===============Willdor’s POV===============

Early this morning, the King called an emergency council. He even summoned the Empire’s envoy and Miss Aerin’s group over. All so he could catch those Imperial bastards red‑handed in front of everyone.

But standing at his side, my head was still replaying what happened yesterday.

That Black Knight’s slash—it was like the world splitting open. Just one strike erased the summoning circle and that fiend‑class Demon. And those two pairs of wings on his back… anyone would start wondering if that guy was even human.

“[Your Majesty, Miss Aerin, Miss Tia, and the Empire’s envoy seek an audience~~]”

Looks like everyone had arrived while I was still lost in yesterday’s mess.

The instant Miss Aerin stepped into the hall, my gaze was pulled straight to her.

What a strong and beautiful woman. In what way am I inferior to that useless trash standing next to her?

I shifted my eyes to the listless guy at her side, the one with those dead‑fish eyes—Pupil.

What a rude man. Not a shred of proper manners.

“[You’re all completely useless!!! How could you let a Demon attack you?! Where does that leave our safety?!]”

The minister leading the Empire’s envoy shouted across the throne room. If I remembered right, his name was Lasi.

“[Silence!! Isn’t this your conspiracy?! You created chaos on purpose so you could steal the item!]”

One of our ministers finally couldn’t hold it in and shouted back.

“[Ridiculous! We of the great Empire lack anything? You think we need to steal from you? And do you have any proof the chaos was caused by us?]”

Lasi wore a smug, self‑satisfied grin.

“[Proof… proof…]”

Our minister was instantly at a loss for words.

“[The proof’s on your chest!!!!!!]”

Miss Tia, standing to the side, pointed straight at Lasi’s chest.

“[Huh???]”

This time Lasi was the one who panicked.

“[My husband told me the caster yesterday didn’t use his own mana to form the summoning circle. He used a high‑mana magic crystal instead. If that’s true, then when the Black Knight forcibly destroyed the summoning circle, the crystal must’ve exploded. But those expensive crystals are never entrusted to just anyone. So if I’m right, there should be a very serious burn on your chest right now!!!!]”

The girl called Tia pressed forward with a momentum like a crashing wave. Lasi was practically being crushed under her presence.

So “husband” meant that Pupil guy? Damn it. He already has a fiancée and he still flirts with the beautiful Miss Aerin? What scum.

“[You’re slandering me!!!]”

Lasi pointed at Tia in a panic.

“[If it’s slander, then just open your shirt and show everyone.]”

That scumbag Pupil looked straight at Lasi as he spoke.

“[You expect the great Lasi the Third to strip in front of everyone here?!]”

“[Pff… Lasi? What kind of name is that? And there’ve been three of you?]”

The purple‑haired little girl at the side instantly burst into laughter. This was not good for decorum at all.

“[‘Three lives and three lifetimes of diarrhea down thirty miles,’ huh? Weirdly sounds kinda impressive.]”

And Pupil was still fanning the flames. Why do we keep calling this uncouth man into the palace?

“[You little…!]”

It was like someone had grabbed Lasi the Third by his reverse scale. He lunged forward and grabbed Pupil by the collar.

“[Oh, you wanna throw hands? Perfect. I’ll just rip your clothes off and let everyone see the burns on your chest!!!]”

Pupil grabbed Lasi’s collar as well.

“[You low‑class adventurer dare lay hands on me?!]”

“[Don’t forget who saved your lives out in the wild! If not for me, you wouldn’t be here to keep ‘Lasi‑ing’ everywhere!!]”

“[Shut up! Don’t you dare bring that up again!!!]”

As they wrestled, yanking at each other’s clothes, a bright green flash suddenly pulsed at Pupil’s neck.

“[!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]”

Everyone in the hall froze solid.

Because that green light came from the Kingdom’s secret treasure—the Jade Pendant of Green.

Why is it on him?

“[All soldiers, to arms!!! Apprehend this man called Pupil with everything you’ve got!!!!!!!!!]”

The chamberlain at the King’s side barked the order at once.

So we’d had it backwards. This Pupil guy was the real mastermind. He’d used the Demon as bait and stolen the Kingdom’s treasure in the chaos.

