A Failed Knight Who Went to the Academy To Get Married

092. Traitor’s Atonement

Her mother was killed by her father’s hands.

I don’t remember exactly why.

All I know is that he was caught trying to run out of town with her.

‘Don’t cry. ‘Because it’s natural to kill criminals.’

Shortly thereafter, Yumano Castle began massacring the villagers.

Ironically, they said the same thing as my dad.

‘Just being born as a prisoner is a sin. ‘Isn’t it natural to kill criminals?’

What on earth is sin?

Is he really a sinner?

‘You are still young, so I will give you a chance to account.’

Someone said and placed a mace in her hand.

‘Kill your parents yourself with this. Then I will accept you as a member.’

It wasn’t difficult to kill my father who was tied up tightly.

He was a sinner, and it was natural for a sinner to die.

Eventually, she became the only survivor in the village and was given a new name, Maria.

‘As expected, those rabbit ears are so ugly. I’ll cut one for you.’

… I cried endlessly.

I cried every day while experiencing all kinds of torture and humiliation in the name of accounting.

Then one day, I heard the voice of Yumano God.

‘sorry. ‘I can’t believe you, who are innocent of anything, have to suffer.’

‘Yes? I didn’t do anything wrong, right?’

‘Please consider your suffering as an ordeal, not a punishment.’

‘Ordeal?’

‘I promise that if you persevere, there will definitely be blessings on your path.’

It was the first and last time I had a conversation with Yumano Shin.

Still, Mary was saved by that one word.

There is no sin in yourself.

All of this is just an ordeal.

Whether you kill your family or your friends, it’s all just an ordeal.

That’s why Mary never cried again after that.

At the same time, they began to blindly worship the god Yumano.

Soon, her faith began to be recognized even in the Yumano Castle Kingdom.

It didn’t take long for him to rise to the position of Heretic Questioner.

At the same time, she started getting all kinds of negative labels.

You are an idiot who killed your father with your own hands.

A fanatic who only knows Yumano God.

A crazy b*tch who enjoys killing.

But I guess that was fine.

‘It’s okay because I’m not a sinner. Just follow Yumano’s words.’

… But as time passed, Maria began to get a little anxious.

Why has Yumano never spoken to me since then?

Have you done something wrong?

Was it a sin to kill others under the pretext of faith?

In fact, is he already a terrible sinner that can’t be helped?

‘Being honest with yourself is the only way to hear her voice.’

… What does it mean to be honest with yourself?

Maria always wanted to know the answer.

***

Maria and Trine were locked in a barrier and they were confronting each other.

When I glanced outside, I saw Sia firing magic to break the barrier.

However, it would be impossible to communicate with Trine, let alone break through the barrier.

Trine seemed to have realized that as well and asked Maria, ignoring Sia.

“Why are you trying to kill me?”

“Don’t act like you didn’t know. I’m sure you guessed that I was going to betray you, right?”

There’s no way Trine didn’t know.

If she really didn’t know, Maria should doubt whether that person is really Trine.

Maybe that’s why Trine seemed quite calm even in this situation.

“No matter what, you’re shocked when your friend betrays you like this.”

“I’m sorry. I never considered you a friend.”

“Furthermore, the angel who raised this division is actually trying to antagonize Yumano-”

Maria immediately threw the dagger.

Trine narrowly avoided it, but his cheek was slightly cut and blood flowed out.

“Yumano-sama didn’t say anything to me.”

“…….”

“So there is no reason for me to believe what you say.”

Maria knew that although Trine was weak in emotions, he was not a fool who did not know when to fight.

As if to prove her point, Trine asked no more questions.

Instead, he summoned a magic sword, smiled slightly, and said something strange.

“First of all, thank you for not letting Sia get caught up.”

“…It’s not specifically for you.”

Maria said, getting a little angry and raising her mace.

“Keep in mind that if you die here, the lives of your friends will also be in danger.”

“This is the Kingdom of Artoria, not the Holy Kingdom, so let’s at least keep the format of the duel.”

“I guess you don’t know your situation yet-”

“If you win, I promise I won’t blame you even when I die.”

Maria flinched for a moment at those words.

If those words were nonsense meant to agitate Maria,

I had to admit that it was surprisingly effective.

