Chapter 28

The match between Rainer and Harold had reached its conclusion. Colette, who had been staring at the scene in a daze, snapped back to her senses an instant later and went sprinting toward the fallen Rainer.

The magic Harold had unleashed at the end—while it hadn't been a direct hit, there was no guarantee that Rainer was unharmed. Ignoring the shouts of Rainer’s father, Olbel, who tried to restrain her, she ran, driven by a gnawing anxiety.

However, just a short distance from the infirmary, a wall of spectators blocked her path.

Why are there so many people...? Colette thought desperately as she plunged into the crowd. "Excuse me!" "Please, let me through!" she cried out, using her slender arms to shove her way through the mass of bodies.

Suddenly, the wall of people gave way.

With the sudden disappearance of the resistance blocking her path, Colette stumbled forward from her own momentum. She managed to catch herself and steady her posture only through her innate sense of balance.

Then, she looked up and her eyes met Harold's.

"Ah..."

An involuntary sound escaped her lips.

It seemed this human wall had formed because everyone was instinctively giving Harold a wide berth. Looking around, she saw a near-perfect circle of empty space with him at the center.

It was understandable that the crowd would shrink back after witnessing that display of lightning. Had Colette not been saved by Harold in the past, she likely would have shared their terrified reaction.

But even so, she couldn't find the words to speak.

She had a mountain of gratitude and so many things she wanted to tell him. However, having just witnessed a battle between her life’s savior and her precious childhood friend, her emotions were too turbulent to form a coherent sentence.

Perhaps he sensed her inner conflict, or perhaps he simply didn't care, but Harold was the first to speak.

"Is that the man you’ve placed your faith in?"

"Eh...? Ah! Ye-yes!"

Colette’s response was faltering, her mind completely flustered. Still, she managed to process Harold’s words and offer an answer.

"I believe I told you to give that to a man capable of protecting you. Why have you gone out of your way to choose such a pathetic weakling?"

By "that," he meant the necklace he had given her three years ago. From the day Rainer had received it, he had worn it around his neck, never letting it leave his person.

Harold had realized during the fight that Rainer was the knight who intended to protect Colette.

"R-Rainer isn't weak. He... he protects me."

Colette’s voice was feeble. Yet, her eyes remained steady, meeting Harold’s gaze and refusing to look away.

"Hmph. Well, if you’re satisfied with being protected by such a man, so be it. A coward is a fitting guardian for a weakling. At best, you’ll do little more than drag him down."

"Why... why would you say such a thing?"

Colette couldn't fathom why Harold was rebuking them so harshly. Being criticized by him was a pain that was almost too much to bear.

"I thought you had learned firsthand just how powerless the weak truly are. If you still choose to live your life as a weakling, do as you please. It is no concern of mine."

Leaving her with those cold words, Harold walked away, acting as if he had already lost all interest in her.

The reunion with her savior had ended after only a few brief exchanges—and in the form of him unilaterally casting her aside.

Why? The question circled endlessly in Colette’s head. Why had Harold, the boy who saved her and her mother, showered her with such cruel words?

Unable to find an answer, she realized her vision was blurring with tears. They were tears for Harold’s unreasonable behavior, and for the hollow sadness of being forsaken by him.

She wiped her eyes with her sleeve. When she looked back toward the direction Harold had gone, his receding back seemed impossibly far away. It felt like the physical manifestation of the distance between them, and the thought constricted her chest.

"...That’s right, I have to go to Rainer."

Colette whispered the words to herself, her voice devoid of strength. As if fleeing from a reality she didn't want to face, she ran in the opposite direction, away from Harold.

When she finally reached the infirmary, Rainer was lying on a bed with his eyes closed. From what she overheard Olbel—who arrived shortly after her—discussing with the doctor, it seemed Rainer had simply collapsed from exhaustion and had almost no physical injuries.

The doctor added that since healing magic had already been applied, he would likely wake up soon.

Rainer regained consciousness about ten minutes later.

With a low groan, his eyelids fluttered open.

"Rainer!?"

"Colette...? Whoa!"

The moment he woke, Colette lunged forward, hugging him so tightly she nearly covered him.

Rainer was confused by the sudden contact, but as he realized what was happening, his face turned a deep crimson. The adults in the room, including Olbel, read the atmosphere and quietly slipped out without making a sound.

Colette, oblivious to their departure, continued to cling to Rainer.

"I’m so glad... I’m so glad you’re okay."

"Glad...? Oh, right. I lost, didn't I?"

Noticing he was in a bed, the memories of the match flooded back. His entire body felt sluggish and heavy, but he felt no actual pain.

"Are you all right? Does anything hurt?"

"I'm fine. Harold went easy on me."