“[Everyone stand back!!! Leave him to me!!!!!!!!!!!!]”

I shouted at the top of my lungs.

There’s no way we can let this scum go! I’ll let Miss Aerin see what trash he really is!

I drew my longsword, gathered all my Battle Aura, then dashed. In a single burst, I was already right in front of Pupil. Even the floor I crossed was torn up by my aura.

Watch closely, Miss Aerin. This is why they call me a Sword Saint. Let this Pupil rot alone in the underworld, regretting his scummy deeds!!

“[Phyllis!!!]”

【CLANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!】

A clear metallic ring, and a streak of violet light flashed before my eyes.

…

Where… is this…?

Why is there a ceiling above me? My head feels heavy and fuzzy.

A hand reached out and helped me up.

“[Ah… thank you.]”

I focused my eyes—and it was His Majesty the King himself! Why was I lying at the King’s feet?

The last thing I remember was…

“[!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]”

I hurriedly looked forward. About fifteen meters away, Pupil was standing there holding a huge violet Greatsword. A moment later, that sword turned back into the purple‑haired little girl from before.

===============Main Character (Pupil) POV===============

Crap!! Why did this dumbass Sword Saint suddenly charge me?! No time to pick a weapon from my inventory—guess I’ll just use Phyllis as a shield first!

“[Phyllis!!!]”

Phyllis grabbed my hand at once and shifted into Darkblade form. I hurriedly raised the Darkblade and blocked the Sword Saint’s surprise strike.

Greatsword Mastery: When blocking with a Greatsword‑type weapon, a shockwave of wind is created that blows the enemy away.

【CLANG~~~!!】

The moment his longsword and the Darkblade clashed, a huge blast of wind sent the Sword Saint flying.

“[…………]”

“[…………]”

Everyone there just stood frozen, staring.

“[Y‑you… wh‑what are you all standing there for?! Hurry up and seize that man!!!!]”

The minister who looked like the palace chamberlain shrieked in a panic.

But all the soldiers in the throne room just glanced at each other, hesitating, none of them daring to step forward.

“[Husband!! What do we do now!?!?]”

What does she expect me to do?! I definitely can’t attack the soldiers—otherwise I’ll never clear my name.

“[Looks like I’ve got no choice but to use my ultimate technique!!!!]”

“[Onii‑chan, you’ve been hiding an ultimate move for a situation like this?!]”

“[Yeah!!! And that is…]”

“[It is…????]”

Everyone stared at me, eyes full of expectation.

“[Run!!!!!!]”

I hefted Phyllis onto my shoulder, spun around, and bolted out of the audience hall.

“[That’s your ultimate technique?!]”

Aerin and Tia instinctively broke into a run after me.

“[There it is!! JoJo’s classic ultimate move!!!]”

Phyllis yelled from my shoulder.

“[Husband, what did you even do??]”

“[I didn’t do anything!! I just feel like I got framed!!!]”

“[Did you grope the princess in the chaos yesterday or something???]”

“[No!! I don’t even know what the princess looks like!]”

“[Really? You’ve done that kind of thing before.]”

Aerin gave Tia a sideways look as we ran.

“[Stop doubting me!! I seriously didn’t do anything!!!]”

Shouting my innocence at the top of my lungs, I led Tia and Aerin sprinting through the palace corridors.

Just as we were about to escape the royal palace, a familiar figure stood at the end of the hallway.

It was Tia’s uncle.

“[I’ll entrust Tia to you.]”

With his right arm still bandaged, Tia’s uncle said that as he passed me by.

“[You got it!!]”

I didn’t even have to think to answer him firmly.

“[Goodbye, Father.]”

As Tia brushed past her uncle, her soft words slipped into my ears.

I glanced back. Tia’s uncle was smiling broadly at us, giving a big thumbs‑up.

“[Pupil!!! Hurry up! The pursuers are right behind us.]”

“[I’m coming!!!!!!!]”

“[Husband! Where are we even running to???]”

“[How should I know?! Let’s just get out of the royal capital first!! Didn’t you say you wanted to go to the Republic? Fine, let’s just run all the way to the Republic!!!]”

With Phyllis slung over my shoulder, I kicked the palace gates wide open.