Meanwhile, the Death Knights resting at the lodging mansion showed their puzzlement.

-Strange. Why has no one come to see us?

Of course, Vepaim was currently in chaos because of the disaster, but that did not mean there was no one in the city.

If anything, the disaster had brought even more fairly prominent figures from across the Empire.

There were the bishops of the religious orders, the bastards from Valdrogard, useless though they might be, and at the very least, there should also be an inspector dispatched for this incident...

It was stranger that none of them had come.

Could it be that the criminals of this city would not lodge any protest even after going through something like that?

It was impossible to tell whether they should be called cowards or clever.

-Wow, are they not impressive?

-They are so clever it is unsettling. Could there really be evil-god worshipers here?

“E-Everyone... did you perhaps know that the people of this city would report you?”

Ibinta asked in astonishment.

Judging from the way the knights were speaking, they sounded as though they had expected the city’s criminals to submit accusations.

-We did.

“...Y-You knew that, and you still caused such an uproar yesterday?!”

Ibinta had naturally assumed the knights had some kind of plan, or at the very least, permission.

Otherwise, how could they have gone around causing havoc so brazenly in an Imperial city?

Yet they were having a conversation like, “Why have no accusations arrived?”

Ibinta felt as though the heart had dropped into the stomach.

'D-Do not tell me that archmage will punish me for this too...'

-Calm down. Calm down, Ibinta. Of course we had a plan.

“Y-You did?”

When the knight soothed Ibinta, the former bandit leader let out a sigh of relief.

Ibinta had once been a bandit chief whose name made crying children fall silent, but after serving these knights, the courage inside seemed to be shrinking by the day.

“What was your plan?”

-Even if an accusation arrives and a bishop or official comes here, they cannot immediately do anything. First, they will gather witnesses and collect evidence. That investigation will take several days.

“Yes.”

-In the meantime, we flee to Einroguard—no, return to Einroguard.

“I see. And after that...?”

-That is the end.

“......”

Ibinta’s face turned as heavy as a lump of lead.

How could that possibly be called a plan?

“What kind of plan is that?! Then the accusations will be sent to Einroguard, and the archmage will... will...”

-Turn you into a toad? Turn you into a rat? Which one were you imagining?

-Stop tormenting Ibinta. Of course, this thief has committed crimes, but did Ibinta not work hard yesterday?

Unable to watch any longer, the old knight stepped in to mediate. Otherwise, Ibinta looked ready to collapse from a heart attack.

-Calm down as well. Of course, our way of handling things may be a little startling.

'A little??'

They had roamed an Imperial city in the middle of the night, beating everyone from nobles to merchants without preparing anything, and this knight called it a little startling.

Ibinta nearly shouted aloud.

-But this is how we have always handled things. If our methods were truly irresponsible, how could we have continued roaming around like this?

“......”

Ibinta was slightly persuaded.

That was true. These knights were monsters who had accumulated all kinds of infamy over a very long time as the Einroguard lord’s personal guard.

If their methods were sloppy, how could they still be roaming freely?

“I... suppose that may be true. Then accusations really cannot reach Einroguard?”

-Of course not. Ha ha.

'Hah. What a fool.'

Once the former bandit leader fell for it, the knights smiled sinisterly.

Of course, accusations could not enter Einroguard.

However, the Skull Principal was absolutely not the sort of person who would receive something like that and remain still. Naturally, he would unleash his fury upon these knights.

And how did the knights deal with that?

They simply entered the punishment room with their heads held high.

Knights who had survived every kind of hardship had no reason to fear such punishment. Besides, since it was for the sake of helping the Successor, they could accept that much with a scoff.

Of course, a corrupt person like the former bandit leader would find it difficult to sympathize with such devotion and sacrifice. That was also why the knights had not told Ibinta.

-And think positively. No accusation has come, has it?

“W-What if they are all gathering together to prepare an even larger accusation?”

-Ah. You thieving bastard. You are really cowardly. Why did someone like you ever become a thief?

-Enough. Enough. Of course, it is disgusting that this thief friend committed robbery without fear in the past and is now pretending to be cowardly...

“......”

Ibinta stared at the old knight with an incredulous expression.

Was that not supposed to be taking Ibinta’s side?

-In any case, I am telling you to stop whining. What can you do about it now? Will you go apologize? Will you take us there and offer up our necks?

Annoying though it was, this was also correct.

The thieves of Vepaim probably hated Ibinta more than Lee Han or the knights.

After all, the lackey who sided with the one doing the beating was usually more detestable than the one who had done the beating.

“What were all of you talking about?”

-Shh. Do not mention what we were just discussing.

When Professor Garcia walked out from inside together with Professor Kirmin, the knight quickly warned Ibinta.

Since they had gone out without those two professors knowing, they could not reveal what had happened yesterday.

-We were talking about how wonderful the weather is today. Ha ha.

“It is hot right now because of the heatwave.”

-We are undead, so it has to be this hot before it feels warm to us. Ha ha.

“......”

While Ibinta stared in disbelief at the absurd excuse, Professor Garcia finally could not endure it any longer and spoke.

“I already know what you did last night!”

-!

-H-How!?

The knights could not believe it.

They had ultimately taken the priest students along, but they had definitely confirmed that the professors were at the lodging before leaving.

