Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 183

Chapter 183. Darkness(1)

"Haah, haah...!"

As soon as Yulian confirmed that Claude's breath had completely ceased, the world, which had seemed numb due to the adrenaline rush, began to feel painfully real.

The first thing to visit me was pain.

"Uweck!"

A single gag reflex.

Having eaten nothing, only bile rose up, but the hot sensation running up my esophagus was extremely unpleasant.

Fortunately, not having eaten anything meant that nothing was actually brought up.

The only annoying thing, if anything, was that I ended up putting both my hands on the rain-soaked ground.

Even in this situation, my OCD strikes.

"Hoo..."

I looked over the dead Claude once more.

'I did it for revenge.'

It was that thought alone that drove me, although in reality, the top priority was dealing with "Dantes" first.

'Ah...!'

As my head cooled and I started to calm down, I realized that I might have made a reckless choice.

The urge for revenge had overshadowed the thought of getting my identity discovered.

I should have dealt with Dantes first to remove future threats!

"Ugh."

As emotions surged, so did the pain.

Try to stay calm. Relax.

"Sir Yulian!"

Amidst trying to collect myself, someone called my name from afar.

Huh? Why is that face here?

Such a question lingered only briefly.

"Sir Pintel."

Pintel, a Bishop of the Dawn Society, approached me with a face full of urgency.

"Are you alright!?"

Pintel checked my physical condition thoroughly and asked about it. Behind him, individuals who seemed to be his private soldiers followed.

But how did he know to come here?

"What brings you to this place, Sir Pintel?"

"... That's not the issue here! Sir Yulian, you're bleeding...!"

"Don't panic. The bleeding has stopped. My body is..."

Ah! Shoot.

Turning away from the one asking about my condition, I checked to make sure "Angelica" had disappeared.

The "Black Knight" and Pintel were arch-enemies.

If my identity were exposed, there's no telling how the usually friendly Pintel might react.

'Phew.'

Luckily, the mask of "Angelica" was gone.

"Are you injured!? What are you doing! Immediately summon the doctors present in the capital! There might be a risk of secondary infection..."

"I told you not to panic."

Secondary infection, what nonsense.

"Ah, understood."

As I scolded him, Pintel nodded, finally coming to his senses.

"And who is this?"

Pintel motioned toward a fallen figure and asked. Despite looking at a corpse, there was no change in his expression.

Well, as a noble and a member of the Dawn Society, he must have seen plenty of bodies.

"He's the leader of the Six Fingers."

"You mean a member of the criminal organization collaborating with Dantes?"

It seems that Pintel was somewhat informed, knowing about the exchange between "Dantes" and the 'Six Fingers'.

Perhaps Lazlot could have told him.

"Yes, that's right."

"Then Dantes will be captured soon."

"But Sir Pintel, why are you here?"

The "Operation: Breaking the Fingers" was carried out swiftly without reporting to the Dawn Society.

Which is why I was curious about how Pintel ended up here.

"The orders came from the High Pontiff."

Tenelon?

Pintel's voice reached me as I nodded my head.

"It was a mandate to clean up the former Bishop Dantes."

What?

The fact that Tenelon gave such an order made a cold sweat run down my back.

'Could he know something related to Dantes?'

Beyond just Dantes selling out the Dawn Society for his own benefit, could Tenelon possibly know about any talk of "betrayal"?

'After Dantes, it's me next.'

"Hoo."

Whether it was due to the wounds or the heightened emotions before, I couldn't quite grasp the sense of crisis, but worries continued to linger.

Where did the information leak from?

I pondered, but...

'No.'

There's no way Tenelon could know.

If he did know the full story, he wouldn't have sent Pintel here.

He would've handled it himself, sent his faction members.

Anyway.

"Has Dantes' current location been identified?"

Moreover, if the Dawn Society handles Dantes for me, that's helpful.

Since my body is exhausted and the injuries quite severe, it's about time I desperately needed rest.

"Yes, Lazlot is on his tail, and we're receiving regular reports related to him."

"Lazlot, huh..."

Come to think of it, I recall seeing Lazlot chasing Dantes just a while ago.

'Although I doubt there'll be any issues.'

A cornered Dantes might try some sort of retaliation, but it doesn't seem like Lazlot would fall for it.

Being the weaker one, he won't think to take a head-on attack.

"And Sir Yulian, there's something I need to tell you."

I, lost in thought, turned my head to the suddenly serious tone of Pintel.

"What do you mean?"

"About 'Blind Eyes' that we talked about before."

Blind Eyes?

Did I ever talk about that with Pintel?

Due to the pain subtly spread throughout my body, my mind wasn't working well.

"About Fern, that person."

Ah, I remember. But why now?

"Today, that guy will probably die."

***

'Damn it, damn it...!'

In the distance.

Watching the back of Dantes running through the slums, Lazlot cursed under his breath.

'It's like I've been running all day!'

Having run for so long, the metallic taste was subtly spreading on Lazlot's tongue.

Fortunately, Dantes also seemed tired, not appearing physically well.

'I feel like I'm running even harder than what I was paid for...'

