But what could she do? There was ‘that’ incident between Seiden and herself, and he was a man who knew her secret. Even if it wasn’t something shameful for her, it was something that shouldn’t have been exposed to him. Yet, she hated to reveal that her actions towards him were based on such childish reasons. It was she who had said they should act as if nothing had happened and separate personal matters from official ones.

Bellota was speechless and stiffened when Seiden finally let go of her waist.

“Don’t worry; I’m not angry.”

When Seiden said something unexpected, Bellota’s gaze was directed back towards him. His always indifferent red eyes met her blue ones, shimmering with embarrassment for having exposed a secret.

“The other knights would feel the same. This is an opportunity to accompany the saintess.”

Seiden uttered those moving words and casually gestured towards the lakeside. It seemed he intended to leave the water after watching Bellota go up first.

But then Bellota spoke out of nowhere,

“……I’m sorry.”

Seiden’s eyes narrowed at those words.

“I had no choice. If I didn’t do this, you wouldn’t move.”

Seiden looked at Bellota intently. His heart seemed to burn and flare up at that gaze, but Bellota did not stop speaking. She knew it too. That due to her stubbornness and recklessness, she decided to head to Selento.

She thought she needed to apologize to Seiden but had not been given the opportunity. She felt uncomfortable and sorry all along but didn’t regret her decision because only Seiden could face this hardship.

“I’m sorry for acting on my own regarding the knight order’s plans. And for disrupting the other knights’ rest……”

“…….”

“I’ll request some form of compensation from the cathedral when we return.”

Bellota apologized earnestly while looking into Seiden’s eyes. That sincere apology made something tighten inside Seiden’s chest. Bellota might not know it, but it didn’t matter to him. What was important to him……

Seiden gazed intently at Bellota without blinking an eye. Was it because of the blue moonlight at dawn? For a moment, he feared that if he took his eyes off her, the dazzling woman before him would scatter and disappear forever. Never to be caught or seen again.

Just the thought of that despair made Seiden feel like his heart would crumble. In front of Bellota, he felt infinitely weak and pathetic…… And yet at the same time, he could be calmer than anyone else.

“Though I feel sorry for the imperial citizens waiting desperately for support in Selento and for my subordinates who were deprived of their rest…….”

Seiden’s dry lips parted, letting out a voice as cool as the dawn air.

“The most important thing to me now is the safety of the saintess.”

At his quiet voice, something deep within Bellota’s heart thudded lowly.

“The reason I’m heading to Selento is also solely for the saintess.”

She knew where that firm and devout will originated from. What she meant to Seiden. The only child chosen by God, a representative bestowed with a part of that power. The sole being who proves the mercy of that benevolent deity. An immutable mission that must be absolutely protected. But that was it…

“Do not stray from my sight in Selento.”

Bellota saw Seiden’s eyes, which stubbornly clung to her with no intention of moving. Eyes so steadfast that no other meaning could be discerned apart from a single will.

Soon, Bellota nodded her head.

* * *

The effect of the barrier created with divine power lasted only half a day. Since there were schedules remaining and divine power would be consumed by casting the barrier again, the expedition force made all-out efforts to leave the Feiren Forest in the early morning.

Although it was an uncomfortable night, thanks to a short rest and Bellota’s healing, the morale of the holy knights was truly remarkable. Thanks to that, they broke through the numerous monsters and arrived in Selento in just two days without using a gate.

“To think we could cover this distance in just two days without pushing too hard. But I’m worried about what lies ahead. We’ve wasted so much energy just getting here.”

Despite being internally surprised, Geril hid his feelings and glanced at Bellota.

Geril’s armor, except for a few drops of blood, was as clean as when they had departed. A stark contrast to the knights covered in blood.

As Geril sighed with a look of pity, Luke behind him clenched his fist as if he wanted to punch him in the back of the head. Felton barely held back his laughter at the sight, but Geril, unaware of the eyes on his back, clapped his hands, encouraging the knights.

“Come on, all you exhausted knights! My forces will soon join us through the gate, so cheer up. After that, you can rest all you want!”

