Crimson Servant

"Lord Karl, please be careful to maintain the face of the nobles, so as not to happen again."

Evelyn Claudius stepped forward and pushed the Demiras family sword into Karl's arms. She turned around and picked up the staff. After saying goodbye with a smile to Karl's other companions, she left their camp.

The girl's departure was like a signal. Lightning could no longer restrain her laughter. The hoarse and harsh Crow Man's voice echoed in the tent. The echoing funny laughter made the entire team infected with joy. This burst of laughter did not last long, and the joy turned into an inner force that prompted the adventurers to engage in their respective activities.

No one disturbed Karl at this time. The young paladin held his sword and looked thoughtfully at the exit of the camp.

Karl put on his long sword and walked out of the tent.

Evelin stood at the corner, holding her staff in both hands, looking at the passers-by a few meters away. She stood upright on the dirty and dim path, and her gaze seemed out of place with her surroundings. She was very beautiful, and her graceful temperament cultivated by etiquette education made Karl even couldn't bear to disturb her.

But Evelin had already noticed his presence.

"You are faster than I thought, Lord Karl. I have already prepared to wait for half an hour."

Karl walked to her side and looked at the ordinary, featureless street side by side.

"It's too deliberate. Although I have not completed the study of noble etiquette, I also understand that friendship between nobles is based on mutual respect. What's more, you also deliberately imitated my father's tone, which almost made me habitually cold. Humph. If you just want to return my sword, you won’t come here in person, Evelin.”

"I underestimated your intelligence. I thought it would be difficult for Mr. Karl, who has not completed etiquette education, to understand my code words. It seems that I am being sentimental."

"Do you still teach these things in etiquette classes?"

"Credit codes, secret words, inflammatory words and deeds, and psychology are all profound contents of etiquette classes. The purpose of mastering etiquette is to better deal with people in various industries. We want to cultivate our own charm. Of course, having insight into people's hearts is the most important thing. High-class etiquette.”

"Maybe I missed a lot of things. I thought they were just teaching some old-fashioned and complicated court etiquette."

Evelin laughed and replied softly: "Not only are students choosing teachers, but etiquette instructors are also choosing qualified students. If the heirs of nobles with insufficient temperament do not exceed the standards in their hearts, then they are really just a staid and cumbersome palace. Etiquette. After all, 'uneducated smart people can only bring disaster'."

Karl raised his head and looked at the diagonal tricolor flag flying on the rooftop opposite.

"It turns out that I was a poor student at that time. I thought I rejected them. I was really smart. No wonder my father was so angry."

"It is indeed rare to reject more than a dozen tutors. Etiquette tutors have their own communication circles. Usually after two or three times, those gentlemen will regard you as a playboy and stop visiting you. Mr. Karl, those tutors must have seen it. Your potential is what tirelessly tries to discipline you.”

potential? At least they saw my fighting prowess.

Karl put those ridiculous thoughts behind him, and he turned to look at the girl.

"Let's get down to business. What do you want to tell me? Things that cannot be told to my companions."

Evelyn Claudius first looked at the entrance and exit of the camp to make sure there was no one around, and then said: "We are not the only adventurers who came to the underground city of Optitdam, Lord Karl."

"In the south of Eversa, the children of the eight nobles of the right age formed a team and all came here."

"It is not for the treasures in the dungeon. Our family has passed the stage of showing glory by slaying dragons. Everyone is gathered here to fight against the emperor's conscription order. The emperor of Ephessa, Motley Kai... Adrian issued a new edict in this expanding war. Not only did he levy the family's military strength and taxes, he also deliberately recruited us, his heirs. This was an unprecedented anomaly. The emperor had never been like this. Now it's so urgent. The patriarchs believe that the emperor's order hides a terrible signal. He has begun to become hostile to the powerful old nobles, which will threaten the family's initiative. The conflict that broke out between Eversa and the surrounding areas has reached the point of internal concern. To the extent that we don’t know what the new ruler wants to do.”

"No matter what, they are not allowed to be involved in the war. They order their children to throw themselves into the underground city, threaten to imitate the ancestors and pursue glory, and delay the edict. This is the countermeasure that the fathers thought of. Before this, the clan leaders had already said hello to each other."

The girl looked at the young paladin and saw the handsome young man frowning for the first time.

