107. the way they walked (1)

“No, vice-captain. What are you doing without sleeping until this hour?”

It was the dispatch day of the Jackdaw Knights, which might happen once a year. Maxim, as always before an important event, was sitting cross-legged on his bed, meditating.

“Don’t you see, meditate.”

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No matter how much I was concentrating, my sharpened senses very keenly caught the familiar sensation of walking in front of the tent. After getting permission from Maxim like that, I opened the entrance of the tent and came in. The question was what the hell were you doing without sleeping until this time. So, Maxim answered in a slightly gruff voice.

“What are you doing without sleeping until this hour? Are you vigilant?”

“Absolutely. Or why am I awake at this hour?”

Maxim sneered as if it were absurd. Christine was talking to Maxim with a shameless look and tone.

“Where is the guy who has to stand with you at night and what is he doing?”

“What answer are you expecting? Sleeping, sleeping while snoring, unconscious. What answer do you want me to hear?”

“Let’s not talk.”

Meditation sucks. Maxim shook his head throbbingly and completely released his concentration. The light from the bonfire that had been lit in the camp was illuminating the inside of the tent.

“So, why do you meditate all night long, a person who can’t even use mana properly. Then you get cold.”

As Christine bruises, Maxim shrugs.

“You’re talkative. And, if you feel like you can’t stand it, you can ask for help.”

At Maxim’s gaze and tone, Christine let out a sigh, closing her eyes tightly as if holding back her anger.

“Yes Yes. After all, I’m just an attendant who casts some recovery magic on the vice-captain. I bet it is. Or something like herbal tea that relieves fatigue.”

“If you don’t want to do anything from servant to servant, don’t just hang around in front of my tent and come in and fight, why don’t you go and keep your watch? Where, I won’t be able to sleep, so shall I stay up all night with the vice-captain?”

Christine pretended not to hear Maxim’s words. Maxim felt tendons run up his temples. Maybe my mental health is getting worse by that lady.

“Give me an answer. Why are you not sleeping and meditating?”

Maxim reluctantly sighed again and answered.

“… just. It’s a habit.”

“habit?”

“Should I call it a routine? It’s like a ritual to do something in the best possible condition.”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard that not sleeping is the best way to get in shape.”

Maxim shrugged.

“Each person is different.”

“At least not me.”

Christine gave Maxim the mischievous smile she always gave. A playful and beautiful smile with her eyes folded in a pretty half-moon shape. Maxim could picture that smile very clearly.

smile goes away The night was gradually dispersing like clouds in Maxim’s mind. Maxim’s consciousness slowly rises from the deepest part of the unconscious. My senses come back, and I hear the chirping of birds. Maxim was waking up from a deep meditation.

It was dawning in the distance outside the window. Maxim was sitting in the middle of the bed with his eyes closed. I didn’t sleep at night, but my body maneuvered fine and my mind was clearer than ever. I squeezed my eyelids and the light leaked in. Maxim opened his eyes slowly.

“… let’s go.”

Maxim’s mind was sharpened like a treasured sword. When touched, Maksim rose from his seat, scattering sap-like qi.

It was the day to subdue the Magic Tower, and it was the day to rescue Christine.

All armaments were equipped. Maxim touched the hilt one last time and took a step back. The bright red sunlight of sunrise was shining behind them.

—

Charlotte’s fierce palms hit the back of Dennis’s head as he yawned with his mouth wide open. A loud banging sound accompanied by a light sound. Even the appearance of Dennis screaming briefly, “Billion,” was so ridiculous, but few people really laughed.

“What are you yawning on the way out? Wake.”

“There’s nothing to hit. Seed. I bit my tongue… .”

It was a scene that Maxim, who often hung out with them, always saw. The difference is that both Dennis and Charlotte were fully armed and wielded swords. Dennis looked back at the dozens of knights and even more soldiers lined up with them.

20% of the Royal Family’s 1st Guards force. Soldiers and knights recruited from Count Benning’s family. The goals of those who were dreaming of different statues coincided. It was a subjugation of the black magicians secretly trained by the Mage Tower. The momentum emitted by the knights who were about to go into battle dominated the entrance to the palace.

“A lot of people gathered.”

Dennis looked around and murmured. Knights and enlisted men sent from Beninga. Dennis looked at them and raised his eyebrows and lowered his voice.

“What the hell are you thinking?”

In fact, between the Beninga knights and the escort knights, there was an air current that kept each other in check. Different outfits and unfamiliar faces. Dennis observed Benning’s knights with thinly opened eyes, and Benning’s knights were also glaring at Dennis with eyes covered by visors.

