There are memories that cannot be forgotten.
Among the everyday occurrences, countless memories, and scenes witnessed throughout one's life, there are scenes that are unforgettable, like thorns embedded in one's mind.
"What… is this?"
Acrid smoke billows. A grand fortress, an ordinary house, a well-maintained road, and corpses that were once human.
All burn equally. Everything in sight burns and dies.
…No, that's wrong.
They're not dying, they're already dead.
By the time I arrived, the lives of those who lived in this kingdom had already ended.
Only the setting sun, the burning sun beyond the mountain, gazes upon everything equally.
And there was someone watching the whole scene.
It was a familiar figure from behind.
"…Adam? Adam Keynes?"
"…Ah."
"Wh-what is the Finance Director doing here…?"
An unexpected sight, a sudden encounter, and a person whose presence was a mystery.
Less than a year after I graduated from Grandis Academy, the academy collapsed.
I heard that the Headmistress died and Adam disappeared somewhere.
I hadn't heard from him or seen him for years… why was he here?
"It's been a while, Ruth. How many years has it been?"
"Well, it's been over three years since we graduated…"
An everyday conversation amidst a scene of flames and death.
Perhaps because of that gap, Adam's calm voice sent chills down my spine.
Why was Adam so nonchalantly watching that inferno?
"Finance Director, what in the world…?"
"Isn't it amazing?"
"Wh-what?"
"I'm recklessly smoking drugs that are even stronger than before, and even though there's no one to remove the side effects and toxicity, my mind is clear. Am I dying or coming back to life?"
An enigmatic riddle.
As if he didn't expect a response, Adam muttered to himself and then continued nonchalantly, as if it wasn't a big deal.
"It's nothing. I just burned everything down."
"What?"
"It wasn't difficult. Things caught fire more easily than I thought. Blazing, just like the academy that day."
Step.
Adam, looking down at the burning kingdom from the hill, waved his hand as if trying to mix the smoke rising from the kingdom with the smoke from his cigarette.
It was an incomprehensible action, and Adam, unlike his time at the academy, quietly turned around with eyes that showed no fatigue.
"You wouldn't know, but there's a saying, 'catch the bedbugs and burn down the house.'"
"What? What do you mean…?"
"It originally means someone foolish who burns down their house trying to catch bugs. But then a thought occurred to me. At least that way, the bedbugs, the bugs, would be completely eradicated."
Adam, whom he met after three years, had changed somehow.
His bleached hair, worn-out robe, and that cigarette were all the same, but.
He no longer used honorifics.
He no longer looked tired.
The cigarette smoke was much more pungent than before.
More than anything.
"So I did it. That's all."
"…Finance Director."
"Sorry, but call me by my name."
"What?"
"There was only one person who could call me Finance Director… and she's gone now."
Those eyes. Eyes that seemed not much different from three years ago.
But after graduating from the academy, while searching for information about the 'Dark Sword,' I realized.
The madness lurking deep within those eyes. Those were the eyes of someone possessed by the Dark Sword.
The eyes of someone who had gone mad for something.
"Ad… Finance Director. You may not believe this, but you're currently possessed by the Dark Sword. I don't know how you came into contact with that sword, but I can help you…"
"Ah, that's right. It might seem that way."
"…What?"
"I did come into contact with it. I only cleared the academy part, but I accidentally saw a strategy guide that mentioned the location and how to obtain the Dark Sword."
"No, what? What do you mean?"
Academy part? Strategy guide? Accidentally?
Looking at Adam, who was muttering to himself, I became certain.
Adam was currently insane. He had gone mad from being possessed by the Dark Sword. That's why he burned down this small kingdom in the remote regions.
'His sins won't disappear, but…'
As someone who was somewhat close to him at the academy, who knew the Adam from those days.
To help him atone for his sins and return to his old self, I tried to bring Adam back to normal.
"But I couldn't even reach Rank 1. It was quite disheartening… Ah, it's almost time."
"Stay still, Adam. Right now—"
"Let's begin."
Saying so, Adam, ignoring me holding my sword.
Spoke to the sun setting beyond the mountain range.
It was clearly the act of a madman, I thought, but then.
"Drop it, Chloe."
"…Ch-Chloe?"
Rumble rumble rumble!!!
As soon as Adam's quiet voice subsided, the sun beyond the mountain range moved.
…No, it wasn't the sun. It was just so gigantic that I mistook it for the sun.
