The Legend of Sun Knight Side Stories 20: Toward the Light

The Legend of Sun Knight Side Story: Toward the Light

Original novel in Chinese by: 御我 (Yu Wo)

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“Toward the Light”—translated by lucathia, Taffygirl13 & Trespasserby (proofread by Trespasserby, C/E edited by lucathia)

The Death Knight who fell into the dark abyss still yearns for light, wishing to devote his loyalty to that first ray of light.

“What’s your name?”

Hearing the questioning voice, Roland turned to see a head of brilliant blond hair. Even under the setting evening sun, the resulting halo was still dazzling bright.

Grisia.

Roland looked at him and immediately recalled this name because he had left a deep impression.

Among the young Sun Knight candidates, Grisia was the first one everyone noticed. He had brilliant blond hair, sapphire blue eyes, and bright fair skin. He would also respond with a dazzling smile whenever he noticed anyone looking at him. He was practically a mini version of the Sun Knight. Every candidate thought he would be a strong foe—until the day they sparred using their swordsmanship.

Even though no child’s “swordsmanship” could be called excellent, they were all children competing to become the Sun Knight. For the most part, they had all trained in swordsmanship. Even if they weren’t good at it, they at least looked the part swinging their swords. However, when Grisia swung his sword, he was terrible to the point of hitting himself nine out of ten times!

Gazing at the beautiful blond kid before him, Roland couldn’t help but evaluate his swordsmanship.

“What’s your name?”

Having received no response, Grisia asked again without giving up.

“Roland.”

Roland was quite surprised the other boy didn’t know his name. After all, the Sun Knight always praised his swordsmanship, and he often smiled at him lately. The other children all viewed him as the enemy.

“I’m Grisia.” The other boy seriously responded with his own name.

“I know.” Roland nodded.

“Great, since we’ve introduced ourselves to each other, then…” A large smile spread across his face, and he declared, “We’re friends!”

What?

This response was too unexpected. It took a moment before Roland could react. We’ve only introduced ourselves to each other. Now we’re friends? But we’re competing for the position of Sun Knight. Everyone is an enemy. Isn’t that the case?

Grisia propped his hands on Roland’s shoulders. His eyes twinkled as he said, “Friends help each other, right?”

Friends help each other? Pinned to place by that pair of sapphire blue eyes, Roland found himself nodding again. He never thought that he’d immediately get dragged along by Grisia after nodding. He nearly lost his footing. After a few stumbling steps, he was partially dragged along as he walked.

“Then, quickly come help me!”

He just wants help? Roland was a little disappointed. But, gazing at the bouncing golden hair in front of him, he also thought that maybe helping out wouldn’t be so bad.

Soon after, Grisia gestured at the wall of the Holy Temple and said, “The wall is too high. I can’t get to the other side. Help me over!”

“Why?” Roland asked in confusion, “We’re in the middle of the selection. We can’t leave.”

Grisia exclaimed as if it were a matter of fact, “It’s because we can’t leave that we have to get over the wall! Or else I’d leave through the gates!”

This… makes sense but also seems wrong.

While Roland was still confused, Grisia had already pushed him against the wall. Then, he climbed on top of him in a well-practiced fashion, stepping on his shoulders with both feet. With a jump, he reached the top of the wall.

“Here.” Grisia lay down on the wall very ungracefully, extending his hand to Roland. “Jump up, and I’ll grab your hand. Then, you can step on the wall to get up here like an expert, right?”

Roland said in confusion, “But I don’t intend to leave.”

Grisia confidently said, “But if you don’t come with me, how will I get over the wall when I come back?”

That makes some sense, but… Roland lifted his head to gaze at the person on the wall. The other boy’s hand was extended, and he didn’t seem like he had any intention of taking it back, as if he were certain Roland would reach back to clasp it.

“Come on, Roland?” Grisia tried his best to extend his hand. The last rays from the setting sun just so happened to shine through his hair, hitting Roland in the face.

Too bright! Roland squinted and took several steps back before he could make out Grisia’s expression. He seems a little… disappointed?

Roland ran a bit before he stepped onto the wall. He grabbed Grisia’s hand for support. Then, like an expert, he reached the top of the wall. Grisia was momentarily stunned. In the very next moment, a huge grin stretched across his face.

Grisia patted his shoulder and smilingly said, “Thanks, I’ll treat you to blueberry pie later.”

