Obedient Only to Me! Sir Knight - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

That sword is cheaper than kitchen tongs. I should have commissioned one in Marzen from the start. The price of the sword continued to irritate Lowie. Ban, still at his side, subtly pressed again for a refund. Hmph. Lowie turned his head away to avoid him. Just then, desserts were delivered between them—small cakes, along with the wine they had declined.

“That’s not allowed.”
“I didn’t say anything.”

Ban pushed the wine far away and pulled the desserts toward Lowie. Lowie idly poked at them, then set down his fork. They were dry and shriveled, utterly unappetizing.

You said you’d buy them from a dessert shop.

A dessert shop, my foot. They looked like something baked ages ago. Noticing Lowie’s displeasure, Ban ate all the cakes himself instead. Lowie just wanted to go back and sleep already. Perhaps the verification was taking a while—there was still no word about the holy sword. Lowie yawned softly and spoke.

“I’d never even heard of a holy sword before.”
“Is that so.”
“Yeah. I’ve never been to the Elysion Temple.”
“Most people haven’t. The Solanis Temple is far more widespread across the continent.”

Of course, Lowie had barely ever been to the Solanis Temple either. When he was young—around ten, perhaps—that single visit had been his first and last. He searched his memory. Hmm. He hadn’t prayed then either. Back then or now, Lowie had never truly wanted anything from a god. In the first place… they probably didn’t even exist.

“I don’t believe in gods.”
“You are a mage, after all.”

That was true. Mages did not believe in gods. To those who understood all things through mana, the existence of gods lay beyond explanation. At best, gods were a mental refuge—something people leaned on when they needed comfort.

Stories persisted that priests in ancient times wielded divine power, but modern priests did little more than offer blessings in prayer. And Lowie didn’t believe those blessings did anything either.

They’re just platitudes.

He thought so sharply but didn’t show it. The man before him seemed to have deeper faith than expected.

Throughout the sleepless night, Ban had stayed by his side, praying softly for him. Even half-asleep, Lowie hadn’t missed that sound.

Elion…

That was the name, wasn’t it. If Ban was a believer of Elysion—and considering what the holy sword meant to him—Lowie couldn’t forget the grave expression on Ban’s face as he stared at the blade. Hmph. A refund, my ass.

“Why do you believe in a god, Ban?”

At the sudden question, Ban looked at him.

“Well…”

Why did he believe? Because all of this felt like divine arrangement—right up to this very moment, sitting here together waiting for the holy sword. But Ban did not say that aloud.

Even if Lowie denied the existence of gods, they still existed. And Ban didn’t want to argue over something he saw as self-evident. He understood how mages viewed gods. The battle mage who had fought demons alongside the Holy Knights had doubted the divine even while witnessing miracles with his own eyes—right up until his death.

If gods exist, I suppose I’ll find out now.

Those had been the mage’s last words. Were all mages like that? Ban had only ever known two, so he couldn’t be sure. In any case, he had no intention of forcing his beliefs on Lowie. If Lowie didn’t believe, then Ban would simply pray twice as much in his stead. Rather than preaching faith, Ban offered an explanation Lowie might accept.

“Demons that descend to the mortal world do not truly die—they merely return to hell. The only way to erase their existence entirely is the holy sword Ignis. That alone is enough to feel the presence of a god.”

That much was true. Demons did not die. Lowie knew that well. If a sword could truly bring demons to death, then some extraordinary force was at work—whether it was a god or something else.

“A sword that kills demons…”

Born a mage, Lowie loved understanding and defining all things in the world. Naturally, he felt keen interest in the holy sword.

“So does that script really have magical power? Or that gemstone—the sealing stone? Are there really demons sealed inside it?”
“Both help restrain demons, but the power that truly drives them to death is the holy flame. Only the sword’s true master can summon it.”
“You burn demons to death?”
“More precisely, it is fire imbued with divine power. Demons cannot be killed by ordinary flames.”

An astonishingly detailed explanation poured from Ban. He truly was a believer of Elysion.

“You know a lot…”

Of course he did. There was no one more knowledgeable about the holy sword. The former Holy Knight Commander said nothing more, merely shrugging.

“But that sword felt ominous. Just looking at it gave me a weird feeling.”
“It has slain countless demons. Its aura would differ from that of ordinary relics.”
“Mm.”

Lowie nodded vaguely, having never seen an ordinary relic in the first place. Still, the doubt remained. A sword that killed demons—by what principle? He couldn’t grasp it.

“I don’t really get it. I’ve never seen a god.”
“No one has.”
“Then how can you believe without seeing?”

Lowie tilted his head. Following that motion, Ban gently brushed aside the hair that fell across Lowie’s face. It was a tender gesture.

“There are things that exist even if they can’t be seen.”

The voice reminded Lowie of Ban murmuring prayers all through the night, and he fell silent, lips pressed together.

“Why is it taking so long?”
“Who knows. Maybe they ran off with the money.”

Ran off with five billion sen…? Ban’s face went deathly pale. Of course, Lowie had been joking. This wasn’t some shady black market—it was a legitimate auction house catering to nobles. Such a thing wouldn’t happen. Lowie rang the bell to call the guide. But the firmly shut door showed no sign of opening.

“Something’s wrong.”
“Let’s go out.”
“Stay behind me.”

Ban caught Lowie as he rose and positioned him behind himself, then cautiously opened the door.

“What is it?”

The auction had ended long ago; all the guests had already left. Even so, the silence was unnatural. The corridor should have been filled with staff and guards—but there was no one.

“I hear something downstairs.”
“I don’t hear anything.”

Lowie complained. Holding him tightly, Ban listened. Hurried footsteps. Shouting. And… the smell of blood.

“There’s a fight.”
“Let’s go.”

Lowie stepped forward without hesitation. Ban pulled him back.

“It’s dangerous.”

Ban shook his head gravely. Even with faces covered, it was obvious from their bearing that most auction guests were nobles. For a place like this to neglect a customer who had paid such an enormous sum—something serious must have happened.

This was bigger than expected. He couldn’t take someone this reckless into it. If Lowie were struck by a stray attack—or targeted directly—Ban tightened his grip on his sword.

“What is it? Who’s fighting?”

Even masked, Lowie’s bright eyes sparkled with excitement. He clearly hadn’t considered that he might be in danger.

I’m supposed to fight while protecting this careless child?

What if something went wrong? Then what? The former Holy Knight Commander suddenly lost confidence in his abilities, fear creeping in. But there was no time to hesitate—the sounds were drawing closer. With a grim face, Ban fully shielded Lowie behind him.

“Sir! This way, please!”

The guide appeared before them. Ban sighed inwardly in relief.

“What’s going on?”
“We’ve been attacked by suspicious individuals! They’re after the holy sword—we’re holding them back for now, but there’s someone unusual mixed in… anyway, please come this way! I’ll guide you to the shelter!”
“Where is the holy sword?”
“It’s secured! Without the key, they can’t access it. We’ve already alerted the knight order—if we can just hold out until they arrive—”

“This is outrageous! To dare attack the Veloa Trading Company!” The guide babbled in agitation.

But neither Ban nor Lowie reacted.

“Where is the holy sword?”

Figures cloaked in black had already stepped into the far end of the corridor.