The knights who watched the boy, who had dared to compare himself to them, Knights who had shed their sweat and blood toward the prosperity of Lugunica, get flattened by a suctioned punch, possibly a Divine Protection or a unique use of gravity magic, felt a sense of gratification as they looked at the unconscious boy slumped on the ground in the Yamcha pose.
However, their momentary pride was halted as frost began to form on the handles of their ceremonial weapons. Emilia's eyes, previously a light violet, had darkened.
Crimson raised a hand lazily, flashing a warning look at Beatrice, who wore a similar expression, her face deadly serious, but the Loli grudgingly complied, dissolving her projectiles wordlessly. Then he grinned at Emilia, whose halo of icy jagged projectiles began to swirl around her clockwise.
"A knight who strikes a candidate, you know, has grounds for execution," Crimson said casually. "I'd say this is a much better outcome… unless you'd prefer I made a big deal about it?"
The terrifying darkness in Emilia's eyes began to waver as the frost's progression in the room started to recede.
Roswaal twitched; he found this outcome far too complicated for what his ideal plan was.
Emilia picked up the fallen Subaru with one arm, displaying her unnatural physical strength, her eyes solely fixed on the unconscious boy's face.
Crusch, seeing the distress etched into Emilia's expression, leaned toward her knight and whispered something.
"Lady Emilia…"
Felix, the cat-eared knight, flicked his tail and chimed in with a gentle smile. "Would you like my help, Lady? I may not look it, but I am good at this sort of thing, nya~."
Emilia forced a tired smile. "That would be… highly appreciated. I'd be in your debt, Felix."
Beatrice narrowed her tiny, adorable little flower-shaped eyes, yet relented her prepared spiteful words at the cat boy. She would have argued that she should be the one to heal her contractor, but even she, a great spirit, had heard of this healer's prowess, even if it was for a minor injury; she wanted the best for Subaru.
Felix nodded, more serious now, and stepped beside her.
The hall stayed quiet as a faint, soft, blueish-white light emanated from the cat boy's hands.
The other two candidates just watched, as if detached. For a simple ceremony, this short time had been far too eventful. If it weren't for the blindfolded boy, they wouldn't have thought so hard or taken the event seriously.
Crimson swallowed. If he had wanted to, with that punch, he could have turned Subaru's head into mush by adding the base physical enhancements from the Flow Method, or repulsion, on top of the attraction he'd placed on his fist the second his knuckle made contact. The most favorable outcome had been a one-hit KO. He was relieved to see that while Subaru had sustained minor swelling and probably a concussion, it was nothing that couldn't be healed easily.
While the decision to knock Subaru out had been an easy one, he internally questioned whether it was the right choice. He was sacrificing Subaru's trauma for future character development. It was the right thing to do… but he desperately needed another reliable ally he could confide in. He had thought long and hard about telling Subaru the future, but Subaru, at this point in the story, was hopelessly naïve and idiotic, believing he had to be a sacrificial savior. That belief caused him to botch negotiations with idealism, not realism, hoping for charity while offering no tangible benefit for the other camps' aid.
Crimson understood better than anyone how irrational he... no, Subaru, had been. His mind had been weighed down by hatred and negativity.
If he had the chance to relive his life as Subaru, he would have redone this moment, the moment where he, Subaru, had made a fool of himself, being brutally beaten by Julius in front of his friends and his crush. That humiliation had dragged him into a downward spiral, one where everyone saw him as pathetic and weak.
If he hadn't punched Subaru, the boy would've continued making enemies of future allies, tearing himself further away from Emilia. Crimson hadn't struck him out of cruelty, but out of mercy. Subaru, when he woke up, would be unable to see this… and would definitely resent him.
Which would be perfect.
Seeing the other knights subtly grinning and sneering at the downed boy, a fire lit in Crimson's chest. Hatred like he had never felt before ignited deep in his soul. Smoke, black and red, began to plume from his white hair, as two white dots poked out of his scalp, so small they weren't even noticeable.
"You royal knights seemed so happy to see this self-proclaimed knight get hit," Crimson said, his voice quiet. "But I fail to see how any of you would've done any better. At least he had the balls to stand up for his lady. Feeling joy at seeing someone get torn down… it just makes you look insecure."
These prideful scum… If they cared to learn about circumstances, they wouldn't be so resentful over a few words.
A quiet voice, filled with deep, festering hatred, whispered in his ear:
KI… KILL THEM… KILL THEM ALL.
The front row of knights gritted their teeth, struggling to suppress the rising frustration they felt. Just when they had started to like the blindfolded boy, for standing up and defending their honor, he had to have the last word.
Yet… something about his voice made them shiver. To them, it seemed as if his wild white hair was waving unnaturally.
