The fall was sudden, the scream loud—

But the landing was smooth, the response practiced.

Just before we hit the ground, I softened our descent with Floating Step, while Ashley kicked off the wall mid-fall and landed with nimble precision.

Well, she was the Captain of the Starvanger Knights.

A fall from that height wasn’t nearly enough to injure someone of her caliber.

She shot me a sharp glare.

“Lord Ashuban…!”

…She seemed a little startled, though.

Still, the people around us broke into applause and cheers at our acrobatic “entrance.”

They must have thought it was some kind of street performance—and who could blame them?

My arm wrapped in layers of bandages, my eyes covered by a black strip of cloth—my disguise wasn’t bad at all.

I waved nonchalantly.

“Thank you, thank you.”

The applause and cheers grew louder.

After a while, people lost interest and went back to their own chatter.

“…”

I felt Ashley’s gaze and turned. She was still glaring at me.

“Lord Ashuban. Are you always this reckless?”

“I have my moments.”

“A word of warning would have been appreciated.”

I grinned.

“I’ll keep that in mind next time.”

“…”

Ashley stared hard at me, then tilted her head.

“But with your eyes covered… how did you…”

“Simple. I see with my heart.”

“Ah… right…”

Even though it wasn’t exactly wrong, she still didn’t look satisfied.

Well, not my fault if people refuse to believe the truth.

I slipped my scabbard free from my belt and used it like a cane to tap the ground.

“Let’s go.”

Ashley let out a faint sigh and walked at my side.

She whispered, voice low.

“Lord Ashuban. We must not draw any attention to ourselves.”

“I think we already failed at that.”

“…From now on, I mean. The First Prince’s men could appear anywhere. We’ll blend into the crowd, look around quietly, and return.”

“Fair enough.”

“So you agree?”

“We’ll see.”

“…”

She glanced at me, then placed a hand on her sword hilt and matched her pace to mine.

I wasn’t worried.

Though my eyes were blindfolded, I had spread my Super Sense wide.

Since reaching the Crescent Moon Realm, the range had expanded, and I could sense things as fine as a person’s gaze or facial expression.

If killing intent appeared, I’d recognize it at once, as easily as spotting a needle in my hand.

Even if a skilled assassin concealed their bloodlust, it didn’t matter. As soon as their blade entered my range, I’d react.

The Heavenly Demon’s talent—his uncanny, hyper-sharp senses—missed nothing. No assassin could sneak past.

As for Ashley, she hardly needed protection.

She was the Captain, praised even by Sir Curtis as stronger than himself. No mere assassins could pose a real threat.

But she clearly thought differently, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd ceaselessly.

“Whatever happens, do not interfere. We’ll stay hidden in the throng. Follow my lead.”

As if.

I wasn’t the sort to follow. Nor the sort to lead. I was the sort to go my own way.

So I immediately veered off course.

Ashley, who’d been walking ahead with tense vigilance, nearly jumped out of her skin and hurried after me.

“Lord Ashuban! Where are you going?”

I answered solemnly.

“Sir Ashley, I didn’t come here for you to protect me. I came to enjoy the festival. So stop glaring everywhere and just walk. Wherever our feet carry us.”

“…”

I’d smoothly shifted our roles from knight and noble to something more casual, but she said nothing.

No news was good news, as the saying went. Silence meant consent.

…Or maybe not. Her eyes still held a faint, dangerous glint.

“Ahem.”

I ignored it for now, tapping my “cane” skillfully as I wandered off, letting my steps lead me.

Even I didn’t know where I was going. Just walking where my feet wished.

Ashley soon realized her real concern wasn’t assassins but me, and fixed her gaze squarely on me, shadowing me from one step behind.

I strolled like a country bumpkin, gawking left and right, sometimes humming tunelessly, sometimes chatting idly with the Heavenly Demon.

And for once, the Heavenly Demon, usually full of nagging, seemed softened by the lively atmosphere and joined in our small talk with a gentler tone.

“Wow… Master. Do you see this? So many people. The mood is amazing.”

[Indeed. Is this your first time seeing such a thing?]

“Pretty much. In Maia there wasn’t much to celebrate. Death was more common there than anything worth rejoicing over.”

[Then all the more reason festivals should exist there. Life should be cherished all the more in such a place. If all you ever face is death, what joy remains in living?]

“…Makes sense.”

[A pity. You should have seen the Festival of Pāsūn.]

“Pāsūn Festival? What’s that?”

[A celebration held by the Cult. Quite the spectacle.]

“Sounds fun. You’re lucky, Master, having seen that.”

[I wasn’t interested at the time. But now, I wish I could show it to you.]

Ashley, trailing close behind, suddenly asked cautiously,

“Um, Lord Ashuban.”

“Yes?”

“Who have you been talking to this whole time?”

“Oh, my revered Master.”

“Your Master?”

She looked around quickly.

“Where is he?”

I tapped my forehead.

“Here.”

“…?”

“In my head.”

“…”

Look at that expression.

No matter how honest I am, people never seem to like the answer.

Well, not my problem. I wasn’t lying.

So I ignored her sour look and kept chatting with the Heavenly Demon as we walked.

After a while, Ashley sneaked another glance at me and asked, “Lord Ashuban. Are you truly unable to see?”

With the way I slipped so easily through the bustling crowd, she couldn’t help but wonder.

I replied with a question.

“Sir Ashley. My eyes are covered. How do you suppose I could see?”

“Then how do you move so naturally…?”

“As I told you, I see with my heart.”

She gasped.

“You mean… Heart Sight? You’ve attained that realm?”

