RD | Chapter 40

“You can be even more thankful. A debt of life isn’t something easily repaid, right?”

“……”

Keith found it strange how he got heated every time Ian spoke, but when Ian smiled, it oddly cooled him down.

He was smiling as brightly as if he’d received a precious toy. Seeing that smile, Keith couldn’t get angry. However, that pleasant sight was marred by the bandages wrapped around Ian.

“Are you alright?”

“Where? The part where you tried to strangle me is fine, but where the Demon Duke bit me still hurts.”

“I’m sorry…” Apologizing, Keith felt strangely not sorry at all.

Why wasn’t he feeling sorry for harming God’s messenger?

What a strange person this was.

“If you’re so sorry, recover quickly. There’s a lot you need to do for me.”

“Yes. I understand.” Keith answered seriously. ‘I must help this person realize his mission.’

The will of Heaven is vast and deep, and people often don’t recognize it, sometimes even resenting it. Until recently, Keith was one of those people. But God sent Ian to polish his faith.

However, this messenger of God was someone who claimed not to know God. Why did God bring him together with this man?

There was only one reason.

Wasn’t it so that he could enlighten this man about his mission?

Keith was grateful for the role bestowed upon him.

‘That fanatic is thinking something strange again.’

Ian realized this but decided not to care. Trying to understand the thoughts of a madman could drive him insane.

Instead, he helped Keith up and then, with a puzzled expression, pushed him back onto the bed.

Keith blinked as he landed with a thud.

“……?”

“Sleep. You need to recover your strength.”

Ian then pulled the blanket up to Keith’s neck.

Keith wanted to say he was a Holy Knight capable of self-healing and that he had sensitive senses making it hard to sleep with others around.

But Ian was grinning at him again, looking satisfied just by watching him.

Why was he looking at him like that?

Keith closed his eyes, thinking there must be some purpose to what the apostle of God was doing.

Really, was there?

Doubt crept into his heart, but before he could dwell on it, he fell asleep.

Ian, who had used <Purification> on Keith, tilted his head slightly.

‘Why doesn’t this disappear?’

[Character]
‘Agent of God’ Keith (★★★★★)

Reputation
Agent of God, Holy Knight, Fanatic, Apostate (+NEW)

Skills
Healing: LV.10
Enhancement: LV.10
Swordsmanship: LV.10
⁝
(Expand)

There was one problem under the status window that was delightful to look at.

[Status Ailment: ???(???)]

With a level 7 <Purification>, most status ailments could be healed. Yet, Keith’s status ailment didn’t budge.

Moreover, its contents weren’t even visible. It was either still in its incubation period, or Ian’s Insight level was too low to see it…

Given how low Ian’s Insight level certainly was, he couldn’t be sure which it was.

‘It’s probably nothing.’

Ian thought it wasn’t a big deal.

He looked at Keith’s abilities. Even with his strength at rock bottom, he had destroyed the heart of the Demon Duke with a single strike.

Considering that a vampire’s weakness is a stake through the heart and Keith’s profession being exceptionally effective against all demons, it was an impressive feat.

It meant there was nothing wrong with his stats.

And if that was the case, Ian didn’t care much. He had more important things to do than worry about unnecessary issues.

Ian carefully got up from beside Keith, making sure he was asleep. Even when Ian waved his hand in front of Keith’s face, his breathing remained steady.

‘Asleep?’

Ian clenched his fist and shook it in the air.

‘Crazy.’

He had obtained Keith!

He wanted to share this joy with the world, but the lack of internet here was a regret.

Keith was someone who kept his oaths. For a while, Keith truly belonged to Ian!

Though it seemed Keith easily made that oath because he believed Ian to be some kind of ‘Agent of God’…

Once he believed in something, he didn’t change his mind easily. Being with Keith meant Ian had to deal with the penalty of his ‘Savior’ reputation continually increasing.

But Keith was a hero worth bearing that significant penalty. And Ian was confident he could bring down his ‘Savior’ reputation appropriately. He’d have to manage it so as not to drive Keith away by hitting rock bottom, though.

‘If I keep opposing demons, he’ll believe I’m on their side, right?’

Everything was fine!

While Ian was celebrating alone, a few days later, he heard more good news. Keith, having fully recovered his HP, made a proposal first. He had been thinking about how he could be of help to Ian and said,

“Lord Ian, would you like to learn swordsmanship from me?”

‘New skill!’

Combat skills were always useful, especially if taught by a max-level swordsman.

“Of course.”

“Have you tried learning swordsmanship before?”

“No.”

“Ah… I see. I was going to explain that my swordsmanship is combat-oriented, different from what you might have learned, but that seems unnecessary.”

“Yeah. It’s all good. Let’s do it.” Ian was excited.

Keith, staring at Ian’s smiling face, turned away and ordered a passing soldier. “Bring the wooden swords.”

“Yes, sir.”

The soldier hurriedly fetched two wooden swords. Other soldiers followed, seemingly curious about the news that Ian was learning swordsmanship from Keith.

He was a swordsman of divine skill. Who wouldn’t be curious about him teaching? Ian left them be. If they learned something by watching, it could only benefit him.

“I was raised in an orphanage run by the Vatican and was selected as a Holy Knight by chance rather than through systematic training. Please keep this in mind.”

“Yeah, what should I keep in mind?”

“I don’t know the proper training methods. But I can teach you the way I taught my squire.”

When mentioning his squire, Keith’s expression turned slightly stiff. However, since he was usually serious and expressionless, this was a change only someone close like Ian would notice.

‘Ah, that squire.’

The final boss in the Keith route when you bring down the Vatican.

He was quite strong, with complex patterns, and wielded a sword blessed by Keith, making him a tough opponent.

Moreover, not being a demon but a Holy Knight, he could heal himself, which added to the difficulty. In fact, in Keith’s route, humans were more numerous enemies than demons.

This was because Keith, with his ‘Agent of God’ title, had an exceptional talent for attracting enmity.

“Teach me.”

“Yes. Shall we try? I’ll gauge your skill lightly…”

Keith raised his sword. He lifted it slowly as if to show, allowing Ian to take a clumsy defensive stance. The next moment, Keith charged like lightning and struck down Ian’s sword.

Ian’s arms broke.

“……?!”

“……!”

‘Has he gone mad?’

Ian’s HP dropped by half, and tears welled up from the pain in his arms. Keith looked at Ian with a shocked expression. Unable to contain his anger, Ian kicked Keith’s shin.

Thud!

Keith didn’t dodge. He gritted his teeth.

‘He took that?’

For a moment, Ian was surprised, but then he curled up and trembled from the pain in his shaken arms. Keith’s eyes widened, not because he had been hit, but because Ian was moving his broken arm.

“Lord Ian.”

“Shut up. Don’t say anything… you…”

“Please speak.”

Despite telling him not to speak, Keith kept talking. Ian, feeling like crying, gritted his teeth and said, “Could you use… less strength?” He was a precious 5-star hero. Ian couldn’t bring himself to curse.

Keith spoke as if in pain. “That wasn’t my intention.”

“Who asked?”

‘Was it intentional then?’ Ian’s lower lip trembled with each answer.

He really wished Keith would shut up. “But you are too weak.”

‘This bastard…’

Yet, Keith’s expression was serious. The fact that he was genuinely worried made it even more ridiculous to Ian. “I’ll heal you.”

Keith grabbed Ian’s broken arm, trying to find something as he kneaded it.

Ian felt like he wanted to die.

“Ouch… Ah… Ow!”