Chapter 19 - The End of the Midnight Sun - 2

Three more days passed.

Renée still had no desire to go to the Holy Empire, and Bera continued to follow her.

If asked whether their relationship had made no progress at all, however, he could answer, “I think we have grown a little closer, at least.”

Bera turned his head toward Renée.

She was only two steps away. Beside him, not ahead of him.

Yes, Bera no longer followed behind her. Now he kept watch at her side.

No dramatic incident had brought about the change. One day, Renée had simply said something out of the blue, closing the distance between them.

["You can walk beside me."]

She had said it in the middle of their walk two days ago.

She had gone on to say things like, ["People will think it strange if you only follow behind me like that," ] and, ["It is hard to hear you from so far away," ] but Bera had been unable to focus on any of it.

The sole fact that Renée had allowed him at her side filled his mind, distracting him from everything else.

A day after taking his place beside her, overcome with emotion, Bera still found it unfamiliar enough that he kept stealing glances at her.

Her gaze rested on empty air. Her hair, white as the first snow of winter, caught the sunlight with every step and shone dazzlingly. Her blue eyes, fixed on nothing, still held a light that could capture a person's soul.

It was truly a beauty that inspired wonder.

So beautiful was she that even her unfocused gaze took on a wistful air.

Yet if asked whether that beauty made him feel love, Bera would answer with a shake of his head.

He believed that what he felt when he looked at her appearance was distinctly different from love.

... In a sense, that was only natural.

In his previous life, the feeling her nobility had kindled in him was reverence.

That reverence had not changed for a single moment over these four years. There was no reason it should turn into something else now merely because he had seen her face.

Besides, setting all those secondary considerations aside, she was still a fourteen-year-old girl whose body had yet to finish growing.

Bera did not have tastes so grotesque that he would feel sexual desire for a child.

Suddenly, he remembered something she had said to him in his previous life.

When he had asked whether she was certain that everyone who saw her fell in love with her, she had replied that she was merely stating a fact.

The memory brought a faint smile to his lips.

'You were wrong.'

Whatever others might feel, he, at least, did not feel love for her.

Pleasure welled up in him. He had discovered one mistake in the words of a woman who had spoken as though she knew everything.

It was while Bera was enjoying that pleasant thought that Renée spoke.

“The weather is lovely.”

“Indeed.”

“The breeze is nice and cool, too.”

“Indeed.”

“Is it ‘indeed’ this time?”

“My apologies.”

Another stock reply. Renée let out a long sigh.

“You needn't be so stiff around me. I am not nearly as remarkable as you think, Sir Knight.”

“You are remarkable enough to me.”

“... Let's leave it at that.”

Renée pressed her lips shut, feeling somehow stifled.

It was because of Bera's attitude.

She was truly grateful that he thought well of her, but his unfailing deference made it impossible to sustain a conversation.

Whatever she said, his answers never went beyond “Thank you” or “Indeed.” If she teased him, all she got was “My apologies.” How was she supposed to keep a conversation going?

'He's so rigid.'

To Renée, Bera was a man made by pouring someone into a mold shaped from the very concept of having no social finesse.

One might argue that his earnestness was a virtue, but when things were already this awkward between them, it only seemed to make the awkwardness worse.

She sighed softly at the thought, only for their conversation from three days ago to suddenly cross her mind.

Her cheeks grew hot.

It was shame.

For some reason, she had been on edge that day and had snapped at Bera, who had done nothing wrong. Remembering it embarrassed her.

She had apologized on the spot, but... of course it still bothered her.

She had flared up without warning, and he had answered her outburst with such comforting words. Wouldn't she be a thoroughly rotten person if that did not weigh on her?

Allowing Bera to walk beside her had stemmed from the same feelings.

He had followed her silently for well over a week and even endured her temper. She felt guilty making him keep trailing behind her simply because of her own emotional resistance.

While those thoughts were turning her cheeks ever redder, Bera spoke.

“We have arrived.”

“Pardon?”

“You are home.”

“Oh...”

Where had her mind wandered off to? Only when Bera spoke did Renée realize that they had completed her usual route and returned home.

“Well...”

Her voice trailed off, and she stopped walking. With a slightly hesitant expression, she opened and closed her lips several times before finally managing to speak.

“Then, get back safely.”

“Yes. Have a peaceful night.”

“You too.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Renée disappeared behind the door.

Bera looked at the closed door for a moment, then let out a short breath and turned away.

Norn approached only after Bera had walked far enough that Renée's house was out of sight.

“Is it going well?”

He meant the effort to persuade the Saintess.

Recalling his relationship with her over the past few days, Bera gave a small nod.

“Yes. Fortunately, she seems to be opening up little by little.”

He thought back over the past day.

Renée still did not speak of the Holy Empire or her sacred mark. Quite apart from that, however, they were gradually growing closer, and her attitude toward him had softened considerably.

If he kept this up, might he eventually reach her heart?

Might she be able to find her own resolve?

With those thoughts in mind, Bera added,

“She is still young. I think I should watch over her and give her a little more time.”

Seeing the rare softness in Bera's expression as he spoke, Norn smiled faintly.

“Come to think of it, the Saintess is fourteen, isn't she? The same age you were when you first came to the Holy Empire, Lord Bera. Does that give you something in common?”

“... That is not it.”

Bera frowned slightly. Norn chuckled again, then his expression shifted as he continued.

His voice grew a little more subdued as well.

He had obtained new information that day.

“Lord Bera, it is good to be considerate of the Saintess, but... we do not have as much time as you might think.”

Bera turned his gaze toward Norn. Meeting it, Norn continued with a grave expression.

