Episode 72

“Are you saying you want to kill yourself?”

“Yes, it would be better than missing it now.”

“… … .”

The commander of the General Knights had only met Shion briefly, but he did not feel uncomfortable with it.

I couldn’t find an arrogant attitude, but rather acted humbly and tried to seek help from myself.

But this time, I wondered if it sounded like a coercive order and stubbornness.

“If the troops move in, they won’t sit still. There may be injuries, but we can completely blockade this area. Even if you run away, you can catch it right away… … .”

“I understand that most of the troops are gathered here. Is that correct?”

“That… That’s right. We have gathered our troops so that we do not miss a single one.”

“If you’re lucky enough to get out, it’ll be difficult to capture alive, right?”

“To prevent that from happening, on our side… … .”

“If you are not sure, it is better not to say such things. I don’t know about the small fish, but I really want to kill the executives. If you miss even one… … .”

Shion kept his mouth shut and gazed at the commander of the General Knights.

The commander of the General Knights is caught in a strange sense of heterogeneity while facing that gaze.

It seemed as if her purple eyes were slowly fading to jet-black.

“I don’t know what will happen either. Do you understand what I mean?”

“this… understand. We will make sure to capture all enemies alive.”

The commander of the General Knights belatedly noticed Shion’s emotions and will.

Even when we first met, he seemed quite calm, and until recently, he had been leisurely keeping his place.

However, after mentioning a rebel officer, his murderous intent was strong, and he was quickly enveloped in a resolute and high-handed atmosphere.

Could it be that he has been hiding his ill feelings toward the rebels and waiting for this moment to come?

“I want you to know this one thing. I did not give orders to the Commander-in-Chief of the General Staff. I put a condition on it and told you my course of action. Didn’t you hear it as an order?”

“ah… no! Didn’t you give me a choice?”

“I don’t want to go out on my own either… I hope that at least the officers are captured alive.”

“All right! I will pass it on to the troops under my command.”

The commander of the Knights Command glanced at the adjutant next to him and left his seat.

It didn’t matter if Shion Regiard stepped in directly, but considering the follow-up, it had to be resolved with only the troops under his command.

I had to arrest the rebels and extract information so that I could find out where they were hiding in other areas.

In addition, if he wanted to punish them through legal procedures, he would have to capture the rebel officers without fail.

‘The West will take care of itself… … .’

Shion sighs and withdraws his magic power.

The north was covered in snow and cold, and the east was close to the frontlines and supply bases, so the rebels couldn’t stand it.

The west and south sides remain, though both contain hidden rebel hideouts.

‘The executives are supposed to come to the south.’

In the southern area, the descendants of the fallen duchy lived in hiding their identities.

The funds for the rebel’s activities are coming from the southern region, and the rebel officers were secretly siphoning off some of the funds.

In other words, a lot of money was tied up, so they couldn’t get out of the southern region.

‘There are parts that fit.’

Zion guessed the location of the stronghold based on what he knew in advance and additional information he had gathered.

It didn’t all fit, but it did include the locations of supposed bases and hideouts.

Certainly, the setting and content of this world matched to some extent.

‘Why is only the content about Hanette different?’

The more I thought about it, the more the hypothesis seemed to turn into truth.

Even when she was engaged to Harnette, when she obtained the acid rain, and when the main character founded the knights, nothing was wrong.

However, from the time Hannett was first attacked, things were going wrong.

From the second attack, I started to have doubts, and when I communicated with the magic sword, I was finally able to be sure.

‘Hanet should have died before the first half started.’

Shion accepted the fact, but immediately denied it.

Not all of his guesses were right, and he needed to do a little more checking.

Above all, if she had tried to surrender to her given fate, she would not have tried to obtain Acid Rain.

‘Not anymore.’

Shion summoned Acid Rain and slowly grabbed the hilt.

He had already rejected his fate as an extra and was pioneering a new life.

Perhaps Hanette’s fate changed after meeting her.

‘Hanet doesn’t die. Never as long as I… … .’

* * *

Shion raided the stronghold of the rebels with his troops.

The advance party came first, and the second party completely surrounded the surrounding area while supporting the advance party.

Shion followed the advance party and quickly went inside, and started looking for a place where the officers could be with the escort unit.

“Find the executive first. If it is difficult to capture them alive, kill them immediately.”

“All right.”

Shion moved quickly and blew magic into the acid rain.

Because his magic power increased more than before, he was able to use his sword skill with ease.

In addition, since he had learned swordsmanship, even if the rebels attacked, he would be able to quickly cut them down.

‘The number is small… There are no strong ones… … .’

After infiltrating the inside of the stronghold, no one was able to block the way forward.

The rebels were busy running away, and the rebels died in an instant.

Perhaps the executives knew this situation in advance and sneaked out.

‘There must be a secret passage.’

Of course, Shion had deployed troops not only in the base, but also in various places in Rodav.

A road to another town or village, another hiding place, a place to escape in a hurry.

After accurately grasping the topography of Rodav and the tendencies of the rebel leaders, he had taken action in advance.

‘I must have hidden the funds somewhere… … .’

