Episode 113. Being of Salvation (3)
In the middle of a valley full of demonic beasts, how many people would believe it if a female knight who had just obtained her knighthood came back alive without incident while facing a high-ranking demonic beast?
At least the knights on the front lines will dismiss it as something not worth hearing.
However, not only experienced veteran knights, but also knights of the imperial army who had stepped on the battlefield for the first time,
I couldn’t bear to look at the present situation, which seemed like a lie, with complete eyes.
“We apologize for causing you concern.”
Ellis bowed her head to the duke who stood in front of her, clean and without a single wound.
In response, Duke Berthe hugged her tightly.
“I’m proud of you, Ellis!”
Not only was it not enough to safely send the disappeared princess to the rear, but he proudly returned to the front lines after defeating a notorious high-ranking magician alone.
The Duke couldn’t help but be truly happy.
The other knights also couldn’t help but admire Ellis’s bravery.
Except for one person.
‘How, how did I come back alive… … ?’
Cecilia could not move her body due to the embarrassment welling up inside her.
From head to toe, I was trembling like an aspen, and my heart was beating mercilessly.
‘Why are you so fine?’
It wasn’t a scratch like you might accidentally get on an arm or leg.
Didn’t he stab himself with a knife in his abdomen, where his organs are adjacent?
It wasn’t a deep stab, but it was a blow that made normal movement impossible.
Even the blood stains remained clearly there.
At the very least, walking had to be very unnatural.
However, Ellis showed a very normal appearance, as if nothing like that had happened.
Ellis’s gaze slowly raised her head and finally met Cecilia’s.
Cecilia couldn’t do anything.
At that moment, when only the sound of my pounding heart was echoing inside,
“… … !”
she laughed
A beautiful smile that cannot be compared to any flower in the world.
It was a familiar smile that Cecilia had always seen.
but,
“… … .”
Cecilia felt afraid.
Knowing that it was never a smile born of joy or positivity,
Until I knew what the true meaning behind that smile was, I felt like my current fear would never be resolved.
* * *
“… … .”
The return of Ellis, who had been inadvertently left behind at the crossroads of life and death.
When Princess Violet found out about this, there was no longer any fake sadness or false joy left on her face.
“The princess. “This is Cecilia.”
The princess opened her mouth without looking away.
“What was Ellis doing?”
The voice was different from what I expected, with a relaxed tone.
“No words…” … .”
Princess Violet laughed as if she was taken aback by this.
“Does she have anything to gain by not talking?”
“doesn’t exist.”
Cecilia’s answer was firm but full of embarrassment.
Depending on what words came out of her mouth, their situation could change in an instant.
However, Ellis has not opened his mouth since returning.
Even though he was betrayed by a knight he trusted and faced an unexpected death, he said nothing?
It was an action that they could not understand.
“I heard that he killed a high-ranking magician called Red Wolf by himself… … . “Was Ms. Ellis’s strength that great?”
To be honest, Cecilia wanted to answer no.
It’s been almost 10 years since I was a baby and became the sword that protects Ellis as a knight protecting the Berthe family.
During those 10 years, Cecilia stayed by Ellis’ side, and because of this, they were able to boast that they knew her better than their family.
Ellis’ abilities?
It is true that he is talented enough to go beyond being a genius and be called a child of God.
If enough time passes, she will grow into the greatest knight on this continent, one that will never exist.
But not yet.
It is literally like a flower before it fully blooms.
It was absolutely impossible to kill a high-class magic beast with an abnormal body that even had injuries.
However, Ellis came back.
And in very good condition.
Could it be that he received help from someone?
It was a situation where nothing was certain.
There was silence in the room for a moment.
“It’s fun.”
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Cecilia couldn’t believe her ears.
“It certainly seems like a frustrating and hopeless situation, but why am I laughing?”
It was not a fake or hidden laugh, but joy that came from the heart.
“I’ve known Miss Ellis since I was at the academy, but she was a very upright person, even though she had a more generous heart than anyone else. She wasn’t dressed up like me, she was her true self with no lies. “Doesn’t Cecilia, who was by her side, know better than that?”
Cecilia confirmed in silence.
“Obviously you wouldn’t keep your mouth shut for no reason. Or, maybe you’re still waiting for your time. If not… … .”
“… … !”
Cecilia immediately turned her head at the familiar energy she felt outside the door.
“You might want to check on us.”
-Squeak
Eventually, the door opened and a knight with a familiar face came inside.
A knight that Cecilia would never want to face right now… …
“Middle-level knight Ellis Berth of the Knights of Light. “I meet Princess Violette.”
It was Ellis.
“Welcome. Ellis. “I made you come first unintentionally?”
The princess smiled calmly and greeted her.
Ellis’ face was as hard as stone, as if she were emotionless.
“Does it look like you have a lot to say? Don’t make it difficult, just do it. I’ll listen… … .”
It was a confident, if not calm, attitude.
