While Duke and Hana were having a private meal inside the private room,
Her retainers and guard knights waited for her outside.
Among them, the more seasoned knights were fidgeting, tapping their feet anxiously.
The lower-ranking knights initially thought this was simply a manifestation of their loyalty.
However, upon realizing that only the senior knights were uneasy, the juniors also began to sense something was amiss.
Eventually, one junior knight who had good relations with the seniors ventured to ask them the reason on behalf of his peers.
“Senior, is there really cause to be this anxious?”
“Are you telling me it’s not weird that we, the retainers of Lady Sneeria, aren’t anxious in this situation?”
The senior knight’s words were followed by nods of agreement from the other senior knights.
But the junior knights remained confused, tilting their heads in incomprehension.
“I’ve never met Sir Erwick before, but according to the bards, he seems like a good person.”
A man who always protected the weak, eliminated evildoers, and showed no apparent pursuit of wealth and fame.
Just as the knights gathered here had pledged their allegiance to Sneeria’s unparalleled character compared to other lords, they assumed Duke was a similar person.
The senior knights also agreed with the statement in part.
“Yes, Duke is undoubtedly an honorable knight. However, that doesn’t mean he’s safe.”
“Huh?”
The senior knight glanced toward the private room where their master was, then looked back at the juniors before speaking.
“It’s because your understanding of magic is insufficient that you think like this. What tier are you at?”
“It’s my second tier now.”
The senior knight asked the other knights the same question.
“You?”
“Second tier.”
“You?”
“I’m level 19.”
“First tier, then. You’re all still inexperienced, so it’s natural that you don’t fully understand.”
Of course, the young man who said he was second tier was 90 years old, but next to this senior knight, he was still a novice.
Even though he had entered the superhuman realm and slowed aging, compared to those with higher achievements, he was still rather young.
The senior knight spoke in a tone much older than his youthful appearance allowed.
“I’m third tier. Compared to Lady Sneeria, I’m still quite inexperienced, but I do understand how magic works.”
Levels 1 and 2 simply memorize the formulas for spells without understanding the principles behind the magic.
At least reaching the third tier is necessary to begin comprehending the principles and imagery involved.
Thus, the senior knight firmly declared.
“Erwick Duke. His magic is a clear indicator of how perilous he truly is.”
It’s widely known that Knight Duke Erwick primarily uses telekinesis in conjunction with swordsmanship.
Since he makes no particular effort to hide it and troubadours diligently spread such stories, this fact is well established.
Telekinesis is magic that even beginners can use.
Anyone, even a commoner at tier zero, can lift objects with sufficient training.
The magic formula is simple, and it’s one of the basic lessons when first learning magic.
Thus, when people heard Duke used telekinesis, they didn’t find it particularly remarkable.
“Anyone can perform the trick with such easy magic, it’s easy to imagine hearing only stories.”
As easily imaginable as it is, people relate to it and admire it.
The senior knight used telekinesis to place a cup in front of his junior.
“But telekinesis is not as simple as it seems.”
Yet, upon reaching the third tier and fully comprehending the principle behind telekinesis, one begins to perceive it differently.
“Have you ever thought it strange? Apart from Sir Erwick, have you seen anyone else use telekinesis in actual combat?”
“Uh… the lord of Trindol region…”
“That’s gravity magic, not telekinesis.”
“…. I see, so no one else.”
“Have you ever wondered why only Sir Erwick uses it and no one else does?”
“Maybe the power output is too low?”
The junior knight’s answer left the senior knight dissatisfied, shaking his head.
“If that were true, wouldn’t Sir Erwick avoid using it?”
“But why…”
“Have you ever imagined trying to apply telekinesis on a person?”
At the senior’s question, the junior knight shook his head.
“Well, try using telekinesis on my finger then.”
The senior knight extended his hand.
The junior knight immediately used telekinesis on the senior knight’s finger.
But with a feeling as if it was bounced off, his telekinesis was immediately cancelled.
“Huh?”
“That’s the usual reaction.”
The senior knight began explaining the principles behind telekinesis to his confused junior.
“Telekinesis remains basic only when applied to objects without mana. When used on objects with mana, it becomes intermediate magic. When applied to sentient beings, it becomes high-tier magic.”
Telekinesis is magic that compels reality to conform to one’s imagination by pouring mana into it.
“To make it simpler, which is easier: throwing a fireball or igniting someone’s insides?”
