CHAPTER 32

I saw Meyer.

His golden eyes fluttered like a candle swaying against the wall.

As if he were being chased by something, he was quite nervous.

He seemed relaxed on the outside, but he couldn't lie about everything he had in his mind.

Meyer's advice to me may be due to the same sense of homogeneity as the second round.

With the good intention of not going through the pain he suffered.

But at the same time, as he said, it could be because they shouldn't be broken.

I'm one of his parts.

I smiled hard.

Some parts are valuable, and some parts can be replaced at any time.

For Meyer, I may be a valuable component to help him attack the dungeon, but…

After all, I'm just a part.

I felt uncomfortable, but with this certainty, my head felt refreshed.

'It's better than being a useless component.'

I answered lightly.

"Don't worry. I'm much stronger than you think, leader… I'm not easily broken. You're the one who's drawing the line for me, aren't you, leader?"

Meyer blinked slowly as if he had been hit.

"Me? To you?"

The question seems to be why he drew a line. I asked back with a smile.

"You said you weren't sure of anything that would happen in the dungeon?"

"It has nothing to do with you. I'm not going to let you die. That's why I put August in the first place. You…"

"I'm a necessary person to kill the Demon King. I know that."

The word talent is changed to the word parts, and now it's on the tip of the tongue.

Meyer seemed very eager to refute my argument.

But he didn't know what to say, so he opened his mouth, he only repeated to close it.

"Do you remember what I said on the appointment day? My goal is to win the battle between the Black Knights and the Demon King."

"Of course."

"I mean it. I'm not going to be picky about the means. If I was just trying to get my best friends together and go on a safe path, I wouldn't have built a special unit in the first place."

I looked straight at Meyer.

It was nice of him to acknowledge me, but I had no intention of growing up to be a flowering plant in a greenhouse where I feared I might get hurt or die.

Thinking about the future, I needed to get a firm grip here.

"And… I'm the back support from the beginning. I'm used to watching expedition members die."

"…"

"Even though we are worn down by the death of others, in the end, we are left with our essence and beliefs. The belief that somehow we have to live in this world even if it is dirty and cramped."

Meyer opened his eyes wide as if he had heard something unexpected.

Perhaps, it was the first time that anyone has refuted his words so thoroughly.

Thinking about it like that, I felt a little pleasant. I asked Meyer.

"What does the leader believe?"

"Killing the Demon King."

"Yes. With that belief, we can live on, worn down and worn out."

"… I can live even if I'm worn out."

Meyer quietly murmured my words, then sighed deeply and washed his face again.

A self-help smile leaked between his big hands that covered his face.

"I've spoken ill of you. Now that I see it, you have a better mind than I do."

"Weak physical strength doesn't mean weak mental strength. And to live as a supportive wizard, you need a certain amount of mental victory. I'm much more forgiving to yourself than the leader is… So I think you should be more generous to yourself, leader."

Meyer was too strict with himself.

It was like that from the attitude of being an ironman, who wanted to lead everything alone without showing any of his agony around.

Maybe, It occurred to Meyer Knox that perhaps he himself was also a part.

A member of such a component that only uses anger as a driving force to punish the Demon King.

'Why does Meyer hate the Demon King so much?'

Of course, considering what the Demon King did, it is natural to be angry, but Meyer's anger was a little more personal obsession and hatred.

But I couldn't bear to ask that far.

If I get a chance later…

Feeling bitter, I patted Meyer's hand without saying a word. That was all I could do now.

And Meyer looked down at my hand for a long time, lowering my hand for a moment.

Lowering my hand, but not overlapping it, just letting it be.

***

Soon after, Nova was also deployed to special forces.

August, Sevi, Julieta, and Nova.

All of the special unit members were assembled, except for one that I had already thought of.

Nova looks like a model student at first sight, and so does his personality.

He listens well, he's diligent.

"It's an honor to be selected for the Special Forces. I look forward to your kind cooperation, vice commander!"

Nova bowed politely.

The big eyes looking at me shone brightly, and I remembered when I first faced Nova.

<… Pardon? Yes. Please sit comfortably.>

Now Nova was much younger and fresher than then.

I looked at Nova without realizing it, which was new to me.

"I… V-vice commander?"

Maybe I stared at him too openly, but Nova, who was embarrassed, blushed and restless. I just made an excuse.

"Oh, sorry. You remind me of someone I know."

"They must look a lot like me. Is that the person I look like, the vice commander's brother?"

"Um… Yes."

To be honest, Nova had no resemblance to my half-brother, Eugene, but I didn't have to be completely sure. I just nodded over.

However, at that moment, Nova's expression was wide open.

"No wonder. You look like my sister, too, vice commander. I was actually really surprised when I first saw the vice commander."

He's like a golden retriever.

Perhaps because it was his first deployment, he seemed unusually excited today.

I changed the atmosphere to calm Nova down.

"Come on, let's introduce ourselves. Newcomers first."

"Hello, I'm Nova Feltum! I am 18 years old and my specialties are shield and axe fighting. I've volunteered to be a defender. There are many things I lack, but please continue to guide and encourage me!"

Being brave and energetic was also an exemplary self-introduction.

Next was Julieta, who joined the Black Knights just before Nova joined.

No matter how destructive the club's ability is, there's nothing you can do about your innate nature, Julieta looked around and said.

"I am Julieta Klawa. I'm twenty-one years old and was originally a monk… Thanks to the Vice Commander, I've been a Black Knight for a few weeks now, and I'm doing melee weapons training… I'm not sure what use I'll be, but I'll try my best…"

"I'm Sevi Ventus. This is my first year with the team. I'm young, but I'm sure of my abilities. Originally, I joined as an archer, but I recently awakened as a wind wizard."

Sevi's self-introduction attitude was confident.

Because he had awakened his magic in just a few weeks.

Sevi's hair, which awakened mana, was slowly turning green from the tip.

If the mana is strong, it will be perfect green.

It must have been an unbearable training, but he managed to hold on silently without crying.

I was proud of Sevi, so I patted him on the head.

Sevi smiled happily, and just glanced at Nova once.

Glare. He was already keeping him in check.

Sevi was young but smart.

Besides, being attached to me, having gained both life and abilities, it was only natural that he would not want to lose my favor.

The desire to win and competition are the foundation for growth. I patted Sevi's head a couple more times for being positive.

After the introduction of the new recruits, it was August's turn now.

August made the confession in the same solemn face as always.

"… I am August de Winitas. I am the High Priest of the Black Knights. My role is to risk my life so that my brothers and sisters will not die. As long as I'm here, you won't die, so I hope you can relax and train."

"…"

The atmosphere became cold for a moment.

No, it's still our first meeting. How can you say that?

You won't die, but you'll give away your intention to roll over just before you die!

Sure enough, the faces of the three newcomers hardened.

Of course, there is not a person who is not prepared for the rigorous training that comes with joining the Black Knights, but they are still children after all.

Instead of just being scared, it would have been more efficient to train them by gradually coaxing and waving carrots at them.

You have to get them used to the training, like gradually boiling water with frogs in it.

But they're already so nervous…

I gave a small sigh.