Chapter 61

【”I’m not going to say I’m being driven by emotions or whatever. It’s just that it doesn’t matter whether I talk or not as there is no record of anything that I’m going to say in anyone else’s memory. If you’re afraid to listen, we can end it here.”】

【”Please hold back on the threats… Lifa won’t give up no matter what you say. And I won’t let her deal with this by herself so it’s the same for me.”】

【”Thank you, Elu.”】

【”Then, let’s talk. Harold and I crossed paths five years ago.”】

◇

The first time Justus heard of Harold, he was working for the research center and had gone to the Royal castle to report on his study’s progress. There, he happened to overhear a group of knights who were chatting with each other.

【”I heard someone recently joined the knight order by taking some special test, instead of going through the normal procedures.”】【”He probably has connections with some higher-ups, right?”】【”No no, I heard he one-sidedly knocked down dozens of recruits in that special test they made for him.”】【”That’s just because those recruit were weak.”】【”I can’t deny that, but that newcomer is just a 13 year old kid. He’s the youngest genius to ever enter the knight order.”】【”You mean he’s better than the vice captain?”】【”What kind of monster is that?”】【”If I remember right, his name was Harold Stokes…”】

“You mean he’s better than the vice captain was?”

From what little he had heard, there were several points that caught his attention. He wondered how a 13-year-old son of an aristocrat could possibly become a spy for the empire, and he felt that the royal army’s timing was too good. But what felt the most peculiar to him was how detailed the rumors were and how abnormally fast they had spread only a few days after the return of the expedition’s troops.

Then came his second meeting with Harold in the dungeon. Looking at Justus who appeared before him, the first thing Harold said was Justus’ full name.

【”Justus Freund……”】

【”Oh, do you know me?”】

【”Why would a man like you come here?”】

【”Bullshit. You’re saying you can overturn my execution?”】

【”Yeah, that’s right. I’ll definitely overturn it.”】

【”However, I have to tell you. If you work under me, you’ll fall further down in hell.”】

【”…. What do you mean?”】

【”I’ve developed a certain sword that I had to seal away because of one big defect that goes with it. It’s a sword that rapidly rises the user’s fighting power by absorbing his magical power. But it has a side-effect that cuts-down the user’s life, eventually leading him to his death. If you’re willing to wield that sword, I’ll release you from here.”】

【”…..heh”】

【”?”】

【”Hehehe….. Ahahahaha!”】

【”…… What’s so funny?”】

【”What’s so funny, you ask? How could I not laugh?”】

【”Further down in hell? Cut down my life? The resolution to die?”】

【”What the hell are you implying? Don’t you fucking look down on me, Justus!!”】

【”Hand over that sword, that power. I’ll teach you what true resolution and true hell are, bastard.”】

【”……Magnificent, what a perfect answer.”】

Harold and Justus smiled at each other. However, by no means were the two friendly to each other, for those treacherous smiles were akin to a mutual declaration of war.