Momentarily doubting his own words but having come this far, he had to see it through.

Lazlot continued to chase Dantes.

At the moment he was desperately trying to catch up with Dantes who rounded the corner.

Crack──!

"Waaaaah!"

Just before turning the corner, Dantes veered the opposite direction and collapsed.

What on earth just happened?

Lazlot paused to catch his breath and slowly walked forward.

Then, a man with the 'Blind Eyes' emblem on his shoulder emerged.

"Sir, Sir Fern...?"

Lazlot couldn't have predicted the sudden appearance of this person.

A former member of the 'Azure Lion Knights', currently affiliated with 'Blind Eyes'.

"Lazlot?"

"Why is Sir Fern here?"

"I'm investigating right now. I acquired information that Dantes Christo is involved with the Dawn Society and has violated security laws."

Lazlot knew that. In fact, he, too, was involved with the Dawn Society.

So he was always cautious.

The problem was that Fern had sniffed out this much.

"Who, who are you, bastard! Let go of me!"

Despite Dantes' harsh swearing, not a hint of expression changed on Fern's face as he spoke.

"Sir Dantes, you're under suspicion of illicit contact with the Holy Kingdom and recently leaking confidential information to the Federation."

"... Wha, what are you talking about!?"

"Denying it won't change anything. We've already secured evidence."

Secured evidence?

Lazlot felt a twinge of fear at Fern's words.

If he had gathered information to this extent, there was a big chance he had secured solid information related to the Dawn Society.

Otherwise, Fern, who usually only 'watched,' wouldn't have acted so directly.

"You brat, can you take responsibility? If not, I'll slit your throat no matter what it takes!"

"As I said earlier, I have secured the evidence regarding these suspicions, including the offer of a Dawn Society position made to Principal Eytel of Bayer Academy."

"Wha, what...!?"

As Eytel's name came up, Dantes' face darkened.

Similarly, Lazlot's expression showed dismay.

'... He knows way too much.'

It was clear that if Dantes were taken by Fern, it would cause trouble for the Dawn Society.

It would undoubtedly impact Sir Yulian negatively too.

However, at the moment, Lazlot didn't have any legitimate reason to stop Fern from taking Dantes.

Plus, there's no justification for a 'trainee' to halt the actions of a 'full-fledged' member... Ah!

There was only one thing that could be employed here.

"Sir Yulian!"

Mentioning his name caused Fern to pause his movement.

As expected.

"Sir Yulian is also pursuing Dantes. Before taking him away, wouldn't it be appropriate to hear what he has to say, Sir Fern?"

"Sir Yulian?"

"Yes!"

"Hmm."

Fern's once sharp demeanor softened a bit.

Previously a member of the Lion Knights, Fern was now affiliated with 'Blind Eyes'.

For the members of 'Blind Eyes', the name 'Yulian' induces hesitance, forcing them to be cautious.

To the members of 'Blind Eyes', he is such an intimidating figure.

"The fact that he's pursuing this man means Sir Yulian is also investigating the Dawn Society?"

Fern muttered to himself.

As if realizing something, he nodded once, then shifted his gaze to Lazlot.

"You have a point there, Lazlot. The reason Dantes exposed himself like this is likely because Sir Yulian began investigating the Dawn Society. It's not right to take credit for his work."

Of course, not all of that was the truth, but Lazlot still nodded.

Dantes should be apprehended by 'Yulian', not be taken away by 'Blind Eyes'.

If Yulian were to see this spectacle, he would find a way to resolve the situation somehow.

"Then, as you suggested, we'll wait for Sir Yulian..."

"You, you say Yulian is investigating the Dawn Society for credit?"

It was then that the suppressed Dantes opened his mouth.

"Please be quiet, Sir Dantes. Right now, you'd better exercise your right to remain silent."

"That's not it, you fool! Yulian isn't doing this for credit!"

Watching Dantes' face redden with anger, Lazlot sensed a harbinger of trouble.

'He's planning to spill everything!'

As Dantes, in a desperate state, tried to divulge everything related to the Dawn Society, Lazlot's mind went blank.

"He's just trying to climb to the top!"

"... Climb to the top?"

"Yes! Dawn..."

Puff──!

Something sudden flew and lodged into Dantes' throat, making blood spurt like a fountain, drenching Fern's face.

"Ku, kurgh..."

Dantes uttered a dying groan as he drew his last breath, soon rolling his eyes back, and his life ended.

"Gah, aaaaah!"

Startled by the scene, Lazlot stumbled and fell on his behind.

What on earth just happened?

Before he could even process that question, Fern stood up, his hand resting on the sword at his waist.

"Who's there!"

Even though he shouted, wrapped in all the tension of a former knight, his face bore traces of fear.

Because he couldn't grasp what had happened until the object flew and claimed Dantes' life.

"Dantes, you pathetic fool. I knew since you were in league with Gerard that it would come to this."

From a dark alleyway, slowly, a figure emerged.

Three silhouettes.

Two of them were bishops he was acquainted with, and the other one──

'Why is he here?'

Recognizing the figure, Lazlot's expression turned to one of sheer shock.

He was among those who should not be here.