Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Max untied the topmost button of his uniform. He felt like he was going to burst into frustration. He had finished the work better than he had thought, but he felt dirty.

The eyes of Prince Elnos, who had glanced at him like a toy, were still vivid in his mind. Max brushed his hair roughly. He got in debt to the old raccoon-like Emperor, but he could not help it. Human life was more important than anything else. Obviously, if Hizen were in this situation, he would have made the same choice.

It was not a loss when done willingly. Max hastily entered the gladiator arena. As expected, the hosts were talking about the changed rules. It was a combination of Max and Elnos’ ideas.

Watching them, he breathed a sigh of relief. Leaning against the wall, he looked tired. To make matters worse, the youngest daughter of the Marquis Kyun had disappeared, making it more complicated. Everyone thought it was no big deal, but Max felt different. What if something had happened to her? Max was also careful about finding her.

‘…If the Commander-nim was here in this situation.’

Max sighed in regret and scratched his head. He took out the letter he had in his arms and read it. It was from Hizen. The letter was full of information about Hizen’s investigation and the Imperial Elite Knights. And at the end, there was a request for Leasis.

“Oh… right. Leasis. There was Miss Leasis.”

Max was aghast. He had forgotten about Leasis because of Prince Elnos. He had forgotten what Hizen had asked before leaving.

But everything would be fine. It would not be difficult for a smart maid like Leasis. She was good at work, good at relationships, and smart. What was the matter? Thinking lightly, Max put the paper in his arms.

Then, someone grabbed Max’s arm. His brown eyes grew bigger at the urgent touch.

“Haa. Haa… Vice Commander-nim!”

That was Jason, gasping for breath. His forehead was sweating a lot. It was time for training, but seeing him here, something must have happened.

“Vice Commander-nim. It’s… it’s a big deal!”

What’s going on with the Knights? Max hurriedly grabbed Jason’s shoulders.

“Jason, what’s going on?”

“Haa… Haa… That… Miss Leasis is missing!”

What was he talking about? Max burst out.

“Missing? What do you mean… missing? Explain it to me!”

Jason gasped and explained the situation. The fact that Leasis did not return to the maids’ palace, and that she went to Liduré but did not come back.

So far, Jason, Owen, and the employees of Liduré had been looking for her. She did not come back even though he had prayed for her.

“Vice Commander-nim. What do we do now? If Miss Leasis is in trouble…”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s impossible.”

“Oh, my God, it’s a big deal! Miss Leasis is suddenly…”

The ominousness intensified when Jason made a fuss. Max trembled without realizing it.

[Please ask for Leasis.]

It was making him crazy. Max’s face turned white. He spat out a low deep breath and asked.

“Did you report it to the Capital Defense Knights?”

“Yes!”

“What are her last whereabouts?”

“They discovered through a witness that she went to the front of the gladiator arena to find a little boy named Setchen. But after that, nothing… She wasn’t kidnapped, right?”

Desperate, Jason rubbed his eyes with his hands. He had been running through the capital for days to find her. His legs hurt and he was sweating, but it was nothing. He really thought he could do anything to make Leasis come back.

Max tapped Jason on the shoulder, telling him to calm down. Nothing could have happened to Leasis. She was stronger and smarter than anyone else.

*

People were also confused in the gladiator arena, where the ritual and pledge were completed. The rules changed again even before the competition began. It was also after all participants were in the arena.

“No, it’s a gladiator tournament! You’re messing with us.”

Participants protested, raising their blood, and the spectators watching were agitated. On the other hand, the hosts were repeating the same answers with expressionless faces like dolls. The contrasting appearance also looked like a skit.

Setchen snorted. They said it was a gladiator tournament, but he did not think it was a big deal. It was a pathetic scene that could be seen everywhere. Thanks to that, he felt a little relaxed.

Leasis looked around her and again at the venue. Large and small stones sprang up and down in the round arena. If she did not understand the terrain, she thought it would be difficult to show her skills properly.

Leasis bent slightly. She explained the terrain to Setchen.

“Setchen, when you meet someone who attacks fast, run away unconditionally.”

“Why?”

“It will be difficult to attack because there are many stones. You have a small body, so you have plenty of ways to escape.”

“No! No. I’m big.”

Setchen cried out saying strange things. Leasis stared at him and asked.

“Don’t you want to listen?”

