Chapter 43
An Uncomfortable Reunion (2)
“He has such a pleasant face! Very handsome!”
A cheerful voice broke the silence.
It belonged to Gawain.
He was looking at Johan with a bright smile.
Johan found it somewhat bewildering.
Only yesterday, a demon had torn open Gawain’s emotional wounds, causing him to lose control and go berserk.
Just as he had on the day his mother died, Gawain had lost his reason.
It was a situation that should have plunged him into self-loathing.
Yet Gawain showed no sign of it. If anything, he appeared even more cheerful than usual.
Young as he may be, Gawain is still Gawain.
Even in the original story, he never revealed his true feelings. He played the part of a thoughtless wastrel, constantly lulling his political enemies into lowering their guard.
A wanderer with an incurable case of wanderlust. A debauched wastrel obsessed with wine and women. A disgrace to the royal family of Artelga. An accursed, unfilial son…
Every label attached to him was merely part of the mask Gawain had fashioned for himself.
He kept himself thoroughly debased while waiting for the right moment. Until he uncovered the hidden truth behind “that day,” Gawain would never reveal his true self.
The same held true now.
His rampage had left numerous victims, yet he showed no guilt whatsoever.
The world would regard Gawain as nothing more than a reckless degenerate, and no politician would consider him a threat.
Only Johan knew what lay beneath Gawain’s mask.
Dropping to one knee, Johan said,
“Your Highness is also as handsome as the rumors claim.”
“Oh? It seems my name is spoken of even in the south.”
“You are exceptionally famous, after all.”
“A wastrel, a scoundrel, a disgrace to the royal family… What else was there? In any case, I imagine it is all infamy. Haha.”
Gawain laughed brightly as he mocked himself.
“The youngest paladin, the one blessed by the moon, the Great Saint’s favored child, and many more. Your Highness also possesses numerous honors that could hardly be called infamy.”
At Johan’s immediate response, the laughter vanished from Gawain’s face.
He was slightly surprised. Johan’s reply had been entirely unexpected.
Whenever Gawain disparaged himself in front of others, most people either became flustered and did not know how to respond or grew uncomfortable and found an excuse to leave.
Johan was different. It was almost as though he had been waiting for the opportunity to counter Gawain’s words.
For one so young, he possessed the social finesse of an ancient noble fox.
Gawain spoke.
“How embarrassing. My reputation is far grander than the pitiful man behind it.”
Gawain possessed tremendous power, yet he could not properly control even a tenth of it.
His reputation had outpaced his strength. In that respect, one could say that Gawain and Johan were in similar circumstances.
Johan, the “demon,” was likewise weak compared to the reputation he possessed as an apostle.
Johan said,
“If your reputation arose from the one-sided expectations of others, there is no reason for Your Highness to feel compelled to live up to it. Please do not belittle yourself.”
Gawain stared silently at Johan.
Shaperia, who had been listening to their conversation, secretly nodded in approval.
Paladin Kainak cleared his throat.
“…Your Highness, forgive me for interrupting, but I believe it is time for us to depart.”
Gawain gestured for Kainak to rise.
“Look at me, losing track of myself. I had no intention of delaying you. My apologies. Sir Kainak, you should hurry. Isn’t this the perfect opportunity to capture Baekgak?”
He then looked at Johan.
“Sir Johan, I would like to speak with you a little longer. If you are not busy, would you mind keeping me company for a while? You are free to refuse, of course.”
Johan had no particular reason to decline. Gawain was a major figure in the original story, so establishing a connection with him would undoubtedly prove useful in one way or another.
Johan said,
“I have no objection, but are you not busy, Your Highness?”
“Espada will ultimately return to my hand. For now, I would rather focus on a new connection.”
“I am honored to hear you say so.”
Gawain smiled warmly at Johan before turning to Kainak.
“You do not mind if I borrow Sir Johan for a while, do you?”
“He was never part of our company to begin with, so please do as you wish, Your Highness. We shall take our leave.”
At Kainak’s command, the entire force turned around in unison.
Shaperia and Johan exchanged a silent farewell.
The imp trapped inside the iron cage continued staring at Johan.
Its gaze conveyed its determination to return alive.
Johan smirked.
If it truly managed to survive and return, he intended to keep his promise.
Though the chances of that happening were virtually nonexistent.
“Shall we go somewhere else?”
The villagers were still prostrated on the ground, unable to rise. Gawain did not wish to make them any more uncomfortable.
“I shall escort you to the cottage.”
It was far too shabby a place in which to receive royalty, but there was nowhere else suitable.
“No. Let us simply take a walk.”
“As you wish.”
The two walked beyond the settlement.
Unlike usual, the mountains in the dead of night were anything but quiet. Nor was there any darkness obstructing their vision.
The Order’s search had filled the area with noise, while sacred lights blazing here and there illuminated their surroundings.
Instead of the gazes of nocturnal beasts, countless human presences followed Gawain and Johan.
Every one of them was assigned to protect and monitor the Third Prince.
Gawain muttered quietly,
“They have already caught up with me. Honestly, Yuri never fails to find me.”
Yuri, Gawain’s personal guard knight.
She was another figure familiar to Johan.
She was following Gawain from an appropriate distance.
“Are we perhaps being followed, Your Highness?”
“Rather than following us… Hmm, protection? Surveillance? You could call it protective custody, I suppose. Nothing will happen, so do not worry too much.”
It was difficult not to worry. The knowledge that someone was following him, coupled with the helplessness of being unable to sense her presence at all, left Johan distinctly uncomfortable.
Should I ask Gaf to teach me how to detect someone tailing me?
It seemed like something that would greatly improve his chances of survival.
“More importantly, Sir Johan.”
“Speak, Your Highness.”
“Just as you knew about me, I have also heard a few things about you.”
