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Chapter 17
“I’ve heard of the reputation of the Arkan Knights Order, but seeing it in person, its presence is truly remarkable.”
The baron wore a half-mask that covered the upper part of his face. As rumored, the lower left side of his face was grotesquely deformed—like only the left half had been violently twisted and distorted.
And yet, the baron’s eloquence, as well as his table manners, were impeccable.
Even with his right hand—where two thumbs protruded unnaturally—he sliced his steak with elegant precision.
Wine glasses came and went, and as the evening wore on, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
It was then that a maid serving the meal accidentally spilled a reddish-brown sauce onto Kata’s clothes.
“I-I’m so sorry!”
“It’s fine.”
Kata quickly wiped at her sleeve with a handkerchief, but the stain only spread further.
Seeing this, the maid began trembling.
Kata gave an awkward smile.
“Could you just wash the handkerchief for me?”
“Yes, yes! I’m so sorry!”
“Nora.”
At that moment, the head maid spoke coldly. She was a woman with an eerily pale face and striking red lips.
“Come with me first.”
At her chilling voice, the young maid’s face turned deathly pale.
As Nora staggered away, the baron stood up.
“Head maid, isn’t today a good day?”
“……”
“Child, don’t mind it. Go quickly.”
With a gentle tone, the maid hurriedly left her place. Looking closely, she seemed to be limping slightly.
Soram glanced at the baron.
“Is she a cripple?”
“She’s a very capable girl.”
“……”
As the night deepened, the knights gradually became intoxicated.
Kata also began to feel light-headed. Wanting some fresh air, she quietly slipped away.
As she climbed the carpeted stairs, she stopped at a landing in front of a painting.
It was a portrait of a woman surrounded by flowers.
“She is beautiful, isn’t she?”
Kata turned her head.
Baron Kaster had approached at some point.
“I stepped out briefly under the excuse of taking care of some business.”
He joked lightly before looking back at the portrait.
“My wife, Christine. She passed away before our only son even reached the age to walk.”
Kata blinked.
“I didn’t see your son today. Is he perhaps elsewhere?”
“Theodore followed his mother three years ago. He had the same illness.”
“Ah…”
Kata felt she had asked something she shouldn’t have.
The baron gave a faint smile.
“He had perfect hands and a normal face. I thought it was fortunate he didn’t resemble me…”
At that moment, a silence fell.
Suddenly, someone grabbed Kata’s shoulder roughly.
“Hey, you!”
It was Soram’s squire, Lea.
She was heavily drunk—her speech slurred and her eyes unfocused.
The baron subtly stepped away.
“The knights’ temporary quarters are on the 3rd and 4th floors.”
“W-wait—”
“Once you go up, a servant will guide you. If you need anything, ring the bell.”
He quickly left, like an innkeeper pretending not to notice a troublesome drunk.
Caught off guard, Kata ended up being dragged away by Lea. She tried to support her and take her to her room, but instead, Lea pulled her toward the balcony.
“Sir Lea, you’ll fall like this!”
“Do you think I’d be afraid of something as small as falling?”
“That’s not—”
“Donovaaaan!”
Startled, Kata flinched. Lea swayed and steadied herself on her waist.
“Because of you, damn it! I got disciplined by the deputy commander back then, and do you know how much Sir Soram took it out on me after that?”
“Sir, Sir Soram might hear you…”
“Damn it! If you’re weak, you crawl. Do you know how I’ve survived until now…?”
She let out a long sigh and suddenly pointed at Kata.
“You! Stop acting so superior.”
“I won’t.”
“Your eyes too! Don’t look at people like that—like you’re fearless or something!”
“Understood. Let’s get you upstairs to lie down first…”
“Are you ignoring me right now?”
“That’s not it—Sir, please don’t go near the railing! It’s dangerous!”
Kata quickly stepped in front of the railing.
Lea stared at her for a moment, then let out a breath-like laugh.
The usually sharp woman slowly sank to the ground.
“Demons or humans… I wish everyone stronger than me would just die.”
Lea smirked.
“You don’t feel the same, Donovan?”
“Pardon?”
“Aren’t you pissed off? If you want a promotion, you need connections first. Or you have to crawl up like me, sucking up to people just to secure a squire position.”
“……”
“You act like you’re confident because you’re a first-stage awakener, but do you really think you’re any different?”
A humid wind swept across the balcony railing.
Kata slowly bent her knees.
“Sir, you’re very drunk. Let me take you back to your room.”
Lea blinked slowly.
“…You’re a truly disgusting person.”
Her head slumped forward, and she seemed to fall asleep on the spot.
Kata sighed and stood up.
At that moment, the curtain behind the balcony slid open.
“Perinem?”
Perinem’s brow furrowed sharply the moment he saw her, as if he had just witnessed something unpleasant.
“What’s going on?”
“Sir Simon got drunk and started acting up. I came out because it was unbearable.”
For a squire, her tone was quite disrespectful.
Perinem looked down at Lea as if she were something filthy, then stepped toward the railing.
“Donovan.”
He spoke.
“Why are you here?”
“To subjugate monsters.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Perinem sighed coldly.
“Do you believe Peter Lane’s words?”
“You mean his foresight? Of course I believe him.”
“Knights risk their lives for promotion. What if he only said it to stop you from going on the mission? Maybe he’s trying to block your advancement.”
“Then why would he specifically warn me? If anything, Zenon or Monia have a higher chance of promotion than I do.”
“You probably seemed like the one who would get scared.”
There it was again—cowardice.
Perinem leaned on the railing and scoffed.
“Anyway, I’m surprised. I thought you’d be the type to run away immediately. Though, like Luna Arden said, maybe it’s just recklessness.”
He almost sounded relieved.
“So you really aren’t the protagonist of that prophecy.”
Kata stared at him blankly.
“Perinem, are you drunk?”
“What nonsense. Do you think someone who will one day cut down the Demon King would faint at the sight of a mere monster? If you die without even becoming a proper knight, it’s obvious how you’ll be remembered.”
“……”
“You’ll die insignificantly. Without even receiving Semasiar’s blessing.”
After speaking words close to a curse, Perinem smiled brightly.
If one could be remembered by everyone through death, then it was no longer death.
Because one lived on in memory, it was a kind of immortality.
Humans who craved eternity even embraced death itself in pursuit of that immortality.
The more honorably one was remembered, the more it was believed that Semasiar would watch over and bless their soul.
Kata spoke.
“Perinem, don’t lean on the railing. It’s dangerous. You’re drunk.”
Perinem’s face twisted sharply.
She hadn’t wanted to interrupt the conversation, but his words were too empty to engage with.
Kata lifted Lea onto her back like a heavy crate. The drunk body was heavier than expected.
“I’ll take Sir Lea back. Please relay this to the others.”
Then she walked out.
Her steady footsteps gradually faded away.
Perinem remained alone on the balcony for a long time.
“Worthless thing.”
He muttered.
His voice was tight, as if trying to convince himself.
