Ch.332EP.70 – Why the Knight’s Hatred Is Justified (2)

Decades ago.

Back when the current Duke of Galahad’s castle was called ‘Pendragon’.

Crown Prince Blake, barely in his teens, had a woman at an early age.

None other than…

– <A fairy woman who descended in human form>.

The most noble woman in the world.

He had fallen in love with a fairy, the most sacred being in this world, and it was certainly a joyous occasion for the royal family at the time.

Just as Pendragon’s founding Knight King had received the blessing of the noble Silver Dragon, Prince Blake had received the love of a fairy.

Being loved by a fairy, more noble and greater than any other race, was more magnificent and honorable than loving a woman from any distinguished noble family.

People could only bless the love between Prince Blake and the fairy woman.

…However.

“There were many who envied this. For the great nobles already oppressed by the authority of the military god, having a fairy align with the Pendragon was an unbearable burden. So among some people…”

“Some tried to seduce the fairy?”

“That’s right.”

“…Are they insane? No, do they have no brains?”

Fairies are different from humans.

For them, affection is not a volatile substance like it is for humans, but like a jewel that remains forever, preserving its form.

Trying to steal a fairy’s affection was not just stupid but bordered on mental illness.

Sure enough.

“Many who made advances disappeared without a trace. Not only was it His Majesty’s revenge for touching his lover, but the royal family was at its peak then, with power that overwhelmed all the great nobles. The result was inevitably destruction.”

They were truly foolish people. Would you believe it if I said this was documented in textbooks as a historical event demonstrating human foolishness and desire?

It was an ironic affair, a foolishness that should never be repeated, but as they say, foolish history repeats itself.

“No one could have known. That there would be an idiot who would genuinely love and court another man’s woman, the lady.”

Roseth. The young man who was then merely one of the heirs of Lohengrin, like other foolish men, made advances toward the fairy.

The difference from the other foolish men was simply that…

“That madman was sincere.”

Unlike others, Roseth Lohengrin genuinely fell for the fairy woman.

The fairy’s beauty and charm beyond comprehension, her gaze and fragrance.

He confessed after falling for all of these, and because of this…

“It was chaos. His Majesty tried to kill Roseth, but the previous head of Lohengrin at that time was a person of excellent character and a friend of the military god. He asked for mediation, and fortunately, Roseth was forgiven with just the revocation of some of Lohengrin’s privileges. However, the problem was…”

“?”

“…The fact that there were advances even after His Majesty and the lady officially became husband and wife was a major issue.”

“T-that’s not just a problem, it’s a disaster, isn’t it? Did that duke really let such a person live? Really…?”

“…Of course not.”

That day, Blake lost his reason and tore off Roseth’s arms and eyes, and cut off both his legs.

He even crushed his lungs, and just as he was about to take his heart and neck…

“…The temple and Lohengrin stepped in to stop His Majesty, and he was allowed to live on the condition that he would never approach the lady again. Afterward, that crazy Roseth managed to regenerate his arms and legs with the help of holy magic, but his crushed lungs weren’t fully healed, so he suffers from asthma, and his regenerated eyes aren’t perfect either—one eye can’t see at all. He brought it upon himself, so I don’t feel sorry for him.”

Of course, the reason Roseth was forgiven at that time was partly because Lohengrin and the temple intervened, but it was also because it was a turbulent period when Blake had just been chosen by the demon sword and stepped down from his position as crown prince.

The military god was also temporarily bedridden with disappointment at losing a reliable successor, so in a way, Roseth’s survival was a miracle resulting from countless coincidences and luck.

So Roseth should have lived with gratitude.

Although he lost one eye’s vision and suffered permanent asthma, he still survived thanks to others’ mercy.

It means he should have lived quietly, and even that would not have been enough.

But…!

“He’s a crazy bastard. He keeps doing strange things without knowing his place.”

At present, Lohengrin was rampaging like a madman.

From modifying Holy Knights into half-demons to seemingly cooperating with the Blood Cross Army, it was already irritating enough.

Yesterday, he even tried to touch Irene Windler, the daughter of Galahad!

In reality, war hadn’t broken out only because they had cut off the tail, but if there was a decisive justification, Galahad was ready to strike Lohengrin at any time.

