The monster that died instantly from Seiden’s arrow was a rolcon, its eyes turned inside out, revealing a mysterious purple, highly valued as a material for high magic. He seemed to recall hearing that its claws, when ground and mixed with the powder of magic crystals, made an excellent drug.

Regardless, the entire body of the rolcon was used for magical materials. It was completely unnecessary for Seiden, but it was an excellent material to pique the interest of mages of Hellers.

“Of course, there are no others on this continent who have delved deeper into curses than us.”

Taking a hint from Kabillon’s words, Seiden went to see them before departing. Since he couldn’t find anything about Bellota’s curse in any book, seeking their advice was the only option left for Seiden.

Of course, Seiden Blackwood was a man known not only in the cathedral but across the entire empire, and seeking them out would mean he couldn’t hide his identity, which entailed taking quite a significant risk.

Yet he went to them because it was clear that the temple would not have sought out these mages, especially those persecuted even among other mages and called Hellers’s Pack of Wild Dogs. Perhaps the answer was closer than he thought. Seiden couldn’t overlook even that small chance.

Beneath the tower they had made as grand as the Magic Tower despite being expelled from it, as Kabillon had said, there were countless items, including audacious oils.

But Seiden put all that aside and got straight to the point.

He demanded all books and materials related to curses.

The mage, recognizing Seiden at a glance, was momentarily surprised by such an intense request coming from a holy knight but soon spoke with pride in his voice. He said there was no one on this vast continent who could match them in terms of curses. Of course, that sly comment tightly gripped Seiden’s desperate hope.

“But these are important materials for us as well, so we do not sell them except for those books that are distributed publicly.”

The mage with hair as white as snow said so with a regrettable and apologetic expression, but Seiden wasn’t naive enough to take those words at face value.

“I don’t have time to beat around the bush. Tell me what you want.”

Seiden certainly didn’t miss the gleam in the mage’s eyes at his indifferent voice. Yet the cunning mage continued to feign embarrassment while smiling and cunningly turning his head.

“I’m really sorry but I don’t have the authority. All that authority lies with our tower master.”

“Where is the tower master?”

Of course, the higher levels in the tower belonged to the senior mages, so surely this gloomy tower’s master would be at the top. As Seiden turned to look at the staircase in a corner of the shop, which leads above, looking as though he would meet the tower master right away, the man waved his hands in panic.

“Our tower master is as busy as His Holiness the Pope, and cannot be seen without an appointment.”

At those words, Seiden’s face turned grim immediately. He was frustrated at how the mage was continuously talking in circles, but of course, the mage took that anger as an insult to the Pope.

The mage, thrilled by the mockery, continued to feign apology while grinning. With their typical unpleasant quick-wittedness, mages noticed that Seiden was desperate for any solution to a curse.

Seiden also couldn’t deny that he was in a position where he had to bend now and asked patiently while clenching his fist.

“So how can I arrange an appointment with your esteemed tower master?”

“Ah, that too is beyond my authority…”

Eventually, Seiden’s suppressed murderous intent climbed up his eyes. As Seiden glared menacingly with his red eyes, the arrogant mage flinched and realized he had crossed a line. Before losing his life to the fish he thought he had caught, the mage quickly got to the point.

“Ah, perhaps if you bring a precious gift, our tower master might make time for you.”

“…….”

“Something rare and hard to obtain for us but all too easy for you. With that alone, I’m prepared to risk myself to announce your intentions to our tower master.”

It was indeed a petty proposal fitting of Heller’s despised pack of wild dogs. It’s not even an answer to the curse, but merely a few related books as a gift just to meet them. But there was no other way. Seiden had to meet that tower master.

Thus Seiden was seeking a precious gift to present to that tower master. For instance, something like these rolcon eyeballs that no one has successfully hunted in recent years.

“…….”

If it weren’t for Bellota’s situation, their tower would have crumbled without a trace that day, but given the circumstances, Seiden was desperate enough even for that detestable proposal. Those sinister people might be mocking him, now that they’ve managed to control a holy knight commander, but none of that mattered. If they really knew how to lift Bellota’s curse.

Since the place they came to raid was rumored to be inhabited by rolcons, it wasn’t difficult to catch one. This makes it twice now; this time when he returns he could demand a more proper answer.

