The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 13

After reporting the expedition to Prince Raymond, I hurried back to my mansion.

Above all, I wanted to see Leon’s face as soon as possible. During the expedition, I sent several letters to the knight order to confirm Leon’s resignation. The same answer came back each time, but I still couldn’t believe it.

It was unthinkable that Leon would disappear without a word from me. I hoped that Leon would be waiting for me at home.

I went directly from the massive castle to my mansion and forcefully opened the front door.

“Leon, I’m home! I just got back! I brought souvenirs!”

The only response was the enveloping silence of the room. I immediately headed for Leon’s room.

Opening the door, I was rooted to the spot by the sight before me. Indeed, Leon’s room was empty. Leon was a person who originally didn’t own many things, so there were few belongings left. Of course, Leon’s beloved sword was also missing.

“Is Leon gone?”

I searched my room and the training room, but Leon was nowhere to be found. As I searched the rooms, the words I had thrown at Leon, “I wish you would disappear from my sight,” echoed in my head.

I became restless and headed to the knight order’s garrison. Perhaps, offended by my harsh words, he had simply moved to the barracks. Moreover, at this time, Leon often practiced his swordsmanship at the garrison’s training ground.

However, the reality I faced at the garrison remained unchanged. I was told Leon had left the knight order, telling his close friends that he intended to become an adventurer. I was also informed that he had left the garrison looking disheartened.

Hearing this sparked another hope in me. If he intended to become an adventurer, then it would be easy. One cannot become an adventurer in the royal capital without registering with the official guild. If I asked the guild, Leon’s whereabouts would soon be clear. I immediately ordered Lilith, a female knight who had accompanied me on the expedition and served as my right hand, to inquire at the official guild.

The investigation should not take long. In the meantime, while observing the knights training at the practice ground, I encountered Deputy Captain Nadale.

“Welcome back. Saintess Cecil, you are as beautiful as ever today.”

“Thank you for your duty in my absence,” I said, trying to keep my personal feelings at bay and speaking succinctly. “However, one thing: Leon Stein’s resignation is invalid. It is not permissible for such a decision to be made without the consent of the Grand Master of the Holy Knights, which is me. You should have stopped him.”

“There was no reason to stop him since he wished to resign. As the acting commander in the absence of the Grand Master, I accepted his resignation according to the rules. Besides, the Holy Knights were relieved to be rid of the incompetent burden.”

“Leon is not a burden. He passed the entrance exam with historically unmatched results and was the top student at the Holy Knight Training School. He is a promising Holy Knight whose skills are slow to manifest.”

Nadale snorted sarcastically.

“That orphaned man never had the qualities of a Holy Knight. It’s unprecedented. He assaulted a priestess on the very day he left the knight order.”

“Assaulted a priestess?”

What Nadale said next was unbelievable. Leon had assaulted a female priest and then fled, eluding the pursuit of the Holy Knights along with a young female Elf who was his companion.

“Of course, assaulting a priestess is a grave crime. Prince Raymond, who oversees the Holy Knights, is displeased and has demanded that the man be captured and severely punished.”

“Is that Leon? No, that’s impossible. The Leon, I know I wouldn’t resort to violence without reason. And who is this young female Elf companion? I shook my head.

“No, there must be some mistake. I will hear the story directly from him, so please leave everything to me.”

At that moment, Lilith, acting on my orders, returned after completing her investigation.

“Cecil-sama, Leon Stein’s name is not registered with any official guild. More concerningly, there’s been a troubling incident. A sister was murdered at the monastery. According to the knight in charge, the circumstances are unusual, and they request that the captain inspect the scene.”

As I grappled with the shock of not finding Leon, my thoughts inadvertently drifted to a mysterious girl I had seen on Triumph Street, emanating an indescribable aura.

When I looked at her, I immediately activated my holy magic to detect if she was a heretic. Although no signs of heresy skills manifesting, a distinct and unfamiliar sensation lingered in my body.

Of course, I knew that few could interfere with the holy magic of someone like me, a saintess, but a sense of discomfort is still a discomfort.

And then there was the stern-looking man accompanying the girl. Why did I, for a moment, mistake his completely different face for Leon’s? Was it merely because he carried the same sword, and could that alone have led me to such an error?

Standing beside me, Nadale sported his usual sarcastic smile. “Cecil-sama, in any case, it would be best to forget about Leon Stein sooner rather than later. It was odd for you, a lady of the Weave family and now a saintess, to have been on good terms with someone of unknown origin, essentially a nobody. More importantly, the monastery incident requires immediate investigation.”