In fact, even now…

“Since the incident of Holy Knights invading the Academy, Galahad has been slowly tightening the noose around Lohengrin’s neck. Starting with their funding sources and secretly eliminating organizations that cooperate with them…”

“No, you don’t have to tell me. Handle those brutal things among yourselves.”

“Brutal? It’s just self-defense.”

“……”

“Anyway, if they keep trying like this, Lohengrin will collapse on its own within the next two years. We have enough power to make that happen.”

“……”

They say even a rich family can last three generations after going bankrupt, yet she confidently claimed she could bring down a great noble house incomparably wealthier in just two years. Ihan could only click his tongue in amazement.

Her words didn’t sound like empty boasts at all.

‘I should avoid creating enmity with Galahad if possible…’

After all, he wanted to sleep peacefully.

* * *

While Ihan was convinced he was right to be suspicious of Lohengrin after learning about the long-standing grudge between Galahad and Lohengrin, in contrast…

“I see, so that’s why Lohengrin has been becoming impoverished recently? How absurd.”

The woman who had been quietly listening to their conversation like a folding screen nodded her head.

Judia Pierre.

She who finally saw hope of escaping this ridiculous dress was brightening her eyes.

Since Galahad was saying that Lohengrin was hiding the Brass Knights, there would be no need to attend the party anymore.

She wore a rare satisfied smile, but…

“What are you talking about? You still have to attend the party.”

“…Why?”

Her smile quickly disappeared, replaced by stiff displeasure.

However, when Ihan continued with a resolute expression, her displeasure faded away pathetically.

“We need to prepare for contingencies. Honestly, the probability that Lohengrin is hiding those Brass or whatever Knights is over 90%, but you never know, right? There might be others hiding elsewhere with the remaining 10% possibility.”

“……”

“Just because they’re fanatics doesn’t mean they’re idiots. They’re good at inciting people and have strategists who use their brains well. They’re definitely up to something, so someone needs to keep moving in the open.”

“…Does it have to be me?”

“Who else would do it? Besides, you’re useless for anything else.”

“……”

“Moreover, how could I enter enemy territory with an unpredictable liability who might betray us at any time? It would only cause trouble if you did something trollish.”

“……”

Though she made an expression of extreme injustice, Ihan didn’t bat an eye.

She might not admit it, but that red-headed former Inquisitor was clearly a ticking time bomb.

‘The problem is that while her fanatic personality is bad enough, her other personality is an even bigger bomb.’

The succubus personality. What could be considered the main body, “Judia’s personality,” was clearly, without excuse, a cruel [villain].

Unlike the Pierre personality, which had some guilt and morality despite being extremely selfish, Judia’s personality was evil, willing to do anything to fulfill her goals and greed.

‘It’s better to keep her among people.’

That way, she could have supervisors nearby, and it would be easier to prevent and stop any incidents.

However…

[Oh my, that seems like an unfair misunderstanding, doesn’t it?]

“…?”

Contrary to Ihan’s plan, an unfamiliar woman’s voice came from Pierre’s mouth.

“You bitch?!”

[Bitch? You should call me sister or mother, Pierre. Besides, Sir Knight, isn’t that too harsh? No matter what, I think there’s a misunderstanding about me. I’m not such a bad woman.]

“Stop spouting nonsense, you monster!”

[Oh my, no bad words! Our good Pierre shouldn’t say such things.]

“Stop talking nonsense, you evil thing! You were quiet for a while, and now you’re being so shameless…!”

[Aren’t you the shameless one? Living in my body on loan.]

“!!!”

[You should be grateful I haven’t kicked you out, Pierre.]

“Y-you…!”

She alternated between being furious and suddenly laughing, then getting angry again—truly, how should one describe it?

“Squeak?”

“Don’t worry about it. She’s just mentally troubled.”

“Squeak….”

She looked like a lunatic with flowers in her hair, and the flying squirrel Arpi couldn’t help but feel sympathy at those words.

When even an animal feels pity, it’s quite a spectacle.

* * *

Though she suddenly started speaking in two voices as if performing a one-person play, those who knew how complicated Judia Pierre’s circumstances were understood that this was not an act.

“The mystical race of succubus—I’ve only seen it in documents, but seeing one directly is truly fascinating.”

“Squeak, squeak.”

“No, I think a flying squirrel that understands speech and can write and draw is even more fascinating…”

As with any mystical race, those who possess mysteries have their own unique abilities.

