The Green Forest
I started following the child. She was chewing on a piece of bread with an innocent, carefree smile. She even offered some to me, which suggested she was living fairly well. Compared to the corpses of children who had died in agony inside the laboratory, she had some meat on her bones and a healthy glow to her complexion. Was there really someone here taking responsibility for these kids and looking after them?
That being the case, how on earth had these people managed to get into the Black Round Table’s hideout? Even Werner’s comrades had taken quite a while to locate this place…
Before I knew it, the child and I were standing in front of a massive door. At a glance, it looked well over five meters tall. I was curious how they even opened a steel gate that resembled a castle wall.
The child took a deep breath and shouted at the top of her lungs.
A heavy, booming voice answered from inside.
The voice sounded like Zhang Fei from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. My body instinctively shrank back. It wasn’t just the volume; the enormous presence radiating from within made me feel threatened on a primal level.
Then the giant iron door creaked open with a long groan. The figure that appeared was a giant easily over two and a half meters tall. He wasn’t just tall—he looked like a fortress built entirely of muscle.
"You are…"
"I am Imperial Court Mage Werner Alton. I came to investigate and fell into a trap that brought me here."
"I see. Well met! I am Olgra, leader of the righteous bandit group known as the Green Forest!"
The Green Forest… That was the band of righteous thieves founded by Dark Wing, Squar’s master, before he left. They targeted merchants who amassed wealth through unjust means, criminal organizations that profited from drugs or human trafficking, and distributed the stolen goods to the victims. They even took it upon themselves to liberate slaves along the way.
"The Green Forest… I’ve heard plenty about your reputation. I never imagined I’d meet its leader in a place like this. It’s a pleasure."
If it was the Green Forest, it wouldn’t be strange for them to have infiltrated the Black Round Table. After all, they were among the most skilled righteous thieves out there.
"I never thought I’d meet Werner, one of the heroes, either. Hmm… Standing here talking feels wrong. Come inside for now."
I followed Olgra inside. The interior had the feel of a pyramid’s inner chamber, yet it was surprisingly clean. And inside were children who looked like they had been brought here as test subjects, just like the girl earlier. There were also quite a few people who appeared to be Olgra’s subordinates.
"Kids! The Empire has finally sent someone here!!! Looks like the great Empire isn’t just a bunch of tax-guzzling pigs after all!!!"
What a voice. The man really had the makings of a general. His subordinates were no ordinary fighters either. Each one looked stronger than the Crown Prince’s escort knights.
Of course, those subordinates were staring at me with eyes full of hostility. Even if they called themselves righteous thieves, they were still criminals at heart, so it was only natural they wouldn’t like government officials.
Olgra sent the girl named Amy away and began rummaging through a sack in the corner. For a moment I thought he was pulling out a weapon and my body automatically moved into a defensive stance. But what he took out wasn’t a weapon—it was bread. He held it out to me.
"You must be hungry after coming all this way. Eat."
I wasn’t actually that hungry. On the way here I had eaten the lunchbox Lorsch had packed for me. The taste… honestly, it had been the worst. The meat dishes were all burnt, the sandwiches were too salty, the croquettes were undercooked inside, and even the Heavenly Demon old man had taken one bite of a sandwich before losing consciousness for a solid thirty seconds. The scariest part was that it had looked perfectly appetizing from the outside.
Still, I couldn’t turn down a show of goodwill. I accepted the bread and was about to give it a cautious sniff—just in case it was poisoned—when Olgra noticed and tore off half, taking a big bite first.
"No need to worry about poison. Spiking bread made from the grains our people sweat and bled to grow doesn’t suit the temperament of a righteous thief."
Believing his words, I took a bite. It was hard and slightly burnt, but still edible. The bread was still warm, almost as if it had been kneaded by the hands of the sun itself.
"What business does the Empire have sending you here?"
"As you already know, I received orders to slaughter the Black Round Table bastards who are conducting these trash-like experiments here."
"Oh…? But this place is difficult to reach unless you fall into the trap…"
"…It’s embarrassing to admit, but I stepped right into that trap on the way here."
"Hahahahaha! So even a hero makes mistakes!"
Olgra burst into hearty laughter. Personally, I didn’t dislike people like him. Men who were both bold and kind were rare.
"Then I’ll ask as well… Why have you settled down in a place like this?"
Even if these people had come to rob the Black Round Table, it was strange that they still hadn’t attacked and were instead taking care of the children. Even if they had judged the Black Round Table’s military strength too much for them, they clearly had the ability to escape long ago.