“By the way, did Arsene fall for such an important mission? That guy’s skills are definitely not skills that will go nowhere.”

At Dennis’ question, Charlotte shrugged.

“… Maybe only Arsene was given a different mission.”

“mission? With this important mission… .”

Then, footsteps were heard. Dennis paused and raised his lips at the familiar sensation.

“The captain is coming.”

Contrary to what he said in a light voice, Dennis’ expression was stained with tension. Charlotte also squinted at the momentum that tingled her senses in an instant. The momentum of the knights burning their fighting spirit was being eaten by something. Just as the moon is eaten and a lunar eclipse occurs, a single gigantic presence appeared encompassing all the knights.

“The escort knight commander is entering.”

At the short sound announcing their position, the knights split in an instant and made their way. The force was so overwhelming that even the sound of breathing was uncontrollable. The escort knight commander, standing at the head of the ranks, wore only a sword on his waist. The black eyes of the escort knight commander overwhelmed the ranks and looked around.

“Catch and arrest those who resist or refuse investigation.”

The leader’s voice sounded low and heavy.

“force. In particular, those who try to resist using black magic may be killed.”

The intent to fight turned into an intent to kill. The intention to kill was that of the 1st bodyguard serving the king. Benning’s knights changed their expressions, as if they were uncomfortable with the killing intent. Whether they are uncomfortable or not, the escort knight commander turns his back and declares in a short voice.

“Go out.”

The march has begun. The sound of the knights’ plate boots thumping their feet made the citizens flinch and hide from the knights’ campaign, which is not often seen on the royal road.

“What is this?”

“No, well… Doesn’t it look like you’re going to the plaza from the way you’re going?”

“Plaza? What the hell is going on, are you going to the plaza?”

Citizens who were on their way to the plaza and those who came out of the plaza saw the knights marching and left in a hurry. If he had just walked away, the courageous king and citizens would have asked what was going on, but since the knights seemed to be pulling out their swords at any moment, no one could approach them carelessly.

The knights crossed the square. Even today, the knights stopped at the entrance of the Mage Tower, which was still shining in ivory light. The guard guarding the entrance of the tower became contemplative and stepped aside, and the wizards who rushed to the entrance of the tower, thinking that the knights must have come to investigate, stood still.

“What is this! Suddenly, the knights are armed like this in a group… ”

An old wizard who couldn’t properly grasp the situation raised his voice. The commander of the escort knights held up the warrant without saying anything and proclaimed it in a deep and solemn voice so that all the wizards in the Mage Tower could hear it.

“Circumstances were found that the Magic Tower was deceiving the royal palace and researching black magic.”

A silence like that immediately after breaking the glass descended on the mage tower. The wizards who ran to block the knights had their expressions turned white, and some wizards quickly exchanged notice. The old sorceress braced herself for not yielding and stepped forward.

“increase… evidence… .”

“Now arrest all those standing in the way.”

As soon as the escort knight commander’s words fell, a sharp metallic sound resonated.

visor-!

With dozens of knights pulling out their swords at the same time and releasing swordsmanship, there were wizards who were already terrified and backtracked by the momentum alone.

“ji… You are making a mistake now! What the Magic Tower has done for you and the palace… .”

The soldiers grabbed the wizard’s arm.

“Let this go!”

“Start the search.”

Ignoring the words of the magician, the escort knight commander issued an order. The knights shone their swords and started piercing the mage tower.

“ah… Ahh… .”

The old wizard, devastated as he watched the knights roam the mage tower, began to laugh as if he had lost his mind.

“Heh heh heh… The royal palace has been pushed out of the power structure and is finally doing this crazy thing. You really don’t know that the Magic Tower has Benning’s prestige on its back!!”

At that time, a knight standing near the old wizard raised the visor of his helmet and showed his face. Benning’s article. Facing a familiar face, the old wizard’s face was stained with questions.

“No, hey!! What are you doing here… You must report this madness to the Count right away. right now… !”

“I am just doing what I am supposed to do.”

The knight tilted his head and shook. The old wizard became even more indignant at the brazen act and lost his temper.

“this… this crazy! Has the Count forgotten his relationship with the Magic Tower?!”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. It’s true that the Count was interacting with the Magic Tower, but he was very indignant at the fact that you were deceiving the eyes of the palace and studying black magic.”

At the knight’s cold reply, the mage’s expression was stained with despair. In an instant, only dejected laughter flowed from the mouth of the wizard, who seemed to have aged 10 years.

“hahahaha… hahahaha… Leon Benning… !!! You’ve been using the magic tower as you please, and now that the black magicians are useless, are you trying to do it at least!”