Barbarians gain muscle rather than weight no matter how much they eat and sleep.

Dwarves are all born with artistic talent.

Animal-humans with lower bodies in the form of horses or fish display abilities appropriate to their forms.

And succubi, who handle dreams and desires, were known for having even more exceptional and dangerous abilities among the mystical races.

It’s hard to imagine how dangerous a succubus could be if they had bad intentions and misused their abilities.

In some sense, they’re a race that, like vampires, is always at risk of crossing the boundary into becoming monsters.

[Oh my, please don’t look at me like that. I’m not a monster. I’m a highly rational intellectual. I just have somewhat different abilities.]

“…I apologize.”

[Seeing how quickly you apologize, you seem quite intelligent. Unlike this fool.]

Once again, Pierre’s personality flared up and a quarrel broke out, but Pierre’s mind wasn’t strong enough to handle the succubus personality once it had awakened.

Rather, Judia’s very existence acted like a sore spot, making her mind endlessly unstable.

In that situation…

[Hey, handsome knight. Shall we make a deal?]

Judia turned to Ihan with bewitching eyes and spoke, and in response to her statement…

Swoosh.

[W-wait a moment! D-don’t take out the axe! I-I didn’t say anything offensive! I just asked for a conversation!]

…Instead of conversation, he reached for his axe first, causing Judia to panic.

“Are you in any position to talk about deals with me? How impudent.”

[…I’m sorry.]

“Is saying sorry the end of social interaction?”

[W-well…]

“I’m joking.”

[……]

“Laugh. I said it was a joke.”

[…Ha, haha…]

She laughed.

It was almost a reflexive laugh, but an empty one without a trace of soul.

She seemed to be on the verge of tears, and others looked at Ihan and the succubus with strange eyes.

It was bewildering to see such an arrogant being suddenly using honorifics and crawling on the ground in submission.

…What on earth had he done with that axe?

“So, what’s this mutually beneficial talk you mentioned?”

At Ihan’s question, which suggested the joke was over, Judia, who had been thoroughly intimidated, opened her mouth with difficulty.

[W-well, it’s nothing special. A-actually, I’ve also investigated some things during these ten days, like… I know about the Brass Knights and Lohengrin…]

It wasn’t particularly strange.

Despite having dual personalities, Pierre and Judia were essentially one and the same.

As long as they shared memories, they would know everything the other knew.

Also…

[A-and this matter isn’t unrelated to me. One way or another, because of them, I’ve gone through some harsh times…]

She had been kidnapped by an illegal mage affiliated with the Blood Cross Army and subjected to human experiments. Although she created the Pierre personality to transfer that suffering, she was clearly a victim who had endured torture-like experiments until then, so it wasn’t strange for her to show interest.

Therefore…

[I’d like to lend a hand… As you know, I’m really useful. I’m a succubus, and I have various abilities. I-I’ll be helpful…]

“Hmm.”

She seemed to lose confidence every time Ihan moved his axe slightly, but her intention was clear.

It was an understandable argument.

She wanted to join the revenge mission to settle past grudges.

‘Repaying grudges is the way of the martial world.’

This was a storyline Ihan quite liked.

The development of seeking revenge to repay an enemy.

…However.

“What’s your real reason?”

[Pardon?]

“I can see your eyes rolling, you bewitching wench. You want something else, don’t you? That’s why your tongue is so long. Tell me. What do you really want? Skip the nonsense about grudges and revenge, and tell me the truth.”

[……]

“How did I know? Because a wicked creature like you wouldn’t be without ulterior motives.”

[…I didn’t say anything, so why are you seeing through me?]

“I can hear it without you speaking. You resemble a spellcaster.”

[……]

Though Judia didn’t know that comparing someone to a mage was the worst insult Ihan could give, she sensed that his treatment of her was negative. She wanted to pout but was too afraid of the gleaming axe, so she raised her hands in surrender instead.

And so…

[Despite your appearance, you’re really perceptive, Sir Knight.]

Along with words that earned her a beating, she revealed her sincere feelings and thoughts. After listening to her plan for about two minutes, his reaction was…

“You really are a vicious woman, aren’t you?”

An exclamation mixed with disgust came out.

He gained the realization that not just anyone could become a villainess.