Chapter 13
Chapter 13
“Those guys were members of an organization called ‘Corso’ that dominates this outer district, Your Highness.”
“Strangely, you figured that out faster than expected…?”
“Even if they’re criminals, they’re just physically strong civilians.”
People like this tend to break easily under stronger pressure.
With just a bit of physical persuasion, you can extract almost everything they know.
“They admitted that they were indeed the ones behind the recent disturbance in the capital’s public order.”
“Where’s their base?”
“They operate as a cell-based network. They have branches in the northern outskirts where we are now, and also in the east, west, south, and even the central district where the imperial palace is located.”
“So it’s bigger than I thought.”
“Yes. In terms of scale, I believe it’s too much for me and Senior Cecilia alone, Your Highness.”
If I really wanted to, I could wipe out an organization like this.
The problem is time. If we go around dismantling each branch one by one, information will eventually leak. And lastly, there are likely some strong individuals among them.
I already knew this from experience. In the previous timeline, Yuria Rosehill failed to completely eradicate this organization and ended up suffering greatly afterward.
To take down a group like this, emotion must be suppressed. Rational thinking is essential.
That’s what I was taught by my father’s mercenary friend. And I had applied it myself before.
So—
“We should report this to His Majesty, Your Highness Yuria. That way, we can justify mobilizing the Imperial Knight Order.”
“To Father… report it?”
“Isn’t Your Highness meant to become the Emperor?”
“That’s a dangerous thing to say, you know.”
“Yes. I understand. And I also understand that if Your Highness does not become Emperor, you may be killed by your siblings.”
“Demian Knight, that’s quite disrespectful.”
Cecilia Silvestra’s voice turned sharp as she scolded me.
“Apologies. However, after reviewing everything I’ve done, I couldn’t help but arrive at that conclusion.”
“It’s fine. He’s not entirely wrong.”
Yuria Rosehill looked down at her own hand quietly.
“I have no power. Until I come of age, I’m nothing but a weak child. If it weren’t for Demian and Cecilia, I would have died at any time.”
That was true.
In the previous timeline, she was exactly that kind of existence.
“…Your Highness is of dragon-kin blood, Demian Knight. So…”
“Yes. I’ve heard from the Commander. We have about one year left until she comes of age, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“For that one year, I will use everything I have to protect Her Highness Yuria.”
That was my decision.
A happy ending suits her far more than a bad ending.
“…So please report this matter to His Majesty. It is better than something going wrong because we handled it alone.”
“Alright.”
Yuria nodded slightly.
“Then let’s head back to the palace.”
“And we’re bringing the captured one, right?”
“As for the others, they’re all dead except one. Only one is being kept alive. The rest have been buried.”
“Pardon?”
“They were deeply involved in criminal activity. It’s better to eliminate them than drag too many witnesses around.”
If we brought too many captured men into the capital outskirts, the organization would notice and quickly change its operations.
To prevent that, getting blood on my hands was necessary.
I had already killed enough criminals during my mercenary days that killing was no longer unfamiliar.
Or rather… perhaps it’s more accurate to say I was just culling beasts that had broken loose.
“…Demian Knight, that’s quite a ruthless side of you.”
“If you aren’t ruthless, you lose everything.”
It might be difficult for someone who hasn’t seen the world’s cruelty yet to understand.
“You do have a point,” Yuria said softly.
“…Perhaps I lack that ruthlessness.”
Cecilia added quietly as well.
It seemed my words had struck something in them.
“Then let’s return. It’s time to report this to His Majesty.”
“Yes.”
We returned to the palace.
◈
“Hmm. So you investigated the disturbance in the capital?”
“Yes, Father.”
Yuria handed a thick report to Emperor Perseo Rosehill.
“…And you did this alone?”
“No. I was accompanied by Demian Knight and Cecilia Knight. The greatest contribution was made by Demian Knight.”
“You’re asking me to handle this instead of taking credit for it yourself?”
The Emperor’s gaze sharpened.
Yuria swallowed hard.
“I didn’t want innocent citizens to suffer for my personal merit.”
A brief silence followed.
Then—
“Ha.”
The Emperor chuckled.
“Interesting. Approved, Yuria Rosehill.”
“…Huh?”
“If you had recklessly tried to solve this for personal glory, a disaster would have followed. I was already aware of that organization.”
“You already knew…?”
“I am the Emperor. There is nothing happening in this nation that escapes my eyes.”
He continued calmly.
“I was merely waiting for the right moment. And now, thanks to you, I have the exact locations of every branch.”
He smiled faintly.
“Good work.”
“I just did what I had to.”
“That is not something everyone can do.”
He paused.
“…I’m sorry. To you, and to your mother.”
“It’s alright.”
The Emperor then offered:
“Name your reward. Anything.”
“I already have one.”
Yuria answered immediately.
“Please appoint Demian Knight as my personal guard.”
◈
“The northern district is cleared!”
“The western branch has been eliminated!”
The eradication of the criminal organization ‘Corso’ progressed swiftly.
Emperor Perseo Rosehill deployed the Imperial Knight Order immediately, turning the operation into a coordinated sweep.
‘So this is thanks to the intel I provided.’
His precision was terrifying.
The Emperor was someone who could turn a single piece of information into a full-scale purge.
‘If he ever decided I was an enemy… I’d disappear without a trace.’
That thought alone was unsettling.
At that moment—
“Demian Knight! There you are!”
“Vice Commander? What is it?”
“His Majesty is calling for you.”
“…Me?”
I froze slightly.
The operation wasn’t even finished yet.
And the Emperor himself was calling for me.