Chapter 43

"You have three sins, do you have any idea what they are?"

The slender fingers that clamped around his throat pressed in, compressing the flesh. He let out a small sob, squinting his eyes as he frantically searched his mind for an answer to Karia's question, at the maximum speed his brain could manage. Only a meager amount of air reached his lungs, far from enough. His lungs, starved for air, thrashed within his body, and his tense muscles began to rob him of consciousness, sapping the strength from his limbs.

What is it? Indeed, I might have shown a bit too much ease, or perhaps I got carried away with things going well, which I can't entirely deny.

But sins, sins. I don't have such memories. Of course, if past events are brought up, that might not be entirely true. At the very least, I don't recall doing anything to wrong Karia.

His confused eyes blurred slightly, and his mind dulled, refusing to continue its cycle of thought.

He understood that the grip on his throat was undoubtedly intentional. This wasn't a joke or a playful tussle; Karia was seriously trying to choke him out.

"Don't you understand? The first one is... deciding things twice without consulting me, your 'comrade.' Yes, twice."

She added, "I was quite generous to let the first one slide, wasn't I?" The smile she wore was decidedly chilling.

His eyes widened, and he processed her words a beat late.

I see, I understand to some extent. It seems she didn't like the fact that things changed without her input. The first time must have been when I accepted Fialart's request. After that, I must have touched her nerves by making decisions on my own, especially regarding the emblem cultists, while still feeling elated.

He frowned and nodded, indicating that he understood. He tried to speak, but only a hoarse sound escaped his constricted throat.

However, Karia seemed somewhat satisfied with his reaction and relaxed her expression.

"Next, the second one. In this matter, it sounds like you were telling me to work behind the scenes like a horse pulling a carriage while you were dealing with that magician. How does that sound to you?"

At that, the pressure on his throat finally eased.

He coughed, expelling the stale air from his throat, and his lungs began to work frantically to take in fresh air.

He was just starting to lose his ability to think clearly. Whether he could remain sane, whether he could still think, that cold and precise judgment felt like a form of torture. Her熟练的举止让他感到一种恐惧。

But the fingers still hadn't left his throat; they had just loosened their grip. If he upset Karia now, he might be choked out for real this time.

A question sprouted in his mind at that moment.

But why? Why is she so enraged? Compared to the Karia from the journey to save the world, she seems so different. Of course, she must have changed over the years, but she seems particularly restless.

Obsession. Yes, she seems to be fixated on something. The Karia from back then was indeed obsessed with Helt Stanley. But now, she seems even more malicious.

He slowly opened his throat, careful not to hurt it, and carefully formulated his words.

"Bu...t, that's not it. From what I can see, Fialart is still fragile. If I let her run free in the fields, I need to watch her closely to make sure she doesn't fall apart."

For now, it's different. If I say it's different, she, Fialart La Borgograd, is also quite different from the journey to save the world.

She used to be flawless, always standing alone, showing a self-reliant demeanor. Her sharp gaze seemed to see through everything.

But now, she looks like a young sapling seeking something to lean on. It's unimaginable to let her handle things on her own. I feel the need to watch her back, always on edge.

I believe in her brilliant talent, but it seems that Fialart, as she is now, won't get things done if left alone.

Ah, thinking about it, perhaps the Fialart from the journey to save the world was also leaning on him in ways I didn't know. That might explain her attitude back then.

"But, Karia, you're different. You're different. You're a strong woman. You're the kind of woman who can cut off a demon's head on her own, someone reliable. And..."

As he spoke, he felt the grip on his throat loosen slightly, though only a little. "And?" Karia prompted, adding a question mark to her words.

"You're a proud person. Whether you like me or not, once you make a promise, you won't betray it, even if a succubus whispers in your ear. I know that well."

That, I believe in. During our journey, I can't remember all the times she was arrogant, unreasonable, and tyrannical towards the weak.

But I remember this: Karia is a proud woman with a strong sense of dignity. In that regard, she is a good woman.

For a moment, her silver eyes widened, and a breath escaped her lips. It seemed like a sigh of resignation, as if she found my words amusing.

"I see, you have the wit to talk your way out of things. But why do you trust me so much? What has told you this?"

"I told you."

I responded to Karia's reaction as if she were a hopeless case, shrugging it off.

"You, Karia Bardonic—no, Karia."

I replied as I always did.

For a moment, she narrowed her eyes in amusement, then smiled, seemingly satisfied, and released her hand from my throat.

"I accept—though I am no longer a knight, it is the pride of a noble to respond to trust and expectation with appropriate action."

Finally, my throat was free, and I could breathe deeply. The tension in my shoulders eased as if I had been released from the clutches of a demon.

I don't know if it worked, but at least she seemed to understand.

I took a deep breath and looked at Karia to confirm—her silver eyes were right in front of me, so close that our breaths could almost touch, our foreheads almost brushing. My throat involuntarily tightened.

"Of course, you haven't forgotten. Your sins are three—three, to be precise. It seems you are hiding something from me. Your actions are unnatural, even if your goal is to rise. If you want me to work with you as a comrade, don't you think it's necessary to lay everything out, yes?"

The expression on Karia's perfectly chiseled face, seen up close, was seductive and alluring, capable of drawing anyone in. It was a devilishly charming smile, one that could push someone into hell at a whim.