EMATEC Chapter 132

 

 

 

“That rude bastard?”

 

The knights’ gazes simultaneously turned toward Kane, who was walking across the training grounds toward them.

 

“Why is that guy here?”

 

He was the very reason Cherrya had returned injured in Seffield’s arms.

 

While supervising the students’ graduation exam, Kane had recklessly entered the jungle alone. Upon hearing this, Cherrya had chased after him without a second thought, leading to her current condition.

 

Naturally, some of the knights did not look favorably upon Kane.

 

“The commander hasn’t even regained consciousness yet.”

 

“Externally, it’s still being reported as a disappearance. So, doesn’t that bastard think our commander is missing? And yet, he still had the nerve to come here. Let’s at least commend his courage.”

 

The Emblem Knights, who had been about to start their training, stopped and gathered together to face Kane.

 

“What brings you here? This training ground is exclusively reserved for the Emblem Knights with the academy’s permission.”

 

“…I came to apologize.”

 

“Apologize?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Kane bit his lip, bowed his head, and bent at the waist toward the Emblem Knights.

 

“Because of my reckless actions, your commander has gone missing.”

 

“And?”

 

The knights’ eyes landed on Kane’s clenched fists.

 

His hands were trembling, balled so tightly it seemed his bones might break. The guilt he felt was evident.

 

“The academy is trying to frame this incident as a conflict between the commander and Senior Enoch. Professors are coercing students to give that explanation when questioned by Emblem or Gray’s investigators—using their graduation exam results as leverage.”

 

“What? Those bast—”

 

“If this incident is officially announced as a conflict between Emblem and Gray, both families’ honor will be severely damaged. I refuse to let the commander’s sacrifice be tainted like this.”

 

Kane lifted his head, his eyes burning with fury. It wasn’t just resentment toward the academy—it was a deep-seated hatred, coupled with an unwavering determination to destroy everything that sought to defile the honor of Cherrya, who had sacrificed herself for him.

 

Even the Emblem Knights, who knew full well that Cherrya was safe and resting, hesitated for a moment, momentarily overwhelmed by Kane’s intensity.

 

“I need your help. Because of me, the commander ended up in this state. I’m sure you all resent me, but please, for the honor of Emblem and the commander, just this once, lend me your support.”

 

Kane bowed deeply once again.

 

“………”

 

“………”

 

“………”

 

A heavy silence filled the training grounds.

 

No one knew what to say to Kane. They merely nudged each other, hesitant to speak. Yet, seeing Kane remain in that deeply bowed position, as if he wouldn’t budge until he received an answer, an odd feeling stirred in their hearts.

 

Then, a voice broke the silence.

 

“So, what exactly are you planning to do? Gather our members and cause a ruckus?”

 

It was a bright, clear voice with a playful tone—oddly refreshing just to hear.

 

It was Cherrya’s voice.

 

“……That voice—Commander!”

 

“Cherrya!”

 

The Emblem Knights immediately turned toward the corner of the training grounds, where Cherrya stood.

 

She had arrived so quietly that no one had noticed her. With a cheerful smile, she waved at them as if greeting an old friend.

 

“…What? You said she went missing.”

 

Kane stammered, his face filled with disbelief as he looked at Cherrya. His steps were hesitant, like a child taking their first steps, as he cautiously approached her.

 

“That was a lie. My grandfather brought me back, and I was resting quietly.”

 

“Then why was it announced that you were missing…?”

 

“There was no announcement. It was just a rumor at the academy that spread as if it had been planned. No one bothered to correct it.”

 

Cherrya leisurely observed Kane’s increasingly contorted expression before bursting into laughter.

 

“Don’t overthink it. I was just following my grandfather’s orders.”

 

“You mean Seffield Emblem, the head of the Emblem family, is here?”

 

“Yeah. When the others contacted home, he came flying over immediately.”

 

Cherrya stretched, looking refreshed as she mentioned how her grandfather had helped her return to the academy without trouble.

 

“Thanks to that, I had a great nap. Ah, I feel so good.”

 

“……….”

 

The intense anger Kane had felt toward the academy just moments ago suddenly lost its direction.

 

“What… exactly happened?”

 

“Oh. I tried to destroy the swamp, but I went overboard and fell in. Then I destroyed it even more and managed to escape.”

 

“…That’s your explanation?”

 

“Yeah. There’s nothing more to it.”

 

“Sigh.”

 

Kane let out a hollow sigh at Cherrya’s casual explanation, stumbling slightly. He seemed both disappointed and relieved at the same time. Cherrya chuckled and turned around.

 

“What? Did I say something wrong? Right, Enoch?”

 

“Not wrong, but you did skip a lot of details.”

 

At the sound of the voice responding to Cherrya, Kane’s eyes widened in shock.

 

“Senior Enoch…?”

 

Enoch, who had been reported missing alongside Cherrya, was walking toward them from behind her.

 

“Sigh.”

 

They’re really safe. Only after seeing Cherrya and Enoch standing side by side did Kane finally feel like he could breathe again.

 

The fear that he might have lost them—two indispensable heroes of Lutinas and the continent—because of his actions had been unbearable.

 

At that moment, his legs gave out, and he collapsed on the spot.

 

“Huh? Hey, Kane!”

 

Startled, Cherrya hurriedly tried to support him.

 

However, Kane sharply pushed her hand away and said,

 

“Why are you so reckless? Why did you jump in like that, Commander?”

 

“Hey, was it just me? You did it too!”

 

“I wasn’t in a state to make rational decisions back then! But you, as a more experienced commander, should have assessed the situation more calmly!”

 

Kane shouted, pouring out all his frustration.

 

“You should have abandoned a lowly commoner like me! You should have prioritized yourself and your knights!”

 

“…What? What are you saying?”

 

“Am I wrong? Why don’t you recognize your own position?”

 

At the academy, Kane was merely an arrogant commoner who stood out. That was the only way to describe him.

 

But Cherrya Emblem was different.

 

The heir to the prestigious Emblem Duchy. The leader of the Emblem Knights. A hero of the Lutinas Empire.

 

The titles attached to her name alone carried immense weight.

 

For someone like Cherrya to risk her life just to save Kane—it was unthinkable.

 

Kane’s eyes, glaring at her, were bloodshot, as if he might burst into tears at any moment.

 

Seeing his expression, Cherrya let out an exasperated sigh and spoke in a firm voice,

 

“Did you forget? I said I was going to make you my adjutant.”

 

“What does that have to do with anything…!”

 

“I’m just saving my own adjutant. Who’s going to stop me?”

 

Cherrya lifted her chin confidently.

 

“Even if I went back to that moment a hundred or a thousand times, I’d still come to save my adjutant.”