The screen appeared, and time froze.

I watched Ophelia on the screen so intently that blood vessels nearly popped in my eyes.

And then I noticed it.

Tap. Tap.

Her right finger was faintly twitching.

Snap.

The screen disappeared, as if saying, that’s all you get to see.

Trail groaned.

[Ugh… I don’t get it. It was just a repeat of what happened a moment ago]

‘……’

[Want me to show it again?]

‘……’

[Huh? What’s with that face? You look really freaked out.]

Drip.

I could feel a cold sweat running down my forehead.

No way. That can’t be…

That ability. It belongs to that monster.

Why is Ophelia using it?

My vision darkened under the weight of the unexpected shock.

David slowly turned his body.

His previously stiff movements gradually loosened as he took a few steps.

It was his natural walk, David’s usual gait.

In that state, he climbed up onto the platform.

It was the very spot where Count Acaine had prepared to give a speech this afternoon.

“Everyone, may I have your attention for a moment!”

The lively townsfolk all stopped in their tracks and looked up at David.

He even wore a gentle smile on his lips.

“Are you all enjoying the festival?”

“Yes!”

“Wahaha!”

“How could we not? Ophelia came back, after all!”

“Isn’t David enjoying it the most?”

The responses were warm and cheerful.

It seemed David had won their hearts with his governance.

Neril spoke.

“Is it okay for us to just watch? He was acting strange just a moment ago.”

“Of course not. We need to get ready.”

I gripped my sword and took position.

My target was clearly David, standing atop the platform.

Xenia gasped.

“Mr. Mide? Why are you aiming at David?”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to kill him.”

“Well, that goes without saying for you.”

“Neril. On my signal, use magic to push the crowd away from in front of us. They’re in the way.”

Neril looked confused but nodded.

I continued giving orders.

“Serein, prepare your healing spell. Xenia, use a shield spell to protect the nearby townsfolk.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Got it.”

“As for the rest of you, approach Ophelia. Do your best to capture and bring her in, but if it seems too difficult, fall back. Don’t take unnecessary risks.”

Everyone nodded.

To them, my orders probably made no sense, but not one of them questioned me.

That alone made me feel grateful, even now.

And then, it happened.

David spoke.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to show a rather unpleasant sight now.”

“…Excuse me?”

“If you’ve had a heavy breakfast, feel free to turn away.”

With those words, David’s body began to swell.

“Huh?”

“David?”

“W-what’s going on?!”

“Ahhh! A monster! It’s a monster!”

At first, it just looked like he’d gotten a bit chubby.

But as his flesh bulged and his skin began to tear, that description no longer sufficed.

It was as if something inside David’s body was rapidly expanding.

Eventually, he transformed into something that filled the entire platform.

“M-Mr. Mide… what the hell is that…”

Even my battle-hardened companions were left speechless.

Meanwhile, David’s body continued to swell, so much that it started spilling over the edge of the platform.

There was no time left to hesitate.

“Neril!”

At some point, Neril had opened the heirloom spellbook of the Erenica family.

“Toren Briane!”

Toren Briane, a spell that turns mana into physical force.

Back in my hometown of Hasphil, Neril once used that magic to toss villagers aside.

This time, it was used to clear a path between me and David.

“Ugh… What the…?”

“Something’s pushing me!”

“Mommy, I’m scared!”

Neril’s Toren Briane pushed the crowd on either side like a great invisible wedge, opening a road between me and David.

It was like a road had opened in an instant.

Grrr…

No time to waste.

I pictured the parasite in David’s head.

[Parasite?]

‘Ophelia’s ability is to plant bugs into people’s heads. Through them, she controls her targets like her own body.’

[…]

‘I saw it just now with the Eye of Omniscience. A bug snuck into David’s ear in the blink of an eye.’

[I didn’t see it.]

‘I’m just that much better than you.’

I cringed at my own smugness.

Was I bragging a bit too much in front of an ancient hero like Trail?

But Trail just gave a dry chuckle.

[Yeah. You kinda are.]

‘Ahem…’

[Anyway, so she controls them through the bug? Like a puppet?]

