The Monster Lady and the Holy Knight - Chapter 102

The black horse galloped down the central road.

It was the path leading to Kart’s Grand Cathedral. As they climbed the hill, piled high with corpses, Veronica recalled her first arrival in Kart. The towering, once-beautiful bell tower and fountain had long since collapsed, and the small bridge was broken. Black smoke billowed in various places, and the once-brilliantly blue winter river now reeked with the stench of rotting blood.

Unable to bear the sight any longer, she lowered her gaze. Her wandering eyes landed on Leon’s left hand—more precisely, on the helmet he was holding.

Veronica’s eyes widened in shock.

Yes. It was just a helmet. The very thing Leon had gone back to the barracks for.

A helmet made of unmistakable Tanbia steel, one of a kind in the world. The final work of a certain blacksmith and the only gift she had ever given him—Veronica recognized it better than anyone. Though the last place she had seen it was in Johanna’s room.

Like a misaligned gear clicking into place, something locked together within her.

Stupid. Why now, of all times?

Her hands and feet grew numb, as if blood had stopped flowing to them. Veronica gripped Nightstar’s mane tightly to regain her grip on reality. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to look straight ahead, just as they passed the bloodstained square.

The cathedral doors were firmly shut, yet Leon did not slow down. Instead, he spurred Nightstar to an even greater speed. Veronica glanced back. Dozens of Bahamut were closing in on them.

What was he thinking? Unlike the barracks, the cathedral’s doors wouldn’t break under a mere warhorse’s hooves.

“Hold on tight. This is it.”

The low voice brushed against her ear. The galloping speed had reached a point where the reins were useless.

Nightstar leapt over dozens of steps in a single bound.

For a brief moment, their bodies lifted into the air. The cathedral doors creaked open just enough for a single horse to pass through. Nightstar surged through the gaping maw.

The Bahamut pursuing them were struck by the spears raining down from the cathedral roof, crashing to the ground.

The statues of the Twelve Apostles stood atop the building, making it seem as though they had lent their aid. The moment they entered, the doors slammed shut behind them.

Thud.

Propelled forward by sheer momentum, Nightstar galloped down the crimson carpet before finally rearing up just before the altar.

“All targets neutralized with direct hits to the heart!”

A voice called out from atop the steps. As Nightstar whirled in place, the cathedral spun in her vision. Where pews once stood, stacks of supplies now rested, and horses were gathered in another section. The cathedral had become the knights’ temporary base. Curtains covered every stained-glass window.

Only now did Veronica understand why Leon hadn’t hesitated. Just by seeing the locked doors, he had been certain of the knights’ presence inside. In other words, he had placed his trust in the sentries stationed atop the building.

“You’re later than expected. We thought you’d arrive at dawn, but morning has already passed.”

Philip spoke as Leon dismounted. Veronica flinched at the word “dawn,” which echoed like a whisper through the cavernous cathedral. If she hadn’t crossed paths with him, Leon might have reached this place much earlier.

“I stopped by the military warehouse in Sector 22. I brought as many supplies as possible, but there’s still enough left to last at least three more months.”

“Good work. We’ll send people to retrieve the rest. Do you have anything else to report?”

Leon shook his head. Philip turned away, maintaining his businesslike demeanor.

“Then you should receive a detailed briefing from Sir Kraus. It’s fortunate that both holy swords have returned intact. It will help boost morale.”

With a brief bow of respect, Philip ascended the steps. He seemed incredibly busy. Only then did Leon help Veronica dismount.

A bald knight, whom she vaguely recalled from the subjugation, appeared as if he had been waiting for them and began explaining the situation. They had blocked off the underground sewers that could serve as entry points, while the deputy commander and strategic officers were assessing the city’s damage and planning their next moves upstairs.

Meanwhile, Veronica took hold of Nightstar’s reins and led him toward the gathered horses.

“Thank you for bringing me safely again today. You saved my life.”

She fearlessly embraced the massive horse’s head. As if sensing her gratitude, Nightstar merely blinked his black eyes gently.

After a moment of hesitation, Veronica stroked between his brows and added, “I might need your help again soon… But next time, I might be alone. Will you still carry me then?”

She gazed into his eyes as if expecting an answer.