It wasn’t that I was greedy for money.

In the first place, he was receiving support from the Duke of Adelaira, but there was no way he would run out of money.

It was just to prevent the rebels from regrouping and to give the funds to the king.

‘I have to show it well to the king.’

Even if it was just this mission to wipe out the rebels, the king trusted him and handed over the command.

If you prove your loyalty by slowly building up the ball from now on, wouldn’t it be possible to borrow troops later?

‘Killing a few executives doesn’t matter… … .’

“Urgent news! The Commander-in-Chief of the Firearms Division has captured rebel officers alive!”

A knight hurriedly ran and reported to Shion.

Shion recalls his intention to kill and shows an indifferent look.

“… Guide me.”

Zion and the escort followed the knight and returned the way they had come.

Soldiers came and went from time to time, and screams resonated everywhere.

Inside the large room, the commander of the General Knights and dozens of knights were gathered.

“Ah, are you here?”

“You caught the officers?”

“Yes. As you said, a secret passage is hidden. Along the way, we captured the officers alive.”

Shion nodded and approached them.

Several older-looking men and younger women were tied to the ropes.

The smell of alcohol came up, so I could guess what had happened.

“Where are the other guys?”

“I am in pursuit. You should be able to capture him alive soon.”

“Do you have any proof that you are an executive?”

“Would you like to take a look at this?”

After erasing the form of Acid Rain, Shion examines the documents the Commander of the General Knights handed over.

The amount of funds received and the location where the funds were sent were roughly described.

“Is there anything else besides this?”

“There are items confiscated from them.”

When the commander of the General Knights beckoned, the knights laid out their bags and boxes on the ground.

The bags and boxes contained countless gold bars and sparkling jewels.

“In addition, documents with the location of the hideout and contact information were found. We also found documents regarding future plans and troop management.”

“Have you been interrogated?”

“Yes, they said they were not executives. It is said that it is an intermediate position that delivers materials and funds, but I do not believe it.”

“… knife.”

As Shion uttered a short chant, a knight hurriedly moved and handed over the sword he was holding.

Shion grabbed the hilt and pointed the tip of the sword at the rebels.

“Are you a rebel leader?”

“no! I was only ordered to deliver things. I’m in charge of transportation, so I don’t know anything.”

Zion did not ask any more.

He just stared down coldly and poured magic into the blade.

How many of the rebels could afford to have this amount of money and important documents?

In addition, he was drinking alcohol with a woman on him, so he had no choice but to be sure.

“you… Do you want to live?”

Shion looked at the women and asked quietly.

The women then nodded their heads at the same time and showed sad eyes.

“If you help us capture the rebel cadres alive, we may spare them. By the way… What do you think would happen if it were the other way around?”

Shion turned the point of her sword toward the women.

Then the women freak out and stand up.

The Commander-in-Chief of the General Knights just watched silently with his mouth shut.

“If you are sentenced to death for trying to hide a rebel cadre… You will live in prison until you die. do you want that?”

“ah… Nope! no! I want to live!”

“Is the man next to you a rebel officer?”

“That… I… … .”

The women were staring at the men sideways.

Shion waits for a very short while and then turns his back.

“Commander of the Knights Command.”

“Yes!”

“I don’t think he is an executive… Can I kill them all?”

“… … ?”

The commander of the General Knights hesitantly met Shion’s gaze.

The purple eyes were still locked in the darkness, but the corners of the eyes were slightly twitching.

It was a small change, but the meaning was clearly recognizable.

“As you said, if you’re not an executive, I think I can kill you right now.”

“ruler… Wait! These men are executives! I have heard of it!”

“I heard it too! go… I said I was an executive!”

The women began to tell the truth in a panic.

Only then did Shion show interest and avert his gaze.

“this… these years… … .”

“Where are you catching live people! know who i am… Ugh!”

The man immediately shrank and swallowed dry saliva.

At some point, the tip of the knife touched the neck.

Shion opened his mouth slowly, holding his index finger to his lips.

“quietly. If you make noise… You die first.”

“… … .”

“Whether you are an executive or not, it has nothing to do with me. I could just wipe them all out, but would that be that difficult? It’s just a matter of how long it takes.”

Shion suppressed his anger and continued to speak with difficulty.

It’s very easy to kill them on the spot.

However, after killing them, it becomes difficult to find shelter with other executives.

To make it even easier and more certain, I had to use reason, not emotion.

“I will give you a chance to live. It’s very simple. All you have to do is tell me what you’re hiding. Isn’t it difficult?”

“I… I am… … .”

“Wouldn’t it be better not to say unnecessary things? I might kill you in a fit of anger.”

“… … .”

“You should have a good answer. I ask one more time. Are you guys members of the rebel army?”

The man avoids Shion’s gaze and then lowers his head.

A sharpened blade was pointed at him.

Even if he tried to protect things like loyalty and the cause from now on, nothing would change.

Rather than that, wouldn’t it be better to find a way to live?

“… We are rebel cadres.”

“Do you know where the other executives and hideouts are?”

“Yes, I know.”

“This is the last question. Where is the ruined ducal family? I should be looking after you guys.”