‘Exactly. She controls movement, speech, eye contact, even facial expressions. Even that body explosion was probably her doing.’

I had to kill that parasite.

According to my memories from before the regression, it clung tightly to the skull like a leech.

I have to slice out the parasite without killing David.

‘Quick Sprint!’

I dashed straight at David.

Then launched myself onto the platform and activated my technique.

‘Cut What I Want to Cut.’

Swish! Shlkk.

My sword sliced through David’s head with surgical precision.

Touch nothing else.

Cut carefully, only what’s needed.

I focused my entire sense on locating the bug.

‘There it is.’

The feeling in my fingertips changed ever so slightly.

I didn’t hesitate.

-Shlkk.

“KREEEEEEE!”

A bloodcurdling screech rang out from the bug as I cut it.

I landed lightly and shouted:

“Xenia! Shield spell! Serein, heal David!”

“Yes!”

“O-okay!”

The bug I had sliced out turned to black smoke and slithered out of David’s ear.

Then it rose into the air, and…

BOOOOOOM!

With a deafening roar like a volcanic eruption, it exploded.

The black smoke transformed into sharp arrows, raining down over the townspeople.

“O Celestial God, send down your shield upon us!”

“O Celestial God, we beg for your merciful hand!”

Xenia urgently cast a shielding spell to protect the townspeople from the blast.

Serein tended to David, who was on the verge of death from the wound.

“Ahhh!”

“Help!”

“What the hell just happened?!”

“Why did David look like that…?”

Without needing to be told, the townsfolk all dropped flat to the ground.

The Divine Shield spread above their heads, and thankfully, it held back the parasite’s final suicide attack.

I checked on David, who was fully healed thanks to Serein’s treatment.

He had returned to his normal physique and was unconscious.

Serein wiped sweat from her brow and said,

“I didn’t expect the Celestial God to heal someone in that condition. I’m impressed.”

“Xenia says weird stuff during prayers sometimes, but she means no harm.”

“Yeah. I do.”

“Don’t say that proudly like it’s a badge of honor. Anyway, wake him up.”

“In this condition? He’s not going to wake up easily. Do you really need him awake now?”

“The situation’s urgent. Use whatever means necessary…”

Thud.

Before I could even finish, Serein kicked David.

“Guh! Wh-what?! Ophelia?!”

David jumped up in shock.

That wasn’t exactly what I meant by “whatever means…”

I asked,

“Is your head alright?”

“M-my head? I think so… Though my stomach hurts more, honestly…”

I glanced at Serein.

She was whistling, looking off into the distance.

Meanwhile, Neril and Xenia were walking over to us.

“Mide! What should I ask first?”

“Start with the most urgent thing.”

“Right. You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

That’s what you think is most urgent?

I scratched my head and replied:

“Was there ever a moment I could’ve gotten hurt?”

“Well, it was such a shocking sight. Of course I’d worry.”

“Anyway, I’m fine. Let’s wait until the rest of the party returns and I’ll explain everything together.”

“True. The others went after Ophelia. Better to hear it from the one involved.”

“Not sure about that.”

Serein tilted her head at my muttering.

“What do you mean ‘not sure’?”

“I’m not confident the three of them can actually catch Ophelia.”

“Huh? But Lisel and Adwin went, didn’t they?”

“Offense went too.”

“Ah. Right.”

Just then, Xenia spoke up in a rare, hushed voice.

“Mr. Mide.”

“……”

“What happened to Ophelia? I mean, besides the fact that her body was fake.”

“That’s…”

Just then, a voice rang out.

“We’re back.”

Offense had reappeared behind us using his shadow magic.

Xenia looked at him with concern.

“Mr. Offense? You don’t look too good.”

“Yeah. We lost Ophelia.”

“What? But she’s not that skilled, is she…?”

“Maybe she wasn’t before, but now… her energy was terrifying. I figured we’d lose if we engaged directly, so I made the call to retreat.”

Everyone broke into a cold sweat.

Lisel and Adwin weren’t exactly combat types, but Offense was a capable assassin, especially in direct fights.

Offense added:

“Sorry.”

