CH 7

7 - A Knight's Pride

Reines von Agrianes, First of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Empire, is the most powerful paladin that mankind has known. The Knights of the Holy Empire exist as the only countermeasure in this world dominated by witches, and among them, Reines, the one with outstanding ability and a blessing from the most powerful man in human society, the Holy Emperor, hates witches more than anyone else and wants them gone for the sake of world peace, that was her raison d’etre as the undefeated leader of the Order of the Holy Emperor.

However—

It was shattered by this foreign girl who suddenly appeared. Reines’s pride, everything she had built up, all shattered by the girl before her begging with her forehead pressed to the ground.

For the first time, a wave of emotions stirred Reines’s heart.

“Stop, Witch…” Reines muttered.

“I won’t stop until you explain things to me, also, I’m not a witch!” Lulurun said.

“… Please, stop,” Reines said.

“No, but, you see,” Lulurun said before she noticed that she was causing Reines great distress.

The behavior you think is good may not be good for the other person. Although she learned it as a member of the workforce, Lulurun deeply regrets heading into the same rut as before and tries to speak to Reines.

“I didn’t mean to do that… I’m sorry,” Lulurun said.

“!!”

Reines swings her sword with blinding speed, it stops at Lulurun’s neck.

“Why don’t you defend yourself?” Reines asked.

“Because I don’t have to,” Lulurun said.

“Don’t mock me!!” Reines said.

“I’m not mocking you, you’re strong, maybe the strongest person I’ve ever met, I won’t lie,” Lulurun said.

“Still, you’re even stronger than that,” Reines cried out in frustration.

“Your physical strength is still commendable, I can see it in the way you use your sword and your body, you’ve honed it to kill witches, haven’t you?” Lulurun asked.

“That’s right! To kill you!” Reines yelled.

“But you stopped your sword,” Lulurun said.

Reines wasn’t going to kill Lulurun, you can tell by her face. Because she’s at a loss, as she thinks Lulurun may not be a witch.

The hatred of the witch inside her turns into the power to wield a sword in an attempt to wipe out any hesitation, but… she can’t decapitate Lulurun.

“I, a Knight of the Holy Emperor, can’t kill a person with hesitation,” Reines said.

“You mean?!” Lulurun cried.

“I’ll be the judge, I’ll listen to you, and if you are the evil of this world, I will kill you,” Reines said as she holstered her sword.

“Thank you, Reines,” Lulurun said.

“What are you smiling for?!” Reines said. “I’m just going to listen, I’m not going to take you at your word!”

Still, Lulurun was more than happy Reines had responded well to dialog.

“I need a location,” Reines said.

“?” Lulurun went, confused.

“We need to find someplace else,” Reines said, teary-eyed as she turns on her heels and begins to storm off. “No one should hear us.”

“Where are you going?” Lulurun asked.

“Anywhere that isn’t here…!” Reines snapped.

“Okay…!” Lulurun said.

Then, away from the openness of the town square, Lulurun and Reines quickly entered a small inn in a corner of the city.

Reines tells the innkeeper, “I’ll rent a room,” and invites Lulurun into it before sitting roughly in a chair there.

With her finger, she gestured for Lulurun to sit on the bed facing Reines.

“So?” Lulurun asked.

“So?” Reines snapped back bluntly. She glares at Lulurun and continues, “What did you want to ask about?!”

“Huh?” Lulurun asked.

“If I were to interact in public with someone like you doing such foolery in public, I, and, by extension, the Knights of the Holy Empire, will damage our reputations!”

“I see, is that what would happen?” Lulurun asked.

“That’s why I’ve moved us… to a more secluded place…” Reines said before turning away.

“Can I ask you a question first?” Lulurun asked.

“Okay, I’ll give, I’ll answer your question,” Reines said, her expression pained.

Lulurun promptly begins asking questions about this world. She really was sincere and honest, without lies.