Chapter 22

 

 

 

“Kyuuung…”

 

 

 

 

Ran flattened his ears and shook his head.

 

 

 

 

“Kyuu…”

 

 

 

 

“You still can’t do it? Even after transforming last time?”

 

 

 

 

“Kyuu…”

 

 

 

 

Not being able to consume human vitality energy really is a big limitation.

 

 

 

 

Ran could only maintain a human form for a limited amount of time.

 

 

 

 

This time, he had stayed human for a long period, and on top of that, he had given his fox bead to Silia.

 

 

 

 

It’s impossible right now.

 

 

 

 

Silia quickly gave up and continued speaking gently to the fox, whose instincts had become stronger than his reason.

 

 

 

 

“You know what you’ve done, don’t you?”

 

 

 

 

Ran wagged his tail back and forth and licked her nose.

 

 

 

 

“Kyuuuung.”

 

 

 

 

Then he tilted his head and blinked his large eyes as if begging for forgiveness.

 

 

 

 

He even lowered his ears completely and put on the most pitiful expression possible.

 

 

 

 

The golden stars in his eyes seemed to sparkle.

 

 

 

 

It was the behavior of a fox who knew exactly how cute he was.

 

 

 

 

If Shula had witnessed it, he would have grabbed the back of his neck and collapsed at the sheer shamelessness and natural acting.

 

 

 

 

“You naughty fox.”

 

 

 

 

Silia kissed the tip of Ran’s nose and set him down.

 

 

 

 

“I’m only letting you off this once.”

 

 

 

 

“Kyurung!”

 

 

 

 

I’ll bring up the collar later when Ran can transform into a human. We’ll need to talk.

 

 

 

 

As she lowered him to the floor, Silia bit her lower lip.

 

 

 

 

When should I tell him that we’ll eventually have to part ways?

 

 

 

 

She doubted Ran’s attitude would change even if she told him, but Shula’s words continued to bother her.

 

 

 

 

I’ll tell him when he’s a little older.

 

 

 

 

Having made up her mind, Silia stroked both Ran and Vio.

 

 

 

 

Just imagining the day when Ran would become an adult and leave made her heart ache.

 

 

 

 

I hope he’ll be happy, even after we part.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“What is it, Moldis? Calling people here and there like this is such a nuisance.”

 

 

 

 

A petite woman approached, speaking sharply.

 

 

 

 

She had short, wavy white hair and pink eyes.

 

 

 

 

Because of her appearance, the Second Guardian, Repone, was nicknamed the Snow Rabbit.

 

 

 

 

With elegant movements, she sat across from Moldis.

 

 

 

 

Moldis, gaunt as a skeleton, looked deeply troubled.

 

 

 

 

“Have you finally lost your mind after serving Iris for so long?”

 

 

 

 

Repone laughed softly.

 

 

 

 

Her cold smile did not match her gentle voice and adorable appearance.

 

 

 

 

Priests who didn’t know her true personality called her the Snow Rabbit.

 

 

 

 

The Guardians, however, all called her the White Serpent.

 

 

 

 

It suited her scheming, snake-like nature.

 

 

 

 

In truth, Repone was an expert actress who only revealed her real self in front of fellow Guardians.

 

 

 

 

“Moldis.”

 

 

 

 

“…”

 

 

 

 

“I’m talking to you, Moldis. Has Iris shouted at you so much that you’ve gone deaf?”

 

 

 

 

There was no need for formal speech between Guardians, but Repone habitually used it.

 

 

 

 

It was a habit born from the harsh education of her childhood.

 

 

 

 

“If you’re just going to mumble to yourself, why call a busy person over?”

 

 

 

 

“Repone.”

 

 

 

 

“Yes?”

 

 

 

 

“Have you ever seen a Holy Knight who could sense the presence of a spiritual creature?”

 

 

 

 

Repone’s round eyes twisted strangely.

 

 

 

 

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

 

 

 

 

“If someone could sense one, how do you think it would be possible?”

 

 

 

 

“There’s no need to think about it. It’s impossible.”

 

 

 

 

Resting her chin on her hand, Repone replied lazily.

 

 

 

 

“Spiritual creatures are still animals. How could anyone sense the traces of a god hidden beneath a beast’s aura? Guardians like us can distinguish them because Solar granted us special powers. But a Holy Knight? Impossible.”

 

 

 

 

“There is one. A Holy Knight who can sense them.”

 

 

 

 

“Haaah…”

 

 

 

 

Repone sighed and ruffled Moldis’s neatly combed hair.

 

 

 

 

His precise three-to-seven side-part was instantly ruined, and he frowned.