However, Trine smiled as if mocking Maria and continued speaking.

“Instead, if I win, you will officially abandon the Holy Kingdom of Yumano and immigrate to Artoria.”

“…I always hated that part of you.”

Maria rushed towards Trine.

“Don’t be arrogant and try to forgive me when you’re not even a god!”

The duel is,

In less than a few seconds, it was over in vain.

From the beginning, there was no way Trine could beat Maria.

Strength, speed, intelligence, experience.

Clearly, Trine was superior to Maria in nothing.

Therefore, Maria could not understand the situation in which she fell to the floor at all.

“In normal times, you are the type of person who prepares detailed strategies before going into battle.”

Trine said, breaking Maria’s arm and subduing her.

“But when he gets excited, his attacks become monotonous to the point where he can easily overpower even me.”

“Well, like that…”

“At times like that, you always try to hit him head first, and if that’s blocked, you try to hit him with your elbow.”

Maria quipped as she struggled.

“When did you become so interested in me?”

“Like you said, I thought I might end up fighting with you, and I think I know a lot about you as a friend.”

Trine continued speaking in a slightly playful tone.

“He likes to take a nap using the porch as his pillow, and surprisingly, he is afraid of bugs.”

“It’s gross…”

“Besides, you are a beastman.”

Maria’s pupils shook greatly at those words.

“When did you see my ears?”

“I’ve never seen it in person. I just naturally realized that it had a lot in common with Cat.”

Trine freed Maria from her bonds.

Immediately, Maria stood up again and tried to hit Trine with the mace.

But since Trine didn’t seem to have any intention of avoiding it,

Instead, Maria was startled and quickly withdrew her mace and took a step back.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“You can’t kill me. I can’t kill you.”

“Please stop pretending you know anything about me because it’s annoying!”

“I’m not pretending to know. I’m working hard to find out.”

Trine smiled bitterly and held out his hand to Maria.

“Give me a chance to understand you.”

Mary looked at the hand for a moment,

He immediately asked Trine in a self-deprecating voice.

“Would you kill your own parents or friends with your own hands?”

Then Trine looked a little embarrassed and lowered his hand.

“What is that creepy question?”

“I killed it.”

killed my parents

Those words were one magic word that could quickly alienate anyone, no matter how close they were.

“I am a more terrible sinner than you can imagine.”

Trine was not much different.

Maria even felt joy as she saw his distorted expression.

Maria smiled sweetly and asked with her hands folded as if in prayer.

“Can you really forgive a guy like that?”

Of course he would say he would forgive.

If you pretend like nothing happened and turn around, you will hate Maria.

But Trine said something strange again.

“It seems like Yumano Castle was hell for the beast people.”

“…….”

“Well, anyway, you forgive yourself for your own sins.”

Trine held out his hand to Maria again.

“Besides, just because you’re a sinner doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”

It was ridiculously shameless nonsense.

But why?

I felt something hot flowing down my eyes.

“…I see.”

Only then did Maria understand what she wanted to do.

He didn’t want to kill Trine.

She didn’t want to betray the person she considered her friend.

He no longer wanted to use Yumano as an excuse to kill his own heart.

Maria said, looking at Trine’s hand.

“I can’t forgive myself, so I don’t deserve to have friends.”

At those words, Trine smiled mischievously and said.

“Don’t make excuses. It’s not a matter of qualifications, it’s just that your personality is so damn good that you can’t make friends, right?”

Maria suddenly stuck her fist into Trine’s solar plexus.

“Oops!”

“I’m really going to kill you someday!”

Maria wiped her eyes with her sleeve and stamped her feet nervously to disarm the barrier.

Then Sia, who had tried everything to break the barrier, immediately ran to Trine.

“senior!”

Sia supported Trine and glared at Maria as if she were going to kill her.

“What on earth are you thinking!”

Mary took off the veil from her head and threw it roughly on the floor.

“The duel is my loss. So, as promised, from today onwards I will become a citizen of the Kingdom of Artoria.”

“yes?!”

Sia was taken aback by Maria’s explosive remarks and her rabbit ears, which she had never seen before.

Maria ignored Sia and said as she headed out of the construction site.

“Stop fooling around and come quickly, right? We have to go and stop the angels.”