A sorcerer’s cry of resentment. The engineer covered his ears as if he was being noisy.

“Do you think the Mage Tower will help you guys again? Do you know how to use even one spell for you guys… This is the end of the Magic Tower and Benning. It’s over with you guys!!”

“I think that was great. The Count would rather like that.”

The knight loosened his shoulders as if he was about to move himself. Then, as if he had forgotten something, he quietly bowed his head to the old wizard with a short cry.

“Come to think of it, aren’t there quite a few wizards who don’t come back after saying they’re going on a business trip recently?”

The old wizard asked what he was talking about and still glared at the knight with an indignant expression.

“Where have they all gone?”

Then, the knight smiled, and the wizard just stared blankly at the knight with an expression as if he had been hit in the head with a hammer.

In the first place, was it really only used and abandoned?

The old wizard uh, uh, just spat out the words weakly. Heavy handcuffs hung over the wizard’s wrists. After the conversation with the knight was over, the soldiers dragged the limp old wizard without further resistance. There were a lot of wagons to take the wizards out of the tower one by one.

Benning’s knight, who was turning back, suddenly grabbed the soldiers who were dragging the wizards. The knight was giving orders to the soldiers, as if they had a business. The old wizard raised his head in anger, then met Benning’s knight’s eyes.

“You guys… you… .”

The wizard began to vent all his anger. It was a cry so intense that it was hard to believe that it was the cry of an old man.

“Count, you bastard!! How dare you betray us!!”

At the thunderclap, the soldiers who were holding the wizard were startled and held on to the wizard even stronger. Ignoring the pain of his shoulder being bent back, the wizard widened his eyes, spattered, and began swearing at the knight and the non-existent object.

“If only he hadn’t been there… ! Breaking into my workshop, knocking me out, stealing all my research materials… After killing the chimeras, all the chimeras… ! Wouldn’t it have been such a miserable abandonment by the count… !”

The wizard suddenly looked around, perhaps realizing that he had been talking too much. The two soldiers didn’t seem to care what they were saying, and it didn’t seem like anyone else was listening to them.

At some point, Benning’s knight was looking straight at himself.

“Right.”

The knight’s voice was horrifyingly low. The knight bit the soldiers with a gesture. Although the soldiers seemed hesitant, they reluctantly retreated at the knight’s command. The sorcerer was still shrieking in handcuffs. Unable to give up his last hope, the old wizard clung uglyly to Benning’s knight.

“Listen to me just once. I mean there was an intruder… ! It could be a person neither you nor the Count know. If it wasn’t for them, the research I was conducting last night, and those f*cking knights wouldn’t be able to find out… !”

aww

Kuck.

The wizard’s breath stopped. It was because the knight grabbed him by the neck and entered the alley. Upon entering the lab, I saw soldiers rummaging through their books and tools. The old wizard seemed unable to contain his grief at the fact that all of his research was being destroyed and stolen, even as he grunted with his throat held.

“scram.”

The soldiers exchanged glances, and quickly threw away the data and left the lab. thud. The door closed, and the knight slammed the old wizard to the floor.

“Cheuk!”

The wizard let out a painful sound from his mouth and rolled on the floor.

damn

“uh?”

The old wizard’s lower body felt cold. Suddenly, seeing his severed leg spraying black liquid, the wizard showed a questioning eye.

“The Count has asked for something else. It was an order to find out what the hell you guys have been hiding so well.”

hooked

The tip of the knife was stuck in the back. There was a cool feeling of life just an inch away from the heart.

“You guys are crazy. Do you really want to see us baring our teeth at the Count?”

“No, the crazy ones are the magic tower and the wizards who dared to hide something from the Count. Come to think of it, it seems like he’s hiding a lot to just let you go.”

The old wizard swallowed dry saliva. He, who had not yet reached perfection as a black magician, could not recover from being stabbed in the heart. I couldn’t die yet. Even if he was caught and sent to prison, he had to achieve perfection that he had not seen in his long life. Benning’s knight was playfully spinning the blade stuck behind his back.

“How are you? Quietly, spitting out what you know. For now, you’d better start with that hidden research.”

“curse… would… .”

The old wizard spat out the words lamentably and began to speak in short bursts. about research. The fact that he was hiding Christine Watson in the basement of the Magic Tower, and that he was using her as a research subject because it was obvious that the Count would use her as a hostage.

Besides that, the wizard confided the truth about all the research that had been going on outside of Benning’s field of vision. The fact that the intruder openly invaded his dungeon, ravaged all of his research, and ran away. A faint smile spread over Knight Beninga’s face as he listened to the story.

