CHAPTER 38:
You Are My Knight
“I-It wasn’t serious enough to worry like that!”
I was flustered by his reaction, as if I had barely survived death.
Sure, things could’ve gone really wrong because of the corruption liquid, but didn’t everything work out as planned when he broke the restraints?
“You don’t understand a thing.”
Ancelot let out a short laugh.
“Huh…?”
I blinked, confused, not understanding what he meant.
When Ruivel imbued her sword with energy, the restraints, heavily stimulated, flashed black.
The black restraints engulfed both her and Klaus, then suddenly crumpled and dropped to the floor.
“Pyuueee!”
— Lady Ruru!
The green bird left behind in this space cried out, unable to follow her.
Ancelot immediately rushed toward the restraints.
Unlike his usual self, he was in a hurry.
Ruivel had likely passed into a subspace through the restraints.
Time flows differently inside and outside of that space.
What feels like 10 minutes outside could be an hour inside. If you’re unlucky, it could be a year, ten years, or even longer.
That’s why Ancelot picked up the fallen restraints, desperate to break them as quickly as possible.
And then—
“Pyuueee!!”
— That’s a lethal weapon!
Piya chirped frantically.
“What…?”
A small window shimmered above the restraint.
Item: <S-Rank Monster Suppression Restraint (Lethal)>
A magical restraint made to suppress and kill monsters. (Duration: Permanent)
The word “lethal” was clearly printed next to the item name.
Ruivel hadn’t mentioned this.
Without time to think, Ancelot shattered the restraint.
Crash!
It had taken him less than five seconds from reading the description to destroying it.
But in that brief time, he was gripped by a terrible anxiety he couldn’t explain.
It felt like fear.
And when Ruivel appeared again—
Seeing her condition left Ancelot frozen.
Her clothes were charred black, as if she’d been in a fire.
He couldn’t breathe for a moment.
“Haa…”
Only after confirming that her body was unharmed did he finally let out a breath.
Unlike Piya, who flew at her crying and relieved, Ancelot didn’t move. He stood frozen, clenching his jaw as he looked at her.
What’s wrong with me?
Something felt off.
“Thank you, Ancelot.”
Ruivel smiled brightly at him.
He was both angry and baffled—how could she smile so innocently, so clueless?
“…”
Ancelot walked up to her without a word.
He didn’t like the sight of her charred and tattered clothes.
He took off his overcoat and draped it over her.
The oversized coat fluttered around her shoulders like a cape.
Strangely, he couldn’t bring himself to look her in the face.
Instead, he held her shoulders and turned his head aside.
“…”
“Ancelot?”
“You really… ha…”
She asked curiously, not understanding, which made him chuckle in disbelief.
After a long pause, Ancelot finally spoke.
“I was worried about you.”
“I-It wasn’t serious enough to worry like that!”
She shouted in embarrassment. Ancelot gave a dry laugh.
“You really don’t get it.”
“Huh…?”
Ruivel blinked again, still clueless.
“That restraint wasn’t just to suppress. It was lethal. You came out of it without a scratch?”
“Lethal? Oh, so that’s why…”
She nodded, seeming to realize something.
“There was some corruption happening in that subspace. But I’m fine. Sir Klaus protected me.”
She nodded toward Klaus beside her.
Ancelot noticed Klaus only just then, though he stood only a step away.
When Klaus met Ancelot’s gaze, he gave a polite bow.
But Ancelot, who cared little for such formalities, merely scanned him from head to toe.
Klaus looked far more battered than Ruivel.
His usually pristine, modest uniform—always buttoned to the neck—was scorched, torn, and ragged.
Though he wasn’t visibly injured, there were bloodstains here and there.
And then…
<Klaus Winster – Shield of Light>
Ancelot narrowed his eyes at the updated name window.
So something really did happen.
It annoyed him.
Especially the part where Klaus had leapt into the restraints alongside her.
At that moment, the Emperor approached Ruivel.
She glanced briefly at Ancelot’s hand resting on Ruivel’s shoulder, then turned back to her daughter.
“Ruivel. Are you alright?”
“Yes, Mother. But… Orent…”
Ruivel caught sight of Orent being carried away on a stretcher.
She gasped at his gruesome, half-dead condition.
“Oh no, what happened?!”
All the imperial knights turned their eyes to Ancelot.
He, however, remained calm under their gazes.
This was Ancelot’s doing.
