The Female Knight of Doom - TFKOD 47: Return to Castle

After witnessing the divine covenant of the gods, Alice returned to the village slightly dazed, her mind awash with awe and confusion.

Her immediate priority was to find the village chief and request the return of the dozen or so gold coins she had just entrusted to him.

The village chief was visibly stunned, “But you just handed me that gold! How can you change your mind so swiftly?”

She responded calmly, “I have not altered my decision. The altar has now been restored.” She paused thoughtfully before adding, “Considering that the ritual itself incurs costs, please return ten gold coins to me, and let the remaining funds be used to enhance the ceremony’s grandeur.”

Reluctantly, he handed back the still-warm coins, his eyes betraying a hint of skepticism—perhaps suspecting Alice’s sanity.

This matter was difficult to explain; even if Alice attempted to clarify, her words would likely fall on deaf ears. Consequently, she simply asked him to witness the truth once more while she retreated to her study to resume her battle with the account books, her mind still lingering on the divine revelation.

Reluctantly, the village chief consented to go, his hesitation evident. It was apparent that his only reason for agreeing was that he had not yet known Alice long enough to discern what kind of knight she truly was.

His cautious nature prevailed, prompting him to prefer making an extra journey rather than risking uncertainty by standing here, questioning the village’s new master.

Meanwhile, Alice found her work far from smooth. Her responsibilities in accounting demanded unwavering focus, yet her mind continually drifted to the notion of “synchronization” that the God of Agriculture and Herding had spoken of.

According to him, true attunement transcends the simple harmony she had stumbled upon by chance before; it is a far more intricate connection.

What exactly transpired between Panlos and his first follower? Could she and Cecilion also attain such a profound resonance?

Perhaps Cecilion had expended too much energy on his previous appointment, or perhaps He hadn’t been able to answer the question she had been thinking about at the time, but before she could ponder on this, he hadn’t appeared.

At that moment, she heard hurried footsteps outside the door.

Distracted, she looked up to see the village chief trotting in, panting heavily and leaning against the doorframe, “My God! Panlos! How did you do that!”

She didn’t need to hear what the village chief was saying.

Alice had already guessed his reaction, so she looked up, “I didn’t do it.”

Her brief sentences were like a wall, blocking out any questions the village chief might ask. He looked at Alice’s expression, swallowing the words he had to say silently.

He stood by the door for a moment, about to leave, when he heard Alice ask, “Have you ever heard of someone named Catherine?”

“Catherine?” The old village chief was confused. “We have several Catherines here, at least three or four! Remember the Paige family we visited earlier? Their eldest daughter is named Catherine.”

“I’m not talking about the current Catherine, but the previous Catherine.” Alice thought for a moment, then gave some obvious hints, “Are there any earlier legends? About figures connected with the God of Agriculture and Herding, or any miracles connected with Catherine?”

“Ah—” The village chief suddenly realized. “Now that you mention it, I remember there actually was a Catherine. They say she was a shepherdess and tended her father’s flock on the ranch. Later, the God of Agriculture came here, saw her alone with the sheep, and seduced her.”

“Seduce?”

“The God of Agriculture and Herding, well, although he is also a being of light, he was never a particularly noble or exalted figure in the stories. In any case, I don’t know what he did to Catherine, but when her father decided to marry her off to a farmer from the same village, she refused. Then she ran away to live alone in the mountains and became a priestess or something like a witch. She tended a flock of sheep with golden wool and taught the villagers to make sacrifices to the God of Agriculture and Herding. In short, that’s basically the story, quite simple, nothing special.”

As he concluded his tale, a sudden thought crossed his mind, and he hesitated before quietly inquiring, “Did you happen to encounter the God of Agriculture and Herding in the wilderness?”

Alice had indeed come face to face with Panlos, yet the story that unfolded was undoubtedly different from what the old village chief had envisioned.

Fortunately, her esteemed position granted her the privilege of remaining silent in response. With gracious politeness, she expressed her gratitude for his storytelling and gently requested that he take his leave.

While she was able to prevent the village chief from asking questions, she could not control the thoughts of others.

Additionally, the newly renovated shrine was openly visible to all. Consequently, when the village chief recounted the tale of how, after leading the lord to the sacrificial altar, it was miraculously restored, many villagers soon came to believe that the new lord was a divine envoy.

As a result, the earlier stories of monsters and demons gradually faded into obscurity. If one were to examine these events objectively, such a development might indeed seem somewhat plausible.

Of course, Alice remained unaware of these discussions, and even if she had known, she would not have cared as long as she could meet her rent by autumn. The old village chief’s brief account of Catherine offered little insight into the matter of synchronization, and disappointed by this, she grew more diligent in her financial calculations.

Based on the available records, several pertinent issues become apparent. She dedicated herself diligently until nightfall to review them thoroughly, and now she possesses a preliminary understanding of the village’s overall condition.

