Hate me, Miss Witch!

"We've had it a bit too easy on our journey here. So much so that many have forgotten that war is no child's play. From the very beginning, there has never been an optimal solution for a perfect, flawless victory. Without sacrifice, there can be no victory."

He turned, looking out at the dark and bleak night sky through the window.

Only the silhouette of his long, black-bottomed, red-cloud-patterned robe fluttered in the evening breeze.

"But... aren't you afraid of death?" Gawain couldn't help but blurt out.

However, the response he received was still that same indistinct, hazy voice.

"Afraid? Of course, I'm afraid. Even an ant clings to life, let alone someone like me."

Shiayar paused for a moment.

"It's just—before the dawn arrives, someone must cast a little light upon the Darkness. Some things simply transcend others in importance."

...

The figure in the Robe of Daybreak wasn't particularly imposing. But to Gawain at that moment, it seemed so grand, infinitely elongated against the backdrop of the night. For a moment, it was as if Cain stood with his back to all living beings.

"Lord Cain, please allow me to accompany you to guard the rear..."

Looking at Cain before him, Gawain felt a burning flame ignite within his heart.

He was supposedly the Sun Knight, the proud sun that illuminated the battlefield. From the very beginning, Gawain had aimed for this, adhering to knightly virtues, wishing to brighten more lives with the knight's radiance. Yet, before Cain, he felt his own radiance was so insignificant, like a firefly before the bright moon. Only now did he truly understand the real meaning of the Daybreak Organization.

However, as if Shiayar had already guessed what he was about to say, he interrupted Gawain the moment he began to speak.

"Lord Gawain, you are a knight as well. You should understand that the battlefield is not a stage for rash emotional actions, and having more people to guard the rear isn't always better. I know you are powerful and have formed a contract with a mighty sword-shaped Sacred Relic. Moreover, under the sun, you receive a significant boost. However, this is intelligence known to both us and the enemy. Do you think they won't take specific precautions against it? Their encirclement will inevitably occur at night. At that time, your combat effectiveness will be diminished by more than thirty percent. To put it bluntly, if you stay behind to cover the retreat with me, you'll only hold me back."

"I..." Gawain opened his mouth, only to find himself utterly unable to refute.

"The area for a head-on breakout—that is your main battlefield. Lacking your combat strength there might lead to even greater personnel losses."

Shiayar waved his hand. "Alright, go back and report to the King. If you don't return soon, you might even cause him to worry. Besides, in the time I have left, I also want to prepare myself properly and adjust my condition. Who knows, perhaps I could have found a chance to escape, but if you delay me and I don't adjust to my peak condition, I might just die in battle..."

These few lines of sound reasoning instantly silenced Gawain, leaving him with no retort.

His face flushed red, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions. He tried to speak several times but ultimately forced the words down.

Indeed, that was the case. If, because of him, Shiayar's slight hope for survival vanished, he would regret it for a lifetime.

Watching Gawain respectfully perform a standard knightly salute before turning to leave—not forgetting to pull the door shut behind him—Shiayar let out a long sigh of relief.

Finally got rid of that Gorilla. It really would have been a hassle if he'd stubbornly insisted on staying to cover the rear with me.

[Secondary Character 'Sun Knight Gawain's' affection for you has increased by 20 points]

[Current affection is: 70 (Revered)]

Azure text floated up in Shiayar's mind, causing his expression to stiffen slightly.

Seventy points of affection. According to the system's description, if it were someone of the opposite sex, it would already be enough to develop a romantic relationship. I never thought this guy would be so naive, believing a few casual words of deception so easily.

Shiayar's gaze swept over the mountains of boxed valuables piled up in his room.

The next moment, with a mere thought, he gathered all these treasures into Shiny's Spatial Pocket.

The Knight King and those Great Knights believed Cain accepted these riches merely for show. After all, in these chaotic times, tangible territory or Extraordinary materials that could enhance one's strength were far more precious than this unspendable money. But only I knew that I truly needed this money. Rewards like a high-ranking position, second only to one and above ten thousand others, or territories—I simply couldn't monetize them; they were useless for me to accept. Besides, by the time the Fresta Empire was actually founded, I might already be burdened with eternal infamy, making it impossible to claim those things. Conversely, this actual gold and silver, while overlooked by many in these chaotic times, would be invaluable once I exited the Echo of History and returned to reality. It had the distinct feeling of having opened a two-way portal between worlds and trafficking goods between them.

"Shiny."

At Shiayar's soft call, the fluffy little snub-nosed monkey instantly materialized from The Void.

"CHITTER CHITTER CHITTER~ (Master, I've missed you so, so much.)"

As soon as it appeared, Shiny eagerly leaped onto Shiayar's shoulder.

Originally, it and Big Sis Silver each occupied one of Shiayar's shoulders. However, with Crimson joining their ranks, Shiny's position became precarious. Fortunately, Shiayar preferred to hold Crimson, in its astral spirit body form, like a hug pillow, so Shiny's spot was barely saved.