The Knight Who Protects the Weak

Chapter 012: Reunion (3)

The stress I’d received from Jewel evaporated all at once.

‘Jayden Stein.’

I repeated that name to myself.

He was the link between my past life and my present one.

Jayden, who had been observing the traces of battle as if I didn’t even exist, slowly approached.

As the distance between us closed, another face seemed to overlap with his current one…

It was his face from my past life.

Compared to back then, his hair was less gray, his wrinkles fainter, and most importantly, his face was clean, free of bloodstains.

Finally, Jayden stood between me and Ness.

Without realizing it, my grip tightened.

The sweat trickling down my spine felt scalding.

“Sir Ness, it seems these people are from the Crimson Flame Cult.”

“The Crimson Flame Cult? That rigid magic sect?”

“Yes. I checked the necklaces they were wearing, and their emblem is unmistakable.”

“Huh, the Crimson Flame Cult has no ties with the Langster Faction. They wouldn’t suddenly have a change of heart now. What could they possibly be scheming to interfere with our affairs?”

“Some time ago, these people were involved in a deal with the Empire…”

“Alright, enough. I understand. Up to that point. Then, Captain, I’ll leave the cleanup here to you. It seems we have guests to attend to.”

“…Yes.”

After a polite bow, Jayden mounted his horse and returned the way he came.

I was the only one staring at his retreating figure.

“Miss Jewelina, and everyone from the Gunbel Trading Company! You’ve all worked hard coming such a long way. Let’s head back to Easton and rest.”

Perhaps because Jayden had disappeared from my sight, my rationality gradually returned.

The surroundings were bustling with preparations to depart.

I climbed into the saddle and closed my eyes for a moment, as if meditating.

I hated doing this, but I needed time to organize my thoughts.

Let’s list the key pieces of information briefly.

‘The traces of chivalry Jewelina mentioned, Zephyros.’

‘The collusion between the Empire and the Gunbel Trading Company, the chaos in the Kingdom centered around two knight factions.’

Between these scattered fragments, faint connections seemed to emerge.

This was as far as I could go.

‘Regression to ten years ago, reunion with the Old Knight from my past life.’

…I opened my eyes.

Suddenly, the world around me felt like a giant wheel.

I could almost hear the creaking as it turned.

‘The important thing is.’

The center of it all was me, Bihen Benkou.

* * *

Easton was one of the top three cities in Conwell.

In terms of area, population, and economic value, it rivaled any major city in the Empire.

“Young Master Bihen, what do you think? Do you like my gift?”

While traveling along the road with the trading company’s procession, Jewel whispered to me.

When I looked at her, not understanding the question, she winked playfully.

“Zephyros. Their foundation is the spirit of chivalry. They take pride in it. That’s why they call themselves a band of knights.”

“They’re overly flashy. They seem like nothing more than a village militia.”

The arrogant knight named Ness Servai and his irritating first impression played a big part in my judgment.

The idea of someone like him upholding chivalry was somehow distasteful.

Jewel let out her characteristic giggle.

“Aren’t you being too harsh? Sure, they might look shabby now, but Zephyros will one day rise as the leader of the anti-Langster Faction.”

A chill ran down my spine.

My thoughts weren’t an overreach.

“…So the Empire and the Gunbel Trading Company have been working behind the scenes to sow division in the Kingdom.”

The blunt thought slipped out.

It made all the pieces fall perfectly into place.

I glanced at the wagon Jewel had handed over to Zephyros.

It was likely loaded with various supplies.

Imperial weapons far surpassed those of the Kingdom in quality.

‘Ha.’

As soon as I said it, I realized how ridiculous I was being.

Acting as if I were some great moralist or apostle of justice.

“I only hope peace comes to the Kingdom soon, so the suffering people can find relief. Why do you always think so negatively, Young Master? Try to see things in a better light.”

As expected, Jewel was shamelessly Jewel. In a way, it was a natural reaction.

From her perspective, I was just a young noble from a low-ranking martial family.

With the Imperial family backing her, why would she care about someone like me?

“Well, if you say so.”

Whatever schemes they were plotting, it had nothing to do with me.

…Let it go, Bihen.

I scolded myself internally and changed the subject.

“Can a softie like that really handle such grand ambitions?”

I was referring to Ness Servai.

Jewel, catching on immediately, smirked.

“Ness Servai isn’t the leader of Zephyros. There’s a hidden leader behind the scenes. I know you’re about to ask who it is, so I’ll say upfront—I swear, even I don’t know. But judging by the fact that the Conwell family secretly supports Zephyros, that leader must be no ordinary person.”

“Secretly?”

“Yes, Zephyros is considered quite a radical extremist group even within the Sharon Faction. That kind of disposition naturally makes enemies everywhere, so they have to be cautious.”

It seemed like a tangled web of complex circumstances.

After racking my brain for the first time in a while, I felt nauseous.

Even in my past life as a soldier, I never paid attention to politics.

The stench of that world was revolting just to think about.

“Young Master Bihen, how about it? Why not rub shoulders with comrades united by the spirit of chivalry?”

Jewel was spouting unusually foolish nonsense.

I wasn’t the type to openly discuss beliefs with strangers.