A [Fireball] so large that it covered an entire mountain, dimming even the light of the real sun behind it.
Great magic that far surpassed Rank 7, magic that would be comparable only to the Archmage of the Empire.
Was falling.
And then.
"I'm done, Adam."
"Thank you as always, Chloe."
"Don't mention it, we're partners. But who's this…?"
"Don't you remember? Ruth Spero. The perpetual last-place student."
"The one you were so concerned about at the academy? You're not still concerned about him, are you?"
"Well, it's true that I was back then…"
──A pawn!
"Not anymore."
──Ruth!
"…Because it's meaningless now."
──Spero!
"Ruth Spero!!"
"...."
"Ruth Spero! This is your last warning, put down your sword!"
Suddenly, my consciousness returned to reality. The vivid memory that I couldn't forget vanished into the depths of my mind.
The smell of corpses and buildings burning, the scenery of the setting sun and the falling fireball, Adam, who had changed so much, and Chloe, who was guarding him.
Even if I returned to the past, they were things I could never forget.
How long had I been lost in that memory?
The Exam Supervisor and several professors had already completely surrounded me. Even though I was a student, they showed no signs of letting their guard down against a Rank 6.
"…Adam."
And at the end of that outstretched sword was Adam Keynes.
The person who approached and helped him when he was struggling and being ridiculed as a perpetual last-place student. The person he considered his benefactor.
But the person who ultimately became the destroyer of the world.
Even after that 'memory,' Adam and Chloe went around causing countless massacres and deaths. He desperately chased after them, but they were always one step ahead, as if they knew how he would move.
And in the end, they used the Rank 8 monsters of the western wilderness of the Empire to destroy even the hegemonic Empire.
In the devastated world.
After killing Chloe, he finally met Adam…
Clang!
"…My head was dizzy for a moment, and I couldn't distinguish things. I apologize."
"Haa… I understand. I'll confiscate your sword for now."
"Kaern Deste is disqualified, but what about Ruth Spero?"
"According to the familiar's record, Kaern Deste attacked unilaterally. Ruth Spero was naturally acting in self-defense."
I heard the conversation between the relieved Exam Supervisor and the professors as I collapsed on the ground.
Milia and Beatrice approached me as I sat there.
"Ruth, are you alright?"
"Mr. Ruth…?"
"…I'm fine. I apologize."
"No, it was the youngest knight who was at fault. To attack like that out of the blue…"
"H-he really seems to be half insane."
Beatrice and Milia were saying something to me, but I couldn't hear them. The terrifying killing intent emanating from behind Adam wasn't directed at the surroundings, but solely at me, but I didn't pay it any mind.
I just…
Stared at Adam Keynes, who was blinking as if he didn't understand what was happening.
***
What, why is he staring at me like that? Did I do something?
I briefly glanced at Ruth, who was being led away by an unassuming female student, and then turned my head. From what I heard, it wasn't the protagonist's fault this time.
Instead, I called out to the female student with the familiar figure from behind.
"Princess Beatrice?"
"…A-Adam."
"What's wrong? Are you alri…"
"D-don't come any closer!"
"What?"
"Right now, I… my clothes are dirty, and I haven't been able to wash properly…"
Ah, if that's the case, then I understand. Even I wouldn't want to show my acquaintances that kind of appearance after struggling on a deserted island for three days.
I averted my gaze out of consideration for Beatrice, who was hiding behind a tree with her back turned.
"Anyway, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"That's good to hear. The exam will resume shortly, so please rest for now."
"Okay…"
Leaving Beatrice for now.
I desperately signaled the Headmistress, who was about to rush over as soon as Ruth pointed his sword at me, and stopped her.
I looked down at the full plate armor being dragged away by the Exam Supervisor and the professors.
"Student Kaern Deste, is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Do you admit to violating the rules and using force during the exam?"
"Of course. A knight does not lie!"
"Then, as a knight, you must be proud of what you've done."
"Naturally!"
Good.
You definitely said it yourself, right?
"Headmistress, if you please."
"Understood, Finance Director."
"H-Headmistress!?"
"Headmistress! You came personally!"
"Exam Supervisor and professors, please organize the surroundings. I'll talk to student Kaern."
""""Yes!""""
The Exam Supervisor and professors, who didn't want to be right next to the Headmistress, hurriedly moved.
For some reason, Circe also looked terrified as soon as she saw the Headmistress, and I stopped her from rushing out.