“Well, throwing the fireball, of course.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because the person will resist being set on fire internally.”
A superhuman’s body is like a micro-universe.
Even with a disparity in levels, directly intruding into someone else’s micro-universe is extremely difficult.
The senior knight emphasized that fact and continued his explanation.
“Yes. Telekinesis is the same. If you try to control another person with telekinesis, it easily breaks with resistance, much like what happened with me earlier. Moreover, it consumes a lot of mana unnecessarily.”
Yet, Duke handles it with such composure.
“Manipulating the physical body of a sentient being with telekinesis means his micro-universe overwhelms other people’s micro-universes.”
“I understand now, senior. In short, Sir Erwick is at such a high level, right?”
“No, no, you haven’t understood at all. It’s not about level. Didn’t I just say that telekinesis is an ability that forces reality to match imagination? There’s no more honest magic than that.”
You only need to imagine throwing the fireball to use a fireball spell, and there’s no need to imagine what happens after.
But with telekinesis, you must vividly imagine every process from beginning to end in your mind.
“Twisting someone’s neck with telekinesis isn’t achieved simply by wishing to strangle them. You need an image so intense that it can dominate that person’s micro-universe.”
The senior knight applied telekinesis to the junior knight’s finger.
Only after sweating profusely and pouring mana into the act, did the junior knight’s finger slightly move.
“Did you see that? It’s not about level. Normally, it’s already a challenge just to move a finger.”
Moreover, the senior knight exerted no intent to harm while moving the finger.
Yet, the senior knight emphasized that even without murderous intent, this much effort is required.
The junior knight seemed to finally understand what was being said.
“So, Sir Duke…”
“Sir Erwick is someone who can hold malice against a complete stranger at first meeting. If someone blocks his path, he could twist that person’s neck without hesitation.”
“!!!”
“Even before I explained this to you, none of you could have possibly imagined applying telekinesis to a person, could you?”
Naturally, telekinesis only applies to objects.
This common sense is established because it’s impossible for the average person to even imagine applying it to a person.
Since you cannot imagine it, you won’t conceive of it, and thus, no one attempts it.
Moreover, one must reach at least the third tier and comprehend the principles of magic to realize there’s something unusual about Duke’s telekinesis.
Therefore, commoners only see him as an honorable knight.
“There was a story from the past. Sir Erwick allegedly crushed a wicked black magician’s heart using telekinesis.”
“Surely not…”
“A black magician who performed human sacrifices at will would require a month to cast the spell that tears the heart.”
The Heart Break spell requires collecting materials like hair, imagining vividly over a month, and is a curse spell with complex preparation.
Duke is performing that with telekinesis.
“Maybe. It’s possible that Sir Erwick could cause the knight’s hearts here to explode merely by imagining it.”
At this point, the junior knight finally understood why his seniors were worried.
Paled and shaken, the junior knight looked towards the room where their master had gone as the senior spoke.
“Justice? A very good word. But understand this: history has recorded how great evils were sometimes justice depending on the perspective.”
Ultimately, justice itself can be a form of madness.
The atmosphere among the guards grew heavy with the senior knight’s final words.
Despite the knights’ concerns, Yohana walked out of the room unscathed.
“Sneeria Lady!”
“Hm?”
Perplexed by the knights who greeted her as if they were welcoming a returned lord, Hana felt confused.
‘Why?’
Hadn’t they enjoyed such a wonderful time within those walls, why would the subordinates worry for the lord so?
Duke felt similarly.
‘Why are they wary of me?’
At first glance, it seemed like the knights welcomed Hana, but in reality, they were poised to intervene between her and Duke at any moment.
‘Ah. Maybe it’s because they’re government officials who can’t accept vigilantes like us.’
Though Duke proclaimed justice, technically speaking, he was part of an illegal vigilante group.
On the other hand, the knights were civil servants of the Sneeria realm.
From that perspective, Duke understood why they were cautious.
‘Well, I spent a good time with Hana, so that’s enough.’
Their eyes met.
Since they were in front of their subordinates, neither could show the same smile they exchanged in the room.
Hana greeted Duke with a stoic expression befitting her moniker, the Shadow Queen.
“I also have other business in this realm, so I shall take my leave. Our conversation was enjoyable, Sir Erwick.”
Duke also responded while maintaining his knightly image.
“I look forward to seeing you again someday.”
A subtle curve formed at the corners of both their mouths.
