Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Ally (3)
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Carlyle let out a heavy internal sigh as he spoke.
‘Is the Hero nearby by any chance?’
[She’s following from a distance.]
…No way.
He’d only asked because that Jealousy thing had suddenly popped up in front of him, but it was real.
It was a bit odd to get jealous over her just being with another female student, but considering the target was Elena—who had openly picked a fight with him before—it made some sense.
It probably felt like one of her own defecting to the enemy and cozying up.
‘…This is all for the public good in the first place.’
Carlyle thought as he gazed at the students scattered before him.
The student he had just mercilessly beaten with the Holy Sword was gasping raggedly on the ground.
‘I wonder if it’s really okay to go around doing this kind of thing.’
[No need for pity.]
The Holy Sword added indifferently.
[These are the Devil Worshippers’ plants, seeded in advance. If left alone, they’d masquerade as normal students and spread poison throughout the academy.]
That was why Carlyle was now beating these people down without a word—to prevent that in advance.
And sure enough, as it spoke, a black energy slowly seeped from the mouth of the sprawled student.
It was so faint that only Carlyle, tipped off in advance, would notice.
This was the ‘seal’ the Devil Worshippers had unconsciously imprinted on the student.
A vicious technique that forced ‘certain actions’ subconsciously.
These students had it implanted without knowing and were being used by them.
Carlyle’s assaults with the Holy Sword were to extract it from their bodies.
…Though he wondered if beating them was truly necessary, the Holy Sword insisted there was no other way.
[To uproot shady machinations, you must methodically dismantle the opponent’s moves from the very foundation. This is part of that.]
It wouldn’t yield immediate results, but water dripping wears away stone. Cutting off the roots was crucial.
‘But how do we clean this up later?’
Skipping classes on the first day to beat up other students.
No matter the good intentions, it wouldn’t look good.
Causing a scene and drawing eyes was something he’d rather avoid altogether.
[Don’t worry about that.]
‘Pardon?’
[These guys all have dirty skeletons in their closets if you dig into their backgrounds. That’s why they caught the Devil Worshippers’ eye in the first place. Just spin a tale around that.]
‘…’
[Claim they picked a fight with you. Simple enough.]
This thing was insane.
He was the one grabbing passersby and beating them without question.
[But it’s quick and effectively thwarts their schemes, no?]
‘…Hmm.’
[They won’t even remember what happened after a beating like this, so fabricate the story later.]
‘…Hmmm.’
[We’re not doing anything truly evil. Left as is, they’d face summary execution under imperial law.]
Anyone collaborating with Devil Worshippers was death-row eligible, even for murder. By that measure, this was practically merciful…
Carlyle stroked his chin as he listened to the Holy Sword’s calm explanation.
What could he say?
It was all too true.
‘Let’s call it a net positive?’
[Net positive it is.]
They were preventing far worse unconscious misdeeds, so it balanced out to zero.
“Um, why are you doing this…?”
Someone didn’t agree, apparently.
Elena’s pupils shook violently beside him.
Her commoner sensibilities couldn’t handle what Carlyle was doing.
Of course—from her ignorant perspective, it just looked like he was dragging random strangers into alleys and beating them one by one.
“It’s necessary.”
Carlyle said as he slung the Holy Sword onto his back.
Explaining Devil Worshippers in detail would only lead to “How do you know that?” and more headaches.
Better to brush it off.
“But on my lady’s honor, I’m not harassing innocents.”
…He wasn’t sure Gray even had “honor,” but she was the Hero, so her name carried weight.
At those words, Elena’s eyes widened, then softened dreamily.
Who knew what she was thinking, but she sidled up grinning and poked his side.
“Oh, is that it? You should’ve said so~”
“Pardon?”
“This is preemptive intimidation, right? Like, ‘the lady’s mine, hands off’?”
‘…’
How pink was her brain to jump straight to that?
“There are plenty of immature fools burning with jealousy over that monster. Anyway, she’s a beauty and the Hero, right? I’ve heard even the guys you beat were weirdly obsessed with her.”
