In recent times, there was a rise within the variety of lesser demons infiltrating the Empire.

The Emperor has turn into involved, and has referred to as in all his forces, together with the Imperial Guard, to drastically improve the extent of safety inside the Empire, in addition to its outer partitions.

Rhode, who was presupposed to be coaching on the Academy, and Liel, who was on go away of absence, have been despatched on scouting missions out of season.

“When you’re occurring a go away of absence, shouldn’t you not less than have a phrase with me?!”

Rhode protested in an exasperated voice, the primary time they’d seen one another since summer time trip.

As a substitute of answering him, Liel rapidly grabbed a black mantis he had discovered throughout his scouting.

As a substitute of responding to Rhode’s chattering behind his again, Liel exerted strain on the mantis.

Quickly sufficient, the mantis crumbled to ash and disappeared, proving his power.

“Displaying off your evil powers once more?”

Liel’s capacity to seize a demon together with his naked arms was outrageous, however so was his evil energy that made it potential.

“You’re speaking an excessive amount of right now.”

Dusting off his powdered arms, Liel turned his head barely to have a look at Rhode. Not like the delicate reprimand, Liel’s eyes have been glazed over.

He’s nonetheless the identical.

his unchanging pal, Rhode blurted out a brief remark.

“Is that what you say to a pal you haven’t seen in a very long time?”

He felt dangerous for his pal for being so insensitive, so Rhode continued to speak to him.

However Liel solely checked out him with annoyance as he continued to whine.

“You’re such a chilly fellow.”

“Not essentially.”

It’s simply that he’s getting slightly tiresome.

Liel didn’t say one other phrase.

By the point they have been out of the alley, Rhode hadn’t even gotten the standard “How are you?” from Liel.

The streets have been crowded.

They appeared oblivious to the rising variety of demons flowing into the Empire.

No marvel the higher-ups had stored the information of the demonic invasion below wraps to maintain the final populace from being disturbed.

It wasn’t truly an issue for the safety of the Empire, so Liel and the opposite knights felt it was the correct factor to do.

“So how is your pal?”

Rhode requested politely.

“How is that your online business?”

Altering the topic introduced nothing however a snide response. Rhode determined to surrender attempting to speak to Liel at this level.

Similtaneously he had made up his thoughts, simply in time a reconnaissance order of Filia Knights got here into his line of sight. They have been fairly a sight of their neat grey uniforms.

As he watched them from afar, he instantly heard a voice calling out to him from behind.

“Uh, are you college students from the academy?”

Rhode, who hadn’t acknowledged the voice, rotated in shock.

There was a person in worn epaulettes who seemed not like any of the paladins passing by, his eyes shining as he watched the 2 of them.

The person’s pink hair fluttered within the breeze, and Liel felt an unexplained sense of foreboding.

“We got here out as a request for reinforcement.”

Rhode replied in a gruff voice.

“Oh, forgive me, I used to be impolite. I believe it’s cute to see the scholars.”

He didn’t look sufficiently old to seek out college students cute.

However he couldn’t make certain. The epaulettes on the person’s shoulders gave away his identification.

The truth that he was dressed within the colours of the Knights of Filia, and that he was the one one carrying epaulettes, meant that he was the captain of the Templar Knights.

“……How lengthy have you ever been right here?”

Rhode requested impatiently, and the person’s eyes widened as if he’d by no means heard that earlier than.

Then he burst out laughing.

“Does it look that manner? I seem like this, however I’m solely 20.”

For a second, he thought.

He seemed precisely his age.

“……Do you will have any enterprise with us?”

Rhode rapidly modified the topic. He was slightly irritated that he was teasing them, however he figured nothing good may come of messing with the pinnacle of the Knights of Filia.

“No, I don’t have a enterprise with you.”

He smiled harmlessly.

“It’s simply that I’ve by no means been to the academy earlier than, and seeing your uniform made me really feel slightly jealous, so I impulsively spoke to you.”

Rhode was no slouch when it got here to socializing, however actually not as a lot as this man.

As he mentioned, people born with divine powers have been required to take lessons in divine powers on the temple as a substitute of the academy.

