Sseeeak!
A dagger imbued with a rather powerful aura comes flying.
Tap.
I catch it between my index and middle fingers, and Xenia smiles slightly.
“Of course you caught it easily. You didn’t give me a sheath, so I just threw it. Hope that’s alright?”
“It would’ve been, as long as you didn’t throw it blade-first.”
“I wasn’t aiming to kill you. Just like you weren’t earlier.”
“Well, I was the one who provoked you first. It’s fine.”
“Mr. Mide Mohan. I see the rumors of the Sword master of No Killing being underestimated were true after all.”
I give a light nod in thanks and ask,
“So then, what brings you here today? You’re Xenia Seide, right?”
“You knew? Well, I suppose the Witch of Carnage must’ve told you.”
“……”
“What’s your relationship with Neril Slane?”
“We’re comrades.”
Xenia doesn’t look particularly surprised—maybe she expected this.
Instead, a faint trace of contempt creeps into her expression.
“There’s no need to go on about her infamy, is there? Especially for a freelance mercenary like you, who’s probably heard it a thousand times by now.”
“Well, that’s not wrong.”
“Haa… Fine. Anyway, as of today, I want you to sever ties with her.”
“……”
“Someone with your skills has far better options than sticking around with Neril. I don’t even understand why you’re doing mercenary work at your level. If you want, I could recommend you to the Central Capital.”
I keep a blank expression.
Xenia studies me carefully and continues,
“Of course, you can’t join the Holy Knights of Light without the ability to use divine power, but I could, for example, recommend you to Alkahad.”
“I’ve heard those two organizations don’t get along all that well.”
“You’re well-informed. Still, I could at least write you a letter of recommendation.”
“No thanks. I plan to stay with Neril.”
Her expression begins to vanish too.
“Why? Why go that far?”
“……”
“I’m not talking about morals—I’m being practical. The Witch is a target the Holy Knights of Light have been pursuing for decades, and you’ll face us eventually. Just like you’re facing me now.”
Of course, Xenia’s words are a misunderstanding.
As long as that secret agreement with Dame is in place, the Paladins won’t ‘genuinely’ oppose Neril.
[She’s pushing this far. Wouldn’t it be better to just tell her about the hidden contract?]
‘No. If I reveal the Holy Knights’ biggest secret here, Xenia will go confront Dame, and Dame will start seriously watching me.’
[And?]
‘And nothing. I’m supposed to become a Hero, remember?’
Opposing the capital—especially the Holy Knights—would only create obstacles on my path.
Even if I manage to hijack the Oracle event with Neril’s help, if the Holy Knights declare it false, things could get complicated.
At least until I reach the status of an undisputed Hero within the Empire, I must avoid direct conflict with them.
It’s best to stay on good terms with anyone who holds influence in the Empire, not just the Holy Knights.
[Heh. I’ll allow that logic—for now.]
‘What’s that supposed to mean.’
[I thought you were just doing this because you hated seeing Dame burn something Neril valued.]
‘Hah. Like I’d care that much about her personal life.’
[If you say so. Hehe.]
Instead of arguing with Trail, I say to Xenia,
“I’m not particularly afraid.”
“…! Do you realize what you just said? You’re saying you’re not afraid of the Holy Knights of Light?”
“Their political power, sure, that’s intimidating. But if it comes to pure combat, I’m confident I can overpower them.”
“Earlier, I said the Sword master of No Killing might be underestimated. But you—you might be overestimating yourself.”
“Hm. I don’t know. For reference, I’m stronger than Neril.”
Xenia falls silent, lips tightly shut.
I continue,
“You must’ve seen traces of our battle back in the Quelk territory. I won that fight.”
I feel a little guilty saying this, but let’s go with it for now.
Gulp.
Even from here, I can see Xenia swallow hard.
She slowly responds,
“Even so, I can’t agree with what you said earlier. After all, my fa… the Captain defeated Neril too.”
“That was…”
…a lie, is what I almost say—but swallow the words.
Neril just agreed to count that as a loss.
But if I say that to someone who respects Dame absolutely, like Xenia, she’d probably draw her sword on the spot.
So I change the subject.
“By the way, may I ask something too?”
“No. Not until you answer my question.”
“Your attitude suggests this is more than official duty. Did the Witch of Carnage personally harm you in some way?”
“…Why even ask if you’re going to talk like that.”
Xenia sighs, but answers without resistance.
“She was my friend.”
“You’re saying Neril killed her?”
“No. She simply disappeared.”
“……”
“She was a Holy Knight, like me. One day, while on a mission, she vanished without a trace. And the last place she was seen was soaked in the Witch’s mana.”
Ah. So, in accordance with the hidden contract, Neril spread her mana around the scene.
To make sure the investigators would blame her.
“What was your friend’s name?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I want to ask Neril about it.”
Xenia raises her eyebrows sharply.
She looks furious, but still answers.
“Hmph. Ophelia Mace. Go ahead and ask—though I doubt she’ll tell you.”
Ophelia Mace.
That name wasn’t on Neril’s blood-written list.
Meaning she didn’t commit a sin against her.
But since there are so many names on that list, maybe I just forgot.
And even if she didn’t commit a crime, there could still be a secret. So I should check again.
‘Tell me the secret between Neril Slane and Ophelia Mace.’
[Hm.]
Soon, a screen appears.
<You have used the Eye of Omniscience.>
<Current level of the Eye of Omniscience: 2. You can view secrets up to Grade C.>
<Selected condition: ‘The secret between Neril Slane and Ophelia Mace.’>
<There are no relevant secrets. Viewing not possible.>
Just as I expected.
