But there’s a problem with my plan.

Rampage.

Even when I touched the Gem of Desolation embedded in the Martial King’s stomach, it went into a frenzy.

That black sun I saw before the regression must also have been the result of the Gem of Corruption going berserk.

Trail spoke in an amazed tone.

[What kind of Hero starts drooling every time he sees a Demon King’s core? What if it goes out of control again, like the Gem of Desolation?]

‘I’m thinking of asking Neril to extract it. Carefully, without causing a rampage.’

[…]

‘Of course, no one’s going to sit still while someone digs out their eyeball, so I’ll probably have to knock Patrick out for a bit.’

Trail replied.

[About knocking him out “a bit”.]

‘Yeah?’

[Isn’t that considered harm?]

‘…?’

[You heard what Patrick said earlier. He even considers slandering his name as “harm.” If words are enough, then what happens when he gets knocked out physically?]

I instinctively parted my lips slightly.

He was right.

Trail had pointed out something I had completely missed—something that rarely happens.

[What do you mean “rarely”?]

‘You’ve got a point. Thanks, Trail.’

[I’m asking why you had to say “rarely.”]

If we mess with Patrick, Dame will turn into a monster.

So would the former commander of Alkahad, the nobles, the guard captain, and the merchant guild head—all the people Patrick has touched.

I fell deep into thought.

‘What should I do?’

Just then, Dame spoke up in the screen.

“What is it you want from me?”

“Step down.”

“What?”

“Like the former commander of Alkahad, I want you to retire too.”

“……”

“You’re too old and too grumpy to be my partner. Make the person I name the new leader of the Holy Knights of Light. I’ll work with them instead.”

Dame let out a short laugh.

“You mean you’ll threaten them with monsterification, just like you’re doing with me now.”

“No. I don’t do that.”

“You expect me to believe that…”

“I mean, I couldn’t possibly defile such a beautiful body with a grotesque monster’s mark, could I?”

Freeze.

Dame went stiff.

A vein popped on my forehead as well.

Patrick smirked and nodded.

“Yeah. The one I want to take over is Xenia Seide.”

“You bastard.”

“I mean, come on. Xenia’s quite the beauty, isn’t she? Don’t you think so, father-in-law?”

“I’ll kill you!”

“If you kill me, you’ll turn into a monster instantly. And Xenia won’t have any choice but to follow my orders either, for the same reason.”

“……”

“She seemed like a dutiful daughter. Hahaha!”

He let out a howl that was somewhere between a laugh and a scream.

Dame clenched his teeth so hard they might break, but he didn’t dare lunge at him.

Click.

That was the end of the vision.

After watching the inauguration, I returned to the inn and gathered the party.

I explained everything I had seen through the Eye of Omniscience.

At first, they listened half-heartedly, but their posture gradually changed.

By the end, they were so tense they couldn’t even lean back in their chairs.

“So this involves the Gem of Corruption, Captain Patrick, and even Dame.”

Neril pressed her fingers to her forehead.

I spoke cautiously.

“That must’ve been a shock.”

“Shock? Why would I be shocked?”

“Huh? I mean, it’s the grandson of Krotz, someone you were connected to.”

“What are you talking about? That makes no sense.”

She tilted her head, then suddenly made a face like she’d figured it out.

A mischievous smile, rare for Neril, played on her lips.

“Don’t tell me—you’ve got the wrong idea?”

“Huh?”

“Hey. Krotz was just someone I crossed paths with once. Did you think we were soulmates or something?”

“……”

“It’s surprising that his grandson actually ‘fell’ to corruption, but that’s all. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

Strangely, I felt… happy.

Offense and Adwin whispered to each other.

“Looks like Mide and Neril are kinda like that.”

“Mm. Definitely has that sort of vibe.”

“Would be nice if they got more like that soon.”

“Well, not that it matters to me whether it’s ‘like that’ or ‘like this.’”

Snap.

Neril flicked her fingers.

A simple wind spell shot between them like an arrow.

Boom!

It punched a hole straight through the sturdy wooden chair.

“You little brats. If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”

“Uh… If that had hit our heads, wouldn’t we be dead?”

“Yep. You would’ve.”

“We’re sorry. We’ll behave now.”

“Much better.”

Neril glanced at Offense like she was telling him to speak up.

