Chapter 101

August’s face was crumpled. Even though his emotions were revealed unexpectedly, Meyer pretended not to know.

“Even in Nokentoria, you have been attached to Jun, so Jun will not find it very strange.”

“So now you want me to be a watchdog when I’m not even her guardian?”

“What do you mean a watchdog? Let’s leave it as escort. I don’t think you have anything to do either. As far as I know, you always stay in your accommodation or the cathedral during this period.”

“I’m busy praying to St. Marianne.”

“The time devoted to the talent given by Saint Marianne must also be meaningful.”

“…”

He didn’t like it, but August didn’t think there was an alternative other than following her.

August sighed and showed signs of giving up.

“… Ask the Vice Commander.”

“Good.”

Meyer nodded as if he was relieved.

The moment he thought it was over, Meyer suddenly raised his eyebrows and asked.

“And also you shouldn’t flirt with Jun. Got it?”

“I’m going to go crazy! How do you view me?”

August clenched his fist and trembled as if it were insulting.

But Meyer didn’t really care. Rather, his gaze of doubt only deepened.

“Why are you so sensitive? A strong denial is a strong affirmation, don’t tell me you…”

He’s like this pseudo-sick patient!

August was sincerely sorry that he could not do anything about Meyer’s condition with his own healing powers.

In the end, August swore at Jun in the name of St. Marianne, saying he would not have rational feelings for her.

Meyer smiled satisfactorily only then.

***

Meyer tried to call Jun as soon as he got August’s permission, but it became night while the war of words came and went.

It was too late, so they parted ways, promising to meet the next day.

And the next day.

When Meyer woke up at dawn, he was pondering when to call Jun.

To make that much more appropriate time possible, Meyer spent the morning trying to send the expedition members to call Jun about before she ate lunch.

“Are you talking about the Vice Commander?”

“Yes.”

Meyer calling Jun was something that the Black Knights would be as familiar with as their work.

Meyer naturally expected the member to leave immediately. However, contrary to his expectation, the unit member was just hesitating, looking at Meyer.

The member who had been watching him for a while cautiously opened his mouth.

“… Well, Your Excellency. Come to think of it, there’s a rumor that I accidentally heard in the hallway…”

“Is it something I should know?”

They were not doing what they were told, they were just ranting and raving.

Meyer, who was not interested in unnecessary rumors, furrowed his brow as if he was too lazy to listen.

Normally, they would have turned tail at this point. The member looked at Meyer with a determined face, like the last member of the squad left alone before a Minotaur, and said.

“… I think so. Your Excellency will be curious… Of course, it’s my judgment.”

“What rumor is it?”

Until then, Meyer didn’t seem to care much.

Exactly, until the first word of the member fell.

“The Vice Commander… It’s rumored that she’s dating the Red Wolf Squad Leader.”

“What?”

Meyer’s face, which had been soft until just now, suddenly crumpled.

At the same time, at the explosive momentum, the member immediately hit his head on the floor with a white face.

Meyer ran wild.

“I can’t believe they tarnished the Vice Commander’s reputation with such rumors!”

Meyer’s loud voice resonated in the imperial palace.

Fluttering, birds that had been entrusted to the railing of the imperial palace for a while flew up in unison, making a fuss for a moment.

“Y-Your Excellency! Please take away your anger. It was said to be a rumor, but… I heard that the Vice Commander said so herself. I just…”

“That’s not what you heard after all!”

Level 80 rage could not be won, not even by those with titles. The member looked pale and hated his light mouth.

It was then that people heard a roar in the hallway. Everyone seemed so excited that they forgot that Meyer Knox’s drawing-room was nearby.

Meyer’s uncanny hearing made him quick to dig up the subject.

“Oh my god!”

“Jun Karentia and Axion Flama are lovers?”

“There was no sign of that. Isn’t that a lie?”

“No. She admitted it earlier. I heard her speak openly in the corridor.”

The whispering sound gradually grew farther away.

Unlike the warmth of the chatroom filled with exciting stories, the reception room was cool and frightening as if it were casting a shadow.

