“Then, Lord Ouga. If you’ll allow me to make some preparations, would you wait a moment?”
“Anything you need, I’ll arrange on my end. Don’t worry about it.”
“No — I’d like you to gauge my abilities first, so please, allow me.”
I see. I’ve heard it said that you can measure a warrior’s skill by how they handle their weapon.
Maybe Chris was going to bring her sword for me to inspect.
Honestly I can’t really tell a good blade from a bad one, but in the hands of someone of her caliber, it can only be excellent.
“Fine. But I don’t intend to linger here. Make it quick.”
“Understood.”
With that, she left the room.
Once the sound of her footsteps faded, I let myself fall back against the chair.
“…heh. Bwahahaha!”
Everything went perfectly!
She’s going to be my servant for life now.
Justice? Go ahead, swing it around all you like.
But what kind of face will Chris make when she realizes the man she trusted at her side is, in fact, the greatest evil of all?
Just imagining it… heh heh… delicious.
And it’s not just Chris. This underground arena where the gambling happens — it’s going to grow plenty more.
If I become its bookmaker, the profits will be astronomical.
The current No. 1, who hates fixed matches, is gone — the manager will have it easier too.
I’ll wrap up future arrangements with him and negotiate Chris’s purchase price as part of the deal. Done.
Ah, truly… I’m a genius!
A goddess must be cheering me on toward villainy, surely!
I held back a laugh I could barely contain, and waited for Chris to return.
I waited. Waited. …And waited.
”…She’s taking quite a while.”
Is she having second thoughts?
To be blunt, hiring her is locked in regardless of the weapon — but, well, never mind.
Let me go find her myself.
I’m in a good mood, after all.
Just as I put my hand on the door — click — the door on the opposite side opened.
“Thank you for waiting, Lord Ouga. …Did I make you wait too long?”
“No, not at all. More importantly — let me see what you can do, Chris.”
“Understood. Then, please follow me.”
Huh. She came back empty-handed — she didn’t bring her weapon?
Maybe it’s so large she couldn’t carry it. Size is a convenient way to demonstrate strength.
I followed her. She stopped at the doors of the arena — which by now should be roaring with the next match.
”…Here?”
“Yes. The purge is complete. Please, take a look.”
…The purge?
Before I could voice my confusion, Chris opened the doors.
What flew into my vision was piles of corpses. Not just the fighters — the audience had joined the heap too.
At the very top of the mountain was the manager I’d just been chatting with.
…Wait!? Are they ALL DEAD!?
“C-Chris. What is this…?”
“Yes. I wished to show you my justice and my skill at once, so I executed it immediately.”
WHAT INITIATIVE…!!
“Executed,” she says…!?
I wanted to USE these people to drink from a sweet trough!
Wiping them all out totally defeats the purpose…
And yet — what is with that expectant gaze, all but begging to be praised.
”…Chris.”
“Yes!”
…I really don’t want to compliment her. I really don’t… but…
“Well done.”
”——! Thank you so much!”
A flower-blooming smile lit up Chris’s face. Her expression flips around faster than I’d expected, but it’s easy to read, so — fine.
When I weigh today’s incident against the benefits she’ll bring me going forward, the latter wins by a landslide.
She seems like she’ll trust me unconditionally. If I feed her false intel, she’ll happily flatten any organization that opposes me.
I’m a genius. I’ll handle her fine.
“Listen, Chris. I’m not satisfied with the current state of things. I’m aiming higher.”
That’s right. A tiny underground arena in a backwater like this isn’t worth holding onto.
I’m thinking bigger — something on the order of the slave market, maybe.
In any case, building up enough power that no single arena feels like a major loss or gain — that’s the goal.
“That’s why I acquired you. You understand what I’m saying, yes?”
“Of course.”
Without minding the filth on the floor, Chris dropped to one knee and bowed her head.
“My power belongs to Lord Ouga. My accomplishments belong to Lord Ouga.”
So she swore her oath.
If she understands, then we’re good.
Work hard for my glory, all right?
“Then, let’s head back. I want to introduce you to Father, and there are various procedures to handle.”
Chris is officially branded a criminal, so I can’t hire her under her real name.
It would stain House Veret’s reputation.
But this kind of fabrication is our family’s specialty.
A new identity for her can be forged easily.
“Chris. Any preferences for your new name?”
I asked her as we walked the grimy street, with her one step behind.
“If Lord Ouga is the one who grants it, I shall be content with anything.”
Saying things like that is going to send mothers across the nation into a rage, Chris, my dear.
I don’t have much of a naming sense myself, so this is a problem…
“In that case, by convention then. Father gives his sons names ending in ‘ga,’ his daughters names ending in ‘a.’ Take your name and rework it: Aris. Yeah, Aris — or rather, Alice. How’s that?”
It also fits her golden hair nicely. Not a bad pick, I think.
A little smug, I waited for Alice’s reaction.
”…T-thank you so much…!”
She’s crying…!? Her face is completely crumpled with tears!?
Did I say something weird!?
“Alice” isn’t even a name that gets laughed at in this world…
Flustered as Alice broke into quiet sobs, I quickly handed her my handkerchief.
After a few seconds with her face buried in it, wiping the tears away, she was back to the beautiful figure people called a vision of grace.
“Lord Ouga. Then, allow me to renew my oath.”
Alice took the same posture she had moments before, and this time swore her vow with her newly-granted name.
“I — Alice — offer all of myself to Lord Ouga.”
“Mm, I’ll be counting on you. My sword.”
”…! Yes…!”
And so, just as I’d planned from the start, I succeeded in adding Alice to my pieces.
◇ Chris → Alice from here on.
A heavy-hearted, prodigy lady knight (20) has joined the party. ◇