“No, not at all. It was the right call.”

Then Lisel spoke, sounding slightly downcast.

“We need to find Miss Ophelia quickly.”

“Of course. She holds the key to this incident.”

“That too, but…”

She trailed off, glancing around uncertainly.

That was when Adwin picked up her words, looking at Xenia.

“Ophelia… she was crying.”

Ssshhk.

Idria opened her eyes.

There was tension on her face for the first time.

Kaeld asked,

“What’s wrong?”

“Mide… he cut the parasite.”

“What?”

“So casually, like he knew exactly how my underling’s ability worked.”

She stood up, hands clasped behind her back, and began pacing the cave while muttering.

“Originally, I was going to have Ophelia stir up some discord in Mide’s party. She’s emotionally connected to one of them, after all.”

“……”

“But that holy knight didn’t even flinch.”

“Hey.”

“Seems like I’ll have to meet Mide myself.”

Kaeld looked stunned at the sudden declaration.

“What? Why?”

“Ophelia won’t be able to hold him back. A failure is a failure. I need to meet him in person and figure things out.”

“Figure what out?”

“Who the hell Mide Mohan really is. Why he keeps blocking my path no matter where I go.”

Kaeld scoffed.

“Isn’t Bion with him? I thought you weren’t supposed to face Bion directly?”

“Bion doesn’t overpower my strength or authority. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be able to observe Mide’s group using my powers, would I?”

“Then what is it?”

“He’s just… innately opposed to ‘Demon King Idria.’ As long as I don’t face him directly, it shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll borrow the body of one of my underlings who’s already there.”

She waved him away dismissively, meaning ‘leave now.’

She had said all she wanted.

Kaeld’s face twisted in frustration once more.

With such a massive incident no one could justify continuing the festival after what happened, especially when the count’s own son had nearly died.

Count Acaine exercised his authority as lord and canceled the festival.

His bloodshot eyes turned toward David.

“Just what happened? Tell me everything.”

“Father…”

“They say your body inflated like it was going to burst. And if it weren’t for…”

He paused and glanced at me.

With a slightly flushed face, he gave a small cough.

“Ahem. If not for the esteemed Sword master of No Killing here, you would have died.”

Much more respectful than when we first met.

I interjected softly.

“I doubt Sir David wished for that to happen.”

“I see. Could you explain in more detail?”

Even his tone had changed.

Kaeld saved the Count’s life. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel✶fire.net

I saved the Count’s son.

To me, it seemed he was more grateful for the latter.

“As you may have guessed, this all ties back to Ophelia.”

“……!”

“But even Ophelia likely didn’t do this of her own will. There’s a greater force behind her—the Demon King.”

The Count looked confused.

“The Demon King? But no oracle has been delivered yet.”

Oracles come with the Demon King’s descent.

That was common knowledge across the continent.

Just as I was about to say something, the Count continued:

“Well, one will be delivered soon, either to you or to Kaeld.”

He was certainly holding me in much higher regard than before.

His expression had turned cautious, probably regretting how he treated me earlier.

I scratched my head and changed the subject.

“Anyway, we plan to search for Ophelia now.”

David shifted and spoke up urgently.

“Sir Mide, please…”

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of killing Ophelia.”

“But—”

“You know my title, don’t you? And besides…”

I trailed off.

I never really cared about preserving my title, Sword master of No Killing.

But in that weird dream I had before, that mysterious man told me to not kill.

He said it would be for the best—for both of us.

‘Not that I plan to obey him or anything…’

But there’s no reason to go against it either.

I continued:

“At any rate, will you entrust this matter to me?”

“Hoho. That’s the wrong way to phrase it.”

“Pardon?”

“To ‘entrust’ something implies I had the authority to begin with. But I have no right to interfere in this. Nor the power.”

Count Acaine bowed his head respectfully.

“All I can do is ask for your help.”

“Count…”

“If you could forget all the rudeness I showed earlier, I’d be grateful. With Ophelia like this and strange things happening in the territory, the only one I can rely on now is the Hero.”

I bowed in return.

“Leave it to me.”

After all, I had just thought of a way to save Ophelia.

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