Chapter 39. Talent is Precious

In Elmon.

Days of lush greenery continued.

The sunlight filtering through the swaying leaves sparkled beautifully, and in the fountain occupying one side of the garden filled with statues, water shattered like jewels and scattered.

Everything was perfect and peaceful.

Just as he had envisioned over 10 years ago.

But Johann’s eyes, as he stood by the window looking at the scenery he had worked so hard to create, were dry.

Everything was perfect, but one thing was missing.

‘I hope she’s doing well.’

Even while frantically handling work, whenever he took a moment to clear his head, that foolish face would come to mind without fail. The face of a woman who foolishly sweated honestly, foolishly reacted to every little thing, and foolishly laughed brightly.

Johann unconsciously fiddled with the brooch pinned to his chest. It was a new habit he had developed since Seraphina left for the North with Claude.

No news is good news.

Consoling himself once again with those words he had already repeated countless times, he looked down at the garden. Though it was clearly empty, he faintly saw an illusion of Seraphina swinging her sword diligently.

I must be going crazy.

I must have seen it too often.

He blamed his past self for frequently looking down at the garden. It didn’t make sense otherwise. His brain must be unconsciously searching for the familiar.

Right.

That’s all it is.

Because she is precious.

How long has it been since a purifier appeared.

Johann forcibly tore his gaze away from the garden. The more he looked, the clearer the illusion of Seraphina wandering around the garden became.

At this rate, she might follow me to my bedroom.

“Haa.”

Returning to his desk, he glanced at the pile of documents and then closed his eyes tightly. As he leaned back in his chair as if burying himself, he felt his fatigue dissipate a little.

Since she hasn’t used the magic book, there must be no problems, right?

If I had known it would be like this, I should have maintained more frequent exchanges with the Hilton Castle.

If Claude heard this, he would laugh his head off.

Regardless, Johann regretted refusing to send military support to the North every time. It would have been obviously strange to contact them daily right after dispatching the purifier.

Still, it should be time for news by now…

Though not frequently, Johann had been receiving news from the North every two weeks since Seraphina’s deployment, like getting reports.

“Your Majesty.”

At that moment, Jesuf entered with a knock.

This rude guy.

Johann let out a silent groan as he watched his right-hand man who had barged in without being told to enter.

He was extremely annoyed at being disturbed when he wanted to be alone.

Then Johann realized that his state was overly sensitive and was inwardly surprised.

It’s something that he at least knocks before entering now.

The habit of close aides coming in without permission had started during the fierce battles with the undead. There was no time for courtesy in urgent situations.

It meant it was a habit of over 10 years.

But the reason why this suddenly bothered him so much was…

‘Because of Seraphina?’

He finds himself focused on thoughts of her again.

He had just managed to tear his gaze away from the garden, but here he was, completely immersed in thoughts of her again.

Johann pushed away his emotions by closing his eyes tightly and then opening them. Inwardly forgiving Jesuf’s rudeness.

And a moment later, he came to sincerely forgive Jesuf.

“Here’s a report from Hilton.”

Suddenly, all his fatigue vanished.

Johann almost snatched the file and began reading the report.

And Jesuf’s brow gradually furrowed as he watched this scene.

No matter how he thought about it, it was strange.

All military-related reports from across the empire came to the Military Department, and Ionia, the Prime Minister, sorted out matters worthy of being presented to the Emperor.

So this kind of report should have been brought by Ionia, not Jesuf.

But Johann had given a strange order.

Saying that Ionia, the capable talent who worked across administration, finance, military, and diplomacy, was too busy, he separately ordered Jesuf to bring him any reports coming from Hilton immediately.

Jesuf, who focused solely on military intelligence, would indeed be faster with this kind of news. But even so, it would only be a difference of a day or two.

Ionia didn’t raise any particular objection to this absurd order. She just stared at Johann for a while and then withdrew, saying only to do as he wished. She seemed to have read something in the Emperor’s intentions, but wouldn’t tell Jesuf even when he asked.

She said she was just following the imperial order.

When she said such things with a knowing look, Jesuf felt frustrated, but hearing words that should come from a knight’s mouth, he couldn’t say anything more to her who was called the empire’s best sword after the three heroes.

In the end, he had no choice but to find the answer himself.

‘It’s definitely suspicious.’