Roland shook his head and said, “No need. You should hurry and do what you want to do. We should quickly head back afterwards.”

“But what I wanted was to buy blueberry pie!”

“You snuck out just to buy pie?” Roland was a bit angry. “What if we lose our selection qualifications because of this?”

“Relax, that won’t ever happen!” Grisia immediately explained, “Last time, I found a stool as a foothold for getting over the wall. When I returned, the Sun Knight was waiting below with the stool in hand, smiling. Then, he left just like that, taking the stool with him. Can you believe it? But he didn’t disqualify me even after that.”

“…Then how did you get down?”

“I forcefully jumped down. In order not to injure my feet, I rolled several times on the ground! In the end, my feet were fine but the rest of my body hurt so much.”

Grisia angrily declared, “This time, I found a person to get over the wall. Let’s see who can take away my stool… My wall-hopping good friend!”

Hearing this, Roland’s feelings were hard to describe. He was a bit angry, but he also kind of wanted to laugh. With these strange feelings, Roland followed Grisia all the way to the dessert shop. But the dark storefront really didn’t make it look like the store was open for business. He looked at Grisia. He must be extremely disappointed, right?

However, Grisia pounded on the door with familiarity and even shouted, “Shopkeeper, I’m here for my blueberry pie!”

Outside of Roland’s expectations, the door to the dessert shop actually opened. A chubby auntie exasperatedly took out a bag and handed it to Grisia. At the same time, she also conveniently rubbed his head. His golden hair got all messed up from the rubbing, making Roland glance back several times.

Grisia didn’t mind. He gave the other person a brilliant smile. The auntie smiled along with him and instructed him, “Hurry home. The sun is about to set. Such a beautiful child like you can easily get abducted and sold. Be careful not to leave with strangers.”

“We’re going back now. Bye shopkeeper!”

Right after nodding his farewell, Grisia pulled Roland to leave and also handed him a thick slice of pie.

“This store’s blueberry pie is the best. The shopkeeper even saves the biggest slice for me, but the price is to let her rub my head.”

Grisia pulled on his hair. After pulling back a few golden strands that had gotten in his face, he took out his own piece to eat.

“Is it good?”

Roland bit down. Even though it was a little sweet, it really was yummy. He nodded in response.

“Then, I’ll bring you all next time to eat something else.”

“It’ll be terrible if we get discovered.” Roland really didn’t want to get disqualified over eating blueberry pie.

“It’s fine even if we get discovered, right? In any case, no one is stronger than you. Sun Knight has only been looking at you lately. I feel like he wants to choose you—Ah! I won’t get chosen!”

Grisia angrily took a big bite of the blueberry pie.

Roland was confused. If he wants to get chosen so much, why hasn’t he trained more with a sword? Every child who came to compete had trained in swordplay beforehand.

“Do you really want to become the Sun Knight?”

“Of course!” Grisia turned his head, his eyes sparkling as he recounted, “One time, during a holiday, I saw the Sun Knight bring the Twelve Holy Knights out on patrol. Don’t you think it’s wonderful? They have twelve people in all. When they walk together, they are super imposing and look just like brothers. The Sun Knight can actually have so many brothers by his side!”

Roland had never seen the Sun Knight lead the Twelve Holy Knights to patrol the street. He really couldn’t understand the appeal, and twelve brothers sounded rather noisy, but he looked at Grisia. The other person had been talking nonstop ever since they met. Maybe having noisy brothers isn’t a bad thing?

“It can’t be helped if I’m not chosen. I hadn’t trained with swords before. It’s really hard to swing a sword around. My hands hurt so much from training.”

After saying that, Grisia held his hands out. They really were red and swollen.

So, he has been training? Roland was a bit surprised. Then, how could a sword fly out of your hand at the training grounds and almost hit someone today? The Sun Knight even scolded you!

Grisia’s swordsmanship talent is truly… Pretty bad.

Roland couldn’t help but console, “You’ve learned your holy spells well. If you aren’t chosen as the Sun Knight, then being a cleric wouldn’t be too bad either! Then you’d be able to help heal my injuries in the future.”

“Heal you? I could do that!” Grisia’s eyes shone, but then he mumbled, “But then you’d be my only brother. One is too few.”