At the mention of Harold’s name, Colette’s expression clouded over. She didn't want to act this way, but the memory of Harold’s recent coldness sent her emotions into a tailspin.

Rainer peered into her face, his expression turning serious.

"Did something happen?"

His eyes and tone were full of sincere concern. Ever since the day they had made their promise, Rainer had done everything in his power to protect her. Because he was that kind of person, Colette trusted him—and she couldn't forgive Harold for belittling him.

"Hey, Rainer."

"Yeah?"

"You’ll keep protecting me, right?"

"Of course! I promised I would! ...I mean, I did lose today, though."

Rainer scratched his head, looking sheepish. Colette forced a smile to encourage him.

"You aren't weak, Rainer."

"Eh?"

"You might have lost to Lord Harold today, but you might win next time."

" 'Might,' huh? ...Wait, 'Lord' Harold? Colette, do you know him?"

"Yes. A long time ago, he saved Mama and me. The Knight Order's necklace I gave you? Lord Harold was the one who gave it to me."

"Is that right...? Hey, is that guy a noble or something?"

"He is."

"I knew it. He’s incredible. He’s strong, he can use magic, and he’s a noble."

It was a simple, blunt impression: He’s amazing. But Colette had to agree. What Harold had displayed in the match against Rainer was a staggering difference in caliber. Rainer was the strongest among the village children; he had even defeated a ferocious monster on his own. Yet, Harold had overwhelmed him completely.

He possessed the strength to fight and the strength to protect. That was why she was grateful to him, and why she respected him. And that was exactly why his rejection stung so much.

"Even so, that guy is way too strict. Do you know what he said to me at the end? 'Fool. If you could do that, do it from the start.'"

Rainer grumbled, imitating Harold’s sharp tone. However, his face showed no trace of anger at being mocked, nor any misery over his defeat.

The flame Rainer had unleashed at the end had undoubtedly been his absolute best. And Harold had reflected it back perfectly. There was no way the competitive Rainer felt nothing about that.

"Aren't you frustrated?"

"I am! I’m incredibly frustrated! But, more than that... hmm, how should I put it?"

Rainer crossed his arms and tilted his head in thought. After groaning for a while, he finally found the words.

"I don't really know why, but it didn't feel bad. When he told me to 'do it from the start,' it didn't feel like he was mocking me. It felt more like... like when Mom beats me up."

Rainer’s mother, Leona, was usually kind, but when it came to training Rainer, she was foul-mouthed and quick to strike. However, that was her own way of showing affection and supporting his dream. It seemed Rainer had sensed something similar in Harold.

While Rainer’s tendency to find affection through being pummeled was somewhat pitiable, perhaps he alone was able to decipher Harold’s true intent.

"Besides, if we ever fight again, I’m definitely going to win!"

"...I see. Good luck."

"? You seem a little down. You okay?"

"I'm fine."

Suppressing the words that rose to her throat, Colette smiled.

Rainer, who had lost with the sword he took so much pride in and was still looking forward, was dazzling to her. She felt as if his light was highlighting her own weakness, and she couldn't help but look away.

"Oh, that's right! I’ll go call the doctor and Olbel-san! They shouldn't have just disappeared when you were about to wake up."

Leaving behind a hollow laugh and forced words, Colette vanished from the infirmary.

---

A sense of exhilaration he hadn't felt in years surged through him. Driven by that rush, Cody let his usual easygoing mask slip further into a grin as he sprinted down the main street, ignoring the bewildered looks of the pedestrians.

He didn't care if his subordinates spotted him. More important than such trivialities was making contact with that black-haired boy.

Lord’s talent for both sword and magic was the real deal. Furthermore, he had already polished those skills to an impressive degree. Yet, his technique and his physical build were still incomplete. The boy had a terrifying amount of room left to grow.

It was truly frightening. In time, he might become a legendary figure on par with, or even greater than, Vincent.

That potential made him promising, but it also made him dangerous. Because he possessed power so far removed from the norm, he could cause immense damage if he used it incorrectly.

So, what was the solution? The answer was simple: throw him into a den of other powerful individuals.

"And so, why don't you consider joining the Knight Order?"

"What do you mean, 'And so'? Is your brain addled?"

Cody had appeared like a gust of wind and immediately blurted out an invitation without a greeting or preamble. Lord didn't even flinch, meeting him with a sharp tongue instead.

The young man walking beside Lord looked at the suspicious Cody with intense caution, but Lord himself raised a hand to restrain him.

"Calm down. This man is a member of the Knight Order, despite appearances."

"This person is...?"

