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News came from that guy, Millen, first.

The successor to Kirux. He said he found our old comrades and told us to meet at the appointed time.

And on the day of the meeting, as the sun began to set, I decided to help Razen put on his armor.

“I told you I can do it myself.”

“I saw what happened last time when you tried alone. Your shoulder guard came off. It’s better if I help you than seeing you fumble with it.”

“That was just a mistake.”

“Who’s to say it won’t happen again? Razen, you really need to be more careful.”

Armor wasn’t designed to be put on alone.

The armor we had wasn’t any different, and Razen didn’t have a squire to help him.

On the battlefield, there was always someone to assist him, but now it was just me. So, I had to do it.

“How can I ask you to do what a squire should be doing?”

“What are you talking about? You’re my knight, so it’s my job to make sure you don’t get hurt. Stop complaining and sit down already.”

“Ugh… I’m sorry. I’ll treat you to something later to make up for it.”

“You better! I won’t forget, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

It’s funny how a few words like that can make you feel so motivated.

I couldn’t keep the grin off my face. I quickly averted my gaze, afraid Razen might notice me smiling.

But the excitement didn’t last long.

As I started dressing him in his armor, one piece at a time, the scars he bore began to surface in my mind.

“Here, give me your left foot first.”

“Can’t I at least do my feet myself?”

“Left foot.”

“…Fine.”

There were burn scars on both of Razen’s feet.

Once his socks came off, the reddish-brown marks would be clearly visible.

I thought back to that battlefield where the enemy’s magic rained down like a storm.

The ground had melted and flowed like molten lava, and even just breathing felt like it would set our lungs on fire.

In that searing battleground, we had to retreat. Razen carried me on his back and ran across the inferno.

By the time we successfully retreated, his boots, made from the hide of a magical beast, had melted.

Of course, Razen’s feet didn’t come out unscathed either.

I had poured all the divine power I had into him until I collapsed from exhaustion, but the scars stubbornly remained.

‘All those injuries should’ve been mine.’

Every wound Razen bore should have been mine.

They were either the injuries I should have sustained, or ones he wouldn’t have suffered if it weren’t for me.

If he had left me behind and flown off, Razen’s life would have been much more peaceful, more comfortable.

Maybe then those hard muscles would’ve relaxed a bit.

Although… that would be a bit of a shame. He has such an impressive body.

Razen, relaxed and living quietly in the countryside… I can’t really picture it.

If he gained a little more weight on his face… Hmm, that might be cute in its own way.

It’d be fun to stretch out his cheeks.

No matter what he looked like, to me, Razen would always just be Razen.

“Pfft.”

“Did I get something on my calf?”

“No. It’s nothing. Pffthaha.”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

This isn’t good. I need to focus, focus!

Each piece of armor for his legs was secured with leather straps and fastened with pins.

I made sure to check every part, ensuring nothing was loose before I felt at ease.

Razen moved with such intensity that I had to be meticulous in dressing him.

“How is it? It’s not too tight, right? Let me know if it’s uncomfortable.”

“No, it feels just right.”

Razen moved his feet a few times to test it out.

I was relieved. Though I’d only observed from the sidelines, I had worried whether I’d done it right.

“You’re more skilled at this than I expected. Did you learn how to do it somewhere?”

“It’s not the first time I’ve seen you put on armor. I figured one day I might... well, might need to help.”

“That’s unlike you. Why are you stuttering all of a sudden?”

“Shut up.”

A Swordmaster’s body isn’t invincible.

No matter how skilled Razen was, there was always a chance that a stray sword or arrow could hit him.

That’s why we had this armor made—to protect him from such mishaps.

The metal plates of the armor were infused with divine silver, a rare metal that best absorbed divine energy.

It wasn’t as pure or solid as what other orders might use, but it was the best we could get at the time.

I guess squeezing Baron Esquente dry had its rewards.

‘I never regret spending money on you. If it can reduce even one of your scars, I’ll pay any amount of gold.’

I infused the armor with my divine energy, but because of Hibras’ black-colored divinity, the armor had turned a deep black.

Razen didn’t know it, but I had even inscribed blood symbols with my own blood on the inside of the armor.

I truly poured everything I could into it.

Most of the divine inscriptions on the armor were meant to support Razen’s abilities, but the symbol I carved was purely for protection.

I didn’t expect it to have miraculous effects, but I hoped it would offer some small help.

“How about your arms? Does it feel alright?”

“The spot you’re tying now, just a bit tighter.”

“Like this?”

