Volume 6 Chapter 26 The Sacred And Pure Brave Knight Girl
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Is it delicious?” Cianie asked, a soft smile playing on her lips.
”…Ah, yes…” Klock replied hesitantly.
”Good. If you need a refill, just let me know,” she said warmly.
After finishing breakfast with a conversation typical of lovers, Klock returned to the room assigned to him. He used his tongue to remove the stubborn fibers of lettuce caught between his teeth. Raising his face, he stared somewhat dazzled at the light streaming through the window. Bathed in the morning sun pouring down from beyond the rocky cliffs, he felt an illusion—that freedom he longed for lay just outside. Klock muttered softly.
”…Let’s run away,” he whispered.
Only the strong can confront difficulties.
Unfortunately, Klock was not strong. That meant it was okay to run away.
Beyond this rocky mountain, a woman awaited him. It would be manly to leave this place swiftly and head to her.
…Sorry, Mina.
Live strong.
Clenching his fist tightly in his heart, he raised his thumb in a silent farewell.
Leaving secretly in the presence of a hero was difficult. If he were to run, he would have to do it boldly—and alone. In other words, he would have to part ways with her here.
Well, she could live a much better life outside this village anyway.
She didn’t need to come with him, and there was no need to make excuses to Suzette.
His relationship with her was precious, but his own safety had to take priority.
Coming to this conclusion, he opened the door to his room.
He had no luggage, nothing in his hands. Carrying a bag would be dangerous, so he took only the bare minimum.
As he stepped out and approached the living room, Cianie, sensing something, turned toward him.
”What’s wrong? Ah, do you want something to drink?” she asked.
”Ah, no. I’m just going for a little walk,” Klock answered, trying to sound as calm as possible.
She wore an apron, and it felt somewhat like a conversation between husband and wife before going to work. He chuckled inwardly.
Just a few days ago, he had lived in Rizan Village. The daily conversations with Suzette had always been like this. Now, it felt as if he were at the house of a mistress.
Which was the main partner, and which was the mistress?
As he tried to leave before she caught on to anything unnecessary, she added,
”Ah, then I think I’ll go too.”
”No—uh, it’s just that I want to think alone for a bit. Please stay here with Mina,” he replied quickly, using the excuse he had prepared.
”Got it,” she said immediately and retreated.
He felt confident of his victory. From the back of the living room, only her tail was visible as she busied herself with housework. Using Mina as a scapegoat, Klock had avoided raising suspicion.
If both his luggage and a companion were here, no one would think he would disappear under the guise of a walk.
He closed the unnecessarily sturdy door behind him with a sharp thud and turned his back.
Stepping outside, he consciously kept a normal walking pace.
The air tasted delicious—he felt like a prisoner who had just escaped.
Maintaining a natural, casual posture, he scanned his surroundings as if on a leisurely stroll while increasing his distance.
The crunch of gravel underfoot kept pace with the rush he fought to suppress.
As he descended the mountain, the house quickly disappeared from view.
”See ya, Cianie. Take care,” he muttered under his breath.
Klock broke into a run, descending the gentle slope briskly.
Still on edge, he justified his pace as jogging.
With that, he abandoned all hope of mending things with the hero and of reconciling with his ex. He turned his back and fled.
He never expected to run into the hero at such a time.
Moreover, her true identity was Cianie.
He had hoped to mend relations with the hero, but if Cianie suggested rekindling their past, he had no choice but to flee.
Sure, she was his childhood friend, his ex, and his first love. He neither hated her nor lacked feelings for her. But he already had someone else—there was no option.
Man, it was a nice house.
Functional, with a soft, inviting bed.
If he chose her, could he live in that house every day?
The exterior was just a nice house; inside, it was a palace.
Convenience was off the charts.
Magic stones lavishly used in abundance.
A simple wave of the hand lit a fire; just bringing his hand close activated a magic circle that released water.
Mysteries and marvels everywhere.
Cianie herself had changed considerably since those days.
She called it an ability, but she was impossibly beautiful—if encountered in a tavern, he might have bought her drinks and taken her back to his room without hesitation.
Gone was the persistent troublemaker; from a distance, she was simply an incredible woman.
Had growing up changed everything?
Even breakfast, though he couldn’t savor it properly, had been well made.
Thinking calmly, what exactly was he dissatisfied with?
Well, a woman chasing him with a sword was a hard no.
If it had been just friends trying again, maybe there would have been a chance. But threatening to kill him unless he became her lover? That made it impossible to even mention the woman he already had.
