Act 67

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“If I were the ‘Black Knight’, what would you do?”

I emphasized my point forcefully, and in response, Gerard hesitated.

Seeing his reaction, it seemed clear he had no solid proof—just his conjectures he had articulated.

Testing the waters, huh!

“With a three-inch tongue, framing others is a specialty of the nobility, Sir Gerard.”

I pushed harder, and Gerard slightly turned his head and scoffed, but his confidence didn’t feel as solid as when he first broached the topic.

…Sigh.

I breathed a sigh of relief internally, observing Gerard’s demeanor.

Of course, I didn’t expect this conversation to flow as smoothly as it had with Tenellon’s case. That was a misunderstanding, but Gerard harbored ‘suspicions’ towards me.

‘I shouldn’t have bandaged it.’

After a quick glance at my side, I turned back to face Gerard.

“Working as the royal sword, I’ve encountered similar situations numerous times. Yet, I am still alive and belong to ‘Closed Eyes’, the royal exclusive agency, and I came here as its representative. Do you know why?”

I subtly shook the scabbard tied at my waist.

“While a tongue can injure people, a sword ends lives definitively.”

Clash!

The sound of my sword hitting the scabbard echoed.

With that metallic clash and my smile, I felt the temperature around us drop sharply.

“Sir Gerard, I prefer the certainty of a ‘sword’ over the smooth ‘tongues’ of nobles. Would you care to see?”

“J-Julian…?”

“Why is he suddenly reaching for his sword…?”

“That crazy man. What is he trying to do now?”

My actions startled the guests at the banquet, and even Arba, the host of the event, looked on helplessly.

A sneering smile formed on Gerard’s lips. Seizing the situation, he made a theatrical gesture to focus everyone’s attention.

“Ha ha, why so serious, Sir Julian? I merely mentioned you injured the same area as the infamous ‘Black Knight.'”

In the game as here.

Indeed, he’s as disagreeable as ever.

Although I didn’t like Gerard’s behavior, I knew I had to step back.

Any further objections on my part would only steer the conversation where Gerard wanted it to go.

“Julian as the Black Knight?”

“Surely not.”

If it were truly ‘Julian’, he wouldn’t care about these gazes and would have drawn his sword and struck Gerard.

Sigh, relax, relax.

‘Julian’, you need to hold back now.

‘We’ need to keep our friendship with the Godric family! Connections are important!

Let’s just let this go for now.

“So, you ‘mistook’ me for the ‘Black Knight’, and I merely intended to prove otherwise with my sword. I had no other intention.”

“This too is part of noble entertainment. I guess I still have much to learn, Sir Julian. At these social parties often…?”

Cutting off Gerard’s rambling, I subtly leaked a not-so-weak point of his.

“However! There is no truth to be found in that joke. Didn’t those guys from ‘ Nameless Gang’ recently claim to be the ‘Black Knight’ ‘?”

The Nameless Gang.

As I mentioned the name, Gerard slightly furrowed his brow—a fleeting change that went unnoticed by others, but being ‘Julian’, I caught it clearly.

Well, it’s an obvious story, but it’s already known.

How many times have I played this game?

“If someone of Sir Gerard’s stature might indeed have connections with the ‘Nameless Gang’, perhaps you should ask them ‘directly’. You wouldn’t claim to be unaware, would you? Huhu.”

“Julian, you bastard.”

Huh? Bastard? I’m sure that’s what I heard.

I glanced around; it seemed only I caught that, making it awkward to challenge.

Gerard, now with a stern expression, stared at me.

“What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting I have associations with those vile and lowly creatures?”

Gerard stood still, suppressing his emotions, but it was clear to me that he was tense.

Gerard Oclean.

His character in the game was simple: ‘A man with enormous possessiveness’

Driven by his possessiveness, he held the position of the western district head in the ‘Dawn Society’ and also coveted the ‘Mingyue Pavilion’, owned by the ‘Blood Fiend Clan’ in the slums, aiming to seize it to exploit the hidden scandals and secrets of the imperial nobility.

