“Phew…”
After a wave of pure white light swept through the forest, I let out a long breath and calmed my breathing.
The tingling sensation in my limbs was the aftermath of using multiple types of aura.
‘This power puts quite a strain on my body.’
I clenched and unclenched my hand lightly.
Was it because I still lacked finesse?
Even so, it was a power that came with a strong recoil.
Well, normally, one would train to become proficient in a single type of aura, but I was using multiple types.
It was like using completely different martial arts techniques in wuxia terms.
At least, this kind of thing was only possible because Behirit had a unique constitution.
While I was checking my physical condition, Liliana and Ayla approached and bowed deeply.
“Um, thank you… thank you for saving us. If you hadn’t helped, I don’t know what would have happened…”
“Don’t worry about it. More importantly, it seems there are other children in the carriage.”
“Yes. Thanks to you, everyone is safe.”
Following Ayla’s words, I glanced toward the carriage and saw that the other elf girls had already gotten out and were hugging each other, shedding tears of joy.
There were about six of them.
They looked haggard, likely from not eating properly while captured, but they didn’t seem to have any major health issues.
‘That’s a relief.’
After riding hard all day from the imperial capital to this place, I was able to save Liliana and the others.
And by thwarting the second prince’s plans to expand his influence, I had achieved results commensurate with my efforts.
“…..”
But perhaps because Liliana had been injured, a deep sense of regret lingered bitterly in my mouth.
If we had been even a little later, as Liliana had said, something terrible would have happened.
This time, thanks to my knowledge of the original story and the information provided by Lüdenburger, I was able to locate the slavers’ camp.
However, to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future, I felt I needed to more actively utilize the abilities at my disposal.
“Um, do you have any plans from here? We were thinking of heading to a nearby village first. If it’s alright with you, could we repay you for saving us there?”
Liliana approached and spoke after finishing her conversation with the other elf girls.
Her words carried a strong determination to repay me in some way.
Elves, being a long-lived race, tended to be very clear about debts and favors, and Liliana seemed no exception.
‘By the way, what does she mean by repaying me for saving them in the village? What exactly does she plan to do? Surely, it’s not something like that…’
‘Stop talking nonsense.’
My thoughts had briefly veered in an odd direction, but I quickly scolded myself.
“Then it would be best to accompany you to the village for now. I also need a place to rest before returning to the capital. As for repayment, I’ll think about it.”
“Alright. There should be a village about half a day’s journey from here. We can head there first.”
Liliana pointed in a direction through the forest.
I nodded quietly at her.
For now, since everyone was in no condition to travel alone, it was necessary to accompany them to the village.
At least until the pursuit team from the autonomous region arrived, I needed to stay by their side.
And so, I continued my journey with Liliana, heading toward a nearby village.
***
After several hours of navigating through the forest, as dawn broke and the faint light of morning approached, we arrived at a village of considerable size.
I left the horses at the stable and took the elf girls to the best inn in the village.
“Um, we don’t have enough money to stay here together…”
“Don’t worry. I have money.”
“But we can’t keep imposing on you…”
Clink—
Ignoring Liliana’s words as she followed closely, I opened the door, and the sound announcing the arrival of guests echoed through the inn.
The patrons, who had been drinking until dawn in the inn’s tavern-like first floor, turned their gazes toward us.
“Hey, they’re elves. And there are so many of them.”
“I’ve never seen an elf before.”
“Me neither. But that elf is ridiculously beautiful.”
The murmuring crowd.
The drunken patrons, their faces flushed, stared intently at Liliana.
‘They were like this at the village entrance too.’
A faint sigh escaped me.
Elves were already known for their beautiful appearances, but Liliana was on another level.
Her forest-green hair, her pale skin that seemed to glow in the night, and her strikingly beautiful features that gave off a cat-like impression.
Her chest might have been modest compared to Lucy or Justia, but her childbearing hips were unmatched.
In any case, I couldn’t just leave Liliana to deal with troublesome situations.
Clicking my tongue, I released a faint killing intent into the surroundings.
Whoosh—
“Ugh!”
“Hey…! Let’s just drink.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
The villagers buried their noses in their drinks and began drinking.
As I led the timid elf girls to the counter, the innkeeper greeted us in a subdued voice.
“What rooms would you like?”
“All the available rooms in this inn.”
“Oh! Ahem! In that case, we have one large room and three small rooms. Will that be alright?”
“That’ll do.”
After receiving the keys from the innkeeper, whose expression had brightened considerably, we headed up the stairs to our respective rooms.
I was about to enter a small room, but Liliana stubbornly insisted that I take the largest room, so I ended up going in alone.
Creak—
The door opened with the sound of aged hinges.
The room was cozy and about nine pyeong in size.
Having long discarded the etiquette of the Eastern Land of Courtesy, I kicked off my shoes and flopped onto the bed as soon as I entered.
“Hmm.”
Even though it was the best inn in the village, it was still a rural area.
Unfortunately, the bed wasn’t exactly plush.
Compared to the beds at the Develion estate, it felt more like a wooden floor.
But perhaps because I was so tired, even this bed felt somewhat comfortable.
Just as I was about to take off the mask I’d been wearing and rest, there was a knock at the door.
“Um, may I come in for a moment?”
Liliana’s voice came from the other side of the door. Could she be here to… ‘repay’ me?
