Adel and Whale were forced to kneel before Nade by the knights.
The onlookers, who had been watching with anxious eyes, let out sighs of relief.
That was because Nade knelt on one knee, lowering himself to meet the children’s gaze.
His demeanor, treating them with respect, and his smile full of warmth—
Though they couldn’t hear what was being said, it was enough to put people at ease.
Of course, I was different.
I knew better than anyone what kind of conversation they were actually having.
“You little rascals. Yeah, I was the same when I was a kid. Every adult seemed like a monster, and even a scrap of paper rolling down the street looked like a treasure map.”
Nade gently ruffled Adel and Whale’s hair.
Adel immediately slapped his hand away.“Don’t act all fake! You think we don’t know what you’re really like? We know this is all an act!”
“An act… I suppose you could see it that way.”
Smack!
The hand that had been brushed away moved like lightning, roughly grabbing Adel’s chin.
“Is this what you want? Do you want your jaw to be crushed like this?”
“Ghh…!”
Of course, Nade didn’t actually break Adel’s jaw—there were too many eyes watching.
The hand that had seemed ready to shatter his chin instead moved gently, brushing over Adel’s face.
“Remember this well. No matter what you brats say, I’m doing my best. I’m fighting for this territory, for my family. Unlike you, who plays at being a soldier, I run a real army.”
“You’re so full of it. Kidnapping children and calling that doing your best?”
“…Aren’t you afraid? If you get on the lord’s bad side, you won’t be able to live here. Even kids should understand at least that much.”
“I never planned on leaving anyway! I’m going to become Trash Village’s Hero! I’ll never leave this town!”
“You actually believe that nonsense? How childish.”
Nade let out a small chuckle.
Maybe he was laughing because he realized he was talking to a mere child.
Or maybe it was because he recalled a time when he himself had believed in that legend.
For just a moment, he had a boyish smile on his face.
But in the next, that smile twisted into a grin filled with malice.
“Fine. I’ll grant your wish. You’ll never leave this town. Whether by choice…”
Or by force.
Just as the two children were confronting Nade’s chilling warning—
A small figure burst out from the crowd, shouting.
“D-Don’t bully my brothers, you jerks!”
It was Acela, the youngest member of the Trash Sprout Defense Squad.
She clung to Bickerd’s leg, swinging her tiny fists with all her might.
Nade, Bickerd, Adel, and Whale’s gazes clashed midair.
A small nod from Nade.
Bickerd grinned wide and swung his leg.
Acela’s small body was sent flying.
The flight was short. Humans don’t have wings, after all.
Thud!
Acela crashed to the ground. Adel and Whale’s eyes blazed with fury.
“Don’t you dare lay a hand on our youngest!”
“I didn’t use my hand. I used my foot.”
“You bastard! I swear, I won’t let this slide!”
But their words were empty threats. With knights holding them by the shoulders, they could do nothing.
Many rushed to check on Acela.
The only small relief was that Bickerd hadn’t kicked at full strength. That she had landed on her back instead of her head.
And also—
“Everyone, step aside.”
That Victoria, whose divine power rivaled that of a priest, was here.
“Ugh…”
“I’ll heal you right away, so just hold on for a bit. Acela, you’re a good girl, so you can do that, right?”
“I… I won’t cry.”
“What?”
“Th-The Trash Sprout Defense Squad… taught me that we can’t cry. A-And I’m the youngest member, so…”
Acela bit back her tears, though her eyes shimmered and her nose sniffled.
She fought desperately to hold them in.
“I… I have to get stronger… S-So when my sister comes back, I can protect her.”
“…I see. You’re very brave. Unlike some people here.”
Victoria shot a glare at the knights. And she wasn’t alone—everyone present was staring daggers at them.
“Bickerd, that was a mistake.”
“My apologies.”
“Be more careful next time. Has it gotten this late already? We should get going.”
At Nade’s command, the knights began pushing aside the onlookers, making way.
Adel suddenly shot up, shouting.
“What kind of knights are you?! You’re not knights! You’re nothing but frauds!”
No answer came back.
The departing knights formed a tide of steel.
And from within that tide, Alex and Raymon gradually fell behind.
Noticing this, Teron stopped in his tracks. Daike, who had been following, did the same.
Alex stood with his back to them.
Then, slowly, he turned around.
“Alex, stop.”
“…”
“This is as far as I allow it.”
“I just want to check on them. Just for a moment.”
“In life, things like this happen all the time. This is nothing. You must learn that there are things you have to give up.”
At that moment, Alex stood between two forces—Teron and Yuridia, along with Victoria, on one side.
On the other, his duty as a knight.
And today’s incident would become the first time Alex seriously pondered the meaning of justice.
Human relationships, society, politics—
And justice itself.
There were countless things in this world that Alex didn’t know.
“Sorry, but I don’t really get it.”
“I’ll teach you. If you stay by my side, you’ll learn faster than anyone else.”
It wasn’t a lie. Teron had the power, authority, wealth, and skill to make it happen.
But.
“You can’t even lend a hand to a fallen child… If that’s the condition for staying by your side, then I…”
Alex muttered as he stepped away from Teron.
“I can’t be with you.”
A small breeze blew past. Gentle, yet carrying the power to bring change somewhere.
Like the wind, the relationship between Alex and Teron was shifting.
“Are you okay?”
Alex reached out a hand to Acela.
“Th-Thank you.”
Acela grasped his hand, and he carefully helped her to her feet.
“Did you just turn down Teron’s offer?”
“I heard it was an incredible deal…”
“Alex, that was so cool!”
“Alex! Alex! I don’t know who you are, but still!”
More and more people started chanting Alex’s name.