“Student Wardanaz was that angry. How could he possibly sleep quietly at night...? Of course I knew he would go out and search during the night.”

-This...

The friends were not the only ones who had read Lee Han’s behavioral patterns.

The professors had also read his behavioral patterns.

-You were predicted because you acted emotionally. It must have been a good lesson.

-Indeed!

“What do you mean, indeed, and what good lesson?”

Professor Garcia demanded in an angry voice.

“When we return, I may defend Student Lee Han, but I have no intention of defending all of you, so handle it yourselves!”

-We intended that from the beginning, Professor. Thank you for not interfering yesterday.

At the shameless behavior of the Death Knights, Professor Garcia regretted having left them alone yesterday.

After hearing Professor Kirmin’s words, Garcia had given the student time to sort out his feelings alone, but looking at the knights made Garcia wonder whether that had only exposed him to an even worse influence...

“All of you need to take going underground more seriously.”

-We will do so from now on.

As the knights answered slickly, Ibinta, who had been listening blankly, suddenly flinched.

“Wait? Underground? What does that...?”

Was returning to Einroguard not the end of it?

-You do not need to know. Professor Garcia occasionally enjoys making jokes. More importantly, Professor. Something strange has happened.

Since the professors had come out anyway, the knights decided it was a good opportunity and explained the strange matter.

Why had no one submitted an accusation?

Could there be some enormous conspiracy here that they did not know about?

“Did the religious orders cover it up because they care for Student Wardanaz?”

“The Valdrogard students are also close with Student Lee Han, so they probably would not participate in accusing him.”

-How could that be! ...But now that I think about it, that sounds unexpectedly plausible. Then the officials...

“...Perhaps they did not go to an official?”

No matter how well Professor Garcia knew Lee Han, it was impossible for an Einroguard mage to surpass the limits of imagination.

Who could possibly imagine that an official dispatched from the capital had burned an accusation to take the side of a single student!

***

-This is what happened.

“Oh. That is fortunate. Then we can go out again tonight.”

Lee Han was delighted by the knights’ report.

At that madness-filled sight, the knights felt pride without realizing it.

'The Successor is becoming more and more worthy of the title!'

Had Lee Han heard that, he would have lost his reason in fury and swung his staff.

“Still, to think the professors knew. I should reflect on this.”

Just like the knights, Lee Han reflected a little.

To think he had been predicted twice because he acted emotionally.

Lee Han learned a lesson. From now on, no matter how angry he became, he intended not to forget to move creatively.

-However, Lord Wardanaz. We were fortunate enough to avoid an accusation this time, but sooner or later, this is bound to reach the Master’s ears.

“I have already thought about that too.”

-Oh, what method will you use?

“If I am caught and forbidden from doing this, I intend to operate under the identity of Stedal Nago from then on.”

-...!!

The knights were deeply moved. Some of them jabbed Ibinta hard in the side to squeeze out tears, then wiped those tears around their own eyes.

-Could it be that you prepared that identity for a time like this?!

“That was not why I prepared it.”

-We are truly amazed!

“I said that was not why. Are you perhaps not listening to what I am...”

Unfortunately, Lee Han could not finish speaking.

A commotion could be heard outside the mansion.

-It seems someone has gathered outside.

-Could they be planning to attack us instead of submitting an accusation?

The Death Knight ran toward the window while openly expressing the feeling, I certainly hope so.

Seeing dozens of people gathered below the mansion’s front gate only raised the anticipation further.

The gatekeeper managing the front gate asked in confusion.

“W-What should I do...?”

-Open it! Quickly!

The knights ran downstairs excitedly. If they were lucky, they even thought they might be able to distort the event when reporting it later.

They had tried to resolve things peacefully, but these insane criminals had launched an attack in broad daylight, leaving them no choice...

-Yes! What have you come here for?!

“...We came to turn ourselves in.”

-Cha... what?

The knights, who had been about to draw their swords, stopped.

What had they come to do?

“We came to turn ourselves in...”

The gathered people spoke with the most depressed and sorrowful expressions in the Empire. Resignation and regret radiated from their entire bodies.

-W-Wait. Why?

The knights were bewildered even though they themselves had turned the city upside down.

The knights had captured many people throughout the Empire before, but they had never seen people gather like this to turn themselves in.

“We deeply regret our crimes...”

-Stop talking nonsense. We are going to interrogate you anyway, so confess quickly. If you hide something and it is revealed later, we will not forgive you.

“...The truth is...”

Frightened by the knights’ threats, the gathered people honestly revealed everything.

To be honest, after they had gone as far as reporting the matter to an official and still nothing happened, they had felt an overwhelming fear.

What could they possibly do against a monster like this?

-You went to an official!? Are you sure you did not go to a swindler dressed like an official?!

“We went to His Excellency the inspector...”

-The inspector!?

While the knights murmured among themselves in shock, a bishop and priest watched the scene quietly from a distance.

“As expected, those people were lying. Not even the slightest violent method is being used! And yet they spread such slander.”

“You are correct. The greedy people must have borne a grudge over the matter involving Count Bouillon.”

“Send letters to the others in the religious orders as well. Tell them never to fall for such tricks.”

The people from the religious orders were deeply enraged by the cunning scheme of the greedy.

They would never be deceived again!