Chapter 7: Holy Knight Ashley and the Sword of Sealing
Holy Knight Ashley Noble.
At the tender age of thirteen, she took on the mantle of a Holy Knight, celebrated in the Arcana Kingdom as the youngest in history to achieve such a rank.
Without letting it go to her head, Ashley was often described as being as earnest as the armor she wore. Day and night, she dedicated herself to rigorous training and fulfilling her duties as a Holy Knight.
In the Arcana Kingdom, the role of a Holy Knight was held in such high regard that it rivaled even that of the nobility.
Ashley Noble, protector of the Affirmative Sword.
Nelly Virtuous, protector of the Grasp Damage Shield.
Adam Arrogance, protector of the Nodding Gear Armor.
These three were the only Holy Knights in the Arcana Kingdom. Among them, Ashley boasted an unparalleled level of fame. Whether it was due to her admirable earnestness, her striking beauty despite her young age, or the advantageous position of being a favored Holy Knight by the kingdom, many flocked to her residence.
While public duties were entrusted to those who had served since the previous generation, Ashley felt it necessary to make an appearance for her guests, as they were there to honor her. Although she didn’t find it bothersome, the sheer number of visitors—many of whom were far older than her—was exhausting.
But that was all a distant memory now.
Once upon a time, merchants bearing rare gifts, noble ladies who admired her presence, and even some boisterous noblemen seeking to share drinks with a protector of the realm would visit her residence daily. Now, however, those days had faded, and her mansion had grown quiet.
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Of course, the story traces back to that fateful day. The day the fourth Holy Knight was summoned.
A few days after he was brought to this world, Ashley heard whispers of a peculiar individual who had become a Holy Knight without undergoing the usual ceremony. This person was said to be striving alongside the Hero to conquer the Newly Constructed Ultimate Labyrinth.
Ashley was curious about this fourth Holy Knight, but due to circumstances that kept her near her residence, she couldn’t investigate on her own.
Thus, she penned a letter to the boy summoned from another world, expressing her thoughts: “I will protect this world from here. Therefore, please do what you can. Our positions may be unyielding, but I wish for your safety.” She tucked the letter away in her desk drawer, knowing it would never reach him.
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The tide turned clearly after the Hero conquered the seventh labyrinth, the Blade Labyrinth.
According to the Hero Party, the Holy Knight, known for his virtues of loyalty and integrity, had shamefully neglected his training and indulged in pleasures. In the end, he became a burden to the party, leading them into dire straits before abandoning their quest to save the world.
His actions not only tarnished his own reputation but also cast a shadow over the three Holy Knights, including Ashley. The once-esteemed Holy Knights were now doubted, as people began to question whether they were truly deserving of their special status granted by the kingdom. Ashley forced herself to accept that this was only natural.
It would be a lie to say she felt no sadness, but now that she had inherited the title of Noble, her duty was clear.
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“Then, I shall head to the shrine,” she declared.
At her words, everyone in the mansion dropped to their knees, exclaiming, “Hah!”
The shrine—Ashley spent half of her day there once a week. The work she performed at the shrine was a sacred duty passed down through generations of Holy Knights. For Ashley, who had been trained to become a Holy Knight since awakening to her own identity, fulfilling her duty was a matter of course.
The cave was within walking distance from her mansion. It wasn’t particularly large, and within minutes, Ashley reached its innermost chamber. There, enshrined, was the sacred sword known as the Affirmative Sword.
Using the Affirmative Sword as a medium, Ashley invoked her unique Holy Knight skill, Demon Seal, against the source of the malice that lingered within the cave.
Once inside, she would not emerge for half a day. The use of Demon Seal consumed that much time. Moreover, it wasn’t just time that was spent; both her physical and mental strength were significantly drained each time she completed the seal.
Now at the age of nineteen, Ashley knew that the day she could no longer use Demon Seal due to age would mark the end of her life.
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On this day, one could say it was an omen; during the half-day she spent performing Demon Seal, thoughts akin to worldly desires began to bubble up in her mind.
Ashley secretly had a fondness for cute things.
Once, a merchant had brought her a teddy bear. Grateful for the gift, she was intrigued by it. When infused with mana and given a name, it would say, “I’m a bear. I love Ashley.” She adored that plush toy. After some thought, she named it Kumanda.
She had a mission as a Holy Knight, but somewhere deep down, she felt that cute things didn’t suit her. Thus, she had never once shown any inclination towards cute things in front of others.
Additionally, she had an interest in fashion. There were several young ladies who once looked up to her as an older sister. Though they no longer visited, they had brought her various garments each time they came, from frilly dresses to more adult designs that left the back wide open. With sparkling eyes, they would say, “I thought this would suit you, dear sister.”
Embarrassed, Ashley would hold the dresses in front of her without trying them on, smiling beautifully as she thanked them, saying, “Thank you, I’m truly happy.” Of course, she never changed in front of anyone in the mansion, but she would secretly enjoy trying on the dresses alone at night.
When she returned home, she would wear a dress. At night, she would sleep with Kumanda. Thoughts that would never cross her mind during Demon Seal flowed aimlessly through her head.
In short, she was utterly exhausted.
An unending mission.
The draining use of her skill.
Baseless slander.
And the people who had distanced themselves from her, believing the rumors.
Even if she didn’t consciously acknowledge it, fatigue was slowly but surely enveloping her.
That was why she didn’t notice until someone approached from behind.
She heard the crunch of footsteps on the ground.
Without breaking her focus on the skill, Ashley spun around to see three women standing there.
“Who goes there?!”
“I am Mika, the Saintess. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
A woman in luxurious clerical robes began her introduction.
“The Sword Saint Eris requires a new sword.”
The petite woman adorned in a circlet and battle dress was declared to be the Sword Saint by the self-proclaimed Saintess.
“We have come to take the Affirmative Sword that is enshrined behind you, for the sake of saving the world.”
Ashley’s heart raced wildly.