Ellis spoke without hesitation.
“Then let me ask you the other question. “Do you have anything to say to me, princess?”
The princess tilted her head.
“Is there something you want to hear from me?”
Ellis’ eyes were still firm.
“I don’t really want to make any excuses. As I said before, I was just struggling to survive.”
That means that in that situation, Ellis had to die so the princess could live.
“So I actually have nothing to say. I thought, without a doubt, that you were going to die. “What can you say to someone you thought was dead?”
Ellis was unable to open his mouth due to the shamelessness that left him at a loss for words.
“But Ellis is also amazing. “Even after being hit by the most bitter and bitter sword of betrayal, she did not give up and came back alive with confidence. Her strong spirit is something I really want to emulate.”
“… … .”
“So why is Ellis keeping quiet now? If she opens her mouth even now, she will be in great trouble for me and Cecilia. if… … Is she hesitating?”
Emotionally shaken, Ellis’ fists clenched.
The princess, conscious of this, continued speaking in an even more triumphant voice.
“It’s funny to say this, but I have no ill will toward Ellis. In other words, she is saying that Ellis did nothing wrong. So why not try to change her thinking a bit?”
The princess’s hand was already caressing Ellis’ cheek.
“You simply saved me as a knight protecting the continent and the empire… … .”
Salvation.
Although it was packaged in nice-sounding words, it was ultimately not different from the meaning of asking to be buried.
Unless you’re an idiot who can’t read, how many people can nod their heads when they hear that?
but.
“okay… … .”
For the first time, a smile appeared on Ellis’ face, which had been frozen all along.
“I knew the princess’s feelings well. If I could save the princess by sacrificing my own body, nothing would be more valuable. “She will not blame the princess.”
At this, the princess’s face hardened.
“Maybe I should just be grateful. “Thanks to the princess, I learned a lot of things I didn’t know.”
Ellis slowly raised her head, and her face was filled with sincere joy.
“My mission was to protect the imperial family during the tour of the front lines. However, now that the imperial family’s tour has ended suddenly, I don’t think there is any need for me to be by the princess’s side anymore. “I would like to offer my final greetings to the princess.”
Ellis placed one arm on his chest and made a knight’s oath to the princess.
“Then, please return to the imperial castle carefully… … .”
With those words, Ellis turned around.
As a result, I naturally made eye contact with Cecilia who was next to me.
As if they couldn’t just pass by, the two naturally faced each other.
“… … !”
Soon Cecilia saw it again.
Her smile could never come from positivity.
Ellis smiled and turned his head.
The princess and Cecilia could not say anything until she opened the door and left.
“… … .”
Unlike before, when she was relaxed, the princess’s face was full of displeasure.
“I heard that I learned something I didn’t know… … “What does that mean?”
There was nothing Cecilia could answer.
But I knew for sure what I should do in this situation.
For a knight, hesitation is like a sin,
The buds of lingering regret that you don’t know when will bloom should be cut in advance.
“Elise Wert… … “I will kill you this time.”
Before she knew it, her hand was towards the hilt of the sword.
* * *
There was no specific reason.
Because he wasn’t hers from the beginning,
I was just there for the purpose I wanted to achieve.
So I didn’t think I would feel any guilt.
However, Cecilia couldn’t bear it anymore.
That smile I saw back then.
Can a person’s emotions be so enraged with just a smile?
I wasn’t angry, but I wasn’t forgiving either.
At first I was confused because I couldn’t understand the meaning, but now I can understand it clearly.
The smile Ellis gave me just a moment ago was definitely…
It was filled with compassion.
Cecilia’s feelings when she recognized this were close to anger.
The feeling right now is unbearable and unbearable.
To relieve these feelings, I thought the answer was to kill her.
At the end of the imperial guard mission, Ellis had to return to the imperial castle where the knights’ headquarters was located.
Cecilia calmly waited for her to appear.
After a while, I saw Ellis coming out from inside the castle gate, gathering his luggage.
I was completely alone, without even a porter, let alone a companion.
The moment I tried to erase her presence and follow her,
“… … !”
Cecilia felt it.
A tremendous amount of life that coldly squeezes his overflowing heart.
This was not coming from Ellis in sight.
Behind her, in a bush with lush red leaves.
It was as if he was calling me to come this way.
Cecilia forgot her original purpose for a moment and slowly began to approach the unknown life that called to her.
An unfamiliar space where the redness that looks like blood spattered causes some antipathy.
Cecilia, who set foot there, soon encountered the deadly master who had called her here.
How long has it been since you felt this way?
It is said that humans feel the greatest fear when they see an unknown being that they have never encountered before.
I didn’t feel like this when I first encountered the demon beast.
For the first time since she became a senior knight, she was feeling fear.
From the presence of a mask right in front of me.
“… … .”
It was a moment when even breathing became uncomfortable due to the ugly life coming from inside the mask.
(Continued in the next part)
fantasy,
