EP.8 Looking for a new job (1)
Commander of the kingdom’s knights.
Heinkel van Sieghardt.
A knight who is respected not only by knights but also by adventurers and mercenaries who despise knights thanks to his accomplishments on the front lines and his deep network of relationships.
“Whoa…”
Heinkel sighed and crossed his wrinkled forehead. It was none other than a letter in his hand.
-Belonging to the 1st Corps.
-Ashen Wizard, Raniel.
Normally, Heinkel would have smiled the moment he saw the sender. This fastidious wizard rarely wrote letters, but when he did, he always brought good news.
“Why…”
However, Heinkel could not help but laugh after checking the contents of the letter.
-So, I, Raniel, announce that I am leaving the battlefield.
-I will return the badge that proves I am a member of the warrior party and the knights.
Two lines of sentences.
When Heinkel’s eyes fell on the two sentences written in the last line of the letter, he felt his eyesight turn dark.
‘Raniel’s retirement.’
Heinkel groaned at the weight of that sentence.
Raniel’s retirement was not something that could be easily accepted. If other members of the hero’s party had been left out, Heinkel might not have worried this much.
The party that Raniel belonged to was special.
Among them, Raniel was even more special.
Originally, the warrior party was operated as a type of bounty hunter rather than as part of a knighthood. Deal with the giants that appear on the battlefield and subdue the key executives of the Demon King’s army whose locations have been revealed.
That was the course of action of most warrior parties.
It was the course of action of those who belonged there.
However, Raniel was different.
As part of the Knights Templar, he traveled to and from numerous fronts. They would become a kind of one-man army and make up for any shortcomings on the front lines.
‘Thanks to that friend’s help, how many front lines were expanded and how many front lines were held on?’
Heinkel immediately looked at the battle lines that had barely been maintained thanks to Raniel’s support until recently.
‘Eastern 1st Front, Western 3rd Front, Canyon near Demon World…’
The wrinkles between Heinkel’s eyebrows deepened.
“…It’s my fault for relying on one person.”
Even though I knew I shouldn’t rely on one superhuman, I ended up relying on his abilities. Heinkel looked at the letter with mixed eyes.
It’s been 5 years.
Considering the frequent replacement of personnel on the front lines, especially wizards, Raniel’s retirement should have already been anticipated.
Nevertheless, Heinkel could not hide his regret.
‘If it were just retirement, they would have given him an honorary position and made him an officer…’
You don’t have to do anything.
It’s okay to not have to go to battle.
Just by being there, Raniel would have provided strength to the wizards on the battlefield. There were magicians who saw him and joined the knights.
‘Still, I’m resigning due to injury… ‘I guess I can’t help it.’
Rather than feeling regretful, we should be thankful that they remained at the front line for a long time even after that curse was placed on them. Heinkel concealed his bitterness and called his subordinate.
“Hartia.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Let Raniel report to the capital as an honorable discharge rather than a resignation. Don’t forget to organize your achievements and send them to us.”
“…Are you okay?”
“It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing we can do. “Because you want it.”
“…If you give the order, I will send a shadow unit to follow that wizard…”
“Hartia.”
A cold voice sounds low.
“Show respect to the warriors.”
“But that wizard…”
Heinkel’s eyebrows furrow.
“Should I tell you more?”
Heinkel narrowed his eyes and glared at his subordinate knight.
“That guy tried hard enough. “He accomplished something unspeakable and went above and beyond what was expected of him.”
“·····.”
“Those who have devoted themselves to humanity should receive appropriate honor and compensation. “He deserves it.”
“… sorry.”
“If any subversive movement toward Raniel is reported, I will personally punish you, so just know that.”
Most knights wouldn’t be able to touch it, but this kind of bud had to be nipped in advance.
Heinkel also knew that the knights who followed the warrior Kyle viewed Raniel with disdain.
‘I guess I should cut it off before it gets any bigger.’
As there was one more thing to do, Heinkel frowned and waved his hand.
“Let’s go out.”
“···All right.”
The barracks remain alone.
Heinkel looks at the shadowed letter under the lamplight. Suddenly, a paragraph from the letter caught his eye.
-In the past, I made a deal with a star to escape from the devil. I used balance.
-Of course, the price of the transaction was not large.
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‘Balance.’
That word particularly stands out.
“·····.”
Heinkel bows his head in silence.
Actually, I kind of guessed it.
There would have been no way to escape from the devil or from that disaster without losing anything.
‘It wasn’t a big price to pay, la…’
···It’s probably a lie.
Although he did not know what was given in return, Heinkel could only guess that it was not light at all.
