Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: I Become a Royal Knight (5)
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You and I didn't get along from the very first moment we met.
Elves despised dwarves, dwarves despised elves. A symbiotic relationship built on mutual loathing. We'd brawl whenever we got the chance. Sometimes our childish pranks even put the captain in a tough spot.
But even we couldn't deny that we were comrades walking the same path. And at the end of that path, we believed without a doubt that glory awaited.
[Ah... my vision's going dark...]
[I don't want to die. I don't want to die!!]
[Why do we have to be the ones who die?!]
Each one a renowned hero of legend, yet their final words were so utterly ordinary. Desperate cries from those who simply didn't want to die. And the overwhelming despair that crushed that desperation without mercy.
A forced, reckless expedition. But no one spoke against it—no one wanted to bear the fallout. And we paid dearly for that arrogance.
[I thought the human king was blinded by jealousy. But maybe it was me who was truly blind.]
[Captain...?!]
[Take this. It's the scroll I prepared for emergencies. Use it to get out of here right now.]
Her voice remained steady as ever. But her condition was anything but good. Her right arm hung in tatters, shredded like rags. Her torn abdomen had entrails peeking out.
[But Captain, if we escape, what about you...?!]
[No one but me can buy the time to use that scroll. You know that.]
[......]
[Go. At least you survive and bide your time for revenge. That's my... final order as captain.]
The captain stayed behind alone. It couldn't be helped. Just as she said, only she could create an opening for the scroll. A rational choice. That's what I desperately tried to convince myself.
Because otherwise...
I wouldn't be able to hold on.
It's crumbling. The ground is crumbling away into endless darkness. Still falling. The hell I witnessed that day haunts my mind and won't leave. And I'm sure it's the same for you.
[The new captain of the Royal Knights...?]
[That's right. Word is, he's the only one who predicted the Royal Knights' total annihilation.]
[......]
[With that kind of insight and strategy, he won't fall short as captain, at least.]
Lies. They just needed a scapegoat. They didn't want to shoulder the blame for the Royal Knights' wipeout, so they turned a blind eye to the real issue and picked a sacrificial lamb instead.
But there was nothing more to say. In the end, we were nothing but stragglers. And the stragglers set off for the kingdom to meet our new captain.
No words passed between us. Our lifeless eyes had long given up on facing each other. The other's wretched state was no different from our own. Mocking one another.
[Stupid dwarf. What makes you think you can shovel food like that?]
[I can still see your sniveling, tear-streaked face. Elf.]
Insincere barbs spilled out. That horrific ordeal had left us raw and on edge. That rawness turned into razor-sharp blades that stabbed at each other. Emotions we couldn't even tell were anger or self-loathing.
It's because we couldn't forgive each other.
No.
We couldn't forgive ourselves.
Humans have a surprisingly sly side. Unable to turn that blade inward, they aim it at someone in the same boat. It was the same for her. The clashes grew fiercer.
So at least...
Let's clash for real.
Then maybe, just for a moment...
We can forget this fear.
Pathetic. Heroes, they called us—devoured by fear, turning our weapons on each other. Self-destruction. The perfect end for those of us who'd lost everything and our way.
So.
Raise your sword. Raise your hammer.
Kill. Or be killed.
See? You can do it.
I'm plenty strong.
Yeah? Then...
Why didn't you fight back then?
Why did you just run?
Because of you. Because of me.
The captain died.
No one could step in. There was only one person who could have stopped us. Maybe deep down, I was hoping that one person would show up and pull us apart.
[Come on now, that's enough. Sparring time's over.]
[This isn't sparring! I want to end that damn dwarf for good!]
[That's exactly what I've been waiting for!]
We couldn't accept the captain's death. So we kept fighting, secretly hoping she'd appear and stop us. A wish that could never come true. That's what I told myself.
In that instant, our attacks halted as if by magic. Not through brute force, but by gently catching our hands. And pinning the dwarf's hammer to the ground. It reminded me of the captain.
