Chapter 103
Hailon’s statement brought silence to the surroundings.
Everyone stared at him with their mouths agape.
Chesha, who had been perched on Theo’s shoulder, acting as the teddy bear pilot, was no exception.
It seemed like he meant “the child I’m assigned to guard.”
But shortening it to…
‘Why does that make it my child!’
He had shortened it way too much.
It was the perfect phrase to invite misunderstandings.
Holy knights who had offered their bodies to the gods were required to maintain chastity.
Yet here was Hailon, the most revered figure among the holy knights, acting like a child’s father.
In fact, the eyes of the holy knights who had heard this shocking declaration were trembling uncontrollably.
However, no matter how people looked at him, Hailon paid no attention, as always.
He approached calmly and tried to take Chesha into his arms.
But Hailon’s hand was immediately blocked.
Belzeon, who hadn’t yet sheathed his sword, turned the blade toward him.
With the sword pointed, Belzeon issued a warning.
“It would be best to correct the misunderstanding right away.”
Chesha covered her eyes with her hand in a snap.
Her head was throbbing.
‘Our kid wasn’t like this…’
He was clearly supposed to be the one stopping others from drawing their swords.
She had no idea how Belzeon had ended up in the role of drawing his sword instead.
Watching Belzeon, the only somewhat rational member of the Basilian family, fall into corruption, Chesha felt saddened.
A blue gaze landed on Belzeon’s demonic sword.
It wasn’t black like Kierne’s, but a deep navy blade close to black.
The dark demonic sword’s edge clashed horribly with the pristinely shining Holy Empire.
Staring at the alien sword, Hailon shot back coldly.
“Have you forgotten that this is the Holy Empire?”
It meant to behave appropriately.
Belzeon, who immediately understood the brief implication, narrowed his eyes and sheathed his sword.
Theo hesitated awkwardly before following Belzeon and putting away his own sword.
The holy knights were still unable to recover from the shock.
Only then did Hailon belatedly toss out a correction.
“It’s the child I was assigned to guard at the Little Saints’ Prayer Assembly.”
“Ah…”
The holy knights exchanged glances and made ambiguous sounds.
However, even after hearing the clarification, their bewilderment didn’t fully dissipate.
The reason was obvious.
‘Because Hailon isn’t the type to step in and take sides like this.’
He was indifferent to everything, and thus fair in all matters.
With no personal bias involved, he never made skewed judgments.
It should be the same even for a child he was guarding.
If those associated with the child committed wrongs, he would be the one to condemn them more coldly than anyone.
But now, he was openly abusing his authority.
The holy knights didn’t know what to do with Hailon’s displayed favoritism.
The very fact that he was protecting someone felt so unfamiliar and strange.
Who on earth was that child?
Curious gazes poured onto Chesha all at once.
News that the Holy King had personally come out to greet the Count Basilian’s party was slowly spreading, making them even more intrigued.
Passersby, drawn by the untimely sword clash in the square, were also holding their breath and watching this way.
Thanks to Hailon, Chesha, who was becoming the most famous person in the Holy Empire in real time, leaned her body against the teddy bear’s head with a tired expression.
She already wanted to go home.
However, Hailon didn’t leave the exhausted Chesha alone.
He extended his hand toward Chesha again and finally pulled her into his embrace.
Hata, who had been in Belzeon’s arms, started growling fiercely.
It was as if she could hear Hata shouting, ‘Don’t touch the white hair!’
Ignoring the small puppy’s warning, Hailon gazed at Chesha quietly.
“…So this is what you look like.”
As she tilted her head at the incomprehensible murmur,
He added words that were utterly unhelpful in this situation.
“I’ve missed you.”
The low but distinctly clear voice spread out.
It was an unusually tender tone, with his usual coldness melting away softly.
Several holy knights stood with their mouths foolishly open.
Their expressions suggested they doubted if it was a hallucination.
‘Am I going crazy…’
He wasn’t the type to speak so softly, so why suddenly!
Chesha let out a silent sigh inwardly and subtly observed Hailon.
He seemed a bit thinner since she last saw him.
His eyes were as calm as ever, but somehow he looked faintly weary.
