(Harolds POV)

The magic that the knights released towards me was a direct hit or so I made it seem, before hiding my figure.

From behind my cover I could hear a voice cheering You did it!, a standard you didnt really win flag.

I was almost tempted to reveal myself again and say something like These kind of things are fun, arent they?, if it wasnt such an idiotic thing to do.

Still, its not over yet, right?

While steadying my breath, I cursed while saying so to myself.

I was somehow able to prevent that attack with the R-guard, but it wasnt perfect, and this is only the fourth battle.

Ive been fighting fifteen-man platoons one after another as six black clothed guards follow me while capturing imperial soldiers.

The Order is tough. One-on-one Im confident that in a hundred rounds of battle I can win a hundred times.

But each one of them has refined their offense and defensive capabilities to around the same level as Robinson and co. If they didnt, then all their team battle training that they did with Codys unit wouldve been for naught.

If I could fight back, then it wouldve been different. Its hard getting through these battles while only sticking to evasion and defense.

Harold-sama, we have completed the capture of the targets.

Finally, the report I was waiting for had arrived.

The black clothed group seems to have sustained injuries in this battle. Seeing their figures, I swallowed the words I wanted to say.

Theyre doing the best they can, it would be a mistake to reprimand them now.

...lets withdraw.

After this, its time to start interrogating the captured soldiers.

I didnt have any special negotiation techniques or anything, but I didnt have to resort to violence either.

By using the Original Knowledge, I acted as though had gotten information from their comrades, and threatened them I had other ways of getting more information.

There wasnt enough time to interrogate all of them, so I chose the ones I thought would break the easiest, but five out of nine actually cracked pretty easily. I guess that they assumed that if they already had a traitor amongst them, then it wasnt so hard to betray their country themselves. There was no point in endangering their own lives to keep already exposed information secret.

Honestly, most of the information they gave me I already knew, so I didnt really care too much about it. The important thing was getting them to confess what they knew. This way we can get the soldiers to stand in testimony and avoid the persecution of the Star Aria Tribe.

Our main objective here today is to delay Justus plan, even if its only by a little.

However, as I thought about such things, bad news suddenly came in.

A black-clothed messenger came running in through the foliage.

It an emergency! We have confirmed that the enemy has brought reinforcements in, their numbers have reached about two hundred, and theyve begun an assault on the Star Aria Tribes village!

Damn it! Whats the status of the battle?!

Hearing that the imperial army would decide to use such blatant actions was outside my expectations, I needed information on the battle to assess the situation.

We had eleven black clothed personnel, including Yuno, on their way to the Tribes village. They were giving support to the Tribes members who would be fighting against the Sarian soldiers.

Were currently holding them off, but we cant take much more! Their reinforcements are of Division Commander-class!

I know. It was impossible for them to beat the Sarian soldiers, but if they could just hold out until I get there...

The personnel we have stationed there were just scraped up together at the last-minute, theres no way for them to hold out if the enemy received reinforcements.

Moreover, to be hiding a unit of Division Commander class until now, theres a chance that this mightve been their goal from the very beginning. The fact that its led by a Division Commander only further rectifies that as the truth, since units led by any officer from Lieutenant General to Major General are usually used to fight on the front lines.

I wonder if this was Justus doing. A dark premonition was crawling up my spine.

There was a possibility, but there wasnt enough time to think about it.

Bastard, lead me to them. Keep us at a pace thatll make it hard to be tailed so we can make it to the front lines of the battle.

Still, there should be about a hundred knights there. Though that number should be cut a bit with some being incapacitated from injuries.

I wouldve preferred to have the Sarian soldiers eliminated in secret but its too late. If I dont act now, Yuno could be killed.

In the worst case, the power of the relief team that Robinson is a part of will be necessary.

A bitter feeling was welling up inside me from how this was developing. I felt impatient, helpless even, at this sudden change.

I kicked at the earth again to increase my speed.

(Yunos POV)

Ive been wandering for a long time.

That moment when Erica found out about Harolds true intentions three years ago... was Harold truly not aware that Erica was hiding in the room?

I dont think that Harold, who was aware of me spying on his training, would overlook Erica hiding nearby. Just the other day, he even detected our presence that we tried so hard to conceal that evening.

It cant be a coincidence. He wouldve been more careful with what he talked about if he wanted to keep what he said a secret. Therefore, its only natural for me to think that Harold leaked that information on purpose.

I cant read his true intentions, which only strengthens my reasons to doubt him.

Thinking about it, maybe Harold

wanted

me to grow suspicious of him from the very beginning.

Because it was that very suspicion that led me to eavesdrop on his discussion with Tasuku at that time.

Perhaps even that information was released only because Harold intended to do so.

The moment the words Star Aria Tribe left his mouth, my entire world was shaken.

At that moment, all of Harolds actions which I felt were suspicious until now, all became connected by a single line.

He mightve known about my true birth and past. That of a half-breed who was abandoned soon after birth, someone whose life couldnt even considered humane anymore...

Harold cannot be measured with common sense, for if he could, I wouldnt be so surprised.

What if he knew everything and led me here on purpose?

(Maybe I should be grateful...)

I can bear tears from how happy I am now. If I wasnt saved by the Sumeragi family all those years ago, it wouldve been impossible for me to live like this.

But there was still one thing I regretted when I left my previous life.

Even if they didnt mean anything to me, even if it was for a job, I took the information of where the Star Aria Tribe lived and sold that info without hesitation to a man who would exploit them. I still have nightmares about it even now.

As a result, the hidden village of the Tribe was destroyed.

For selling out my home, I received a meager pay that was barely worth anything, and when I looked into what happened, I learned that many children and youth had died in what ensued.

I am one of the worst human beings, I wont deny it. I have the consciousness to accept that much.

After entering the Sumeragi Family, I went and visited orphanages whenever I had spare time, and began to provide support to help the lives of all the children there. It was one of the only ways a criminal such as myself could atone for what I did.

But those thoughts didnt disappear. Selling myself as a beast only to serve others, I truly wondered what was the point of being alive...

Then I heard the news of how the Knights and the Tribe were going to get caught up in a huge battle, and Harolds plan to stop it.

This was something I never wouldve found out unless I suspected him, and theres no way I couldve ignored this.

I went straight to Tasuku afterward and asked him, begged him for permission to join the personnel that was to be dispatched. Erica, who knew about my past sent me off with mixed feelings since she knew the danger of the mission.

Make sure you come back, okay?

Ericas words were so cheerful that it was hard for me to notice any difference from her usual behavior.

This is the place I truly belong, I really felt it at that time.

(Those two are surprisingly similar, arent they?)

I thought about such memorable things in a haze.

Erica, who pushed me to come back alive.

Harold, who ordered me not to die without his permission.

Im so sorry that I cant follow through with your words.

Erica will surely cry.

I dont know how Harold will react though, maybe hell just laugh it off sarcastically like usual? It almost felt natural, in a way.

Perhaps Harold had grasped signs of this raid incident happening while he had his suspicions about me three years ago. I feel like thats the case.

I was probably just moving in the palms of his hands, securing the foundation of them.

At least Ill fulfill my role in them to the end. This is the only way for me to atone for my past.

I held myself, doing my best to put power in my limbs as I glared at my opponent, but no matter how hard I tried I couldnt move my arm for some reason.

Whats with that reb