In a World of Reversed Chastity, I Strive to Become an Honorable Male Knight, but Lustful Women Keep Targeting My Body - 334

Chapter 334: The Kukkoro Male Knight and the Conclusion

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With a revolver still smoking white in my hand, I glared at Vanka as she collapsed to the ground. I understood that she had come to rescue me, but the moment she showed up right in front of me, I had no choice but to act. That was a soldier’s duty. If there was a head to be taken, it had to be taken.

“Didn’t even exchange words and you went straight for the kill! You’re more of an elf than any elf I’ve seen.”

The ninja leader standing just off to my side let out an impressed remark. 

Who are you calling an elf? 

I snorted in irritation and turned the pistol toward her. The one who had grabbed our hands and pulled us away from Nael, though it hadn’t exactly been a life-or-death situation, was this ninja leader. The last time I met her, she claimed to be one of Lady Dalaiya’s subordinates, but seeing her working with Vanka now, that had clearly been a lie. Well, Lady Dalaiya herself said she had no such subordinate, so it was obvious enough.

“I’m fairly good at dirty work. Though I doubt I’m quite at your level…”

Now then, what should I do? Shielding Bishop Fiorenza, who had gone stiff with fear, I kept my eyes locked on the ninja leader. I had seen her fight once before. It was a performance worthy of being called the finest among elves. Without my sword or rifle, could I handle her? Honestly, it was doubtful. Shooting Vanka without thinking it through might have been a mistake.

“Hahaha, don’t flatter me. Still, you really are a fine man. I was ready to die once this was over, but now I suddenly feel like clinging to life. If I’m going to die, maybe I should at least bear your child first…”

Muttering that, the ninja leader pulled an obsidian kunai from beneath her poncho. We were only two steps apart. At this distance, a handgun was at a disadvantage, but there was no time to holster it now. I cocked the hammer with my thumb and drew a dagger with my left hand. It was the lightning-enchanted dagger I had received from A-chan, the former empress of the Holy Empire.

“S-stop… Don’t lay a hand on Lord Blondin.”

Still lying on the ground, Vanka tried to stop the ninja leader in a strained voice. She coughed wetly and spat blood. My bullet had hit her abdomen. Coughing up blood meant her organs were damaged. At this world’s level of medicine, that was effectively fatal.

“Vanka, you’re too kind for your own good. Even at the end, that part of you always irritated me.”

Despite her complaint, the ninja leader put her weapon away. Keeping my gun trained on her, I slowly approached Vanka together with Bishop Fiorenza. A wound to the organs was unquestionably fatal, but it wouldn’t kill her immediately. She would suffer for a while before finally dying. Sure enough, her pale skin was covered in cold sweat, and she looked to be in great pain. Granting her a swift end would be the merciful thing to do.

“…Lady Vanka, there’s one thing I want to ask before the end. Is your goal the extermination of the elves? Why would you…?”

The idea of wiping out the entire elven race, including herself, was clearly abnormal. I wanted to hear her reasoning in her own words, even if I could guess from the circumstances.

“…Because it was my husband’s dying wish. I was a terrible wife… but at least his final words… I had to honor them…”

Her gaze drifted vacantly through the air as she spoke.

…I see. So that was it. Her husband must have harbored deep hatred for the elves. Kidnapped, violated, and finally killed in the chaos of civil strife. It was only natural he would hate them.

“And besides… elves are savage… foolish… bloodthirsty… selfish… a race like that… would it not be better for the world if they perished…?”

Spitting blood, she spoke with broken intensity. It seemed she had completely lost faith in her own kind.

“Almost all the elves… are gathered in one place now… This is our last chance… Use the Heavenly Conflagration, Lord Blondin… wipe them out… all at once… It will be for your sake as well…”

“Heavenly Conflagration?”

“That would likely be… that rocket weapon, I believe.”

Bishop Fiorenza quietly clarified.

…I see. So Vanka intended to make me pull the trigger for the annihilation of the elves. What a rotten scheme.

“I understand. However, Lady Vanka, I must refuse.”

I rejected her proposal flatly.

Exterminating the elves? Don’t be ridiculous. 

Artillery was powerful, but not enough to wipe out over two thousand people in a single strike. Well, with modern artillery, it might be possible. But the main guns of the Liseben army were all old muzzle-loading models. There was no way they could annihilate them before a counterattack or retreat. 

