The False Hero Captured, Knight's Oath Sealed
'Ah, should I have just killed him from the start?'
That thought crossed my mind, but I wasn't going to kill him. Capturing that bastard alive had boosted Elina Veronica's favor toward me.
'His name's Riku, huh?' Japanese? It hadn't been confirmed he was from the modern dimension yet.
'But judging by his name and the way he talks, it's pretty much certain.'
There were other things that caught my attention too.
"Don't mess around, hero of the empire."
"If you become my woman, I'll be your hero. It's a huge deal having me, Sawada Riku, on your side!"
Sawada Riku. That sealed it—he was definitely from another dimension.
"I refuse. I don't need a hero who loses to one of our lowly soldiers."
Elina said, looking at me.
"Take the hero to the underground dungeon."
"Huh? For real? You don't need me?"
Sawada Riku began drawing up his mana. I did the same.
Kugugugu—!
The overwhelming mana from my surroundings devoured his pathetic mana.
"H-Hek—!"
Sawada Riku, struggling to breathe, dropped to his knees and crawled on the ground.
"Khek... Ck... Kehek...."
He even started drooling.
"Enough. There are things we need to extract from him."
Elina commanded, but her tone lacked any real force.
'The atmosphere's definitely changed.'
Why had it shifted overnight? I looked down at Sawada Riku writhing on the ground.
'Because she saw my power?'
I'd easily subdued the hero—not killed him, but captured him alive. For someone in the chief adjutant position, that was merit enough to earn some favor.
'Looks like this was the right path!'
Sawada Riku passed out and was dragged underground.
"Siegurd, let's talk."
She walked away haughtily, and I followed.
I wasn't the only one trailing her. One knight, Elina, and me.
We arrived at the tent.
"Chris, you're dismissed."
"Lady Elina, but—!"
The man called Chris tried to protest, but he shut his mouth under her gaze.
"...."
The knight's face twisted in frustration, and he stormed out.
Now it was just Elina and me left.
"They captured the hero?"
"Yes, yes! That's right!"
The soldier, full of vigor, shouted.
My ears rang from the loud voice, but that was secondary.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
I left the tent with Chris.
"Who would've thought he'd be that strong."
Captured the hero? Impossible without exceptional power. Heroes transcend dimensions and surpass human limits. To capture one alive, not just kill them...
"I have to make him mine, no matter what."
"...."
Chris stayed silent. That silence meant agreement.
'The elders must have heard this too. I need to recruit him before they do.'
If Siegurd sided with the elders? I'd have no chance.
"Damn it!"
I'd misjudged. Obsessed with the 'lie,' I'd underestimated his strength.
'It's okay, there's still a chance.'
The captured hero, just as reported. Siegurd standing behind him. Soldiers looking at Siegurd with eyes of respect.
Seeing that, I knew the report wasn't false.
The captured hero said something to me, but it didn't register. My focus was solely on Siegurd.
How to make him mine. That's all that mattered.
We threw the hero in the underground dungeon and headed to the tent with Siegurd.
"Chris, you're dismissed."
As a sign of trust, I chose to be alone with him.
Chris left, leaving just Siegurd and me in the tent.
"So, what do you want as a reward for capturing the hero?"
I opened lightly with talk of reward.
"Just so you know, there'll naturally be a monetary bonus too."
So, ask for something beyond money. What does a commoner want most? Money, obviously. A commoner worries about survival first.
Once money worries vanish, what's next?
Some might say no greed once basics are met. But that's ignorance of human nature.
'Humans are greedy creatures.'
Human avarice never fades.
'Just look at the elders.'
They have money, honor—everything. Yet they crave higher positions.
That's humanity. So after money, commoners crave honor. Knowing that, I guided his answer.
"I want to become a knight protecting Lady Veronica."
As expected, Siegurd sought honor. Now just appoint him as my knight.
"Good. We'll do a provisional knighting now, formal later. Chris—!"
Secure him quick before the elders arrive. I called Chris as a witness, but it wasn't him who entered.
"Ah, no! Lady Elina is—!"
"Shut up! How dare a commoner block our path!"
Voices I didn't want to hear. Faces I loathed entered the tent.
"Oh— so you're the one who captured the empire's hero?"
The elders' leader, Kallion, stepped forward and addressed him.
'What an interesting situation?'
Elders barging in mid-conversation with Elina. Her knight trying to stop them. And the info in my head.
Putting it all together, the conclusion was clear.
'Both sides will fight over me.'
I'd become the joker card.
"Keeping our hero in a place like this... tsk tsk. This is why uneducated bitches are..."
The last part was muttered, but I heard it all. It was meant for Elina's ears.
"And shouldn't we all discuss the hero's reward together?"
On that point, the old man's right. Family rewards need family consultation.
"Then, hero, why not join us for a meal?"
Two options emerged after they entered.
Play both sides between the elders and Elina. Use that to flirt with Elina.
Or become Elina's loyal knight. That'd raise intimacy fast.
'Ah, which to choose.'
Either way, I'd end up with Elina, but the process differed. My lips kept curling up.
I covered my mouth to hide the smile.
'Well, decision later.'
For now, I followed the elders out. I'd need their help for option one.
Elina followed too.
"I'll come along."
"Isn't the Archduke busy?"
Basically, butt out.
"Can't have the 'Archduke' missing a celebration for the hero."
Now Elina had the justification; they couldn't refuse. An awkward dinner ensued.
Talk of rewards, but really just endless glaring and probing.
"He said he wants to be my knight."
"Oh dear, to be precise, 'Veronica's' knight, not yours, right?"
Seeing them snipe with smiles, I sighed.
'Scrap option one?'
Option one meant enduring this daily. My head already throbbed; every day? No thanks.
'Yeah, scrapped.'
Plus, option one could backfire easily. So, safe option two it was.
They were still arguing over whose knight I'd be.
I met Elina's eyes.
"I..."
I spoke amid their bickering. One elder noticed my odd vibe.
"Interrupting nobles' talk!"
He snapped.
"Enough. The person's own wish matters most, no?"
Elina shut him down.
"Yes, speak your desire."
"I want to be Elina's knight."
"Hah...."
The elders sighed; Elina smiled faintly.
No more arguments after that.
The elders mentioned more later, but...
'Nothing there.'
Probably had something, then scrapped it. No chance I'd side with them, so enemy now.
'Don't they usually try recruiting a few times?'
Recruiting elders. Anxious Elina watching. Tempting scene, but not in this timeline.
I left the Veronica estate. Only Elina greeted me.
"It's late; details tomorrow."
"Yes, understood."
Her voice now held goodwill. Not as a lover, but as a subordinate. Still...
'Huge progress from day one.'
Her icy blade-like words now warmed.
'This might be easier than I thought?'
After parting, I headed straight to the tavern.
'Time to gather intel.'
On the protagonist. And the hero.
I opened the tavern door. The rowdy place fell silent.
All eyes on me.
"Isn't this the North's hero?"
A man approached, slinging an arm around my shoulder.
"North's hero?"
"Yeah, man! The true hero who took down that fake!"
Drunk and staggering, he handed me beer.
"Thanks to you, everyone here's alive!"
Victory party in full swing.
"Hell yeah! My treat tonight!"
I played along, then casually asked about the hero.
"The hero? I know all about him!"
A man in his mid-40s sat beside me.
"It's cheap for my life debt, but ask away!"
From him, I learned about the hero.