“What sort of things?”
Gawain abruptly stopped walking.
“Rumors about the illegitimate son of House Myatro.”
“May I ask what exactly you heard?”
“It is simple. ‘An illegitimate son appeared out of nowhere, drove out his uncle, and became the heir to the barony. In the process, his uncle took his own life, though doubts remain regarding his death.’ That would be the gist of it.”
Johan calmly nodded.
“Regardless of whether that story is true, Your Highness appears quite different from the rumors.”
“In what way?”
“I heard that you were indifferent to politics and worldly affairs, yet you are thoroughly informed about the family affairs of a remote barony. It seems rumors should never be taken entirely at face value.”
Only a few weeks had passed since Johan’s uncle, Krill, had taken his own life. Rumors would have begun to spread by now, but it was still too soon for them to have reached every corner of the kingdom.
They certainly should not have reached the ears of the supposedly apolitical Third Prince.
At least, that was what the public believed.
The truth was entirely different.
Gawain never ignored the stories circulating throughout the kingdom. In his effort to uncover the hidden truth behind “that day,” he had gathered vast amounts of information.
Having read the original story, Johan knew that very well.
Gawain said,
“I have a close aide who chatters endlessly and never gives her mouth a moment’s rest. Thanks to her, I hear all sorts of stories even when I would rather not.”
A lie.
He was most likely referring to the knight Yuri, but she had actually been collecting information under Gawain’s orders.
“Did you call me aside to determine whether that aide’s story was true?”
Gawain shook his head.
“No. Just as you offered me advice, I wanted to give you a sincere piece of advice in return.”
“Forgive me, but may I ask what advice I gave Your Highness?”
They had only exchanged a few words. Nothing grand enough to be called advice had passed between them.
At least, that was how Johan remembered it.
“You told me that I had no obligation to live up to the one-sided expectations of others. The truth is, those words struck rather close to home.”
Gawain smiled gently. His smile contained genuine goodwill toward Johan.
Is it because of the Great Saint’s Eye?
If so, Johan was exceedingly pleased.
The price he had paid to obtain the eye had not gone to waste.
Johan said,
“I am glad my words could be of even a little help to Your Highness.”
“I received something from you, so I ought to repay you. May I offer you a piece of advice as well?”
“I shall take it to heart.”
“Do you happen to know who was supporting your uncle, Sir Krill?”
Count Staviana had been behind Krill.
He was the kingdom’s chancellor and the leader of the aristocratic faction. The most influential man in the kingdom had been supporting Krill.
“I heard directly from my uncle that it was Count Staviana.”
“Then I assume you also know what kind of man the count is.”
“He is widely rumored to be a cold and calculating man of power.”
“‘Cold’ is hardly enough to describe him. The count is a man like a demon. He appears friendly, yet he is heartless; he appears merciful, yet he is cruel. Some describe him as cunning as a fox but as daring as a tiger. Whatever description one chooses, he is not a man you should make an enemy of.”
There was little hostility toward the count in Gawain’s tone. He was merely expressing his opinion with calm detachment.
As I thought, he still knows nothing.
If Gawain knew the secret behind “that day,” he could never have spoken about the count so calmly.
The count had been the fundamental cause of his mother’s death.
Just as in the original story, Gawain would eventually learn the entire truth. When that happened, he and the count would become bitter enemies.
Johan intended to hasten that moment.
Through the dream demon he had already planted.
Johan said,
“…It seems I have unintentionally incurred the count’s displeasure.”
The count had wanted Krill to inherit the barony. Whatever the reason, his will had been thwarted, and he was not the sort of man to remain idle.
“That is correct. In fact, he has already begun to move. I heard that he retrieved Sir Krill’s corpse.”
It was exactly as Johan had anticipated.
“You have given me valuable information. I must prepare accordingly.”
At that moment, Gawain’s gaze changed. A faint spark of competitive spirit flickered within it.
“Prepare? Are you perhaps planning to oppose the count?”
Gawain’s demeanor quickly returned to normal, but Johan could not erase the sense of incongruity he had felt for that brief instant.
…What was that?
For a moment, Gawain had revealed a certain kind of hostility. It had passed so quickly that Johan wondered whether he had imagined it.
“To call it opposition would be an exaggeration. I merely intend to ensure that the justice I believe in and the laws of the Great Saint are upheld.”
“…I see. In any case, I hope you handle the matter wisely. I would like to meet you again.”
“I shall not forget Your Highness’s goodwill.”
“And I shall remember our meeting today. I found it rather enjoyable.”
Gawain resumed walking.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes. It is time I searched for Espada.”
Johan found it somewhat puzzling. It was difficult to understand why Gawain had asked to speak with him. Had he simply wished to establish a friendly connection?
If so, the subject of their conversation had been rather sensitive, especially once Count Staviana had been brought up.
Hiding his suspicions, Johan bowed his head.
“I am certain you will find it. Please take care, Your Highness.”
Even as Gawain departed, he glanced back at Johan several times.
The farther he moved from Johan, the louder the cries of the holy spear Espada became.
It sounded almost as though it were wailing at him not to leave, begging him to return.
After agonizing over it for some time, Gawain abruptly stopped.
He shouted from a distance.
“Sir Johan! Forgive me for this!”
Gawain extended his hand toward Johan.
“Saint Margiel. Vanguard who carves justice into the heart of evil, return to the front lines!”
Brilliant white sacred light erupted from his hand.
The radiance seemed to possess a gravitational pull, drawing in the surrounding space.
The world began to warp. The air itself rippled around Johan.
The atmosphere convulsed, and the veil of night twisted out of shape.
Bewilderment spread across Gawain’s face.
“W-What is happening…?”
A deafening explosion, as though the world itself were shattering, shook heaven and earth.