Also, as he had thought during the Tiet incident, too-strong women were just hard to deal with.
One wrong move, and they might kill you on a whim.
He pressed forward along the rocky path, the crunch of gravel underfoot matching his growing urgency.
Patterns of fault lines marked the walls beside him as he pushed onward, desperate to reach safety.
Now, what to do next?
Running away was only the start—the real problem began now.
Once again, he found himself alone.
It was fine by itself, but it was not a situation from which he could easily escape.
From here on, the choices he made would echo far into the future.
Two objectives:
Join Suzette.
Escape from Cianie.
To meet Suzette, he had to reach Boorinel Town.
But since Cianie knew his destination, heading straight there was unwise.
He would inevitably be caught mid-route.
Taking a detour and avoiding her gaze meant a prolonged struggle—but the immediate problem was a lack of supplies.
Resupplying food outside the village was a risky thought.
The only future he saw involved eating something strange and dying.
If only he could find water somewhere.
He stopped briefly, catching his breath from the light jog, then resumed moving.
He finished descending the rocky mountain and took a small drink of water.
Wiping his forehead, he looked up.
The sun floated almost directly overhead.
He walked on silently.
More than three hours had passed since leaving Cianie behind.
At this point, the “just taking a walk” excuse was no longer believable.
Well, he still had the excuse of being lost.
Even though he was descending the mountain.
He pictured her—a woman easy to deceive.
Not unaware, but innocent, unsuspecting.
The original Cianie had been the opposite—hard to gain her trust, no matter what he said.
If she was truly Cianie, what had changed her so much?
What was it again? He had given her a beautiful cardigan from the Royal Capital, but she barely believed it—thinking he’d bought it at a nearby store.
Surprising he remembered that after fifteen years. No, how old was he then? Klock continued walking further.
The area around the rocky mountain remained shrouded in forest, the dense greenery starting to wear on him. It was easy to see how ill-suited the Beast Continent’s environment was for humans. The longer one lived in towns or streets, the more tiresome it became to be surrounded by unyielding nature like this.
It would be nice to have someone to talk to and pass the time during moments like this, but his goal was clear now—he had to join up with that person. How had it come to this?
”What’s to blame, I wonder?” Klock muttered, voice low and bitter. “That would be the village head… but that’s a bit harsh.”
He shook his head slightly. “It’s the lord. The lord summoning me was the very catalyst for all this.”
Thanks to that summons, he’d encountered monsters, clashed with the Demon Lord’s Army’s Four Heavenly Kings, been targeted by a dragon and thrown from a carriage, and finally, a hero had appeared at the end—truly ridiculous.
Looking back, it had been nothing but a series of disasters. Essentially, Klock was almost entirely innocent. It could be said that he was just plagued by genuine misfortune. The only exception was the final hero part—but that was best ignored.
”Hmm,” he said thoughtfully, stepping deeper into the forest.
After entering the woods for a while, Klock’s feet naturally came to a halt. Rather than consciously stopping, it felt like some unseen force was making it difficult to continue forward. In a more typical place, one might suspect a magical barrier designed to keep trespassers away, but in this unexplored, dense forest, such artificial magic seemed unlikely.
…What is it?
He didn’t know exactly, but a bad feeling gnawed at him if he pressed on.
Klock had always been an ordinary man. No special strength or talents. His Unique Skill was his prized possession, but with little innate magic power, he could only use it sparingly. Compared to adventurers, he ranked weaker than a B-class, but stronger than a C-class. Recently, however, something had shifted in him—his strength felt closer to that of a passing villager with an A-rank.
It was his nose for danger.
Facing south, he decided, “Then let’s head south. The east side feels really off.”
If it were a bear, there’d be clear traces—scratched trees, footprints—but there was no guarantee a novice like Klock could find those signs by luck. Even if there were droppings, he’d only mutter “gross” and look away.
In other words, there was no obvious reason to feel threatened.
Yet his mind screamed alarm.
Having lived long as a thief, his instincts were sharp. Beaten by Tiet, torn apart by Elna, repeatedly hunted by heroes and dragons—each ordeal sharpened his senses. Instinctively, he knew growth was necessary. Now, for reasons unknown, his instincts warned him of real danger.
”Ah, it’s definitely monsters. Ugh, this is so annoying.” Klock grimaced. “Seriously, the Beast Continent has way too many monsters.”
In the human settlements, encounters were rare. But here, anything could happen.
When the smell of battle rose, one checked their weapons. His usual companion was at hand, and a scrap of paper in his pocket. The paper, etched with a magic circle, was slightly singed at the edges.
