Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 272

Chapter 272. The Remaining Whereabouts (4)

"He's alive."

Kaldrach bluntly entered the office where I was and mentioned that someone was alive.

I had a good idea of whom he was referring to, though it was a situation where annoyance was about to rear its head.

'Just when the mana vein was aching and I wanted to head home quickly.'

Why do guests keep showing up like this?

To make matters worse, I had been in the middle of a conversation with Pintel.

He had been asking a trivial question about whether it was okay to include ordinary society members to supplement the members of 'Twilight'.

'Twilight' isn't necessary.

Individuals operating a 'private army' is fine, but 'Blind Eyes' strictly forbids it.

After sending Pintel away somehow, now Kaldrach was here doing this.

"Is that so?"

"Indifferent, aren't you? After all, it was the information you provided."

I realized that if I displeased Kaldrach, my head might roll in an instant.

There's hope as long as I stop Eulsis, but my life won't end after dealing with him.

"Actually, I expected that Kikubad might not die on the spot."

By settings, I knew 'Kikubad' had monstrous strength. However, I thought it was an opponent that could be defeated because it was just 'settings'.

'Having faced him, he is indeed strong.'

If I were to face him again, could I win? I'm not sure, but still, if I were to face him again.

'I won't lose.'

Approaching any opponent with 'imagination of losing' is not allowed. It was a habit 'Yulian' had, and it seemed like a good habit for him.

"Indeed, I also thought about it after hearing the information you gave."

Saying that, Kaldrach shrugged his shoulders and sat on the sofa before him.

Abisha followed Kaldrach like a shadow, but she did not sit. She merely stared at me with cautious eyes, probably because of what happened in the Blizzard Forest.

"By the way, did you hear about it from 'Uruhar' this time?"

Kaldrach asked with a skeptical expression.

"No, I heard it from the Black Knight."

"Is there a need to speak so roundabout between us?"

Kaldrach rested his chin on one hand and stared at me.

"There were many repetitions, indeed. I've heard rumors about the 'Black Knight' several times in the capital."

His gaze pierced my body as if he knew everything.

Though he hadn't said it outright, it felt like he wanted me to declare with my own mouth that I was the 'Black Knight'.

"However, in the 'repetition' where Hayden Reich died, all rumors of the 'black knights' disappeared. From there, I could guess that the 'Black Knight' was Hayden Reich."

"Fascinating. The Black Knight's true identity was Hayden Reich."

Cold sweat began to trickle down my back. The fact that the 'Black Knight's true identity was Hayden Reich was not known in this world.

Yet, Kaldrach knew the truth. Though I thought of what help it could be now, it was enough pressure on me.

"I thought those rumors would disappear this time as well since Hayden Reich is dead. But isn't it strange? Why does the Black Knight still roam around?"

Abisha looked at Kaldrach as if questioning what he was talking about.

Even under her gaze, Kaldrach did not waver in his interest in me. Rather, he seemed to imply he wanted to look inside.

"I don't understand what you're trying to say, Your Highness Kaldrach."

"Is that so? You are wise."

"Is that so? People often tell me that."

"Actually, it doesn't matter either way."

Kaldrach shrugged again.

"I've been obsessed with killing Eulsis, but I've changed my mind."

Then, with a serious face, Kaldrach looked at me.

"I will become the emperor, Yulian. After all, hiding in the north for safety doesn't suit me."

After watching Kaldrach speak frankly, I glanced at Abisha's face.

Her hood was up, making her face unclear.

"For that, Your Highness Kaldrach must gain an advantage in the battle for succession."

"That's not difficult. If only I can catch Eulsis, then even elder brother Osborne-"

Revealing his inner thoughts, Kaldrach seemed to have become more detached through the 'repetition', but different thoughts began to surface as he entered the capital.

å

Is he enamored by power, or has the idea of usurping the throne ingrained itself in his blood?

'He's always been this way.'

The iron-blooded prince has always been like this. I thought he might have changed a bit after experiencing the 'repetitions', but still.

"There are many I've known who died yearning for power."

"Not this time."

"They all used to say that and then died."

I chuckled.

Speaking to Kaldrach in this manner could result in severe punishment, but I wanted to say it like this now.

"I am different."

That's what they all said.

Before I knew it, the man standing before me was no longer the 'Repeater' Kaldrach—but the 'Iron-Blooded Prince'.

"If I grab the throne, there will be backlash in various ways unless I seize it dramatically."

"Indeed. Aside from legitimacy, elder brother Osborne exists more."

"A platform of execution to silence such people is necessary."

Haah, I sighed inwardly.

I'm aware that 'villains' like Yulian, but Kaldrach is a bit ambiguous to fall under the category of a 'villain'.

"I promise you the status of Imperial Knights. It doesn't matter if you want a higher status."