“The princess must be sad.”
A princess who was more enthusiastic about Raniel’s story than anyone else.
As that image flashed before his eyes, Heinkel let out a deep sigh.
“Thank you for your hard work, Raniel.”
2.
-Chief of Knights.
-Heinkel van Sieghardt.
Thank you for your hard work, Raniel.
I will package it and deliver it to the royal capital as an honorable discharge, not a resignation. I’ll pass it on to your teacher as well.
I will not forget the debt I owe you.
If you need my help, please contact me anytime.
“Anyway.”
He’s a nice guy.
I laughed bitterly as I read the letter that came to me.
As I was checking the letterhead, I was now in a small village near the capital. A village a little far from the royal capital, bordering the forest. This was where my teacher lived.
Low hills, gently rolling wheat fields.
As I walk along the warm breeze, I see a mansion adjacent to the forest.
‘Actually, it’s a library rather than a mansion.’
When I was young, I lived there with my teacher.
Suddenly recalling old memories, I stood in front of the door. There is no difference from the door I saw when I left here five years ago.
-I’m going to catch the devil.
-Geez, you’re leaving.
Stand in front of that door.
-Your life will be denied.
-All the magic you have learned will be denied.
-Still, are you sure you want to go?
I took a moment to catch my breath.
-Those who dedicate their lives to the sublime usually meet a miserable end. I hope you don’t.
-Do I have to go?
I remembered Master’s face as he stood in front of this door and stopped me. I remember the weight of Master’s hand on my shoulder.
-Yes, you ugly disciple.
-If you really want to go, make sure you bring the devil’s head when you come back. If that’s enough, I’ll let you become my disciple again.
“I wanted to bring it too…”
I smiled bitterly and put my hand on the doorknob.
How should I explain it?
I couldn’t catch the demon lord, I was kicked out of the hero’s party, and I even came back as a woman. Do you even have the courage to look at your teacher?
···I really think I’m going to die from being hit.
“Whoa…”
I took a deep breath, grabbed the door handle, and knocked a couple of times. Soon, someone opened the door, accompanied by a clattering noise from inside the door.
“… “Who is it?”
White hair peeking out between black hair.
Glasses draped across the bridge of the nose.
And, blue eyes that haven’t faded over time.
This is my teacher’s face that I see after 5 years.
I smiled a little bitterly at the sight of Master, who had not changed at all from five years ago.
“Ugh…”
Then, he slightly turned the staff he was carrying on his back and showed it to his teacher.
“I’m back, Master.”
This is the cane I received from my teacher. I was thinking of explaining this by showing it. However, before I could say anything, Master opened his mouth.
“That staff…”
“Well, that is…”
I tried to come up with an excuse, but the first thing I saw was Master’s face turn pale. Master stumbled and barely managed to stand, holding on to the wall.
“Ugly guy…”
And then he spoke helplessly.
Feeling guilty at that weak, trembling voice, I lowered my head. He bowed down and answered in a hushed voice.
“Well, there are circumstances that cannot be avoided here…”
“Ugly guy, ugly guy…”
“..I’m sorry.”
“I can’t wait, I can’t…” ! I told you not to go there! I should have stopped him stronger then… !”
“… yes?”
No, wait a minute.
Why is your reaction a bit strange?
“If I was going to die like this and send you away… Rather, rather… !”
yes? Are you dying? who?
I was embarrassed to see my teacher sobbing while looking at his cane. No, who dies? Master. Right now, I’m alive and well before my eyes.
“Uh, over there…”
“Hey, did he leave anything else? There’s no way he left behind just one cane like this. Well, a little more…”
“No, Master.”
“… what? “I have never had a student like you…”
“I am Raniel.”
Master blinks.
“what?”
“I am Raniel… “Is it?”
I lightly touched the tip of the wand.
Eventually, my mana spreads through the staff.
Gray mana, like burnt ashes.
“·····.”
Master saw that and looked at me silently.
The eyes turn from the staff to the gray mana, and from the gray mana back to me.
“Raniel.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Yes, it’s Raniel.”
Finally, Master smiles weakly.
I also tried to respond to that warm smile with a smile.
Lightning-bolt.
The spell that passed by the ball was not left unattended.
-Kwarung!
The tree behind made a loud noise, coo! And it collapses. I turn my creaky neck and look at Master.
“Come in.”
Master is still smiling.
Just warmly and kindly…
No, it wasn’t.
When I looked closely, I saw that only the corner of his mouth was smiling. Her eyes were cold and hard. Seeing Master’s narrowed eyes, I swallowed dry saliva.
-gulp.
I think this is messed up.