Just paper after all—it couldn’t last forever. The magic it held lasted only about ten seconds at full power, but it would hold a little longer now.
”This isn’t very reliable,” he muttered. “I should’ve called Mina and brought her along when I had the chance.”
With Mina, the anxiety of battle would have almost vanished. But there was the problem of leaving Cianie behind—a hurdle he couldn’t cross.
Rustling sounds came from grass and trees swaying in the breeze, and though he was wary, Klock glared at his destination.
His only other possession was a water bottle, hopefully not too obvious. It wasn’t enough for such a long journey; he’d need to reach a place to replenish soon.
If possible, a village or river. But he had no information.
The dense bushes irritated him. In winter, he wouldn’t have to worry about spider webs. As a child, he often watched places like this because mantises lurked here.
Before meeting Cianie, he had caught bugs and observed them like any child. He caught grasshoppers and offered them to mantises, delighting when the mantis devoured them. His father once told him insects and animals weren’t so different inside—and even fed a mantis minced beef to prove it. When the mantis ate it, Klock was surprised.
Suddenly, Klock stopped. An unpleasant premonition prickled his senses again.
The weak survive by adapting. Klock’s survival instincts had sharpened—his heightened senses nudged him to look up.
Following his gut, he squinted upward and froze.
”It’s huge!!” he gasped. “A mantis—massive! Gross!!”
Clinging upside down to a tree was a mantis the size of a human. Its head turned toward Klock, eyes locked on him.
In one scythe-like claw, it held prey—meat that looked like a fawn’s, half-eaten and torn apart. The mantis’s mouth moved messily, devouring it.
Klock bolted immediately.
”That thing’s bad news,” he shouted. “It waits for you in hell if it catches you.”
Being eaten alive was hell enough, but the fact it was an insect made it even worse.
”Beast Continent seriously sucks!!”
Compared to spiders, was it better? No—anything insect-sized like this was just gross. Maybe butterflies were pretty?
Glancing back, the mantis was following him, creeping from tree to tree. It held the meat in its left claw but kept its gaze fixed on Klock.
Its speed was slow—no surprise; big insects rarely move fast. Their legs were many but thin.
There were no paths in the forest. Klock moved carefully, avoiding bushes and root traps meant to trip him. His speed was slower than running in a straight line, but the mantis wasn’t catching up—it followed, but he was pulling away.
”Seriously, don’t scare me like that,” he muttered. “Ugh, gross, gross.”
When he returned to Rizan, he’d detour through the north. He would never pass this way again.
Confident in his escape, Klock regained composure. Since he was already far away, just veering off the pathless route would hide him from sight. It didn’t seem like the creature had a keen sense of smell, so as long as he stayed out of sight, he’d be safe.
He sheathed the knife he had instinctively drawn and slipped away smoothly.
Just as he thought he’d escaped the crisis—right in front of him—
”Huh?” Klock blinked.
With a powerful whoosh, massive wings unfurled.
Its beak reflected the light, and its incredibly sharp eyes were firmly fixed on Klock.
”──G-Gryphon!?” Klock gasped.
A second assassin appeared.
With a white neck and a dark brown body. Four-legged with an eagle-like appearance. Its piercing gaze could freeze anyone, even a frog caught in a snake’s stare, and its body was the size of a bear.
A gryphon. An exceedingly famous monster. It seems to inhabit only a very small area in the Human Continent, but this was the first time he had seen a real one.
He turned on his heel and dashed away. This time, he was going all out.
The gryphon was famous not only for its appearance but also for its ferocity.
After all, they were the enemies of farmers. With their powerful legs, they captured and stole livestock such as cows. There was no doubt they possessed considerable strength to lift a cow, and being carnivorous made them even more dangerous.
Don’t follow me, don’t follow me. Please, don’t come this way──oh crap, you’re coming, he thought desperately.
When he turned around, they were, of course, following him.
Perhaps hidden from view, there were actually three of them. Their gait was unnatural — as if only their legs moved while their bodies remained level.
Moreover, unlike mantises, they moved quickly. Although they didn’t fly, perhaps because they were in the forest, their running speed was almost as fast as Klock’s.
*No, no, no, no, what the hell is going on?
I thought there were a lot, but this is way too many.
Just walking a little and running into them is like hell.*
It was possible that this area was just particularly bad.
For example, the Human Continent had places like the Sekurei Forest Area and Wicked Noirev, dangerous lands that no one wanted to approach. However, such places were generally known and shared knowledge among everyone.