The young man looked dubious, which was only natural. Cody, who looked flighty even at the best of times, had discarded the armor that proved his rank and was currently dressed in civilian clothes that blended into the city. It was hard to believe he was a knight.

"Ahahaha! I’m dressed like this for a reason, but I really am a bona fide member of the Order."

"So, what do you want?"

"Well, like I said, I’m here to recruit you. I think you’re already more than capable of handling our work, Lord-kun."

"...Let me make one thing clear. My name is not Lord. It is Harold. Do not call me by that name ever again."

"Oh?"

"Do you hate the name that much?" Cody asked.

"Enough that I might instinctively beat you to death."

"It sounds like there’s a complicated story there. Why don't we sit down and talk about it?"

Cody pointed with his thumb toward a shop behind him. In Delphit, where taverns dominated the streets, it was one of the few establishments that specialized in non-alcoholic drinks.

Harold accepted the invitation without voicing any further complaints.

The interior was somewhat quieter than the noisy street. There were fewer than thirty seats including the counter, but about eighty percent were occupied, making it reasonably busy. Cody took a seat at a round table—the only one that could accommodate three—and Harold sat directly opposite him without hesitation.

In contrast, the young man who sat between them remained on high guard. Even after they had finished light self-introductions, he kept a constant eye on Cody. He didn't look particularly pleased when Harold explained his background or his reasons for entering the tournament under a fake name.

Still, he didn't seem to have any intention of interfering with Harold’s decisions, listening quietly to the conversation while occasionally sipping his drink.

"Ho-ho, a pseudonym to deceive your parents. Why go to such lengths for this tournament?"

"A simple test of skill. Unfortunately, it was full of nothing but weaklings who weren't even worth testing."

Indeed, given the massive gap in ability, it was no wonder he felt let down. If there was any opponent who had shown even a spark of potential...

"But that red-haired boy you fought in the finals. He was pretty good, wasn't he?"

"Hah, don't make me laugh. At his level, he’s no different from a pebble on the side of the road."

"You’re a tough critic. Personally, I’d like to try recruiting him as well—"

"What did you say?"

The atmosphere, which had been neutral if not friendly, froze instantly. The aura Harold suddenly emitted was one of unmistakable fury.

Exposed to a crushing, heavy pressure, Cody instinctively flinched. He had no idea what part of the conversation had touched a nerve, but Harold was showing a visceral, violent rejection to the idea of Cody contacting Rainer.

"...Was just a momentary lapse in judgment! Ahahaha, I must be getting old. I’ve been having a lot of misunderstandings lately."

"Hmph."

It was a clumsy cover-up, but the situation seemed to settle for the moment.

Still, why did Harold hate the idea of anyone meddling with Rainer so much?

Does he have some kind of attachment to him? Come to think of it, his fighting style in the finals looked almost like he was guiding the boy.

At first, Cody had thought Harold was simply toying with his opponent, but in the end, he had never landed a direct, lethal blow on Rainer. While Harold had fought that way throughout the tournament, he had dispatched his other opponents in an instant. Rainer had been the only exception.

Harold had refrained from using his greatest weapon—his speed—and had instead blocked, parried, and dodged Rainer’s attacks. By doing so, he had cornered Rainer and forced him to draw out power that exceeded his limits.

One could argue that Harold had deliberately cultivated that growth.

Well, I suppose the truth is something only he knows, Cody thought.

He was curious, but it wasn't a priority. The most important thing was whether Harold was willing to join the Order. Cody resumed his light tone to ease the tension.

"Anyway, back to the main topic. Harold-kun, how would you like to join the Order of the Holy King?"

"..."

Harold crossed his arms and fell silent. He appeared to be deep in thought.

Sensing the opening during the silence, Itsuki spoke up.

"Um, Cody-san. I believe you have to be at least sixteen to join the Order. Harold-kun is only thirteen."

"Hmm, well, technically that is the rule. However, exceptions exist for everything. I have an acquaintance who joined the Order at the age of fourteen."

"An exception, I see."

"Yep! It’s extremely rare, of course. It’s just that I felt Harold-kun had the talent and potential to justify it."

This was the absolute truth. Hearing the words "talent and potential," Itsuki also fell silent. Having observed Harold from a closer vantage point than Cody, he likely had plenty of reasons to agree.

"Who was the youngest to ever join among those exceptions?"

Harold, who had been silently weighing his options, finally asked a question.

"The fourteen-year-old I just mentioned. His name is... Vincent."

Cody spoke the name with the unspoken implication: You know who he is, don't you?

Vincent van Westervoort.

A monster known as the "strongest" in the Order of the Holy King, a hero envied by many.

"...Very well. Get me into the Order."

Upon hearing that name, Harold smirked. It was the look of a man eager to challenge the strongest.