Episode 328
Chapter 101: Be Me

After meeting Telrot, I kept to my missions and didn’t wander outside for a while.

I traveled the world through teleportation gates, engaging in skirmishes big and small with the Ziphl, mediating between various factions, rescuing VIPs, assassinating enemies, and destroying facilities.

In just one month, I completed seven missions.

None were as difficult as the Barton Vichena assassination, but even for me, handling seven missions back-to-back without rest was exhausting.

Of course, every mission was a success. In five of them, I even achieved extra results beyond the original objectives.

The reason I threw myself into these missions so fervently was simple.

My three-year suspension from going out was still in a ‘pending’ state.

Telrot was pulling strings, but completely wiping out the punishment in such a short time was impossible.

Especially Jorden—he was still grinding his teeth over the suspension being put on hold that day. It was a matter of time.

If I showed even the slightest weakness, Jorden would bring up the punishment again.

Nom, nom, gulp.

“Feels like I’m some delinquent student doing community service at the academy. But after a month and these results, even the elders can’t help but ease up on their harsh looks,” I said, swallowing the meat I’d been chewing.

“By the way, this brings back memories. It’s almost been ten years since you and your classmates and I used to eat together here. Sir Belop, the guardian knight—I hope you haven’t forgotten how I used to make sure you got your share of meat back then?”

“If you’d tried to brag about something from ten years ago, I wouldn’t have let you get away with it, my lord.”

I was sitting on the floor of the empty cadet training hall with Belop, sharing a meal. The same meat-heavy menu we had back in the beginner class days.

Belop’s lips curved into a smile as he looked at the meat on his tray.

Belop Schmitz had just returned a few days ago from the eastern snowy mountains of the Mittel Kingdom.

He’d secured his return by capturing the raiders Kuzan and Yulian, who had driven the eastern snowy mountain bandits, as well as the rogue knight Hirok of Vankela and the wild dog Jack Glow from western Biment.

Naturally, he came straight to me upon his return to swear his loyalty, and we even completed a mission together just yesterday.

“When those raiders suddenly appeared in the mountains, at first I thought one of your enemies had sent someone to kill me. But to think you actually sent those terrible bastards yourself…”

Belop shuddered, recalling the battle in the snowy mountains.

It had been the longest, fiercest, and loneliest fight of his life so far. Chasing and fleeing across knee-deep snowdrifts without any support, seizing opportunities, launching ambushes, being ambushed, running out of food…

“Haha, I can imagine how betrayed you must have felt.”

“I never want to go through that again. But thanks to it, I’ve grown. In swordsmanship, physically, and mentally.”

“You’ve definitely gotten stronger.”

Belop had always been the most promising cadet besides me during our beginner days. Now, with his goal to become my knight and having faced life-or-death situations multiple times, his growth was only natural.

“Sometimes I think how lucky I was to have met you back then.”

“After all that talk about betrayal and bragging, now you’re laying on the flattery?”

“When have I ever done that? I was just a little surprised, that’s all. Anyway, I mean that I feel if I hadn’t met you, my life would have been very unhappy.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Back in the beginner class, you helped me break through my fears. Even after you became a candidate knight, and even now, I often think back to that day.”

—As you just realized, you’re weaker than me. And kinder. I like that about you. But being good alone won’t help you survive in this hell.

Belop recalled the words I’d said back then. I remembered the same moment, and for some reason, my face flushed.

“Thanks to that moment, I was able to become a knight of Runcandel. Without you, I wouldn’t have lasted. Maybe it’s a stretch, but I think one day I might have given up on life, worn down by the pain.”

“Nonsense. You would have done fine even without me.”

In his previous life, he hadn’t.

Before reincarnation, Belop had been expelled from Runcandel, trained in Hailan, and became part of Biment’s royal guard.

He had repeatedly carried out unwanted massacres under royal orders and ended his unhappy life by his own hand.

Remembering that made me feel even prouder of how well Belop had grown.

“You probably don’t realize how shocked everyone was by your actions during that sparring match. Even now, whenever we get together, it comes up.”

“Is that so?”

“But what shocked us even more was when you went alone to rescue Mesa. The moment you went into the beastmen’s territory by yourself and brought Mesa back, everyone silently swore that you were the only one worthy of our loyalty.”

Looking back, my bad blood with Kinzel started then.

Back then, I thought Kinzel was just a crazy terrorist group.

Now, they were a massive force even the Ziphl hesitated to confront head-on. And the leader was still only suspected to be a demon.

