Chapter 32
Fermil, a knight of Paganoa, saw it.
He saw the trajectory of light cut down the incarnated demon.
It was an impossible feat.
The only ones who could accomplish such a thing were, without a doubt, the knights of Paganoa.
At least, until yesterday, that was what Fermil had thought.
“No way……”
He had learned how to fight against demons.
He had accumulated knowledge and built up his strength.
And yet, he could not even face a half-baked demon. He had charged with his spear, but he was simply pushed back helplessly by the demon’s power.
‘This can’t be happening.’
A feat that even he could not accomplish, Reinhardt had done it.
The darkness that had been spreading around them receded. The eye of Agrio-s vanished, and in its place stood a single knight, nobly radiating light.
Thud.
Soon, Reinhardt lost his strength and collapsed. Fermil reflexively ran forward.
“Reinhardt!”
He had thought of him as just a nameless knight from the periphery.
Even with Evangeline’s high praise, he had thought it was just an exaggeration.
When he received advice in the training ground, he had even felt a sense of displeasure.
Even when he realized that advice was correct, that feeling had not changed.
“Reinhardt! Get a grip!”
“……You’re loud. Be quiet.”
But not now. Hearing Reinhardt’s voice, Fermil felt a deep sense of relief.
Reinhardt was alive.
He hadn't lost his energy.
Despite having cut down a demon, he had just collapsed from exhaustion, as if he had finished a strenuous training session.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m just a little tired. Any other damage? Are there any more warlocks or demons in sight?”
“None. Not a single one.”
He was not even looking after himself, but worrying about his surroundings.
Despite having accomplished such a great feat, he did not show even a hint of joy.
“Then that’s good. Help me inside. I need to rest a little.”
“……Reinhardt, you’re not just putting on a brave face, are you? Are you really alright?”
“A knight does not lie. I’m fine.”
Only after meeting that upright gaze did Fermil completely relax.
He slung his spear on his back and lifted Reinhardt.
“Make way! Knight Reinhardt needs to rest!”
The people who had swarmed out parted to the left and right, opening a path.
Fermil walked confidently through the center.
The gazes of the people around were solely on Reinhardt, but strangely, it didn’t feel bad at all.
“Sir Fermil! As for Sir Reinhardt……”
“He is just exhausted.”
“……Is that so?”
“A knight does not lie.”
“Understood.”
A man who appeared to be the captain of the guard led the way for Fermil.
A sickbed was prepared in a spacious area. Fermil placed Reinhardt on it.
Then, clerics from all sorts of orders came rushing in.
“How can this be……”
“Sir Reinhardt!”
“This is not the time to hesitate! Hurry!”
These were men who were usually busy baring their teeth at each other over disputes of interest.
Fermil was well aware of the relationship between the various orders.
But for now, all of them were united under a single purpose.
The clerics continuously showered Reinhardt with holy light. It was to such an extent that one might wonder if it could bring a dead person back to life.
‘……A knight.’
Watching the scene, Fermil thought.
When he first set foot in Serigel.
And when he visited the training ground.
When he was soundly beaten and rolled on the floor, and then when he swallowed his pride and accepted the advice.
The memories quickly flashed through his mind.
Reinhardt’s words and actions.
Agrio-s, the demon of domination.
Though only a half-incarnation, he had definitely manifested in this world, and a flash of light had cut the demon down.
‘That light, what on earth was…….’
His train of thought stopped.
Only the memory of the flash of light that had cut down the demon filled his mind.
Reinhardt’s sword had definitely been shining.
It was clearly different from that of a cleric, but in any case, Reinhardt possessed the power to stand against demons.
“Sir Fermil! What in the world happened!”
Just then, a stout middle-aged man rushed into the sickroom.
Fermil, without realizing it, shot him a fierce glare, then retracted it.
It was Graham, the mayor of Serigel.
‘He’s going to be a bother.’
He was not a noble, but he was a man who wielded power comparable to one.
Fermil quickly stepped forward.
The only thing he could do now was to help Reinhardt rest peacefully without any external disturbances.
“Mr. Mayor! Shall we step outside and talk for a moment?”
“Time is of the essence. If possible, right now……”
“The clerics say that Sir Reinhardt needs absolute rest. He must be tired after accomplishing such a great feat.”
“Hmm, I see. Understood.”
“Thank you, Mayor Graham.”
Fermil led the mayor out of the building.
The surroundings were packed with soldiers. It seemed that access was not permitted to anyone other than clerics and a few other personnel.
“So, the demon has been dealt with, right? Is the threat facing Serigel completely resolved?”
“It has been resolved. You need not worry anymore.”
“As expected of a knight of Paganoa! You possess skills befitting your great name. I shudder to think what would have happened if you had not been here.”
“No, sir. The one who defeated the demon was……”
“I will report this achievement to the Count for sure. A gift from the Count will arrive at the knightly order soon. Of course, I will send my token of sincerity along with it.”
Mayor Graham spoke quickly.
Unlike what he was saying, his face did not look very happy. Rather, his complexion was still pale from the shocking event.
