Chapter 70: What the Hell Did You Do? (1)

Ocera.

Affiliated with the Tower of Space-Time.

Close with the Oracle of the Starry Sky, she is the one who recognized an unknown talent in Evan and called him a precious person.

She had definitely asked.

To tell the story about herself.

He definitely remembered that……

‘But I can’t remember if I actually did it.’

Evan broke into a very faint cold sweat.

Good thing it flowed inside his clothes.

If it had trickled down his nape, it would have been obvious.

Fortunately, Dolph didn’t notice.

Instead, his eyes sparkled as if he were delighted.

“I heard everything you did in the Knight Kingdom! They say you made the strongest knight, Innocence, your subordinate……!”

“What nonsense is that now?”

“Huh? It’s not?”

“No.”

Evan stated firmly.

Dolph made an “aw, too bad” face.

“I really thought it was true…… Looks like Lapis got it wrong.”

“Wait. Who?”

“Lapis! Lapis bragged so much, saying she knew exactly what Evan did……!”

No.

Lapis, you were the culprit behind the rumor?

He had wondered who was spreading such ridiculous rumors.

The culprit he never even imagined.

A sigh almost escaped Evan’s mouth on its own.

Evan, holding it in with effort, started walking.

“Let’s move for now. Where’s Felix?”

“Ah! He was dragged off to the knights’ order for a moment to register as a knight……!”

“To the knights’ order?”

“Yes! The First Knight Commander personally took him!”

The First Knight Commander.

From what he remembered, a considerable powerhouse who had reached the highest level.

That man personally took him……?

‘Is something happening?’

The thought flashed for a moment, but he quickly shook it off.

Yeah.

It’s probably just imagination.

‘I’m not sure if he’ll adapt well, though.’

Felix has lived far too long as a wandering knight.

He was freedom itself, so he might dislike the current life bound by rules from now on.

So if he requests retirement?

It would be regrettable…… but nothing can be done.

They would just have to remain good acquaintances.

Of course, he has no intention of harming him just because he leaves.

It’s only natural for someone who doesn’t fit to leave.

“Ah. And……!”

“?”

“If he ends up in a power contest or something with other knights, what should I do, he asked.”

“Well, as long as no one dies.”

Knights fighting each other isn’t a once-or-twice thing.

“I’ll clean up to a certain extent, so tell him to fight within the limits of not getting hurt.”

“Got it! Ah! Lapis!”

Lapis waved her hand wildly.

Not at Dolph, but at Evan.

Dolph looked a little sulky, as if they still weren’t close, but true to his bright personality, he quickly left.

“Evan! Ocera contact! Take it!”

“Yes.”

Evan received the crystal ball with a sigh.

What will she say.

Just don’t tell me to meet again and relay the message.

The Oracle isn’t normal right now.

Thinking that, Evan activated the crystal ball.

“That’s what he said?”

Dolph relayed the message to Felix.

Felix, who had entered as an escort knight.

But his identity hadn’t been properly verified.

So he was temporarily detained in the knights’ quarters.

More precisely, locked inside here.

“Thank you.”

“No problem! If you need any help, just call me! But I’ll report everything to the young master!”

“Of course. As someone who has offered my sword, I naturally know that much. Please teach me a lot from now on, senior.”

…Hm, hmhm. Got it. No, got it. Since I’m senior now, I’ll speak casually. Alright?”

“Understood.”

Felix, who had been talking with Dolph, let out a small laugh.

The stories of brothers his father used to tell when bored.

Was seeing the youngest like this?

‘……More than that, being brought here is unexpected.’

As expected of the Alkart family.

They mean to check properly.

The current reason for detention was only one.

Failure to properly verify identity.

Since he is from another country and wandered following his father in search of the pilgrimage path, finding his identity wouldn’t be easy.

But……

‘They’ve probably already figured out everything about me.’

The Alkart ducal family.

He didn’t know exactly, but he had heard of them a few times.

A family that participated in the founding of the empire.

One of the pillars supporting the empire, and the only real power that rules the underworld.

The only place said to have influence surpassing the Alkart family is the imperial family, and in some aspects, he heard the Alkart family is ahead.

‘I heard it was a difficult place……’

Felix slowly raised his head.

The knights who called him senior……

Each and every one had properly stepped into a realm, with only a future of advancement left.

People completed through systematic education, systematic growth, and a perfect curriculum that respected individual personality.

They were no exaggeration to call an army.

The troops that could be raised because the Alkart family is one of the few allowed to possess a private knight order.

‘This is a test.’

The second son of such a family.

In another family, only the eldest would be favored, so he would be treated coldly.

But this place is different.

Meritocracy.

In a way, the youngest who could be loved, but the moment he locked himself in his room and stopped proving himself, they ghosted him perfectly.

A family that must be cruel because it is strong.

In such a place, Evan is receiving all sorts of attention.

He proved his ability.

Not once, but multiple times.

Since he is a knight personally brought by such a person, they must want to confirm what ability he has.

