Chapter 55-56 – Agnes Wants to Win a Prize
"The captain hasn't changed at all! She's still the leader we've always known! So it's okay—she can stay in the Knights!"
"…"
Fine's voice rang out brightly, her eyes shining with conviction. But the other knights, especially her seniors, remained silent.
They couldn't deny that Agnes had just saved their lives. Even so, that didn't erase the fact that she had broken one of the most sacred rules of their order. No one had the courage to say it aloud in front of Agnes, especially not after witnessing her bravery.
Agnes clearly understood the weight of the moment. Her expression was complicated, her lips pressed into a quiet line.
The silence continued—until the vice-captain finally lowered her weapon and spoke.
"…Fine. I understand how much you don't want the captain to leave. I feel the same. So do all the knight sisters here."
"Then we don't need to send her away!" Fine protested. "The captain back there was the same one we've always followed! You saw it, vice-captain!"
"But… the captain has lust in her heart…"
Unlike the vice-captain, who chose her words carefully, Fine's voice was full of unwavering hope.
"The reason lust is forbidden in the royal castle is because it corrupts the minds of elves. But the captain is different! She hasn't changed!"
In elven society, lust was considered dangerous—something that could cloud judgment and weaken dedication. An elf consumed by desire might neglect her duties or even fall into criminal behavior in pursuit of pleasure.
But Fine didn't believe Agnes fit that description. She argued that even if Agnes was aware of her desires, she still held firm to her sense of duty.
"The moment she heard her comrades were in danger, she didn't hesitate—she came running! That's the kind of leader she is!"
"Fine, that's enough—" The vice-captain tried to object, but her voice faltered.
She couldn't bring herself to say what was on her mind in front of Agnes.
Because she had seen a different side of her. She had heard her swear loyalty and devotion to the man she had given herself to, promising to bear his child for the rest of her life.
"…Like I said, Fine. You're not alone in not wanting the captain to leave. But to preserve the Order, we must uphold our rules."
Her voice shook with emotion, but she tried to stay composed. Then she turned to Agnes.
"Captain… thank you. You saved our lives and stopped that monster from reaching the kingdom. We owe you everything. But… you understand."
"…Yes. Of course. I never expected anything in return. As long as all of you are safe… that's enough for me."
Agnes turned to walk away.
But before she could take a full step, Fine reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Captain, NO!"
"There's blood—!"
"Captain, don't you want to stay in the Knights?"
"I don't have the right anymore. So please… let me go."
"You're not consumed by lust! So why are you leaving?!"
"…What?"
Agnes froze. Her voice was uncertain. The vice-captain and the other knights also looked startled by Fine's sudden outburst.
But Fine's eyes glowed brighter than ever.
"I realized something while watching you today. You're not ruled by lust."
"Fine, what are you trying to say?" the vice-captain asked, clearly rattled.
Fine's answer left everyone in stunned silence once more.
"What you're feeling isn't lust—it's love!"
"…What is love?"
"I read it in a human book! When someone falls in love, they want to be close to that person—to connect their bodies, not just for pleasure, but to feel and share love!"
Fine's declaration was bold and passionate, but it still didn't convince the vice-captain.
"In the end, it still brings pleasure, doesn't it? Physical desire leads to addiction. That's what we've always been taught."
"No! That book clearly said that love makes people stronger. It drives them to protect what they hold dear!"
"…"
"Captain came to save us the moment she heard we were in danger. If she was really consumed by lust, she would've stayed in her room with Senior Dayke!"
"Well… that's…"
The vice-captain couldn't refute her. She searched for a response but found nothing solid.
Fine didn't stop.
"So, the captain didn't fall into lust. She fell in love—and she still has the heart of a knight! Even Senior Dayke said he didn't need anyone else. He only wants the captain!"
"That human… said that?"
The revelation stunned the vice-captain and the other elves.
To them, a man obsessed with pleasure would try to take every opportunity to satisfy himself, using any elf he could. They believed Dayke only targeted Agnes to avoid being caught by the queen and that he would spread his magic to others if given the chance.
