Obedient Only to Me! Sir Knight - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Ban glanced at Lowie again.

If my master truly wants it… then there’s nothing I can do.

“Khmm.”

Ban busied himself and cut the pie that had already been neatly sliced once more. By now, the pie had completely lost its original shape, reduced to tiny fragments.

“I want strawberry cake.”

Startled by Lowie’s sudden words, Ban flinched and hurriedly slid the plate toward him. Lowie lit up and immediately dug in with his fork. The strawberries inside the cake were especially delicious. He was too full to eat the sponge cake itself, so he began plucking out only the strawberries, one by one.

After roughly replenishing his sugar intake, Lowie’s fork gradually slowed. Losing interest in the desserts, his gaze drifted to the catalog resting at the edge of the table.

I’m glad you seem to be doing well.

Why would he say something like that? Seilan and Lowie weren’t friends. The only person Lowie could call a friend was Josef. Still… they had talked a fair amount before. Though the last time they met, they’d had a huge fight over a so-called demon’s claw.

Well… I’ll just see if there’s anything worth buying.

Lowie pulled the catalog closer. Aside from the large mana stone Seilan had shown him, there were surprisingly many items listed. Some were processed mana stones; others were raw.

If it’s not an artifact, what do people even buy mana stones for?

Recently, in the Empire, it had become fashionable to create custom accessories—choosing mana stones to one’s taste and enchanting them with specific spells. Lowie, unaware of this trend, tilted his head in confusion.

“Is there something you’d like to purchase?”

As Lowie flipped through the pages, Ban spoke up.

“Mmm. I think it’d be nice to buy you a new restraint collar. A pretty one. And one that listens well.”

“…….”

Ban closed his mouth again and returned to mincing the pie.

“……?”

Noticing Ban’s sudden silence, Lowie tilted his head and set the catalog down.

“But the auction’s tomorrow night anyway. We’re going back to the island tomorrow. So I can’t go.”

As he spoke, Lowie pushed the remains of the cake—now stripped of strawberries—toward Ban. Ban naturally swallowed it in one bite. Lowie had already buried his face in the parfait he’d been saving.

“By island, do you mean a resort island?”
“Mmm. Somewhere around there.”

Lowie brushed it off vaguely. The island’s current condition was… well. Even Lowie felt a twinge of conscience about dragging someone else there.

“…There aren’t desserts like this on the island.”

Lowie glanced at Ban, gauging his reaction. In truth, it wasn’t just desserts—there was a lack of many things. That was why no one, not even Lowie himself, had believed he could live there.

“Then you should eat plenty before you go.”

Ban smiled and held out a plate. It was piled with strawberries—he’d picked every last one out of the cake just for Lowie. The kindness stung a conscience Lowie hadn’t even known he possessed.

But… I can’t not go back.

I’ll just bring him secretly. Once we’re on the island, you can’t leave unless a ship sails.

“Sorry.”

Lowie whispered it so softly that the words disappeared into his mouth along with whipped cream.

In the subdued atmosphere, the dessert onslaught continued. Ban began to worry that at this rate, Lowie might actually turn into sugar.

“Ugh… I can’t eat anymore.”

I’ve been waiting for those words.

Ban immediately snatched the fork from Lowie’s hand. Lowie shoved every remaining cup and plate toward Ban as if he couldn’t bear the sight of them anymore.

“Ah.”

As he pushed the dishes away, Lowie’s hand bumped into the catalog. Ban reached out to pick it up—and at that moment, a breeze swept through. The pages fluttered open slowly.

…Ban’s hand froze in midair.

This is…

A blade of dark iron steeped in shadow, a hilt wrapped in celestial script, and at its center, a blood-red gem embedded like a beating heart.

Why is this…

Ban’s hand trembled as he picked up the catalog. It was a sword he knew all too well.

The Holy Sword, Ignis.

The blade bestowed by the god to slay demons. But the holy sword was supposed to be—

The last time I checked, it was in the Empire.

Other sacred relics aside, the holy sword could only be wielded by the one chosen by the god—meaning Ban alone, at present, could use it properly. The only sword capable of killing demons. The Great Demon Mammon, who had plagued the continent for ages, had ultimately fallen to Ignis.

