Thirty minutes before the demon's summoning, the knights and Astra were locked in a standoff in the village.
"Kneel. This is your last mercy."
Before that overwhelming presence, Raizenfels's arrogance shattered in an instant.
"Y-You... what in the world... are you?"
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
The aura pressing down on him and the dozen or so knights felt like it could crush their lives as easily as stepping on insects.
Why would a being like this hide in some backwater village, pretending to be a mere mercenary?
A moment's thought made the answer all too clear.
There had to be some grand scheme beyond anything they could imagine.
A reason that overwhelming existence had to conceal its power, enduring mockery from weaklings like them.
But now, by revealing his strength to us...
It means there's no reason to let us live anymore.
Raizenfels had sworn loyalty to the lord as vice-captain, but only because the lord was stronger than him.
But the man before him now...
He might even be stronger than the lord they served.
As that thought flashed through his mind, the man spoke.
"My name is Astra."
Astra...
The moment he heard the name, a recent conversation with the knight captain resurfaced.
"Raizenfels."
"Yes, Captain."
It was on the way back to the office after training the knights.
"I hear a new captain has been assigned to the Jin Gang Regiment."
"Yeah, so they say. But what chance do we have of meeting someone that high up?"
"You never know. Tomorrow's mission site is a village near the Lord's Castle, after all."
"Come on, Captain. No way the great captain would be in some rundown village like that. You're worrying too much."
"The lord said the same. But I value my knights. Over 180 centimeters tall, black hair, lean build... especially those eyes—sharp enough you'll never forget them after one look."
"Plenty of people look like that. Even in the village, there are guys who..."
The captain's usual playful smile was gone, replaced by a seriousness Raizenfels had never seen.
"His name is Astra. If you ever cross paths, do not antagonize him—no matter what the lord commands. Refuse if you must. That's how you survive as a knight in Haven."
Captain, I apologize for my subordinate's ignorance. And it seems I won't see you again. I pray his wrath doesn't reach you...
He should have heeded the captain's words more closely—the man who embodied true knighthood, not just the title.
How warmly the captain had advised him like a friend. Only now did he grasp the meaning.
Hahaha... I deserve to die, a fool like me.
Raizenfels, vice-captain of the Greenwood Territory's First Knight Order, lost his will to live at the mere sound of a name.
With no desire to survive, his tension melted away.
"Vice-Captain Raizenfels of the Greenwood Territory First Knight Order. It is an honor to meet the captain of the Jin Gang Regiment."
Tension gone, he performed the knight's salute and immediately dropped to his knees.
"And I am truly sorry. For our ignorance in not recognizing you at once, and for all our insolent words... we deserve death. Please, quench your anger with our lives..."
The knights, trembling in fear, snapped to their senses at "captain of the Jin Gang Regiment."
Realizing who they had challenged, their faces paled as they knelt one by one.
Thud—thud—thud—
Death is inevitable now. Probably the lord, that woman, and the knights too...
Raizenfels lifted his head one last time to gaze at the Jin Gang captain.
Awaiting his scant remaining life, his eyes fixed on those piercing eyes that would decide his fate.
Captain... you were right. Eyes you can't forget after one look.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇As expected of a territory vice-captain—he knows my name.
Before me knelt the dozen knights who had mocked me moments ago, begging forgiveness.
I was ready to call Fenrir if they didn't know...
Even as territory knights, they were no match for Rowen from the Lord's Castle, let alone Fenrir.
But since Raizenfels recognized me, there was no need to kill them.
Right now, escaping the village as fast as possible is key.
Better to use my position as Jin Gang captain to have them help evacuate the villagers.
Wasting time killing them here could drag things out, and if any residents got caught in the summoning ritual, it'd complicate everything.
With the demon's summoning inevitable, I needed to minimize the fallout time.
They aimed to control the demon itself, not contract it—realizing it was a temporary summon would throw them into chaos.
Even if they switch to contracting it, I can reveal my identity after the demon vanishes.
Living in Haven, they'd never defy the revealed captain of Jin Gang.
I looked at the knights still kneeling, awaiting judgment. Their shoulders were rigid with tension, staring fixedly at the ground without a twitch.
"Rise."
At those two words, confusion flooded their faces.
Relief? No, their eyes brimmed with bewilderment, as if they couldn't fathom why I spared them.
"Your sin is grave. Knights insulting their captain? In Haven, that's unforgivable. But..."
I paused to catch my breath before continuing.
"If you carry out my orders perfectly, I'll spare your lives."
"What must we do?"
Raizenfels raised his head, his voice already laced with submission.
"You know of the ritual soon to happen here. I've evacuated the villagers to safety, but just in case—go to them now. Make them flee farther, to a safer place. Not a single one left behind."
"Yes, understood!"
The knights sprang up and bolted off, their steps carrying the relief of dodged death.
Then I called after their backs.
"One more thing."
They halted and turned to me.
"If any of them are with the man who was at my side before—he's a knight from the Lord's Castle. Show him full respect."
Raizenfels and the others bowed deeply.
"Understood."
As the knights vanished, I summoned Fenrir at once.
"Awooooo~"
With a sharp howl, Fenrir appeared, chilling the air around us.
Time for me to get out too.
"Fenrir, run that way as fast as you can."
I pointed east.
The reason was simple: the direction of the lord Raizenfels mentioned.
Thus, I rode Fenrir eastward at breakneck speed.
Ugh... my stomach's churning.
At top speed, my low level made me nauseous, but I endured desperately.
How could I become Jin Gang captain just to end up demon fodder here?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇"Are you the ones who called me?"
Leina bit her pale lips and swept back her long hair with trembling hands at the demon's voice echoing from the darkness.
This is insane... what the hell happened?
Anxiety consumed her as she chewed her reddened lips.
She couldn't hide her impatience watching her perfect plan crumble.
The magic stone that should be west is gone, and not a single villager in sight.
She'd expected someone who tamed spirit beasts to make ideal sacrifices for the demon summon. But not even that person—nobody at all.
I told the knights to block the residents... ahh, everything's gone to shit.
Her plan had been flawless.
Capture the power-hungry lord's heart, pretend to help the naive villagers while siphoning their life force bit by bit.
Manipulate memories to erase her tracks, store the life force in the magic stone to complete the summoning circle.
Finally, offer the villagers and strong knights as sacrifices to summon a mighty demon...
Then control it at will, slaughter the lord and knights, and vanish.
What's the point of summoning a demon that appears briefly and vanishes?
Leina touched the faintly glowing flute with a cold smile.
This flute, found by chance while wandering the Haven mountains, was her true secret weapon.
The moment she first held it, she instinctively knew: its melody could bend even a demon's will.
"Why so silent, you fools? One last time: are you the ones who called me?"
The demon's voice reverberated, pressing down oppressively.
She wanted to flee, but the aura from her summoned demon was stronger than expected.
An upper-grade demon...?
By her plan, even such a mighty being would kneel at her word.
Then the terrified lord spoke in a quavering voice.
"Yes, great one. We summoned you. Please... might we know your exalted name?"
Leina held her breath.
Lower, mid, upper, and highest grade. Among them, upper-grade demons in the 72 were ranked with names and hierarchies.
"Hear me, fools..."
The air froze at the voice from the void.
"I am Zagan, the great demon ranked 61st among the 72 demons."
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