The man’s fate was sealed; the arriving police officers cuffed him and led him away.
It was notable that the punch to his stomach had rendered him unconscious, a state he remained in from the moment he was cuffed until he was taken off the train.
While the blow had appeared effortless, its force was clearly sufficient to incapacitate an ordinary person for a considerable time.
Twenty minutes later, in compartment 11, Esli was devouring the food on the table.
Ghervil, meanwhile, sat on the floor, her hand idly stroking the plump, fluffy creature nestled on her lap, which seemed to pose a silent question.
“So why did The Order deem me to be in danger and assign you to protect me?”
Chewing intently, Esli reached for another slice of apple pie and popped it into her mouth, her gaze occasionally flicking to the fluffy creature in the young woman’s arms, sensing an unusual intelligence in its eyes, as if it harbored unspoken words.
Govet felt an urge to bite.
These provisions were meant for her younger sister, for given Govet’s appetite, they would have vanished long ago had she consumed them herself during their brief absence.
Not a single one of them was a simple soul.
Ghervil was not so pressed for time as to rush her inquiries; the journey ahead was long, and opportunities would abound.
“You actually brought a pet? How did you get it past inspection? And why is it such a large rat? I’m not sure I want to touch it.”
Feeling the furious struggles in her hands, Ghervil immediately clamped a hand over Govet’s mouth, fearing the creature might, in a moment of irritation, speak human words.
“It seems to understand. Is it hungry, you big rat?”
Esli offered the half-eaten apple pie in her hand, and the struggles intensified.
Ghervil subtly pinched Govet’s plump waist before explaining to Esli,
“It has a name, Govet, and it is a member of the Solis Abbey. It has already eaten.”
“Ah, so it’s a pet from Solis Abbey. No wonder it’s so intelligent.”
Slowly retracting her hand, Esli reluctantly peeled her curious gaze away from Govet.
“Tell me about the Plague Knights. You seem reluctant for people to know about your identity.”
As Ghervil gently stroked the fluffy creature’s belly, Govet finally settled, lying down like a small dog, her tail wagging incessantly.
Ghervil had discovered a trick during their travels: a rub of this creature’s belly would instantly transform it into a truly obedient pet.
“You don’t know… about the Order of Knights?”
“I’ve lost most of my memories.”
“Oh, right, I remember now!”
Slapping her forehead, Esli suddenly understood.
“Their dossier on you mentioned you have amnesia and are illiterate.”
‘This person doesn’t seem very clever.’
‘To be so blunt to my face, no less.’
‘How could a knight be so easily entangled by an ordinary person?’
‘Yet, if truly unintelligent, she wouldn’t know to hide certain things.’
“Actually, there’s not much to say about the Plague Knights or the Order of Plague Knights.”
Esli furrowed her brow, apparently recalling something unpleasant.
“Our duty is similar to that of the doctors in the hospital department: to handle plagues and disasters that are difficult to contain.”
“The difference lies in our responsibility to develop and explore dangerous zones and ancient ruins.”
‘That makes sense.’
Ghervil had read in the book *Lethargy and Ailments* of several plagues originating from sparsely populated, unexplored regions.
Some ruins and strange phenomena would suddenly appear after the long, misty nights, and at such times, someone was needed to explore them and resolve any potential threats.
The level of danger often far exceeded what doctors and investigators faced.
“Are there many people in the Order of Knights? Enough for them to spare some to protect me?”
“Protecting you has nothing to do with numbers!”
Esli’s eyes widened instantly as she retorted.
“Oh? Then why…”
Ghervil shrewdly seized upon the opportunity presented by Esli’s slip of the tongue.
“It depends on the region, you see. There are many knights stationed in the north, in the Oblivion Snow Mountains, and those guarding the southwestern seas.”
Regrettably, Esli did not fall for the trap, deftly steering the conversation back on track.
“My qualifications and talent are insufficient… of course, that’s not to say I’m weak, which is why I was sent to protect you!”
Esli waved her hands dismissively.
“It’s related to the epidemics one can adapt to. My particular epidemic is more suited for dealing with people…”
“So my danger stems from people?”
Ghervil unexpectedly gained another clue.
“That much I don’t know, but my mission is to protect you all the way back to Mistfall City.”
“Tell me about adapting to epidemics.”
Ghervil ceased pressing her.
“It’s quite literal. One simply needs to adapt to one of the many non-contagious epidemics controlled by the Order of Knights, and after training, they can become a Plague Knight.”
Speaking of this, Esli shed her bashfulness, her tone becoming more forthcoming.
“For example, I, despite being sensitive to cold, hardly need to sleep and can remain awake for extended periods.”
“How does that relate to dealing with people?”
‘She had imagined it would be something that could easily kill a person.’
“This way, enemies find it difficult to catch me off guard. If necessary, I can perform my duties twenty-four hours a day.”
“There’s no need for such extremes.”
Ghervil interjected, stopping her.
“I’m hardly some noble young lady.”
She could discern that Esli, as a knight, was somewhat immature in certain aspects, particularly in her role as a protector.
‘Concealing oneself in the shadows would prove too challenging; she wouldn’t demand it.’
‘Excessively revealing one’s emotions and weaknesses could easily place oneself in a vulnerable position.’
‘Even a compartment like this couldn’t guarantee perfect soundproofing.’
‘Truth be told, Ghervil suspected The Order merely wanted this knight to enjoy a relaxing trip.’
Subsequently, she discussed other matters with Esli.
She learned that Esli was a native of Mistfall City and had been a knight for nearly seventeen years.
Indeed, this implied she had been selected as a knight when she was still in her early teens.
Ghervil was utterly astonished.
She was astonished, on one hand, that after seventeen years of training with the Order of Knights, Esli’s physique remained so slender, and on the other, that she had managed to persevere for such an extended period.
Esli also revealed a significant reason for her selection.
Her luck, she explained, had been exceptionally poor since childhood.
Her becoming a knight was a complete accident; neither she nor her family wished for it, but she had inadvertently consumed one of the Order of Knights’ epidemic potions and was thus compelled into service.
Initially, Ghervil felt this perception was exaggerated, influenced by human subconscious biases.
However, after hearing about Esli’s experiences from just that day, Ghervil found herself compelled to believe.
On her very first day of leave, she received a mission.
Despite rarely needing sleep, she happened to oversleep during a crucial morning hour.
Upon entering the station, her identity was checked multiple times.
After boarding, while tracking a suspicious person, she was accosted by a man whose wallet had been stolen.
Even her current situation, scrounging for food in compartment 11, was due to a steward forgetting to prepare her meal.
Such terrible luck could even affect those around her.
It was plausible that Ghervil herself had been chosen as the man’s target for this very reason.
At this, even Govet, who had been lying on Ghervil’s lap enjoying a massage, sprang up, scurried to the compartment door, and using her short legs, jumped to force it open, baring her teeth, bristling her tail, and glaring fiercely, signaling for Esli to leave.
“You cannot treat a guest and protector with such an attitude.”
Ghervil rose and walked to the door, bending down to scoop up the bristling, fluffy creature, then closed the door with her free hand before returning to sit on the sofa.
“Please continue, Ms. Esli. Pay no mind to her.”
“Perhaps not.”
Esli scratched the back of her head as she rose from the sofa.
“It’s getting late, so I won’t disturb your rest any further.”
“Should you require any assistance, feel free to find me in the next compartment.”
It was indeed late; the sun had fully set outside.
Ghervil, finding no good reason to press her to stay, rose and offered a slight bow, watching Esli depart from compartment 11.