Chapter 24

“Pardon?”  

The man, who doubled as the strategist for the expedition, believed that the success of this mission hinged entirely on Karel Montferdia’s combat prowess being pushed to its utmost limits. Whether it was cutting down the swarming magical beasts or, in the worst-case scenario, confronting the awakened Light Dragon, Karel’s strength was indispensable. Even if they managed to fulfill the royal command, returning before the Night of Magiella descended was uncertain.  

The real issue lay in Karel’s own resolve. Although he had accepted the command as a knight with a steadfast sense of duty and assembled the expedition, this was already the thirteenth campaign steeped in malice. Perhaps because of that, he seemed particularly weary as they faced this unusually cruel expedition.  

He had even ordered the disbandment of the group as soon as they entered Eldorff, away from the royal court’s watchful eyes. Those who remained by his side did so out of gratitude for the lives he had saved on previous battlefields and in hopes that he would regain his resolve, if only to ensure their own survival.

Somehow, by any means, they hoped he would choose to survive…

“His Lordship is the greatest warrior in all of Cambiano. We, too, possess skills that won’t bring shame to his name.”  

Thus, without realizing it, Winden found himself speaking words that betrayed the grim odds he had calculated.  

“So we will return. Without fail.”  

It was more than a statement; it was a vow.  

How much determination was imbued in those words was something the woman couldn’t understand. No, she didn’t want to understand.  

Countless travelers passing through the village had promised to return but never did—either lured by other adventures or taken by eternal rest. Compared to those desolate experiences, even faint hope was a welcome reprieve.  

“Will you truly return? You’re not going to cross into Adeln, are you?”  

“No. We’ve planned our journey to return to Oedel before the Night of Magiella arrives.”  

Hearing Winden’s words, the woman’s face brightened instantly. 

Was it true? Would they really come back? Was this not a final farewell?  

She never dared to dream of spending her life with someone so noble, but she didn’t want this to be their last meeting either—not like this.  

Had she known he would leave so suddenly, she would have been kinder yesterday.  

She would have wiped away his tears, embraced him more firmly.  

If only she had dared… 

“Is it… is it really true?”  

The woman’s voice, tinged with hope for something far beyond her reach, was bright—too bright. Winden, who had seen her unguarded face once, imagined her amethyst-like eyes, so reminiscent of that detestable man, shining brilliantly.  

Unable to respond, he merely nodded slightly.  

“Oh… I see…”

The woman clasped her hands together, a solemn excitement welling in her chest.  

***

The woman visited Karel’s room after the northern sky had sunk into pitch-black darkness.  

She guessed he was inside, as a faint light seeped from the room. Outside his door, a dinner tray, likely brought by his subordinates, lay cold and untouched.  

Knock, knock.  

“Sir Knight.”  

Knock, knock.  

“It’s me…”  

Knock, knock.  

“May I see you for a moment…?”  

Her anxious hands fidgeted, fingertips colliding nervously. Tiny droplets of blood dotted her fingers.  

“Just for a moment…”  

Her lips trembled involuntarily, making it difficult to speak. She bit down hard to suppress the shaking, but a muffled sob escaped as she struggled to hold back her tears.  

Creak.  

The door opened with a quiet groan, and Karel appeared. His gaunt face looked far more haggard than one would expect after only half a day.  

‘Of course, he probably hasn’t slept at all…’  

Not that she had slept much either, though being pushed into unconsciousness by sheer exhaustion hardly counted as rest.  

Karel’s tired blue eyes gazed down at her. For a long moment, he stared silently, his somber expression unchanging. Finally, he spoke, his low voice fractured and hoarse.  

“I’m not in the mood tonight…”  

“No, it’s not that…”  

I’m not that clueless. Although I’ve pestered you before…

The woman hesitated, fumbling with her hands. The dry sound of rough skin rubbing together echoed faintly.  

Karel neither urged her nor dismissed her, simply staring blankly at the top of her head. His expressionless face bore deep shadows under his eyes.  

After hesitating a while longer, the woman finally mustered the courage to retrieve something from her pocket.  

“This… this is for you…”  

She extended her hands toward Karel’s chest, offering a small leather tassel adorned with a white stone.  

“That stone is said to carry the blessing of the Fairy Mother…”  

In the North, they say…  

Her courage began to falter under Karel’s unresponsive, indifferent gaze. She barely managed to continue.  