Watching Johann read the report with an intensity as if not to miss a single letter, Jesuf reinforced his thoughts.

Although purifiers were rare, he was too interested in Seraphina.

Was there something special about her?

Something to draw the Emperor’s attention like this…

“What is this…”

At that moment, Johann’s hand holding the paper trembled. Now that he looked, his face was also crumpled like a sheet of paper.

“What’s the matter?”

Jesuf asked.

He only quickly sorted out and brought what came up from Hilton, without examining the contents written inside.

Did something happen to Miss Seraphina?

“Ha. Fainting…”

Johann’s voice trembled as he spoke as if in disbelief.

Hearing those words, Jesuf stretched his neck and began reading the report together.

“Courage training? They’re making her do all sorts of things.”

At Jesuf’s words, Johann felt a surge of irritation.

Courage training!

Why on earth are they making her do such a thing?

What if she faints again!

Anger rose to the tip of his throat, but he couldn’t spit out the words he wanted to say. He knew in his head. She went to purify the undead, and actually fainting at the sight of undead would be fatal for her future activities.

It needs to be fixed.

It’s a limit that must be overcome.

He knew it in his head, but…!

“Your Majesty, are you busy?”

At that moment, Ionia entered. Discovering Jesuf, she asked ceremoniously and then answered herself.

“Even if you’re busy, you need to look at this briefly. It’s Sir Andantino.”

“What is it?”

Johann furrowed his brow.

There hadn’t been many good times when the name Mihail Andantino came up. His head was already throbbing, wondering what trouble that lunatic clergyman had caused this time.

As if he wasn’t already troubled enough by the news of Seraphina’s fainting.

Johann opened the report for now.

All sorts of formalities were written in black ink on white paper.

[… When I heard the news that Your Majesty, in your deep consideration, was sending a purifier to this barren desert, I cannot express how delighted I was. As durahans have been appearing frequently lately, her purification ability will be of great help. As a holy knight representing the temple, I am curious about the purification ability of the purifier whose reputation is well-known throughout the continent. I will raise her well to be of help to the empire…]

The gist was this:

You said you’d send her, so why the complete silence? Durahans are appearing, so send her quickly. Then I’ll give you something beneficial too, Emperor. Purifiers are rare, right? I’ll raise her to be even more useful.

Having accurately grasped the meaning, Johann snorted.

“What an exaggeration.”

The eastern desert wasn’t such a treacherous place.

Although durahans were high-level undead, they were mere trifles before the mighty holy knights. Mihail’s abilities were especially fatal to those creatures.

Nevertheless, the reason for urging like this…

“Did he think it’s been taken away?”

That inference was probably correct.

Thinking that what was his has been taken by Claude.

“Hahaha. This lunatic.”

Johann laughed out loud for the first time in a while.

Although he appeared outwardly as a holy representative of God, Mihail, who actually possessed a twisted sense of ownership, clashed with Claude at every turn. Even if Claude just happened to deal with the undead that Mihail had intended to kill himself, he would go half-mad and throw a fit.

Because of his tenacious nature that wouldn’t let go once triggered, like a mad dog, Claude extremely disliked getting involved with him.

In his own words, he avoided him because he was dirty, not because he was afraid.

Whatever the case, it was quite entertaining from an observer’s standpoint. It was also enjoyable to see the almighty Guardian of the North, who acted disrespectfully towards him, being troubled.

Of course, Johann didn’t know at this point. That he would become the target of that crazy holy knight.

Like a mere human who couldn’t even know the near future, he gave an order that would step on his own foot in days to come.

“Ionia, tell them that Seraphina’s deployment location will be changed. Tell both of them.”

“Yes, understood.”

Ionia nodded immediately.

Only then did Johann feel relieved of one worry.

Originally, she was supposed to go back and forth between the North and East, so Claude wouldn’t be able to object either.

Above all, the East would be better than fainting while receiving strange courage training in the North. Besides, wasn’t that where he originally intended to send her?

Sahar would be much safer than Hilton.

As he connected his thoughts that far, Johann quietly realized one fact.

Talent is precious.

That’s why he had always paid attention to talent. To place them in the right positions.

But Seraphina was an exception.

Is sending her to the East really the right place for her?

No.

He could answer that question with certainty.

Somehow, he felt like he knew the identity of the emotion that had been troubling him all this time.