Enrite, wielding the Magic Sword of Light, could sense the presence of other Magic Swords. He quickly recognized the Magic Sword possessed by Seran and detected the existence of Exceed Rain. However, Hanette's Magic Sword had only just revealed its power, leaving Enrite somewhat startled.
"Hanette, how did you..."
"Why? Are you upset because I acted on my own? It's better than the knights getting hurt, isn’t it?"
"That's not what I meant..."
Zion couldn’t take his eyes off Hanette. The magic power of the Magic Sword was clearly emanating from her. How could she possess a Magic Sword without even having a bond with it?
'Did she get the Magic Sword before we met?'
Zion had been observing Hanette ever since their engagement. She spent most of her time in taverns or gambling dens, always accompanied by a bodyguard. Even if she had bonded with a Magic Sword, she wouldn’t have had the freedom to act on it.
'The magic power of the Magic Sword is fading.'
Her golden eyes were gradually returning to their usual light brown. Hanette retracted her magic, wearing a satisfied smile.
"See? I told you, one shot is all it takes."
There were no more zombies left to fight the Sylase Knights. Only black ashes remained, and a foul stench filled the air.
"...Hanette! You can't just use magic like that!"
"Don't you trust me?"
"You need to follow the rules! What if one of our allies had gotten hurt..."
"The soldiers were at a distance, and the knights were just about to approach. Do you think I'd use magic without thinking?"
Hanette had been observing the battle and contemplating when to intervene. While the knights could have handled it on their own, there was no reason to waste time. Plus, she wanted to demonstrate her abilities to the Sylase Knights, so she decided to take action.
"I was going to ask you first, but the opportunity came up, so I took it. Isn't that okay?"
"What I'm saying is... sigh..."
Zion wasn’t ignorant of her intentions. He knew why she acted, but the manner in which she did so was problematic. The honor of both families was tied to this knight order, and Hanette's safety was also at stake.
"I don’t think your judgment was wrong. It’s good to end a monster hunt quickly. But you know what you did was improper, right?"
"Yes, I got the order wrong."
"In the future, please get my permission first."
Zion briefly urged her before locking eyes with Enrite. It was as if Enrite was demanding an explanation for what had just happened. However, Zion himself had no proper answer to give.
'So, since the mage examination...'
Before taking the mage examination, Hanette hadn’t shown any signs. She had merely displayed exceptional talent and learned magic later than others. Perhaps the training gradually awakened the power of the Magic Sword within her.
'Why didn't I realize?'
The Magic Sword of Darkness could sense other Magic Swords, not just the Magic Sword of Light. If Hanette had possessed a Magic Sword, Exceed Rain should have reacted earlier. Yet, it only now responded, and even then, its presence was fleeting.
'The White Apostle has also noticed. Is there a condition?'
There was no way to know for sure. The current situation was entirely different from what Zion had known. Perhaps the Fire Magic Sword had unique attributes, just like Hanette.
'There are mixed parts of truth and error. This way...'
There were numerous questions to consider: Why did Hanette have to die? How did she obtain the Fire Magic Sword? What happens to the Fire Magic Sword after her death? These elements could introduce unforeseen variables later on.
'I need to consider the Fire Magic Sword as well...'
"Is this really such a big deal?"
"It’s not serious. No one got hurt, so we can explain it away."
"You look like it's a big deal."
"What did I do?"
"You keep thinking."
"...I was thinking about something else."
"I don't think so..."
"Sigh..."
The Sylase Knights were now watching Zion and Hanette. Although the monster hunt had ended early, it seemed a lengthy conversation was about to ensue. Neither he nor Enrite could fully understand what had just occurred.
'Things are changing. What is Hanette hiding?'
Alain Kingdom's borderlands, temporary camp.
When unable to enter a fortress, finding a safe place to camp was essential. Though monsters rarely appeared within Alain Kingdom's territory, bandits or mercenary groups could still pose a threat. While setting up a night watch helped, it wasn’t a perfect solution. Typically, efforts were made to reach a fortress before nightfall or to camp with Alain Kingdom soldiers.
"Ah, it was better inside the fortress."
"Whether we sleep early or late, it’s the same. Think positively."
"Unlike you, I need a good night's sleep to perform well."
"When have we ever slept well? If you’re going to complain, leave the knight order."
"Here we go again. We always end up fighting, so let's keep it down."