The moment Ruivel had leapt into the restraints, Ancelot had responded instantly to her signal—and launched a vicious attack on Orent.
The knights had seen a hook-shaped, white energy grab Orent, slam him into the air, and crash him back to the ground.
They couldn’t even tell if it was magic or divine power.
What was even more terrifying was that throughout the attack, Prince Ancelot never once looked at Orent. His eyes remained locked on Ruivel and the restraints.
The brutal assault only ended once the restraints stopped glowing and Ancelot had rushed toward them.
Orent was knocked out so thoroughly that the knights didn’t even need to subdue him.
“It’s unfortunate the tournament ended this way.”
The Emperor signaled her knights to take Orent away and murmured.
The words snapped Ruivel back to reality.
Ah, the tournament…!
Orent’s interference had completely ruined the finals against Klaus.
This is bad. If the finals just fizzle out like this…
Her plan to complete the quest by dueling Klaus was about to fall apart.
As she racked her brain for solutions, Klaus stepped forward and knelt on one knee.
“Princess Ruivel Ajester.”
He offered his sword to her with both hands.
“Please accept me as your knight.”
“Sir Klaus?”
“I wish to pledge my oath to you.”
Ruivel checked his affection level in disbelief.
<Klaus Winster – Shield of Light>
Affection: -470
Still in the negatives.
“Am I too late?”
A faint anxiety laced Klaus’s voice.
He feared rejection.
“Of course not!”
Ruivel answered immediately.
The tournament had just collapsed—this was perfect.
“Then, do I have permission to pledge my oath?”
“If you’re willing.”
When she responded positively, a faint smile curved Klaus’s lips.
“But, uh… the setting is a bit…”
Ruivel looked around.
The mess left by Orent hadn’t been fully cleaned up. Some spectators still lingered, watching.
The Emperor looked on with interest. Ancelot stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching with a frown.
But Klaus, ignoring them all, gazed up at Ruivel alone.
“If Your Highness allows it.”
As Ruivel nodded slowly, Klaus bowed in reverence.
“I dedicate my life and honor to you. Accept my lifelong loyalty.”
He recited an ancient, long-forgotten knight’s vow.
Ruivel picked up the sword from his hands.
She unsheathed it and tapped the flat of the blade to his shoulder.
“You are my knight.”
[SYSTEM] You are now in a with Klaus Winster!
[Main Quest: Proof of a Hero (1/2)] Completed!
✓ Option 2: Receive a knight’s oath from
→ Rewards: +3000 XP, +10 Skill Points, Skill
[SYSTEM] Quest Successful!
[SYSTEM] You gained 3000 XP.
[SYSTEM] You leveled up! (Lv. 18)
[SYSTEM] You gained 10 Skill Points.
[SYSTEM] You acquired skill: .
[SYSTEM] Rewards have been sent to your mailbox.
Whatever change had come over Klaus, it had allowed her to complete the quest.
The second part of the quest arrived right away, but it was simple.
[Main Quest: Proof of a Hero (2/2)]
The Emperor is troubled by a divine prophecy. Proclaim to the world that you will leave on a journey of heroism, and earn the Emperor’s trust!
→ Reward: +3500 XP, +10 Skill Points, Priest’s Blessing
“Doesn’t seem like I have to do anything special this time.”
“Pyuu!”
— Sometimes the journey lets you catch your breath!
Piya chirped as it nestled close to me.
The whole tournament was originally meant to select a knight for the journey.
Since the finalists were Klaus and me, there was no reason to continue the match.
Alright, I’ll notify the temple.
When I informed the Emperor I’d depart with Klaus, she nodded in understanding.
But just because I said “I’ll go!” didn’t mean I could leave right away.
Like other nations, Ajester had a temple.
Before departing, I needed to receive the priest’s blessing before the statue of the god, with temple witnesses.
Those scam artists and their “blessings”…
Mother cursed the formality as a waste of time.
But hey, there’s no harm in getting blessed.
All I had to do now was wait for the temple’s reply and relax.
At least… that’s what I thought.
But then—!
KWA-KWANG!
A white orb of light flew past me and slammed into the arena floor.
“Wha—! That almost hit me!”
I shouted in horror at the merciless Ancelot.
He didn’t care. He stood with arms crossed, looking down at me.
“You’re slow to react.”
He muttered coldly.
KWA-KWANG!!
Another, louder explosion rocked my ears.
“W-Wait, wait, wait!”
