Case Closed
Heath Jenkins’s ambition to rise in status by using his son’s marriage as leverage crumbled pathetically.
After I reported everything, the Knights Order stormed the Jenkins estate and apprehended all the hired thugs. Heath himself, the mastermind behind it all, would soon be subjected to thorough interrogation.
“Yo, good work out there.”
As I was explaining the situation to the knights, Gary showed up.
“Looks like you caused quite a scene again—not that I’d expect any less from you.”
“There were more of them than I thought.”
“Thinking they could overwhelm a Holy Knight with numbers… that’s rookie thinking. If bringing in a bunch of thugs was enough to tip the scales, the title of Holy Knight wouldn’t mean anything.”
Gary spoke with exasperation.
Heath’s greatest mistake was underestimating the true strength of someone bearing the title of Holy Knight—there was no doubt about that.
If they’d truly wanted to take me down, their only chance would’ve been to send another Holy Knight against me.
“Speaking of Holy Knights, I heard there’s someone else who’ll be getting that title soon.”
“Oh? Who?”
“No one knows yet. The higher-ups are keeping it under wraps for some reason.”
Gary had a point. Maybe there was some reason it couldn’t be announced yet.
“A new Holy Knight, huh…”
“What’s with the sudden brooding?”
“I just realized… this is how the generations change.”
“Come on, you’re still young yourself. This is where you’re supposed to say, ‘I won’t lose to my juniors,’ and fire yourself up.”
“Haha, yeah, you’re right.”
Gary gave me a hearty slap on the back, cheering me up.
Like he said, I wasn’t about to be outdone—neither in spirit nor skill.
Thinking about it, Elina—who was working with me—was a strong candidate herself. She had both skill and intelligence to spare.
That said, she lacked ambition.
Her current assignment in Abbott was technically a demotion—yet she’d asked to be stationed there.
I was genuinely grateful, knowing it was because she wanted to support me, but I never expected her to go so far as to turn down her own promotions.
Still, she was younger than me. She’d have plenty of chances.
And if she ever decided to aim for the Holy Knight title, I’d support her every step of the way.
“… Gary, can I leave things here to you?”
“Of course. You’ve been away from your post long enough handling all this. I figured you’d be itching to get back to the countryside by now.”
“Sharp as always. You really get me.”
Leaving the aftermath to Gary and the others, I mounted my horse, Leon, and rode back toward Abbott.
What do you think about this chapter?