The Sylase Knights settled into their spots, having their evening meal. Seran and Enrite were with the Rihines Knight Order, likely discussing the day's events and future plans.
"That was quite impressive."
"There's a reason strong knights were held back."
"If we waste our strength needlessly, we can’t act when needed."
"How did she use magic there? What if we got caught in it?"
"We didn’t, did we?"
"She must have known. Mages can sense these things."
"True..."
"The mage title isn't given to just anyone."
The vice-captain of the Rihines Knight Order had helped finish the monster hunt quickly. While the knights risked their lives, the vice-captain used just one spell.
The monsters burned instantly, turning into charred remains.
"What do you think? I know she's strong, but we don’t know much else..."
"She’s exceptional. The power and speed of her spells, and her precision are remarkable. Considering distance and range, her level is unfathomable."
"That's high praise."
"Even for a mage, it’s no easy feat. Controlling dozens of flames... no, hundreds? Considering their size, it’s even more challenging."
"Is she that amazing?"
"Compared to me, she’s unrivaled. If she earned the mage title at that age, aiming for archmage isn’t far-fetched."
At the mention of "archmage," the knights showed interest. She had earned the title of mage, proving her skills. But how much stronger would she need to be to attain the title of archmage?
"Hmm… So, she came to the borderlands with her husband?"
"Husband? You mean her fiancé?"
"I don’t know. If they’re married, they're a couple; if not, they’re testing the waters."
"Ha! Do you think noble marriages are that simple? Engagement and marriage are different."
"If they like each other, they marry. If not, they don’t. Why complicate it?"
"It’s not about liking each other... Sigh... Why am I even explaining?"
The knights glanced at the Rihines Knight Order’s direction. They had heard rumors about noble engagements but were encountering it firsthand for the first time. This naturally sparked curiosity and a sense of unfamiliarity.
'They're doing it again. They don’t underestimate us, do they?'
Hanette noticed their gazes and glared at the knights. They had seen her power, so they couldn’t openly disregard her. Even though she could assert her status as the Duke's daughter, that wasn’t the best approach. They valued strength and achievements more than status and power.
"Ah, she noticed us!"
"Why are you looking over there?"
"She has a presence."
"Bold..."
"Why are you staring? If they were concerned about our reaction, they wouldn't have come."
The knights, after being reprimanded, focused back on their meal. Hanette, satisfied, finally turned away.
"Thank you for helping with the hunt. Thanks to you, it ended quickly."
"Oh, it was nothing. I hope I didn’t act out of turn."
"We were a bit surprised. We didn’t expect you to help suddenly."
Seran smiled brightly, recalling the feeling. Hanette also possessed a Magic Sword like him. Though he couldn’t sense it now, he was sure they would meet again.
"I was surprised too. You handle magic quite well."
Enrite cautiously joined the conversation, trying to sense the Magic Sword again. But there was no trace of its presence; instead, Exceed Rain’s presence was growing stronger.
"R-really? I’ll be sure to inform you beforehand next time."
"You must have seen us struggling. We have many shortcomings..."
"Oh, no! I just thought I could help. You would’ve managed well without me."
Hanette, flustered, lightly touched Zion's arm. If the Sylase Knights had truly struggled, Zion would have intervened first. She merely wanted to demonstrate her capabilities to Zion, showing that she could perform well.
But if she continued speaking like this, it would only put them in an awkward position.
"...We lack experience in fighting monsters. So, we were observing to get a feel for the situation. But since we’re now with the Sylase Knights, we couldn’t just stand by and watch. That’s why I gave the order to assist."
Zion lied to cover for Hanette's mistake. As the leader, he was responsible for the knights under his command. If a knight committed a wrongdoing, it implicated the entire knight order and affected the leader as well.
Moreover, Hanette was his fiancée, so he had to support her regardless of her actions.
"Oh, so it was an act of kindness. In that case, our knights will understand."
Enrite didn’t intend to argue about right or wrong now. No one was injured, and all the monsters were eradicated swiftly. This would likely make Seran and the knights more favorable towards an alliance with the Rihines Knight Order.
‘...This too must be fate.’
In a short absence, the Magic Swords of Darkness and Fire had intertwined. Though it began as a political marriage, it seemed fate and destiny had intertwined.
Originally, Enrite had hoped to rely on Seran Sylase, but now he saw other possibilities.
‘Perhaps Zion Laird can handle me.’