Why did she do that with the custom when she was so afraid of the Headmistress? Did something happen afterwards?
Well, whatever happened was none of my business.
As the Headmistress, who seemed to be in a very bad mood perhaps because of Ruth, approached Kaern, he started trembling.
If that was excitement or fighting spirit, I would acknowledge it as genuine, but judging from the chattering of his teeth, it seemed like fear. Fake madness.
"Kaern Deste."
"Y-yes!"
"You've done quite a deed, haven't you? I received a report that you even used an attack imitating Sword Qi against student Ruth, saying that the rules didn't matter. Is that true?"
"No!"
Hey, you said a knight doesn't lie.
The Headmistress was momentarily taken aback by the blatant lie, but when a magic department professor who was operating a familiar approached and whispered to her, her face contorted.
"That's a shameless lie."
"I apologize! I'll take full responsibility!"
"Responsibility, you say? Then you'll have to compensate, won't you?"
"What? B-but according to the academy rules, damage within the academy…"
"It seems student Kaern thinks this is part of the academy."
"Ah."
It was truly shameless of him to say he would take responsibility, knowing the rule that damage within the academy was generally repaired by the academy.
The youngest knight, Kaern Deste, was that kind of character even in
However, it seemed like even his eloquent speech failed him in front of the enraged Headmistress.
"These islands in the Luftragina Archipelago are my property. Naturally, they're not part of the academy."
"...."
"You've wreaked havoc in the center of the island and uprooted many trees, so the compensation will be substantial."
At the Headmistress's words, Kaern's face turned pale. Money was practically Kaern's biggest weakness.
Kaern Deste, from a Baron family, meticulously saved all the sponsorship money and other funds he received. It was to elevate his family to the rank of Viscount.
That's why he had the 'miser' trait in the game, and if he had to pay compensation here, his savings would be wiped out, or it wouldn't even be enough to cover it.
…Of course, this was all part of the plan between the Headmistress and me.
'It was an abandoned island in the first place, so what compensation?'
Compensation? The previous Headmistress wouldn't have even cared. In the first place, if it weren't for me, this archipelago wouldn't even be used by the academy.
But it wasn't like I planned to induce this kind of accident to extort compensation. No matter how much we needed to secure funds, the Headmistress, who fundamentally cared for the students, would never allow this kind of method.
I was just trying to reduce the cost of the midterm exams, but I never thought I would catch such a 'big fish.'
The youngest knight, Kaern Deste, was one of the targets I had been aiming for. So I was looking for an opportunity, but I never thought it would turn out like this.
Therefore, the moment I received the report from Exam Supervisor Dalcoon that it seemed to be Kaern's doing, I coordinated with the Headmistress in advance.
'Although the Headmistress almost exploded when the protagonist suddenly pointed his sword at me.'
Anyway, things turned out this way by chance.
The Headmistress spoke the pre-arranged words to the trembling Kaern.
"However, even if student Kaern is a promising talent called the youngest knight, it will be difficult for him to bear the compensation alone."
"Th-that's right! I'm truly sorry!"
"Then shouldn't we talk to his guardian?"
"…What?"
She wasn't talking about Kaern's parents. They had already passed away due to illness.
And she wasn't trying to insult his parents either. When referring to Kaern's guardian, it meant one person.
"Sir Julius, who knighted student Kaern."
"…!!!"
"My goodness, it's surprising that that little boy is now the captain of the Royal Knights. Anyway, since he knighted student Kaern, he should naturally take responsibility as well."
"H-Headmistress!"
"Student Kaern is disqualified anyway, so when you return to the port city, send a letter to that Julius fellow."
—Telling him to come to Grandis Academy as soon as possible.
"That will be enough."
"Ah…"
"And one more thing. I cherish and care for all students attending the academy equally."
However.
"Students who arbitrarily violate the rules and even try to exploit them…"
"...."
"…might become a little less likable."
Kaern, with an expression as if the world had collapsed, crumbled.
While Circe, seeing the Headmistress's smile, trembled.
I quietly thought about Sir Julius.
'Sir Julius. A Rank 7 swordsman and disciple of Margrave Claudia. The current captain of the Royal Knights, and…'
Someone wealthier than most trading companies and nobles, despite being a knight.
One of the wealthiest people in the kingdom.
'The moneybag… no, Sir Julius.'
I'm.
Coming to see you now.