IBWMD 138

~Chapter 138~

Deng—deung—deng—deung.

The bells of the Grand Temple rang out, and I felt a wave of nostalgia.
Back then, when the bells rang, it meant time to run to the training grounds, chase away street vendors, eat, and train again.
It felt like memories from another life.

“Though I really do have a past life too…”

“When I was in the Order, we used to run to the training grounds before the bells even finished ringing…”

I was reminiscing and sounding like some retired knight when—

“Hmph.”

Next to me came a prim little sound, completely unfitting his low voice.

“Hey, when your wife is speaking…”

I turned my head—and clutched my chest in shock.

“…I must be crazy.”

Karl wasn’t wearing his usual black fur coat or heavy armor today.
He was dressed in a pure white priest’s robe.

The broad shoulders and chest barely held under the cloth, buttons straining, showing glimpses of a body that looked almost too dangerous to hide.
The stole on his shoulders hovered awkwardly over his chest, lifted by sheer muscle.

He didn’t look like a man of God ready to exorcise demons.
He looked more like… a priest ready to tempt the faithful.

“…He must be insane.”

Was it even allowed for a priest to look this fiery?
Sitting with him in a confessional, who would feel reverent? You’d just want to sneak and hold his hand.

“What kind of husband is this handsome?”

As I admired his sharp jawline under the hood, Karl turned his head away again, as if saying “hmph” without words.

“Why? It suits you.”

“……”

“Of course, I know you hate it. It’s Temple disguise, and you don’t like it. But just this once, we had no choice.”

Besides, Karl hadn’t been feeling well for days, suffering from headaches.
Now, on the day of our mission, he was forced into a priest’s robe on top of that.

‘No wonder he’s cranky.’

Feeling sorry, I whispered sincerely for once:

“When we get back, I’ll give you a kiss…”

“…Are you close with him?”

His reply caught me off guard.
“…With who?”

“That slippery guy.”

“Oh, him.”

I thought for a moment before answering.
“…Maybe closer than I thought?”

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed to help us with something like this.

I looked down at my own outfit.
A knight’s armor—familiar, comfortable, almost like a second skin. Helmet snug and solid.

The armor of the Holy Knights.
It had arrived today, under the slippery guy’s name.

That day flashed through my mind—when he’d come, offering his help.

‘Benji. I don’t want much.’
‘…What is it?’
‘Just get me some clothes.’
‘Clothes?’
‘Knight’s armor. A priest’s robe too.’
‘…What the hell are you planning?’
‘If you know, you’ll get hurt.’

I had repeated over and over: just get the clothes, I’ll handle the rest.
I’d even promised to do target practice with him later.

The first part was just me being kind, keeping him from getting more involved.
Though honestly, he was already tangled up enough.

When he finally agreed, he’d looked a little conflicted.
But I patted his shoulder firmly.

“Thank you. For helping—and for the words you said too.”

‘…What words?’ he’d asked, confused.
I just shrugged.

“Because I know how much courage it takes to admit something you wanted to ignore, and to say it out loud.”

And he had pushed through that, just to talk to me.
Even though we’d never gotten along.
Even though he’d spent all his time trying to one-up me.

Honestly, that alone deserved praise.

But his reaction had been strange.
“…You. You always act like nothing…”

And he had cut himself off—probably because Karl’s glare was stabbing him again.

Even now, days later, Karl clearly disliked him.
When I admitted maybe I was closer to Benji than expected, Karl showed his sulky side openly.

“Why?” I asked, gently scratching his chin.

“…My God.”

“Forbidden love?”

The young apprentice priests passing nearby whispered among themselves.

Only then did I quickly step away from Karl.
I had forgotten what we must look like from the outside.

A knight in full armor and a priest in robes, standing in front of the Temple.
To anyone, we looked like a priest with his Holy Knight guard.

…Even though this priest looked like he could beat demons with his bare hands instead of needing protection.

“…Even as a man, I’d fall for him.”

“You brat—get back to work!”

The young priests, caught admiring Karl’s jawline and physique, panicked and ran off.

I turned to Karl with concern.
“What do we do if even boys fall for you?”

“That’s what I should be saying.”

“…What?”

“You’re too popular with men, Elaine.”

What was that supposed to mean? I shrugged.
“It’s not just men. Sometimes women like me too.”

“That’s the problem.”

Karl grumbled, then stepped closer again, slyly grabbing my hand.

“You’re close with that slippery guy… and with that pig-bear too…”

“Pig-bear? Oh, you mean Zion?”

“Don’t say his name.”

I laughed at his warning. Karl only pouted harder.

I tried to soothe him.
“Don’t worry. They don’t see me that way.”

“How can you be sure?”

“I just know. Besides, Zion’s a good friend.”

“Friends can easily become lovers.”

“Like the monster-hunting Karl who turned from my friend into my lover?”

At that, Karl’s lips curved upward.

Looking at his smile, I thought how unbelievable this all was.

“If I told myself half a year ago where I’d be now…”

Falling for the first man I met.
That man turning out to be the feared Duke.
And then sneaking into the capital together.

Even betraying the Holy Knights—my second home—for his sake.

Would my past self laugh?

But I didn’t regret it.

“Because now, the thought of losing Karl scares me more than anything.”

That’s how precious he had become.
I had to get inside and settle this, no matter what.

As I looked at him intently, Karl chuckled softly and whispered:

“Your eyes are shining.”

“Even with my helmet on?”

“I can see them anyway.”

“Guess I’m just excited to save you.”

“…I’m scared others will see too—that you’re someone who shines without trying.”

His words made my heart twist. I squeezed his hand firmly in thanks.

Enjoying it, Karl held on to my hand for a while before asking:
“So, what’s the next plan?”

I nodded.
“First, rescue the Captain.”

We’d heard about Captain Ista a few days after Benji left.
Reina had brought the news, since Karl and I couldn’t go out.

“Captain Ista is in the Temple?” she’d said.

‘Just as I thought. We weren’t the only ones exposed.’

I joked lightly, but it was serious.
He must’ve been taken for abandoning Saint Portu.

If we were infiltrating the Temple anyway, we had to save him too.

‘Once Benji gets us the clothes, we’ll go find him.’

‘But security’s still too tight. Even with disguises, it’ll be hard.’

‘Then we need a distraction.’

That’s when Reina offered a plan.

“I can host a party. The city’s most famous socialite throwing an event—that’ll draw attention.”

Boom!

At that moment, midday fireworks burst into the sky above the Marquis’ estate.
It was the signal.

“Shall we go?”

Karl nodded.
Together, we headed quickly into the Grand Temple.