Chapter 95

Episode 95: No Second Chances

While still worrying about Lady Mariana and Eberhardt , I followed after Linos.

Since leaving the room, he hadn’t said a word. Without once glancing back, he continued down the corridors of the Imperial Castle with steady steps.

It must’ve been urgent.

He had called me away even in the middle of that important meeting.

He knew I’d be there—he was waiting for me from the very beginning.

“…Sir Linos,” I ventured.

“Keep walking,” he snapped.

“…”

The cold tone was classic Linos—sharp and emotionless.

Doing as told, I fell in behind him and walked in silence, matching his pace exactly.

We arrived at a remote rest area far from the room we’d just left. It was a place few people ever came to. Occasionally, a servant might pass through to clean, but at this hour, it wasn’t even cleaning time. It was just the two of us.

Linos finally stopped and turned around, then sat on the edge of a low stone step nearby.

“…Have a seat.”

“Yes, sir.”

I obeyed, taking a seat a short distance away from him.

“Do you know why I called you here?”

That was the first thing he said.

I shook my head. I hadn’t done anything that should’ve warranted being summoned.

“No, I don’t.”

Linos didn’t seem bothered by my answer and went on.

“Aldia=Greitz. The White Serpent from before—you remember it?”

“Of course.”

“This is about that thing.”

The monster from the Svelte Cult we fought while defending the Dirust region. I hadn’t expected Linos to bring it up now.

We repelled it. The threat passed.

Still, it was true. There was always a chance it would return.

“So… did something happen with the White Serpent?”

“I’ve been investigating it. Through my own channels. Its obsession with Dirust was unnatural.”

Clearly, he’d seen it as a serious threat.

And if it might return, of course he’d want to probe its hand first.

“Did you find anything?”

Linos shook his head.

“Not a thing. Strangely enough, not even a trace.”

“I see…”

“One of my people infiltrated the Svelte Cult. But according to them, no one—no one—within the cult knows where the White Serpent is. More than that, they weren’t even aware it showed up in Dirust.”

That’s… odd. That thing was unmistakably one of the divine beasts worshipped by the Svelte Cult. Its intelligence alone proved it.

Could it really be unrelated to the cult?

No. If that were the case, there’s no reason it would’ve appeared when it did.

“So you’re saying… the White Serpent isn’t affiliated with the cult?”

Linos furrowed his brow and let out a deep sigh. He didn’t look convinced himself.

“The whole cult’s in an uproar over Saintess Resial getting badly injured. The higher-ups are apparently fawning over her day and night like clueless idiots. From what I’ve heard, only those at the top have real information. But we won’t be hearing anything useful for a while.”

So in the end, there was no proof that the White Serpent even existed.

That monster, brimming with power, had ravaged our forces in the battle for Dirust—and then vanished as if it had never been there.

No one could say when—or if—it would strike again.

“So you’re telling me to be wary of the White Serpent, Sir Linos?”

I voiced the thought he clearly wanted to say.

But his eyes narrowed slightly, and I understood: that wasn’t the real reason he’d called me here.

“That’s part of it… but that’s not why I summoned you.”

“Then why?”

“…Why didn’t you kill it?”

“…”

“I’ve always wondered. From everything I’ve seen, when someone becomes a threat to Princess Valtlune, you go to ruthless lengths to eliminate them. The White Serpent should’ve been no different.”

It’s true. Anyone who poses even a potential threat to her—I make it a point to crush them completely.

If there’s a whiff of treason, I dig until I uncover the truth. And if it’s real, I wipe them out.

Anything that stands in her way must be eliminated.

It’s an extreme policy, yes. But it’s mine. Linos isn’t wrong.

“But that day, you let the White Serpent escape. Sure, it was a monster—and a tough one at that. But you, Aldia=Greitz… you’re worse. You could’ve killed it.”

He wasn’t just confronting me—he was accusing me.

Before I realized it, he’d grabbed me by the collar.

It wouldn’t be honest to say I hadn’t intended it.

The truth was… I chose to let it go.

“It was a necessary decision.”

“What?”

“You’re right. I probably could’ve killed it. But the risk was too great. Instead of eliminating an immediate threat, I chose the safest course of action to ensure we could keep fighting. That’s all it was.”

I gave him a look—you understand, don’t you?

He knew how powerful that monster was.

Surely he couldn’t argue with what I’d just said.

It was a split-second decision: assess the risk and reward, and go with the most effective option.

“…I see.”

“Yes. That’s it.”

He didn’t look convinced.

But it seemed like he wasn’t going to push any further.

“…Fine. I’ll let it go.”

His hand slowly released my collar.

As I adjusted my now-loosened shirt, I added,

“Next time, there won’t be any escaping. You have my word.”

“There’d better not be. If it happens again, I’ll have you stripped of your position as her knight.”

Cold as ever.

The vibe he gave off screamed, I’m only letting this slide once.

“I’ll take that to heart.”

“Hmph.”

Still… I doubt I’ll have the chance to just repel it next time.

That White Serpent—something about it stopped me from killing it.

A coincidence, maybe.

But I remember a strange calm washing over me. Like my emotions had been dulled all at once.

I never lost control. But part of the reason I didn’t pursue it… had to do with that sensation.

It felt as if something was telling me it wasn’t the right time.

Like some strange compulsion had overridden my instincts.

…Not that I’d ever admit that to Linos.