He chuckled and shifted the topic back to me.

“Anyway, if we extract the eye, the problem’s solved, right?”

“Yeah. Though Neril’s going to have a rough time.”

Neril let out a sigh.

“If that’s all that happens, we’re lucky. I’ve never dealt with the Gem of Corruption before.”

“Still, it’s a Demon King’s gem like the one from before. Same principles, right?”

“We’ll see. Either way, I’ll do my best. No time to complain.”

I nodded.

Then, I clasped my hands and spoke seriously.

“Whether the extraction’s possible or not is one thing, but there’s something else we have to consider.”

“Hmm?”

“As I said, if we harm Patrick’s body, all the people he’s half-corrupted will turn into monsters. And that includes Dame.”

Everyone’s faces darkened as they understood the implication.

Especially Neril, who bit her lip and muttered,

“This isn’t something we can handle on our own.”

Offense agreed.

“Yeah. Dame aside, with the capital’s elite under his control, we can’t just abduct him and rip the gem out.”

“Mm.”

“Should we contact Miss Pheasant first?”

Neril spoke up.

“I’ll do it.”

“Okay. Don’t mention Dame yet—just ask her to come over.”

“Got it. But…”

She tilted her head and asked,

“Even if everything goes well… is it really okay for me to extract it?”

“What do you mean? Not just okay—you have to.”

“You said the Black Sun is a phenomenon caused when the Gem of Corruption runs wild, right?”

“Yeah. That’s our guess.”

“Then if I extract it successfully, the Black Sun won’t appear. Are you fine with that?”

I didn’t get it.

“What do you mean, ‘am I fine with that’?”

“No Black Sun means no massive reputation boost for you, right?”

“……”

Ah.

I hadn’t thought of that.

Back in time, during the inauguration.

Xenia was in her father’s office.

Apparently, Dame hadn’t shown up for work yet.

That struck her as strange.

‘Has Father ever been late to work even once in his life?’

Not once, she could swear.

Just as she was pondering further—

Click.

The door opened.

“Xenia.”

“Father!”

She instinctively brightened.

It was a reflex.

Even if he had committed tremendous corruption, the feeling was unavoidable.

Because he was her father. Her only family.

‘Wait—this isn’t why I came here.’

She hurriedly fixed her expression and spoke.

“Wasn’t today the inauguration of the new captain of Alkahad? Even if you dislike him, shouldn’t you have attended…?”

Dame stiffened momentarily, then calmly replied.

“I sent Abel.”

“Oh. Well, I suppose Abel would be acceptable to them—he’s your assistant, after all.”

Xenia was fairly close with Abel too.

Though not particularly strong, he was kind, smart, and trustworthy.

She moved on to the main topic.

“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“You little rascal. Going straight to the point before I’ve even sat down?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Dame slowly walked over and sat in his chair.

He thought he’d played his part well.

But Xenia’s expression hardened instantly as she asked,

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“…Why do you ask?”

“You were limping just now.”

“What are you talking about? You must have seen it wrong.”

Unconsciously, Dame rubbed his right knee.

Xenia wanted to press further, but then remembered that the man before her was the Captain of the Holy Knights of Light.

A man of his rank wouldn’t be in poor health without access to a priest’s healing.

‘Did I really see it wrong?’

That’s when Dame spoke.

“So, what brings you here? You didn’t even send word.”

“Like I said, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Go ahead.”

“You made a backdoor contract with Neril, didn’t you?”

At that plain question, Dame’s jaw dropped.

Thump, thump.

His heart was pounding furiously.

‘Neril!’

How could she give up that thing and go blabbing to her daughter?

Wasn’t that thing more precious to Neril than her own life?

“Xe-Xenia.”

“I knew it. I could tell just from your face.”

Xenia lowered her head, a bitter expression on her face.

Dame fidgeted, struggling to find words.

“Listen, Xenia.”

“Father. Please step down from your position as captain.”

“…What did you say?”

“I don’t know what to do with you right now. Should I report you? Arrest you? I’m seriously confused.”

“……”

“Until I’ve made up my mind, please step down. Just temporarily. You can delegate to Sir Abel.”

There was no wavering in Xenia’s eyes.

At least on the surface.

But Dame was her father. He could see what others couldn’t.

‘She’s crying.’

Whenever Xenia endured pain or sorrow, her eyes would tremble faintly.

