27. Final exam (1)

‘Guard knights, don’t mess around.’

It was a decision so quick that the five years of conflict became meaningless.

‘Since when did I live my life worrying like that?’

Let’s think simply. As always.

After I changed my mind, I felt much more comfortable.

‘There is no reason to fall away from Elijah.’

There is one reason why I tried to run away from her.

I fear she will kill me.

I’m afraid that Elijah will strangle me just like the tragedy he showed me five years ago.

From noble mtl dot com

If it was the Elijah I knew, it might be.

A rare evil woman, Elijah.

Now Elijah is not such a wicked woman.

It’s still hard to know her true intentions, but she’s not a homicidal maniac or arson maniac.

Besides, with Elijah and my relationship right now, it seems impossible for such a tragedy to happen.

That is.

Tragedy averted.

Not by timing, but by changing relationships.

At least that’s how it seems to me.

‘If I make a big mistake, I might strangle him.’

So, just in case, you have to be as careful as possible to prevent that from happening.

‘… But, what should I do to get Elijah to strangle me?’

No matter how much I think about it, I don’t know.

I dare not even imagine.

A mistake I might make to Elijah, or a future where Elijah strangles me.

‘Whatever it is, be careful not to intrusive. I used to be like that, but….’

She Suddenly remembers a question she asked in her childhood.

What does she think of herself?

I replied to this.

Birth does not determine existence.

I may have seen her as always, her as her natural enemy.

‘It was me who was covering her eyes.’

I felt relieved when I quickly acknowledged the reality.

Now that the tragedy has averted, staying with Elijah is the most advantageous option for several reasons.

The land called Jericho that I bought.

The city is still in the early stages of development and restoration.

The security is messy, and it’s not a comfortable place to live.

On the other hand, what about the position of Elijah’s escort knight?

The money always comes out, and the food is well served.

I even live in the luxurious mansion of Elijah.

I am full of confidence to do my job well.

‘The more I argue, the more I lose by running away.’

Well, that’s not the only reason.

Personally, there are many things I am thankful for Elijah.

At first, I thought I was playing with my life, but then I became a benefactor.

All the footholds on which I was able to safely train and grow came from Elijah.

‘Friend… Not. Not a family, of course. It’s not just a contractual relationship…. Hmm….’

It’s a feeling of gratitude that only I feel, but it’s important that I feel that way anyway.

Sometimes my heart skips a beat because of how well I grew up, but that’s not my problem. Really.

It’s different from having that kind of heart or not.

‘Anyway, that’s not the point.’

Abandon the escape plan.

The land you bought in Jericho will have a place to go.

‘I can sell it later when the land price goes up.’

All that remains is the final exam.

I decided to become an escort knight, so I had to take it seriously and pass.

‘By the way, I don’t know what kind of test it is.’

No one has ever passed.

In addition, it is said that the content of the test has changed every time.

I have the confidence to pass any assignment, but I can’t help but wonder.

‘I’ll know on the day.’

I sat down on the bed with a light heart.

A potted plant on the window sill caught my eye.

Anemones.

It has been blooming for 5 years, and it has repeated defeats.

Looking at it now, it has sprouted.

I wasn’t there until yesterday.

Elijah always found the sprout first, but this year I saw it first.

‘If I let you know tomorrow, they’ll like it again.’

Every time it sprouted, the bud grew and blossomed into a flower, Elijah loved it like her own child.

She smiles with her teeth exposed, and that smile is still pure five years later.

And in winter, when the flowers die, they become noticeably sullen.

Various emotions that are hard to find in Elijah.

When I remembered her, I couldn’t help but smile.

‘Cute or not.’

And the next morning, Elijah’s reaction was stronger than I expected.

“You grew up before me?”

Our pots always sprouted on the same day.

On the other hand, this year only my potted plants have grown, and Elijah’s sprouts are still there.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before!”

I’m not sure if that’s something I’d like that much.

Since Elijah liked it so much and she laughed, I thought it was okay for her.

*

On the day of the last exam.

There are only three participants.

Me, Richard.

And the 8th generation named Hazel.

The first place in the training center.

My record against me is 21 wins and 19 losses.

In other words, I lost 2 more times.

It’s always this close-knit way.

Including informal sparring, there are many more.

The loss is just as much…. Hmm.

We’ve known each other for quite some time, and we ran into each other often since ranking is ranking, but we don’t get along very well.

‘I hate to say this, but my personality is a bit….’

The personality isn’t outwardly dirty like those he fought before.

He actually doesn’t talk much.

