Ben Diack, the captain of the Imperial Knights, was already acquainted with Demian.

Like Demian, he was one of the empire’s finest sword masters, and he would also pass on requests to the Red Hawk Knights on behalf of the imperial family.

So his visit was not unfamiliar, but it was the first time he had come so suddenly without notice, like today.

“I apologize, Lord Vandermir. The matter was so urgent that I had no choice but to come without contacting you.”

“It’s alright. What is the matter?”

“There have been recent reports of high-level magical beasts being discovered near the western Tritos Mountains. If left alone, it could escalate into a major incident.”

Ben Diack stated that the imperial side wanted the Red Hawk Knights to take on the subjugation of the western magical beasts.

Since beast subjugation was a common request, Demian didn’t find it strange.

“The Imperial Knights must be busy lately. I see you’re assigning us several tasks.”

“Rather than that, a high-ranking official of the imperial family strongly recommended you, saying your skills are reliable.”

Hearing this for the first time, Demian asked with slight curiosity.

“Who is this person?”

“I can’t tell you that. But it’s someone whose approval won’t hurt to have.”

Ben Diack showed a kindly smile.

Demian was somewhat concerned about the anonymous high-ranking official but accepted the request. It would be beneficial, not detrimental, for the imperial family to view the Red Hawk Knights favorably.

“You should depart for Poshan village at the foot of the Tritos Mountains in three days. There’s an investigation team already dispatched, so it would be good to collaborate with them.”

“Understood.”

After Ben Diack left, Demian called Isaac, informed him that they would be in charge of the western beast subjugation, and had him prepare.

And today, he packaged eclairs from a famous dessert house for Arasila and went home.

No sooner had he set foot inside the front door than Arasila, who had been anxiously pacing the central hall, came running.

“Demian!”

“Ah, my lady.”

Demian looked at Arasila with a pleased face. Arasila grabbed his arm with a somewhat desperate look in her eyes.

“I’ve been waiting for you to come.”

“Is that so? As it happens, I brought something delicious today as well.”

Demian proudly held out the box of eclairs. He had mistakenly thought she had been eagerly waiting for the desserts he brought.

“You won’t be disappointed, so why don’t you check?”

“That’s not what’s important right now.”

But Arasila’s purpose wasn’t the dessert, so she just glanced down at the box.

Demian, who had inwardly expected a pleased reaction, became slightly disappointed.

“Demian, nothing unusual happened today, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just, anything at all. For example, being assigned to go on a beast subjugation mission…”

“How did you know about that, my lady?”

Demian opened his eyes in surprise. He had been planning to tell Arasila over dinner that he had to make a brief trip to the west.

But he was surprised that Arasila had guessed it before he could even bring it up.

‘A prophetic dream… so immediately…!’

Arasila’s complexion turned deathly pale. In her dream, Demian had gone on the western beast subjugation mission and died.

She opened her faintly trembling lips and asked calmly.

“Where are you going to subdue the beasts?”

“Near the western Tritos Mountains. I was about to tell you as well, as we’re scheduled to depart in three days.”

“No, why are you only telling me this now!”

Arasila burst out angrily, as not only did the situation match her prophetic dream exactly, but time was also pressing.

Demian was bewildered, not understanding why she was angry.

“Please calm down, my lady. I didn’t intentionally hide it; it was just decided today.”

“It was decided today?”

“Yes.”

“Then that’s good. Cancel it.”

“…Pardon?”

Demian thought Arasila must be joking now. But Arasila’s expression was serious without a hint of humor.

Realizing she was speaking in earnest, Demian’s face also grew serious.

“Don’t go, Demian. Pass this request on to someone else.”

“Why are you suddenly acting like this, my lady? I can’t casually cancel an imperial request.”

“Say you’re sick. Or that there’s a family emergency. Make up some excuse and withdraw from the request, but don’t go.”

“Please tell me the reason why you’re doing this.”

Arasila bit her lower lip. If she said she had a prophetic dream, would Demian really believe her?

Even she, a mage, couldn’t explain how she had prophetic dreams, so she doubted whether Demian would truly accept it.

When she closed her mouth and said nothing, Demian let out a small sigh and placed his hand on Arasila’s shoulder.

“My lady, without a clear reason, I can’t withdraw from the mission. This is also related to the Red Hawk Knights’ credibility.”

“…”

“Are you really doing this without any reason?”

Arasila slowly shook her head. After hesitating for a long while, moving her lips, she finally spoke cautiously.

“Demian, what I’m about to say might sound a bit crazy. But it’s all true, so you have to believe me. Can you promise?”

“Yes, I promise. Please speak.”

Demian answered in a firm voice. Encouraged by this, Arasila opened her mouth.

“I have special dreams. Dreams where everything that happens in them becomes reality. And… while taking a nap today, I dreamed that you went on a beast subjugation mission to the west and died.”

At those words, Demian frowned slightly and asked curiously.

“You say I died? How?”

“That… I don’t know.”

Unfortunately, she had woken up just as Isaac was about to explain, so she hadn’t heard the details.

Arasila gripped Demian’s clothes tightly.

