Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 244

Chapter 244. He who stays near vermilion becomes red. (2)

A strong mind resides within a strong body.

This was a statement made by the Sword Saint during a lecture at Bayer Academy, attended by all.

Uruhar, present in the audience, looked up at the podium with sparkling silver eyes.

The pinnacle of swordsmanship.

The final destination of the star that illuminated the empire.

The Sword Saint was the very person Uruhar dreamed of, and thus he aspired to become the Sword Saint's 'apprentice'.

However, the position of the apprentice went to 'Yulian', a person he disliked.

Though he trembled with anger at that fact, Uruhar eventually chose to accept it.

Yulian was strong, and his expertise in the sword was profound.

Even at Bayer Academy, he carried unfortunate labels such as being a collateral and having a dark heart, but he was not a bad person.

However, he changed.

Although it was strange to judge it with his own perspective, Uruhar realized the change when Yulian was expelled by the Sword Saint.

'Alongside the Sword Saint.'

After seeking asylum in the Holy Kingdom and returning to the capital, he died while investigating the 'Dawn Society'.

Words circulated like rumors that he sacrificed himself to kill their leader, but no one could know the truth.

Only the fact that 'the exiled Sword Saint returned to the capital and died' remained.

'What you see and reality are different.'

It was the same for the 'Imperial Knights' to which he belonged.

They might not be the strongest knights, but they were the closest to the 'Emperor'.

Hence, Uruhar thought it was a position where they could assist noble blood, but as he saw the emperor increasingly influenced by the word of the 'diviner', he again came to ponder, 'Ideals are just ideals.'

'What is nobility?'

At first, he thought it resided in the sword, but it was not.

Then he thought it resided in blood, but it was not.

So what did the Sword Saint mean by 'a strong mind'?

'...... Hmm?'

As Uruhar lived pondering such questions, he came across an article about an individual known as the 'Black Knight'.

'One who acts for the people and punishes nobles.......'

How could a newspaper run such an article? If I were a sponsor, I would have rooted out such a newspaper immediately.

'The Black Knight.'

Putting his curt thoughts aside, Uruhar continued to read the article.

'A Black Knight active regardless of rank, even in the slums.'

There's no one else as strange as this.

Initially, he thought so, but curiosity soon got the better of him, and he began looking at locations where the Black Knight had appeared.

'No one would do this without some sort of reward.'

There had to be a reason, surely.

Feeling both curiosity and suspicion, Uruhar continued investigating the movements of the 'Black Knight'.

Why did they do this?

What was their reason?

Did they have to act this way?

As he continued his investigation, Uruhar came to his senses.

'Gasp.'

He realized his room was plastered with 'Black Knight masks'.

'When did I gather so many?'

Looking at the rooms filled with 'Black Knight masks', Uruhar thought.

A strong mind resides within a strong body.

With the realization that the epitome of this was not the 'Sword Saint', but the 'Black Knight'.

'...... Hm.'

The Black Knight was noble.

The sight of him silently performing his tasks without expecting any reward was almost like the ideal Uruhar dreamed of.

Savoring the bitter taste that lingered on his tongue, Uruhar shifted his gaze to the wall adorned with masks.

'Number one.'

The 'Mask Collection' began to be sold when the 'Black Knight' appeared.

Having become a fan later, he clicked his tongue at the emptiness of his collection.

'If only I'd realized it sooner......!'

***

I couldn't hide my astonishment.

Out of nowhere, Uruhar from the Imperial Knights thrust a scabbard at me, asking for an autograph.

Moreover, I had approached Uruhar considering him an adversary, and I was tense to a certain degree.

That guy was from the Imperial Knights.

The Heavenly Guardians protecting the emperor are the elite of the empire's forces. Among these 'elite', the top-tier knights are the 'Imperial Knights'.

'In terms of martial prowess, they are among the top powerhouses.'

Every strong individual would know. The importance of a weapon.

Handing over such a weapon, Uruhar standing before me was demanding a signature.

'How could I not be flustered?'

If I were to take the scabbard under the guise of providing an autograph and not return it, Uruhar would become defenseless.

In that case, it would be easy for me to handle him while he's without weaponry.

'...... That's not quite right.'

That wouldn't do.

Even though I am someone who values efficiency, I am not someone lacking humanity enough to beat a defenseless person.

'Hmm.'

Actually.

On second thought, it seems fine this way. There are times when you just want to take it easy.

"You mean a signature?"

Uruhar nodded at my question. I promptly reached for the scabbard in his hand.

Should he have said that with the intent of setting a trap, he would attack just before I could take the scabbard, but in that case, I would quickly react and counterattack.

'Hmm.'

But that wasn't the case. The scabbard was truly handed over to me.