More importantly, genocide itself was not to my liking. If it was necessary, I would do it. But if there was a more measured solution, that was the one to take. That was the duty of a soldier of a civilized nation. There was no peace or stability at the end of blind violence.

“To be clear, savagery, foolishness, bloodlust, selfishness… none of those are exclusive to elves. By your logic, I would have to exterminate humans, dragonkin, and beastfolk as well. I have no intention of becoming some demon king.”

“…I see. So that… is your answer.”

Vanka gave a faint smile and coughed again.

“…Very well. Things rarely go as planned…”

“……”

Bishop Fiorenza lowered her gaze silently. What was wrong?

“I’m sorry, Lord Blondin… for causing you trouble… As a final favor… would you grant me a mercy killing…? I fear I may… disgrace myself further otherwise…”

I glanced at the ninja leader. She removed her mask, grinned, and shrugged with empty hands. Do as you please, she seemed to say. Without a word, I knelt beside Vanka.

“…How strange. I had longed for death… yet now that it is at hand… I am afraid. A villain like me… will never join my husband or daughter… I knew that… from the beginning…”

Tears streamed down her face as she spoke.

…She hadn’t chosen this path lightly. Reality really was cruel.

“In the not-so-distant future, I will likely join you. Forgive me, but wait for me a while.”

I told her to open her mouth. She complied without resistance. It felt worse than if she had struggled. I inserted the pistol into her mouth. From what I knew, this was the quickest and least painful method available. Humans were surprisingly resilient. If you botched it, you only prolonged their suffering. Destroying the brainstem was the surest way.

“There is no sin that cannot be atoned for in death. I will forgive your sins. Farewell, Lady Vanka.”

I whispered softly and pulled the trigger. A heavy gunshot echoed, and blood and brain matter scattered. Vanka’s body went limp.

“…May the guiding star light your final journey.”

With a prayer, Bishop Fiorenza closed her eyes.

…Damn it. I hated this. Even with her past, Vanka had been careful until the end not to harm me. Having to kill someone like that left a bitter taste.

“…Now then.”

As I lingered in those thoughts, the ninja leader spoke in a bright voice that didn’t match the grim atmosphere.

“Vanka died a fine death, but I’m still very much alive. I still have my objective to fulfill.”

With a cruel grin, she drew a wooden sword.

…Figures. She was never the loyal type. She must have had her own agenda from the start. Even with her leader dead, she wouldn’t stop.

“Now then, Albert. One way or another, you’re going to use that Heavenly Conflagration. I’m not as kind as Vanka. Before things go beyond repair… you’d be wise to follow my orders.”

“You’re another one who wants to wipe out the elves?”

I asked, frowning.

“Exactly. Look at the state of elves now. It’s pitiful. To bloom brilliantly and fall just as quickly, that’s elven pride. This current state is unbearable to watch. Giving them a clean end is mercy.”

…Wow. She was even more extreme than Vanka. What the hell was I supposed to do here?

I tightened my grip on the bloodstained revolver. No weapons, a bishop to protect, and a ridiculously dangerous opponent. This was bad.

“You’d best give up. You’re a fine warrior, but the situation’s against you. You can’t beat me.”

Grinning, the ninja leader slowly closed the distance.

…You cocky bastard. How should I take her down?

Just then, a thunderous beating of wings split the air, and something massive dropped from the sky. It landed behind the ninja leader with a heavy impact. Dust billowed up, and I instinctively shielded my face.

“Found you.”

“Gwaaah!”

A chilling voice and a scream rang out together. Peering through the dust, I saw that it was Nael. She had the ninja leader caught in her scythe-like arms, grinning widely.

“There’s no way I’m letting you escape, right? Hehe… hahaha…”

“Y-you… damn those underlings, couldn’t even stall you!”

The ninja leader snarled, but there was nothing she could do. As Nael tightened her grip slightly, a scream of agony escaped her.

“Albert, please wait a moment. I’ll finish this quickly.”

“Y-yeah, take your time.”

All I could do was nod at the overwhelming pressure she gave off. Even I, used to battlefields, found my body freezing up. Beside me, Bishop Fiorenza silently wet herself.

“The roles are reversed now, aren’t they? I’ll make you suffer the same fate as my mother. Ah… ahahaha…!”

Laughing in a voice that seemed to rise from the depths of hell, Nael carried the ninja leader off into the forest. Soon after, inhuman screams echoed from between the trees. Watching the bishop collapse into a puddle of her own urine, paralyzed by terror, I found myself at a loss for words.

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