ITBFL | Chapter 43

Episode 43

In the meantime, the elders’ voices grew even louder.

“If something happens to Erne while the position is temporary, who will take responsibility?”

“Let’s not dwell on extreme hypotheticals and focus on the main point.”

“Extreme? This is a very common scenario! And isn’t it already disgraceful for Erne to have this kind of debate over responsibility?”

“Are you suggesting we just cast aside Commander Balteire? A knight as exceptional as him?”

I tried to interject several times despite the rising volume, but I failed.

“Don’t you know that a living deer is stronger than a dead tiger?”

“Are you certain that Commander Balteire is dead? What a disrespectful assumption!”

“Do you have any reason to be certain he’s alive? Is Erne so carefree that we can afford to cling to a sliver of hope?”

The elders were now exchanging harsh words among themselves. I felt a sharp pain in my head.

‘At this rate, my voice alone won’t be enough to turn the tide…….’

At that moment, one of the active knights raised a hand.

It was Senior Yannis.

“I understand the elders’ concerns. However, I also agree with Commander Artiel.”

Considering he hadn’t believed me at all when I said Cassium was still alive just yesterday, this was unexpected.

But his statement gave considerable weight to my argument.

“We agree as well!”

The knights of the Black Leopard, seated in the assembly, shouted in unison as if they had been waiting for this moment.

‘With this much support…….’

There might be a chance of winning.

The gazes of both the knights and I turned toward Commander Denver.

‘If only the commander lends his support here…….’

Then, no matter how strong the elders’ opposition was, they wouldn’t be able to immediately elect a new division commander.

Even if my proposal for a temporary appointment wasn’t fully accepted, we could at least buy time by postponing the decision to the next elders’ meeting.

The council convened at least once a month.

That meant I would have a chance to restore Cassium within that time.

“This matter does not seem likely to reach a consensus today.”

Commander Denver’s deep voice commanded everyone’s attention.

“Let’s adjourn for today and make a decision at the next special elders’ meeting. If anyone objects, please raise your hand.”

Yes, we could delay it to the next elders’ meeting like this……

‘Wait.’

Did he just say special?

The moment Commander Denver said that word, I realized my plan had just been derailed.

A special elders’ meeting meant convening sooner than the usual one-month interval.

“The special elders’ meeting will be held in three days, at the same time.”

Three days?

As soon as I heard the words, my vision wavered.

Murmurs spread throughout the elders’ seats, but no one strongly opposed the decision.

The seated knights were the same. The Black Leopard knights only looked flustered, their lips parting as if they wanted to say something—but no one raised a hand in objection.

Everyone seemed to think three days was reasonable.

Both those who still held onto the hope that Cassium would return and those who believed he never would.

Commander Denver seemed to think that three days was enough time for everyone to deliberate on this critical matter.

But for me—for someone who knew that Cassium had turned into stone—three days was far too short.

‘What do I do?’

I had spent an entire day trying, yet I hadn’t even figured out a proper method to restore him. It was hard to believe things would change drastically in just three days.

“If there are no objections, then this matter is hereby—”

“……Wait!”

Before I even processed my thoughts, I found myself standing up again. I needed to buy time, no matter what.

All eyes turned to me.

Dozens of gazes from behind their masks, the eyes of every knight present, were fixed on me.

My mouth felt dry with tension. I had stood in front of people many times before, but it had been a while since I’d felt pressure like this.

‘What should I say?’

I had stood up to prevent the issue from concluding like this, but I had no idea what to say next.

“Well, what I mean is…….”

No words came to mind.

‘Damn it, why did he have to get caught up in something like black magic in the first place?’

I bit the inside of my cheek, cursing Cassium internally.

‘At this point…… unless he suddenly bursts in here himself, there’s no hope.’

Unless the doors swung open and he walked in with his usual blank expression, proving he was alive……

‘Yeah, something like that.’

Maybe it was because my headache was so bad, but I could swear I was hallucinating Cassium.

Just as in my imagination, the doors actually opened, and Cassium strode in.

“…….”

The way he walked felt strangely slow. I knew his pace wasn’t actually that leisurely.

Our eyes met as he approached.

His lips moved. He was saying, Thank you.

Thank you? For what?

I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them again.

If this was just a hallucination, it should disappear once I opened my eyes.

But it didn’t. Cassium brushed past me and stopped at his seat.

The spot where the name Cassium Luden Balteir, Commander of the Black Leopard Division was written.

“I apologize for being late.”

Without a trace of tension, Cassium bowed slightly and faced the council.

The morning of the elders’ meeting.

Cassium lifted his head amidst the smoke.

His perspective had changed. The world he had once seen as a rabbit was now at the level of his calves.

Exhaling deeply, he clenched his fist, feeling the energy coursing through his body.

The power of a knight surged through him, overpowering the foreign, dark energy that had once transformed him.

The dark magic that had turned him into a rabbit.

‘I’m back.’

He knew it instinctively.

And it wasn’t temporary.

He had fully returned.

At that moment—

The door opened.

“……!”

If Lize saw him here, she would definitely be shocked. Cassium instinctively moved to hide under the sofa.

“Sir Balteire?”

But the voice from the doorway wasn’t Lize’s.

And since he was no longer a rabbit, he couldn’t fit under the sofa anyway.

“……What are you doing?”

“I was looking for something I dropped.”

Cassium casually pulled his head out from under the sofa and stood up.

Wait.

“You’ve returned?”

“You’re back?”

Cassium and Julius spoke at the same time, looking at each other.

Cassium looked at the spot where the stone had originally been placed. It was empty.

“But Lize definitely put you in her bag,” Cassium said. He had clearly seen Lize place the stone in her bag.

“I placed a random stone there this morning. I drew a marking similar to the one that was on your ear.”

“You deceived Lize?”

“Don’t look at me like that. I only did it to match your lie, Sir Balteire.”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you want Lady Lize to believe that stone was you?”

“Me?”

“If she realizes the stone isn’t actually you, she’ll start searching for your whereabouts again.”

Honestly, Julius wasn’t wrong.

If Lize mistook the stone for him, she wouldn’t go through unnecessary trouble trying to find him.

And if she continued searching for him, she might eventually realize the truth—that the Goldenen Bunny that had been by her side all along was actually him.

Conflicting emotions stirred within Cassium.

A part of him wanted Lize to know he was there. Another part wanted to remain hidden.

It was contradictory, but that was how he felt.

“Anyway, it’s a relief that you’ve returned, Priest. Now, shall we leave?”

“You speak as if you own this place.”

“For Golden Bunny, it was home.”

“Sir Balteire is no longer Golden Bunny.”

Julius answered with a smile. Cassium, still wary, spoke to him.

“I’m heading to Erne. You’re going back to the temple, I assume.”

“No. I’m going to Erne as well.”

“I doubt you have any business in Erne, Priest.”

“I need to retrieve the stone.”

“If that’s all, I can collect it and return it to you.”

“Well, that’s fine by me, but…….”

Julius glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.

“Aren’t you in a hurry? Lady Lize mentioned that the elders’ meeting starts at ten.”

The clock hands pointed to 9:50.

Only ten minutes remained until the meeting started. Even if they left for the knights’ headquarters immediately, the meeting would already be underway by the time they arrived.

“Do your best to retrieve it.”

Julius grinned and patted Cassium on the shoulder.