'Is he mad?'

Even if he trusts someone wholeheartedly, handing over a 'sword' so easily is a suicidal act.

Even if the Sword Saint had asked for the sword, one would question if they've gone mad.

"Are you in your right mind, handing over the scabbard?"

Hence, I couldn't help but voice my question.

Upon hearing my remark, a hint of realization momentarily flashed across Uruhar's face, as though he realized something.

"Well, I'm sure that the Black Knight won't attack someone who's defenseless."

However, that feeling soon disappeared. He simply reiterated his request for an autograph on the scabbard.

"Unfortunately, I don't carry a pen."

I had come here half worried, half looking forward to confronting the Imperial Knights.

Within the narrative, the 'Imperial Knights' are described as a fearsome group capable of rivaling the Sword Saint's power.

I was concerned that Yulian's battle-loving instincts for a 'strong opponent' might create complex situations.

"Well...... is that so?"

Watching Uruhar's disappointment left me speechless.

"Anyway, do you have any idea why I might have come to this place?"

I quickly asked him in a serious tone, thinking that if this continued, the main topic might stray away.

"Though an enforcer of the imperial command, I have my doubts on what could bring a hero of the people here... uh."

After a brief moment of contemplation, he spoke.

"There are many possibilities, but I can't comprehend why you'd come personally."

He doesn't know?

"Your attack on Flugel, that's what brought me here."

"Lord Flugel was attacked...!?"

Uruhar looked at me with a truly astonished expression.

'Why is he shocked?'

I had believed the attack on Flugel was carried out by Uruhar on the emperor's decree.

I came here thinking it was to keep things under wraps, yet he seemed genuinely surprised, as if hearing about this for the first time.

'Possibility of lies...'

None.

Judging by his trembling pupils and the 'Color of Negativity', he didn't seem to be lying.

"Who attacked Lord Flugel?"

"I came here assuming it was you."

"Me!?"

He's still looking at me with astonished eyes.

"No! I swear, I never attacked Lord Flugel! In fact, I haven't even met him!"

"Then how do you explain the footage of you from the Magic Tower?"

"Footage? Oh......"

Uruhar, trailing off, seemed to be recollecting his memories. He seemed to be retracing his memories from back then.

"You mean the footage from the tower's surveillance magic?"

"Yes."

"Well, of course, there would be footage. I did visit the Magic Tower to meet Lord Flugel."

Visited the Magic Tower.

Footage of a crucial time was captured.

Even so, he claimed not to be the culprit, which sounded slightly odd.

Is this guy acting?

With such thoughts, I looked at Uruhar, and he shook his head.

"It's true that I was going to meet Lord Flugel under the command of Emperor Adratan, but I didn't get to meet him. I had to leave because he had a prior appointment."

"Under the emperor's command?"

Without thinking, I was surprised by Uruhar's unintentional revelation. However, the mask and its unique 'Trait' ensured my emotions wouldn't leak out.

"By the command of Emperor Adratan?"

"...... Oops."

Realizing his slip of the tongue, Uruhar covered his mouth with one hand but soon returned to his usual expression.

"Well, since it's the Black Knight, it shouldn't be a problem even if you heard."

"What order did you have to visit Flugel?"

"I can't say more. I have a loose tongue, but I am a member of the Imperial Knights after all."

Loose tongue.

I strongly agreed with that statement.

'...... Flugel, on the emperor's command.'

Hearing Uruhar's words, I began organizing my thoughts.

Something significant enough for the Imperial Knights to visit the Magic Tower under the emperor's command?

'It wouldn't be ordinary.'

Clearly, it was a covert matter. It was essential to clandestinely receive word of the aftermath of whatever they had done.

'Something the emperor needed to covertly listen to.'

Currently, 'Emperor Adratan's' mind isn't as clear-cut as before. Even in such a state, for him to mobilize the 'Imperial Knights' personally to keep tabs meant it must've been related to some desire.

'Desire.'

Immortality.

Or perhaps eternality.

With all wealth and honor in hand, that was the only thing lacking for the emperor.

'The remnants of the Demon God I saw before.'

What had come to mind.

'The Imperial Seal.'

In other words, the reason Uruhar of the Imperial Knights visited Flugel was because of...

'The Demon God's horn was...'

Flugel was in possession of it.

That made sense for why he hesitated and why Uruhar was sent under the emperor's command to the Magic Tower.

However, things have now become more complicated.

'If it wasn't Uruhar, who attacked Flugel?'

Having reviewed the Magic Tower's surveillance footage with Aileen, when I had gone to meet Flugel, it was only Uruhar who'd been seen entering the lab.

'Could an invisible entity have attacked Flugel?'

Oh.

The mention of an invisible entity reminded me of something.