47. Wizards and Knights (1)

The forest at night when the moon does not rise is darker than a blackout curtain over the snow. The highest point of the Benning family mansion, Leon Benning, overlooked the black forest that covered nearly half of the estate. To be precise, he was watching the reflection of himself created by the light in the room on the window.

That was Leon Benning’s habit. To meditate while looking at your reflection in the window on a dark night. Usually what he had in his head was the future. When he closed his eyes, no memories came to Leon Benning’s head. just look ahead It wasn’t urgent or desperate, but it was serious and sloppy.

Someone knocks on the library door. Leon Benning ordered us to come in without looking back. It was a servant. The servant recited the business in a cautious voice.

“Master, a man named Roberto Miller is coming from outside the mansion and wants to see you…”

You’re here.

Leon Benning slightly turned his head back.

“Let it in. You are my guest.”

The servant looked as if he was surprised by Leon Benning’s reaction, then lowered his head.

“I will do as you command.”

Leon Benning looked at the door closing with inorganic eyes, then put his hands behind his back.

The daughter has returned to the royal capital.

I don’t know if there will be any respite, but while Theodora’s feet are on the ground of the royal capital, there are things to be done. Leon Benning glanced down at his hand. As usual, he looks at the ring on the index finger of his right hand. A ring with the pattern of the Benning family, which is different from the wedding ring, revealing that he is the head of the family. Thumb swiped the pattern on the ring.

“…”

Leon Benning raised dry eyes. He could feel the presence of him coming up the stairs. The sound of footsteps came closer to the Count’s room along the stairs. A knock at the door is heard again.

“Master, we have brought guests.”

A tall man wearing a hood stood behind the servant. Leon Benning shook his hand and let the servant go. The man’s head followed the retreating servant and turned around.

“May I come in?”

A sly voice came. When Leon Benning did not answer, the man took off his hood and stepped into the study. Roberto’s appearance was revealed. Her dull blonde hair was tied back. Leon Benning winked at the invitation to sit down in the chair in front of the desk. Roberto sat down in his chair with a light smile on his face.

“Why did you ask me to hide your presence and appearance?”

“Now is the time to be most careful. Don’t you know that one small mistake can ruin all your plans? I just want to avoid going down the rabbit hole, leaving my stupid plans behind.”

Leon Benning chided in a gentle voice. “Is that so,” said Roberto, and put his hood on the back of the chair.

“The dispatch period was shorter than expected. Was it actually two weeks? What happened to the no-man’s-land?”

Roberto shrugged.

“Sooner or later there will be a summons from the royal family.”

“Something happened. I didn’t want it to be serious.”

Leon Benning said in a nonchalant tone. In fact, he didn’t seem very interested in what was going on in the no man’s land.

“Still… I’ll have to listen to an explanation of what happened.”

“About the anomaly…”

“I already got a report. Skip the explanation, report what you found in the No Man’s Land and why you returned so quickly.”

Roberto nodded.

“First of all, the reason they returned quickly, first, was because they discovered the cause of the anomaly, and second, because they would have to send troops to uninhabited areas in a hurry.”

Leon Benning nodded, as if asking for more.

“The cause of the anomaly. According to the Marquis, the Behemoth that is said to be sleeping over the cliff at the end seems to be moving.”

“It was 15 years ago. I understand why you have to send troops.”

“Yes. It is said that it is similar to the situation 15 years ago.”

Even at what Roberto added, Leon Benning did not raise an eyebrow.

“If a request for assistance comes from the royal family…”

“I don’t intend to send all my power like an idiot, but I won’t refuse either. There is no reason to refuse.”

Roberto subtly hardened the corners of his mouth, as if expecting such a cold reaction to return.

“yes. This is a change, it’s up to you to figure it out on your own. If we can’t stop it at the border line, we’re the only ones doing good. We just have to take care of our own business. What about the rest of the report?”

“It’s about the lady and Maxime Apart.”

The Count let out a long sigh.

“yes.”

“It looks like Maxim Appart ignored the curse and used the aura.”

A smirk escaped from Leon Benning’s mouth. The laugh didn’t stop at once, but broke out several times, shooting out of his mouth like an arrow. It was a long laugh. Leon Benning habitually rubbed the ring on his index finger.

“What happened?”

“There was an accident in which Lady Theodora and Maxime Appart both fell down the cliff at the end. The lady is injured.”

Leon Benning let out a loud laugh. He seemed completely unconcerned about the news of his daughter’s injury. The count’s words leaked out between the corners of his mouth that raised one fishy look.

“Well, what a huge coincidence. I wanted to see for myself what had happened.”

“Yes. It seems that he opened his aura while fighting the monsters at the bottom of the cliff.”

Leon Benning let out a dry cough, trying to stop the burst of laughter that continued to irritate his lungs.

“yes. I couldn’t stand it in the end. No, should I say that I had no choice but to use it?”

“I think it should be seen that I had no choice but to use it under the circumstances.”

Leon Benning sighed for the last time and let out a hollow laugh.

“Theodora may have found out that Maxim was cursed.”

“You would have noticed. You could have asked the sorcerer of the Order, Christine Watson.”

“Then you must have noticed.”

Leon Benning was surprisingly calm. It was as if it didn’t matter at all that Theodora realized it.

“The curse placed on Maxim Appart is probably at its limit now that our cute wizard can help.”

cute wizard. It was a reference to Christine. Roberto nodded in agreement.

“Yes. There will be a limit to how much more you can block the curse. As Maxim Appart was lying in the hospital room, I sneakily checked the progress, and even though it must have been after Christine Watson had been there, the curse was slowly progressing.”

Leon Benning pressed his temples with a look of annoyance. Roberto observed the change in Leon Benning’s expression and quietly suggested his opinion.