Shortly, she led her retainers and guards to the noble quarter located within the inner city.
As she strode towards the inner city with her coat billowing like a mantle, she was undoubtedly The Shadow Queen.
Duke watched her back disappear before heading to the commercial district in the outer city.
There, amidst the evening light filtering through buildings, he recalled something he had forgotten.
‘Ah, that’s right. Rex.’
Though he had only spoken to his favorite, time had passed quickly.
Duke marvelled at the wonders of the theory of relativity (incorrectly).
Regardless, he hurried toward the slave shop without breaking into a run.
Even under the most urgent circumstances, Duke never ran unless it involved combat.
Thus, he strolled to the shop and arrived.
‘Hmm?’
Rex had not yet brought out A.
‘What, was his communication disorder this bad?’
Impressed by Rex in a different way, Duke stepped into the shop.
Even though it was Rex’s task to meet A, he planned to help by speaking to the shop staff.
As he opened the door, the scene before him was somewhat disconcerting.
“Customer!”
“Agghh!”
There stood a White Tiger beastfolk female, her fangs clamped onto Rex’s arm.
With white hair cascading down her back, almond-shaped eyes framed by black bridges, she was unmistakably the type people would associate with a White Tiger.
Seeing her, Duke thought…
‘Ah, this is that scene.’
As a fan of the original work, he was deeply moved.
This was a scene from the original work.
Rex successfully purchased her using the doctor’s fortune. However, during the process, Rex used the doctor’s identity, leading A to mistake him for an underling trying to take her back to the lab.
Thus, she had been waiting for an opportunity to attack him.
Unaware of this fact, Rex had carelessly removed her leash the moment he bought her, simply because she was A…
‘And so, she bites his arm just like this.’
Wow, look at those fangs! That must hurt. They might have even pierced an artery.
As he silently observed Rex’s plight, Duke thought about how different things were depending on the relationship.
He’d obliterate any thief who inflicted such a wound. But for a heroine, the story was different.
‘Besides, a severed arm can always be reattached anyway.’
Perhaps a future empress might sever her husband’s arm to forge a bond. What problem could there be?
‘So doing it this way, Rex’s love will have been achieved rather effortlessly.’
Duke’s tolerance level for permitted injuries varied significantly.
Regardless of his feelings, Duke had a task to perform.
A loyal knight should never ignore the sight of a wounded lord.
Duke believed in Rex but nonetheless drew a newly purchased sword.
‘Alright, let’s bring out the moves.’
Duke deliberately exuded a murderous aura as he slowly approached her.
“Ssshh!!!”
“Ghh…”
Under the pressure of Duke’s killing intent, A clamped down even harder on Rex’s arm.
Although Rex winced in pain, he had no time to focus on her.
Her gaze was entirely fixated on the death coming towards her, radiating a crimson glow.
“What… What is this? Suddenly? Why??”
She didn’t know Duke.
But her beastfolk instincts screamed loudly.
This was death. There was no escape. Giving up on running was the best option.
Just as Duke, having drawn his sword, was about to reach out to her…
“Stop!”
Rex stopped the knight.
When Duke halted and retracted his killing intent, Rex addressed him.
“Rex Sir?”
“Duke. Stand down.”
“Rex Sir, that woman…”
“D. This is an order. I won’t allow you to attack A.”
In this tense moment, Rex, having overcome his communication barrier, gave a firm command with a straight gaze.
Duke bowed his head as if seeing something significant in Rex’s eyes. (Though he actually saw nothing.)
“Forgive me. I overstepped my bounds.”
Rex shifted his attention from Duke to inspect the girl biting him.
Upon hearing Rex mention ‘D’ and ‘A,’ she seemed to realize something had gone wrong.
A withdrew her sharp fangs embedded deeply in Rex’s arm.
Rex applied some pressure to stop the bleeding from his arm then asked her.
“Are you alright?”
“Th… Th…”
“I apologize. I should’ve mentioned this earlier. I’m R. So, please calm down.”
“R? How… did… you escape…?”
“The doctor is no more. D has already dealt with him.”
Rex nodded at Duke with a motion of his chin.
Duke bowed in a gesture of both apology and confirmation toward her.
A alternated her gaze between Rex and Duke in astonishment.
Rex, as if to comfort her, held her close and gently patted her head.
“No one will confine you anymore, and no one will harm you.”
Rex retrieved a pair of shoes and placed them on her.
“Hmm…!”