‘So how did the pre-regression Kaeld convince Xenia and make her accept this?’
No point in worrying about it.
I don’t need to follow that guy’s path anyway.
I speak.
“Let’s do it this way, Xenia.”
“Yes?”
“I’m going to stay with Neril. But I’ll make sure she doesn’t cause any more calamities.”
“You think you can control that witch?”
“You don’t believe me, right? Then come find me at the inn I’m staying at in two days. We’ll take care of this situation together.”
Xenia tilts her head.
“This situation?”
“Yes. And if, after this is all over, you still think I can’t keep her in check—you can take her away.”
“Hmph. You talk like you’re giving permission. Wouldn’t it be faster if I just arrest you and drag her off right now?”
Shrring.
Xenia draws her sword.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen her signature weapon.
The holy sword Caesar, forged by a god during the descent of the second Demon King.
Though it’s known more for its numerous divine enchantments than its blade’s sharpness… well, she’s clearly drawing it to attack.
Of course, unlike with Neril, I had no intention of fighting her.
“Well then, I’ll be running away.”
“…What?”
“I’ll say goodbye in advance. See you in two days.”
“Hah. Nonsense. Do you really think you can escape right in front of me?”
Before she even finished speaking, I pushed strength into my legs.
‘Quick Sprint!’
[Ow. Name, please.]
The next moment.
A tremendous burst of air slammed against my face.
I saw Xenia’s stunned face flash past me.
And then, in a moment too brief to even measure, she swung her sword in my direction.
Whoosh!
But I was already about 500 meters away from that spot.
“Phew.”
I let out a breath and thought to myself:
‘Kaled really was an idiot.’
[I agree. Though… agree with what?]
‘You agreed without even knowing?’
[If it’s about trashing that guy, I’ll agree first and ask questions later.]
‘See, that’s what I mean.’
I lifted my arm to show it.
The end of my sleeve had been sliced off.
No one had ever reacted to my ‘Quick Sprint’ technique like this before.
“Before the regression, I had no idea Xenia was this good. Kaled always only asked her for defense and teleportation using Agril.”
[Hmm.]
“He didn’t even properly understand his own party members capabilities. He never learned how to use the right person in the right place.”
[Or maybe he thought it would be troublesome if she performed too well. If she ended up perfectly fine even after fighting the Demon King, that could’ve messed up the plan.]
I had to admit Trail had a point.
Clack.
When I got back to the inn, Neril greeted me from a table on the first floor.
Without a word, I sat across from her.
“Didn’t you say you were going to sleep earlier?”
“I woke up. I’m sensitive—if the pillow’s not soft, I wake up easily.”
Ah. That’s why, before the regression, you always set up a proper bed even when camping outdoors.
I didn’t expect her to wait for me.
Thinking that Neril had surprised me several times today, I smiled lightly and said:
“You’ve changed a lot too.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Anyway, it’s all wrapped up now, so let’s get some rest. Xenia will be coming here the day after tomorrow.”
“…Huh?”
“We’ve decided to work together on this.”
I briefly summarized the conversation I had with Xenia.
Unsurprisingly, Neril didn’t seem to recognize the name Ophelia.
“So Dame killed his own subordinate? And even tried to pin it on me?”
“Most likely.”
“If I tell anyone about this, it’ll blow up—for both Dame and Xenia.”
“That’s why I’m planning to keep it a secret for now. Stirring things up could end with us making enemies of the entire Holy Knights of Light.”
“Didn’t think you’d be the type to fear something like that.”
“I am. It could seriously damage my reputation. Those guys are geniuses at manipulating public opinion.”
“Yeah. That’s true. But honestly, I think it’s more like…”
She trailed off.
Then, after hesitating a bit, she asked:
“Is it because of me? Because you’re afraid Dame might burn ‘that item’?”
She’s saying the same thing Trail did.
I was about to deny it, but Neril spoke before I could.
Abruptly changing the subject, a little awkwardly.
“Your sleeve’s cut. That Xenia woman must be pretty skilled?”
“She’s definitely stronger than Dame.”
“Well, obviously. Dame’s weak as hell.”
For a second, I almost felt sorry for Dame.
Shwing.
Xenia only sheathed her sword 30 minutes after Mide had disappeared.
That Sword master of No Killing had used some bizarre technique and had zipped past her at an unbelievable speed.
She had swung her sword at the afterimage, but of course, she didn’t hit anything. Though it had felt like something brushed against her blade.
And when she came to her senses, he was completely out of her line of sight.
All of those actions and reactions had occurred in just 0.5 seconds.
And for a full 30 minutes, Xenia had been replaying that 0.5 seconds in her mind.
‘What if I’d reacted the moment he began gathering strength in his legs? Could I have cut him then?’
She had asked herself that question multiple times, but the answer was always the same: I don’t know.
Tremble.
She realized her right hand was shaking and grabbed it with her left.
But it didn’t help much.
Her left hand was shaking too.
For the first time, Xenia asked a different question out loud:
“Would Father have been able to cut him?”
This time, the answer came much more quickly.
It wasn’t I don’t know.
It was: No way.
She had already surpassed her father. She had no doubt about that.
And if even she couldn’t track that afterimage—how could her father possibly have cut him?
“Kh…”
Xenia bit her lip.
She needed to find out.
How Mide had become so absurdly powerful.
And what exactly he was planning to do in this territory.
By now, the existence of Neril had completely vanished from her mind.
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