Alex scratched his head sheepishly, bowing here and there.
The biggest winner in today’s incident wasn’t Nade, nor Teron, nor even us.
It was Alex, the one who had simply reached out to a fallen child.
‘Well, it’s all just the writers meddling to make the protagonist shine.’
Still, it was undeniably cool.
I watched with a satisfied smile.
“…There’s plenty of time. Think it over carefully.”
Because one day, inevitably—
“You’ll come to realize that with such weak-minded ideals, you won’t be able to protect anything.”
With that, Teron left.
Along with the fading breeze.
After Teron and Daike disappeared, the main group naturally gathered around Alex.
Alex scratched his cheek.
“Well, looks like I’ve made an enemy.”
“Alex, that was an admirable decision.”
“Oh~ Hohoho! You did splendidly. It seems fate has destined you to be on our side after all!”
One of the top four first-years, and Alex had come to them of his own accord.
Of course, the two girls welcomed him enthusiastically.
“W-Wow, such a warm welcome… I’ll do my best! As long as it doesn’t involve fighting, I’m all in!”
“Ah…”
The problem was, accepting Alex meant also taking in his companion—none other than that menace, Raymon.
Yuridia and Victoria huddled together, whispering.
“Is there no way to separate those two?”
“Alex is too kind; it would be impossible. How about we just demand that he remain strictly neutral?”
“Not a bad idea. Raymon is a morale killer. He’s a liability, not an asset!”
Guys, bullying is wrong, you know.
Even the protagonists struggled with the pure evil that was Raymon.
Of course, there was one person in the world that even Raymon couldn’t defeat.
And that person was right beside me.
“…Why are you still here?”
“Huh?”
“I let it slide earlier because of the situation… But not anymore.”
“I-Is that so?”
“‘Is that so’ my ass! Get lost, right now!”
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Luna began pummeling Raymon mercilessly.
How was she managing to hit someone whose dodge rate increased the closer you got?
It was a true mystery.
“My, my, so even men aren’t allowed near her man… That’s Luna for you.”
“Luna’s love is truly beautiful.”
Guys, beating someone up isn’t love. It’s a crime.
Luna was committing a crime right now!
“When did those two get so close? I’m jealous.”
Alex’s eyes sparkled with envy.
…Yeah, his head was definitely broken.
The protagonist’s sanity had officially left the building. This round was doomed.
The real problem was that my life was on the line in this round… But what could I do?
None of them were thinking straight.
“…So, what now?”
No one was seriously injured, and Alex and Raymon had joined the group.
It looked like a good situation, but in reality, it wasn’t. We still had no way to rescue Dolores.
It was the classic “So now what?” kind of moment.
From my perspective, there weren’t many major deviations from the original story so far.
The way Nade’s mask had cracked was different, but it wasn’t a significant change.
If things proceeded as I remembered, the newly united first-party members would soon set out on a search.
A search that was doomed to fail.
“Urek, in a crisis like this, where is Instructor Caron?”
Urek—the instructor in charge of Yuridia’s group.
“Don’t be too harsh. We have our reasons. Well, not that it’ll matter after today.”
“Urek!”
“Calm down. I’ll only share what the kids are allowed to know.”
One instructor glared at him.
Ash—the instructor in charge of Alex and Raymon’s group.
She folded her arms and stared daggers at him, clearly refusing to allow it.
Then, someone casually slung an arm around Instructor Ash’s shoulder.
It was Ron, our group’s instructor.
Wait, when did he wake up from being knocked out?
“Don’t be so stubborn. I think these kids deserve to know.”
“…Deserve?”
“Yuridia and Victoria’s forces make up half of the first years. Or is it more than half now? At this level, they at least need a heads-up. If something serious happens, we need a rallying point.”
“But…”
“Our group has kids here too. That should be enough to qualify, right?”
Ash’s gaze swept over us.
Especially me.
Beauty. Staring. Awkward.
I resisted with a sheepish smile.
“…Fine. I guess this much should be okay. Since our kids are involved too.”
“Uh… You’re not gonna ask for my opinion?”
“Joan, I’m not in the mood right now, so don’t push it. Just go along with what we’re saying.”
“Ugh… O-okay…”
Joan crouched down and started scribbling complaints on the ground.
Stuff like ‘Nobody ever listens to me,’ ‘Should I argue?’ ‘But Ash is scary…’
For reference, Joan was the instructor for Victoria’s group. Not that he was someone worth remembering.
Clearing his throat, Urek began explaining the situation.
“Since arriving here, we’ve only been able to speak with Caron during daylight hours. They’re keeping an eye on him—whether they admit it or not.”
“That’s beyond suspicious. At this point, we’d be justified in detaining them instead.”
“Officially, we’re here for sightseeing. If we reveal that we’re investigating, there’s no turning back. We didn’t expect it to take this long to find proof of demon involvement.”
“…What do you mean by ‘until today’?”
“We’re moving forward with a plan. Even if we assume the kidnapped child is still alive, they won’t last more than a day or two. So we’ve decided to act. If we stir things up, something’s bound to surface.”
The instructors didn’t share the details of their plan. But one thing was clear.
‘A significant number of instructors will be away at dawn.’
Which meant the surveillance on us would weaken.
And that we’d have a chance to slip out under the cover of darkness.
“Then Instructor Caron will return tomorrow.”
“If nothing goes wrong, yeah.”
“Nothing ever goes wrong for Instructor Caron. If anything, it’s the other side that should be worried.”
Without realizing it, everyone nodded in agreement.
If anyone tried anything, it wouldn’t be Caron who ended up half-dead—
It would be Baron Kelven.
We were 100% sure of it.
–TL Notes–
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