"Your Highness Kaldrach, there's only one thing I desire in this world."

"And what is that?"

"That my two feet remain on solid ground."

Kaldrach looked at me with doubtful eyes.

"Do you wish for your feet to remain grounded even though you can fly?"

I chuckled.

"It hurts when you fall."

***

Kaldrach and I had further conversations afterward.

He mentioned securing the Demon God's Horn from Fulcurn's mansion and how things went too smoothly—those kinds of tales.

"Shouldn't you have started with that tale?"

The current priority was dealing with the 'Demon God's Horn'. However, there was logic in his words.

'We retrieved the horn too easily.'

If Eulsis is using the 'Demon God's Horn' for some plan, Abigail, the 'witch', being by his side, they would know the horn's significance.

But, considering that, the retrieval seemed too easy.

Even though the operation was secretive, I anticipated struggling to retrieve the 'Demon God's Horn' from the ruined Fulcurn's mansion.

'Could it be?'

The unnaturally smooth flow sparked suspicion unknowingly.

I had thought that Eulsis, being the 'vessel for the Demon King,' aimed for 'the Demon God's resurrection.'

For a 'player', it's a natural progression. In the game, all 'demon kings' used any means to resurrect the 'Demon God'.

'Could Eulsis's objective not be the Demon God's resurrection?'

In any case, I presumed he wanted to use 'Demon God' to destroy the 'Empire', but upon reflection, possessing the 'Demon God's Horn', there is a way to ruin the Empire without resurrecting the Demon God.

'Polluting the land.'

Melting the 'Demon God's Horn' to infuse its demonic energy into the land.

Using this method would turn the area into a place seething with the Demon God's remnant thoughts.

In short, it would be no different than the 'Northern Front'.

'Mmm.'

If that's the case, the future consequences remain unpredictable, but nothing as disastrous as 'the Demon God's resurrection' will occur.

The balance of power across the continent will surely shift.

The tripartite structure—divided among the Empire, the Holy Kingdom, and the Federation—will collapse, and a wave of chaos will likely follow.

'The world won't end.'

With that thought, I began to feel slightly relieved.

'I should consider finding a way to seek asylum, just in case.'

As long as it isn't the Empire, it should be fine, right?

Of course, I won't just sit idly by focusing on asylum while allowing Eulsis's schemes to unfold.

After all, there's amassed wealth within the 'Empire'.

***

Originally skeptical about the Imperial Knights' position, Uruhar came to realize something after conversing with Yulian.

'As expected, it's better to leave the Imperial Knights.'

Continuing the role out of 'belief' alone has become problematic.

Rather, stepping away from this position, closely bound by 'imperial' rules and assuming a new identity would be better.

Uruhar thought it would lessen the guilt when assisting the 'Black Knight'.

Hence, with a resignation letter in hand, Uruhar visited the Imperial Palace, only to be met by none other than...

"There you are."

It's Kikubad, who was thought to be buried in Fulcurn's mansion.

Seeing him easily occupying the spot as if he hadn't supposedly died left Uruhar with ringing ears.

"Hmm? Standing there like you've seen a ghost."

At Kikubad's words, Uruhar tried to maintain composure as best as possible and handed over the resignation letter.

"What's this?"

"It's a resignation letter."

"Hmm."

Kikubad let out a sigh.

"Why are you quitting? Positions with the Imperial Knights pay well and offer benefits that are hard to match elsewhere."

Instead of speaking of loyalty to the 'imperial family', Kikubad talked about the worldly benefits of the 'Imperial Knights'.

"I've recently realized I can't share the same will as the Imperial Knights."

"Hmm, is that so?"

After glancing over the resignation letter once, Kikubad chuckled while looking at Uruhar.

"If it were me, I would've stuck with the Imperial Knights till the end."

He pushed the resignation letter back towards Uruhar.

"Won't sticking around make it easier to assist the Black Knight?"

Upon hearing the name 'Black Knight', tension washed over Uruhar's entire body.

The wounds inflicted by Kikubad also began throbbing.

'Did he notice?'

Despite wearing a hood and refraining from using aura, Uruhar swallowed hard.

"Reporting every detail from here to the Black Knight would make things simpler, wouldn't it?"

"How did you figure it out?"

With throbbing wounds and tension, Uruhar's words came out informally, yet Kikubad continued speaking unfazed.

"I didn't know at first. I thought of you just as a skilled swordsman."

"Then how?"

"I suspected when a swordsman of your caliber refrained from using 'Aura'."

With that thought trailing off, Kikubad seemed to have remembered something as he continued speaking.

"There's something I wish to know."

Kikubad slowly stood from his seat. As the chill of a snake-like aura coursed through his body, Uruhar stiffened, yet soon distributed 'mana' allowing him to move.

"Are you really the Black Knight, or is it the second one who's real?"