'Captain...?!'
I couldn't even track the movement. When I snapped to, my hands were restrained. The dwarf's prized hammer was crushed underfoot into the dirt. And at the center stood him.
"Pathetic. And you dare call yourselves knights?"
He barked at us. As if seeing right through who we were in that moment.
All the audiovisual tricks employed in theater...
That's called staging. So what I'm doing right now is pretty much the same. The key is making it look good. From their perspective, it probably seems like I blocked their attacks.
Even Royal Knights would be thrown off if some intruder suddenly parried their strikes. But that surprise only lasts a second or two at most.
I flicked my eyes sideways. Confirmed the elf and dwarf staring at me. I promptly released the elf's hands and pulled my foot back from the hammer.
No point sticking around— I'd just get overpowered eventually. Worst case, I'd take a bad hit and snap something. So this was enough; time to let everyone go.
Of course, the crucial part was my expression. I couldn't let any fear show. Grit my teeth, bite my tongue if I had to—keep a calm face no matter what.
"Who the hell are you, barging in like this?"
"You blocked our attacks that easily. No way..."
"This must be the guy the human king was talking about."
"......"
Good. Step one: got their attention. But this little act isn't the endgame. No, the real show's just starting. I looked them over.
Silver hair flowing like moonlight down to her waist, blue eyes brimming with hostility over flawless porcelain skin. The picture-perfect elf.
But the dwarf was the issue. Like I said before, this is an eroge. You think players want bearded, stubby old dudes in their fantasy harem?
She stood about 140cm tall—tiny, like an elementary schooler. Short brown bob brushing her shoulders. Pumpkin-orange eyes gleaming.
In this game, dwarves come in two flavors: loli or shota. You can't go there with actual kids, so dwarves fill that niche as proxies.
Dwarves are half-spirits like elves, so they stop aging physically after a certain point. Legally kosher. Age-wise, at least.
"More capable than I figured."
"Don't spout that arrogant crap. That's why elves get flak."
"Too short down there—can't hear you."
"Elf."
"Guess we settle this life-or-death today."
"......"
The elf tossed out her line with amusement, and the dwarf shot back. They glared daggers and reached for their weapons again. Quite the circus, but I couldn't let it escalate.
Cooldown was still ticking. If they went at it here, I'd be the meat in the sandwich—torn to shreds. Ordinary words wouldn't cut it.
"You two are quite the spectacle."
"Now you're meddling outright?"
"This is between me and that elf."
"......Now I see."
The right amount of aggro pulls them in. But too much, and weapons fly my way. With time stop on cooldown, I couldn't dodge.
"That you lack the qualifications to be Royal Knights."
Push it too far, and I'm dead for sure. So just enough to prick their pride. Luckily, they halted and turned to me.
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"Look around. What do you see?"
"......"
The knights who'd tried intervening were either plastered into the outer courtyard walls or dumped into nearby planters. Total disaster zone.
"Your tantrum dragged innocent knights into the mess. Am I wrong?"
Good, they're reacting. Hitting a nerve, huh? Well, even self-proclaimed heroes should feel a twinge after collateral damage like that.
Guilt was the key to cracking them. Royal Knights, saviors of the continent— is collateral damage heroic? Hammer that logic home.
They'd have no comeback, mouths full of excuses or not. It was 100% on them. No defense if they had a shred of conscience. The elf finally spoke up.
"Fair point. You're no random scrub. Got some real skill too..."
"But we can't acknowledge you yet."
"For once, we agree. Same here."
"Acknowledge me?"
What? I just mediated—now I need skills? And their approval? Oh, right. They're the almighty Royal Knights. Impressive. Your crap must be extra thick.
"Want our approval? Prove your worth."
"......"
"Until then, you're nothing to us."
I blinked. In the blink of an eye, her drawn blade hovered inches from my throat. Didn't even see her unsheathe it. And now prove my worth?
Uh... didn't see that coming.