Volume 4 - CH 29.1

Act 4-29.1: Last Pride of A Knight(Side: Somni)

「… Up…!」

Somni frowned as he felt a dull pain in his head.

「Wake…!」

That pain gradually became stronger.

「WAKE UP!」

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the ceiling of ruin with cracks all over the place. And standing beside him was a blonde-haired youth don in pure white armour who was looking down on Somni with a displeased look on his face.

「Guardian Knight Tamri?」

He was the guardian knight of prince Gilbert. Somni’s senior, and also a young prodigy despite his age. At the same time, he was also the target of discrimination by the other guardian knights, despite being acknowledged by the other guardian knights, they’re in fact keeping him at distance.

「Finally awake huh, you good-for-nothing.」

「Tha-…」

Somni tried to raise his upper half, as he heard Tamri’s rude remark. Despite looking like being absentminded, his mind was crystal clear, and recalled the nightmarish event that happened before he passed out,

「What about Egg and Lyla!?」

And shouted the name of his teammates.

「If you’re looking for that brat called Egg, he is over there.」

A bald-headed man with a skull tattoo on his head who leaning on the wall behind Tamri was pointing at the corner of the room with a wicked smile on his face.

The first thing that he expected was the figure of Egg, safe and sound despite losing his right arm.

「—!?」

The moment he saw the reality, he raised muted scream as he tried to stand up but, his hair was grabbed by Tamri who then slammed his face on the cold floor.

He felt as if he saw countless sparks before his eyes, he felt dull hot pain running in his nose.

His mind was a mess.

「W-WHY!?」

He shouted at Tamri. Or rather, he had no choice but to do that.

The reason being he would never expect that they would show him Egg’s corpse, and most of all, he had no idea why Tamri, his fellow guardian knight who served under the same master, prince Gilbert was pinning him down on the cold floor like this.

「Because it’s your fault.」

「My… fault?」

He repeated Tamri’s remark like a parrot. Either way, the current situation was too absurd for him.

Why? I mean, even amongst royalty, the guardian knight should be the second highest rank knight after the royal knight. They’re the furthest existence with cruelty. And yet, Tamri’s remark sounds like he was involved in Egg’s death!

「Yes. That guy has to die because he’s in the same team as you.」

Hearing Tamri declared so with a flat voice,

「What kind of reason is that!?」

Somni raised his voice again as he asked that question.

「Ask that question to your superior!」

Tamri brought his face closer and then slammed Somni to the floor again, upon seeing the latter trying to get up, the former was starting to kick the latter.

Somni felt searing pain running all over his body as he endured the abuse,

「What’s the meaning of this!!?」

And repeated his question just to be sure.

「I said that it’s your fault, you idi*ot. Despite his grief, his Highness decided your disposal since you’re too fu*cking weak. Ah… Now you seem to realize just how much His Highness grieved when he make such a decision.」

Maybe because he was too excited, Tamri was looking up at the ceiling as he hit his che*st with his right fist.

「That’s strange…」

Seeing Somni was at loss for words,

「Therefore, that brat over there has to die young.」

Tamri declared so.

「What’s the reason for my disposal!? I’ve never done something against chivalry up till now, nor did I disrespect His Highness!!? So why!?」

“His Highness Gilbert want to dispose of me?” Was something that Somni couldn’t understand since he saw no reason for that.

「It’s disrespect. A blasphemy for the weak to become guardian knights! That’s why his highness ordered me to dispose of you. The end of weak and disqualified guardian knight is to be disposed of off.」

Somni’s train of thought stopped the moment he heard that reply and,

「WHAT NONSENSE! THERE’S NO WAY HIS HIGHNESS WILL SAY THAT!」

He desperately tried to refute the fact. There was no way such a kind person would do that.

「Good grief, just where in the world did you get such confidence?」

Seeing Tamri looking down at him with a sneer on his face had caused Somni to have mixed feelings in his heart but,

「Because I’m one of the best 4 of sacred martial arts tournament!」

He shouted to show that he was strong. His remark was truly humorous since there was no way he would be pinned down so easily on the ground by Tamri if his remark was true. Nevertheless, he still believe that achievement was the truth. Because if that wasn’t the truth, it means that it was his fault that Egg had died.

「How pitiful. The reason why you can advance so far is thanks to the influence of your father, lord Lunpa. He must’ve paid a lot of money for that. Everyone who got bought by your father might desperately think of a way to lose to you in a less miserable way.」

「LIES!」

“IMPOSSIBLE! THAT MUST BE A LIE!” was what he thought and yet, deep in his heart, he knew that his father was someone who would do that.

「That’s the truth. Rather, this is an open secret amongst the guardian knight of His Highness. Yes, you’re the only one who’s left in the dark about this matter. Rather, everyone can tell in just a glance that you won’t be able to advance to the final round of the tournament with your swordcraft.」

「It’s… Lies.」

「Though I don’t care about such things, in a certain meaning, you’re a victim. Your father’s goodwill now backfired on you.」

「…」

Somni couldn’t retort anymore.

Only now did he realize why those thieves targetting him. And the last words of the girls before they got killed. And then, Tamri’s unnatural speech and conduct this time. All coming together to hit him. Only now did he realize the cruel fact when it was told right in front of his face.

「Worry not. Your death won’t be in vain. That incompetent brat will be arranged as the culprit behind your death. And I, will become the hero who executed that incompetent, in that way lord Lunpa won’t pursue your death either.」

Somni felt the reality around him, everything that he believed until this point had collapsed upon hearing Tamri’s extremely selfish remark.

――His pride in his swordcraft.

――His trust toward his father who said that the latter believe in him.

――Even his loyalty toward prince Gilbert who he vowed to protect with his life, everything had collapsed till nothing was left.

Seeing Somni whose mind had almost collapsed,

「Unlike a failure you, I won’t end at this kind of place! Don’t worry, I’ll show a hell in the earth to the point that incompetent will regret that he ever born in this world, he’ll pay for the sin of humiliating His Highness!」

Tamri delivered a passionate speech as he made a fist with his right hand.

「Oh yeah. I get a side benefit from taking this job too.」

The bald-headed man with a skull tattoo on his head who stood behind Tamri was looking at the beautiful blonde-haired girl who sleep on the stone table, his expression was dyed in undisguised lust.

「YOU BASTARD, WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!?」

「Ain’t doing anything yet. This woman seems to be that incompetent brat’s woman. I’ll ra*pe her to my heart content in front of that incompetent.」

「Tokotsu, I know what you’re thinking about but――」

「I know, I won’t leave any evidence and dispose of this woman too.」

「YOU SCUMBAG! ARE YOU REALLY A HUMAN!」

Seeing the enraged Somni, the bald-headed man with a skull tattoo on his head, Tokotsu hoisted the cane in his right hand,

「GAHAHAHAHA! THOSE REMARKS ARE THE BEST PRAISE FOR ME. WHY YOU ASK!? IT’S BECAUSE――」

And reciting something like aria as he revealed an eerie smile on his face.

――BOOM!

At that moment, the stone beside him broke apart, and then a two metres tall youth whose skin was almost scalped appeared beside him.

「BECAUSE I AM A TRANSCENDENT EXISTENCE!」