“…Tsk.”

Then, Blix approached. He said, stroking Leasis and Setchen’s hair.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you hear the rules for this new competition?”

He could not believe they heard it right. Leasis and Setchen hesitated, but he laughed.

“A group of three.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s a rule requested by the Imperial Elite Knights… Hmm. I don’t know. Wait a moment. Let’s listen to it.”

Blix seemed to have a very sharp hearing. Even though the hosts were quite far away, he listened to them and told the rules of the competition in detail.

He gave some other useful information. Participants who were slightly injured could withdraw at any time.

Even if they hear it briefly, such a rule was very considerate. A name came to Leasis’ mind. She murmured unknowingly.

“That’s Max-nim’s doing…”

“What?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Leasis shook her head hurriedly. Blix grinned and put his hands on the shoulders of Leasis and Setchen.

“Well. Shall we go now?”

Leasis was puzzled by Blix’s decision. He did not know her, and Setchen was a child. No matter how nice Blix was, teaming up with them was like giving up on winning the competition.

The quick-witted Blix smiled softly. It was a warm and mature smile like Max. He said, lightly shaking his hand.

“I told you. I’ll give you a gift.”

Blix spoke confidently.

“Your brother’s life. I’ll protect you until this competition is over.”

*

Leaving an inn, Hizen was dressed in a light black cloak. He raised his head slightly. The sun was already up in the sky.

“Damn. Why is it so hot?”

“Ahh. That’s really annoying.”

People grumbled in the scorching weather. It was hot. Hizen fiddled with his chin. Come to think of it, Leasis especially liked hot days.

[Count-nim, Count-nim! It’s particularly hot today. I think the laundry will dry well!]

[You like it too, Count-nim, don’t you?]

Hizen smirked unknowingly. Well, this weather was not bad either. The smell of blood was worse, but he was only a little more disgusted by himself. If she was happy, that was a pretty good thing on its own.

Lost in thought, Hizen stopped walking. He did not notice that he was blocking the door of the inn and that people passing by were crying.

Hizen wondered with a serious face. Come to think of it, she liked gloomy days, too.

[Count-nim, it’s going to rain!]

[…Is it so good if it rains?]

[Of course! Plants will love it when they receive water.]

Hizen was a little excited. How would Leasis react when winter came? It would be quite interesting to see her in winter.

‘You’ll love it. Like a puppy running wild in the snow.’

A smile thickened around Hizen’s mouth. Maybe she would shout ‘Snow is the best!’ There were so many good things for this woman. He wondered if she liked all four seasons.

Then what was her favorite thing? Hizen folded his arms at the sudden question that came to his mind.

[It’s not the work that I like, but Count-nim.]

[I want to be with you more. I want to stay with Count-nim and learn swordsmanship. I have to be with Count-nim to have that opportunity.]

Hizen’s face heated up at the words that suddenly came to his mind. He coughed in vain and quickly left the inn door. He looked really awkward. His long arms and legs moved at the same time.

He came to his senses after walking like that for a while. It was the opposite direction of his destination. He was crazy. Sighing, Hizen turned around. Then, someone next to him called him.

“Hey, young man.”

Hizen tried to ignore her, but she grabbed his arm.

“What do you want?”

The slightly laid voice was so nice that the woman’s face turned red. She hesitated for a moment and pointed to the stand.

“Look at the accessories here… No, can you just come and see?”

What a bother. Hizen tried to turn around. But at that moment, there was something that caught his eye.

It was a blue rose-shaped brooch. A cute little brooch that caught his eye. He thought Leasis in uniform would look good with that decoration. Leasis that he’d love to see…

‘Wake up, Hizen Ben Dratius.’

Hizen shook his head quickly. He could not waste time on personal matters during the mission. He headed back to his destination.

But after a while, Hizen returned to the stand. He coughed in vain and approached the stand. Instead of buying, he was just looking at the accessories. It was truly a sight.

Hizen stared at the blue rose-shaped brooch. Then the woman started to give some explainations.

“You have eyes! I’m going to tell you about this brooch, this year’s personal…”

He could not hear anything. Hizen was lost in thought, staring only at the brooch. Come to think of it, if she manages to become a knight, shouldn’t I gift her something?

After a while, he picked up the blue rose brooch and other accessories. They were the most expensive ones, so the woman opened her mouth wide.