He had been summoned to the Holy Empire first—maybe the Holy King had scolded him harshly.
She couldn’t help but worry a little, since it was because she had released the fairy.
Still, as an inquisitor, how much scolding could he really get…
Yet, the worried feeling bubbled up uncontrollably.
Without realizing it, Chesha asked.
“Are you hurt somewhere?”
Hailon’s eyes widened slightly.
A faint smile brushed his lips.
But the brief change was quickly hidden.
“It’s not something for you to worry about.”
It seemed like something had indeed happened.
As Chesha’s face began to grow serious, Benji suddenly shouted loudly and stepped forward.
“Lord Hailon!”
His face was flushed with excitement.
As if just standing before him was an honor, his hands were even trembling.
Benji panted as he made his excuse.
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were personally guarding her, so I made a mistake.”
To be precise, it wasn’t Benji but Theo and Belzeon who had erred, but no one pointed that out.
Even Benji himself naturally passed it off as his own fault.
His groveling smile clearly showed his desire to seize this chance to exchange words with Hailon.
His eyes were even reddening as he rushed in, as if grabbing an opportunity he couldn’t miss.
Seeing that, it struck Chesha anew just how lofty Hailon’s status was among the holy knights.
However, Hailon didn’t even glance at Benji.
Instead, he turned his gaze to Theo.
Theo, standing like a massive bear, met Hailon’s eyes and jolted in surprise.
Without a word being said, Theo shrank back and apologized first.
“I’m sorry…”
Chesha tapped Hailon lightly.
It meant to be nice to the teddy bear.
Benji, who had been diligently reading the room, quickly interjected.
“I’m terribly sorry for causing concern. I’ll handle it myself from here, so you needn’t worry anymore.”
He adopted a quite reliable demeanor.
As the atmosphere seemed to shift toward Benji, Chesha tapped Hailon again.
Tap tap tap.
Understanding the small urging, Hailon slowly asked.
“How?”
“Pardon? Well, through dialogue, nicely…”
Hailon pointed out in an indifferent tone.
“Are you deciding matters for my people?”
Benji’s forced smile cracked audibly at the blunt words.
He instinctively realized he had chosen the wrong path.
Benji stammered.
“N-No, that’s not what I meant, I just thought since I caused the problem, I’d clean it up…”
But that was as far as he got.
As soon as Hailon’s final words fell, a holy knight under him lashed out fiercely.
“How dare you act so insolently! Who are you to decide? Instead of quietly awaiting Lord Hailon’s judgment, you spout such arrogance…”
He looked ready to cut Benji’s throat right then.
The knight glared at Benji with eyes sparking like fire.
“State your rank and name!”
Benji dropped to his knees with a thud and trembled as he spoke.
“28th Rank Holy Knight Order, Benji.”
Benji, pale and sweating coldly, suddenly lifted his head.
“I’m sorry, but I have something I must say.”
He pointed at Theo.
“In fact, that man underwent training to become a holy knight in the past. He slandered and framed others, tarnishing the honor of the holy knights, and was ultimately expelled from the training grounds.”
Benji appealed desperately, his eyes gleaming.
“I believe such a person cannot be placed by the side of the noble young lady you are guarding, Lord Hailon.”
It was a frantic attempt not to die alone.
‘Does that bastard want to die!’
How could our teddy bear ever frame someone?
If anything, he’d be the one getting framed!
Filled with rage, Chesha pounded Hailon’s forearm with both hands.
Tap tap tap tap tap tap.
As if acknowledging it, Hailon lightly patted Chesha’s back and opened his lips.
“Is it certain that he tarnished the honor of the holy knights?”
“Yes, it is!”
“…No, it’s not!”
Theo protested belatedly, but Hailon didn’t look at him.
Instead, he continued while staring at Benji.
“Then prove it.”
“…Pardon?”
Benji, who had been grinning moments ago, widened his eyes.
There was only one way to prove a knight’s honor.
It meant to duel Theo.
Benji’s face turned blank at the completely unexpected turn of events.
“Since you’ve staked the honor of the holy knights…”
Hailon added leisurely.
“If you lose, I’ll strip you of your position.”