 

 

 

 

Ignoring him, she offered her diagnosis.

 

 

 

 

“You’ve finally gone insane.”

 

 

 

 

“I’m perfectly sane.”

 

 

 

 

“You’re the easiest for Iris to push around among all of us. Did he summon you again today?”

 

 

 

 

Moldis rubbed his face.

 

 

 

 

“Repone. I’m serious.”

 

 

 

 

Her eyes narrowed.

 

 

 

 

“You mean that?”

 

 

 

 

“Not just any spiritual creature. She recognized the power within a baby yokai born from an Eastern spiritual creature.”

 

 

 

 

“A yokai? That’s not a funny joke.”

 

 

 

 

Repone’s expression turned cold.

 

 

 

 

If he were lying, she would genuinely be angry.

 

 

 

 

But he wasn’t.

 

 

 

 

Moldis had met the cub himself.

 

 

 

 

Even as a Guardian, it had taken him quite a while to realize the creature possessed the bloodline of a spiritual beast.

 

 

 

 

The final Guardian, Herishi, would have recognized it immediately.

 

 

 

 

Moldis, however, was unfamiliar with beastly auras.

 

 

 

 

Yet a Holy Knight—

 

 

 

 

Not Herishi.

 

 

 

 

Not another Guardian.

 

 

 

 

Just an ordinary Holy Knight—

 

 

 

 

Had distinguished it.

 

 

 

 

She had identified the bloodline of a spiritual creature hidden within a yokai’s aura.

 

 

 

 

“Is that even possible?”

 

 

 

 

Moldis muttered blankly.

 

 

 

 

Realizing he was not joking, Repone’s mocking expression disappeared.

 

 

 

 

“If it was a yokai, its demonic aura should have made it even harder to detect.”

 

 

 

 

“That’s exactly my point. No matter how I think about it, something is strange.”

 

 

 

 

“…Did she have a scar on her shoulder blade?”

 

 

 

 

Repone’s voice trembled.

 

 

 

 

Moldis looked up and saw the unease in her eyes.

 

 

 

 

Repone never showed weakness.

 

 

 

 

Her life had never allowed it.

 

 

 

 

Whenever war broke out, she was the one who stood at the very front and suffered the first injuries.

 

 

 

 

That was the duty of the Guardian known as the Blessed Shield.

 

 

 

 

Concern filled Moldis’s face.

 

 

 

 

“Repone. Did something happen during the monster wave last week? I heard you stood in the line of attack for an entire day—”

 

 

 

 

“I asked if she had a scar.”

 

 

 

 

Her voice came out tight and strained.

 

 

 

 

Looking at her pale face, Moldis finally answered.

 

 

 

 

“I don’t know. But probably not.”

 

 

 

 

“How can you know that?”

 

 

 

 

“She’s the commander of the Silver Lion Holy Knights stationed in the Grinia Empire. She knows about our search for the true Saint.”

 

 

 

 

“Did she show no reaction when you presented the phoenix feather?”

 

 

 

 

Moldis fell into thought.

 

 

 

 

He remembered the startled look on Silia’s face when he had mentioned the scar.

 

 

 

 

“She was surprised when I brought up the scar. But that was all.”

 

 

 

 

“…”

 

 

 

 

“She’s actively helping us search for the Saint. If she were the true Saint herself, she’d have no reason to hide it.”

 

 

 

 

Repone stood up.

 

 

 

 

“Where are you going?”

 

 

 

 

Moldis grabbed her arm in surprise.

 

 

 

 

“You said the Grinia Empire, didn’t you?”

 

 

 

 

“You’re not planning to visit her yourself?”

 

 

 

 

“You went. Why shouldn’t I?”

 

 

 

 

“But…”

 

 

 

 

“Moldis!”

 

 

 

 

Instantly, both their faces twisted.

 

 

 

 

They immediately dropped to one knee and bowed.

 

 

 

 

Iris was approaching them with narrowed eyes.

 

 

 

 

Damn it.

 

 

 

 

The two Guardians had been caught meeting in secret.

 

 

 

 

Ever since Julius disappeared, Iris had become increasingly paranoid.

 

 

 

 

This was bad.

 

 

 

 

How do we talk our way out of this?

 

 

 

 

“Well, this is interesting. The residences of the Second Guardian, Repone, and the Fourth Guardian, Moldis, are quite far apart. So what exactly were the two of you doing here together?”

 

 

 

 

Moldis wanted to ask the same question.

 

 

 

 

What was Iris doing alone in this abandoned garden that no one ever visited?