In any case, a gift.
If he was mentioning the Count’s name, then something very expensive would surely arrive at the Paganoa Knights within a few days. The recipient would be Knight Fermil himself.
“No, sir.”
“What do you mean, no?”
In the past, he would have accepted it while feigning reluctance, but now, for some reason, Fermil was feeling different from usual.
“Mayor Graham. It was not I who dealt with the demon. It was the work of Sir Reinhardt, who is lying over there.”
“……Sir Reinhardt? Is that true?”
“It is true. I say this on the name of Pagano-a.”
How long had it been since he had passed on credit to someone else?
Such a thought suddenly occurred to Fermil.
Memories of the days when he had boasted that he had done everything, even when it was the work of many, flashed through his mind.
Strangely, his face grew hot.
Worrying if his cheeks had turned red, Fermil emphasized again.
“Sir Reinhardt, dealt with the demon.”
Graham had an expression of utter disbelief.
A man who was the mayor of a city would know a certain amount about demons.
“Is that possible? Sir Reinhardt is a member of the Taton Knights. He has never learned how to deal with demons.”
“But he did it. It is a clear fact, Mr. Mayor.”
“Is that so.”
“It is.”
“Of course, Sir Fermil’s help must have been very great in the process.”
“No, sir, I……”
“If it weren't for a knight of Paganoa, Sir Reinhardt would not have been able to cut down the demon. If we follow common sense, that would surely be the rational conclusion. Wouldn't you agree?”
The mayor looked directly into Fermil’s eyes and asked.
Fermil knew well what that meant.
“Yes, Mr. Mayor. You have spoken correctly.”
“I see. I will report it as such. Can you stand guard here? As I said before, to ensure Sir Reinhardt gets sufficient rest.”
Only then did Mayor Graham look satisfied and leave with quick steps.
Fermil watched his back, then let out a sigh.
His face was burning hotter than before. For some reason, he felt as if he were wearing clothes that didn't fit.
***
Reinhardt lay blankly in the sickroom.
He was the only person there.
Perhaps as a consideration for the righteous and valiant knight, there wasn't even the slightest noise around him.
“This is truly absurd.”
Reinhardt muttered, flabbergasted. As he thought blankly, a hollow laugh soon escaped him.
It wasn't because he was happy, but because it was genuinely absurd.
‘Even the current Evangeline wouldn’t have been able to stop that. Is an incarnated demon really supposed to pop out this early? Was this game really made to be cleared?’
The warlock Avara had sacrificed herself to summon Agrio-s.
Of course, it was not a complete demon.
It was merely a fragment of Agrio-s.
It was a level that was embarrassing to even call half-baked, but a demon was a demon nonetheless.
The moment he faced it, Reinhardt lost control of his body. It wasn't just Reinhardt; everyone around him did too.
Even the bishop-level clerics, who served God and were filled with abundant divinity, were no exception.
‘If I hadn’t been there, Fermil would have died too. It’s a good thing I managed to take it down somehow…….’
It was a moment that made him dizzy just thinking about it.
What if Fermil had died in that place?
The true history would have been completely derailed.
Someone else would have taken the deceased Fermil’s place as a candidate for the protagonist’s companion, and naturally, the overall flow of the story would have changed as well.
‘If I had known beforehand, I would have prepared.’
But no one could have predicted this fact.
Reinhardt was living in the past. The only future he could prepare for was one in the distant future.
Swoosh.
Reinhardt wiped his face.
Despite having fought such a fierce battle, there was no hindrance to his movement. Only a rather severe muscle ache was the price of the battle.
“Where did that bastard go again……”
Fermil, who had been guarding the place until a moment ago, had a heavy expression, unlike his usual self.
He had thought Fermil would make a fuss about defeating a demon and what not, but he was strangely calm.
‘He has every right to be surprised. Or he could be embarrassed.’
Fermil was someone who was intoxicated with the fact that he was a knight of Paganoa.
But in front of a real demon, he was utterly helpless, so it was only natural for him to feel ashamed.
Especially since a knight from the periphery like Reinhardt had fulfilled his role for him.
‘I think I can probably leave now…….’
His body had recovered long ago.
In fact, since he hadn't been injured, there wasn't much to recover from.
But he could clearly see what kind of situation he would face if he went outside now.
‘It’s better to rest a little more.’
The problem wasn't his body, but the complexity of his thoughts.
Reinhardt looked to his side.
He saw Bitdori sleeping deeply beside the pillow.
“……”
With a troubled expression, Reinhardt let out a small sigh.
If anything, this incident had certainly confirmed Bitdori's identity.
The Light Spirit.
Reinhardt's symbolic companion.
A being who possessed the power to stand against demons and who trusted and followed only Reinhardt.
Reinhardt gently stroked the creature for a moment. As if it felt good even in its sleep, Bitdori stirred.
‘In any case, the situation was resolved thanks to Bitdori.’
After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Reinhardt reached out his hand into the air.
Click.
As always, he opened the community and began to write a post filled with his heartfelt indignation.
[Serial Post) I almost died for real just now]