She had trembled when undergoing grueling training in the Holy Knights, and again when Ophelia Mace went missing.

Now, her eyes were trembling more violently than ever.

Dame slowly opened his mouth.

“…You know everything, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“You heard it from Neril?”

“No. I figured it out myself. Through the dispatched mage, Gerd.”

Dame easily saw through her lie.

‘She wants to stop me from destroying Neril’s weakness.’

To think the God’s Agent and the Witch of Carnage had grown so close.

Dame turned toward the window, feeling ten years older.

“That Mide fellow seems to be quite the capable leader.”

“Huh? Why do you bring that up?”

“I never imagined, even in my dreams, that you and Neril would get along. That’s why I was okay with you being around her.”

“……”

“But Mide somehow brought you two—who should be natural enemies—together. That’s no ordinary leadership.”

Even in the middle of this, Xenia found herself oddly pleased.

“Yes. You’re right. He’s an amazing person.”

“Sigh… Xenia. The reason I made that contract is…”

“I’m sorry. I might look calm right now, but inside I’m a mess. I don’t want to hear any excuses.”

“…”

“I’ll say it again. Just until I sort things out, step down from your post. Even temporarily.”

To his surprise, Dame felt a weight lift off his shoulders.

It was like suddenly laying down the burdens he had carried for decades.

‘Was it really this easy?’

No, it couldn’t be easy.

If anyone else had said those words, Dame would’ve fiercely denied and resisted.

But in front of his daughter, he could allow himself some relief.

“Alright. I’ll—”

It was at that moment.

A bolt of realization struck Dame’s mind.

‘That bastard. Patrick Benjamin!’

Just yesterday, Patrick had told him to step down.

And to appoint Xenia as the next commander.

Of course, Dame had no intention of obeying—but if he really did resign, Patrick would approach Xenia.

‘And he’ll threaten her to take my place! Say that if she doesn’t, Dame’s life is forfeit!’

No. For original chapters go to N0veI.Fiɾe.net

He couldn’t let that happen.

At the very least, until he eliminated that bastard Patrick, he had to stay in this position.

Even mentioning retirement now would be a signal—‘Xenia is in the capital.’

Patrick would stop at nothing to find and threaten her.

Dame clenched his teeth and answered.

“I can’t do that, Xenia.”

“Father?”

“It’s not out of ambition for this position. If I step down now, it will put you in danger. Please trust me on that.”

“……”

Xenia looked at him quietly.

A long silence passed.

“Help me believe that.”

“What can I do to help?”

“You’re holding something over Neril, right? Ah, and just to be clear—she didn’t tell me. I figured it out—”

“Yes. I’m holding it.”

“What is it? And where is it?”

Dame sighed deeply.

“You intend to return it? To Neril?”

“Yes.”

“If you do, the Empire will lose its tool to control the Witch of Carnage.”

“Father. The Witch of Carnage isn’t someone the Empire can or should control. She’s not a bad person!”

“Pff.”

For the first time, a sneer curled at the edge of Dame’s lips.

Just as Xenia frowned, he continued.

“It makes sense you’d say that, not knowing her past.”

“What? What are you—”

“Never mind. At this point, it doesn’t matter. But I can’t give it back.”

“Father!”

“Listen. It’s not that I won’t give it back—I can’t. That weakness is in the underground vault of the Imperial Palace.”

At that, Xenia was convinced.

The underground vault of the imperial palace.

A place so restricted only the royal family could enter.

There, legendary artifacts were stored—like the massive, wide-range scanning spell array said to be developed by Beyond Enerika.

“The underground vault is immune to all magic and dark arts. Opening it requires the Emperor’s permission.”

“So it was never something you could destroy anyway?”

“That’s right. As soon as I got my hands on the weakness, I offered it to His Majesty. He didn’t even touch it—just ordered it stored underground. I lied to Neril. But I won’t apologize.”

After a moment’s thought, Xenia asked,

“…What exactly is that weakness?”

“It’s—”

“No.”

Xenia hastily raised her hand.

“I don’t think you’re the one I should hear it from. Neril will tell me when the time comes.”

“You really have grown close.”

“I have one more question.”

Her expression hardened.

“Ophelia went missing. And you blamed it on Neril. Did you… do something to Ophelia?”

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep