Chapter 75
Chapter 75
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Phantom Thief Dauphin (18) - For Order's Sake, Defying Order
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Though they'd suffered some humiliation at Dauphin's hands, the Sarunos Knights were still powerhouses among powerhouses, elites among elites.
Whether it was their family prestige, individual prowess, or collective reputation, few in the Kingdom of Virka could match them. Unless it involved the "lord's son" exception, they rarely dropped their haughty attitudes.
These were the men who would beat a guard captain black and blue just to vent their frustrations before replacing him. Their attitude toward mere commoners was as predictable as fire burning.
But at this moment, the intensely hostile atmosphere blanketing all of Levruk forced even them to instinctively watch their surroundings.
"Fine, let's say people can bluff a bit. Let's say mistakes happen. But... after screwing up themselves and refusing to take responsibility, they frame some innocent party? Someone who was doing their job fine before they showed up? Is that the kind of twisted logic a human being comes up with?"
"You're the Sarunos Knights, the pride of Sarunos! Since when did you start calling scum who drag the family name through the mud your 'pride'?!"
"Hey, you thug bastards!! Don't you have any shame?!"
The knights' reputation had never been great to begin with, but this was on another level entirely.
What used to be hushed whispers behind their backs had turned into open, public insults.
This time, even the other nobles weren't sympathetic toward the knights.
"Th... those idiots! If you're gonna do it, at least don't get caught!"
"Argh! These stupid sword-swinging morons try to play smart for once and end up ruining our reputations too!"
"Brother! Brother!! How did it come to this?! The knights took people away for 'protection,' and what the hell did they do?!"
Immoral scheming? That was whatever.
No, they could even acknowledge that the knights had done everything in their power.
But their utter incompetence—letting their headquarters get ransacked overnight and leaking nobles' "private conversations" to the public—was unforgivable.
Now the entire nobility of Levruk was branded as villains ripe for killing!
The knights had initially tried to claim it was all "magically forged fakes," but no one among the citizens bought it.
If it were just scattered cards, sure, there'd be doubt. But with the blatant evidence displayed right next to them, claiming only the voices were fake? That didn't add up.
'A failure so complete they can't even make excuses.'
Inside the grand mansion.
The knight commander's eyes, usually cold and overlooking everyone with supreme confidence, now trembled violently.
They hadn't noticed their protectees being kidnapped en masse.
Their scheme to turn the tables had been turned against them.
Any one of those would be embarrassing to report to the count. But both happening at once? In a way that couldn't even be cleaned up.
He still couldn't comprehend it.
"How... how exactly?"
Dauphin had used tunnels for the heist.
And tunnels required enormous time and effort to prepare.
Magic could shorten it somewhat, but even then, if they'd been digging underground like that, he would've sensed the mana and vibrations.
There was only one conclusion.
"They prepared it in advance. Predicted we'd gather the protectees here if things went south!"
Realizing they'd danced in the palm of a mere thief's hand, the knight commander felt rage boiling his blood alongside a chill running down his spine.
Seeing the commander more flustered than ever, the vice-commander cautiously spoke up.
"Whatever Dauphin's tricks, the important thing is what we do next, right?"
"Next? It's already over. What the hell are you talking about?"
"Have you forgotten? The count's order was 'capture Dauphin and bring me his head.' We used the VIPs as bait to lure him—that wasn't the core of the command."
It was sophistry.
True, the count had demanded Dauphin's head directly, but it was obvious he meant secure the city too while bringing it.
"You think the count will forgive us for that?"
"If the knights appear to 'lose' to Dauphin like this, that'll be truly unforgivable. You know that!"
The Sarunos Knights were the count's pride.
Their military might wasn't everything, but it was the most symbolic force, beyond doubt.
For that symbol to be unilaterally toyed with by a single thief and defeated?
Afterward, would people fear the knights? Show them respect?
And would the count forgive those who'd turned his pride into a laughingstock?
The knight commander's gaze hardened coldly.
"...Is there a way?"
"Dauphin cares extremely about the commoners' safety. How many nobles tried retaliating against them after suffering at his hands? All thwarted by Dauphin's intervention."
In other words, physically threatening the commoners could draw Dauphin out.
"Target the slums. They have nothing anyway—no impact on taxes. And those yapping crowds outside will shut up once they see blood up close."
A knight order meant to maintain public order and fight external threats, now turning swords on the domain's own people. Utter madness.
But the commander knew.
A feared military force had endless uses. A despised one had none.
"Assemble the entire knight order."
Grinding his teeth, the knight commander gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist tightly.
Guard barracks prison.
"So, the whole city's cursing the knights and nobles now, full of voices missing the captain! With the false charges cleared, it's only a matter of time before you get out!"
"...Yeah."
Dalia gave a wry smile from behind the bars, looking a bit troubled at her excited 8th Squad female squad member's report on the outside situation.
Having the false charges lifted was joyful, of course. Grateful that the citizens missed her.
A twinge of satisfaction at the knights getting their comeuppance... honestly, she felt that too.
Yet Dalia couldn't smile brightly.
'In the end, it all ended in Dauphin's victory.'
She'd worked to stop him, swung her spear to capture him.
But the phantom thief she'd confronted boldly claimed victory while she was away.
After this, she'd still be a guard, he'd still be the thief—but they'd never face off again.
Judging by his actions so far, he'd move on to another territory.
Finally, Dalia pinpointed the bitter feeling lingering in her chest.
She wasn't feeling defeat as a guard over the phantom thief Dauphin's win.
As human Dalia, she regretted not properly concluding their contest.
'...No wonder I can't say anything to the squad members cheering for Dauphin.'
Unaware of Dalia's deep sigh, the squad member went, "Oh, right," and pulled something out to hand over.
Dalia tilted her head at what looked like a book.
"What's this?"
"A gift for you, Captain? They meant to deliver it right after finishing, but only squad members can visit now, so they entrusted it to me. Uh, he was a bit older than you, average-looking overall, but with mischievous eyes? Yeah, that vibe. Know him?"
Dalia's light green eyes widened.
She took the book through the bars and began examining it.
Dalia wasn't much of a reader normally.
Her father had taught her basics, but he wasn't highly educated himself, so beyond simple sentences, she struggled with complex content.
But this book? No trouble at all.
Large parts were illustrations, and the text avoided noble jargon entirely.
Above all, Dalia already "knew" this content.
Not as knowledge—as instinct.
"Captain? Why the blank stare? I glanced through—no weird drawings or anything..."
Misinterpreting Dalia's daze, the squad member asked worriedly.
But before Dalia could respond, a sound reached both their ears.
A bizarre voice, like echoes crammed into a cave.
Realizing it was amplified by a magic device, Dalia reflexively focused her hearing.
No, she didn't even need to. It echoed across the entire city.
Dalia doubted her ears for a moment.
But the squad member's horrified expression beyond the bars confirmed it wasn't a hallucination.
Justice.
The word crawling into her ears made Dalia feel revulsion, like bugs skittering over her skin.
Not the word itself—but those perverting it as an excuse.
Dalia couldn't hold back anymore.
Crack!
She shattered the special handcuffs made to restrain knights in one go, then approached the cell door and forced it open.
No—she ripped the iron door clean off.
Krunch!
"Wh-what are you—uh, er."
The intervening jailer froze mid-sentence, terrified by the brute spectacle.
The squad member was equally stunned.
"C-Captain?"
"My armor—no, even just my spear. Where is it?"
"Uh, th-that."
"Hurry!"
"In the 8th Squad ready room!"
Dalia kicked off the ground.
She knew this was a crime.
She knew it completely negated the "uphold order and discipline" she'd endured through anger, frustration, and injustice.
Even knowing that, Dalia moved.
She couldn't not move.
Different.
Perhaps not so different. Ignoring the sensation of two men's voices merging, Dalia ran and ran, praying she wasn't too late.
The laws and justice she'd debated, discussed, and built with 'him'.
For her own.