ALL NOVEL Chapter 13
#013 Episode: It’s Getting Hot
Inside the Knights’ Order barracks, the commander’s office.
Asher sat across from Commander Weill, sipping tea.
Glancing up at him, memories of their first encounter came flooding back.
From the moment he joined the order, he had been the Commander of the Knights.
He was someone with a clear conviction about his duty and genuinely dedicated to training the younger generation.
Asher learned prayer techniques under him and the combat skills of a Knight.
Reflecting on those memories, the first thing that came to mind was quite amusing.
“Is that all you can do?! Stand up!!!”
In the beginning, Commander Weill was not pleased with Asher, who had joined to become a knight to protect the Saintess, and gave him training volumes equal to that of others.
He even supervised and scolded him directly.
Asher endured it.
Though others viewed him as a snotty child chasing after girls, he was sincere in his intentions.
He thought it would suffice if he became an exceptional person that others would acknowledge.
While training in that mindset, it was rather amusing that the first person to recognize him was the very person who disliked him the most—Commander Weill.
“…Impressive.”
On the day he became a first-class Knight, the day he received his sword name, those were the words that Commander Weill had given him.
That day was so joyous that the feeling still remained vividly within him.
When he suggested that Asher be the next Commander of the Knights, the acknowledgment felt electrifying.
In fact, even now, there were moments he thought about it.
If he had given up on being a protector, he would have been traversing the continent alongside Commander Weill by now.
He might have felt pride in eradicating heretics or in protecting the people.
Of course, even if he could return to that time, Asher would still choose the position of a protector.
As so many memories welled up, warming his heart, they did not eliminate Asher’s tension.
‘What should I do now…!’
Cold sweat trickled down Asher’s back.
Is Commander Weill suspecting the sudden change in his character?
And since Berchia couldn’t keep up with the training he was assigned as a test, is he thinking of disbanding her position?
Indeed, Commander Weill’s nickname is the “Mustachioed Guillotine.”
He is very strict regarding official matters, and no matter how personal feelings might arise, he spoke with a ruthless sense of reason.
With his words being as cold as they were, the mustache above his lips was referred to as a guillotine.
He wouldn’t easily grant a position to someone unqualified, and it was abundantly clear how he’d view the current state of Berchia.
Somehow, he had to navigate this situation.
He needed to sneak Berchia out of the barracks.
As those thoughts whirled in his mind.
“It’s been a while since we had a conversation like this.”
“…Yes!”
“How is Sir Trevion performing his duties?”
At that moment, Asher’s eyes sparkled.
It was the perfect timing to showcase how well he had been serving as a protector.
“Yes! Of course! Sir Asher is…!”
Introducing oneself in the third person while praising oneself is no easy task.
It’s essentially self-praise, isn’t it?
Yet, since it was something that had to be done, Asher continued to compliment himself with a reddened face.
Commander Weill’s gaze narrowed more and more, but Asher was not looking directly at him, so he was oblivious to it.
“So… I’m satisfied; I’m satisfied!”
Asher spat out his words like a cannonball and took a breath.
Isn’t that enough?
Wouldn’t that prevent the disbandment of Berchia’s position?
He thought so, but the situation unfolded in a direction he hadn’t anticipated.
“…First, I apologize.”
“…!”
Commander Weill lowered his head.
Asher jumped up in surprise.
“P-Please lift your head…!”
“No. From now on, I shall express my apologies, so I will say this.”
Asher’s heart sank.
His gaze trembled like a quaking aspen.
“W-What…?”
“Today, I summoned Sir Trevion to participate in training. It was a clear unilateral decision. I had something to verify.”
Thud!
His heart dropped.
“His skills have declined. He could not keep up with training that he would normally finish with a smile.”
His mind went blank.
Asher was left speechless, his lips quivering.
Various emotions surged within him.
By far, the most significant was the guilt of letting Commander Weill down.
Yet, even in the midst of that, the situation was too dire to remain dazed.
He could not just stand there mumbling at nothing; he needed to defend Berchia’s dwindling fitness.
He bit his lip.
Then, with the thought that he must somehow prevent the disbandment, he managed to speak.