Roland thought about it and said, “If I get chosen as the Sun Knight, I’ll introduce the other holy knights to you. You can introduce yourselves to each other by name. Then, you’ll be friends.”

“Hearing that, Grisia’s eyes sparkled. He grabbed Roland’s hand and excitedly said, “It’s a deal! You’re definitely, definitely not allowed to forget!”

Roland nodded. He seriously promised, “I definitely won’t forget.”

“Thanks, Roland, you’re really such a—”

Roland waited for Grisia to continue. Such a what? However, he never heard the rest. He heard a faint voice by his ear. He listened more closely…

“Roland! Captain Roland?”

That isn’t Grisia’s voice! Roland was abruptly startled awake. He opened his eyes and saw a frantic face right in front of him. He immediately sprang up and pulled away. Only then did he realize that it was his own subordinate.

Seeing that he had scared him, Hele stuttered an apology, “S-sorry, Captain Roland. The sun has already risen. You always wake up at this time for morning training, but I noticed you had not awoken yet this morning, so I thought to wake you…”

“No need to speak so formally.” Roland didn’t know how many times he had corrected him already. He nodded his thanks. “Thank you. If not for you, I would have missed morning training.”

Hele excitedly said, “Captain, I am about to fetch water for washing up. Should I also fetch water for you?”

Roland was going to decline the offer, but he hesitated after seeing the other person’s expectant expression. He nodded in agreement. After Hele left, Roland wiped his face hard. The dream he had just had seemed to be about the Sun Knight selections. He actually didn’t remember the selection very clearly. Even his memories of Grisia were unclear.

Until not long ago when he glimpsed brilliant gold on the streets.

Roland recognized Grisia immediately. In that instant, all the memories came flooding back.

Grisia was almost exactly the same as when he was young. He had a dazzling appearance and spoke just as much as before. The only difference was probably his smile. His smile wasn’t as brilliant as the one he had as a kid. It had turned much more graceful, like that of a noble.

No, even the nobility did not have his grace. After all, as a royal knight, Roland had met plenty of nobles. Even His Highness, the Prince could not claim to be more graceful than Grisia.

If I had been chosen as the Sun Knight back then, would I have become someone like this, too? Roland had a difficult time imagining himself responding to the citizens with a graceful smile. However, becoming someone like that didn’t seem like a bad thing either. Grisia seemed like he was doing well.

Becoming the Sun Knight…

Roland shook his head, forcing himself to stop thinking. He hadn’t become the Sun Knight. On top of that, he hadn’t even kept in touch with Grisia.

Is it because I was unsatisfied that I lost to him?

Roland hesitated. Back then—

“Captain Roland, the water is here!”

The door was pushed open. Hele rushed in with a basin of water.

Roland washed up in a simple manner. He looked out at the sky. Dawn had just broken. Normally, he would indeed be preparing for morning training. However, there was something even more important he had to do today. He really had to thank Hele for waking him up in time, or he would have missed it. Missing it could result in yet another death. Roland lowered his eyes in thought.

Hele smilingly asked, “Captain Roland, are you heading off to train?”

“Not today.”

Hele’s eyes widened. He stared at him in disbelief. Captain Roland is actually skipping morning training? This is even more inconceivable than His Majesty, the King suddenly becoming a good ruler!

Faced with such pressure, Roland couldn’t help but explain, “I have to investigate something. I will train more later.”

“Then, I will investigate with you!” Hele immediately declared enthusiastically.

Roland reflexively answered “no.” He thought to explain that Hele was still too young and should train more, but just as he was about to speak, he was suddenly uncertain whether or not he was actually older than Hele.

“Understood.” Hele nodded in disappointment.

Roland opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. He could never allow Hele to participate in what he was investigating. It was too dangerous.

In the end, he didn’t explain anything.

If only he had explained something then. Just like that time when he had chosen to grasp Grisia’s hand and hadn’t let Grisia be disappointed. He had received such a brilliant smile in return.

Roland thought of this at such a terrible time. It was such a small thing yet had suddenly come to mind in this life-or-death moment.

He had been surrounded.

“Even if the King is guilty of terrible crimes, you still insist on covering for him?”

Roland looked at the royal knights before him. Even knowing that it was futile, he still couldn’t help rebuking them.

A royal knight mocked him. “Covering for him? As a royal knight, could you have forgotten who your loyalty lies with?”