Never have you openly quarreled with me.

However, how to say….

It’s quiet, strangely ignoring other people, and I’m a different person from you, giving off that kind of atmosphere.

Apart from my personality, I find Hazel a bit awkward.

‘That’s right, that guy originally belonged to the Imperial Knights.’

From the point of view of the future I know, this is definitely the case.

By the way, now I’m taking first place in Elijah’s escort knight training center.

What the hell….

“Is the first escort knight finally born today?”

Richard said, stabbing me in the side.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Well, it’s only natural that the person who monopolizes the lady’s favor should be the first escort….”

“Anyone can become a person who does well in exams. It’s not determined by the lady’s level of interest.”

Hazel, who was standing next to her, glanced at me sideways, then let out a sound like a sneer through her nose and shook her head.

Yes, it always feels like this.

I have no friends at the training center.

I was chatting nonchalantly with Richard when Gawain came in.

We all shut up.

Gawain gave a modest greeting with a wink.

Looks at me for a long time.

‘Even this nobleman is quite obvious.’

5 Years of personal training.

It must have ended long ago, but Gawain continued educating me without question or objection.

On the contrary, I was suspicious.

Now I know why.

This old man likes me as a disciple.

She pretends not to be who she is, but I can see she’s proud of me.

Especially, he feels so proud whenever he passes the test in one go.

‘I don’t know if he’ll even cry if he falls this time.’

I don’t think that’s possible.

“Congratulations.”

Gawain said solemnly.

“I worked hard to get to this position. If you pass only the last test, you are qualified to become the lady’s escort knights. It’s an honor. Do your best until the end.”

“Yes!”

“The lady will explain the contents of the test herself.”

The door opened soon after.

A figure wearing a red scarf over a black coat.

It’s originally a blanket, but it’s grown and now it’s like a real scarf.

Enter with an elegant cat-like gait.

In her arms, she is holding a black cat doll that doesn’t go well with her appearance, but that goes well with it.

Lea, the maid with red hair, followed.

Elijah met her eyes with mine and smiled softly.

The target I must serve in the future.

I often see….

‘No. I haven’t even passed the test yet, but I’m very excited.’

Don’t confuse confidence with arrogance.

Standing in front of us, Elijah said.

“The conditions for the final test are simple.”

A straight-forward main topic without greetings.

“You have to go to the place I tell you and find the specific hidden object and bring it back. Only those who bring the item pass.”

Elijah nodded her head, and Gawain handed her papers one by one.

“I don’t know the exact location where the target object is hidden. The only clue is that you are within the range of the map drawn on the paper.”

I received a map that seemed to expand a specific area.

‘This terrain, somewhere familiar?’

Memories that seem to come to mind.

‘It’s a place I definitely knew before being possessed….’

As I struggled to look back, it came to mind.

Where is this?

What is hidden here?

Elijah spoke with her recollections.

“The location is roughly near the border with the demon realm. The exact name of the item to be brought is a holy relic from the Age of Mythology called ‘The Upheld Sun Statue’.”

A holy relic that reproduces the power of a god.

If used correctly, any wish or miracle will surely come true.

I remember the exact location of this relic.

The location would not have changed unless there was a specific reason.

‘It was an item that, once used, would grant any request.’

Because it’s such a hard item to get, I only got it until late in the game.

In the future, the imperial family identifies the location of the holy relic and begins an investigation.

And then I intervened and took it away.

I even tried using it.

From a close point of possession.

‘Once the location of the object….’

As I searched through my memories, I was frozen in place.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt like I was falling into a labyrinth.

I’ve definitely tried that item.

I remember the status window popping up to allow users to freely write down their wishes.

And then I….

‘… I don’t remember.’

I can’t remember what I wished for.

‘That’s strange….’

I definitely remember the sun image.

It looks like the tree roots are supporting the round sun.

I know the conditions for using it.

Obviously, it perfectly met the conditions and used it.

‘That was Christmas…. A status window appeared asking me to use it, and I entered something….’

I remember the trivial things, but I don’t know the contents of the wish.

‘… Is it just my bad memory?’

This is a plausible hypothesis.

Besides, it’s already been five years since I came here.

It is not strange to forget a few trivial past life memories.

I don’t really remember much unless it’s an important and intense moment.

‘I wrote down what I wanted to know the most because they said it would come true unconditionally…. I don’t know what that is.’

It must not have been an important wish.

In the first place, you can’t make an important wish for the game.

‘I wonder if it’s a meaningful memory from the time I entered the game.’

