PASP Chapter 6

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Should I pat your back?”

Through his distorted vision, Egru could see Count Randall approaching.

‘I, I need to move somewhere.’

His entire body felt like it had turned to stone, refusing to budge. Just as he felt his bladder might give way, there was a knock. Knock, knock.

It was the sound of a Holy Knight, standing awkwardly at the threshold, unnecessarily knocking on the wide-open door. At last, Randall’s gaze left Egru.

The Holy Knight wearing a helmet adorned with white feathers stared blankly into the room for a while.

“What are you doing in someone else’s private office?”

“Ah, you must be the Commander!”

Randall greeted the Holy Knight Commander with a bright smile. His attitude was the complete opposite of how he had faced Egru.

“I unintentionally committed a rudeness. I saw a familiar face inside the office. I’m acquainted with that mixed-breed… I mean, the magical race half-breed sitting over there.”

The Holy Knight Order’s aversion to magical races was famous both within and outside the Empire. Even among the upper classes of the system, where humans were the majority, rumors were rampant. However, Randall intentionally refrained from making careless remarks.

“D-D’Élysée, it’s…”

It was when he first entered the office. Egru, mistaking Randall for the room’s owner, had clearly called out the Commander’s name. And in a very familiar manner at that.

D’Élysée Belerede.

‘Calling the Commander by his first name without even a title?’

Even with ten mouths, one couldn’t say they weren’t close.

Moreover, the Commander had seated a mere half-breed who used to be just a servant in the place of honor on the sofa. Nobles who seated their subordinates in the master’s place were one of three types.

Either an idiot who didn’t know basic etiquette, a deranged idealist dreaming of equality, or someone who wanted to have sex with the employee they had seated – or perhaps already had. Inwardly slandering the Commander, who held a higher position than himself, Randall felt a surge of confidence from an unknown source.

“As expected, Commander, you have an impressive presence.”

Randall approached the Commander with a cheerful laugh. As the distance closed, he had to tilt his head back due to the stark difference in height. Even excluding the silver helmet, the Commander’s figure was a full head taller than his own.

“I saw you from afar at the reception. I sincerely congratulate you on your promotion to Commander.”

“……”

Randall extended his hand for a handshake while offering his congratulations. But even though he had come within arm’s reach, there was no return greeting. A wrinkle briefly appeared on Randall’s nose bridge before smoothing out again.

It was the first time in his life he had received such treatment as a noble of the Empire. Being treated as if he didn’t exist in the same space at all. The gaze residing like an abyss inside the silver helmet was fixed somewhere beyond Randall, as if nailed in place.

“Ahem, I see the Commander also knows Egru.”

Randall cleared his throat and changed the subject. He withdrew his hand that had been awkwardly hanging in the air and adjusted his shirt collar.

‘Hmph, acting all high and mighty.’

He had heard that before being granted a surname by the Pope, he was nothing more than a commoner. He had seemed like an easy-going character at first glance, but perhaps not. Don’t those of humble origins usually find it hard to be difficult with nobles?

The Holy Knight before him seemed like a completely different person from the handsome youth who had smiled amiably at the reception. He couldn’t fathom what the man was thinking behind that silver helmet. Come to think of it, hadn’t he been wearing a uniform instead of armor at the reception?

“Egru is someone I’m quite fond of. He claims to be an orc half-breed, but isn’t that quite preposterous?”

“……”

“Actually, we have a very intimate relationship.”

Only then did the Commander’s gaze turn downward. Clank, the metallic sound of the silver helmet followed. Randall smiled triumphantly. So there must be something between those two after all.

“Well, I even invited him to a modest party gathering once. We ate, drank, and enjoyed ourselves all night long. Isn’t that right, Egru?”

Randall turned to look at Egru, as if showing off their closeness. It had indeed been the right choice to follow the half-breed into the Commander’s office.

‘Though it was somewhat of a gamble.’

To think he’d gain an opportunity to have a private audience with the Holy Knight Commander so easily. It was a bonus to make an impression on the talent that the entire Eastern Continent was focusing on.

Just a while ago at the reception, it had been a series of humiliations. Let alone having a private conversation with the Holy Knight Commander, he couldn’t even get near him. After all, how could one push through the crowd surrounded by monarchs and heirs from various countries?

Suddenly, the weed-like magical race half-breed felt like a lump of gold. At this point, he might even consider employing him as his personal chamber attendant.

“By the way, do you know that Egru is quite popular in social circles? You should have seen how warmly all the party attendees welcomed him.”

“……”

“Ah, I’m late in introducing myself. You might have heard of me.”

Randall took out a business card from his suit’s inner pocket.

“I’m Randall Cheverie, the eldest son of the Count Cheverie family. I’m in the weapons business in the central district. Please feel free to contact me if you need any assistance. It would be nothing short of an honor for our family to receive a call from the Order.”