"Lord Karl, Lord Cadian Demiras has told me to support each other. But before setting off, I received information that you had come here first and formed a team with other adventurers. You did not pay attention to your own safety. , and facing such a dangerous enemy as the Red Dragon. Can you tell me the purpose of Lord Carl's actions?"

"The Red Dragon was just an accident. Our Sun Team is a team of adventurers who work together. We all have our own goals when entering the dungeon."

"What is your goal?"

"The enemy of the sun." Karl subconsciously puffed up his chest, "That is the mission given to me by Cardeo of the Holy Glory Church. He ordered me to go to this underground city to hunt the enemy of the sun, the monster that steals light, Etrus... …”

Karl had repeated this sentence many times, reciting it like a scripture, but Evelin stopped him. Her staff stopped Karl's arm that was about to raise, and interrupted him with a soft and irresistible voice.

"Lord Karl, do you really believe that the sun has enemies?"

"I have seen descriptions of the great notary in books. He is the incarnation of the sun and the keeper of the contract. What monster can steal the power of the sun? The sun has never been stingy in giving, and the sun god will equally Blessing or scorching every life, He hates no one but darkness."

"It is difficult for me to understand what an arduous mission the Templar Bishop would entrust to a young paladin who has not yet taken the oath when he sets out."

Karl felt a little lost. The girl in front of him came to the same conclusion as the evil guy. They were calm and hurtful in some ways.

Karl knew that he could no longer push his confusion and blind obedience to the mystery. He had become an oath taker of the sun, and the real Mithras only asked him to abide by his oath. The truth is actually not difficult to surmise. His father, who had a bad relationship with him, colluded with the archbishop and lured Karl to this underground city in the name of a mission. Kadian knew himself too well, and he knew that he would disobey his decision. So he spoke a few words and used simple religious fervor to guide Carl like signing a carrot string.

The paladin looked at his hands.

"So the unforgettable adventure that made my heart sing actually started with a lie. Was it a scam?"

A pair of white palms appeared in his palms.

"You've given it a better meaning than a lie, haven't you?"

"You did a great job, Lord Carl."

"If Etrus really existed, could it defeat the dragon?"

Their contact did not last long. When Karl regained his energy, Evelin held her staff again. Her magic power was far less than that of ordinary adventurers, and with the blessing of magic items, it was difficult to match anyone in the Sun Team. She is indeed not an adventurer who comes to the dungeon.

"Come to our side, Lord Cal. Everyone will cheer for the dragon slayer of Demiras."

Carl shook his head.

"Even if I don't have a mission to fulfill, my friends still need me."

Evelin smiled and retracted her fingers into her sleeves.

"It doesn't matter. Mr. Karl doesn't need to get along closely with us. As long as your team doesn't continue to risk your precious lives, I have an explanation for Earl Cadian."

"...I can't guarantee it, but I will try my best to inform you, Evelin."

The noble girl seemed to have compromised, taking a small step back and giving a cute gift in return.

"Then I won't disturb Mr. Karl's adventure in the dungeon. If you need it, you can come to me at the Violet Hotel in the center of the market at any time. We can provide you with noble-level material support."

Watching the girl slowly walk away, Karl stopped her.

"Evelin, when we were in the tent, I seemed to hear the anger in your voice. Was that also the performance taught in the etiquette class? Could it be that you were angry for not attending your coming-of-age ceremony dance?"

Karl remembered that at that time, when the etiquette instructor had repeatedly encountered obstacles and he was completely isolated from his peers, the invitation letter to the coming of age ball appeared on his empty desk. Although Karl's father was worried about accidental injury and stopped him, Karl still kept the invitation letter well, and the Claudius family crest on the fire seal became one of the few intact things in Karl's hands.

Evelyn shook her head.

"I retrieved Lord Karl's sword from the temple, and of course I also understood the reason from the female priest. If I don't communicate with Lord Karl in a strong tone, you will definitely repeat the 'fair trade' in the temple. That’s a necessary performance.”

Karl understood everything and watched the girl's back disappear from his sight. He returned to the tent and happened to meet the cold gaze of the warlock.

"The woman who could replace your brain is gone?"

He must be talking about Evelin. Carl had managed to remain indifferent to John's attacks.

"Yeah. Evelyn is more thoughtful than I am, and she's smart, just like you, John."

"Like me?" John snorted disdainfully, "That woman's poor disguise can deceive a Paladin like you. She is not as calm as she appears. [Violent Lightning] can hear her heartbeat... "

"Just meeting your eyes, just saying your name, her heart will beat faster, you idiot."