At three in the afternoon, the sun baked the dust on Hart Town's main street into a white powder.
The messenger sent out by the manager hadn't returned yet, but no one could blame him. Hart Town was inherently far from the other settlements; expecting him to make a round trip in a single afternoon was simply asking too much.
Esper looked at the latest notice posted by the branch, which already advised knights not to go out at night or stay overnight outside.
Although staying indoors wouldn't stop that creature's destruction, it would at least ensure that any commotion would be heard by everyone.
However, this also led to another dilemma.
When night fell, Esper might have to face two Rank Six or higher enemies all by herself.
It was hard to imagine that the strongest fighter left in town, aside from Esper, was probably the branch manager who had retired to the second line who-knows-how-long ago. And he was only Rank Four.
Granted, this meant she could use Supernova and Crimson Pierce without any reservations, and could even activate Canal and Crimson Scale Surge: Overdrive alongside them, but...
While Esper was still sitting in the guild branch, lost in thought, the door was suddenly pushed open.
The person who entered was young, seemingly around her age.
His short gray hair was cropped extremely close, revealing an old scar on the back of his neck. He wore the standard light armor of an imperial knight, with a badge pinned to the left side of his chest.
The design on the badge was a roundtable formed by countless overlapping swords.
Yes, a Roundtable Knight.
A Named Knight who, after being bestowed a name by the Emperor, had chosen to join the Imperial Roundtable.
He scanned the hall, his gaze pausing for less than half a second on the Holy Sword floating behind Esper's shoulder, before walking straight to the counter.
“I am Renn Cast, Rank Six. I ran into the messenger you sent out outside the town.”
The manager poked his head out from behind the curtain. Upon seeing the newcomer, an expression of utter astonishment crossed his face.
“...‘Annihilation’?”
“Yes.”
A knight's name usually reflected their combat style or their most unique trait.
Ade was known as Skull Hunter, while this man was called Annihilation.
Esper pressed a finger to her lips.
Renn offered no unnecessary pleasantries. He drew a neatly folded piece of paper from the leather pouch at his waist and spread it out on the counter.
It was his proof of identity as a Roundtable Knight, complete with serial number and official seal.
“Give me whatever information you have on the death marchers.”
The manager glanced at Esper. Esper rose from her low stool and walked over to the counter.
“I'll tell you. I fought it last night.”
Renn turned his face to look at her. His gray-blue eyes held no warmth, resembling frosted iron plates on a winter morning.
“You are the Hero.”
“Yes. You can just call me Esper.”
Esper briefly recounted the information she had gathered. Renn listened, falling silent for a few seconds afterward.
“Understood.”
His fingers tapped twice on the hilt of his sword.
“It targets knights for its hunts. In that case, I will act as the bait.”
Esper raised an eyebrow.
“Are you sure? Yesterday's Named Knight was also Rank Six, and he was hung at the tavern entrance this morning.”
“He clearly prioritizes knights as targets. Using myself as bait to draw him out is the optimal solution we can arrive at. Besides, I am a Roundtable Knight, a disciple of the Sword Saint.”
He gently pressed the badge on his chest. In the next moment, an aura identical to the one she had felt from Veronica's phantom emanated from him.
“The symbol of a Roundtable Knight, capable of radiating the aura of Authority through the badge. Although it has no practical effect and is extremely weak, it is still a manifestation of the ‘Storm’.”
His face remained completely devoid of emotion as he spoke.
“If he truly hates knights that much, he should show himself to kill me after sensing this aura.
And since the creature that specifically kills knights is here, then I should be here.”
Esper stared at him for two seconds before averting her gaze.
Ade had made the same choice, but he was different from Ade.
Ade was clearly afraid and openly admitted his cowardice, yet he had still stepped forward.
Renn Cast. He was not afraid; he possessed only a near-obstinate sense of duty and determination that Esper found strange.
“...But he is also intelligent. After yesterday's ambush, he should know today that I will be waiting to strike from the side. Under such a premise, will he really fall for it so easily?”
Renn nodded.
“His hatred for knights is extremely intense, and I am a Roundtable Knight of the Empire. To him, I must be a target that has to die.”
An open trap?
Esper looked at the youth in front of her for a few more moments.
“...Fine. You wander around the town tonight, and I'll follow you. If it appears, we'll take it down together.”
“Very well.”
Renn nodded, signaling that they had reached an agreement.
Then he turned around, seemingly planning to leave the guild.
“Ah, wait a moment.”
Esper called out to him.
“You just said you met the messenger outside the town. What were you doing nearby before coming here? Don't Roundtable Knights usually have specific missions and commissions to undertake?”
Renn's footsteps halted. With his back turned to her, he fell silent for a brief moment.
“I am currently hunting down Yulia Wagner.”
Esper's eye twitched.
She still remembered that name.
Former Roundtable Knight, former disciple of the Sword Saint, match-fixing queen, and defeat-CG collector.
Constantine's expression had been priceless when he mentioned her, and what she did hardly sounded like the work of a decent human being.
“...Hunting down your senior?”
“It's not exactly hunting down, nor is she my senior.”
He turned around, seriously correcting Esper.
“First, I only intend to defeat her and bring her back. Second, she is no longer Lord Sword Saint's disciple.”
He was very earnest, but he spoke in a flat tone, as if reading an official document.
“...Did you catch up to her?”
“No. She is faster than me. I lost her trail. Then I learned of what happened here, so I will handle this matter first.”
“Uh... pardon me for asking, but do you think you can defeat her?”
“Not at the moment.”
It was still that same flat tone.
“In terms of magic reserves, she is Rank Seven. I am Rank Six. In terms of swordsmanship, I am still far from her level.”
Esper's lips twitched.
“You're certainly honest.”
“If I can't beat her, I can't beat her. There's no need to lie.”
Renn turned back around and continued to walk out.
“Even so, you're still going after her?”
Esper couldn't help but ask one more question.
“I am a disciple of the Sword Saint, a Roundtable Knight of the Empire. This is my duty.”
Renn reached the door and pushed it open. The bright afternoon light poured in from outside, casting his silhouette into a dark shadow.
Esper didn't know what to say.
“Esper, meet me under the bell tower east of the town after sunset tonight.”
The door clicked shut.
Silence returned to the guild, and the manager let out a long sigh from behind the counter.
“...Young people these days are getting weirder and weirder.”
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