“A group of Draconians is nearby. It would be good if they simply passed through... but their movements are suspicious. They seem to know something.”

According to the information, a group of Draconians had entered Remeo territory and had been ranging through it day and night for three days.

He did not know how they had learned anything or how much they knew, but they clearly had not come here without information.

“Lord Bera.”

“... Understood.”

Norn looked at Bera.

He seemed to be deep in thought, but his expression alone gave little indication of exactly what he was thinking.

“I will handle it. Sir Norn, could you send a request for reinforcements to the Holy Empire, just in case? A small number will suffice. Drawing unnecessary attention would be troublesome.”

“... Yes.”

“Thank you.”

With that, Bera started toward the outskirts of the village.

“I will return before sunrise.”

Those were the last words he left behind.

* * *

Deep darkness had settled over the forest, and at its heart lay a spacious clearing.

Seated on a rock in the middle of it, Bera continued to think.

'The Draconians will come this way.'

This forest path was the fastest route through the small territory of Remeo. There was no reason they would not take it.

He had only one reason to wait for them.

He intended to dispose of them here, tonight, before they learned more about Renée's existence.

'Rationally speaking...'

The right course was to take her to the Holy Empire rather than fight here.

If one group of Draconians had found this place, did that not mean others could follow?

Nor would it end there. The followers of the night would come. If stopping them caused a commotion, it would draw the attention of other factions as well.

In short, the number of enemies he had to hold off would only grow.

Bera's hand tightened hard around his sword hilt.

He knew. The decision he was making was the sort of fucking idiotic decision the twins would make.

Waiting for her like this, waiting until she opened her heart, was a decision based on his own emotions.

Yet he had chosen it nonetheless because he believed in her nobility. Because he believed in her integrity.

He believed that Renée, who kept walking steadfastly even amid such despair, could rise to her feet through her own strength. He did this because he felt he had no right to disregard that process.

The feeling bordered on fear as well.

If he ignored her wishes and acted as he pleased, would she come to resent him?

Would her light truly turn away from him this time?

It was because that fear, unlike anything he had ever felt before, lived within him.

As those thoughts swelled, Bera felt a breath escape from deep within him.

'... Calm down.'

He had to steady his heart.

Had he not prepared himself for this? Had this not been the purpose of his training?

True, all he had come to understand was his own arrogance and ignorance. Even so, he had steadily built his combat strength.

He could now use divine energy systematically instead of wielding it haphazardly.

He had put even more care into developing his body than in his previous life.

In terms of combat strength alone, he had already brought himself to a level comparable to his previous life's peak.

Bera closed his eyes, dispelled his rising unease, and looked into his own soul.

Upon that ink-black soul was inscribed an oath on which he had staked it in its entirety.

[I will live for the Saintess.]

It was an oath he had inscribed of his own will.

After gazing intently at the oath, Bera opened his eyes and looked ahead.

Figures were rapidly approaching at the edge of his vision. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on them.

'... Five.'

Their appearance was so distinctive that it stood out clearly even in the darkness.

Dark scales sprouted across their half-naked bodies. Their eyes gleamed in the moonlight like those of reptiles.

Draconians.

Unfilial wretches who coveted their dragon parents' divine powers.

Having confirmed their approach, Bera rose from the rock and drew his sword.

SHING.

'... I only have to stop them.'

Whether hundreds or thousands came, all he had to do was hold them off.

He was not so weak that he could not manage that.

His sword was still savage. A sword better suited to taking than protecting.

Yet even such a sword could buy her enough time to stand on her own.

As those thoughts continued, the figures stopped at the edge of the clearing.

Looking at the five figures, all openly wary of him, Bera released the divine energy he had kept tightly suppressed within himself.

He saw no need to give them any breathing room.

A brief standoff. Silence followed.

Then a low voice rang out within it.

“I proclaim.”

WHOOSH.

Divine energy burst from Bera's body.

“From this moment forth, all acts of magic and sorcery within this domain are forbidden.”

The divine energy turned ash gray. Across it, rules were inscribed in gold.

“Accordingly, all within this domain shall receive an enhancement to their physical abilities equivalent to their magical and sorcerous capacity.”

Exhilaration rose within him. Every muscle in his body awakened. Feeling strength begin to surge through him, Bera looked at the Draconians ahead.

“However, any who violate these rules shall pay with the stopping of their heart.”

The Draconians, his enemies, shifted their weight. Their eyes darted about.

They must have sensed something strange in the flow of divine energy that had appeared.

If only they had been a little stupider. Feeling a faint pang of regret, Bera recited another rule.

“All these rules shall be enforced in Rushan's name.”

HUMMM.

Sanctuary resonated. It was the phenomenon that accompanied the completion of its rules.

Feeling strength fill his body in accordance with the rules, Bera raised his sword and leaned forward.

The situation was not particularly favorable to him. As Draconians, the offspring of dragons—the creatures called magic's favored children—the enhancements they received within this space would be substantial.

Nevertheless.

'Laughable.'

That was no reason for him to lose.

“Kraaaagh!”

The Draconian on the far right lunged at him, moving at a speed on the very edge of perception.

Yet it was still a speed he could readily counter.

With a short, controlled motion, Bera swung his sword and severed the approaching Draconian's neck.

SLICE.

A chilling sound. Then the head came free. The severed head and scattered blood fell slowly toward the ground.

'Four.'

Bera looked ahead.

They were staring at him with tense expressions. Watching them, he adjusted his grip on his sword.

However strong they became, it was ultimately meaningless.

As always, there was nothing Bera had more confidence in than wielding a blade.