As Kent previously observed, Ronald Village is undeniably thriving, generating an annual income of approximately five hundred gold coins—primarily derived from tenant contributions. Typically, around one hundred gold coins are allocated each year for the maintenance of the village’s various facilities. While this provides a general overview, Alice’s particular circumstances are somewhat more complex.

Foremost among these is the obligation to settle her debt with the merchant, which accrues interest and thus demands prompt resolution. The records indicate that she owes a total of five hundred gold coins, which, if managed effectively, should be fully covered by this autumn’s harvest.

She was unable to return the entire sum to the merchant immediately upon receipt, for, as the village chief explained, Reynolds had consistently been reluctant to invest in the construction and upkeep of the village. Consequently, much of the infrastructure had fallen into disrepair, with numerous urgent repairs needed—issues that could not be remedied with a mere few hundred gold coins. Every repair and improvement came at a cost.

More critically, she needed to retain some personal funds. As a knight sworn to the duchess and holder of a fief, her allowances from the duchess were modest. Should she be summoned to undertake a task, it was unlikely she would receive additional compensation. Therefore, it was essential that she preserve some resources for herself.

Alice ultimately chose to retain one hundred gold coins from the autumn harvest, allocating half of her remaining funds towards repairs and the other half to settle her debt with the merchant.

With diligent effort, she anticipates that within three or four years, her annual earnings could reach four hundred gold coins. While the life of a knight entails considerable expenses, such an income is indeed substantial.

Reflecting on her past as a humble tavern waitress, she might have found it amusing to dream of someday earning four hundred gold coins annually—perhaps even waking with a smile at the thought.

Yet, she has since grown wiser and more composed. She no longer resents her current modest income of one hundred gold coins, nor does she wake laughing at the prospect of future riches.

That night, she slept peacefully as usual.

The next morning, she engaged in a brief discussion about village affairs with the old village chief. Once it was clear there was nothing further requiring her decision, she mounted her horse and returned to Cloud Mist Castle.

Alice found that pursuits such as accounting did not suit her nature. After several days confined to the desk, she felt as though she was gradually rusting away. The journey home, however, brought her a newfound sense of tranquility.

Along the way, she confided in Cecilion about her visions for the future, and in doing so, she felt no trace of loneliness.

The grumpy horse, which the village chief had been feeding lately, appeared quite displeased at not having seen her for several days. Its obstinacy on the road was evident; despite her offering carrots, her efforts to coax it were in vain.

Fortunately, the journey was not too long. With patience and perseverance, Alice gradually gentled the beast, and at last, it carried her safely to the castle before the gates closed. Without pause, she led the horse to the stable and proceeded to see the duchess, delivering a concise report on the affairs of Ronald Village.

The duchess listened attentively, her expression reflecting satisfaction, though she offered no explicit praise. From her demeanor, it seemed that the duchess believed entrusting Alice with the role of knight was indeed the right decision.

All Alice truly desired was this moment of recognition. Though she struggled to grasp the intricate power dynamics at play within the West Felix, she found solace in the fact that the duchess had elevated her from a mere mercenary to a knight—a gesture she regarded as a profound act of benevolence.

Driven by a sincere hope to serve the duchess faithfully and to meet her expectations, Alice’s focus remained on proving herself worthy.

What might unfold beyond that was beyond her contemplation; she believed that, even should chaos engulf West Felix after the duchess’ passing, as long as Cecilion’s protection remained, her future would remain secure.

It was only upon leaving the duchess’ study that a deep exhaustion suddenly overwhelmed her—an weariness that had been quietly building over days. With only moments before dinner, she returned to her chamber, settling onto her bed to find rest.

Just then, a gentle knock at the door interrupted her repose.

Who was it that had so impeccably timed their arrival, arriving precisely as she returned home? Alice inwardly lamented, her heart weighed down by fatigue as she struggled to rise from her bed.

“Come in,” she called softly. “The door’s unlocked.”

The door swung open from outside, revealing the radiant smile of Kent.

“You’re finally back!” He exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “I’ve been waiting for you for days.”

Alice, noticing his exuberance, felt her own spirits dwindle further; all she longed for was to dismiss him and retreat into the sanctuary of sleep.

“What could it possibly be now?”

She vaguely recalled the mention of a martial arts tournament.

As Kent brought it up, fragments of memory stirred—she remembered hearing about such an event, though amidst her recent encounters in Ronald village, it had slipped her mind, overshadowed by the myriad of other happenings, including the duchess’ earlier mention of the tournament.

Kent, however, had obviously not forgotten and had probably been in this state of over-excitement since the days she had been away from the castle. Although seventeen-year-olds are naturally passionate, she found him a little creepy.

Kent, on the other hand, didn’t find himself creepy at all.

Excitedly, he reached for Alice’s hand, “How about it? Want to team up with me?”