‘…’
“You must feel something for her too, huh? That’s why you’re marking your territory like this?”
‘…As if.’
[System Message]
▶ Target ‘Gray’s mood worsens!
▶ Vigilance trait ‘Jealousy’ level increases!
‘…’
He could picture Gray’s face crumpling from wherever she watched.
‘No, seriously.’
She clearly wouldn’t want anything romantic with him, yet denying it outright soured her mood again.
[Rejecting her is different from being rejected by her.]
‘She’s ridiculously finicky.’
[…Just keep that in mind for now.]
‘…? ’
Whatever that meant.
‘Looks like we’ve got something new to worry about.’
Elena’s words couldn’t be dismissed lightly.
Every seal-bearing victim obsessed over the Hero? Too coincidental.
[I don’t recall them having that trait. Strange.]
Even Gray—who remembered every Devil Worshipper plant—said as much.
So, the key point was.
‘There’s a discrepancy.’
Still minor.
But something was twisted.
He didn’t know how it’d backlash, so thorough countermeasures were essential.
Solidify what he could, now.
“Who’s next?”
He pulled out the description the Holy Sword provided.
This was supposedly the last one.
“Uh, th-that’s…”
Elena immediately identified who and where.
…Impressively competent.
Wide network, quick thinker, great memory.
For someone the Hero deemed sword-proficient, she seemed inexplicably timid—but that oddly inspired trust she wouldn’t cause trouble.
‘You blew this one’s head off?’
[…My mistake.]
Even the Holy Sword conceded without retort to Carlyle’s jab.
Keeping her alive was a smart call. Lucky, even.
“…What?”
‘…’
Withdraw that.
Luck had nothing to do with it.
This was rotten fortune.
“Do you need something from me?”
The polite yet cocky male student’s tone sparked the thought.
His looks weren’t special, but the ‘family crest’ on his uniform was the issue.
Carlyle glanced at it.
‘Grimwald Count Family…’
Not on par with Chasefield Ducal House, but a respected martial house. And this was one of theirs.
[Leon Grimwald… I remember.]
‘Anything besides the name?’
[Forgot. Insignificant pest.]
‘…’
[Only that he was a Devil Worshipper plant. Killed him on sight and forgot.]
‘…Ah, got it.’
[Even as a noble martial house member, he can’t fight you. You dropped a Templar in one hit.]
‘Big problem, though.’
[What.]
‘I can’t fight anymore.’
[…]
No face to see, but the Holy Sword was surely giving him a pathetic look.
Handling the Hero’s mana through his body nonstop was impossible from the start.
After several beatings, his body was straining—fighting again would break him.
As he thought that, Leon Grimwald strode up.
Polite smile on his face, but disdain simmered clearly in his eyes.
“-Oh, you. I remember now.”
His voice spat the words, hostility sharpening.
“The guy glued to the Hero at the imperial banquet?”
‘…’
“The lackey who acted like he was something, hovering around her?”
Carlyle blinked at the blatant provocation.
‘Why’s he so hung up on that?’
[Must’ve had his eye on her. I was pretty popular.]
‘…’
[…It’s true. Pretend to agree a little.]
‘Shut up.’
Carlyle furrowed his brow.
Anyway.
Even if he couldn’t fight now, he had no intention of letting this one go.
Who knew what variable he’d become? Better handle it fast.
So.
‘Hero.’
[What.]
‘Is the lady still tailing us?’
[Presence lingers.]
‘She doesn’t know we’ve noticed?’
[Obviously. What do you take me for?]
Right.
Carlyle sighed inwardly.
[Got a plan?]
‘Something like one. Can’t just let him be.’
Gray was tailing for a reason—something irked her greatly.
So, he’d indulge her mood.
‘Let’s see…’
A way to resolve this and cheer Gray up.
Surely existed.
‘Hero.’
[Yes.]
‘Do you remember how far to hit these guys without killing them?’
[…]
…Might be a bit radical.
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