"You all appear to be competent," Crimson continued, restrained, "but at this very moment, there is an intruder infiltrating."
At this, a multitude of confused expressions and murmurs broke out. And then, as if on cue to accentuate his point, smoke suddenly filled the entire room, pouring in from the entrance. Those at the back of the hall, where the smoke was thickest, began to cough.
"What's going on?"
An enormous silhouette could be seen walking slowly through the smoke, heading toward the foot of the throne pedestal where the candidates were gathered.
Reinhard, with a blank expression, as if not surprised in the slightest, gave a light swing of her sheathed sword. A controlled gust of wind blew through the room, clearing the smoke instantly.
The figure was revealed: an old demihuman giant. Muscular, dark-skinned, with wild white hair, or was it eyebrows? tired hollows under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept in days. His squinting eyes locked instantly onto the blindfolded boy.
Recognition dawned across the giant's face.
"Rom."
The knights in the room surrounded the old man, preparing to bring him to his knees. Marcos stood above the giant, unease in his voice at the giant's compliance, not running and obediently getting to his knees.
"I don't know who you are, but for stealing into the castle, you must die."
Crimson raised his voice again.
"Don't touch him. This was a test."
Marcos turned to the boy, frustration clearly written across his face. This day was only supposed to be a ceremony, and this boy had turned it into a form of theater, drama.
"Explain."
"You see, I wanted to test the knights' competency, if they would be able to stop a skilled intruder, especially in such a well-guarded venue. The time they took to apprehend him would show the level of discipline the knights had. Apparently, my hypothesis was right."
His demeanor changed into something far more intimidating than he had ever shown. His face became devoid of all expression and emotion, his voice coming out completely monotone.
"All of you are trash."
Priscilla couldn't help but nod her head in approval. Taking the Sword Saint out of the equation, if this were a real intruder with bad intentions, they would have easily been able to land an attack on an unaware candidate.
Julius grabbed his purple hair, lightly pulling on it. His pride toward being a knight, which had never wavered, began to crack, all in one day.
Marcos breathed in sharply. If what Crimson had said was true, if all of the guards outside had failed to notice or overlooked the giant demihuman, then this truly made his training of the future protectors of the kingdom appear futile.
Marcos looked to Reinhard, exasperated.
"It seems your lord is quite an eccentric character."
Reinhard lightly twirled a long strand of scarlet hair in her finger, looking at her lord with deep admiration.
"Lord Crimson's words of wisdom will someday reach the ears of all."
Crimson could feel Old Man Rom's gaze, who was looking at him with expectant, intelligent eyes.
"That old man is a friend, so I ask you to let him go and treat him with care."
"Very well."
Marcos massaged his brows with one hand and, with a voice lacking enthusiasm, announced.
"With this ceremony complete, the royal selection has officially begun."
It was clear that the knight commander was tired.
As old man Rom was let go, his eyes flashed to Reinhard. He took a step toward her, a flash of anger very well hidden, until a voice erupted in his head. His eyes looked toward the Sword Saint, whose deep sky-blue gaze was also fixated on him. In her eyes lay a deep regret and sorrow.
"I offer my deepest condolences. Due to my failure, Lady Felt has been killed. However, I must ask that we discuss this later."
"Some divine protection…" Rom muttered knowingly, not surprised, but his anger did not dissipate in the slightest.
Julius stood quietly, wondering what he could possibly do to increase the knights' morale and discipline, yet he was unable to think of a single solution. That boy's presence was now a disgrace to all the knights.
That was until a lifeline was thrown.
Crimson turned to the knights, the majority of whom had their heads down in disgrace.
"Which of you knights would say that you are the most skilled, excluding Reinhard and Commander Marcos?"
The knights, hearing his words, instinctively looked to Julius, the most skilled and chivalrous of them all.
Following the knights' gazes toward Julius, he grinned.
"Julius Eukilius, I'll make you a deal. Let's have a duel. I'd like to have a sparring partner other than Reinhard for once, to test my skills."
At this, Reinhard's face, which was brimming with pride toward Crimson moments ago, curled into something almost jealous as she puffed her cheeks. Crimson, aware of this, chose to ignore it.
"If you win, I will personally apologize to each and every knight here for calling them trash."
Priscilla couldn't hold back her excitement upon hearing this. Either outcome would amuse her, whether the blindfolded boy was all bark or had the bite to match.
"How delightful," she said with a wicked grin. "Show me what manner of dog you are, do you have fangs, or is it just mindless yapping?"
Al narrowed his eyes through his helmet. He knew too well that no matter how skilled one was, there was always a cap, laid solely in the body's innate physical limit.
