8
“…Sir Aldia?”
The savior who appeared from the sky, his black clothes whipping around him, stood before the bandits.
We’re saved.
Almost at the same instant I felt that, a feeling of dread, like ice piercing my spine, was born.
His form, calmly cutting through enemies amidst the dust, was that of the Princess’s Knight—it held no scent of defeat.
…And yet, it was wrong.
The him I knew had a definite warmth beneath his strength. But now, I couldn’t feel that warmth at all.
It was as if a chill was rising from the ground. He was simply a cruel, powerful being, continuing to cut down the bandits. His rough movements weren’t like him. His back, as he recklessly closed the distance on his enemies, was too dangerous to watch.
I have to fight, too!
I tried to move to him, but my body only pitched forward slightly.
“Huh… Why…?”
My legs wouldn’t move, as if they’d turned to stone. Just moments ago, I’d been moving freely, holding the bandits at bay, but from the instant I saw him fight, I couldn’t stop shaking.
This is wrong! I have to stop him! I have to be at his side, supporting him!
My mind understood, but my limbs wouldn’t budge. I felt a cold sweat run down my cheek, my breathing growing ragged.
“Stop… fighting like that is…”
I could see a future I didn’t want to see.
His agonizing form, covered in wounds, still swinging his sword.
“Please, stop…”
My hoarse voice didn’t reach him. Even as I desperately reached out, he just moved further away.
Ear-splitting screams and sprays of crimson blood spread out from him as the epicenter.
…Ah. It’s no use. I can’t stop him.
The strength left my limbs. The sounds, the colors of the world… everything was fading, crumbling away.
“…”
As I realized my own powerlessness, I found a part of me starting to accept this gruesome scene.
Why was he slaughtering them so cruelly? It must be to protect us in our exhausted state. He had single-handedly broken the stalemate where the Provisional Elite Corps was cornered, drawing all the enemy’s animosity onto himself. That’s why we were saved. But that can’t possibly be right.
…How pathetic.
We are the ones who stole his warmth.
If I were stronger, he wouldn’t have had to push himself this hard.
His back, as he swung his sword all alone, looked somehow lonely. There was an indescribable distance, as if he alone were in a separate world.
“…This isn’t… what I wanted.”
I clenched my fists, forced my trembling legs to move, and took one step forward. I can’t just stand here and watch. I hate always being the one who’s protected. I want to be useful to him, too.
Because he’s the one I admire! The one I want to stand beside as an equal someday!
“Al…”
“Aldia, move! I’ll incinerate all of those grunts swarming you!”
The instant I opened my mouth to call his name, a woman’s loud voice echoed from above. Immediately after, a crimson explosion and a searing wind engulfed the battlefield.
“—!”
The ground was scorched black, and pillars of fire raged so high it was terrifying to approach.
A strike from long range, with no warning. I looked up and saw a dragon mount, its wings beating strongly.
Ah, right. Mia brought back help.
“General Ritziareite! We’re here to help!”
Mia waved, then sent the dragon into a steep dive.
A heavy thud as it landed on the grass. Then, cutting through the dragon’s cry, an annoyed ‘tsk’ came from behind Mia.
“Tch. Just as I thought. Not enough time to gather magic.”
“Ehh? But it was super awesome! Like, BOOM!”
“Ugh, ‘boom’? Your communication skills are hopeless. How pathetic.”
“I complimented you, and you insulted me!?”
“Don’t worry. It’s what I always think.”
“Isn’t that even more rude!?”
They had enough composure to bicker like that.
“U-Um!”
We have to help him!
I tried to say that, but Petra held her hand up as if she’d read my mind, cutting me off.
“I know what you want to say. We’ll buy you time to regroup.”
“Yeah, yeah! Don’t you worry, General Ritziareite!”
Mia huffed in agreement, giving me a thumbs-up.
“You two…”
I quietly closed my eyes and let out a small breath.
…Perhaps I was being too hasty.
“Understood. As soon as I re-form the ranks, I will lead the soldiers back into battle. Until then… please, take care of him—Sir Aldia!”
When I said that, they both nodded silently. They turned to face the bandits, as if to shield the Provisional Elite Corps.
“Yeah. Leave it to us. Now… time for the counterattack!”
“Heheh! It’s been a while, but I guess I’ll get serious!”
Their determined cries.
The large dragon thundered past me, the wind from it tossing my brown hair.
The two of them charged straight toward Aldia, without a moment’s hesitation. It felt like a symbol of the complete trust they had in him, a trust I had not yet earned.
