The Noble Bandit's End
Pelinoer's ability was truly extraordinary. He absorbed every bit of damage meant for his allies, yet somehow endured blows that should have killed him dozens of times over. Honestly, his sheer toughness made me think of the heroes from old myths. Paired with that massive frame of his, he looked like a towering guardian statue come to life.
"You're quite nimble! It seems Archmages are no slouches when it comes to physical combat either?"
"I learned the basics of swordsmanship and hand-to-hand fighting from my brothers back in the day."
To be honest, I was still dodging by the thinnest of margins. If I mixed in physical techniques for counterattacks, the situation would change completely, but that would be the same as breaking the promise I'd made to myself. I would face this man purely as Werner. Even if it cost me my life.
"Ugh..."
Pelinoer couldn't endure the growing sting of his burns and let out a short groan. Most of his subordinates had already collapsed, unable to bear the pain. He had said he would absorb the damage, but he never claimed he could absorb the pain that came with it. Since I wasn't entirely sure, I kept experimenting with quick, simple spells. As expected, they didn't hinder his movements much, but I could see him grit his teeth or wince slightly the instant each one landed.
Still, momentary pain wasn't enough to subdue his men. That's when I remembered a rumor from my old world: the greatest pain imaginable was burning alive. So I cast the spell Werner had developed—Hellfire. The intense blue flames, fueled by the target's own guilt, were more than enough to overwhelm Pelinoer's subordinates.
"As expected... the tiger's underlings really are tigers."
They truly lived up to the name of the Green Forest Bandits.
The power of Hellfire changed depending on the guilt the target carried. The fact that they burned so fiercely with those blue flames meant they felt deep remorse for allowing this situation to happen. They were nothing like the scum who had slaughtered Count Holstead's family.
"I'll ask you one last time. If you surrender even now, I'll extinguish the flames and let you work under me. Do you truly have no desire to walk this path with me?"
Even as his entire body was being scorched, Pelinoer never lost his smile. I had no idea how his body was built. In terms of pure tanking ability, he far surpassed Ricardo or my brother Melchior.
"Even if we call ourselves righteous bandits, thieves must live in the shadows. Just as a lion does not graze on grass, a thief does not receive the king's stipend."
"....What do you mean?"
"Even righteous bandits who break the law must be executed. If you employ the likes of us, it will bring chaos to the kingdom, and innocent citizens will suffer in that turmoil. Didn't you say you would start by saving those closest to you? It seems we are fated to fight like this."
I hated the glorification of villains. But this man... I wanted to bring him to my side by any means necessary. Someone so full of chivalry, so upright—I wanted to pull him into my camp no matter what.
"In that case, if you secretly cooperated with me as an informant..."
"Do not underestimate the Black Round Table. Such shallow tricks would be discovered immediately. Besides... I despise deceiving the people from the shadows."
Yes, the one in the wrong was me. Even if his convictions were pointed in the wrong direction, they shone more upright and pure than anyone else's.
"You're truly the best... Yeah... It's a shame we can't walk together. How nice it would have been if we'd met before you became tainted by this place."
"I feel the same. If only you had a little more flexibility."
"Isn't the lack of flexibility mutual?"
Pelinoer chuckled softly at my joke. Even if he was only absorbing the damage, the pain of his body burning dozens of times over had to be excruciating.
"A man like you, so devoted to chivalry that you'd reject my offer..."
"Someone like you, who refuses to compromise and thus won't take the hand of someone like me who's already fallen into evil..."
"Resenting the fact that we didn't meet before I stepped onto the path of evil, I will execute you."
"I will fight on with the hope that righteous people still exist in this world."
I summoned Armadura. It was my way of showing him respect, a sign that I would fight with everything I had.
"Die, Archmage!"
"...I was hoping you'd live, noble bandit."
I gathered mana at my fingertips like always. Killing someone who might have become a truly good friend was painful.