Those pests are a real pain. Kinzel too. I should visit the Ibriano family soon, see what’s going on.

But for now, I had no time for that. I was practically under house arrest, buried in missions, and hadn’t even been able to visit the third tomb Olmango told me about.

I’d called Belop over to solve that very problem.

“Your flattery is making my ears itch. Whatever happened to the clumsy guy you used to be? Did you grease your tongue with oil or something?”

“If you want, I can do more.”

“Alright, that’s enough. Belop, I have something for you to do.”

“Anything, my lord.”

“From today until I return, you’re Jin Runcandel.”

“Huh?”

“You know the mission leaving tomorrow, right?”

“You mean the one to rescue the count of the Ekan Kingdom who was kidnapped by mercenaries?”

“Right. But now it’s not my mission—it’s yours. You’re going to play the role of Jin Runcandel.”

“Are you serious?”

“The count will be blindfolded anyway. Even if someone rescues him, he won’t recognize who it is. You rescue him, pretend to be me for a while, then hand him over to the Ekan guards.”

“Good heavens.”

“Are you saying you’re not confident about the rescue?”

“No, it’s not that. How am I supposed to act like you?”

“Why not? The hostage will be blindfolded, you’ll wear a mask, and I’ve already commissioned Pikon Mintche to make a fake Sigmund for you. You said to tell me anything.”

While handling seven missions, I’d already asked Pikon Mintche to make a fake Sigmund.

It was a sword with no special functions, just a perfect visual replica.

Of course, it couldn’t perfectly mimic Sigmund’s eerie pale glow, but it was close enough.

And since the fake Sigmund was crafted by the god of blacksmiths, it was still a fine sword in its own right.

“It should be finished by now. Here, try this on.”

I took off my candidate knight’s coat and handed it to Belop.

He jumped, looking around nervously. There was no one else in the training hall, but he knew how sensitive this was.

“L-lord… Are you serious? This is the candidate knight’s coat. No one but a Runcandel knight can wear this!”

“It’s just a coat. Try it on, see if it fits.”

“My lord!”

“It’s an order. Belop, you’ve grown a big head and now you’re being defiant?”

I was joking, but Belop shook his head seriously.

“No, I’ll try it on.”

“Oh, good, it fits well. I’ll give you some dye to darken your hair too.”

“Are you sure that’s alright?”

“If your disguise gets discovered and it causes trouble within the family, I’ll make sure you come out unscathed. Don’t worry.”

“That’s not what I meant. Do you think I’d ever try to block your orders out of fear for my own safety?”

“Good. This is the way to help me. You’re the best choice—most trustworthy, similar build, and the best swordsman among my knights. To anyone who doesn’t know us, you could easily be mistaken for me. I’d have preferred Mesa, but she’s a different gender.”

“The gap between your skills and mine is bigger than you think. One slip and I’ll be found out.”

“Then I’ll go myself when we face really tough opponents. Like you said, those guys would recognize me.”

“I hope you’re not planning to have me impersonate you all the time.”

“Unfortunately, that hope is wrong. You owe me for all the meat you’ve eaten. I have too much to do outside the family. You can handle it, right?”

Sigh.

Belop sighed, then answered resolutely.

“From today, I’ll visit the theater troupe whenever I can to practice acting. This is your order, so I have the duty to carry it out perfectly.”

“Good posture. And if you get the feeling the Black Sword Society is tailing you, no matter what, even if the mission fails, make sure you escape without being caught. If the Black Sword Leader catches you, it’s over for both of us.”

“Just a minute ago, you said that if I’m discovered within the last minute, you’d do whatever it takes to keep me safe.”

“Did I say that?”

“You’ve always been unpredictable, both then and now.”

“Well, since things have always worked out, I never saw a reason to change.”

“Sometimes, your comrades can’t help but worry and hold their breath, my lord.”

Such adorable fools.

Jin chuckled softly and gave Bellop’s shoulder a light pat.

“When your other comrades all pass the Guardian Knight exam, let’s get together. We’ll have a drink, and I have something to tell you.”

“What is it you want to say?”

“I’ll tell you when the time comes.”

He couldn’t bring himself to tell the youngest squad, who’d just passed their exams and were still buzzing with excitement, that another hellish training awaited them.

Except for Bellop, most of the youngest squad hovered around late 6-star to early 7-star ranks, so they weren’t yet ready to be deployed as full-fledged forces.

“But, my lord, if you’re sending me on this mission instead, where do you plan to go?”

“To pay respects to our ancestors.”