“I wanted to wish you a safe return…”

She glanced up at him from beneath her bangs, searching his face for any reaction.  

Would he dismiss it as crude? Or would he, perhaps, consider me close enough to accept it?  

Karel stared at the item in her hands for a long time without a word.  

It looked like an ornament meant to hang from a sword belt. The leather tassel was tightly woven with sturdy fabric to prevent tearing, and a luminous white stone dangled from the top. The stone, which seemed to glow faintly as if imbued with a phosphorescent material, resembled a fragment of the moon. Its crescent shape was unmistakable.  

Having taken the day off from Selma, the woman had spent her time crafting this. The Fairy Mother’s stones were usually sold as souvenirs to outsiders and were expensive. This particular crescent-shaped one had cost her several months’ wages, but she didn’t regret it.  

She had asked the blacksmith to drill a small hole in the stone, then returned to her room to select the best scraps of leather and fabric she owned to fashion the tassel.  

“I… I made it in a hurry today, so…”

Her shrinking voice sounded more like an excuse. The way his emotionless eyes stared at what she held in her hands made it seem as though he was silently judging how pitiful and crude it was…  

Her fingertips, pricked numerous times by the needle due to her unfamiliarity with sewing leather, stung painfully. The shoddy craftsmanship, which clearly wouldn’t meet the man’s standards, only added to her embarrassment.  

“I only found out today that you’re leaving tomorrow. If I had known earlier…”  

Then, I could have made something better. Not that there’s any guarantee I could create something worthy of your noble stature…  

The uneven stitches and the small calluses on her fingers seemed all the more glaring. Embarrassed, her hands began to curl inward when—  

“…I see.”  

His low voice, so quiet it seemed to resonate in her very heart, broke the silence. The light weight that had rested on her hands was gone, and her face lit up instantly.  

“Y-you’re already incredibly strong, Sir Knight!”  

The fact that he accepted her gift gave her the courage to chatter on in an even brighter tone. Karel had never heard her voice reach such a high pitch before. He looked at her with an expression of mild surprise, though what he made of it was unclear.  

“And, uh, you don’t really need something like this to succeed!”  

“…”  

Wait, was that wrong to say?  

As Karel’s expression darkened again, the woman anxiously reviewed her words, wondering if she had said something inappropriate.  

He is strong, isn’t he? And don’t men usually like being called strong?  

Unable to figure out how to salvage the situation, she quickly decided that retreating was the best option.  

“W-well then, please rest…”  

Surely, he had much to think about tonight. She didn’t want to trouble him any further. Bowing deeply, her bangs fluttering, she quickly turned and hurried down the stairs.  

Thus, the woman failed to notice the look of utter desolation on Karel’s face as he stood there, holding the gift she had given him.  

***

The expedition’s departure ceremony took place at dawn, just as the first light of day broke over the horizon.  

In front of a small square leading to the entrance of the Gray Mountain Range, the expedition team, the elders of Oedel who came to see them off, and the villagers who had briefly interacted with them gathered.  

Compared to the dismal mood of the expedition members, who had been drowning themselves in drink until the night before, the expressions of the people of Odel were strikingly calm. After all, the expeditionary force was marching into the Gray Mountains for some reason or another, and since they also planned to subjugate the beasts along the way, the villagers were simply grateful for that.

The village elders, who had heard from Randolph about the royal decree that had been issued to them, didn’t even bother to hope for their safe return.

At the center of it all stood Karel Montferdia.  

Mounted on a warhorse as massive as himself, his imposing figure made him seem as though he had been born wearing that pitch-black armor. The cloak draped over his shoulders, adorned with the fur of magical beasts, added an air of menace, as if to flaunt his strength.  

And yet, the hilt of the sword protruding from his belt bore no adornments.  

“We are grateful for the hospitality extended to us.”  

Karel’s voice was as calm as the morning mist that blanketed the square.  

“On behalf of the Lord of Eldorff, may the Fairy Mother’s blessing be upon you.”  

Randolph, the lord’s third son and his representative, stepped forward to deliver the greeting on behalf of the assembled crowd. His words were smooth and easy, devoid of any true sincerity.

“Stay healthy, and may we meet again.”  

“Thank you.”  

Karel’s reply was curt, but his sharp gaze lingered on the middle-aged man bowing to him. Some whispered among themselves, wondering if something had happened between the two during the banquet, as they had shared a private drink.