The first monster was a reknil. Seiden used two magic crystals to smuggle out two reknils and brought one of them to them.

“It’s more than I expected. Truly worthy of Kanbremes’s beauty… No, I mean holy knight commander. However, our tower master has traveled far away and it seems you might only meet after a few days. What shall we do?”

Of course, the hidden meaning behind those detestable words was ‘one is not enough; bring another gift of this magnitude.’ Being treated like their underling was indeed frustrating and infuriating but there were benefits too.

“The saintess will like it.”

Because using him as an excuse allowed him to smuggle out reknil for Bellota too.

Seiden looked up at the sky, repeating Felton’s words that Bellota would like it. If only he could see that happy face just once.

“…….”

The moon, which had been half gone just a few days ago, was now plumply filled out. Every day, as he saw the moon come up, Seiden’s heart became impatiently anxious. There were still a few days left until the full moon, but he had no intention of delaying.

Then, he heard a heavy presence from behind. Seiden, sensing that subtle noise, quickly took out the magic stone from his pocket and brought it to the back of the neck of the rolcon, and in the blink of an eye, the corpse was sucked into the magic stone. Seiden skillfully hid the magic stone back in his pocket and slowly turned around.

“Commander, you were here.”

Kabillon approached with an overly cheerful smile, as expected.

“Why.”

Seiden asked shortly as if nothing had happened, and Kabillon came up next to him and laughed with a sly chuckle. It was the sly laughter that came out when he had something to ask.

“The moon is really bright. Really, why does the moon we see here feel different from the one that rises in the capital? The moon we see while on subjugation has its own taste, doesn’t it? Ah, this fresh air and wind…… this temperature……. I’m really proud and happy to have chosen the profession of a holy knight at times like this…….”

“Get to the point.”

“Yes. It seems Ren’s stamina has reached its limit. The potions we brought from the temple will run out by tomorrow.”

Kabillon quickly switched his stance and reported in a serious voice while glancing at Seiden without being noticed. Seiden silently listened to him while arranging his bow.

A bow? Why did he bring a bow?

Kabillon knew well about Seiden’s archery skills. He was as skilled with a bow as he was with a sword, but being born a swordsman, he did not enjoy using a bow. Especially during such large-scale subjugations, he had never brought a bow before. And a bow at this time of night? It seemed like there was blood on the tip of the drawn arrow. Did he catch a monster?

Kabillon continued speaking faithfully, puzzled.

“It seems there are more monsters than expected, so tomorrow’s battle will not be easy.”

“So.”

Seiden asked indifferently. Kabillon continued to try to read his mood, rolling his eyes. He didn’t seem angry. He didn’t feel the usual explosive either. But……

“How can I do it without hurting?”

It had been just a few days since he asked such a big question, so the reason for this deployment must be obvious, isn’t it a love problem? So something must be going wrong with that woman he wants not to hurt!

But to jump to conclusions, Seiden’s mood didn’t seem that bad. No, rather it seemed much better than usual……?

“It’s impossible to finish the subjugation in the remaining two days, Commander. At least two more days, no, we need at least one more day…….”

“When we return this time,”

Seiden interrupted Kabillon’s words and lifted his head. Kabillon’s eyes met Seiden’s indifferent eyes in mid-air as he stopped talking in surprise. Then an indifferent voice followed.

“Tell them that I plan to stop going on missions for a while and stay in the capital.”

Gasp. Kabillon’s eyes widened at that tremendous statement.

“For a while, you mean…….”

Kabillon mustered up the courage and asked for more detailed conditions. Seiden was now wiping off the blood on his hand with a handkerchief he had shoved back into his pocket.

“Until after the next full moon.”

Feeling anxious and impatient at every moment was not to his liking. That’s why Seiden planned to stay by Bellota’s side during the next full moon and then go on subjugation only after her curse ended. And he knew well that his subordinates would be the happiest about this plan.

“Is that all?”

As Seiden looked back at Kabillon and asked, Kabillon, stunned by the tremendous reward, quickly straightened up.

“Yes. Don’t worry, Commander. I will discipline them again.”

Kabillon bowed respectfully and then turned around quickly and widely spread the news of this great reward. Seiden watched as his joyful footsteps faded away before looking up at the sky again. The size of the annoying moon hadn’t decreased at all and was shining brilliantly.