The unit member did not know exactly what conversation was going on outside, but he could tell by the look on Meyer’s face, which was much more swollen than before, that the conversation was not good for his mood.

“Jun… First, call the Vice Commander.”

Meyer waved at the unit member in a low voice.

The member stepped aside as soon as Meyer’s words fell.

Meyer’s lips quirked in a sneer as he was left alone.

Rumors about Jun had been flying around, but this was the first time he had seen anything like this.

It was clear that Jun had actively intervened.

He wondered what that idea was, but it was such a dream…!

Meyer realized that Jun had falsely made a rumor about dating Axion.

But that didn’t mean he was cool with the rumor.

Meyer’s large fist on the mahogany desk in the parlor trembled.

The desk had been made so sturdy that it hadn’t suffered a single scratch in over a hundred years, but when Meyer struck it, it would break wide open and put an end to its usefulness as furniture.

‘Let’s calm down. It’s just a useless rage.’

Meyer barely endured his seething aggression.

However, was it because all of the numerous concerns he had for Jun until yesterday disappeared meaninglessly like water bubbles?

He couldn’t erase all the frustration, anger, and incomprehensible irritation that was boiling in his heart.

Of all the Black Knights, why Axion of all people?

Was there a reason why it was Axion?

If she wanted to start a false rumor… She could have just pretended to be dating him.

Of course, Meyer had no intention of falling in love or even pretending to fall in love with anyone, but he was willing to go along with whatever it took for Jun’s sake.

But that was just Meyer’s idea.

‘Pretend that you don’t have anything to do with me so persistently, and run on the road that people will misunderstand…’

Perhaps to Jun, he was the kind of man with whom she didn’t even want to be involved. On the other hand, Axion, was the kind of person she liked….

Tastes were diverse, so it would not be strange to say that Jun preferred the intelligent and fragile atmosphere characteristic of a wizard…

Such an atmosphere he didn’t have.

If that wasn’t the case… Axion had red hair like Fabian’s, so she might have been unintentionally attracted to him.

Jun repeatedly said she hated Fabian, but unconsciousness was something you didn’t simply understand.

The thought made him even angrier. Meyer’s mind raced to and fro as if out of control, not knowing the extent.

Meyer’s head swelled in an unfamiliar feeling, and it was difficult to manage his facial expression due to the rising nausea.

If she had pretended to be dating August, he would have felt less bad

… No. Thinking about it, the feeling was the same.

His eyes flashed white with anger and terrible dizziness hit him.

At the time he was trapped in the tower, supply omission had starved him for several days, and it had been a really long time since he had felt dizzy afterward.

He was not this angry at that moment when Fabian took the lead in the first round.

Rather, he blamed himself for his own shortcomings.

At that moment, Meyer had a strong feeling of discomfort.

Was this something to be this angry about?

This was… This was really not like him.

Like a drop of water falling on the surface of a rock, Meyer’s mind continued to be exposed.

Drip, drip.

As he pondered this over and over, the moment finally arrived when a solid rock pierced the water droplet.

Realizing the truth, Meyer shuddered with a lightning-like shiver.

That was right. He never had any desire to share Jun with anyone from the beginning.

From the moment he first grabbed a sword and entered a dungeon as a child, Meyer believed that defeating the Demon King was the only way to prove his value of existence.

For this reason, he saw everything in the world only as a means and a stepping stone to defeating the Demon Lord.

He brought Jun along to be used as such.

But Meyer had been worried when she would eagerly close dungeons.

He didn’t like the idea of her getting close to other people as she adapted to the Black Knights.

He just wanted to keep her by his side and keep her safe…

If Jun were to hear about it, she would probably snicker and say that it was impossible and that he had no intention of defeating the Demon King.

She might even be disappointed in him.

However, just as he watched her silently, his mouth started to light up.

Monopoly desire that preceded the cause and belief to save the world.

To the extent that even his fierce revenge against the Demon King was forgotten…

It was Meyer Knox’s first love.