Chapter 28

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

The traitor, one-eyed goblin Jace, had somehow disappeared from the square.

It seemed he had abandoned his subordinates and fled.

Most likely, he used a secret passage to escape alone.

I would have liked to give him a taste of the potion made from the fingernail scrapings of the former White Rose Knights' commander, Alistair, but first, I needed to capture him.

--- There was no need to search for him, though.

When I infiltrated, I had attached a familiar, a small insect, to his back.

I cast the *Teleport* spell.

A *Counter-Teleport* spell was cast on this town, but within its range, the *Teleport* spell could still be used.

When I appeared in the secret passage, Jace must have been shocked.

His face turned pale.

"What, why are you here!?"

"Isn't that a foolish question to ask a magician? Look at your shoulder."

Jace then noticed the insect perched on his shoulder.

"Damn!"

He crushed the insect.

Does he not know the saying, "Even a small insect has a soul"?

Well, since he doesn't know, he can easily kill and abandon his subordinates.

I decided to crush him without hesitation.

I imbued the magic power into the staff of the circular snake, a memento from my grandfather.

I could have blown him away with magic, but this man is the deputy commander, after all.

It won't be that easy.

I also had to consider close combat.

I cast the *Fireball* spell.

As expected, Jace dodged it with quick movements and drew the sword he carried at his waist.

It was a single-edged, curved sword.

A scimitar, I believe.

But it was different from a regular scimitar.

A thick, green liquid was applied to it.

I was curious about its nature, but Jace himself provided the answer.

"This is a potent poison made from the roots of Yurakaris. Even a slight touch will send you to the other side in no time. Of course, even the undead are not exempt."

Even a large troll would die within three minutes.

If I, a human, were to touch it, I would be dead in three seconds.

While thinking this, I received his slash.

"What!?"

Jace exclaimed in surprise.

"--- Such a thing wouldn't work on me. I'm a magician, you know."

At the moment Jace's slash hit, I had already cast the *Shield* spell on myself.

Jace must have underestimated me, thinking I only wore a robe.

I can't afford to be underestimated as a magician.

Jace's sword skills were nothing special; with good timing, I could easily and perfectly guard against them.

I cast the *Shock* spell at Jace's stomach, who was looking shocked.

Jace was blown far back and hit the secret passage with his back.

"Ugh!"

Jace let out a pitiful cry, spitting blood.

There was a nasty sound, but I don't think his spine was broken...

I was worried, but it seemed unnecessary.

Jace quickly stood up and wiped the blood from his mouth, muttering, "Damn."

He was indeed the deputy commander.

I had heard he was an intellectual type, not a physical type, but his skills were impressive.

However, it wouldn't be right to torment him further.

I didn't miss the opportunity to cast the *Binding* spell on him as he was weakened.

Yellow thorn-like plants grew from his feet and wrapped around his legs.

"What, what is this?"

Sigh, does he not even know the *Binding* spell?

Answering a question from a magic-ignorant demon is a hassle, but I answered him.

"The basics of magic, the *Binding* spell. A clump of plant-like magic power binds the opponent's feet, making them unable to move."

I paused and continued.

"In other words, you won't be able to move a step for a while."

I showed a wicked smile behind my mask and proposed to Jace.

I thought it wouldn't be bad to act like a demon sometimes.

"You have three options."

I held up three fingers.

"First, talk about why you betrayed the 7th Legion, one finger at a time."

"Second, have your fingernails pulled out while alive, and then talk about why you betrayed the 7th Legion, one finger at a time."

"Third, have your fingernails pulled out while alive, your fingers broken one by one, your bones crushed, and your skull opened by the commander to have your brain messed with, and then talk about why you betrayed the 7th Legion."

Which one do you prefer?

I asked.

Jace seemed to shrink back.

His face turned pale, and his teeth chattered.

He might be thinking that the commander would do such a thing.

The 7th Legion Commander, Sefiro.

She is known as a playful older sister in front of me, but she is indeed a demon, a witch.

She is more reasonable than other commanders, but she never shows mercy to traitors.

If I handed Jace over to Sefiro, I couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't do something like that.

Therefore, I wanted him to honestly talk about the reason for his betrayal here, but Jace remained silent.

"It seems the person behind you is even more ruthless than the commander."

"…Why do you think that?"

