Though Erin rarely expressed her emotions now, the girl Ferdin had seen was fragile. The image of the girl weeping bitterly before the cat’s grave still lingered in his mind, overlapping with Erin’s appearance yesterday.

Derek, noticing Ferdin’s troubled expression, approached him. “Ferdin, Lilia left today with Bahan.”

At these words, Ferdin looked at Derek, who scratched the back of his head and handed him a letter Lilia had left. She had mentioned leaving for the Magic Tower before the party began.

“I’m going to investigate Calips’s death. It seems the Marchioness is hiding something more. Since Erin doesn’t seem willing to tell me anything, I’m going to the Magic Tower to find out myself. And I plan to undertake the pilgrimage there.”

“…”

“Don’t tell Erin… I need to atone to her.”

Ferdin had known Lilia would eventually head to the Magic Tower. Becoming affiliated with the Tower wouldn’t prevent her from remaining his knight if she wished to continue. So Ferdin let her go, respecting her desire to leave quietly.

Lilia was right—she needed to atone to Erin. This was separate from how unfortunate her circumstances were. The Magic Tower’s pilgrimage was traditionally called “the mage’s grave.” One had to complete tasks set by the Tower Master.

Ordinary people couldn’t know how long it would take or what dangers lurked there. But completing the pilgrimage granted enormous power to freely borrow the Tower’s strength, essentially meaning one had been recognized as a “talented mage” by the Tower Master.

‘Saying you didn’t know doesn’t excuse everything.’

Would Erin’s painful past disappear just because someone cried and pleaded ignorance? Lilia had left to offer minimal atonement to Erin by completely clearing her name.

Lost in thought, Ferdin snapped back to attention at Derek’s words.

“Oh, and a messenger arrived from Hellix today…”

“From Hellix? Did he discover something?”

Ferdin’s face grew serious at Derek’s words.

“Well, just a moment…”

Derek opened the message from Hellix and froze. Ferdin also sensed something ominous. He took the message from Derek’s hand.

[Returning.]

It was a simple sentence typical of Hellix Igzart. And at the words written below, Ferdin immediately stood up.

[Today.]

Erin was in danger.

* * *

Erin was still feeling the afterglow of last night. She couldn’t forget Ferdin’s gentle touch as he stroked her back. She realized once more the purpose of her life—his warm touch, his kind words… This life was given to her to protect someone like him. Erin recalled what he had said to her last night.

“If things get difficult… you can tell me anytime.”

Ferdin had said this while gently wiping away her tears.

‘I was happy…’

In truth, her tears had dried up long ago. She had become more emotionally barren than in the past, too numb to remain immersed in sadness. But she liked Ferdin comforting her, so the tears wouldn’t stop.

‘Today was too difficult. Just a little more, just a little…’

She had felt such greed. But that was only until yesterday. Now she would never shed tears like that again.

Erin picked up her sword. She could see Amon training beside her, swinging his sword. Unlike this period in her previous life, he was growing at a frightening pace thanks to his diligent training. A powerful sound of air being cut echoed from his sword. Erin closed her eyes, listening to the sound. The sound of Amon’s sword was pleasant to her ears.

‘Around this time, Hellix Igzart came to the academy.’

Hellix Igzart—the last remaining holy knight of the previous Saint. Typically, holy power is bestowed at birth. Children likely to grow up as holy knights or priests are separated from their parents early and sent to the temple.

Among them, the most exceptional few were raised under the Saint’s guidance. Hellix was one of those who grew up beside the Saint from childhood due to his outstanding holy power.

‘A person who became a holy knight at fifteen, recognized for his talent in holy power and swordsmanship.’

She had heard he vanquished monsters with holy power at the age of fifteen—the youngest age among holy knights. Recognized for his talent, he became a holy knight and continued to lead monster subjugation in the west.

When the previous Saint died, most holy knights returned to the temple. But Hellix Igzart alone remained by Ferdin’s side, following the last order left by the Saint.

‘In the past, he came looking for me as soon as he arrived at the academy.’

Hellix disliked Erin to an unusual degree. Unlike other knights who reluctantly tried to protect her on Ferdin’s orders, he hated even being near her. Because of this, Erin would tremble with inexplicable fear whenever she saw his yellow eyes.

“Erin, what are you thinking about so deeply?”

Amon, who had finished training, asked Erin. His face was full of curiosity.

“Did something happen at the party?”

It doesn’t seem like anything special happened. Amon said this while looking around. Something had happened—she had revealed the power she had been hiding all this time. Amon could tell that the knights’ gazes toward Erin had changed. Those who had previously treated her casually were now looking at her with something like reverence.

‘Ah, I revealed that I received the sword’s choice. I forgot because I already know she’s a Sword Master.’

If she were to learn that she was actually a Sword Master, the entire country would be turned upside down. Everyone was already in awe of her just for having a high “possibility” of becoming a future Sword Master.

“Don’t worry too much. Everyone will get used to it soon.”

Amon comforted her. Hearing his words of comfort, Erin smiled faintly. They wouldn’t get used to it—she was planning to leave this place soon anyway.

Just then, Amon frowned and said, “Why is it suddenly so noisy?”

The training ground, which had been filled only with the sound of clashing swords, grew chaotic. The gazes of the knight candidates turned in one direction. Erin easily realized that Hellix had arrived at the training ground. He was walking in with his red hair flowing.

“Hellix Igzart?”

“What’s going on?”

“His aura… is truly impressive.”

The junior class students unconsciously stepped back. Their eyes were filled with admiration for Hellix. Despite being around their age, Hellix Igzart was a proper knight who had built various achievements as a holy knight.

While Amon always stayed by Ferdin’s side to assist him, Hellix expanded Ferdin’s influence on the front lines. Watching Hellix approach, Erin’s eyes gleamed.

‘Incredible skill at that age.’

Hellix was strong. In terms of current ability, he surpassed Amon. But in the future, he didn’t exist.

Recalling this fact, Erin looked at Hellix. With his noble appearance, even his walk exuded dignity. However, everyone watching him was left speechless by his next action.

As soon as he arrived at the training ground, he threw his glove at Erin.

Erin caught Hellix’s glove with ease. Seeing this, Hellix’s brow twitched. He laughed incredulously and said to her:

“I challenge you to a duel, Erin Liserth.”

* * *

Princess Asili was praying on her knees. Beside the Saint sat Karon with his gaunt face. In the prayer room of the temple built within the academy, there was no one else during the busy daytime classes.

Karon couldn’t forget what Erin had said. Since hearing her words, he had begun to push himself to the limit. Already diligent by nature, he had been skipping Swordsmanship Department classes for days to pray at the temple or hone his sword skills until late at night, to the point where other academy students looked at him strangely.

“If you do something like that, Corelia won’t leave you alone.”

“…”

“You’re still weak, Karon.”

Erin’s words weren’t wrong. Her perspective would be completely objective. The fact that he couldn’t help Erin was also true.