”They’re really chasing me, aren’t they? Eat some worms or something, you bastards,” Klock muttered bitterly.
Six sharp eyes met his, and he raised his middle finger defiantly.
Perhaps the gryphons couldn’t distinguish between Klock and a worm, but now was not the time to think about that.
This seemed to be a Monsters Park. It was not a place where humans should be.
A swift escape and withdrawal were necessary.
When fleeing, the priority was generally a quick escape and ensuring safety.
It was common to often misjudge directions.
While fleeing, Klock’s vision caught sight of a familiar rocky mountain.
He quickly understood. He had been heading east, then turned south along the way, and while escaping, it seemed he had been running back west.
”Seriously? Is this the southern side of the rocky mountain I just crossed?” Klock groaned.
Hours of travel down the rocky mountain had been wasted.
Instead of finding a supply point, he had only exhausted his stamina.
Realizing he was in a situation that made him want to bury his head in his hands, he felt an urge to scream.
But now was not the time for that. The threat in front of him had not yet disappeared.
Damn, these guys have gotten faster.
As he emerged onto the flat land at the boundary of the rocky mountain, the roots and thickets of the forest that had been obstacles disappeared, and the gryphons’ legs suddenly accelerated.
It became easier for Klock to run, but his speed did not increase to the same level as theirs.
Humans and monsters. The difference in stamina was too great.
Thinking it was bad, he started running with all his might, but even then, he was only running at nearly the same speed as the gryphons.
This is bad. If they take to the air, it’s going to be dangerous! Somewhere, somewhere to hide──
The magic circle could be activated at any time.
While preparing to use it the moment they took off, he looked around.
One of the holes dotting the slope of the rocky mountain came into view.
There is nowhere else──activate the magic circle.
Acceleration (Accelerare)──a small amount of magic power circulated within, changing colors through the circle, and his body, now initiated, cut through the wind and rushed forward.
Leaping up, just like when escaping the Empire, he dove into the gap in the rock that had opened up.
Thunk.
A hoarse voice echoed somewhere behind him.
After landing with a heavy thud, he raised his body and looked toward the light.
Three large eagles—or rather, gryphons—were all poking their heads in and clicking their beaks sharply.
However, they could only fit their heads in. With their bulky bodies, they couldn’t enter the hole.
”Phew, that was close. Hey, take that, you damn birds!” Klock growled.
Crawling forward on his hands and knees, he found a stone, picked it up, and threw it with all his might.
When it hit the neck of one gryphon with a sharp smack, their cries increased, like chicks begging for food.
He gave a thumbs down, as if to say, Feel free to be frustrated.
Feeling quite tired, he sat down and picked up his water bottle.
”…Once I meet up with that guy, I might ask about going to the Demon Continent. At this rate, no matter how many lives I have, it won’t be enough,” Klock muttered.
The Beast Country and the Human Continent were mainly connected through trade, and both races could live in each other’s countries.
However, while Beastkin were relatively common in the Human Continent, Humans were not often seen in the Beast Country.
Why was that? It was thought to be due to differences in values with the Beastkin, but perhaps it wasn’t just that.
In other words, this place had been so underdeveloped that there were too few safe areas for people.
It had been three months since arriving in the Beast Country, but Klock had spent most of the time in a village.
Honestly, one had to admit that his recognition of the dangers outside was lacking.
Above all, the presence of Suzette was always on his mind.
At this rate, it would be difficult to protect himself alone.
It seems like something needs to be done, or it could get dangerous.
He wanted to believe that this area was just an unlucky dangerous place.
…Oh?
The gryphons continued to squawk insistently.
As he gradually got used to their presence, they suddenly pulled their heads back and fell silent.
Perhaps they got bored. Or maybe they were lying in wait outside.
In an instant, he thought of the possibilities and decided to observe the situation carefully.
”…What is it?” Klock whispered, unease tightening his chest.
A third run—an unpleasant premonition.
This was a hole like a gap in the rocks. It was not deep, about three meters.
There was nothing beyond it, and if there was a threat, it would have to come from outside.
This warning felt very strong.
It wasn’t just a feeling. The persistent griffons’ sudden withdrawal gnawed at him, filling the air with a heavy sense of foreboding.
He fell silent, thinking, Not again.
He tried not to make a sound, freezing in place. Every careful step was measured, barely disturbing the stones beneath him, as if hiding from some unseen terror lurking outside.
──Activate, Stellar Manifestation, he whispered.
Could it be a dragon?
