Chapter 303: Looking Forward to Tomorrow
With Margaret leaning against him for support, Steven helped her all the way back to the Nearl household. The hospital was no longer an option. In fact, considering the situation in the entirety of the Grand Knight Territory, this house was probably the only place still safe.
As they stepped into the old estate—which now felt almost hollow, most of the furniture seemingly sold off—someone was already waiting inside.
Młynar.
He appeared to have returned early from work. A faint trace of impatience lingered on his face, though it vanished the instant his eyes met Zofia's and Maria's—both of whom had returned safely. Then, when his gaze fell on Margaret, who hadn't been seen in years, his steps faltered.
But only for a second.
That buried urgency in his expression quickly disappeared, replaced by his usual weary, indifferent coldness.
"You're back? Good. Then stay home and stop getting involved in trouble."
His words, sharp and distant like a rebuke, came just as his eyes fell on Margaret, who was clearly exhausted and leaning against Maria. Without another word, he turned and headed into the mansion.
Margaret watched that familiar back disappear through the hallway, a wry smile creeping onto her lips. She exchanged glances with Maria and Zofia.
"Uncle's always like that," Maria said with a soft sigh. "But I'm sure he's glad you're home. He's just… not great at expressing it."
She believed that with all her heart. Młynar wasn't the kind of man who didn't care about family—far from it. He simply had his own reasons, his own burdens to carry.
After all, ever since their grandfather passed away and Margaret left the Grand Knight Territory, it was that constantly exhausted man who held the family together. He never complained. He just kept working.
He hadn't even found time for a girlfriend, despite his age.
Zofia had teased him about it often.
Margaret gave a quiet nod. "I know. It wasn't until I left the Grand Knight Territory that I really began to understand what he meant when he said my dreams were too naive. Some things… you just can't understand until you've lived through the cruelty yourself."
Her voice wasn't bitter—just thoughtful.
Her time at Rhodes Island had changed her. She'd grown, matured. And that growth helped her see her uncle's actions not as coldness, but as quiet strength.
As for Steven, after helping Margaret to the sofa, he casually found a corner to sit in himself.
While the girls might not know the full picture, he did.
He knew: if Margaret hadn't made it back in time, Młynar likely would've been storming the headquarters of the K.G.C.C with a weapon in hand by now.
That uncle of theirs was no ordinary man. Even the famed Armorless Union Darksteels held a healthy fear of him.
Now that the long-awaited drama of the Radiant Knight return had played out, all Steven wanted was a moment of peace to think through his next steps.
Unfortunately for him, Zofia wasn't about to let him rest so easily.
"Now that I think about it…" she said from the sofa, still recovering herself. "Don't we owe a certain someone a big thank-you? Things would've gone a lot worse without his help."
She pointed toward Steven, her tone light and teasing.
"Oh right!" Maria chimed in. "Mister Steve, thank you so much for your hard work. Shall I make you a cup of coffee? With milk and sugar?"
As the only one present besides Steven who still looked lively, Maria finally came to her senses. With an energetic bounce in her step, she skipped over to Steven's side, flashing a bright and healing smile at him before speaking in a soft, grateful voice.
Up until now, all her focus had been on her sister—she had nearly forgotten to thank the person who had actually saved her.
If Steven hadn't stepped in when he did, she might still be in the clutches of the K.G.C.C, used as leverage against her sister.
Who would've thought this young man, who didn't look particularly strong at first glance, turned out to be such a formidable force?
No wonder Aunt Zofia had taken an interest in him.
"Just plain is fine. No milk or sugar," Steven said with a smile, nodding slightly.
He watched the little golden pony bounce away, her energy undimmed even after the chaos they had all just endured. It was clear that the crisis hadn't shaken her too deeply—she was still glowing with excitement over her sister's return.
Such was the heart of an innocent girl: so pure that even joy came simply and honestly.
