Having been under Shin’s skill, Emilia finally woke up.

((((Emilia-sama)))))

She blinked her eyes and wandered about. She noticed that the girl knights were circling around her and looks at her in relief; the thought immediately comes to her that she was defeated.

But without remembering anything from the fight, Emilia felt rather discontented.

She raised her body weakly. Her head still feel fuzzy so she supported her head with her hands but she still managed to stand up without problem.

Tia looks at her condition bitterly and drew closer to support Emilia from falling.

“Are you okay Emilia-sama? Does it hurt somewhere?”

“It’s okay. Though I’m a bit nauseated but I’m okay now. More importantly, what happened to the fight?”

“You don’t remember Emilia-sama?”

Tia asked in surprise.

“No. All I remember was I had the advantage. I’m sure I caught him by surprise… but strangely after that, I don’t or more like I can’t remember what happened next.”

No matter how Emilia tried to recall the events, all she can remember is complete darkness, just nothing.

“Apparently, you were under this man’s sword skill. I’m not really sure about the specifics but he said that you were in a state of dreaming of some sorts. Emilia-sama, this man is so weird”

Even the girls including Yuffa and Clarisse nodded at Tia’s statement.

Tia who had learned what just happen to Emilia explained while rudely pointing at Shin who had a wry smile on his face.

“Dreaming? What did you do to me?”

Emilia turned to face Shin.

Watching Shin, Emilia had a mixed feeling. The discontent hasn’t disappeared but evidence showed that she had lost.

No matter what, she had to accept it.

A knight must face a battle fair and square and accept the result without any resentment. But that doesn’t mean she has no right to ask how she was defeated.

“As I’ve explained to Tia-san a while ago, it was one of my sword skills. It’s called [Weightless Stab]. As the name gave you an idea, it can’t cause physical damage because the target of that skill is the mana inside your body. It temporarily disrupts and cuts the flow causing the target to feint and cause hallucinations.”

Being asked, Shin answered eloquently.

“Ha… I’ve never heard of that skill before. So that explains why I blacked out? I probably would’ve died if you have stabbed me seriously back then.”

“I wouldn’t do that. Besides, it’s a waste to not be able to see that beautiful—“

“B-beautiful?! H-how shameless. I’m not b-beautiful or anything”

Before Shin could even finish his words, Emilia suddenly interrupted him as she reacted to that certain words with a red face.

Tia also reacted to those words with a frowned face as she looks at Shin and Emilia alternately.

Shin tilted his head seemingly clueless about her reaction.

He also couldn’t hear her properly because her voice became smaller and smaller.

Her expression didn’t suit her dignified face as she turned away face and placed her hands on her hips trying to hide her embarrassment but Shin still finds it cute somehow.

And a certain 2 females looked at Emilia with a complicated expression, one having a wry smile, the other with a rather annoyed face.

But Shin’s next words made Emilia stagger for a moment.

“That beautiful armor made of thunder was great. I want to see it again”

“The armor?...”

“Yes. Why? I can’t?”

“Eh..ah no that’s not it. I-its nothing… Eherm..”

For some reason, Emilia had a disappointed face. She initially gained her initial composure but there’s still traces of red in face.

Wait; now that she thinks about it, this was the first time that she had been defeated ever since she was delegated as a knight of the kingdom. Even to the male knight commander whom she frequently duel, she had never lost nor win. Their skills were proportionately equal that every time they fight, it always ends up in a draw.

Recalling the rather one-sided fight, she took another good look at the man in front of him. She hasn’t known this man, not until yesterday. And then came in a thought, How come this man wasn’t known even before?

This question only lasted for a moment. Everybody has their own circumstances so prying into someone’s life isn’t a commendable deed that’s why she let it be.

Emilia drew closer to Shin and extended her hands.

“Seems like I lost… yet I still have a lingering discontent so if… if given a chance, would you… accept my duel invitation again?”

Acting very different from the usual cool and dignified Emilia, what she is right now issomewhat very uncharacteristic of her, to be shy and hesitant.

‘To think Emilia-sama would make that kind of face’

Tia never missed that change in Emilia and made an amazed expression.

“What’s with the hesitation?” Shin smiled and shook her extended hand. He continued “If you’re okay with me, then yes. Our fight was rather enjoyable. I’ll be on your care”

Shin flashed another smile. Emilia watched his expression and felt something warm welling up in her chest.

‘What was that just now?’

She touched her chest trying to understand what that surge of feeling was but Emilia immediately dismissed her thought and continued talking to Shin seemingly clueless to how she really felt.

“Oh right. Why don’t you apply for the military? This kingdom needs someone like you. I’m sure, with your power, climbing ranks should be easy. I can vouch for you”

“Nah, I think I’ll pass. Thank you for offer by the way.”

“Shouldn’t you think a bit more before deciding? I mean, compared to adventurers, being in a military has more stable income. Also, if you’re strong enough to lead the military, the king might bestow you with an honorary title of a knight. So how is it?”

“Ha… that certainly is appealing but I’ll pass”

Without a bit of hesitation, Shin declined her offer because there is something that he wants to do no matter what.

“Is that so. But at least give me a reason why turn down my offer?”

“Well, it’s not that big of a reason… I just want to explore this world, that’s all. I want to be free and there are lots of things I want to do. So a position like that is rather inconvenient for me”

Hearing his reason, Emilia thought that it was such a simplistic idea but at the same time it was grand.

