Zion spoke calmly without hesitation.
Facing death had allowed him to see his true feelings.
This left only pure emotions, free from any doubts.
"Didn’t you say you had something to do?"
"I do have things to do. But getting married doesn’t mean those things will go away."
Zion aimed to defeat the three great kings and the four great calamities.
Considering that demons and dragons could partially revive, his goals would only increase.
But for now, he could do nothing but wait for the right time.
"So you want to get married now?"
"I mean, it’s possible. I didn’t say we should do it immediately."
"Why do you keep changing your words?"
"I'm not changing my words. I just want to respect your thoughts."
A wedding wasn’t something one person could decide.
It required a mutual agreement and a shared commitment to the time and place.
Even if he was ready, Hanette might not be.
"If you tell the head of the family you want to get married, they’ll probably set a date soon."
"Other people don’t matter to me. You’re the most important. I want to know what you think."
"......"
Hanette stayed silent, deep in thought.
When she thought Zion was dead, she regretted not marrying him.
But after returning to the capital, her fear of marriage grew stronger than her regrets.
"Um... I don’t know what to do."
"You want to wait a bit more?"
"It’s not that... I really don’t know. I feel like I should marry you, but the thought scares me."
"Am I that scary?"
"It’s not you that’s scary; it’s the marriage."
"...Isn't that the same thing?"
"You don’t understand my words."
Hanette shook her head, glancing at Zion.
Zion gazed back with an indifferent look.
Despite his unchanging expression, why did it feel so burdensome?
"If that’s what you think, I’ll respect it. Marriage is for the both of us."
"...You're not angry, right?"
"Why would I get angry over this?"
"I don’t know. You should know better."
"......"
Zion frowned, saying nothing.
Hanette watched him quietly before bursting into laughter.
"I’m joking, joking. This time, I wasn’t being unreasonable."
"You were being unreasonable the moment you said that."
"That’s why I said it was a joke."
"Ugh... I guess marriage is a joke to you. That doesn’t feel great..."
"Hey! You said you’d respect my thoughts!"
"I do respect them. But it feels like you’re mocking me."
Zion purposely trailed off, glancing at her.
Hanette squinted at him, only to glare harder.
"You made the mistake, so why are you glaring?"
"Because it's ridiculous. What will you do about it?"
"I respect you, but you’re disrespecting me?"
"When did I ever disrespect you?"
"Do I need to list it out?"
"Haha! That’s funny. Are you challenging me now?"
"You started this."
"You respect me? That’s a lie."
They argued continuously but never showed real animosity.
They enjoyed the moment, naturally following the flow.
Their feelings hadn’t changed, and it felt like they had grown closer after battling the Abyssal King.
‘...Only five left now.’
The Sea King Mu Pendals, the Immortal King Regina, the True Dragon Velda, the Chimera Dragon Ashimokus, the Slime Dragon Monzruor.
One each from the three great kings and the four great calamities was left.
He could somewhat predict their moves but wasn’t certain.
Surely, some among them were secretly planning and moving.
‘First, I need to stop the Chimera Dragon.’
Thankfully, the Chimera Dragon wasn’t heading for Arleard Castle.
It would attack a fortress at the northern front, which, according to the original story, would be overrun and plague-ridden.
‘The cure can be obtained from the Chimera Dragon.’
Though it spread a deadly plague, the Chimera Dragon had components in its body that could neutralize it.
When it died, these components would leak out, purifying the plague.
‘If the plague is part of the darkness... maybe I can end it with one sword strike?’
The three great kings were born from demons, so they could be considered embodiments of darkness.
But the four great calamities were rooted in dragons, so they weren’t necessarily linked to darkness.
He needed to fight the Chimera Dragon to find out more.
‘...I can kill it. In the face of the universe, even existence itself is futile.’
Duke Adelaira’s mansion, reception room.
Zion and Hanette arranged separate rooms to meet guests.
They could have met together, but the lady suggested they meet separately first.
Hanette agreed, so Zion found himself alone with another noble’s child.
"I must apologize. I couldn’t attend to you due to urgent matters last time."
