From that day, hating evil, continuing my sword training, I devoted time to exposing the Andrews family’s crimes.
I finally caught their tail — but realized then that the villains and I weren’t standing on the same stage.
…… In the end, I failed to avenge Captain Lily, was even driven out of the Holy Knight Order, and fell to the underground arena.
I will never forget the despair of being told of my expulsion.
The one thing supporting me — the vengeance, judging corrupt nobles, fulfilling the mission Captain Lily had entrusted to me — I couldn’t even do that. I was half-broken, near-self-destructive.
The one who scooped me up from that pit was Lord Ouga.
If I hadn’t met him, I’d have walked into hell without accomplishing anything.
But the future changed. The goddess of fate smiled on me.
She granted me another chance for revenge.
Several hours in the carriage. Dawn would arrive soon.
I disembarked in Andrews territory and walked through the dim streets toward the designated place — Juke Andrews’s manor.
”…… What a wretched town.”
The opposite of Veret territory. At this hour, residents should already be working in Veret — here, no lights on anywhere.
Not just that. The houses are ruined. Patches of amateur repair work.
The town clearly isn’t prosperous; how much burden have these residents been forced to bear…… Andrews’s misrule is plainly visible.
The conviction he cannot be allowed to live solidified.
”…… So he’s here.”
A mansion as if those residents’ homes had been lies.
A black-painted manor blending into the dark — fitting for a corrupt lord. I snorted.
”…… Watch me, Captain Lily.”
I placed my hand on the door, pushed.
Both panels swung open at force.
Carefully I stepped in — a sudden flood of brilliant lights illuminated the entire interior.
”……?”
I’d expected an attack timed to blind eyes used to darkness — no such ambush.
As my eyes adjusted, I saw — round tables arranged in order.
Rows of tailcoat-clad men along both walls.
Like a party venue ready to begin.
And the host stood directly before me — in the center.
“As promised, you came alone, Chris Lagnica.”
A skeletal old man, stroking his neatly trimmed purple beard, smirking.
A body so gaunt the bones showed, but eyes still housing ambition.
Those eyes warped into half-moons of contempt — I’d never forgotten them.
”…… Yes — I’ve come to kill you, as you wished, Juke Andrews.”
I drew my sword and pointed its tip at him.
This man — only this man — I had to cut with this blade.
“I never expected to see your face again. Karma, perhaps. We seem to have a bond.”
“Don’t worry. That bond ends today.”
“Don’t be so cold. You’ll ruin that lovely face.”
“Praise from you brings me no pleasure.”
…… No presences lurking aside from those visible.
His main force is gathered here without doubt.
The black-suited men at both walls all bow their heads, shoulders rounded. An eerie sight.
But the strength I feel on my skin is far below me. So weak you’d believe they were ordinary civilians.
I recalled the documents Captain Lily had left, read over and over.
…… This man had no magical aptitude.
So what’s the source of this composure? Something’s there. Like the trick that ensnared Captain Lily.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t you come to take revenge on the man who pushed you down?”
”…… My cut isn’t only for myself.”
But whatever. If he has a hidden card, I cut through the trick too.
I’d polished my sword for this.
I raised my sword high to charge.
“To dispel the resentments of all those you’ve snared!”
—— And I released a life-reaping slash.
“[Blade-Flower Scattershot]!!”
Three slashes at high speed, generating a shockwave that splits everything.
No martial skill. No magic for an old man — how does he escape!
“——Become walls.”
“Wha——!?”
Six black-suited men suddenly leapt between Andrews and me.
They stood as a wall against the three slashes, their flesh and blood scattering as they died.
“How……!?”
“Did they not wish to do it on their own? Splendid loyalists. I am a fortunate man.”
Andrews wore a thin smile, unshaken.
So these men are his shields from the start.
…… But their behavior is strange.
Cut down, they don’t scream once. The others show no emotion either.
No hesitation toward death.
Like warriors who’ve crossed many death lines. But they show no resistance to attack, no apparent strength.
Contradictory features.
It makes more sense to assume they’re under his control——
”—— I see. ……So it’s you.”
Past mysteries and current ones connected.
The will-less monotonous movement.
Above all, Captain Lily’s last words.
”…… Thank…… you, Chris. ……Glad you stopped me……”
Now I understood what she meant.
“You did it all……!”
A first. Wanting to kill someone from the bottom of my heart.
Kill, kill, kill!
I cannot allow this man — the one who soiled Captain Lily’s soul — to live.
I must kill him without fail.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about…… ah, that’s right. There was a woman before, who swung righteousness around just like you. Her name was……”
A beat — and he grinned demonically.
”—— Lilyshane Spride.”
“DON’T LET THAT NAME LEAVE YOUR LIPS!!”
If long-range slashes are blocked, I’ll close in and cut his throat.
Using a table as launch point, I leapt to the ceiling, circled to his rear, kicked off the ceiling and brought my sword down.
The unnatural phenomena can only be magic.
Without aptitude, he uses magic somehow.
Then use space multi-dimensionally — make targeting impossible.
Anti-mage combat basics. Per Lord Ouga’s hypothesis, an outstanding mage has weaker physicals.
Don’t drown in anger. Drag him into close combat.
Stay cool to kill this man——
”—— Fine movement. As expected. But it’s meaningless…… Meat wall.”
Without hesitation, black-suited men slipped between me and Andrews, taking my slash on their bodies.
Bodies cleaved, blood pooling.
“What do you think human lives are!?”
“They aren’t human. They are my people. Now — seize her.”
”…………!”
”…… Sorry! [Great Storm]!”
True to the name, I spun in place to blow back the black-suits coming to grab me.
This isn’t what I want. I never wanted to cut uninvolved people……!
“I, you see, was waiting for this — Chris Lagnica. You ruined my plans with Lilyshane Spride.”
He turned, opened his eyelids wide with his fingers.
Jet-black eyes rolled.
What? What are you doing……!?
“Having beaten many mages — that very confidence is the trap I set for you.”
Don’t take his words in. All meant to confuse me.
If I’m hit with his magic, I become like these black-suited puppets.
Avoiding his magic is the absolute condition.
Don’t blink. Watch. See through, deflect his magic, then stab from a distance the black-suits can’t intervene——
”—— Our eyes met.”
In that instant, indescribable fear surged through my body.
My brain screamed danger.
Bad. I mustn’t look at those eyes……!
I tried to turn my face. Too late by a fraction.
“[Mind-Manipulation Brainwashing (Brain Blackout)] — Become my knight, Chris Lagnica.”
In an instant, my consciousness was overcome by the sense of sinking into deep water.