Just then, Nightstar perked up his ears and abruptly turned his head. Following his movement, Veronica caught sight of a man disappearing hurriedly up the stairs.

Of medium height, with curly brown hair.

It was Oscar.

…Did he just avoid me?

Why?

Recalling their confrontation at the Holy See, her expression hardened.

“What are you looking at?”

A voice suddenly spoke behind her, startling her. She turned around to find Leon standing there, having finished his conversation. He slowly glanced between the stairs and her.

“Oh, it’s just… I thought I saw someone.”

She couldn’t bring herself to say Oscar’s name. Leon was particularly sensitive about him. Besides, the way he stared at her so intently made it feel like he already knew something. As his gaze swept over her complexion, he extended an arm.

“I’ll take you upstairs so you can rest. This is a busy corridor.”

She instinctively stepped back from his outstretched hand. A brief but heavy silence settled between them as Leon froze.

Veronica blinked in embarrassment before murmuring softly, “It’s fine. I can move on my own. There’s no need for you to hold or embrace me here.”

Leon lowered his gaze to his empty hand. Had she hurt him?

It wasn’t because she disliked his touch. She was just wary of the glances thrown their way by the knights. Even if Leon had a reputation as a rogue, clinging to a woman in the midst of war wouldn’t be viewed favorably.

“I’m only concerned about how the other knights might see you. These are the people who will stand by you until the end.”

She didn’t want them looking down on him because of her. The reason she had come this far was to see Leon standing among his comrades. That alone was enough for her. It was selfish and foolish, especially considering all the suffering in the world—but it was her last wish.

“And you?”

Leon, having lowered his hand, asked in a quiet voice.

“Huh?”

“You don’t sound like you plan on staying by my side until the end.”

He let out a short laugh, as if joking, but his eyes held no mirth. Veronica hesitated and looked away.

“Of course, I’ll stay with you as long as I can, but it’s different for me.”

“What is?”

“Those men let you through the doors without a single signal. They are the comrades you trust and rely on.”

“And you… are the family I met at the end of my life.”

His words left her speechless.

The phrase she had once spoken to him now came back to haunt her. Leon tilted his head slightly, watching her reaction.

“What was it you said before? That you’d stay in Kart until the very end?”

She had said that. To hold up a man who was crumbling, she had offered him words of salvation. Back then, she hadn’t known how fleeting that warmth would be. She had at least believed she could support him until he stood on his own again.

“If you’re trying to repay a lie with another lie, stop. The past week has been hard enough.”

Leon murmured quietly.

“It was cold. So cold I couldn’t sleep, every moment you weren’t there.”

He took a step forward, closing the distance much faster than she had created it.

A shadow fell over her. The darkness felt like it was swallowing her whole. His voice dropped so low that no one else could hear.

“I heard you were doing well. That should have been reassuring, but it only made me bitter. I kept wondering—how could you be okay?”

“The knights took good care of me this past week. Oscar and Joachim, too.”

“I don’t like that.”

She blankly tilted her head back to look at him. He was brutally honest—so dangerously straightforward that she found it unsettling.

“I don’t want to hear about other men, Veronica. It bothers me that you’re fine without me. Seeing you pale and breathless, I even felt a twisted sense of relief.”

“……”

“That’s how far gone I am. So don’t act like you’re going to disappear.”

Leon never masked his feelings. He didn’t shy away from expressing how much she meant to him. It was as if he couldn’t live without her—like she was his very breath. The force of his emotions made her heart ache.

He placed the helmet he had been holding onto her head.

Through the narrow slit of the visor, Veronica muttered, “Why are you giving this to me…?”

“Because I won’t die. I told you before—I still have things to say, and something to give you.”

The words he had spoken after barely surviving resurfaced in her mind. Veronica stopped talking and hesitantly touched the helmet.

It was the first gift she had ever given him, a symbol of the first feelings she had shared.

So then, what was it that Leon wanted to say?

The man leaned down and whispered something into her ear. Veronica’s eyes widened in shock.

She understood now why he had placed the helmet on her.

If he hadn’t, the sheer redness of her face would have given away the words he had just murmured to her.

Her heart stung, like an open wound scratched raw.

If she peeled it open, it would surely leave a scar.