In different phrases, for them, the temple was the academy.

However to suppose {that a} paladin who was adequate to be the pinnacle of a knighthood was envious of academy college students who hadn’t even graduated but…….

“Let’s say hey prematurely, since we’d run into one another while you get your knighthood.”

The person caught out his hand generously. It seemed like he meant to shake their arms.

Rhode didn’t see any purpose to refuse, so he reached for the person’s hand with out a lot thought.

If it weren’t for Liel, who instantly grabbed his arm.

“……?”

“We have been referred to as by our teacher.”

Embarrassment was written throughout Liel’s face, as if he have been pressed for time, and though that shouldn’t be a purpose to refuse a handshake, he shamelessly continued his lie.

“Huh? In—.”

“Let’s go.”

Earlier than Rhode may say anything, Liel tugged him together with nice drive.

Rhode’s massive physique was dragged alongside at a brisk tempo.

“There have to be somebody with divine energy round ……?”

As if he had extra to say, the person continued.

“I can sense divine energy in your physique, however I don’t suppose it’s yours…….”

“…….”

“Whoever it’s will need to have been fairly near you to provide you a blessing.”

Blessing…….

Liel smirked, nonetheless remembering the ache he felt when Arinel’s holy energy flowed by means of him.

“My late mom left me one thing earlier than she died, I suppose.”

Liel lied, a half-truth, as was his nature.

The stranger quickly apologized, his eyes full of remorse.

“Oh……. I didn’t understand that, and I apologize for asking such a impolite query.”

Not like his lighthearted query, his apology carried weight. Wanting on the man bowing obediently to him, Liel smiled benevolently.

“Let’s go now, we’ve wasted an excessive amount of time.”

He meant no extra holding.

The person nodded in understanding and took a step again.

Liel stepped away from the person, his grip on Rhode’s arm nonetheless tight.

“Your mom was a priestess?”

Rhode requested, as if for the primary time.

“Sure.”

Liel answered briefly, preserving his eyes straight forward and his toes busy shifting.

He may nonetheless really feel the gaze behind him. Not Rhode’s, however one other’s.

⁂

My lesson with the Duchess is over. It had certainly ended inside the month, because the Duchess had predicted.

Solely three months after we began our classes.

I thanked the Duchess sincerely. She didn’t react a lot to my gratitude.

The Duchess’s demeanor was as chilly because it had been three months in the past.

Nonetheless, gratitude is gratitude, so I assumed I’d ship her a thank-you present later.

“Your Grace, a letter has arrived.”

I used to be sitting in my workplace, shuffling my toes and flipping by means of papers, when Sarah opened the door.

In her hand she held two envelopes.

One was a plain white envelope, however the different seemed nearly too luxurious to cross up.

I took the envelopes from Sarah and stiffened in shock after I noticed the recipient.

It was a letter from the Imperial Palace.

I swallowed onerous and gingerly opened the envelope, the very first thing I did, the letter glistening prefer it had been dusted with gold.

“…….”

The sender was His Majesty the Emperor.

There was nothing particular in it. An informal greeting and congratulations on my inauguration made up half the letter.

However the punchline was within the final line.

“Sarah……. I believe you need to go to the palace.”

My eyes widened as I noticed the request to go to the palace someday subsequent week.

Out of the blue?

Certain, my grandmother usually stopped by the Imperial Palace, however…….

“I’ll have your robes prepared for you.”

Sarah, realizing the intent of my phrases, replied with a stern look. For some purpose, Sarah appeared to be in excessive spirits right now.

I despatched her a smile and rapidly opened one other envelope.

“…….”

This one was from Melissa.

True to her character, the letter was quick and to the purpose. However I may really feel her concern for me in her brevity.

My nervousness slowly melted away. I nonetheless felt dangerous that I had taken a go away of absence with out telling Melissa.

Earlier than answering the Emperor’s letter, I need to write a reply to Melissa.

I ought to inform her to return to my manor anytime, whether or not it’s throughout trip or after she graduates.

However how did Melissa write to me proper after her busy interval?

What an incredible coincidence.