I Was Deemed a Worthless Saint Without a Level-Up Blessing and Was Sent Off to Marry a Neighboring Country, but It Turns Out My Blessing Was Actually Level Cap Removal - Episode 59

“What is it, Captain!? That gloomy face of yours, like you’ve got one foot in a coffin!? It’s affecting morale, so pull yourself together! If you can’t, why not wear a helmet with a faceplate to hide your face!?”

“Yeah… You’re right… Showing this face to the members makes me unfit to be the leader…”

On the evening of the first day after departing for the town of Tanzes, where a dragon was reported to be approaching.

As soon as Alvent entered the room assigned to him at the inn in the town halfway to Tanzes, he slumped in despair at Robes, who had a stern expression and was berating him.

I am fully aware that I look utterly ridiculous.

That’s why, during the march where the members were watching, I desperately tried to maintain my composure, but Robes probably saw right through it.

“Eh…!?”

Robes widened his eyes at Alvent, who had readily agreed.

“How could you not say anything back? What on earth happened to you…!?”

From a stern expression, Robes suddenly approaches with an appearance of utmost concern.

“Ah, no, I understand that it has to do with Lady Ferulina, but…”

The moment Ferulina’s name was mentioned, he collapsed to the floor on his knees.

“Captain!?”

I can’t even hear Robes’ flustered voice.

“After all, maybe it would have been better if I had stuffed my mouth with something so I couldn’t talk and wore a helmet… Compared to the current me, an empty suit of armor would be much quieter and more dignified…”

“Wait!? I didn’t say anything like that!? What on earth happened with Lady Ferulina――”

Robes, who had asked the question, sharply gasped as if realizing something.

“Could it be… even after the queen warned you, you did something so outrageous to Lady Ferulina…!?”

“There’s no way I would do something like that without Ferulina’s consent!”

Alvent, who had shouted reflexively, clenched his fists on the floor.

“Actually, maybe that would have been better…!”

At the very least, I shouldn’t have made Ferulina make that face by betraying Alvent.

As he groaned and complained, Robes let out a strange, high-pitched voice.

“Whaaaaaat!? How could you say something like that? What on earth did you do…!?”

“That is…”

I don’t even know why I unleashed such anger on Ferulina.

It must be because of the treatment she has continuously received in the Kingdom of Klein. I have always felt uneasy about Ferulina’s tendency to devote herself to others without regard for her own well-being.

Of course, it is undeniable that the entire knight order benefits from Ferulina’s kindness.

However…

The moment I remembered Ferulina, with her pale face from not getting enough rest, hugging the ancient manuscript, a chill ran down my spine.

When I think that Ferulina might do something reckless to help Alvent, a violent emotion rages deep within my chest.

I know I have no right to say such things, having brought Ferulina to the Gobules Kingdom for my own convenience.

However, I don’t want Ferulina to go through any hardships because of me.

“Even so, to make him make that kind of face… That’s just the worst…!”

Just remembering Ferulina’s tearful face makes my chest ache as if pierced by a blade.

Even when I was wounded by a dragon’s claw, I didn’t feel this much pain.

The guilt of having hurt someone important to me makes me feel like I’m falling apart, both physically and mentally.

“Robes… Have I changed…?”

I had no intention of making Ferulina cry at all.

If I were to convey it, I intended to do so more gently and calmly.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t suppress my anger to the point where I was surprised by my own reaction to Ferulina’s words.

“Since meeting Lady Ferulina, the captain has always been strange whenever Lady Ferulina is involved.”

Robes is saying something utterly blunt.

“I know that! But that’s not what I mean…!”

The words that spilled from his mouth were so hoarse and trembling that they were pitiful.

“……This time, have I finally worn out Ferulina’s patience and made her dislike me…?”

I recall the figure of Ferulina that I had unconsciously followed with my eyes all day today.

In the morning, when she got into the carriage, Ferulina clearly had a tear-streaked face.

He probably doesn’t want to make those around him feel uncomfortable. When he was having light-hearted conversations with Nanette and Chelsea during meals, he had a smile on his face…

Just seeing Ferulina filled with sorrow made my heart ache and cry out in pain.

If possible, I would have crawled on the ground, done anything, to apologize and alleviate Ferulina’s sorrow, even just a little.

But what could the person who made Ferulina cry possibly say?

Above all, there is no guarantee that I won’t be overcome by passion again when I face Ferulina.

If I ever hurt Ferulina again, this time my heart will surely be crushed by guilt.

That’s why, feeling pathetic, I haven’t been able to speak to Ferulina since yesterday.

“I can’t imagine Lady Ferulina, who is so kind, losing her patience with the captain unless something truly extraordinary happens…”

You haven’t seen Ferulina’s wounded face, so you can say such carefree things! As Alvent tried to retort, Robes pressed even harder.

“First of all, if I had ever lost my patience, it would have happened much earlier! Like, right when we first met! The captain is one of the most intimidating people I know, and he suffers because of his tough appearance! But Lady Ferulina, instead of being scared or avoiding him, treats him with kindness like a goddess…! There’s no way she would dislike him unless something really serious happened!”

“Yeah, I guess… To be avoided by such a kind-hearted Ferulina… I’m done for…”

“Captain…!? You can’t be serious, just slacking off here…!? If you can’t even bring yourself to talk to Lady Ferulina, this will really affect morale. Should I discreetly inquire about Lady Ferulina’s feelings and let her know about your concerns…?”

I can’t help but feel my heart waver at Robes’ offer, which is overflowing with loyalty.

However.

“No, it’s fine… Don’t make me such a pathetic man that I have to rely on you that much.”

He shook his head, stood up, and rejected Robes’ proposal.

“If Ferulina has grown tired of me, then I must be that kind of man. Ferulina has no blame in this. If Ferulina truly dislikes me and wants to be free… After the battle with the dragon is over, we must have a proper discussion…”

In order to calmly discuss things with Ferulina, we first need to deal with the dragon somehow.

With the dragon battle approaching and the power of the saint being sought above all else, even if her true intentions were questioned, the kind-hearted Ferulina would likely give a noncommittal response without abandoning the knights or Alvent.

If we can just defeat the dragon, we won’t need to bind Ferulina anymore to lift the curse.

With a loud slap, Alvent smacked his own cheeks with his palms to pump himself up.

“The poison I asked Ilk to concoct somehow managed to be completed before our departure. This time, I will finally put an end to the troubles from three years ago.”

“Of course!”

Finally, it seems that Alvent has recovered. With a relieved expression, Robes nods vigorously.

First, we can’t start anything until we defeat the dragon.

Alvent scolded himself for being so cowardly as he thought about the dragon battle that was likely to take place in a few days.