“Maybe it’s too big of a variable to keep next to Maxim Appart…”

“Did you not notice the true nature of the ‘curse’?”

Roberto shook his head.

“None. But if you keep watching the curse, maybe you’ll find out… why don’t you remove it or proceed with the acquisition.”

“It’s not Leon Benning,” he said, waving his hand slowly.

“If it was possible, I would have embraced it a long time ago. When I was introduced to her at the Mage Tower and bought the enchantment method from her, I tried to recruit her as a vassal of my family, even if I had to treat her the best. One quality was awesome. To the extent that I can compare it with my daughter. Of course, it was bitterly rejected.”

Leon Benning let out a bitter laugh.

“yes. If it bothers you, consider getting rid of it. It’s usually not difficult, though. I need to get in touch with the tower owner after a long time.”

“Isn’t there a conflict with that wizard and the owner of the Mage Tower? I know you came out of the tower like that.”

Roberto asked curiously. Leon Benning tapped the desk with his finger as if he didn’t care.

“I have to write cards that I can use.”

Leon Benning’s eyes shone deep and sharp.

“Is the return date scheduled?”

“It is not scheduled. I think Lady Theodora will recover from her injuries and will only return after gathering some troops.”

“How serious is the injury?”

It was only then that Leon Benning became interested in Theodora’s injury.

“It will take less than a month to recover.”

“You must have been seriously injured. Well, maybe you can attend a small social church.”

“What if the lady refuses?”

Leon Benning let out a laugh. He didn’t seem to be worried at all.

“I cannot refuse. It will be the place to officially announce the engagement and marriage of Theodora’s former lover.”

Leon Benning snapped the knuckles of his hands.

“Enough for today. I’ll have to get in touch with Emil first. Give me the Magic Tower next.”

Leon Benning looked at Roberto with a twisted head. Roberto got up from his seat and put on his hood again.

“You continue to watch. Theodora, Maxime Apparte, the sorcerer…”

Leon Benning’s eyes flash.

“Survey everything within the scope of monitoring.”

Roberto bowed his head in response.

“All right.”

All for Benning.

Under the cold stare of Leon Benning, Roberto spoke quietly.

—

Knights of the afternoon.

The relocated headquarters of the Knights of the Raven had a much more respectable main building than the previous one. Instead of a gymnasium with weeds growing thickly between the stones, a gymnasium with a hard and smooth stone floor was installed in front of the main building. It is said that the place that was once used as the headquarters of other knights was slightly modified.

“Vice-captain, the arrangement of the things you said is all over.”

A regular member reported to Christine. It was to write a report on the state of available equipment and request the equipment that was lacking to the Central Knights, but there were members who volunteered when their hands were short.

“Good job,”

I heard a cicada cry. Christine was taking care of Theodora, who was on vacation. Since it was actually a break, the only thing I did was extremely simple administrative work. The sun was long. Christine saw the sunlight pouring thickly through the window, resembling the color of her hair.

Since I have a plan, shall I leave work today?

It was a bit early, but nothing major happened. It was sung by the royal family, and it was necessary to stock up on physical strength as much as possible before the members went about their busy lives again.

“Shall we go to work early? I have nothing more to do…”

“I think that would be good.”

The member suddenly asked what Christine had said. Christine smiled bitterly and ordered them to disperse. The steps of the members were busy. After Christine stopped by the vice-captain’s office to pack her things, she left the Knights’ main building.

“uh? Are you going first, Vice-captain?”

“Please go in carefully.”

After accepting the members’ greetings by waving their hands, Christine left the single road leading to the Raven Knights. The heat coming up from the heated ground was a little hotter than the sunlight beating down on my head from above. I wished the wind would blow. However, the harsh wind did not cool her heated head and cheeks at all at this time.

“hot…”

However, Christine’s steps towards the main street were light, unlike those monologues.

What should I buy today?

My head was full of thoughts of things I could buy as gifts. As she walked and walked like that, she came to the edge of the market. Alone, Christine walked down the market with her hands behind her back, tapping her cheek with her index finger, and twisting her long hair with her fingers.

“Flowers… are a bit too much for a gift…”

“What does it mean to be a gift?”

When Christine’s back startled the cat, she flinched and bounced. The person who suddenly spoke to her from behind was none other than Maxim. Christine furrowed her eyebrows at the look on her unconcerned expression.

“ah! What is it, really!”

Christine was freaking out. Maxim giggled and accepted her punch.

“What? I see it passing by, but I can’t bear to ignore it.”

“Are you back already?”

“Because I’ll be back tomorrow. He arrived around lunchtime today.”

Maxim nodded. Christine let out a sigh when she saw her moving, smiling and pretending to be light and not sick.

“I will go to work tomorrow. I don’t have anything special to do right now anyway, so I don’t know if the injured senior will be able to participate in regular training.”

“You can do it. It’s okay now.”

Christine closed her eyes and shook her head as if she didn’t want to nag any more.

“By the way, where were you going?”

When Maxim asked, Christine pursed her lips and answered.

“A home.”

Maxim raised his eyebrows. Because there was only one place that Christine said she was going home to.

“Are you going to see the director and the kids?”

Christine nodded.

“It’s been a while since I haven’t been there… I’m going to stop by for a while.”

Maxim took a step back and smiled faintly.

“yes. Then go carefully.”

“Wait a minute, senpai…”

“yes?”

As Maxim tried to turn away, he was stopped by Christine’s hand grabbing his wrist.

“Can you go with me?”

“at home?”

“Yeah. Both the kids and the director probably want to see you.”

Maxim looked down at Christine. Looks like I’m getting caught again Maxim smiles bitterly and nods his head.

“Let’s choose a present first.”