“…The central district?”

A weighty baritone echoed through the office. For the first time, a living voice flowed from the Commander’s mouth, who had been silent all along.

“Didn’t the Cheverie family move to the southern outskirts of the district after the last auction?”

“Th-That was just a minor issue. We’ll be back in our rightful place soon.”

“I see.”

The Commander indifferently took the business card with his gauntleted hand. Randall barely maintained his smiling expression. Surely he wasn’t being sarcastic just now?

“Ahem, by the way, I had no idea you were acquainted with our Egru. Meeting like this must be fate, don’t you think? How about joining us for a meal at our villa sometime in the future…?”

“Egru? Ah—”

A curt voice echoed inside the silver helmet.

“Are you referring to that half-breed?”

“Pardon?”

“I couldn’t answer earlier because I had no idea who you were talking about all this time.”

Though the tone was dry, Randall was greatly flustered.

“A-Aren’t you acquainted?”

“I’m curious why you thought so in the first place. Randall Cheverie, young master.”

The Commander slowly read the name while looking at the business card. It was a euphemistic expression implying he had never heard of such a family. Heat surged to Randall’s face.

“Th-Then how did he get into the Commander’s office…?”

“That’s beyond my knowledge. I merely came here after receiving an urgent message from above. Do you know?”

“No, th-that fellow said he had business here…”

“Young Master Randall Cheverie.”

The Commander sighed as if tired.

“Regardless of how half-breeds are treated, from my standpoint, an uninvited guest is not particularly pleasant. Do you understand my meaning?”

“O-Of course!”

It was a clear dismissal. Randall, who had been stammering and panting, bent his waist at a right angle.

“I have committed a great discourtesy!”

It was a moment when a noble’s dignity fell into the mud in an instant. His plan to open business opportunities had turned to bubbles. On top of that, to think that half-breed was watching this humiliation from behind.

“…I’ll take my leave now.”

At Randall’s words, the Commander silently withdrew his gaze. It was an attitude suggesting it wasn’t even worth responding to. Randall ground his teeth and left the Commander’s office. Not forgetting to glare at the half-breed one last time before closing the door.

***

There was only one thought filling Egru’s mind as he watched the confrontation between the two.

‘I, I want to leave…’

Even though he was surrounded by nothing but air, he felt his throat constricting.

‘That, that person doesn’t seem to be D’Élysée.’

From the start, his physique had been startlingly different. His knees stiffened from the overwhelming pressure he couldn’t handle.

Wasn’t this the Commander’s office? Could that person be the Vice Commander?

Whatever he was, he was someone who disliked magical race half-breeds enough to call them mixed-breeds.

If he didn’t escape quickly, he couldn’t guarantee even tomorrow. If he were hit by those gauntlets larger than a stove lid, he might really be unable to make a living.

Getting picked on by Holy Knights once today was enough. It was such an unlucky day that he should mark it on the calendar as a day to get beaten up.

As Count Randall closed the office door, Egru abruptly stood up with his stiff body. He excessively patted and dusted off the sofa where parts of his magical race half-breed body had touched.

“I’m, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I must have mistaken the room. I thought I was allowed to be here…”

He couldn’t bring himself to mention that His Holiness had permitted him. He was afraid of tarnishing the reputation of the person who had shown him such unreserved kindness.

‘The blood bottle, I can just take that, right?’

Egru frantically wrapped the IV line around his arm. With his agitated movements, the needle in his arm shifted. A red line like a thread snake flowed down his moss-colored arm.

“I, I’ll be leaving too. I’m truly sorry.”

Without looking back, he was just about to grab the heavy blood bottle when—

“……”

The Commander, who had been listening at the office door, softly chanted a magic spell. A blue line, shining like moonlight, spread along the angular corners of the room. A translucent barrier covered the spacious room for a moment before dissolving into invisibility. Even the wind blowing from outside the window suddenly stopped. It was the moment when the office was finally filled with silence.

As the sounds from inside and outside were blocked, the Commander turned to look at Egru. Egru, who had been tiptoeing towards the door, stopped in his tracks, startled. The red liquid in the large blood bottle he was holding sloshed.

“Sit down.”

“Pardon?”

“I said, sit down.”

“B-But…”

“Why did you come here?”

The voice was cold, almost indifferent. But it was somehow familiar. Egru, with a heart full of doubt, swallowed his dry saliva several times before asking.

“D-D’Élysée?”

“……”

The Commander, who had been silently undoing his chin strap, lifted off his silver helmet. Dazzlingly brilliant platinum blonde hair cascaded down. Egru suddenly felt the tension in his entire body release.

It was the brother he had longed to see so much.