The recent shock returned vividly. He breathed quietly to stifle any panting, wiping the cold sweat trickling down his forehead. Slowly, he reached out a trembling hand. Turning his feet forward, he cautiously leaned out to peer beyond the threshold──
Divine punishment, an embodiment of action.
──Flare.
At that instant, shock and an otherworldly blue engulfed everything.
”──────!!” he gasped, voice lost in the roar.
Klock was blasted backward, a soundless scream trapped in his throat. His vision flooded with blue, streaked with violent red—like a deluge, a tempest rushing across his sight.
He hit the ground hard, gasping for breath as he staggered upright. What on earth had just happened? Desperately, he scanned his surroundings, but a suffocating heat wrapped around him, scorching every inch of skin.
It was unbearable. Too hot. Instinctively, he shielded his face.
Still, it was better to be clothed—an infernal wind sliced through the air. Though his eyelids stayed clenched tight, the brightness pressed against his senses.
A supernatural phenomenon was unfolding.
He understood instantly: unprecedented danger had arrived.
Summoning courage, he forced his eyes open.
A spreading crimson light crept into his vision. Boldly, he exposed his face.
”────Huh?” he whispered.
Hell lay before him.
Red earth cracked and bubbled, rocks boiling in an unholy stew. Burning trees twisted in agony, the vast forest reduced to ash. Around his feet, molten lava hissed and oozed, swallowing the ground.
Heart pounding, Klock scrambled away from the fiery chasm. If lava poured from the mountain, he would be incinerated. Panic swallowed reason; he dashed blindly outside.
And there she stood.
Klock──
The Grim Reaper god stood there.
The Sun god stood there.
On this scorched earth, divinity had descended.
Two blades, infernal and radiant, aligned. Her shining sapphire eyes advanced.
Thank God. He was safe──
It’s okay now. Don’t worry.
A beautiful voice floated like a melody, soothing and divine. She brushed back her hair with the grace of a goddess descending from the heavens.
”C… Cianie…” Klock breathed.
Her floating smile seemed to forgive all of humanity’s sins.
So overwhelmingly divine was she that he felt his head bow on instinct.
Her presence embodied superiority—an instinctual ruler meant to judge, guide, and embrace humanity, like the sun blazing high above.
”Klock. I was really worried since you said you’d just take a walk and didn’t come back. Were you perhaps lost?” Cianie asked softly.
”Huh? Ah, yeah…” Klock stammered.
”I see. I’m glad I found you. The Beast Continent is far more dangerous than the Human Continent. There are many beasts; you must be careful,” she said with quiet authority.
The bright red stones crumbled silently beneath her feet.
Ignoring the melting earth, Cianie strode forward with regal pride, standing before Klock.
”Mina is waiting with a hungry stomach. Let’s hurry home.”
By any measure, she was not human but a goddess.
She who had incinerated the surrounding land in an instant now gazed down at the scorching earth.
There was no forest left around them. The entire field of vision was stained a brutal red. In the distance, the few remaining trees barely held their form, consumed by horrific flames.
The rocky mountains melted like wax, taking on the shape of a fallen crescent moon. Everything seemed drenched in the sun’s fury.
What on earth had happened?
Not even a tyrannical king ruling the earth would dare this destruction.
In a world ravaged by fire and ash, only she remained standing.
No—thanks to her mercy, Klock could barely stand as well.
”We just managed to reunite, so don’t worry too much,” she said softly.
Suddenly, a soft pop echoed against her cheek—a delicate, unexpected sound that left Klock stunned.
What was going on?
Such an extraordinary supernatural event defied all logic, pushing his mind toward refusal.
It took a long time for his brain to reboot.
Only when he returned home via teleportation did his sanity begin to settle.
Notes:
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
• Mina – She is a golden-haired catgirl employee of the beastman (Larana the cat woman) Inn, appeared performing fellatio, desperate and tear-streaked, with an inexperienced yet earnest approach to her work.
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Rizan – Village on a hilly plateau.
• Tiet – A companion and friend of Anna. A holy knight from the royal capital. She wears light armor and carries a shield adorned with a dragon holding a sword, indicating her affiliation with the National Military Police. She is concerned about Anna’s well-being and tries to support her emotionally.
• Boorinel – A town east of Ryzan, where Lord Cattleya’s manor is located; said to be a long journey from Ryzan.
• Elna – Female. A young apprentice mage. Her appearance is that of a child with white hair reaching her shoulders. She wears a black hooded mantle with strange patterns. Her relationship is as an apprentice to Hermine, the Great Mage. Her power involves advanced magic, including spatial teleportation. Her combat style is magical, and she is described as childish and easily provoked.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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