However, no one responded to Geril’s encouragement. Bellota also quietly gazed at the soft back of her horse, Lev, without reacting to him. Because there was nothing correct about what Geril said. Not a single knight was tired, and they probably wouldn’t want to rest even if his forces joined.

“We’re almost at the gate, saintess. I’ve secured lodging within Selento, so you won’t have to suffer any longer from tonight.”

Geril smiled wryly at Bellota, who reluctantly showed a faint smile.

Just as he said, they soon approached the location of the gate and joined Geril’s forces and relief supplies that had arrived earlier. The appearance of the gate meant they had arrived in Selento. Everyone sharply felt that the surroundings were distinctly different from what they had seen just an hour ago.

“……”

Seiden, Bellota, and the Holy Knight Order moved forward with serious expressions, looking around. They were walking through Vergio, the entrance village of Selento, which seemed to prove past attacks, with its entrance shattered and in disarray. A chilling sense of unease lingered in the air, enveloping the entire village.

Selento was a city touching the coast, surrounded by the border forest above, Feiren Forest below, and the sea beside. It once thrived as a port city but had been on a rapid decline due to sea monsters that started appearing a few years ago.

Despite struggling on with weak national support and hunters constantly coming for monster hunts, the city had been devastated by attacks from unidentified giant monsters that appeared a few months ago.

The giant monsters that simultaneously attacked Selento were presumed to be of two kinds. The expedition’s goal was to deal with these two monsters.

With ten days left until the next full moon, excluding the time taken to get here and the minimum time needed to return, only five days were left. Within that time, Seiden and Bellota aimed to at least discover what these giant monsters were.

One of these monsters was known to have appeared in Vergio, but by the time news reached the capital and discussions about Selento began at the palace, the situation had clearly worsened. As they moved deeper into the village ruins, some buildings appeared relatively intact compared to those at the entrance, but no trace of people could be seen.

“This is terrible. Has everyone been affected?”

As Geril muttered with pity, Bellota’s grip on the reins tightened. Was it really too late?

“It’s better to stop looking around here and move on to the next village. It seems we’re too late for this entrance village. Since their prey has run out, it’s clear that the monster attacking Vergio has moved on to another village.”

Geril used his insight for a plausible deduction and clicked his tongue. His voice sounded pitiful but contained no compassion or guilt for the victims.

“Since we can’t spend the night here anyway, and I’ve already found lodging in the next village, it’d be beneficial for us to move there as soon as possible. If we hurry, we can barely make it before sunset.”

Geril commanded the expedition as if he were its leader.

“Come on, everyone turn direction!”

But Seiden interrupted Geril’s words.

“The creature hasn’t left this village yet.”

Seiden challenged Geril’s deduction with a blunt voice, causing Geril’s expression to sour. Even then, Bellota, who had been staring at a partially collapsed building with a pale face, turned her gaze towards Seiden.

“What basis do you have for saying that when it’s so quiet?”

As Geril asked with a voice laced with incredulous laughter, Seiden finally turned to him after intensely gazing into somewhere within the desolate landscape.

“Probably because those ‘prey’ are still around.”

Seiden deliberately emphasized ‘prey’ as Geril had used it, infusing it with latent hostility. Geril’s eyebrows raised at the malice sensed in Seiden’s voice. Seiden met his gaze unblinkingly and added,

“And I am the commander of the Holy Knight Order.”

After Seiden skillfully maneuvered the reins, his horse smoothly moved somewhere.

“Follow the commander!”

Kabillon shouted loudly, and the Holy Knight Order quickly followed behind Seiden. Bellota also swiftly moved her reins to follow them. Seeing Bellota move, Geril reluctantly followed behind as well.

“Where are you going? This is the forest, isn’t it?”

As Seiden headed towards the forest surrounding the village, Geril shouted with a worried expression. Yet, Seiden did not stop, and Bellota followed him without hesitation. As Seiden went deeper into the forest, Geril couldn’t hold back and pulled on the reins.

“Wait, stop. The sun will set soon, and then the monsters in the forest will…!”