“But I’m certain you died in the dream. So please don’t go on the subjugation mission.”

“…”

Demian didn’t say anything. He just looked down at Arasila silently with unreadable eyes.

As the silence lengthened, Arasila grew more anxious.

Was it too far-fetched a story for Demian to believe after all?

While understanding, she felt a surprisingly great disappointment at the fact that he didn’t believe her.

It felt similar to being betrayed by close people like Iris or Paula.

‘After promising just now that he would believe…’

The corners of Arasila’s eyes drooped. She bit her lips tightly.

Apart from feeling hurt by him, she wanted to save Demian, so she absolutely couldn’t let him leave for the subjugation.

If he insisted on going to the west despite her words, she was considering whether she should even forcibly knock him unconscious to stop him.

“I will do as you say.”

Demian finally opened his mouth. Arasila looked up at him.

“What?”

“I’ll go tomorrow to apologize and cancel the request.”

“…Really?”

Demian nodded readily. Arasila, who had been dumbfounded, soon smiled with joy.

Because she had prevented his death.

“You thought well, Demian. My words may seem somewhat untrustworthy, but they’re really true.”

“Not at all. I believe your words, my lady. Didn’t I promise I would?”

At this unexpected response, Arasila’s eyes widened. Then she frowned and asked back.

“But why did it take you so long to answer?”

“Ah, I apologize. I was pondering what to say tomorrow to cancel the request.”

Demian replied awkwardly. It wasn’t that he had been weighing the truth of Arasila’s words, but that he had been slow to answer because he was thinking about what excuse to make.

In any case, having stopped Demian’s departure, Arasila let out a sigh of relief and stroked her chest.

Now there would be no chance of Isaac bringing news of his death, as in the dream.

…Or so she thought.

Reality was not so obliging.

When Demian went to Ben Diack to express his intention to refuse the request, he responded that it would be difficult, saying:

“Thinking that the Red Hawk Knights would take care of the west, we’ve already sent half of the Imperial Knights’ personnel on other tasks. If you withdraw from the request now, there’s no one else who can go.”

It had been less than a day since he had reversed his decision, but in that short time, the situation had become difficult to back out of.

The excuse Demian had prepared wasn’t strong enough to overturn this situation, making it even more awkward.

There was a risk that if the Red Hawk Knights pulled out, the west could suffer great damage from magical beasts.

If that happened, the entire knighthood would be disgraced and take a hit.

Demian eventually reversed his decision again and accepted the request. As the leader of a knighthood, he had no choice but to make a decision for everyone’s sake.

“I’m sorry, my lady. If an accident occurs in the west, all the blame will fall on us. They’ll say we changed our word and the Imperial Knights couldn’t help either.”

After explaining to Arasila why he had to accept the request, Demian continued, as if to comfort her.

“But don’t worry. I’ve survived countless dangers until now. Neither people nor magical beasts can harm me. I won’t die like in your dream.”

Arasila fully understood Demian’s words. Both the reason why he couldn’t back out of the western beast subjugation and that he was incredibly strong.

However, having glimpsed his death in the prophetic dream, she couldn’t just sit still.

‘If I can’t stop Demian from going, there’s only one answer left.’

To go along and protect him herself.

She couldn’t warn him what to be careful of since she hadn’t heard why he died in the dream.

Rather than clinging to him to refuse an unrejectabl?e task, it was better to accompany him directly and ensure he didn’t die.

‘Since it’s an imperial request, the person who can help with this is…’

Arasila thought of her old friend Frederick. Although things had become a bit awkward with him recently, she still had a sense that they were friends.

She first asked Philip for permission to take on a new mission, then went to find Frederick to change the western beast subjugation, which had become solely the Red Hawk Knights’ responsibility, into a joint mission with the magic tower.

The magic tower had also often received and done well with beast subjugation missions, so even if they wanted to cooperate, they wouldn’t necessarily refuse.

Despite the sudden visit, Frederick welcomed Arasila with a broad smile, showing no signs of discomfort.

“What brings you all the way to the imperial palace to see me?”

“I have a favor to ask, Frederick.”

“What is it?”

Frederick crossed his legs leisurely and looked at Arasila.

He seemed slightly excited, as if something good had happened.

On the other hand, Arasila, facing an unpleasant task, opened her mouth with a grave expression.

“For this western beast subjugation operation, could you include the magic tower along with the Red Hawk Knights?”

Frederick’s hand, which had been elegantly raising a teacup, paused for a moment.

“…Why?”

His expression changed somewhat strangely as he asked the reason after a pause.

But Arasila, lacking peace of mind, didn’t notice this and answered.

“As a mage belonging to the magic tower, I want to achieve merit too. Is it not possible?”

Not mentioning Demian in front of Frederick was an instinctive decision. Arasila had known for a while that he strangely bristled at Demian.

She made up another plausible reason, fearing he might not grant her request if she brought up Demian.

“Well, you are proactive about such things.”

Fortunately, Arasila’s excuse seemed to have worked appropriately. It was thanks to having expressed her desire to achieve merit for promotion in front of him a few times.

Frederick, who had been nodding without suspicion, suddenly groaned as if troubled.