Pelinoer picked up his dagger again and charged at me. With burns that severe, killing me would still mean his own certain death. Did he want to defeat me that badly? Even if it cost him his life? Even if it meant he could never establish the justice he sought? Was his pride that important?
"O King of the Steel Spirits, forge a blade that can slay even the gods."
I could have made a longsword, but I deliberately created a dagger that fit my hand perfectly. I adjusted my grip and watched Pelinoer rush forward.
"Hah! No matter if you're the Archmage, if you think you can beat me with dagger skills you only learned on the surface..."
Shluk!
My dagger plunged straight through Pelinoer's flesh and pierced his heart.
"This dagger technique... isn't like any mage's hand movements I've seen..."
The wound was fatal. If I had followed up with lightning or fire magic, he would have collapsed instantly. But I had intentionally crafted an unbreakable dagger using steel-attribute magic.
"Yes, this isn't the Archmage's technique."
If he wanted to fight that desperately for his pride, even at the cost of his life... I decided to break my oath. If he wanted to defeat the Archmage so badly, I would help him do it. After all, unlike him, I couldn't throw away my life for romance or pride. I simply wanted to give him something in return for that sight.
"Congratulations, Pelinoer... No, Olrag. You have defeated the 'Archmage.' And sadly, you were defeated by a coward."
"Hah... That's quite the happy news. By the way, I have one request."
"A request... I'll hear it first."
"I've released the imprint that was absorbing the impacts on my subordinates' bodies. Now that I'm falling, they have no chance of winning against you. Rather than let them keep suffering the pain of burning, please grant them a swift end."
"Understood."
That was a request I could fulfill.
"O Steel Dragon, pierce my enemies' bodies with your fangs."
The spears I created drove straight through Olrag's subordinates. They died instantly, without even a moment to feel pain.
"Thank you truly."
"Still, it's surprising how lively you are with your heart pierced."
"I'm just squeezing out the last of my strength. What could be more ridiculous than the boss dying before his subordinates?"
Ha... What a damn fool. It really sucked that I hadn't met him sooner.
"Lastly..."
Just then, children's voices came from outside.
"Uncle! What happened? Were you fighting?"
"We kept hearing strange noises from inside!"
"Did you fight the new uncle? Talk it out, talk it out!"
When he heard the children, Olrag groaned and forced himself to his feet. With faltering steps, he leaned against the iron door and shouted.
"Kids, your uncle is fine! Look, my usual booming voice! What better proof could there be that I'm okay?!!!"
He was forcing the words out. Even while dying, he squeezed every ounce of strength into his voice to reassure the children.
"Your big boss uncle and the other uncles have to go far away for a while on some business! So can you listen well to the new uncle for just a little bit?!!!"
The children hesitated for a moment, but when Olrag asked, they answered that they understood. Only then did Olrag turn toward me with a smile on his face.
"Lastly... I leave those children in your care. Unlike me, you don't compromise... You're the kind of person who would save the enemy before your eyes..."
"Yes, I promise. Any more last words?"
"Haa... With gratitude for that fact, I will speak. The Tower Master of the Earth Magic Tower... he is one of our Black Round Table... In truth... he is also the boss of a massive bandit syndicate... Please have a proper conversation with him... He, like me, is a foolish man who has taken the wrong path..."
"Alright. I'll do as you said."
"I wanted to die as a righteous bandit... but as you said, I who compromised with evil... die as nothing more than a pathetic thief... How truly regretful..."
With those words, Olrag's breath stopped. Damage that would have killed an ordinary person dozens—no, over a hundred times—he had endured it all, and even left behind a magnificent last testament. He was a foolish yet truly remarkable man.
I approached him and gently closed his eyes.
"Unfortunately, I have no tears to shed for a member of the Black Round Table."
I took a piece of bread from my pocket. It was the slice that the little girl named Amy had forced into my hands earlier.
"But... I can at least leave an offering."
Wasn't sharing bread without hesitation to the poor and starving the creed of the Green Forest? If so, there could be no more fitting tribute for him than that single piece of bread.