“Right. That’s it.”

“Then how about pulling out this damn sword?”

“Show me the entrance to the dungeon you were hiding before. I will judge it after seeing it for myself.”

The wizard, who had calmed down while talking, asked in a much calmer voice. Since he was honest, he might think he was a useful existence and let him live. He might put himself under the count’s command. The wizard hurriedly removed the carpet from the floor. Above it, a heavy iron door leading to the dungeon appeared.

‘What kind of sorrow is this? It wasn’t enough to allow intruders, to give in to the threat of their lives and take others into the open air.’

When the wizard raised his hand over the iron door, there was a rattling sound and the iron door opened slowly. After that, Benning’s knight gave a brief exclamation.

“This is the entrance to the dungeon.”

“yes. So hurry up and reap the sword.”

“Okay.”

Scared to finish the knight’s words. The point of a knife pierced his heart. The wizard lowered his head in embarrassment at the sudden stop of his heartbeat. The tip of the knife, dripping black blood, was sticking out of her chest.

“Yeah… bloke… .”

“Well, I know what you guys were hiding. It’s useless to reap under the count, and I’m afraid of future troubles to keep alive, so let’s just pretend you’re dead here. Wouldn’t that be neat?”

“I will kill you… !”

A huge energy of mana swelled from the wizard, and the knight’s sword flashed before it turned into a hair. The wizard, who had been torn to pieces before he knew it, flew through the air.

At the end of the gaze looking down at the floor with different gazes while being split in half, the knight smiled. When the broken heart stopped and the sorcerer realized that his wish would never come true, the world was plunged into an unfamiliar darkness.

The knight turned his head toward the wizard who had become a corpse and let out a laugh.

“You are an intruder.”

Benning’s knight tapped the hilt as if he was happy and walked towards the dungeon with his mouth wide open.

—

Each step was heavy.

Maxim continued to move forward. The noise of the people of the royal capital and the distance from which the wind blew were too far for Maxim now. There is still time until the Mage Tower’s investigation begins. Maxim intended to use that opportunity to walk into the mage tower’s basement.

As if flying on the wind, Maxim’s body was fast. Jumping over the alley, Maxim flew across the roof of the building towards his destination. My body wasn’t tired, but my heart was beating like it would explode. His breathing was stable, but his thoughts were disorganized and cluttered in Maxim’s head.

“here… .”

Maxim is a point in an alley. I reached the place where I came out of the dungeon with Adeline. The hole that Maxim had made at dawn two days ago was still open. Maxim walked down the alley and stood in front of a hole in the sidewalk block. Maxim could not enter right away. Because behind him stood someone with a sharp look like a sword.

“Why are you here?”

Turning back, Adeline was standing with her sword drawn. Dark blue hair fluttered like waves in the wind. The eyes covered with a black cloth and the expressionless mouth as always. In the chilly weather today, those white cheeks were flushed red. Adeline pretended to be normal and aimed her sword at Maxim. Maxim’s whole body was receiving that sharp, somewhat sad fighting spirit.

“… This is the count’s order.”

With a voice that said it was painful to say it, Adeline answered. Maxim asked with a twist on his face.

“Was it the count’s order to kill me?”

Adeline didn’t answer. Maxim faced Adeline with her sword still undrawn. All Maxim could do was speak the truth that he hadn’t told.

“Adeline, your eyes and your memory are the Count… .”

Adeline interrupted Maxim’s words.

“Yeah. It occurred to me for a moment that maybe, maybe.”

Adeline’s words were sincere. The voice was trembling pathetically.

“I had doubts, and I tried to find traces of memories and recall them.”

Adeline’s momentum rises.

“But I still feel deep in my heart that I have to follow that order, and in fact my body, like this, is telling me to kill you.”

Adeline didn’t seem to want to go on. As Maxim was still hesitant to draw his sword, Adeline showed her strength first.

“I don’t want to fight you. At least for now.”

Maxim said in a low voice. To no avail. Adeline didn’t seem to listen to me. Maxim grabbed the hilt. After hesitating for a while, Maxim drew his sword. Adeline took the ceremony after confirming that Maxim had drawn her sword.

Maxim closed his eyes, then opened them again to face Adeline. The hand holding the sword hilt was painful. It was painful to have to point a sword at someone who wasn’t the one to aim at.

“You will have to fight to kill me.”

In that warning, for some reason, there was no intention to live.

As if to hide the fact, Adeline jumped at Maxim with her ultramarine blue hair fluttering.

The two swords collided in the air of early winter.