…I’m truly envious.
I could feel the difference in the time they had spent with him. Unlike me, they didn’t hesitate. I was just flustered by this side of him I’d never seen, hesitating to help. Our relationships were on completely different levels.
But… even so.
“…I want to understand Sir Aldia better from now on.”
I muttered, then snapped my spear to the ready.
I knew what I had to do. Now, I just had to do it.
“All troops, regroup! Prioritize the wounded, but all who can still fight, form up on me!”
I was a little late, but I still want to do everything I can to help him.
As the General of the Provisional Elite Corps, that’s the least I should be able to do for him.
9
Bandits are nothing but enemies of Princess Valtrune. They are objects to be disposed of.
They’re no more significant than pebbles on the side of the road.
“…Yaaargh!”
The sword the bandit swung was badly chipped. A worn-out, unmaintained straight sword. Most of the blade was rusted; it looked more like a club than a sword.
“You think that’s going to hit me? Are you an idiot?”
“Tch, stop moving around…”
Several bandits swung at me, but none even grazed my skin.
“Heh. Just a mob. Is this all you’ve got?”
“D-Don’t mock us!”
“Just die! Uraaa…!”
The bandits moved to surround me, lashing out.
But for me, someone who has crossed the line between life and death countless times on past battlefields…
“UWOOOAAAAAAH!”
…No matter how many times they repeat these crude attacks, they’ll never hit me.
“Hup!”
“Agah…!?”
The black sword pierced the bandit’s abdomen. A sticky spray of blood hit my face.
I watched the bloodstain on his clothes spread for a moment before yanking my sword free.
“Ugh… ah… ngh!”
I kicked the staggering bandit away and let out a light breath.
“…Fuu.”
A real battlefield was nothing like this.
Fools who leave themselves open to grieve for a fallen comrade are the first to die.
Don’t fear death. Grow numb to pain. Strike down the enemy. That is the only way to survive a cruel battlefield.
The only one left standing in the end… is the strong, solitary one who keeps moving forward, even after losing everything.
That’s why I can’t lose. I don’t need anyone. I can overturn any disadvantage on my own.
“I will kill you. You are all nothing but a plague to Rune-sama, and I will bury every last one of you right here.”
“This guy… he’s insane…”
“He’s a murderer…!”
A murderer. Yes, that’s a fitting description.
“Heh… Haha!”
“—!”
A laugh just… bubbled up.
Ah, that’s right.
Just as they say. I’m a murderer, without a single shred of decency.
“Hahahahahaha!”
All I am is an ugly monster, drowning in the urge to kill.
“Wh-What are you laughing at!?”
“Oh, just remembering my own ugliness. Don’t worry about it. You’ll be dead soon anyway.”
“Wha…!”
I glanced at their pale faces and gently wiped the blood from my cheek.
I have this grand title, ‘Personal Knight to Princess Valtrune,’ now, but I used to be a genuine killer who just… slaughtered enemies without purpose.
Before I regressed, the people of the Empire called me ‘The Cold-Blooded Demon King in Black.’ A terrible name, but for someone as ugly as me, it was probably fitting.
And seeing myself, able to slaughter without hesitation, I think…
‘I’ll probably never change.’
I looked down at the ground, and in a pool of blood, I saw the face of an ugly murderer.
Killing, and killing, and killing… at some point, I lost all fear of the battlefield.
All I can do to protect Princess Valtrune is kill.
I don’t have a noble’s resolve. I don’t have the makings of a gentleman. I find my worth only by using the power in my body to its absolute limit, to wipe out any threat that appears.
“Killing is my purpose… which means I am the cold-blooded man who is going to kill you.”
I pointed my sword, and their faces twisted in terror.
“My bad… but you’re going to have to indulge my selfishness and die here.”
“—!”
I lunged forward, taking one head, then another.
“Guah!”
“Ugoh…!”
“Gyaaaaah!”
“…Found you.”
I slipped through the gaps in the circle and aimed for the neck of the man who seemed to be their leader.
“You’re the leader of this group.”
“S-Surround him!”
At the man’s shout, the bandits rushed me all at once.
“How pointless…”
Resistance is meaningless. They’re all fated to die here.
“Ugh…!”
“Gyaaaaaah!!”
I dropped low and swept through the dense crowd, severing limbs.
“It doesn’t matter if dozens of small-fry swarm me. You can’t stop me.”
“Y-You…”
“Die.”
“Agah!”