"Yes! That's why there's no problem with the captain staying! She's in love—and she's still the same knight she's always been!"
'Could it really be true?' The vice-captain hesitated.
Like most of the knights here, she had little understanding of romantic love between partners. What if this wasn't about being consumed by lust at all? What if their leader had simply fallen in love?
What if the person they had all feared had changed… hadn't changed at all?
The thought stirred a quiet hope in her.
Agnes had always protected them. She had risked everything to keep the queen from finding them. The vice-captain didn't want to send her away—not after all they'd been through.
"…Captain. Is what Fine said true? Are you really the captain we knew?"
Her voice trembled with hope and desperation.
Agnes didn't answer immediately. She looked down, lost in thought.
No matter how many times she was asked, her feelings for the Knights never wavered. She had devoted her entire life to them. She bled and struggled to become the leader she is today.
If there were a way to stay—both with Dayke and with the Order—she wanted it. Desperately.
But Fine's statement that she was 'in love' still didn't sit comfortably in her heart.
She wasn't sure if what she felt for Dayke could be called love. It wasn't clear, not yet. Her emotions were tangled with guilt, atonement, and a longing for peace.
Every time she was held by him, she felt whole. For that moment, it was enough. But was that truly love?
She didn't know.
"Captain…"
The vice-captain's voice pulled her back.
Agnes thought, 'If I could stay in the Order… If I could be with Dayke, too… If I could protect my sisters while repaying my sins…'
'Then maybe—just maybe—I could tell one selfish, shameless lie.'
"…Yes. Dayke and I love each other."
"Of course I'm right?!"
Unlike Fine, who looked as though she could fly from joy, the vice-captain remained serious.
It was the answer she had long hoped for, yet her caution did not fade. This was a matter that could affect the very honor of the Knights, and she couldn't afford to act on emotion alone.
"Well then… What about Dayke's past behavior? Didn't he humiliate you in front of your knight sisters?"
The other elves, except for Fine, who hadn't witnessed the event, immediately recalled the memory.
When they had been trapped in the cave by the wizard goblin's isolation spell, Dayke's actions had been brutal—completely unacceptable for someone supposedly in love. It was a moment that needed explanation.
"That time…"
Agnes looked uneasy. Her eyes flicked around as she tried to come up with a reason. Eventually, an unexpected excuse left her lips.
"I asked Dayke to do it."
"…What?"
"What I mean is… in situations like that, I sometimes… get excited without realizing it. It's hard to explain, but the point is—Dayke was only fulfilling my request."
The vice-captain frowned, her expression showing she couldn't understand or accept such a strange explanation.
Just then, Fine, focused entirely on defending her seniors, jumped in.
"It's true! We only survived because of Senior Dayke! Without him, you wouldn't have made it through the monster attack either!"
"…Is that true, Captain?"
The vice-captain turned back to Agnes, who slowly nodded.
"…Yes. Just as Fine said, Dayke gave me critical information about that monster—and even the tools to fight it. Without his help, I wouldn't have survived."
"That man…??"
"All of Dayke's actions so far were at my request. He has always done what he could as one of us… just like Alvin did five years ago."
"Then, really, you and Dayke…"
The vice-captain trailed off. She couldn't finish the sentence.
But hearing those words from Agnes—words that sounded so resolute, so grounded—finally gave her a reason to stop doubting.
She had carried those doubts alone because it was her duty. But maybe… just maybe… she could let them go now.
Maybe she could accept what she wanted to believe all along.
Her heart, caught between duty and emotion, leaned toward the choice Agnes had already made.
"…All right."
—
[MC POV]
'I wonder what's going on… Nothing serious, right?'
Some time had passed since Agnes and Fine left the room.
By my calculations, there shouldn't have been anything to worry about. But the longer they were gone, the more I regretted not secretly following them—just in case.
Still, I waited, thinking it was probably too late to do anything now. Then, at last, I heard a knock on the door.
"I am here…"
But Agnes wasn't alone.
The vice-captain, who had never come to see me personally, was standing beside her.
"Vice-captain?"