Even with the strongest demon dead, one could never be fully at ease. For the sake of the future, Ban had continued tracking the holy sword’s whereabouts through the information guild.

It was definitely in the Empire the last time…

And now, it had appeared at the southernmost edge of the continent, in Seraphila?

“…….”

It felt hard to breathe. Where had it all begun? Being sold into slavery, then receiving an invitation to an auction where the holy sword was to be sold… Was all of this coincidence? Or divine design?

At that moment, a tremendous crash of thunder split the sky, and rain began to pour down. A torrential downpour drowned out all sound, dyeing the heavens black. Even that felt too deliberate to be mere chance. Ban clenched his fist.

The rain continued into the next day. Naturally, no ships sailed. The sea raged with towering waves that crashed against the shore. The city fared slightly better—no longer a sky-splitting deluge like the night before, but a steady, unending rain. Somewhere beyond it, a faint rainbow appeared. Still, Lowie’s condition steadily worsened.

“It hurts…”

After a sleepless night, Lowie lay in bed, complaining of a constant headache.

Holy sword or not—someone’s this sick.

With a grave expression, Ban massaged Lowie’s arms and legs. Lowie couldn’t even open his eyes, groaning softly. Only after a healer prescribed painkillers did Lowie regain some clarity. Pale-faced, he called out weakly.

“Ban…”
“Yes. Are you all right?”
“I want… honey ice cream…”

Ah. Right. Ban made a conflicted face—but still ran out to get it. The dessert shop owner remembered Ban, who had wiped out the entire menu, and even added cookies as a service.

After thanking them, Ban dashed back through the rain, careful not to let the ice cream melt. Lowie’s pale face lingered vividly in his mind. When Ban returned to the inn, Lowie—looking noticeably better—was sitting in a chair, waiting.

More precisely, waiting for the ice cream.

“Ice cream!”
“Please eat slowly. If you rush and your head starts hurting again—”

Ban spoke anxiously, but Lowie didn’t listen. Ban fussed beside him, pouring a warm cup of tea.

Ah… I can live again.

Lowie sighed. As the sweetness filled his mouth, even the headache dulled. Was it really the ice cream—or the medicine kicking in? His drug-hazed mind tried to reason it out. This was the worst headache he’d ever experienced.

The pain had started when he left the island, and it only worsened with time. He’d caught seasonal colds before due to his weak constitution, but he’d never been sick like this—without a clear cause.

It’s not like I have no idea at all.

By now, Lowie had his suspicions. But there was no way to fix his condition immediately. Sighing, he relaxed and went limp.

The pain eased a little thanks to the medicine, but his body was still unwell. His hands trembled, cold sweat constantly breaking out. Ban stayed glued to his side—warming his icy hands, wiping sweat from his brow, bustling about nonstop. Lowie watched him quietly.

“Does something else hurt? Would you like to lie down?”
“No…”

Now that the pain had eased, Ban’s actions stood out all the more. Had anyone ever cared for Lowie with such devotion?

Even my mother probably wouldn’t have doted on me this much. Not that I have a mother.

If Ban knew that, he’d probably scoop him up and carry him everywhere. With that thought, Lowie lightly placed his foot on Ban’s thigh. It meant nothing—just a bit of mischief born of restlessness.

Ban showed no displeasure, instead cradling the foot and beginning to massage it. Saying it was cold, he handled it with utmost seriousness. Embarrassed, Lowie wriggled—but Ban paid no mind and even blew warm breaths onto it. The intimate gesture made heat spread through Lowie’s body.

“…….”

Why go this far? It’s not like he’s known me long. Lowie watched Ban with a strange look. Ban continued bustling about, fetching blankets, bringing warm tea, unconcerned with being watched.

Whatever the case… being a burden felt awful. And if his guess about the cause was right, there was a way to deal with it.

“Let’s go to the auction.”

“I-I don’t need anything like that! We don’t have to go!”

Ban suddenly grabbed Lowie’s foot in desperation.

“…Huh?”
“It’s just—when I saw the holy sword listed, I wanted to confirm it, that’s all!”
“The holy sword?”

What was he talking about? Lowie stared at him, bewildered.

“No… I was just thinking of going to buy a mana stone.”