"Hmmph… Mister Steve, how are you going to explain yourself now?" Zofia asked playfully from across the room, her voice lowered. "Didn't you say you were just a regular guy? Since when can an 'ordinary person' do what you just did?"
Though she pretended to press him, Zofia didn't truly mind anymore. He had helped her—again. And for that, she was sincerely grateful.
"Nothing to explain," Steven replied with a shrug. "Didn't Margaret ask me to keep an eye on you all? I was just fulfilling the request. That's all. Speaking of which, where are your two usual companions?"
His tone was casual, but there was a flicker of genuine curiosity in his eyes. He hadn't seen the two Sarkaz operatives who were almost always by Nearl's side—one dark, one light. If they had been present, he likely wouldn't have had to step in at all.
The fact that they hadn't shown up was… a little disappointing, honestly.
"They're still on their way," Margaret said, shaking her head. "Think about it—do you really expect regular people to keep up with me when I'm at full sprint?"
As part of The Followers, her companions would never abandon her. But their bodies simply couldn't match the speed she had pushed herself to earlier. She had no choice but to come alone.
"So, thank you—for everything. Whether it was stepping in during the fight, or contacting Zofia to let her know I was safe… I'll make sure to repay you properly."
Margaret's words were filled with sincerity as she met the boy's gaze. Every act he had done—she had seen it all clearly and taken it to heart.
Steven leaned lazily back on the sofa, as if he had all the time in the world.
"Good. As long as you understand. I'm not the kind to offer help for free, you know."
He stretched a little, utterly relaxed. From his tone, it was hard to tell whether he was joking or dead serious.
"Oh, right—have you scraped together enough money to pay for that Sarkaz girl's treatment yet?" he asked, as though just remembering something.
"Mm, of course. That's actually part of why I came back," Margaret replied with a firm nod.
Healing her injured companion was one of her key motivations for returning to the Grand Knight Territory, she didn't want to wait even a second longer if there was a chance to cure her.
"And the main reason?"
Steven, rubbing his chin with a small smile, didn't press further on the topic of treatment.
Instead, his interest turned toward something else—something deeper.
Healing a friend was one thing… but what else could have made her return to this city? A place that once actively drove her away?
He already had a pretty good guess in mind. But he still wanted to hear her say it aloud.
"Because… the Grand Knight Territory of Kazimierz needs me now," Margaret said, her voice calm and steady. "And I think it's time to return the answer I found—back to this land."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
She already knew everything that had happened at the last Kazimierz Major.
That chaos had opened a window—a chance to stir something that still lingered in the hearts of the people: a forgotten sense of honor.
Of course, to do that, she would first need to stand before the knights of Kazimierz once more—and earn the right to speak.
"I see… In that case, I think you'll have that chance," Steven replied, his eyes narrowing with a gleam of anticipation. "I'm really looking forward to it."
His expression, completely unrestrained, radiated pure excitement.
What kind of "answer" would the Radiant Knight deliver—one who had seen the truth of the outside world—compared to those knights still lost in the glittering illusions of Kazimierz's false prosperity?
He could barely wait to find out.
But no, rushing it would spoil the fun. Margaret didn't want to keep this answer to herself—she wanted to declare it before the entire nation. Which meant it was his job to give her a stage worthy of such a declaration.
Good. That aligned perfectly with his own plans.
If he was going to wrap up this whole K.G.C.C mess, he might as well go out with a bang. A quiet finish? That wouldn't suit someone like him at all.
A plan already forming in his mind for tomorrow's knight tournament, Steven smiled as he gave Margaret's shoulder a light pat.
He really couldn't wait for tomorrow.
Time to give this whole production the grand finale it deserved.
Margaret blinked in mild confusion. She didn't quite understand why Steven looked even more excited than she did.
Wasn't he just a bystander in all this? What was he so worked up about?
Only Zofia, standing to the side, was caught between amusement and exasperation as she watched the pair. Of everyone present, she was probably the only one who understood just why Steven was so thrilled.
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