Roland icily said, “I have sworn loyalty to no such person.”

“You aren’t qualified to swear the oath!” the other knight scoffed.

Actually, Roland was qualified to. But no matter whether it was their Highnesses, the prince and princess, or a major noble who extended an offer, he refused them all with the excuse that his swordsmanship was not yet good enough to swear loyalty to them. In actuality, he was incapable of swearing loyalty to them.

Why should I swear loyalty to any of these people? If I really have to devote myself to someone, it would be…

Roland once again brushed away the figure that appeared in his mind. He focused on a single person in the ring of people surrounding him and broke through from that person’s location. His bet had proven to be correct, as that person had not made a single move during the entire battle, and they had been very obviously avoiding his eyes. Not all of the royal knights stood on the king’s side. Some were simply forced with no other options.

He continued running at full speed, but the palace’s corridors were like a spider web. No matter how long he ran, he could not find the end. And Roland was the prey trapped in the web.

He cursed. If he were the Sun Knight instead of a royal knight, he could have reported the king immediately upon discovering his evil actions. Instead, he was stuck now without any evidence. Since nobody would believe a royal knight’s words, he had been forced to try finding the location where the king tortured people. However, due to his carelessness, he had been discovered, which had landed him in his current predicament.

Seeing that the door was not far, Roland calmed himself down. No, even if I’m not the Sun Knight, it’s fine. I can just go report the location of the torture chamber to Grisia. Grisia would believe me, and as the Sun Knight, Grisia’s words would be trusted by others!

But… Roland suddenly hesitated.

Would Grisia still remember me?

He would! Roland gritted his teeth. I just need to escape—

The heavy doors slammed shut without warning. Roland was stunned for a moment, before he tried to forcefully kick them down. However, the palace’s doors couldn’t possibly be destroyed so easily, and just the slightest delay was enough for backup to arrive. He was soon surrounded once more, with even more people than before so that there were no cracks for him to break through. Sharp blades were pointed at him from all directions, and it would be impossible to dodge…

“Wait, don’t kill him yet! His Majesty said he wants to personally deal with this traitor.”

As though deaf to the command, the royal knight in front of Roland continued to thrust their sword towards his chest, though it was knocked away at the very last minute.

The other party roared, “What are you doing! I told you not to kill him!”

“Sorry, I was too excited and didn’t hear you.”

The person shot Roland a guilty look before looking away with no intention of intervening again.

“Cut his tendons first, so he can’t harm His Majesty.”

Roland was restrained against the ground. He struggled to resist to no avail. All he could do was watch as multiple swords stabbed his limbs at the same time, sending intense pain through his body—

“Argh!”

Grisia…

Sun Knight!

“Wake up!”

The completely gray Death Knight lifted his head. Instead of pupils, he had only burning black flames in his eyes. Yet he could see perfectly well that there was a little pink girl in front of him.

Pink sighed in relief when she saw him open his eyes.

“Just confirming first, but your obsession is revenge, right?”

Revenge…? The king!

Black flames suddenly lit ablaze so intensely that it nearly burned his eye sockets away. The Death Knight fought to stand, but it was not an easy task when his body was as stiff as a corpse, his limbs almost entirely disobeying his commands.

“Very good, very good! Keep moving just like that.” Pink clapped her hands in delight. “But revenge requires long-term planning, so stay with me for now. We can take our time thinking about how to do it.”

Kill him kill him kill him! His Majesty, the king—

“Er, wait, wait, don’t get worked up. Calm down a bit… Forget it, you just became a Death Knight. There’s no way you can calm down. Go ahead and smash whatever. I’ll just have the cleaning corpse tidy up later.”

“Why don’t you bring this undead out to play with the Sun Knight?”

The Death Knight sat against the wall, his head hanging low. It had been so long since he had moved that he looked even more like a corpse than the cleaning corpse nearby. He had never heeded anything Pink said before.

Until he heard a certain two words.

“Sun Knight?” He hoarsely croaked out.

Pink was a bit taken aback by his reaction, but she immediately continued, “Yes, his name is Grisia.”

“I’m Grisia.”

“What’s your name?”

The Death Knight slowly stood and walked to the window. The sun’s rays outside hurt his eyes, but he did not shut them. Instead, he gazed directly into the bright, dazzling light. “Roland.”

[Toward the Light END]