Chapter 27: Rumors of the Holy Knight and the Goddess of the Battlefield

“Viscount Carlson.”
“Lord Grandra!”

One day, as Harid was staying in the royal capital to prepare for the wedding that was only a few days away, the Count of the Grandra Frontier came to visit him.

“It’s our first time meeting since your elevation to viscount, Viscount Carlson.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Allow me to congratulate you once again on your promotion.
It is the result of your achievements being recognized.
Have you been well since then?”
“Of course!”

The last time Harid had seen the count was before he left the frontier.

At that time, he had still been nothing more than a baron, and more than a year had passed since then.

Harid felt a surge of emotion at seeing the count again after so long.

The count had come all the way from the frontier just to celebrate his wedding.

“To think you would come in person, my lord.”
“I thought it only right to see off a hero at the start of his new life.
In the frontier, one cannot survive without remembering one’s debts.”
“A debt…”

Hearing those words from the count made Harid feel as though he had regained the pride he once held.

“Is everything all right in the Grandra domain with you away?”
“If it weren’t, I wouldn’t be able to come all the way to the capital.”
“That’s true.”

Harid prepared a seat for the count and once again rejoiced at their reunion.

“How have things been since then?
I have been concerned about the Grandra domain as well.”
“Well… no major problems have arisen.
The defensive wall still stands firm, and the fight against the monsters is going well.
And besides—”
“Besides?”
“A fine addition has joined the knight order recently.”
“A fine one?”
“Yes.
A man who was once a member of a ducal house’s knight order.
His ability is astonishing.
Even our own knights cannot match him.”
“Even the frontier knights?”

At that, Harid felt a slight irritation rise within him.

He himself had come to be called a hero through the battles in the Grandra domain.

Because of that, he still took pride in believing that he was the best among the knights who fought on the frontier.

“Now that you’ll be returning to your territory and beginning married life, there may be fewer opportunities.
But if the chance arises someday, go and see for yourself.
He is a rare talent.
I can’t understand why the ducal house let him go.
I, for one, am grateful.”
“…My lord speaks that highly of him?”

Harid could hardly believe it.

No, more precisely, his pride refused to acknowledge the knight’s strength.

He would have to see it with his own eyes.
No, he would have to fight him to truly know.

Surely the count was simply favoring that knight, and surely the man was inferior to himself.

“That man is now even being called a ‘Holy Knight.’”
“A Holy Knight!?
You mean it?”
“Yes.
Well, there are signs that the rumors have been embellished, but…
His ability is great enough to justify the title.
Before long, he may become famous even in the capital.
It seems the bards are eagerly spreading the stories.”
“I… see…”

“Holy Knight, indeed,” Harid thought irritably.

If that Holy Knight’s exploits were in the Grandra frontier, Harid would inevitably be compared to him.

But Harid had already retired from the battlefield.

That meant that from now on, all knightly fame would simply be taken over by this so-called Holy Knight.

…That was unfair.

Harid could not accept it.

“That’s not all,”
the count continued.
“Yes?”

Unaware of Harid’s inner irritation, the count went on.

“As the Holy Knight’s partner, there is also a remarkable healer.”
“A healer…”

Naturally, the image of his own future wife, Livia, who was called a saint, came to Harid’s mind.

“Yes, a female healer.
She is… heh.
She is called the Goddess of the Battlefield, Muse.”
“W-What!?
Muse… a goddess!?”

“How exaggerated,” Harid thought in shock.

To be called a goddess sounded like a deliberate comparison with Livia, the saint.

Between hero and Holy Knight, it was unclear which ranked higher.

But between goddess and saint, it felt as though the goddess was being placed above the saint.

“Yes.
Some painters even suggested spreading her image through portraits, though she apparently refused.
Still—”
“A goddess is going too far, isn’t it?
No matter what achievements she’s had…”
“Achievements?
She has already saved several villages and succeeded in raising the morale of the knights.
And beyond that, her ability as a healer is exceptional.
From the rear lines, she sends healing magic across great distances, instantly restoring those wounded far away.
All while accompanied by golden light.”
“G-Golden light?
What is that supposed to mean?”

It sounded exaggerated and overly theatrical.

Harid felt it was all deliberate.

She must be relying on showy effects to gain fame.

If so, was she really treating the knights properly?

“My lord, you must not be deceived by such tricks.
The knights’ lives are at stake.
That sounds like nothing more than a performance.
Perhaps someone else is actually handling the real healing.”
“…What nonsense.
I have seen it with my own eyes.
No, I myself received her healing from afar.
And besides—”
“Besides?”
“I felt not only healed, but lighter somehow.
Because of her appearance and ability, she was initially treated as a saint.
But given the reputation of your own partner, she came to be called a goddess instead.
Her skill is genuine.
I am not being deceived.”
“T-That may be, but…”

Even so, Harid wanted to deny the count’s words.

Both the Holy Knight and the goddess felt like figures stealing the spotlight meant for him and Livia.

He even felt irritated that the count had chosen to bring up such a topic right before their wedding.

“…The Grandra domain will be fine even while its heroes live happily in the capital.
That is what I wished to say.
But it seems it was unnecessary.”
“Ah—”

From Harid’s expression, the count realized that his words had not been well received, and disappointment showed on his face.

(Th-This is bad…)

Harid noticed the count’s disappointment and realized that this conversation had been born of concern for them.

He panicked.

“N-No, my lord, that’s not it.
I am grateful for your concern.
B-But!”
“But?”
“…If the Grandra domain ever faces danger, Livia and I will rush there at once.
We carry the pride of having fought on the frontier.
So, yes.
Without relying on such newcomers, we will surely lend our strength.”
“Oh?”

The count nodded broadly.

“I have seen and felt the strength of the two of you on the frontier.
However, in terms of having repelled a monster crisis, there is no achievement yet.
In that respect, ‘Hero’ Harid and ‘Saint’ Livia are superior.”
“My lord…!”
“But, Viscount Carlson.
You have a territory you must protect now.
So I will accept your feelings alone with gratitude.
We too feel it would be shameful to rely on other houses forever.
What I truly meant was that you should not worry about the Grandra domain and simply be happy.”
“Y-Yes.
I gratefully accept your words, my lord.”
“Good.”

With that, the count left for his lodgings in the capital.

“A Holy Knight and a goddess…”

Whatever the count’s intention in telling him all this, it did not matter.

For Harid, it was not a pleasant story.

Once again, that vague, heavy unease continued to build within him.

And after a few more days passed in that state…

At last, the wedding of Harid and Livia began.