“Yeah, that’s perfect.”

I had been bedridden for a day after inscribing the blood symbols.

The power I had drawn from my very life force left me weak, and I had to live off thin porridge for a while.

Razen thought I had caught a cold that day.

It’s fine.

I can endure something like that.

If you’re hurt, I hurt too. If your body bleeds, I feel like tears of blood would stream from my eyes.

Suffering for a day like that is far better than seeing you in pain.

“Now all that’s left is the breastplate and the helmet.”

“I’ll put the helmet on myself.”

“Okay. Stand up, and I’ll fasten everything.”

Razen’s body—his chest and back—was covered with scars.

They were from the times when I was at my weakest, the injuries he had received before we even reached the sanctuary.

There was nothing I could do about the scars that had already formed.

The only thing I could do now was to replace those painful memories with better ones.

I promise you, I’ll make sure you never regret choosing me.

And… you better start catching on soon.

You fool.

“Sirien?”

After fastening his armor, I gently kissed the back of Razen’s neck.

My face felt warm from embarrassment, but it didn’t feel bad.

In fact, the slight burning sensation was rather pleasant.

There was a lingering feeling of regret. But sensing Razen’s flustered reaction made me smile.

I quickly grabbed onto his head, holding him in place, so he couldn’t turn around.

“When a knight departs, the lady is supposed to send him off with a kiss. I read it in a fairy tale.”

“Usually, it’s done on the knight’s hand.”

“We already did that during your knighting ceremony.”

“I wouldn’t mind doing it again.”

“Alright. I’ll send you off that way next time.”

I liked how Razen always played along, no matter how mischievous I was.

Now fully dressed in his armor, Razen looked even more imposing than the knights I’d seen in Rehaim.

With his helmet on, I couldn’t see his face anymore.

I wondered, if I kissed his helmet now, would he finally understand?

****

The meeting place with Millen was in a secluded corner of Requitas’ red-light district.

It was a quiet area, far from the bustling crowds. The kind of place where a body could disappear without leaving a trace.

We entered what seemed to be a long-abandoned restaurant.

The guide glanced at me.

“I didn’t expect you to show up in full armor.”

“I thought I might need it.”

Inside the restaurant, a large table stood prominently in the center.

There was no sign of Millen. If he had been here with me, things would have gone much more smoothly.

Still, I had to make do and finish the task at hand.

“Needless to say, I’ve been told you have a job for me.”

“If things go well here, you’ll leave Requitas in one piece. If they don’t… well, I’ll have to kill you. No choice in the matter.”

“Huh, I see. Well, good luck with that.”

The man guiding us gave a nod. His demeanor exuded confidence, almost overflowing. If only he could keep that up for long.

I sat in the chair I was directed to.

Across from me sat four men, waiting.

No, counting the guide, it was five. The last seat must have been his.

As soon as everyone was seated, the conversation began.

“Let’s skip the pleasantries. Let’s hear the details of the job first.”

“It’s simple. Kill a few young nobles. They’ve fled after things got complicated.”

“Do you know their exact number?”

“Four. Doesn’t matter if you kill them all. No bodyguards, so just hunt them down and finish the job. I’ll give you their location once you accept.”

As soon as I finished speaking, a sly grin spread across the men’s faces.

It was a look I’d seen many times before. Lust, greed—feelings drenched in those base desires. It wasn’t a pleasant sight.

Yeah, this job must seem easy to them.

Killing a few kids would feel like nothing.

That’s why they didn’t hesitate to accept.

“Any other questions?”

“Since you’ve asked us to kill unguarded children, the ‘how’ of it isn’t really the issue, is it? It’s better we don’t know too much, right?”

“So, no questions, no reasons, and no traces? Just kill them?”

“There’s a reason. We’re getting paid, aren’t we?”

“Right. I understand how this goes now.”

I rose from my seat.

The only reason I bothered with this tiresome act was to get to the bottom of one thing: how exactly did they plan to kill us?

Maybe, just maybe, something had changed?

No. It was pointless to dwell on it.

“Sirien. The weapon, please.”

Instead of a verbal reply, a massive sword dropped at my side.

It was mine. Sirien usually held onto it for me.

Sirien vanished in a cloud of dark mist, and I gripped the sword tightly.

The men in front of me sighed, each one drawing their own weapon.

“Well, I figured it’d come to this. I may as well ask—what grudge do you have against us?”

“Revenge.”

“Ha. There are so many ways to die, huh? You didn’t think we’d come here unprepared, did you?”

Blades surged toward me from all directions.

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