“Come in.”
“Okay.”
Liliana carefully opened the door and entered the room.
I spoke to her with a calm demeanor.
“What brings you here?”
“I wanted to thank you again for today. You saved me and my sister, and even gave us a divine power recovery potion on the way here.”
“It was just something I had lying around. Don’t worry about it.”
It was true.
The Develion estate was stocked with divine power recovery potions that Millinarize had made for me.
If they were used to heal Liliana, then they had served their purpose well.
However, Liliana seemed to interpret my words differently, as her expression grew even more serious.
“…Do you know about elven customs?”
“To some extent. You have to stay within the autonomous region for a hundred years, right?”
“That’s right. But there’s a reason for that.”
Liliana paused to catch her breath before continuing.
“Elves trace their roots back to the spirits. That’s why we spend a hundred years in the land blessed by the spirits, focusing on forming contracts with them.”
“That land is the autonomous region.”
“Yes. After completing that training and successfully forming a contract with a spirit, we gain a soul name.”
“…..”
Hearing her words, I couldn’t help but be surprised.
This was something she had told the protagonist in the original story.
“Here and now, I swear on my soul name. I will definitely repay you for your kindness.”
“…You don’t have to go that far.”
“A promise made on a soul name carries a binding force for elves. I’ve already made the promise. I look forward to working with you, Masked Knight.”
Liliana smiled softly, her hands clasped behind her back.
It was a beautiful smile.
One that made all the effort I had put into saving her feel entirely worth it.
“By the way, we haven’t even introduced ourselves yet. I’m Liliana Mapleflower, a first-year at the Imperial Academy. And you are?”
“Hmm.”
I fell into thought for a moment.
Liliana didn’t know my true identity.
Had she not heard what Gladrock shouted before he died?
Well, it didn’t matter.
I could trust her.
There was no need to wear a mask when we were alone.
She wouldn’t pry into why I had gone to that forest.
Despite her curiosity, she was a deeply considerate woman.
Having organized my thoughts, I removed the mask.
“…”
“Behirit Develion, Grand Duke of the Empire.”
“Ah…”
Our eyes met, and Liliana’s eyes widened like a startled cat.
Her lips parted slightly, and her cheeks flushed.
In the pleasant silence, I smiled faintly and said to her,
“I look forward to working with you, Liliana.”
***
The next day, the pursuit team from the autonomous region arrived at the village.
Most of the team consisted of family members of the kidnapped elf girls, and they shed tears of joy upon reuniting with their loved ones.
“Sniff, Carmen… I’m so glad you’re safe.”
“Sob, I won’t run off on my own again.”
Watching the tearful family reunions, I stood silently in the distance, wearing my mask.
I had already revealed my identity to Ayla, so the Develion family would likely build a friendly relationship with the Mapleflower family.
This would serve as a foundation for fostering goodwill with the entire autonomous region in the future.
It seemed that doing good deeds really did bring good fortune.
As time passed and the elf girls were sent back to the autonomous region, I set off for the capital with Liliana on horseback.
I had planned to go alone, but Liliana insisted on following me to repay her debt.
“Hey… don’t you need to go back to the academy?”
“It’s fine. Repaying my debt to you comes first.”
We were in a forest about an hour away from the village.
When I glanced back at Liliana, who was riding behind me, she smiled brightly and answered.
Perhaps because she had shared her soul name with me, she didn’t seem too intimidated by my status as a Grand Duke.
‘Hmm…’
By the way, this girl’s attitude toward attendance is borderline academic probation.
Declaring her absence so brazenly.
In the original story, she was known for her curiosity and often skipped the academy to wander around…
‘Well, whatever.’
Liliana looked happy, so I let it slide.
As we made our way through the forest, we stopped by a stream to let the horses drink.
While leaning against a tree to rest, Liliana exclaimed in amazement as she watched the horses.
“Wow, so this is how horses drink water.”
“Is this your first time seeing a horse drink?”
“Hehe. I’ve ridden a few times, but I’ve never seen them drink water before.”
Liliana smiled like sunshine as she spoke. Having seen horses drink water at a young age before being possessed, I found her fascination endearing.
Back then, they drank like vacuum cleaners.
Even now, it’s a bit fascinating to watch.
As we enjoyed this peaceful moment, I sensed a presence not far away.
I placed my hand on the hilt of my longsword and called out softly to Liliana.
“Liliana.”
“Yes?”
“Someone’s coming.”
I spoke in a low voice, raising my guard.
Judging by the energy, this person was on par with Gladrock.
For someone of that caliber to be wandering alone in this forest was unusual.
Glancing to the side, I saw that Liliana had also realized this wasn’t a normal situation and was preparing to cast a spell at any moment.
I spoke toward the presence beyond the bushes, imbuing my voice with mana.
“Who’s there?”
“…..”
A brief silence.
I didn’t sense any killing intent from the other party.
After a moment, the presence grew closer, and a boy emerged from the bushes.
“…!”
“Huh… there are people here after all…”
A neutral, clear voice.
Bright brown hair and a sturdy build.
His entire body seemed to radiate the blessing of the stars, and his boyish face wore a puzzled expression.
“Do you need any help?”
The boy of the stars, Luke Starlight.
The protagonist of the original story scratched his head and asked me.