 

 

 

 

Repone remained silent with her head lowered.

 

 

 

 

“Didn’t I ask a question?”

 

 

 

 

“We were merely catching up after not seeing each other for a long time.”

 

 

 

 

Cold sweat rolled down Moldis’s back as he answered.

 

 

 

 

“Catching up?”

 

 

 

 

“Yes. Since meetings between Guardians are forbidden, I disobeyed your orders out of concern after hearing that Repone had suffered greatly recently.”

 

 

 

 

“So you’re saying this is my fault?”

 

 

 

 

“Punish me.”

 

 

 

 

“How insolent!”

 

 

 

 

Iris lashed out with his foot.

 

 

 

 

Repone immediately stepped between them.

 

 

 

 

The hard shoe struck her across the face.

 

 

 

 

Her slender neck bent at a frightening angle.

 

 

 

 

Without making a sound, she collapsed to the side.

 

 

 

 

“Repone!”

 

 

 

 

Moldis cried out hoarsely and rushed toward her.

 

 

 

 

Iris looked momentarily surprised before quickly regaining his composure.

 

 

 

 

“Why are you so shocked, Moldis? Isn’t Repone the Second Guardian? The proud shield of our Holy Kingdom.”

 

 

 

 

“…”

 

 

 

 

“Repone. Raise your head.”

 

 

 

 

Repone lifted her head without even bothering to brush the dirt from her clothes.

 

 

 

 

Her face was completely unharmed.

 

 

 

 

“See? She’s perfectly fine. The power of the Blessed Shield truly is remarkable.”

 

 

 

 

Moldis ground his teeth.

 

 

 

 

“But no matter how precious a shield may be, she dared to stand in front of a Saint. She must be punished.”

 

 

 

 

Still kneeling, Repone clenched her fists.

 

 

 

 

The overgrown weeds beneath her hands were crushed into pieces.

 

 

 

 

“What punishment would be appropriate? Moldis. You’re supposed to be clever. Give me an idea.”

 

 

 

 

Moldis remained silent.

 

 

 

 

“Useless fool.”

 

 

 

 

Spitting the words with hatred, Iris gave his order.

 

 

 

 

“I will forbid the Holy Knights from wearing armor in the upcoming campaign.”

 

 

 

 

What?

 

 

 

 

Moldis looked up, his face turning white.

 

 

 

 

Iris did not waver.

 

 

 

 

“Didn’t Repone interfere while I was punishing you? It seems she wishes to display her strength to its fullest.”

 

 

 

 

“…”

 

 

 

 

“Repone. Go to the battlefield with the Holy Knights. If you do not wish to watch them die, then you will personally take every attack at the front line.”

 

 

 

 

“Saint Iris! You cannot do this!”

 

 

 

 

Moldis shouted and grabbed Iris’s leg.

 

 

 

 

Iris didn’t even blink.

 

 

 

 

He was a cruel and vicious man.

 

 

 

 

Watching Moldis cling to him seemed to amuse him.

 

 

 

 

The corners of his lips curled upward.

 

 

 

 

“I will obey.”

 

 

 

 

Repone accepted the order calmly.

 

 

 

 

It sounded almost like resignation.

 

 

 

 

And perhaps it was.

 

 

 

 

She had lived her entire life this way.

 

 

 

 

Under the excuse of training, she had been tortured so she would become accustomed to pain.

 

 

 

 

Because she was the Blessed Shield.

 

 

 

 

Because she had been born with that power.

 

 

 

 

That alone was reason enough.

 

 

 

 

How can someone be this cruel?

 

 

 

 

Moldis collapsed onto the ground in despair.

 

 

 

 

Iris smiled serenely and praised Repone.

 

 

 

 

“See how obedient she is? Learn from her, Moldis. Act like a Guardian serving a Saint.”

 

 

 

 

Having vented his anger on Moldis, Iris finally stood.

 

 

 

 

“If only you had pledged your loyalty to me, none of this would have happened. What about Julius?”

 

 

 

 

“…We have not found him.”

 

 

 

 

As if I’d tell you if I did.

 

 

 

 

Bloodshot-eyed, Moldis clenched his teeth.

 

 

 

 

The stress made his stomach feel as though it were burning.

 

 

 

 

He nearly retched.

 

 

 

 

“Is that so?”

 

 

 

 

Iris exhaled heavily, still simmering with anger.

 

 

 

 

Then he turned away.

 

 

 

 

“Keep behaving like this. I’m curious to see what becomes of you.”

 

 

 

 

Leaving the two Guardians behind, Iris calmly walked out of the abandoned garden.