More importantly, Jayden wasn’t even part of Zephyros.

“I’ll pass. I’m a bit curious about what grand things they’re up to, but I’m not eager to kindle any camaraderie.”

“I may not know much about swordsmanship, but I know you’re an extraordinary talent, Young Master Bihen. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to show those fledglings the might of an Imperial warrior.”

Jewel said, her lips curling into a smile that betrayed a strangely obsessive fixation.

“Don’t bring up Zephyros again. By the way, where’s the guard headquarters?”

“Why the guard headquarters all of a sudden?”

“Just… curious.”

“Hmm, I suppose. From a warrior’s perspective, it’s one of the few things you can directly compare to the Empire.”

For the first time since meeting Jewel, I actually liked her in that moment.

She called for Maserin.

“He wants to visit the guard headquarters. Guide him.”

“Yes.”

…It’s a shame she had to ruin it at the end.

* * *

“Tie your horse here. From this point, you can only proceed on foot.”

Maserin pointed to a makeshift stable.

We had separated from the trading company’s procession and reached a quiet suburban area.

“The guard headquarters is in such a remote place?”

“Easton’s city center has buildings that Zephyros uses as both a hideout and a base of operations. Their presence alone keeps the peace, so there’s no need for the guard to be stationed in the city.”

I wondered why we had to leave the horses behind, but the path was a nightmare.

It was more of a low hill than a mountain, but as we climbed the winding trail, I saw what looked like a bandit hideout… no, a couple of dilapidated barracks on the verge of collapse.

‘…What the hell.’

The buildings looked like they’d crumble at a touch, and the few horses in the stable were so malnourished they seemed ready to keel over.

“Uh… Isn’t that Lady Maserin?”

A young man appeared awkwardly from somewhere, seemingly a guard member.

He looked like a complete beggar.

His unwashed face and neglected wooden breastplate were caked with grime.

“Where’s the captain?”

“He’s inside.”

The guard glanced between me and Maserin before bowing stiffly.

Compared to him, Maserin looked like a noble lady.

“Why’s that guy speaking formally to you?”

“I’m part of the Gunbel Trading Company and also a member of Zephyros. It’s only natural they show me respect.”

So that’s why she stuck so close to Jewel.

She was another kind of irritating woman, in a slightly different way.

Creak.

Maserin opened the rickety door, and a musty smell stung my nose.

Jayden, sitting at a crude wooden desk flipping through a stack of parchment, gave a kind smile.

“Oh, come in, Maren.”

“Teacher.”

I doubted my ears for a moment.

I looked back and forth between Maserin and Jayden.

“Teacher?”

“…?”

Maserin’s gaze seemed to ask if I had a problem with that.

I could only blink.

Jayden was even calling Maserin by a nickname.

“What brings you here, Maren? You must be busy after returning.”

“I don’t have much to do.”

“I see. You always work so hard traveling back and forth.”

Why did I suddenly think of my grandmother?

It must be the warm look in Jayden’s eyes and the gentleness in his voice when he spoke to Maserin.

“And this is…?”

I might have shown my surprise.

My eyes tensed, and I swallowed hard without meaning to.

Maserin answered for me in her usual indifferent tone.

“He’s an Imperial who was on the smuggling ship. He somehow got close to the deputy leader and said he wanted to see the guard headquarters, so I brought him.”

Maserin had a knack for making someone feel small in just a few words.

But in this moment, it was hard to introduce me more concisely or accurately.

All the titles—scion of an Imperial martial family, master of the pinnacle—felt…

Perhaps utterly meaningless.

“I’m Bihen Benkou.”

I introduced myself to the person tied to my past life.

My chest felt heavy, and my mouth was dry.

Facing him and trying to speak wasn’t as easy as I’d thought.

“Ah, welcome. You’re the one I saw earlier. I heard you took on the Crimson Flame Cult single-handedly… Is that true?”

“…Yes.”

“You’re a remarkable warrior. I had many questions, and now that you’ve come here, I’m at a loss for words. Please, have a seat.”

Jayden gestured to a chair beside a round table.

A topographic map for strategy was spread out on it, though its usefulness was questionable.

I sat down, still dazed, and looked around again.

It felt less like a guard captain’s office and more like the quarters of a retired soldier.

“I don’t have much to offer, but here…”

Jayden handed me a glass of water.

I thanked him politely, as an Imperial warrior would.

He smiled warmly at the gesture.

…But the image of him from my past life, covered in blood and dying, kept haunting me.

A man who had become a ghost in my hands was now alive, sitting across from me in an entirely different atmosphere.

Even for a swordsman like me, who was supposed to be indifferent to life and death, this wasn’t an easy experience.

“The barracks, as you can see, are shabby, with little to offer in terms of insight. And I’m a humble man, hardly qualified to discuss swordsmanship with someone like Sir Bihen. I’m sorry to disappoint you when you came with such expectations.”

“…”

I took a sip of water.

My throat was genuinely dry, but I wasn’t sure how this action might come across.

I could feel Maserin’s sharp gaze on me.

“I came because I had something to ask… Sir Jayden.”

“…To me?”

In the quiet silence…

I lifted my gaze from the water glass on the table to Jayden.

“Recite the code of chivalry.”