An isekaied person was already at a high disadvantage in this world. When it came down to brute strength in a knight's duel, where magic was prohibited. This would be an interesting spectacle.
Julius couldn't think of a better scenario to restore the morale this boy had shattered.
Yet before he could eagerly accept, Anastasia reached forward and seized Julius's arm with surprising force, halting him mid-step.
"And what's in it for you if you win, huh?" she asked Crimson sweetly; her voice laced with suspicion.
Julius looked at her, scandalized.
"My lady, you believe I'd lose in a duel?"
Anastasia gave him a flat look.
"I'm not doubting your sword, Julius. I'm doubting his motives. I see no profit in his challenge, and that's exactly why I don't trust it. What clause is he hiding between the lines?"
"If you don't want to, I won't force you," Crimson said casually, turning his back on the conversation as if the offer had been made on a fleeting whim.
Julius, startled by the dismissal and brushing aside Anastasia's concern, stepped forward and declared in a voice that rang through the hall:
"On behalf of all present, to defend the honor of the Knights of Lugunica. I, Julius Eukilius, shall uphold the chivalry you mock. If you were not a candidate, your insolence would warrant death. I accept your challenge."
In perfect coordination, the entire army of knights stomped their boots into the marble floor, drawing their ceremonial swords in unison.
Every knight glared at the blindfolded candidate, despite their glares, their lips were curled upward, excited to see Julius beat someone they felt was fully deserving of it. Crimson's corners of his mouth were also curled up as if mocking them.
Crimson smiled and resisted the rising nausea brought on by the ever-familiar déjà vu.
***
Crimson, who had attempted to leave the throne room quickly, was stopped by a sly, teasing-looking Felix. They were in a narrow corridor connected to many vast and open rooms, including the throne room they had just left. Crusch was nowhere in sight, which meant she was likely unaware of her knight's move. Rei had been stopped by Commander Marcos for a discussion, but knowing her, she would rush back the second it was over.
"My, my~ Why're you trying to leave so quickly?" Felix chimed, glancing at Crimson's charred neck with a strained smile that feigned concern.
Felix grinned mischievously.
"Why don't I heal that for you?"
"No thank you."
Crimson continued walking away. The rejection was instant.
Felix blinked, caught off guard. He had been so talkative during the ceremony, but now he clearly wanted nothing to do with anyone.
"I happen to be the best healer in the kingdom, so stop being shy~ I just need to—"
Felix reached toward Crimson's neck.
Before he could make contact, an invisible force clutched his throat, lifting him several inches into the air. Startled, his hands clawed desperately at his neck, legs kicking as his breath came out in broken gasps. His face rapidly darkened to a deep purple.
Crimson turned around, face blank, voice cold and indifferent.
"You think I don't see your sacrificial play, cat? Do you think only you would be punished? That the Duchess wouldn't be blamed for her knight's actions? You disgust me. If you try something like this again, I'll crush that wimpy thing between your legs that'll make you a real woman. Instead of this... abomination."
Then, like a rubber band snapping, Felix was thrown, hard and fast, horizontally fifteen meters back into a mortared stone wall.
CRRRRKOOOOOOM!
Cracks spread from the point of impact as Felix slammed against it, then, like a bug sliding down the wall, collapsed onto the floor, landing harshly on his back. He began to convulse, trembling and coughing harshly.
Crimson, as if nothing had happened, walked briskly away.
Rei, upon entering the hallway moments later, immediately took in the scene: her lord walking toward a washroom, Felix in critical condition beside a fractured wall, coughing up blood. She hastily helped Felix to his feet, silent and expressionless. The cat-boy stood shakily, but Rei, unlike a normal person who might question what had happened, simply read his emotions with the aid of her Divine Protection of Doubt. She saw it clearly in him; Felix had attempted something wrong.
Rei looked at Felix with a scornful gaze, followed by Old Man Rom, whose face remained unreadable.
Felix ignored the familiar looks directed at him. Traumatized, he squeezed his legs together, his thoughts fixated on the invisible force. His face turned pale as he imagined it crushing his little brother.
(AN: WE ARE OUT OF THE WOODS! NO MORE TORTURE.
I have been switching between mediums, and I just now realized that the anime and novel have slightly different spellings for names, so I unknowingly have been switching between similar-spelled names. Please don't go back and call me out on it.
MC might as well be bipolar with how much his personality changes. I think it would be funny if those who are with him, unaware of his circumstances, just see him completely switch to 5 personalities within a minute and start losing their grasp on reality.
I've set an official release schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Although when I get bored, I add extra.
Bonus chapters will drop on Saturdays if my demands are met. 🔫
Trade deal:
You give me 150 power stones, and I give you a bonus chapter.
"Sounds fair, right?"