Chapter 263: Radiant Knight Return
After launching Centaurea into her well-earned "vacation" with a single punch, Steven casually rolled his wrist and headed toward Zofia's hospital room.
The Armorless Union would surely retaliate sooner or later—but not that soon. He still had time.
By the time he stepped back into the room, the conversation inside had clearly shifted away from serious matters. Zofia and Maria were now engaged in lighthearted chat, the heavy atmosphere from before replaced by familial warmth.
As Steven entered, both women greeted him with radiant, grateful smiles.
After all, he was the one who'd reconnected them with Margaret. That alone earned him no small measure of gratitude.
"You are done talking?" Steven plopped himself down at the edge of Zofia's bed, plucked an apple from the fruit basket on her nightstand, and took a hearty bite before flashing her a grin. "Told you I don't break promises. You believe me now when I say I've got some history with Nearl?"
"Mm. Thank you again, Mister Steve. Actually, Margaret said she still has something she wants to discuss with you."
Zofia would've gotten up to bow if not for her injuries—but even lying down, her gratitude was unmistakable.
She pressed the communication device into Steven's hands, indicating that her part in this reunion was finished.
Steven blinked.
'What else could Nearl want with me?'
As far as he remembered, they didn't exactly have deep ties.
Still, curiosity piqued, he accepted the device.
"Hello? Is there something else you need?"
He asked, half-absently, waiting for the calm, resolute voice on the other end.
"I'm coming back."
Nearl's voice was firm as ever—heroic, even—but the words carried far more weight than her tone betrayed.
"Because of the K.C.C. incident?"
He glanced sideways at Zofia and Maria, still chatting and reminiscing. It didn't take a genius to guess what had triggered this decision.
For Nearl, calm and composed as she was, it had to be her family.
"Yes. But also… no."
Her response was thoughtful, measured. "During my time at Rhodes Island, I found what it means to be a knight again. I remembered the path I once walked, and the one I must continue to walk. I was going to wait a little longer, to hone myself further. But now… now is the time."
It wasn't just the K.C.C.'s actions against her family that forced her hand. No, Nearl had already found her answer—she simply realized she didn't need to delay any longer.
The K.G.C.C wanted to erase the Nearl name from the Majors?
Then she would return, and make them remember.
To watch her family suffer while staying hidden—what kind of knight would that be?
Steven gave a low chuckle.
"Well, for what it's worth, I'm all for it. Just—uh—make sure you explain things to Kal'tsit. Otherwise, she'll definitely say I was the one who lured you away, and I'm not taking that heat."
Steven nodded in approval. Of course he supported Nearl's decision.
Her return to Kazimierz meant only one thing—the pot that was the Grand Knight Territory was about to get stirred hard.
And the more chaotic things got, the more entertaining it became for him.
"Thanks for your support," Nearl said firmly. "And I've gathered the payment for Nightingale's treatment. I'll be counting on you for her treatment when I arrive."
Her decision to return wasn't purely personal.
Nightingale's recovery required Steven's help, after all. And with how elusive this guy was—slipping away from Rhodes Island without anyone noticing—she couldn't risk missing this window.
She paused for a moment before continuing, her voice more sincere.
"And… thank you for what you did today."
It wasn't casual politeness. Nearl's words carried genuine weight—gratitude that came from deep within. She wanted him to understand that.
Steven chuckled, brushing it off with an easy smile.
"It's not a big deal. I'm just lending a hand. I've always admired what you stood for back then. Honestly, I'm kind of a fan now! I can't wait to see the day you light up the skies of Kazimierz again, Radiant Knight."
If she only knew—if Nearl realized that even her beloved Aunt Zofia had been saved by his hand—she'd probably be even more touched.
Though… what would it take to make a bold, heroic girl like her fall head over heels and throw herself at him, anyway?
Steven mused on the thought briefly, amused.
Ending the call with a tap, Steven glanced over at Zofia and Maria, still lost in each other's company. His mind was made up.
"Nearl told you she's planning to come back, right?" he asked.
Zofia and Maria exchanged a look, then smiled and nodded.
Clearly, Nearl hadn't kept her intentions from them.
"Good. Keep yourselves safe till then," Steven said, waving a hand in lazy farewell. "Once she returns, you'll have a lot less to worry about."
He didn't say it out loud, but he was keenly aware: this decision of Nearl's was likely spur-of-the-moment, and only the three of them in this room knew it so far.
As long as Maria and Zofia kept it under wraps, the K.G.C.C was in for one hell of a surprise.
Whether Nearl would return as the Radiant Knight of Kazimierz or simply as Operator Nearl from Rhodes Island, that part remained unclear.
Personally, Steven was rooting for the former—because let's be honest, that would make things way more fun.
"Thank you, Mr. Steve… for everything you've done for us today. And… for letting us see Margaret again. Truly… thank you."
Zofia's string of heartfelt thanks couldn't even begin to express her gratitude.
She tried to push herself up from the bed to bow properly—but her strength gave out, and she nearly toppled over.
Thankfully, Steven was quick to catch her, preventing her from worsening her injuries.
"Alright, alright, that's enough. Keep saying thanks and it'll just get awkward," he said with a half-smile, steadying her. "Like I said, I'm a fan of the Radiant Knight—wait, no, Whislash Knight. Helping you out really isn't a big deal for me."
His reasoning didn't sound all that convincing, even to himself, but it was the truth.
Still, what he didn't notice was Zofia's reaction—how she froze for a second in his arms, as if something had clicked in her mind.
She just sat there, dazed, until she slowly nodded.
"Well, I'll be off then. You focus on recovering—hope you get well soon."
After gently easing Zofia back into her bed, Steven rose and gave a casual wave goodbye.
He had only tagged along with the bar trio for the fun of it, and to be a walking communication terminal.
Promise fulfilled, duty done—it was time to leave.
"Ah? Oh—okay. Maria, go walk Mr. Steve out, will you?"
Zofia snapped out of her daze and nodded toward the blonde girl beside her. But as Maria stood to follow, Zofia's eyes lingered on Steven, still lost in thought.
Steven scratched his head, puzzled by her sudden change in demeanor.
Still, he didn't say anything, and followed Maria out of the hospital room.
It wasn't until after he had left that Zofia blinked and came fully back to herself.
Her petite nose twitched. Almost instinctively, she reached out for the tiny golden nugget Steven had left on the bedside table and brought it to her nose.
Zofia had always had a keen sense of smell. After every match, the first thing she did was shower and apply those ridiculously expensive fragrances she collected. She couldn't stand lingering scents.
But maybe it was exactly because of that sensitivity that her expression had shifted into such deep confusion.
When Steven had caught her just now, she'd caught a whiff of something on him. A scent that was impossible to describe—but definitely not unpleasant. No… it was far too distinct. Far too… memorable.
Because earlier today, she'd smelled that same exact scent—on the chaotic, flamboyant knight who had saved her from the Brassrust Knight's grasp.
A bold theory crept into Zofia's mind, one she didn't dare say aloud.
Was that kind and easygoing young man really…him?
If that was true, then the debt she owed him ran far deeper than she'd even realized.
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
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