However, as a noble, it wasn’t easy for him to directly venture into the slums due to public scrutiny.

‘So he recruited some strong fighters and secretly formed the ‘Nameless Gang’ to infiltrate there.’

Fearing that their true identities as knights or soldiers of the empire might be revealed, they masked their faces, which eventually became the identity of the ‘Nameless Gang.’

Thus, the slums were trifurcated into ‘Nameless Gang’, ‘Blood Fiend Clan’, and ‘Six Fingers’, continuously scheming and checking each other, aiming for their mutual destruction.

His ultimate goal was for his faction, the Nameless Gang, to unify and rule the underworld.

“Why so, Sir Gerard? Isn’t it just ‘noble entertainment’?”

As I spoke with a teasing tone, Gerard clicked his tongue and slowly approached me.

Even then, his gaze lingered on the bandage around my waist.

“How much do you know?”

Gerard whispered so only I could hear, evidently uncomfortable with the fact that I knew his secrets.

Indeed, with the Dawn Society currently disdaining the ‘Black Knight’, if this information reached Tenellon’s ears, Gerard’s personal safety would be clearly at risk.

“Huhu, how much do I know, indeed? Why doesn’t the distinguished Sir Gerard ‘directly’ check with Baran?”

At the mention of ‘Baran’, Gerard bit his lip as his face turned beet red with anger.

Moreover, the murmuring among the nobles watching us started to grow.

“…If the joke was displeasing, I apologize thus. Sorry, Sir Julian.”

Deeming further argument too risky, Gerard quickly put on a genial smile and offered his hand for a handshake.

The situation looking grim, shall we step back?

…Yes, let’s end it here.

I have no intention of causing further commotion. Even though they call Julian ‘the smiling executioner’ and ‘the dog of the imperial family’, this is the Godric family, one of the empire’s four major houses. Moreover, it’s a house I need to keep on my side through ongoing friendly relations. Just as I was about to reluctantly accept Gerard’s handshake, a fierce pain erupted in my side, as if lava were boiling within. 

As I turned to see what it was, I caught a glimpse of Gerard’s smile.

“Ha, I really need to check for myself, don’t I?”

The pain shot through me from toe to head, nearly making my eyes roll back in agony—no, almost making them blaze with fury. Yet before anger took over, my body started to draw out mana in an attempt to prove my innocence. 

This crazy bastard!

“I hear the ‘Black Knight’ suffered a severe wound to his side due to Pintel’s magic. A touch should confirm it quite clearly… Hmm?”

As Gerard felt my side, confusion spread across his face.

“It’s not there, could it really be… Cough!”

Subduing him was easy. My body reacted to the agony; I grabbed his neck and brought the drawn sword close to it.

***

At the banquet hall, Elenoa, observing the situation, clicked her tongue as she saw Gerard being grasped by the neck.

“Such a foolish man.”

That man, notorious for his possessiveness, had always been a boor regardless of the setting. Although his rudeness had never been directed at the Dawn Society or the ‘Archbishop’, Elenoa was well aware that he was a ticking time bomb of impudence.

‘You should have known your audience.’

This time, Gerard’s impudence had picked the wrong opponent.

“Choke… Choke.”

The banquet hall fell eerily silent. The only sound was Gerard’s wheezing, like air leaking from a balloon. Given Julian’s renowned strength, which was fitting for his muscular build, it seemed he could easily twist Gerard’s neck right then.

‘Is this his way of dealing with things?’

Perhaps Julian was letting Gerard live, knowing that he belonged to the same ‘Dawn Society’ as the bishop.

Elenoa decided to keep watching Julian and Gerard for now. Honestly, she didn’t particularly care if either of them got hurt or died.

‘If both of them died, that would be ideal, but that’s unlikely.’

She continued to scrutinize their actions.

“What are you doing now?”

“Put your sword away at once!”

“Do you intend to desecrate a banquet hosted by Lord Arba?”

The nobles, already tense from Julian fiddling with his scabbard, began to rebuke him after he drew his sword. Yet, no one dared to intervene directly, not even the guards from the ‘Godric family,’ likely because of Julian’s infamous strength.