“There is no deadline for this exam.”

Elijah finally explained.

“You can just pick it up anytime.”

There is no deadline.

That means you can’t predict how long it will take.

The place where the sun statue is actually held up is very dangerous.

The ruins where the holy relics were enshrined, as well as the road to the ruins.

But I know how to approach safely.

‘The way to go, how to easily break through the maze. If the place didn’t change due to some natural disaster, everything would be the same.’

After her explanation, Elijah looks around at her candidates.

“I’ll look forward to it. Everyone.”

He said that with an expression of no expectation at all.

A grave, emotionless face.

“Judas.”

She gestured to me.

“Yes. Miss.”

As I approached, I looked up.

Wriggling his eyebrows, he slightly twists his mouth.

Crooked lips.

For some reason, he looks dissatisfied.

‘Why are you like this? What did I do wrong?’

Or is it?

You don’t like me being an escort knight?

Other than that, I don’t know the reason for this reaction.

“Hmm.”

Elijah sighed through her nose.

She then hands over something of hers.

“Take it.”

The object in her hand is cold.

Hard metal.

‘… Bracelet?’

Gold chain bracelet.

A red jewel is set in the middle.

I asked in bewilderment.

“What is this… Joe?”

“Yes. Just take it Take it and test it.”

Elijah seemed unwilling to elaborate.

‘Is this sleeve tucked in or something?’

I’m not giving you a bomb, you have to take it.

“Thank you.”

I was about to put it in her pocket when Elijah grabbed my wrist.

“What are you doing?”

“… Yes?”

“Why not?”

No, I said take it, didn’t I say tea?

Besides, in my life, I’ve never had any jewelry wrapped around her arm.

I don’t know if it’s just a rubber band that you put your hand in, but it looks pretty complicated to fill.

It would be embarrassing to see you not know how to fill, so I tried to fill it up by myself later.

“I’ll take care of it later….”

Elijah did not wait for my excuses.

Snatches her bracelet with her hand and takes it.

“Hands on.”

I hesitated a little, then held out my wrist.

Elijah personally put on her bracelet.

Small, warm hands move skillfully.

‘This doesn’t suit me, this….’

The size fits comfortably.

However, a gold bracelet studded with red jewels on a thick tendon wrist.

This is not a combination I like.

“Enough.”

“… Thank you.”

Elijah did not let go of my hand.

She looked up while holding it, then spoke like a sigh.

“Good job.”

It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s that I’m not trustworthy?

… I’m still in second place at the training center, right?

“We will not disappoint you.”

Finally Elijah let go of her hand.

Warmth away.

When it was time to go, I turned around, and then it froze.

“… ….”

Richard smiled benevolently and nodded her head.

It seems worth knowing.

Just like that expression, he slowly shakes his head.

Looks like you don’t have to say anything.

“What are you waiting for? Go out first.”

“You haven’t given the order to leave yet, have you?”

“… ….”

Gawain’s voice came to me like a savior.

“Let everyone leave now. Believe in your skills that you have trained so far.”

After saying hello to Gawain and Elijah, she escaped as if running away.

***

“A statue of the sun being held up….”

From noble mtl dot com

The third child of Balak.

Jezebel muttered to herself.

She looked down at her map.

A map that records the range of possible sun images.

‘The escort knight selection ceremony, they say Elijah uses the final test to specify the location of the sun statue.’

The information was brought by Elijah and her closest maid, Leah.

Leah, who leaked information to her mother, Narsisi, is now attached to someone else.

Jezebel.

And Cain the first and Levi the second.

‘I don’t like bats, but the information is innocent.’

Even bats must be trying their own way to survive.

‘This information must have been passed on to Cain and Levi as well.’

Will they move?

Wouldn’t it move?

Jebel thought it was easy.

She herself ranks lower than the other two in the competition for home ownership.

Even reckless, she needs to move radically.

To seize the opportunity.

You can’t close the gap unless you take risks.

‘Lea said this was a good opportunity, so I’ll believe it.’

Jezebel called her own person straight away.

“Send an undercover party to the vicinity of this area and follow the people sent by Elijah from afar. Conflicts should be avoided if possible, but….”

Jezebel grinned.

Red eyes glistened with joy.

She finishes by brushing the ends of her blonde hair.

“You can kill me, if need be. Those escort knight candidates.”

*

Meanwhile, Levi, Balak’s second child, was also looking at the same documents as Jezebel.

As a result of confirming some of her facts and comparing them with his own, he read hidden information from Lia’s message.

‘Is this a trap?’

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