It wasn't just surprising that they came together. The atmosphere between them was… off.
Agnes, who never shows much emotion, looked like she was secretly pleased. On the other hand, the vice-captain seemed like she had something important to say but couldn't quite bring herself to start.
Then, as if to confirm my suspicions, she spoke hesitantly.
"…Dayke. You remember I asked the leader to leave the kingdom and take you with her."
Her words caught me off guard. I stayed quiet, unsure of where this was going.
"I've decided to pretend that request never happened."
"…What? Why? All of a sudden?"
"I heard everything from the leader. That you and she… love each other."
"What…??"
I opened my mouth to ask again but stopped when I saw Agnes' eyes. She stood beside the vice-captain with a calm but pleading look, silently asking me to go along with the story.
"She said everything you've done was because she asked you to. Even helping defeat that monster. Honestly, it's still hard to believe, but… I've decided to trust her. Just like Fine said, the leader fought to protect us. She was the same leader we've always known."
I couldn't begin to guess what had happened while I waited in this room. But before I could speak, the vice-captain continued.
"We'll keep following the leader. You're allowed to stay in the Order. My members and I will keep everything between you a secret. It won't reach the royal castle—or the queen."
"…Are you sure about this?"
"Yes. We believe in the leader. That's enough for us. We'll protect her, no matter what."
I didn't know how things had turned around, but I had no intention of asking. If I could stay in the Order without threatening anyone or hiding like a criminal, that was good enough for me.
"…Alright. Thanks for understanding."
"Dayke, I don't understand you. I just want to believe in our leader. If you truly care about her, don't cause any trouble. And…"
"Hm?"
"…Please, keep your affection appropriate and discreet. That goes for the leader too."
"I understand. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you again, Vice Captain."
"No need. Let's go. The leader probably has a lot to discuss with you. Take your time."
With that, the vice-captain turned and left, leaving me alone with Agnes.
The vice-captain bowed and disappeared down the hallway.
Once Agnes and I were left alone in her room, she finally explained everything in detail.
She told me how Fine had tried to persuade the members, how the word love had come up, and how Agnes had lied to keep both of us in the Order.
In the end, the vice-captain and the members changed their minds and decided to support us.
I had only helped the knights because I didn't want them wiped out, but this outcome felt like a pumpkin rolling off the vine—unexpected and somehow perfect.
"Good job, Agnes. Thanks to you, I can stay in the Order."
She shook her head.
"It's not something I should be praised for. Without your help, I wouldn't have been able to save the knight sisters. It's all thanks to you, Dayke. Thank you."
She bowed her head, troubled.
"But we are in love. Honestly, I still don't understand those feelings well. But if I want to keep being part of the Order…"
"Does this mean we have to pretend to be lovers from now on?"
"You don't have to worry about that."
They could act like lovers in front of the members, but alone, it was master and sex slave between them.
I thought that sounded entertaining enough.
"Well, then I'll trust you. Oh, I almost forgot."
She handed back the magic-nullification necklace I had given her.
"The more I think about it, the more fascinating it is. How can you, a human, use magic and even have such tools? If you don't mind, could you tell me?"
"I don't think I can."
"I see… It doesn't matter. Either way, I'll have to follow you forever to pay for the sins I committed against you. That's why…"
Agnes suddenly trailed off. Before I noticed, her cheeks were flushing.
After hesitating, she avoided my eyes and muttered softly,
"I said it's not something to praise me for, but if you still think I did a good job, maybe you could give me a reward…"
"A reward? Something like this?"
I stepped closer and grabbed her ass.
Agnes blushed even deeper, as if she understood exactly what I meant.
"Well, I have to report to the queen about the ogre later tonight…"
"Okay, okay. I'll see you then."
She nodded, eyes sparkling with anticipation, and left the room.
Though she tried not to show it, her light steps betrayed her excitement at the thought of receiving a reward.
'Anyway, luckily, it all worked out.'
I dropped onto the bed, feeling like a weight had been lifted.
Now it was time to decide on the next revenge target.
But not just yet.
For now, I just wanted to relax and think about the reward I would give Agnes.