It happened in the blink of an eye after that.
The atrocious incident committed by the Holy Knight Order’s Captain was not made public by the country’s judgment, and she was said to have lost her life in battle against a monster.
The citizens whom the captain had protected were grieving and weeping for her. I felt a small sense of relief.
I was appointed as the new Holy Knight Order Captain, succeeding her.
And now, wanting even a little bit of proof that the captain lived, I’m slumped over the desk in her former office, before her chair is disposed of.
With a lifeless expression.
Hoping that if I wait long enough, the captain will come comfort me again.
But no matter how long I wait, the warm hand and gentle voice never come.
“…Captain Lily.”
That’s not all.
Tomorrow, everything in this room of hers will be disposed of.
The evidence of her existence is steadily disappearing.
The only thing that remains is… the lone sword sheathed at my waist.
How utterly lonely this is. Is there truly nothing else…?
A parting like that should never have happened.
The final conversation with Captain Lily burned into my mind.
“…Come to think of it…”
At the very end, Captain Lily was trying to convey something to me.
Back then, I was too frantic trying to save her life to think about it, but indeed…
[…Chris…at the…very end…under my…desk…]
Think, think. Captain Lily was certainly thinking of me until her dying breath.
She would never utter meaningless words.
Under…desk…under the desk…
“…Under the desk?”
I immediately lifted and flipped over the desk.
Looking at it this way, I realized – the bottom panel was unusually thick.
As if it could conceal documents or something similar.
“…Pardon me, Captain.”
Using her beloved sword, I cut away the bottom panel.
Inside was a hollow space containing bundled documents tied together.
“This is…!”
Written there were the misdeeds of nobles and the details of their actions.
All of them were acts prohibited by the laws of the land. And among the listed names were those of powerful individuals.
At the very top was written – Juke Andraus.
That name you could never bring to justice – the embodiment of evil.
The lingering wish you entrusted only to me.
I embrace it tightly, firmly.
“…I will definitely avenge you.”
It felt like Captain Lily had given me a reason to live.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
From that day, I hated [evil] and devoted my time to training with the sword while trying to expose the Andraus family’s wrongdoings.
I finally got a grasp on their trail, but then realized we were not operating on the same level.
…In the end, I could never avenge Captain Lily, and was even expelled from the Holy Knights, reduced to an underground arena fighter.
I will never forget the despair of being stripped of my status.
My sole remaining purpose – to bring justice to the evil nobles and fulfill Captain Lily’s final mission – was something I could not accomplish, leaving me half-abandoned.
It was Lord Ouga who lifted me up from that state.
If I had not met Lord Ouga, I likely would have walked the path to hell without being able to do anything.
But the future changed. The goddess of fate smiled upon me.
For she has granted me another chance to exact my revenge.
After several hours of travel by carriage, with dawn almost breaking.
Having safely entered the Andraus territory, I disembarked and walked through the dimly lit streets towards the designated location – the estate of Juke Andraus.
“…What a wretched town this is.”
The complete opposite of the Vellet territory. Despite it being time for the residents to start work, not a single light could be seen.
Not only that, the houses were dilapidated. Even repairs appeared to be crude, amateur patchwork jobs.
There was no sense of prosperity in this town at all… a clear indication of the heavy burden the Andraus family placed on its people.
It only strengthened my conviction that he must not be allowed to live.
“…So this is where that fiend resides.”
Starkly contrasting the modest dwellings from before was this luxurious mansion.
Seeing the ebony-colored estate blending into the darkness, I scoffed – fitting for this depraved lord.
“…Watch over me, Captain Lily.”
I placed my hands on the doors and forcefully pushed them open.
The double doors flung open with momentum.
Treading carefully inside, dazzling lights illuminated the entire estate.
“…?”
Initially blinded by the bright glare I had expected an ambush, but there were no signs of an attack.
As my eyes gradually adjusted, the first thing I noticed was a round table arranged with meticulous precision.
Along both walls stood rows of men in tailcoats.
It was as if a party was about to commence.
And the host stood right before me at the center.
“You’ve come alone, just as promised, Chris Ragnica.”
Stroking his neatly trimmed purple beard with a depraved grin was an emaciated old man.
Despite his skeletal frame, his eyes still harbored ambition.
Those half-moon eyes mocking others – I could never forget them.
“…Indeed, I’ve come to kill you as you wished, Juke Andraus.”
I unsheathed my sword, pointing the blade straight at him.
This man, this man I must fell with my own blade.
“I never expected to lay eyes on you again. Seems we’re bound by fate, doesn’t it? We must have a connection.”
“Rest assured, that connection ends today.”
“Now, now, no need for such hostility. You’ll ruin that pretty face of yours.”
“I take no pleasure in your compliments.”
…Besides those present here, I sense no other presences lurking about.
Undoubtedly, the main force he has assembled is right here in this room.