‘The Knight Commander was kind……’

But others would see it differently.

They probably think of him as a parachute.

‘……Or, the young master must have had a reason for just letting me come here.’

A person of Evan Alkart’s caliber couldn’t possibly not know he came here.

He wouldn’t have sent him without reason.

There is a reason.

Just what reason?

He pondered for a moment.

Soon, Felix found the reason.

“Hey.”

“Your name is Felix, right?”

“Why did you come all the way here from the Demisia Kingdom? Did you stab the young master in the back or something?”

The knights snickering.

They are certainly outstanding.

They look about the same age as Felix, and their ranks don’t seem low.

But……

‘Lacking.’

They haven’t found their ‘path’.

The pilgrimage path.

Whether they can’t walk it, or don’t even know it exists.

Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter.

What matters here is that they are far too lacking to be called knights yet.

“What level are you all?”

“Us?”

“At least intermediate.”

“You…… don’t seem upper……?”

“More than that, what’s with that way of speaking? Cringe.”

“I see. So you haven’t reached that realm yet.”

Felix never considered his own level a genius.

If anything, he is closer to a dullard.

Originally, he would have wandered without finding his true path and disappeared somewhere.

Even Felix overcame it,

Yet those with greater ‘talent’ than him can’t find the path.

There was nothing to say.

They are simply lazy.

Because they let themselves go too much.

“The young master is disappointed in your level.”

The reason Evan just left them to provoke him.

He understood.

Evan’s intention to educate all of them.

A knight who found the path.

Easy to say, but in reality, most don’t even know what path they should walk, or whether they need to walk one at all.

In such a situation, the only difference is the experience and power accumulated over time.

But although Felix’s growth was slower than theirs, he now knows what path he must walk.

Even in a very short time, he overcame hardships and adversity together with Evan.

He blocked the crazed pure-white knight, and survived even when someone who clearly looked like a beautiful woman suddenly went berserk and tried to kill everyone.

The experience and enlightenment gained in the process are never to be taken lightly.

“Why do you let such talents rot like this?”

Felix stood up, holding a wooden sword.

The knights instinctively stepped back, but before they knew it, the wooden sword was aimed at their throats.

Gulp.

A knight swallowed dryly without realizing.

Felix looked at them with disappointed eyes and said.

“All of you, come at me. The young master has permitted it.”

Shiiing.

He slowly assumed a stance, gripping the wooden sword.

Upper-rank knight.

The aura he exuded, having begun to find the pilgrimage path that could even glimpse the realm of Sword Master beyond top-rank knight, was anything but ordinary.

“I will personally educate you on your path.”

Evan Alkart.

He must have definitely wanted this scene.

It’s been a while. Evan Alkart.

Beyond the crystal ball.

Ocera politely greeted according to etiquette.

Evan also responded with courtesy.

A formal greeting.

But somehow, she seemed to be trembling.

Evan looked at Ocera.

Even through the crystal ball, it was visibleshe was shaken…… and confused.

‘……Just why?’

“Is something the matter?”

Ah. It’s not a big deal…… No, it is big.

She tried to brush it off lightly for a moment but eventually gave up.

Ocera looked at Evan with a complicated gaze.

“First, let me ask one thing. You did meet the Oracle of the Starry Sky, right?”

“I…… Yes. That’s correct.”

The words I asked you to deliver……

“…I probably delivered them.”

Phew. Alright. That’s not important right now.

Ocera’s wavering eyes found their place.

She seemed to have properly organized what she needed to say now.

First, I’ll tell you. The Oracle of the Starry Sky. I…… made contact with her.

“Really?”

They seemed close.

They seemed to miss each other subtly.

If contact was made, isn’t that good?

However, it wasn’t through crystal ball or letters like now. She came in person.

“In person…… you say?”

Yes. Not long ago, the Oracle personally…… came to the tower.

She came?

That Oracle?

Evan unconsciously recalled the Oracle when she was in ‘witch’ state.

Originally, the Oracle wasn’t that type.

Suddenly her eyes flipped and she changed like that.

Just.

No.

That’s not important.

If she came and contact was made, she would first express gratitude.

The person she was looking for came personally.

But that reaction is clearly……

“……What did she do there?”

She caused an accident.

Nothing else made sense.

…She came, hugged me briefly, told me to step back, then…… declared to the tower. That she is now free. So she will no longer be bound, and will not let anyone bind her.

“……?”

Then…… she half-crippled two elders.

“???”

Half-crippled?

The Oracle?

No, the witch?

‘No. If the witch did it……’

It wouldn’t have ended with half-crippled.

They would have 100% died on the spot.

No matter the cause of death, she could have killed them secretly too.

The power she handles is celestial magic.

Now lost, power that only the Oracle can wield.

The timing is so chilling it gives goosebumps, but even now I can’t believe it……

Ocera.

Her eyes trembled.

The reason……

Was not because of the Oracle.

“Just what did you do?”

“?”

Something presumed done to the Oracle.

Because of me.

……Pardon?

Me?