The rough screams raised the voltage on the battlefield, filling me with an intoxicating euphoria. My hands were stained red, and with every look of despair I saw up close, the pace of my sword quickened.
“Y-You… Don’t you have a human heart!? Ageh!”
I plunged my sword into the bandit’s throat and whispered in a chilling voice to the dying man.
“Don’t you dare preach morality to me, you filth… You make me sick.”
“Fugyu… gah…”
“That’s right. Just shut up and let me kill you. That’s the only value you’ve been permitted to have.”
I pulled my sword out, bathing in the rain of blood that erupted from his body, and turned my gaze to the next target.
A human heart? It’s a mistake to look for such a thing in me.
No matter how many pained screams I hear.
No matter how much hatred is directed at me.
My heart won’t waver even a single millimeter.
“Uh!”
“Gugah!”
“…Hm?”
The tip of my sword chipped from swinging it so recklessly. But the reeking pools of blood were littered with weapons. I picked up a sturdy-looking battle-axe.
“…Well, this will do.”
“Gugyaaaah!”
And I began to slaughter them anew.
I kicked an enemy’s head with my blood-and-mud-caked boot and swung the axe like a bludgeon.
“Die. Die. Die. Die. DIE!!”
I kept repeating the words like a curse, mercilessly butchering the terrified bandits.
My guiding principle is singular.
“To protect what is precious, I will kill every enemy. …That is who I am.”
To take before you are taken from. That’s just common sense. That’s the essence of battle.
For bandits, of all people, to tremble in fear at a little killing… it’s truly pathetic.
“Hiii! C-Come on, spare me! Ubugh!”
“I don’t… want… to die…”
Ah, this is exhilarating. Why does it feel so good to kill my weeping, screaming enemies?
I was reveling in the pleasure, raising the axe again, when I felt an intense killing intent from behind.
“Don’t get so damn cocky!”
An attack from my blind spot grazed my left side.
“Hah, how’d you like that!”
“…”
Blood dripped from the wound, and I felt a sharp heat and pain, but…
“…Haha.”
“—Wha!?”
For me, right now, getting injured is utterly meaningless.
I sent the bandit flying with a roundhouse kick and lightly pressed a hand to the wound.
“I’ve taken wounds like this countless times.”
I’m used to this pain. As long as it’s not so agonizing I can’t move, it won’t impede my ability to fight at all.
“Why are you cowering? Let’s continue our little killing match.”
“What… is he…”
Even the time I spend standing still feels like a waste.
I want to kill more, faster.
I want to keep bathing in warm blood.
I want to keep hearing the screams of wicked men.
I’m done pursuing refined, precise movements. From here on, I’ll end this with a cruder, uglier, filthier way of fighting than the world has ever seen.
10
The Aldia in front of me, chopping enemies to pieces, was not the person I admired back at the military academy.
Always calm, minimizing his own risk, overwhelming his foes with a brilliant sword dance.
The Aldia Graetz I admired was a rational, composed, ‘smart’ fighter who never even lost his breath. That’s what I thought.
“…What is that?”
I couldn’t hide my shock at the sight of him mercilessly slaughtering the bandits.
It was a crude, cruel way of fighting, so unlike the man I’d known for years.
He was soaked in blood, his crimson eyes glinting eerily.
“What the hell… is that idiot doing?”
When he holds a sword, he’s stronger than anyone. Even surrounded by countless bandits, there’s not a hint he’ll lose.
His solitary, ferocious techniques sent flesh and blood flying. But it was an agonizing sight, so painful I wanted to look away. Even knowing he wouldn’t lose, I couldn’t suppress the smoldering feeling inside me.
“…I won’t accept this.”
I couldn’t forgive this reckless way of fighting, this complete disregard for his own safety.
I clenched my fists and ran, to stop him from continuing this inhuman slaughter.
“Eh, Petra-chan!?”
Without looking back at Mia’s surprised voice, I ran toward the rampaging Aldia.
I won’t allow it. I don’t want to see you get hurt!
“Take better care of yourself! …Why do you think I came to the Empire in the first place?”
I fell for you because you were so brave and straightforward, always facing any obstacle head-on. And yet…
“…Right now, you just look… scared.”
I don’t want to see Aldia Graetz’s weakness. I don’t want to know it.
I felt that if I just stood here and watched, the strong Aldia I know would disappear completely.
So I won’t let you do as you please any longer.
I went to all the trouble of coming to the Empire for you, so you’d better stay the strong Aldia I admire… at least until the day I’m satisfied.
…Because my dream… is to surpass you and become the strongest mage of all!
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