emotion and awkwardly smiled.

“No, nothing.”

“Do you expect me to believe that? Just tell me what’s going on.”

“…It’s about the commander.”

At Belshua’s perceptive questioning, Jacob’s face grew serious as he began to speak. The mention of Maximón’s name caused Belshua to change her expression.

Jacob, setting down his quill, sighed deeply again and rubbed his face.

“I think it’s about time for him to go out to the field, but he’s staying holed up in his residence because of Najane. I’m worried. If this keeps up, all the reputation he’s built could collapse… I’m starting to hear murmurs among the soldiers too. He’s completely neglecting the knights in his worry for Najane.”

Belshua lowered her gaze at Jacob’s concerned words. The reason Maximón couldn’t leave Najane’s side was probably due to her health.

Belshua’s expression grew more serious as she thought about how bad Najane’s condition must be. She had thought that with the healing divine power wielder, Boris, coming and going from the residence, everything must have been fine. But now, she realized she had been too optimistic in overlooking Najane’s health, and a shadow passed over her face.

“…Is Najane’s condition really that serious?”

“After vomiting blood and bleeding from her nose for days, what do you think? There’s no doubt her condition is serious. That’s why the commander can’t leave her side.”

“I heard a divine power wielder healed Najane.”

“I’m not sure if she’s fully healed. We can’t know what’s happening inside the residence… But think about it. If Najane were really better, would the commander be acting like this?”

Jacob, sounding frustrated, vented to Belshua.

Belshua remained silent. There were many things weighing on her mind, but she had resolved not to get too involved in Maximón and Najane’s issues.

In the end, everything was happening within the fate designed by Selin. Belshua was just a foreign element in that fate, and to avoid disrupting the flow, it was best for her to maintain distance from Najane.

What Belshua needed to do now wasn’t worry about Najane but to find Kieron and deal with him. Rakhshu had asked why Najane and Maximón hadn’t fallen in love at first sight, and Belshua couldn’t answer that. Perhaps the fate had been slightly disrupted due to an unintentional mistake made when Maximón was created.

One thing was certain: Maximón and Najane were experiencing almost the exact same thing that Emaydis and Sainth had gone through. Selin had deliberately designed their fate so that the two of them could fall in love again. Mahilen was a presence that couldn’t be involved in that. Watching them from within the Romsoa Knights was something she shouldn’t be doing, but Belshua still wanted to see how Najane, with Emaydis’ soul, was living.

Belshua tightened her grip around the helmet in her arms as she turned her back.

“Are you really sure you don’t love Najane?”

Rakhshu’s question was now haunting Belshua.

Belshua didn’t love Najane. The only one she loved was Emaydis. Najane and Emaydis had the same soul, but she couldn’t see her as Emaydis. Still, whenever Najane got hurt or sick, her heart inevitably ached.

When she saw Najane collapse, bleeding, Belshua had been startled, but she had tried to hide her emotions. She couldn’t express concern in front of Maximón, who was holding Najane and grieving. They were colleagues in the same order—that was all. That was the only place Belshua had been allowed.

Though Belshua genuinely thought that, if she cared for Najane, she should eliminate Kieron as soon as possible, she deeply regretted not going to the residence to check on Najane, even once, to see if she was okay.

If Najane was still suffering, it was undoubtedly because she had used too much sword energy. Though the timing of her collapse was early, Najane was destined to break down physically soon. It had just been brought forward for some reason.

Thinking that everything was unfolding according to fate gave Belshua some comfort, but when she thought about how Emaydis had suffered in the past from being unable to control her magic, it was hard for her to reconcile that Najane was enduring the same kind of pain.

Belshua, troubled by Rakhshu’s question, glanced back at Jacob.

“I’ll go to the residence and check on the commander’s condition. I’ll also ask about whether he plans to go out to the field.”

In truth, she was planning to see Najane…

Belshua mocked her own foolish emotions internally as she tried to cover it up, speaking to Jacob in a more convincing tone. Jacob said he would leave it to her and saw her off.

As Belshua left the headquarters of the knights, she gazed with troubled eyes in the direction of the residence.

Najane would never die. No matter what happened, she would never… Even if fate played a trick and Najane died, Belshua wouldn’t allow it. She never wanted to see Emaydis die again.

To calm the rising anxiety, Belshua repeated to herself, It will be okay, as she made her way toward the residence.