"You're heading back to Atlas right away?"
Beatrice, who had been sipping tea with Zeke in the garden, was taken aback.
She couldn't help but feel surprised. Zeke was practically the savior of the Principality, yet she hadn't even had the chance to properly host him before he announced his immediate departure.
Zeke nodded as he took a sip of his tea.
"Yes. The Family Head has sent word for me to head to the Four Seasons Star, so I need to prepare and leave at once."
At his words, Roban, who was sitting nearby, bowed his head deeply.
"I thought we'd finally get to spend some time together with Sir Zeke... Couldn't you stay in the Principality a little longer?"
Zeke chuckled and ruffled Roban's hair.
"Once my duties are done, I'll come visit anytime. Until then, listen well to Her Holiness and focus on your training."
Roban nodded reluctantly, holding back his disappointment.
Beatrice watched the exchange with a gentle smile before suggesting to Zeke that they take a stroll through the garden alone.
As she wished, the two walked without her guard knight, Anthony.
After a moment of silent walking, Beatrice spoke first.
"I don't know how to properly thank you, Sir Zeke."
Zeke shook his head as he looked at her.
"I only did what was expected of a knight. Please, don't say that, Your Holiness." Beatrice had never felt such regret about her noble position as Pope.
If she weren't the Pope, she would have wanted to become Zeke's comrade and stand by his side.
But as Pope and leader of the Golden Dawn Society, she had the duty to revive the corrupt Holy Kingdom.
She forced a smile and said to Zeke,
"The Holy Kingdom will be your eternal ally and steadfast companion. If there's anything you need, just... let me know." This was all she could offer now.
Zeke nodded at her words.
"I appreciate your consideration, Your Holiness."
Then, Zeke looked at her and said,
"Now that I think about it, there's one thing I'd like to ask of you, Your Holiness." Beatrice brightened at his words.
"Anything at all."
Zeke gazed at Beatrice and spoke slowly.
"I'd like you to reinstate Sir Pab Valencia, who was excommunicated fifty years ago."
Pab Valencia had abandoned his position as Arch Paladin to oppose the corrupt Principality and left the Holy Kingdom.
Zeke wanted to restore his honor.
Beatrice nodded with a smile at his request.
"Of course, Sir Zeke. That's something I've hoped for as well. I'll revoke Sir Pab's excommunication and restore his honor as Arch Paladin." Zeke smiled back at her.
"Felix will be overjoyed to hear of your decision."
With that, Zeke felt he had accomplished everything he needed to in the Principality.
Feeling relieved, he began preparations to return to Atlas immediately.
*
Inside the carriage heading back to Atlas, Zeke listened to Shadia's full report from the seat across from her before speaking. "So Carlito handed over all the information." Shadia nodded.
"Yes, Boss. No further interrogation was needed. Cross-checks confirmed it was all reliable intel."
Carlito had completely turned to Zeke's side.
With the Emperor—his last hope beyond the geas Zeke had imposed—dead, his only lifeline to preserve his life was Zeke.
Carlito planned to cling tightly to Zeke and start a new life under the Draker banner.
To that end, he had spilled every imperial secret to Shadia without hesitation.
Zeke recalled the Carlito he had seen and smirked.
"Compared to Daria, his defection was so swift it's almost suspicious. Well, the burdens they carry are different, so it's inevitable."
Daria Calvi, captain of the Inmagung Knight Order composed of commoner knights and a disciple of Duke Crevan in the Bright King Spear technique, still harbored strong reservations about betraying the Empire.
Thus, Zeke planned to first pull Gillian, captain of the Celestial Scorpion Palace Knight Order, to his side once he awoke, then slowly persuade Daria through him.
Even after the report ended, Shadia remained seated across from Zeke.
Zeke looked at her and said,
"Do you have something to say, Shadia?"
Shadia hesitated briefly before slowly speaking to Zeke.
"There's something I'd like to discuss with you, Boss." Zeke nodded at her words.
"Have I ever stopped you from speaking your mind? Go ahead."
Shadia's tension eased slightly at his words, and she cautiously continued.
"Do you remember what you said to me before about extending the contract?"
"Contract extension... I told you to think about what you truly want." Shadia nodded and spoke again.
"I want to escape from the Old Man of the Mountain." For the first time, Shadia honestly voiced her desire to Zeke.
She revealed her wish for freedom and sought his help.
Zeke looked at her and replied, "It took longer than I expected." Shadia was startled.
"What do you mean...?"
"Until you asked for my help."
Shadia realized that Zeke had already seen through her heart but had waited for her to seek aid on her own.
Zeke gazed at Shadia and said,
"How do you want me to help?" Shadia hesitated at his question.
She soon spoke slowly.
"The Old Man of the Mountain takes in orphans and subjects them to brutal assassin training. Out of a hundred children, it's hard for even two to survive the harsh regimen. Among the survivors, he pits them against each other for more training. He then takes the most outstanding as disciples."