Rex comfortingly patted her as she sniffled.
“I did promise that I would come for you, didn’t I?”
“R… R…! Arm… I’m sorry…!”
“It’s alright. This is fine, so please calm down.”
A tearfully clung to Rex’s embrace.
Beyond the wall, there was joy in reuniting with an old friend, even if they were unrecognizable,
There was the miraculous joy that this friend had eliminated the doctor,
And there was the joyous truth that she was no longer a slave.
The White Tiger girl cried, releasing a flood of emotions packed with joy.
Rex steadily comforted her until she calmed down.
“Hmph.”
And watching this scene, Duke softly sniffled beneath his helmet.
When the time passed and A finally leaned limply into Rex’s arms,
Rex lifted the bloodstained shirt and helped the weak A to stand.
At that moment, the slave shop owner, with no sympathy, burst in to spoil the touching moment.
“Tch. Don’t come asking for discounts. And don’t even think about returns.”
The store owner’s earlier politeness to Rex was gone, replaced with a harsh attitude for multiple reasons.
First, the shop owner must have deduced that his regular customer, the doctor, was no longer of this world from the recent exchange.
The loss of a VIP customer was clearly making him irritable.
“Tch. What’re you gonna do about the store’s ambiance?”
Another reason was that the owner didn’t appreciate the melodrama involving a lowly slave inside his shop.
Slaves were sold here for various purposes like pleasure, decoration, sacrificial offerings, experiments, etc.
Most customers entered the shop in good spirits. But witnessing such dramatics at the entrance would instill unnecessary guilt or other adverse emotions, potentially reducing buying interest.
The shop owner thought that.
“Hurry up and pay and leave. Don’t carry melodramas in someone else’s shop.”
The only relief for the shop owner was that he had managed to sell that problematic stock.
Judging from Rex’s actions so far, he was unlikely to return the merchandise.
This person was a chronic problem stock in the store.
Given Rex’s attitude, the owner was eager to offload her as quickly as possible.
Rex also felt annoyance at the shop owner’s attitude.
He was cautious, not emotionless.
Rattle.
Rex threw gold coins at the shop owner’s feet and picked up Ari.
“Don’t live like that.”
With these words, Rex left the store.
Duke stood silently in place till Rex walked out.
Even then, the shop owner didn’t consider Duke, a mere knight, as someone worth worrying about.
“What’re you doing? Your master left.”
Duke had previously directed his killing intent only at A.
Thus, the shop owner had no reason to fear Duke.
Duke’s helmet turned toward the shop owner.
Finally, a deep voice came from beneath the helmet.
“The price of slaves has skyrocketed three times while I wasn’t looking.”
“It’s because the economy’s bad these days.”
“This does not apply to this girl.”
Being someone who had been rejected 11 times at much larger guild auctions, Duke knew well the actual price.
A was significantly cheaper than that at this store.
But the shop owner thought Duke was bluffing.
“And what do you know…”
The shop owner’s words were cut off.
Duke acted as if he had no intention of listening further.
A hand emerged from beneath Duke’s cloak.
As Duke gripped the air, the shop owner clutched his chest in response.
“Urk…”
As Duke tightened his grip, the shop owner’s face grew paler.
In the icy sensation directly affecting his heart, the shop owner realized that death was approaching.
Thud.
The shop owner collapsed on the counter, dizzy from the lack of blood to his head.
Duke spoke in magical language, an ancient tongue the shop owner might understand, emphasizing every word with the Imperial accent.
“No pongas el corazón en la balanza, Patrón.
(Do not put the heart on the scale, Shopkeeper.)”
Whether the shop owner understood the language or simply grasped the mood,
He nodded while pale and handed over a pouch of gold coins.
The amount inside exceeded A’s selling price.
Duke lightly caressed the shopkeeper’s heart and said,
“Accept my apology.”
Then throwing the coins into his subspace storage, he left the shop.
When Duke emerged from the shop, Rex was already helping A stand and wrapping her in his coat.
Upon noticing Duke’s exit, Rex spoke.
“Let’s go, D.”
It was a consideration for A, who would still feel uneasy in the unfamiliar environment.
Duke acknowledged the intent and bowed.
“Yes, R.”
The reunited trio decided to head to a restaurant first.
“I’ve found a nice place.”
Thus, led by D’s recommendation, they made their way to the restaurant.
A’s meal, soaked in tears as she enjoyed her steak, marked the end of their day.