Jace had an expression as if he had let something slip.

"There's no benefit for you to betray the commander alone. I heard you tried to recruit other legion commanders, but even with that, it would be quickly suppressed. So, it's natural to think that a large-scale rebellion is being planned."

"…As expected of the 'Right Hand of the Demon Army.' You're not only terrifying in magic but also in intellect, like the Guardian of the Abyss, Romburg."

"I'm flattered."

"No, I actually admire you. That's why I entrusted you with the difficult task of conquering the impregnable Arsenal. I even recommended to 'a certain person' to include you among our ranks, not just the other legion commanders."

"Hmm, I'm highly valued, it seems."

"Yes, it's not too late. How about joining us?"

"Ah, the usual line..."

I sighed.

After betraying your allies and finding yourself in a difficult situation, you invite the other side to join you.

A classic villain's line, and a lackey's line at that.

The only regret is that he is neither a kobold nor a werewolf.

If he were a canine monster or demon, that lackey-like line would have suited him, and I could have read his true intentions from the shape of his tail.

But I could see through his thoughts even without a tail.

Jace is not just a goblin; he is a man who became deputy commander through his cunning, or rather, his wicked intelligence.

I expected him to pretend to flatter me and throw a hidden poison knife.

"--- Die!"

Thinking I was off guard, Jace said this and threw the knife.

I cast the *Hyper Senses* spell.

With this spell, time seems to stop, and the knife's movement becomes ultra-slow.

I could have used the *Shield* spell, but the performance is important.

Showing the overwhelming power difference makes the opponent despair.

Overwhelming fear is the quickest way to make them compliant.

I slowly caught the approaching knife with two fingers.

It felt like being the protagonist in a movie.

Jace's large eyes were wide open in surprise.

It seemed the exaggerated performance had the desired effect.

"Damn..."

He bent his knees and collapsed.

"Well, now you should understand the difference in our abilities. If you don't want to experience the torture methods I mentioned earlier, tell me the name of the person who incited you to betray."

However, Jace remained silent even at this point.

The person pulling the strings must be terrifying.

"…Ike. I can't say that. If I reveal his name, he'll kill me."

"The result will be the same if I hand you over to the commander."

"…I don't think so. The commander is soft, no matter what. She won't forgive my betrayal, and she'll hurt me so I can't rebel again, but I don't think she'll take my life."

"…I see."

You seem to know the commander's character well.

Although I showed a harsh side earlier, Sefiro is not a cruel person, despite her coldness.

That's why she takes care of me, a 'human,' and has been kind to me since I was young.

As you say, she probably won't take your life.

(Truly, the commander is soft, but she doesn't realize it herself.)

What is this, that her softness is your weakness?

While complaining about the commander, something unusual happened.

Suddenly, Jace let out a cry, "Gah!"

and began to writhe in agony.

He was clutching his throat and thrashing around.

It didn't seem to be an act.

He was even spitting blood.

I ran to him and cast a healing spell.

"……"

But it had no effect.

I immediately thought of a possibility.

"…Poison."

His green face had swollen to a purple color, making it easy to guess.

The person manipulating Jace must have implanted poison in his body in case Jace betrayed or was captured.

"…A typical villain's method."

While thinking this, I cast a detoxification spell on Jace.

"--- It's no use."

It seemed he had been given a very potent poison.

If I could identify the type of poison, I might have been able to do something, but unfortunately, I am not good at such magic.

However, there was no point in saying that.

As my final duty, I decided to ask Jace for the identity of the mastermind.

"Jace. You understand that you've been abandoned, right?"

Jace nodded slightly.

It seemed even speaking was painful.

"There's no need to show loyalty to them now, and there's no reason to fear them, right?"

"………………"

Jace nodded again.

"Then, as a final act, tell me the name of the mastermind who incited you to betray. I'll take revenge for you."

When I said this, Jace mustered his last strength and spoke the name.

"It's… the 3rd Legion Commander… Durahan… Bastio…"

Those were the last words of the one-eyed goblin Jace.

He spat out a large amount of blood and died.

It was the inevitable end for a traitor, but seeing him so easily cut down made me feel a bit sorry for him.

Perhaps it's a sign that my heart is still 'human.'

This heart sometimes holds me back, but I don't want to become a man like Bastio.