The men in black lined up along the walls all had their heads bowed, hunched over. An eerie sight indeed.
Yet their actual combat abilities seemed negligible – barely above ordinary civilians, if that.
Recalling the files Captain Lily left behind, over and over…
…This man had no aptitude for magic.
And yet this composure – there must be something else. The very scheme that ensnared Captain Lily, no doubt.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t you come for vengeance against the despicable foe who disgraced you?”
“…I’m not going to kill you for my sake alone.”
But so what? If you’ve got a hidden card up your sleeve, I’ll simply discard your strategy.
That’s why I’ve honed my sword.
I raise my sword, gathering my power for an overhead strike.
“This is to avenge all the people you’ve wronged!”
And with that, I unleash a devastating slash.
“Slashing Flower Scatter Strike!”
The shockwaves created by the high-speed triple strikes rip through everything.
You have no martial skills, nor can you use magic in your aged body. How will you get out of this?
“–[Become a wall]!”
“What?!”
Suddenly, six black-clad figures jump between us, blocking my attacks.
Their bodies are torn apart, spraying blood, as they perish.
“Why on earth…?!”
“Aren’t they the ones who wished for this? They are noble loyalists. I am a fortunate man.”
Andraus wears a faint smile, completely unfazed.
I see, so these people here are his shields.
…However, something seems off about these black-clad figures.
They’re being slashed, yet not a single scream. Their comrades also show no emotion whatsoever.
Their lack of hesitation towards death is too abnormal.
They’re like battle-hardened warriors who have cheated death many times. Yet they offer no resistance, and don’t seem to have any real strength.
A contradictory set of traits.
It makes more sense to think they’re being manipulated by him–
“–I see. …So it was you.”
The mystery of the past and the mystery of the present have connected.
Their monotonous movements, devoid of will.
And most importantly, the words left by Captain Lily:
“…Thank…you, Chris. …I’m…glad it was you…”
Now I understand the true meaning of those words.
“So you were the one behind it all…!”
This is the first time I’ve truly wanted to kill someone from the bottom of my heart.
Kill, kill, kill!
I cannot forgive this wretch who has defiled Captain Lily’s soul.
This man is the one I must slay, no matter what.
“I don’t know what you’re referring to, but…yes, there was a woman a long time ago who brandished her sense of justice like you. I believe her name was…”
He pauses, then lets out a demonic cackle.
“–Lily Shane Spride.”
“Don’t you dare utter that name, you bastard!!”
If my long-range strikes are all blocked, I’ll close the distance and slice off his head.
Using a table as a stepping stone, I leap up to the ceiling and circle around behind him, then kick off the ceiling, bringing my sword down in a powerful strike.
These inexplicable phenomena can only be explained by magic.
Though this one lacks the aptitude, there’s a possibility he can use magic somehow.
In that case, I’ll make use of the space around me, not letting him focus his magic.
It’s a fundamental tactic against mages. According to Ougasama’s hypothesis, the more skilled a mage is, the weaker their physical abilities become.
Don’t be consumed by rage. Bring this to close-quarters combat.
I must handle this man calmly, in order to kill him–
“–Good movement. As expected. But it’s meaningless… [Meat Shield].”
Again, without any hesitation, the black-clad figures rush in between us, taking the brunt of the strike.
Their bodies are split in half, creating a sea of blood.
“How dare you treat human lives so callously!”
“They’re not human, you see. They’re my people. Look, [Capture her]!”
“…!”
“…I’m sorry! [Great Gale]!”
True to its name, a powerful whirlwind blows the approaching black-clad figures away.
I never wanted this. I never wanted to cut down uninvolved people…!
“You see, Chris-Ragnica, I’ve been waiting for this moment. You really did a number on my plans for Lilly Shane Spride!”
Turning towards me, Andraus widely opens his own eyelids.
What’s he doing?
What is he planning to do…?
“Because you’ve defeated many mages, that confidence of yours will be your downfall.”
Don’t listen to his words. It’s all just meaningless prattle to confuse my thinking.
The moment I’m hit by his magic, I’ll likely become just like those squirming black-clad figures.
Evading Andraus’ magic is an absolute necessity.
Don’t blink. Watch, discern the magic, and process it, then stab him down from a distance where the black-clad figures can’t interfere–
“–You’ve locked eyes with me quite firmly, I see.”
In that instant, an indescribable terror surges through my entire body.
My brain is blaring danger signals at full force.
This is bad. I mustn’t look into those eyes…!
I hurry to turn my face away, but I’m just a hair too late.
“[Mind Control Brainwashing] — [Become my knight, Chris-Ragnica].”
In that instant, my consciousness is overwhelmed by a feeling of sinking into the deep depths.
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this dude tried mind controlling her old captain and whatnot and now he’s trying to harm mc’s waifu? bruh you’re gonna die soon