“That’s right.”

“Remarkable! I had no idea such a realm even existed!”

Ashley sounded genuinely impressed.

That was the difference between her and Shushruta.

Sjushruta scoffed, saying the cloth was thin.

Ashley took me at my word, straightforward and honest.

“Mm.”

Of course, I knew nothing about Heart Sight. Nor did I care.

I was just… a little hungry.

And right then, a delicious smell tickled my nose. I stopped at a food stall.

“What is this enchanting aroma that makes my mouth water beyond endurance?”

The vendor laughed.

“Chicken skewers, sir.”

“Ooh. One, please.”

“Here you go.”

I bit into the skewer.

“Mmm. Incredible. So good that if two were eating and one dropped dead, the other would gladly take his share as well. How much?”

“Five coopers.”

I reached into my pocket—only to find I had no change.

All I had were a few precious gems I’d pocketed from Ophosis’ tomb.

Left with no choice, I turned and stared at Ashley.

Still on guard, she caught my gaze and frowned.

“You… don’t have money?”

“Money’s a fleeting thing. Here one moment, gone the next.”

“….”

With a sigh, she paid.

“Here.”

“Thank you, knight.”

I munched happily, watching her.

“Want one? It’s delicious.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Suit yourself.”

“….”

“Nom nom.”

“….”

“Chomp chomp.”

“…Fine. One, please.”

“Here.”

She finally caved, taking a skewer and biting in.

We moved to a quieter stairwell, sitting side by side, eating skewers and watching the crowd pass.

…Peaceful.

How long had it been since I saw such a city scene?

Watching people laugh and cheer, I wondered if the Black Prince’s vow to overturn the nobility wasn’t too extreme.

Part of the reason I came out was to see how people really lived.

As the festival buzzed, I said, “Sir Ashley.”

“Yes.”

“They call you the Golden Flash?”

“…Sometimes.”

“A thrust-focused, straight-line style, then? Rapier?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting.”

“Is it?”

“I forgot—we were supposed to duel once. My apologies.”

“It’s fine. We were both busy.”

I watched her finish her skewer with the intensity she’d shown slaying assassins.

Like she’d never eaten street food before.

Another boring life that never knew a festival.

When she finished, she chewed the empty stick wistfully.

I asked, “Sir Ashley. Have you met the Royal Knights?”

She nodded.

“Yes. And so have you, Lord Ashuban. The Frost Knight.”

“Hm. But he’s one of the Eight Blades.”

“Correct.”

“What about the others? Are they nearly as strong?”

“No. The gap is vast.”

“How vast?”

“Overwhelming. They’re on another level.”

“…I see. So the Frost Knight is the exception.”

“Exactly. He stands alone.”

“Hm.”

“And you defeated him.”

Ashley’s eyes glimmered as she stared at me.

I’d seen that look before—reverence.

“….”

Her gaze was uncomfortable. I thought about explaining, then sighed.

Who would believe me if I said it was the Heavenly Demon in my head who had beaten him?

Not even I believed it.

The truth was, the Frost Knight had thrashed me soundly.

“Why sigh?”

“…No reason.”

I looked back at the street, watching people laugh.

Was the Black Prince right to propose tearing down the nobility? Why did that crooked bastard think of such dangerous ideas?

As I pondered, I murmured, “Sir Ashley.”

“Yes?”

“You know something?”

“What is it?”

“There are rotten people in this world. The kind who can’t stand seeing others happy—so they ruin it.”

She turned her head just as a harsh voice split the crowd.

“Out of the way, rabble! Make way! The carriage of Lady Berrymore approaches!”

“Move, you dogs! Want a taste of the lash?”

A massive, ornate carriage rolled into view, glittering with gold and gems.

Far more ostentatious than even the Black Prince’s. His carriage had been plain, practical, painted black—just like him.

But this monstrosity trundled proudly through the main road, deliberately plowing through the crowd instead of avoiding them.

As if the street belonged solely to them.

As if to inconvenience the common folk as much as possible.

Why that way, of all places?

Worse—it was a double-decker carriage, open-topped.

The royal carriage must have three decks, then?

On its roof sat a gilded seat, where a fat noblewoman fanned her face, gazing down at the crowd with disdain.

She glittered with gold and jewels, sneering as if the commoners were filth.

“Out of the way!”

The knights below cracked their whips at anyone too slow to move.

Crack!

“Up! On your feet, worm!”

“Aagh!”

“Mercy, milord!”

I watched silently.

What crime had those people committed?

What gave these nobles such audacity?

Suddenly, the Black Prince’s plan to overthrow them didn’t seem so absurd.

“…This is why I hate nobles.”

I glanced at the last piece of chicken, infused it with inner force, and flicked it.

Whizz!

The chunk shot free of the skewer, screaming through the air toward the smug woman.

Thud!

“…Satisfying.”

I twirled the empty skewer like a conductor’s baton.

“Kyaaah!”

Her shriek rang out as—

Crash!

She toppled right off the carriage.

A melody sweeter than any I’d heard.

“Milady!”

“Are you hurt?!”

“Assassin! Find him!”

“Where did it come from?!”

The knights below panicked, searching wildly.

Ashley froze mid-bite, then slowly turned, staring at me with her mouth hanging slightly open.

“????”

Her dumbfounded face was priceless.

Then the knights pointed.

“There! That one!”

Every eye turned toward me.

I blinked—and then shifted my gaze toward Ashley, still holding the empty skewer.

The crowd’s eyes followed.

“…Huh?”

(End of Chapter)

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.