Everyone wants to do something. No matter how simple it is, as long as you pursue something that you really wanted to do, then that itself is worth your time spending for.

“I see. So that’s what you wanted to do huh? It’s disappointing but what can I do, right?”

“I’m sorry”

“Oh no no. You don’t have to apologize. It’s just me being selfish… So, once again, thank you for your time. But next time, I will be the one to defeat you”

“Bring it on”

(((You can do it Emilia-sama!))) (((His win was just a fluke!))) (((Right? You can beat him to a pulp next time))) (Emilia-samaa!)

Shin and Emilia both have a confident expression on their faces as they faced each other and did a fist bump.

The girl knight corps also started their cheers all of a sudden that it got noisy.

There were too many of them and even their plate armor made a sound that it covered the voice of a man who’s approaching the crowd.

The man was huffing and puffing. He supported his tired body by placing his hands on his knees.

‘fuu….’

He catches his breath and then squeezed his body to the crowd trying to find Emilia.

The crowd of girls then made way upon noticing the man. It was Emilia’s butler, Bastian.

His white hair with no spec of black indicated his age. He wore the same butler uniform Shin wears. Unlike him, the old man was a proper butler.

“Bastian-san? Do you need something from me? You look tired as well”

“*Huff* Sorry for the sudden appearance. I was in the garden trimming the plants when suddenly a group of military personnel gave me this and asked me to hand this over to you.”

Bastian carefully handed a red scroll towards Emilia.

“A summon?”

Emilia’s face turned serious.

The crowd turned rowdy after hearing her words.

Receiving a red scroll is a special message exclusive only for those high ranking military officials and it means a job order while a receiving a blue scroll serves as an invitation for a party in the palace available only for people of noble birth.

Emilia opened the scroll and carefully reads the content.

After she finished reading, she showed a shocked expression.

“A village under attack by monsters?!”

“Why are so surprise all of sudden, Emilia-san? Is that something to be surprised about?”

“Don’t you know? Every village has a barrier placed in them. Even though it’s not that strong, it is sufficient enough to ward off nearby monsters. For them to attack…. There must be something that is pushing them to be that aggressive..”

Shin asked Emilia but the one who answered him was Tia.

It’s no surprise if Shin doesn’t know about this. He hasn’t been here for a month so there are tons of things he doesn’t know.

“Does the monster have hierarchy or something? Like do they have leaders as well?”

“Ha? Of course they do! You don’t know anything, do you?”

Tia had a ‘what’s this man saying’ face as she answered Shin’s question.

“If that is so, then maybe there is a high level monster that is leading them.”

“Monsters aren’t capable of such things. They are all idiots”

“You don’t know that. Maybe there is a monster with a high intellect out there somewhere.”

“Perhaps, but, the one that are capable of leading monsters are those damn demons.”

Tia spoke of those words with a spit.

Her actions were unladylike. But it just shows just how deep she loathes demons.

“B-but, didn’t the demon vanished a hundred years ago?”

The one who spoke was Yuffa who mustered her courage to speak.

“Who told you that? The demons never vanished. They’re just inactive”

“””Tia-sama? Is it okay to say those words to a civilian? It might cause trouble”””

“What’s there to hide? People will know about it sooner or later anyway”

“””But even so….”””

The girl knights tried to talk over to Tia but she only shrugs it off.

“…”

All of sudden, Shin was silent.

He remembered the purpose which was nearly forgotten due to the events that keeps on happening.

He was sent here for a reason.

Although it may be his negligence on his part or being an idiot that he was sent here but in exchange for a new life, he was given a task.

Shin was given cheat-like skills for this.

“So where is this village?”

“Hm? You want to help, Shin?”

“If permitted to, yes. I want to help”

“Having a very strong companion is assuring. Okay, you can go with us”

“But Emilia-sama! Isn’t this an official order? Isn’t he an adventurer?”

“Tia, it’s because it is an official order that we are allowed to hire adventurers to help us, you know?”

“B-but…”

Seemingly out of counter reason, she stayed silent.

Shin paid her no mind and asked a favor for Emilia.

“Can I bring my companions as well?”

“Ha?! This isn’t a vacation—“

“Sure. One or two more isn’t a problem”

Tia butted in again but was silenced by Emilia. She pouted.

“So where is this place anyway?”

“About that, it’s a farming village in the north just inside the border several miles from here. We will reach there in 4 days using a carriage. The village is called Celesta.”

*thud*

“No way….”

“C-clarisse?! What’s the matter?”

Yuffa shouted in surprise as she noticed that Clarisse kneeled for some reason.

“T-that’s my village….”

“Clarisse…”

Clarisse said so in a resigned tone as Yuffa gently hugs her trying to comfort what she feels.

Emilia and the others had a downcast expression on their faces. Even though they are unrelated, they still felt that it was something to be sad about.

“Clarisse, is that true?”

“Un… *sobs..”

Clarisse looked at Shin weakly as she answered.

Shin pulled her up.

“I hope that your family and the others are safe. We will go as soon as possible”

In response she didn’t say anything; she only nodded her head still looking at her feet.

And in that time, something appeared in front of Shin all of sudden with a beep.

Shin touched the screen that appeared and reads the content.

“Shin-sama? What’s wrong?”

Yuffa peered closer to Shin as she noticed that he had widened his eyes seemingly surprise.

“It seems my job here starts now”

Shin answered without looking at her as he continues to focus his attention on what was written on the screen,

[Saint’s Quest 1: rescue the village and defeat the horde of monsters]