The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 11

Upon returning home, Kano was taken aback by seeing a girl in a nun’s habit.

“What, Don? Like a true Dark Guild leader, have you already started to surround yourself with girls…”

“No, no, absolutely not! She said she had business with me, so I brought her here! Besides, she’s quite reserved, which has been troubling.”

The girl, who introduced herself as Nina, aged thirteen, looked back and forth between me and Kano with a frightened gaze. With her large, jet-black eyes and long black hair that fell to her back, she was undeniably beautiful, but she didn’t seem to have lived a carefree, blissful life.

“Nina, it’s pointless to stay silent. Could you tell us why you, in a nun’s habit, are in a place like this?”

Nina spoke sparingly, revealing that she had been unable to live in the convent after manifesting a heretical skill. The night her skill displayed, she fled the convent in the heart of the royal capital and wandered for days before arriving in this city.

“When I saw Leon-san, I thought he could protect me.”

As expected, my suspicions were confirmed. It seems the ability called “King’s Aura” has been unlocked within me, attracting heretics.

“What does it mean that Cecil is returning tomorrow? Cecil’s First Holy Knight Order is on a mission in the distant Orleans territory. Without significant reasons, such an early return is unimaginable. And what about the king’s protection?”

Nina hung her head in response to my question.

Kano placed a cup of tea in front of Nina. “Don, she’s exhausted from everything. Nina-chan, it must have been hard walking so far. Don’t worry, here you have a former Holy Knight, so relax and have some tea.”

Nina nodded slightly before sipping her tea. Indeed, the days following the manifestation of her heretical skill must have been a great adventure for a quiet girl like her.

Sani, who has always been fascinated by skills, seemed restless. With sparkling eyes, Sani asked Nina, “So, what’s your heretical skill, Nina-onee-chan? What kind of skills do you have? I’d love to know!”

Nina lowered her head again in response to Sani’s question.

After a moment of silence, she rolled up her sleeve. “Please, don’t be afraid.”

The room had two reactions to the name of Nina’s heretical skill engraved on her white arm.

“What an incredible skill name! Don, we should scout Nina-chan into the Michino Family!” While Sani’s eyes gleamed even brighter, Kano exclaimed, “Wow, that’s so cool.”

On the other hand, I was simply speechless. Memories of lectures from my knight training academy days and the recent debates flickered through my mind.

Since the manifestation of Saintess Cecil’s skill, a certain discussion has been repeated in theological circles.

The historical role of a saintess is clear: in each era, the saintess has always defeated the demon lord and protected the people from heretics and monsters.

In other words, a saintess and a demon lord appear in the same era. Hence, the birth of Saintess Cecil at this time might imply the revival of the demon lord, which has been a central point of debate.

Three and a half years have passed since Saintess Cecil’s skill manifested, and the revival of the demon lord has not yet been confirmed. However, now, a clear sign is in front of me.

Indeed, the skill that manifested in Nina is named “Demon Lord’s Vessel.”

Even though I had resolved to live as the leader of the Dark Guild, as a former Holy Knight, I couldn’t help but think deeply. It seemed more beneficial for the world if I turned her over to the Holy Knight Order.

While I was lost in thought, Kano and Sani seemed ready to include her in the family, teaching Nina how to pledge her loyalty to me.

“No, it’s best to capture her and send her for heretical interrogation. Captain Cecil of the Holy Knight Order would handle a heretic of this level. Although it would likely result in a death sentence, Cecil’s heretical interrogations are filled with mercy, so rest assured.”

Those words nearly escaped my lips, but I couldn’t say them before a worried-looking Nina.

Nina seemed to have decided to pledge her loyalty, kneeling and looking up at me with eyes begging for help.

“I, Nina Nightsky, pledge my loyalty to Don Michino, Leon Stein-sama.”

Hearing her voice, which sounded on the verge of tears, made it clear that I had no choice.

“Understood, Nina. We will welcome you into our Michino Family.”

As I extended my right hand, Nina kissed the back of my hand.

At that moment, the mist surrounding the ancient script floating above Nina’s head cleared.

Nina Nightsky

Race: Human

Heretical Skill: Demon Lord’s Vessel

Sub-Skill: Unreleased

Hidden Skills: Demon World Release, Necromancy

Loyalty: 80

Although I appraised her, everything but her loyalty was incomprehensible. I had no idea what abilities like Demon Lord’s Vessel, Demon World Release, or Necromancy entailed. My only impression was that the outcome of a heretical interrogation would likely be a death sentence. Well, living together might gradually reveal more.

Interestingly, after noting her loyalty of 80, there was a mention of what could be achieved by royal command, which I chose to ignore, thinking it absurd to consider such things with a child.

“Now that our family has grown to four, we need to work even harder from tomorrow on. Kano, do we have any quests for tomorrow?”

“We’ve received a request from the central city of the royal capital. And the reward is a silver coin.”

My expectations soared. “And what’s the request?”

“Believe it or not, it’s to find a high-class pet cat!”

“Another cat search… Isn’t there any job that can better use my swordsmanship?”

“Don’t complain. A request from the central city of the royal capital is rare. I have to deliver medicine, and Sani has another cat search job, so can I leave this request to Don and Nina-chan? Today’s cat search went well, and Don is familiar with the central city, right?”