I Was Reincarnated as the Villainous Knight Commander Who Betrays Everyone at the End, So I Plan to Leave the Fake Hero’s Party with the Exiled Girl Who’s Actually the True Hero! ~While Watching Over the Protagonist Up Close, I Somehow Ended Up Destroying the Whole Scenario~ - 20

Chapter 20: The Villainous Knight Commander Throws His Shield

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“This is Tiana’s mansion, huh.”

It was in the district of Handel where the wealthy lived. Among those, her mansion stood in a section reserved for the ultra-wealthy who possessed even more money.

“Wow, that’s an amazing mansion.”

It was a huge mansion. In front of Tiana’s mansion, there were two gatekeepers standing watch, and the security looked like the strict type. Or rather, the gatekeepers looked quite strong.

“Excuse me, I’ve come in response to Tiana-dono’s request.”

“I-I see. You must be Lars-dono, right? I’ve heard about you. Follow me.”

The gatekeeper opened the gate, and I stepped inside the grounds. Maybe the reason he looked a bit intimidated was because I was fully armed.

At dawn, just as the sun rose, I went to the liar shopkeeper’s armor store to pick up the armor. Right there at the shop, I put the armor on, then brought the spear I bought at Tesshin’s weapon store, and came straight to Tiana’s mansion.

The armor that the shopkeeper had modified fit my body perfectly, as if we’d been through many battlefields together. The spear was a typical cross spear. Its weight and shaft length matched the spear I originally had, and it was a sturdy piece containing a small amount of mithril.

Well, it was just a spare for emergencies, so I only brought it along just in case. I also had one large round shield. A man in full plate armor carrying two spears taller than himself and a large round shield—yeah, that would be pretty intimidating to anyone.

“Still, this place is ridiculously huge.”

It was really huge. So huge I felt like I’d get lost. It was the kind of mansion you’d see in anime or manga where rich characters live.

“If you go straight down this path, you’ll reach the training ground, where Tiana-sama’s private soldiers are preparing for the expedition. You should head there.”

“You’ve been a big help. I appreciate it.”

“No need to thank me. …More importantly, be careful.”

“Huh?”

Be careful? Of what?

“Just between you and me… Did you know Tiana-sama likes pretty girls?”

“Ah, yes. My companion—well, my current employer—was targeted by her.”

“Well, Tiana-sama fills most of her private army with beautiful girls who match her tastes. The ones handling the monster subjugation this time are those very girls.”

“I see?”

I certainly remembered there was a setting where Tiana maintained such an army. But what was I supposed to be careful about? The gatekeeper glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then whispered to me in a voice so quiet it could barely be heard.

“They all see men as enemies. So, well… Good luck.”

Leaving only those words behind, the gatekeeper returned to his post. It was yet another setting I didn’t know about. Why were all these small details different from what I originally wrote? I honestly wanted to know the reason.

Well, not like it caused me any real inconvenience. But as the original creator of this world, it felt a bit complicated to not know something about it.

“…Hmm, so this is the training ground.”

The training ground was larger than the schoolyard at the high school I’d attended in my past life. Countless carriages were lined up in the training grounds, and strikingly beautiful girls and women were loading supplies like food into them.

And for some reason, sharp gazes were piercing me. It must have been, just as the gatekeeper said, because they “saw men as enemies.”

“You there. Are you the helper Tiana mentioned?”

“…Hmm?”

Someone called out to me from behind. A chill so intense it made me shudder—no, it was a murderous intent so strong it felt like it could kill me with its gaze alone. As I turned around, I used the spear I carried on my back to block the assailant’s slash.

“Ho! You blocked my sword!”

A beautiful woman with black hair and black eyes widened her eyes in surprise at my defense. She wore a kimono with a long haori draped over it, making it obvious at a glance she wasn’t from this continent.

The weapon she held was something deeply familiar to me as a former Japanese: a katana. This woman was…

“…You’re not the gentle type, huh? Just so you know, I’m here as a cooperative worker at Tiana-dono’s request.”

“That has nothing to do with me! She’s just an employer! As long as I can cross swords with the strong, nothing else matters!”

“I-I see.”

If the employer was like that, it made sense the employee would be like this too. The swordswoman backed away to create distance from me.

“Are you still planning to continue? I’m here to help with the monster subjugation, not to fight a battle maniac like .”

“Don’t say such cold things. And I’m not a battle maniac. I simply wish to perfect my swordsmanship and become a Sword Saint.”

“Most people would call that a battle maniac.”

I knew who this woman was. After all, she was a character who would become Ciel’s companion—or rather, her friend. Her name was—

“I am called Sakuna.”

Still holding her sword at the ready, Sakuna introduced herself. Then she raised her sword high overhead and started advancing toward me.

“I come from the Eastern Nations! Though I’m on a warrior’s pilgrimage, I am currently employed under Lady Tiana! Now, tell me your name!”

I deflected Sakuna’s intense sword strikes with my spear, but there was no sign of her lowering her blade. She was a berserker. She’d point her sword at anyone, anytime, if it would make her stronger—a dangerous deviant, albeit in a different way than Tiana.

To stop Sakuna, I’d have to completely defeat her. Until she either won or lost, this woman wouldn’t stop. But there was one big problem. My compatibility with Sakuna was terrible. I was at an overwhelming disadvantage. Because—

“Here I go! Taste the secret technique of my Silver Sakura Sword Style!!”

“Gah!?”

“Eh? I haven’t even done anything yet?”

My heart took damage. Yes, she was the type who shouted the name of the style and technique I thought was cool when I created her back then.

Stop it! It hurts my soul!!

It wasn’t my fault. When I wrote this character, I thought it sounded cool!

“I-I don’t really get it, but here I come!”

“-!”

This was no time to be wallowing in emotional pain.

“–Silver Sakura Flash!!”

“Uwoah!?”

Countless slashes, like scattering cherry blossom petals, streaked with silver as they rained down on me. I raised the large round shield I carried on my back and blocked them all. The impact was so intense my arms went numb. I shifted the force through my legs and core, distributing it into the ground to endure the attack.

“I-impossible! You blocked my finishing move completely!”

“Guh…”

“Then next—”

“Nuuu!!”

“Gyaah!?”

As she tried to continue attacking, I threw my large round shield at her. She must never have expected me to throw a shield meant for defense; it hit her squarely and sent her flying.

“Grrr… Impressive. But to discard your shield is the height of folly! Next, I shall take your head—”

“What are you doing, Sakuna-chan?”

“Pyaah!?”

Before I knew it, Tiana was standing behind Sakuna with a pleasant smile.

“Lars-sama is our collaborator and also an employee of an important business partner.”

“Y-yes…”

“If your rash actions caused me to be hated by Ciel-chan, what would you do? Could you take responsibility? If I remember correctly, in your homeland, there’s that thing called seppuku. I’ll have you perform it.”

“N-no, um…”

“Do you have any excuses?”

“…I-I do not…”

“You don’t?”

“I do not…”

O-oh…Even Sakuna fell completely silent. As expected of Tiana. Though, I felt like her personal desires were mixed into her scolding.

“Thank you for coming, Lars-sama. Are you hurt?”

“…Not at all.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Well then, let us depart.”

And so, I left the city of Handel with Tiana’s private soldiers.

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