Chapter 25

I realized it had already reached 800,000 views. Thank you so much.

Hmm, I might tweak the expression later.

Mid-morning. We headed out into the town.

First, we were dragged by Fran to a noisy tavern.

"Old man, we're borrowing the second floor!"

"Is it you guys again? Don't cause a ruckus!"

Unlike the crowded first floor, which only had a counter and a few seats, the second floor was decorated like a slightly upscale restaurant.

"Well, it might look a bit dirty, but the food is delicious," Fran said proudly.

The second floor is usually not used much.

Since the old man runs the place alone, if you eat upstairs, you have to serve yourself.

I looked around the room. It seemed messy, but it was clean.

Gerald brought the food up from downstairs.

We all dug in. It was quite good.

"Good place. The food is delicious too."

"Right? I'm glad Noah understands!"

Fran slapped the table and said. Gerald nodded and continued.

"When you said you were related to Lord Essex or the captain's friend, I thought you'd be some kind of rich kid."

"I was worried you might say the food didn't suit your taste."

"No, I'm just a regular guy. Not a noble."

On the way to the restaurant, we talked a bit while walking.

At first, we were a bit reserved, but we quickly got along.

It's tiring to always speak formally.

Sol was still a bit confused, but he would get used to it eventually.

Rather, the three of you seem more like nobles. You seem very down-to-earth.

When I raised this question, Fran waved his hands dramatically.

"We're not from such famous families."

"Right. I'm the third son, and Fran is the fourth."

Gerald pointed to himself and Fran.

It seems there are various things depending on the family's status.

"I'm an adopted son."

Sol said quietly.

Then, being in a knight's order full of nobles must be tough.

"Is family background really that important?"

When I asked, Fran grumbled and said,

"Our group is special."

Gerald and Sol also had subtle expressions.

"You can get your skills recognized, but there are few opportunities to use them."

"Ultimately, that's why many apprentices leave without advancing."

Opportunities to use your skills.

You want to gain experience, but it's hard to get a chance.

If this continues, truly capable people will leave before they can show their potential. The hierarchical structure based on family background will corrupt the group's atmosphere.

In the five major countries, there has been a continuous state of no large-scale wars between nations. As a result, the power of those who protect the country is becoming more decorative.

This is probably what the late king and Tristan are worried about.

"From now on, you'll be showing up at the knight's order occasionally, right?"

"Yeah, that's the plan."

"Then, be careful of Marlo."

Fran said in a low voice.

"Hey, Fran!"

"No, it's better to know."

Sol tried to stop Fran, who seemed anxious, but Gerald said to listen.

"Who's Marlo? Was he at the training ground today?"

"No, he doesn't train in the morning."

Sol, who had been calm until now, said dismissively.

Marlo Frost. The second son of the Frost family.

The third in command of the Mensis Knights.

The group is currently divided into the Tristan faction and the Frost faction.

When I asked about his characteristics, it matched the flashy-faced man who looked at us yesterday.

So, the group around Marlo is the anti-Tristan faction. From Sol's reaction, it seems they are not well-liked by the apprentices.

"Got it. I'll avoid being alone with Marlo."

Their advice was much appreciated.

I don't want to get involved in troublesome matters.

I also heard about the main members and the usual atmosphere of the group.

To kill someone, you don't need any special power.

In extreme cases, if you have the intent or a reason, you can kill someone with a stone you find on the ground.

The problem is that even if I have the intent or a reason, I can't kill someone.

Self-defense. It was unavoidable. If I didn't act, I would be killed.

I don't want to die. I always think that.

After satisfying our hunger, the three of them showed me around the town.

I was complacent in the peaceful streets of the capital.

I was looking into a shop a bit away from Sol and the others when I didn't react to the presence approaching from behind.

When I realized it, I was lying on the ground, splattered with blood.

Above me, I saw Fran with his sword drawn, Gerald holding down a bleeding beastman, and Sol standing protectively in front of me.

My head was pounding, and I felt something being drained from deep within me.

"Are you okay, Noah?"

Sol's voice sounded distant.

I didn't feel any pain. I nodded.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

Fran approached with his bloodied sword.

I unconsciously tried to back away but managed to stay in place.

"Thanks."

"No problem, it's my job. I'm glad you're not hurt."

"If I had hurt you, the deputy captain would have killed me."

The three of them, who were my guards, saved me the moment I was targeted by a thief.

The knife the beastman had was lying far away.

The people around us were watching from a distance, but they didn't come closer, probably recognizing the three as knight apprentices from their appearance.

"That's why beastmen are..."

Someone's words lingered in my ears.

Gerald tied up the beastman and stayed to hand him over to the patrol.

The three of us returned to the garrison.

Fran went to report the incident to the deputy captain.

I borrowed a towel from Sol to wipe the blood off my face while looking in the mirror.

"Is it okay not to go to the church?"

"Yeah, I'm not a Fraterist."

"Oh, right. Lord Essex is pro-beastman."

Fraterism.

It is the mainstream religion among humans.

Everything began with humans, flourished, and the holy power of humans repels evil.

Beastmen are a subspecies of humans and are considered inferior. Therefore, they are more likely to harbor evil souls.

This is what the religion teaches.

Fraterism originated in the Rotus Empire of the five major countries.

In the past, the holy knights of Fraterism saved a nation that was on the brink of destruction during the Dark Age.

This legend is still passed down, and the belief that humans are the most superior in the world has made Fraterism the mainstream religion in the five major countries.

Of course, the capital and large cities have Fraterist churches.

When something bad happens or you feel unclean, Fraterist believers go to the church to be purified.

The actions taken by my uncle during the last Dark Age were shocking to Fraterism and the Rotus Empire in various ways.

After regaining my composure, I returned to Tristan's mansion by carriage.

Tristan had not yet returned from the castle.

In the quiet living room, I was drinking tea served by the maid Nina.

I touched the bracelet on my wrist.

When I was attacked by the beastman, it didn't react at all.

Was it the spirit's whims, or did it not warn me because Sol and the others were there?

For example, if I had lost my arm in this attack but survived, the spirit might not have a problem with it.

Since I survived, it means the spirit is listening to my request.

Fran unhesitatingly cut down the beastman.

It was the resolve to fight that I lacked.

The ability to act when you need to.

I couldn't do anything.

I just lay on the ground.

In self-defense, the beastman was cut down. If I hadn't acted, I would have been killed. Since beastmen are considered inferior to humans, it wouldn't be a legal issue.

If I had accidentally killed the beastman in the struggle, would I still be able to return to my original self?

Would I be able to think like Fran, that protecting the person you're guarding or yourself is a given?

It's a sweet notion, but that's what someone who has never fought thinks.

I thought about it aimlessly until Tristan returned to the mansion.

201/01/11 Revised