At that moment.
“T-That…”
“Could you give Sir Asher at least one training session a week?”
“…Eh?”
“He is a friend with great enthusiasm for training. He always knows how to restrain himself and possesses deep faith. I want to give him that time.”
What on earth is this?
Just as he thought that, Commander Weill lifted his head.
He wore an awkward smile that Asher had never seen before.
“Of course, the priority is indeed protection duties. Yes, I know he must always be by the Saintess’s side, as she desires. He chose that path himself; therefore, it is my personal wish. He isn’t honest about his own desires and wouldn’t dare to ask for training time. So… if I may take the liberty to ask…”
Asher was left speechless.
It wasn’t mere surprise.
At that moment, it struck him that the reason Commander Weill lowered his head was for him. That realization of heartfelt sincerity was unexpectedly touching.
“T-That…”
His sentence trailed off.
Commander Weill lowered his head again.
“I beg of you, Saintess.”
Asher fought back tears.
He steadied himself, grappling with waves of profound emotion.
However, it wasn’t easy.
“This disciple of mine is precious. Please take my life devoted to serving you into account and grant me just this one selfish request.”
“Uh…!”
“Hmm…?”
Asher squeezed his eyes shut.
He turned away, clamping his mouth shut, biting back the tide of emotion washing over him.
A precious disciple!
How splendid is that resonance!
‘Yes!’
The priestesses know nothing!
It seems that knights like Commander Weill truly understand masculinity!
As a man, as a knight, and as a comrade who has shared life’s adversities, the very fact that he was acknowledged by his superior filled him with overwhelming gratitude.
He needed to keep his expression in check.
Thinking that, Asher suddenly stood up and turned away.
And spilled the words out somehow.
“…Alright then.”
“Thank you!”
“I-I’ll be going now.”
He quickly exited the room.
Today, wouldn’t it be permissible to take some time to reflect on his past life and commend himself?
The emptiness he felt before coming here had completely vanished, and what now filled Asher’s heart was a sense of fulfillment.
Thus, Asher did not realize his misstep.
“So, I have to train at least once a week?”
“…….”
Asher could not bring himself to look at Berchia, his eyes darting around.
His trembling body resembled a herbivore in front of a predator.
“Do I have to go through that hardship?”
“…….”
“Ah, it’s getting hot in here.”
Stretching out—
Somewhere, Berchia shoved his cheek.
Asher, with his eyes tightly closed, responded.
“Y-Yes…!”
It was karma.
*
Commander Weill, now more accustomed to being called by his surname, Herbert, sipped tea while looking down at the barracks with a spear in hand.
He recalled his previous meeting with Berchia.
From the very first moment he laid eyes on her.
The way she looked at Asher while sneaking glances at the priestesses was full of disdain.
When he suggested stepping away from the table to talk, his gaze flickering nervously between Asher and the priestesses radiated insecurity.
And it didn’t stop there.
When complimenting Asher, he blushed with delight.
Yet, when he asked for training time for Asher, his expression soured.
In the end, he granted permission, but it must have been due to the weight of the words he had spoken.
‘Was he always like that?’
Herbert thought of Berchia, whom he had known all his life.
A person who always had a vacant smile and, at times, erased any emotion, feeling jaded with the world.
He was astonished by such a change in that person.
One concern lingered—was this change indeed due to Asher?
“……”
Yet, those years lived cannot be negated.
Herbert could not help but perceive what kind of emotions were forming from Berchia’s change.
Perhaps, it was the pureheartedness of a girl.
He arrived at a near-convincing conclusion, heightened his worry.
He had seen seven Saints in his lifetime.
Among them, even the kindest had ultimately taken a self-centered approach molded by the environment of the Church without realizing it.
‘Selfish love is violence.’
The thought of what kind of violence that could bring upon Asher was troubling.
Of course, he trusted Asher.
In an ideal world, he wished he could disband Berchia’s position and appoint Asher as the future Commander of the Knights, but he respected Asher’s will, so it ended there.
Herbert closed his eyes.
‘May there be no breathing room.’
He hoped this training time could serve as an opportunity for him to catch his breath.
He offered a short prayer to the deity.