"Oh, it’s alright. It’s understandable. Unless we had a prior appointment, it’s no problem."
Halfnon Frandique set his cup down, answering softly.
Halfnon and his sister Raina had arranged to visit Duke Adelaira’s mansion.
They came to finalize what Zion had previously suggested.
"This time, I must apologize. I wanted to respond quickly, but it took a while to discuss."
"If I were in your place, it would have taken a long time as well. There are complicated circumstances involved."
"Thank you for understanding. Raina being tied to the church required some careful thought."
"She became a Cardinal, so it’s understandable."
Zion had a rough idea of Halfnon’s situation.
As the eldest son of Marquis Frandique, Halfnon couldn’t completely separate from his family.
Raina probably had to proceed with a political marriage for the family, but suddenly became a Holy Knight of the Kinesien Holy Order.
And with the proposal to join the Lychness Knights, the Marquis Frandique family must have been heavily deliberating.
"Raina can now move freely as a Cardinal. I heard the White Apostle helped."
"...Is that so?"
Zion feigned ignorance, replying calmly.
Raina had only recently been appointed Cardinal, so independent actions wouldn’t be easily approved.
However, Zion had secretly asked Enrite, who convinced the Pope to allow Raina’s release.
"The White Apostle wants this, and I don’t think joining the Lychness Knights is a bad idea. But Marquis Frandique expressed negative views on Raina joining."
"But he doesn’t mind you joining?"
"Yes, I am a swordsman and interested in the knights, so getting permission wasn’t difficult. Unlike me, Raina has never wielded a sword or magic. Marquis Frandique fears she might get hurt."
Zion understood the Marquis’s thoughts.
He didn’t want to risk Raina, intended for a political marriage, in battle.
If she got hurt, the marriage couldn’t proceed, and if she died, it would be disastrous.
"So, does this mean Raina cannot join?"
"...Not necessarily. I am trying to persuade him, and Marquis Frandique is also contemplating."
"I shouldn’t say this, but... why does Marquis Frandique need to deliberate?"
Zion deliberately probed for a reaction.
The Marquis could easily pressure Raina into submission using various means.
"Raina didn’t want to comply. But unable to resist the Marquis, she made an irrevocable choice."
"An irrevocable choice?"
"She took a martyrdom vow before the Pope."
"...What?"
Zion leaned forward in shock.
A martyrdom vow was unbreakable until death.
Being a vow to the Kinesien Goddess, neither the Cardinals nor the Pope could interfere.
"A martyrdom vow means she must remain a Holy Knight for life."
"...Yes."
"She cannot marry or have children, if I understand correctly."
"That is correct."
"She must live for the church forever, knowing this, she still took the vow?"
"Yes, fully aware."
Halfnon replied with a weary tone.
She should have consulted him first.
But Raina acted impulsively, leaving the family with no options.
"Then how is she here?"
"Sigh... No longer the Marquis’s daughter, she can do as she pleases."
"...So she came here as a Cardinal?"
"That’s what she says... but it’s frustrating for me."
"What would you have me do?"
"I am not here to demand anything. I just want your honest answer."
Zion understood the underlying message.
He wanted both of them accepted into the knights, but this could cause conflicts with the Marquis Frandique.
Halfnon might be fine, but admitting Raina could lead to disputes.
"I don’t want to cause friction with the Marquis Frandique. For your sake..."
"You don’t need to worry about me or my family. The Marquis won’t make an issue of it. I just want your answer."
"In this situation, I can’t decide. If I say the wrong thing, it could put me in a difficult position."
"Is it because of Duke Adelaira and Marquis Laird?"
"The Lychness Knights bear the names of both families. Without their consent, I cannot admit Raina."
Zion could somewhat guess Raina’s feelings for taking the martyrdom vow.
But it was an extreme action, inviting potential conflict.
She must have despised being controlled by the Marquis, but even other nobles might not understand her decision.
"If I persuade both of them, will you accept her?"
"It won’t be easy. You know that."
"Zion, Raina has longed to join the Lychness Knights. If she cannot, she will be very troubled. I will even persuade Marquis Frandique. Can’t you accept her?"