Based on Julian’s past behavior, anyone who confronted him now that his sword was drawn would have to face the consequences.

“The Black Knight…?”

Seeing an opportunity amid the chaos, Julian began to speak in a voice so calm it was hard to imagine he was at the center of the turmoil.

“I have no interest in equating myself with that scoundrel, regardless of whether or not I’m identified as him. Of course, that’s only if I’m unaware. But!”

“Choke…”

“In my presence, speaking ‘directly’ like this puts me in a difficult position, doesn’t it, Sir Gerard?”

As Julian tightened his grip on Gerard’s neck, the latter’s face contorted and began turning a purplish hue.

‘…I want to twist it right now.’

Pain and annoyance were overwhelming, and while he wanted to lose his composure, doing so would result in irreversible consequences, Julian thought.

“It was merely a comparison to the rumors floating around, wasn’t it!”

A noble raised his voice, prompting Julian to shift his attention towards him.

“I am a member of the ‘Closed Eye’, an honorable institution under direct imperial mandate.”

Julian spoke with an assertive tone, subtly pressuring the other.

“To compare me to a lawless villain is to tarnish the stature of the imperial family. Is that what you suggest we overlook?”

“That, that’s…”

“Sir Gerard, you must have been prepared for the consequences when you provoked me.”

“……”

“Oh, it seems I’ve been too passive. Have you forgotten my nickname in the meantime?”

The smiling executioner.

A remorseless killer who, regardless of status, would execute anyone defying the imperial family.

That thought once again dominated their minds.

Observing this, Julian thought:

Now is not the time to be the hero who defeats nobility for the empire’s citizens, not the ‘Black Knight’, but rather, I must return to being the villainous ‘Julian’.

“Sir Julian…!”

Through them, a seemingly fragile boy burst forward.

‘Huh? Why are you here?’

It was Arba Godric, the protagonist of the banquet.

“Lord Arba, it’s dangerous!”

“That crazy… Ahem, Sir Julian has drawn his sword. It would be best not to approach.”

Despite the servants’ dissuasions, Arba hesitated but then clenched his fist and slowly approached Julian.

“Please stop. This is the Godric family’s banquet hall.”

His body trembled, yet he spoke with resolve.

Julian couldn’t help but smirk at his actions. If he could use this boy, perhaps the conversation could progress more smoothly.

“This man sought to insult me, a member of the imperial household, and tarnish the honor of the royal family.”

Julian’s voice was soft yet firm, and Arba looked even more frightened, pitifully like a kicked puppy.

Everyone in the banquet hall thought:

The outcome won’t change.

Though he bravely stepped forward, Arba lacked the resolve to resolve the situation, inadequate to bear the mantle of the Godric family’s eldest son.

“Lord Arba, that will be enough. You should continue to overlook this as you usually do.”

“What?”

“The puppet eldest son of the Godric family. Just as the name suggests.”

Listening silently, Elenoa showed a slight sign of discomfort at Julian’s venomous words.

At a remark seemingly unrelated to the protagonist of the banquet, Gerard,

“How dare you insult Lord Arba like that!?” Elenoa’s thoughts were echoed as the butler and the nobles supporting Arba exploded into a frenzy.

“Even if you receive the full backing of the royal family, isn’t that too arrogant, Sir Julian!”

“Apologize to Lord Arba at once…”

“Would you please be quiet? I am discussing this with Lord Arba. Would you like me to silence that mouth of yours directly?” 

The butler and nobles of the Godric family instantly fell silent as if their tongues had been coated in honey.

At that moment, Arba, unexpectedly, stepped forward.

“Sir Julian, I appreciate your participation in the banquet, but I cannot forgive any more disruption!”

Arba’s voice carried a bit more force, causing Julian to inwardly smile.

‘Yes, that’s it.’

Despite his trembling and frail appearance, he spoke with conviction.

“You should leave.”

The nobles gathered at the banquet were noticeably shocked.

The usually unassertive eldest son of the Godric family speaking so directly was unprecedented.

And his opponent was Julian, no less.