Shadia spoke freely about how the assassins of Salmak, the most secretive group in the desert, were forged.
Zeke listened silently before interjecting,
"What is it you want to say, Shadia?"
"...The Old Man of the Mountain is not our master but our enemy." She looked at Zeke and continued.
"He even fed me Godok, ensuring I'd die without regular doses. All the assassins of Salmak are in similar straits. We've developed a drug that halts Godok's effects to some extent through research, but complete removal is impossible."
In truth, Zeke already knew about Salmak's Godok before Shadia spoke. In his previous life, he had extracted key intel during a mission.
The mission had included rescuing the Old Man of the Mountain, but he had ultimately been betrayed by his disciples and met a miserable end.
'In my previous life, she must have steadily researched it until finding a way to resolve the Godok.'
Shadia had created a drug to suppress Godok's activity, buying her time to seek Zeke's help.
Zeke had believed she would truly become his own only when she showed genuine trust and asked for aid from the heart, so he had waited for her to sort out her feelings.
"As long as the Godok remains, escaping the Old Man of the Mountain is difficult."
"I'm working on an effective antidote, but it only lasts a short time for now."
The Godok planted by the Old Man of the Mountain was insidious; even thoughts of betrayal would stop her heart.
Shadia recalled how Zeke had consumed her formless poison unharmed.
Uncharacteristically emotional, given her usual cool rationality, she harbored a blind faith that Zeke could free her from the Godok.
After much deliberation, she had confided in him.
"Godok, huh..."
At that moment, Zeke grasped Shadia's wrist.
Woooong!
A golden aura emanated from Zeke's hand and flowed into Shadia's body, infusing her with energy.
Shadia was slightly startled by the warm energy that enveloped her.
But she soon relaxed and accepted Zeke's energy fully.
It felt as if her body was being thoroughly purified by Zeke's energy.
Woooong!
The golden aura fully permeated Shadia's body.
Zeke released her wrist and said,
"It's done."
"Pardon?"
Shadia asked in surprise at his words.
"The Godok is removed, so no need to worry."
"Th-that..."
After over twenty years of torment, Shadia couldn't believe the Godok was gone so easily.
She tested if the Godok was truly eradicated.
Normally, even thinking of betraying the Old Man of the Mountain would make the Godok devour her body in hellish agony.
'I will kill the Old Man of the Mountain.'
But now, even harboring impure thoughts toward him elicited no reaction.
The constant foreign presence in her body was gone.
In an instant, ecstasy washed over Shadia's face.
She had finally escaped the Godok's curse.
Overwhelmed by sudden complete freedom, Shadia shed tears unwittingly.
The desert flower and Salmak's most fearsome assassin wept uncontrollably.
Zeke silently watched her, waiting for her to calm.
After a while, Shadia stopped crying and lifted her head.
"Master."
Shadia prostrated herself on the carriage floor, bowing to Zeke.
Then she slowly raised her head.
She wiped her face with her palm.
Her face changed in an instant.
The true face of Shadia hidden beneath the human-skin mask.
A cold beauty with sharp eyes gazed at Zeke.
"This is my real face. You have saved me, Master. Please accept me. I will serve you with lifelong loyalty."
Only the Old Man of the Mountain had known Shadia's true face until now.
By revealing it, she conveyed her sincerity to Zeke.
But Zeke looked at her and said something unexpected.
"What a foolish thing to say."
Shadia was flustered by his response.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"If you're going to serve me as master for life, then what's the point of escaping the Old Man of the Mountain?"
"Th-that's different. With the Old Man of the Mountain, I was forcibly taken and made his disciple, forced to live as a Salmak assassin. But serving you is my free will."
"I don't need slaves. If you need a master to bind you, find someone else." Tears welled in Shadia's eyes again at Zeke's words.
"I-I can't do that. You saved my life, Master. Please don't tell me to find someone else." Long bound by the Old Man of the Mountain, Shadia had gained freedom yet lacked the mental preparation to truly embrace it.
Zeke looked at her and said,
"I need capable subordinates, not slaves."
Only then did Shadia understand and rephrase.
"I'm sorry. I'll serve you as Boss, not master. Accept me as your subordinate." Zeke nodded then.
"Good. We'll draft a new contract after the mission. I'll tell Boris, so share even Grade 1 secrets from now on." Shadia nodded.
"Understood, Boss. But may I ask one thing?"
Zeke nodded for her to continue, and Shadia cautiously spoke. "I'm curious about your plans for Salmak and the other assassins." Zeke's eyes sharpened.
Shadia held her breath, awaiting his answer.
Slowly, Zeke replied.
"Nothing changes. I'll help those who seek my aid, and meet swords with swords for those who draw on me."
Shadia swallowed hard at Zeke's cold words and said,
"Boss, give me a chance."