"Hahahaha! Same as you! I made a ridiculous mistake!!!"
"A mistake…?"
"I heard there was a mountain of treasure and valuables piled up here by bandits, so I came to rob it. Who knew it would be a facility like this… Even if we wanted to leave, the ones outside are too terrifying, so we can’t even step out!"
"Then these children…?"
"We’ve been deliberately setting off the traps to rescue the children who try to run away. We’ve been saving them for nearly half a year now… but there are still many we haven’t reached, and I can only feel sorry for the ones who have already died."
"Half a year, huh…"
I roughly understood the situation.
"Let’s stop with the obvious lies. From the looks of it, you’re terrible at lying anyway."
I had no idea where he had learned such nonsense lies.
"Hahahahaha! My apologies. Since I never received a proper education, I never properly learned how to lie either!"
Olgra was still laughing heartily. He smiled kindly at the children and said,
"Kids, Uncle has something to talk about with the new mister, so could you step outside for a bit?"
The children immediately made disappointed faces.
"But Uncle, it’s boring waiting outside…"
"Hahahaha! It’s fine! The talk won’t take long! When we’re done, this uncle will play with you all!"
"Then give me a piggyback ride!"
"I want to sword fight!"
"Alright, alright, I’ll do everything. Just give us a little while."
After saying that, Olgra ushered the children out and closed the thick iron door.
They had been here for half a year and couldn’t go outside, yet there was no way they could have this many sacks full of food. On top of that, bread that was six months old without a single spot of mold? It wasn’t like it was from Shani Bakery.
"Now we can speak comfortably. And thank you for allowing me to send the children out."
"The children have done nothing wrong. I’m not a cold-blooded person who drags innocent kids into these matters. And just to be sure… are you with the Black Round Table?"
Instead of his hearty laugh, Olgra answered with a bitter smile.
"That’s right. I serve as the captain of the guard for one of the Black Round Table’s research facilities."
"I could tell from the children’s expressions alone that you aren’t a bad person. If you surrender now… I can personally persuade His Highness the Crown Prince to let you work under me…"
"Now I see. Even the so-called hero is quite soft-hearted."
Olgra was now looking at me with eyes full of hostility different from before. As expected, he wasn’t an ordinary skilled fighter.
"Soft-hearted…?"
"There is no chance I will betray the Black Round Table."
"Why?"
"If a man loses a fight he has staked something on, isn’t it only natural to accept the result?"
I see. It seemed this guy had been defeated by someone from the Black Round Table and brought into the organization that way.
"Then this time, I will make you an offer, Sir Werner."
"What is it?"
"Join the Black Round Table."
At those words, rage surged through me. To tell me to mingle with the trash who used children as experimental materials and slaughtered innocent people… He had clearly misjudged me.
"What the fuck kind of dogshit are you—"
"The Black Round Table is strong."
"I already know that!"
"It cannot be destroyed from the outside. That is why I wish to change this colossal power from within and use it for righteous purposes."
"What kind of bullshit…"
"There are moderates within the Black Round Table as well. Sir Werner, if you join and lend your strength to the moderates, we can definitely change the Black Round Table!"
Olgra was earnestly pleading. It was certainly a persuasive argument. Changing them from the inside might be easier than attacking from the outside. But… there was something that bothered me.
"Then let me ask you this. Why haven’t you rescued all the children being used as test subjects and are only taking care of the ones who manage to run away?"
"…Conspicuous activity is difficult. So we can only help in ways that don’t draw attention."
If that was the case, my answer was already decided.
"If joining you from the inside means I have to tolerate atrocities like the ones I saw today… then my answer is set in stone."
I showed him my beautiful fist-potato.
"Go eat shit."
Olgra let out a sigh.
"Then it can’t be helped. What a shame. I had thought we might understand each other…"
Olgra took off his upper garment and roared.
"Then I shall kill you, raise my achievements, elevate my position, and fulfill my plan! Forgive me, but I must kill you here, Sir Werner!"
"Sure… Let’s have a fight then."
Olgra and all his subordinates assumed combat stances.
"Pellinore, member of the Black Round Table! To prevent the countless tragedies that will occur in the future, I shall take your life!"
If he was going to come at me like that, it was only polite to respond in kind.
"Imperial Court Mage and one of the heroes, Werner Alton. I cannot overlook the evil being committed here, so I will kill all of you."