The devil with narrowed eyes, the smiling executioner.

The nobles swallowed hard, anticipating a storm.

“If Lord Arba says so, then… yes, let us do that.”

Despite the tension weighing down the hall, Julian readily complied.

Thud.

He released his grip on Gerard’s neck, and the gasping man collapsed to the floor.

“Cough… Cough!”

As Gerard began to breathe again, violent coughs brought color back to his face.

“I apologize for causing a disturbance at a celebratory event, Lord Arba. I hope you have a pleasant time.”

Julian then bowed respectfully to Arba, gave Gerard a once-over, and warned,

“I hope you will refrain from mentioning the distasteful name ‘Black Knight’ in my presence, Sir Gerard.”

With that, Julian left the banquet hall with a light step and a serene smile.

***

Phew.

After Julian had left, a brief silence followed.

“Remarkable, Lord Arba!”

“To think you drove out Julian!”

“Lord Arba, you did very well!”

“Exactly, exactly. Such a gathering and that mad dog are like water and oil! They absolutely cannot mix!”

The hall began to buzz with renewed energy.

The talk of the night centered around Arba Godric.

He had, after all, managed to stand his ground against Julian.

“No, I didn’t really do anything…”

“Your bravery was comparable to that of the ‘smiling executioner’!”

“Ha, if only my son could take after Lord Arba.”

After the incident, the nobles’ attitudes towards Arba changed distinctly. This was evident in how they addressed him.

Perceptions don’t change easily.

Especially when related to a person’s nature.

‘From “young master” to “lord”.’

From the frail eldest son of the Godric family to a potential future head.

Julian, with a single act, had changed perceptions that might otherwise have taken years to shift.

‘Could it be that Sir Julian calculated all this…?’ Arba thought it was possible. Meanwhile, others derisively referred to Julian as ‘the smiling executioner’, a title they mocked. If it had been him, he might have brandished his sword in defiance or tried to change his derogatory nickname by proving his worth in other ways.

But Julian did not do that. Instead, he leveraged it to instill fear in people.

‘Unconcerned by the opinions of others, using everything to his advantage…’ While the force from Julian’s moonlight sword was formidable in its own right, Arba found himself admiring Julian’s calm and collected demeanor even more.

From their first encounter in the royal palace to the moment he assisted during a demon attack and even going forward, regardless of what anyone said, Julian would remain Arba’s idol.

***

‘It’s clear, this was a calculated move.’

Though a fellow bishop, Julian had marked a distinction with the rude Gerard and simultaneously indebted the future head of the Godric family. It would have been a different matter if he had been unaware.

‘It seems even the frail Arba has noticed,’ thought Elenoa as she shifted her gaze to him. He was still looking towards the place where Julian had disappeared, seemingly aware of how Julian’s actions had helped him.

“Besides,” Elenoa remembered the moment before Julian disappeared, their eyes meeting. Although it was the first time seeing her in ‘this guise,’ Julian seemed to have perceived her true identity.

‘It must be my imagination.’

***

“Damn it, that hurts like hell!”

Having left the Godric family’s banquet hall, I went into the bathroom and slowly unraveled the bandage around the injury that Gerard had grasped. As I did, the hardened ‘Sombra’ revealed itself from the injury site.

“I suppose Gerard didn’t notice it…?” Before Gerard’s hand reached, I had swiftly applied the ‘Sombra’ with the speed of light, hardening it to escape his suspicions, but the pain was unavoidable.

Moreover, the ‘Sombra’ imbued with magic felt foreign, almost as if bugs were crawling through my nerves.

“Phew…” Relaxing and cutting off the mana flow, the ‘Sombra’ softened and dissolved into nothingness.

‘I wish that young man would catch on.’

Although my departure was due to pain, I had performed quite the act.

“Gerard.” The thought of his face brought a resurgence of pain to my side.

Looking up, I stared into the mirror over the sink. My eyes, usually narrow and unreadable, were not visible through the damp strands of hair.

Normally, I would curse those inscrutable eyes, but this time, I knew for sure.

“After all, you’re not up to it.”

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