The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 51

Nadale said, “Could it be a royal command just now? Speaking of which, I haven’t yet heard about your heretic skill. What kind of ability manifested? I can’t believe it, but it’s not the king’s skill that appeared, is it?”

“I have no obligation to tell you!”

Nadale smiled. “Leon Stein. I exiled you and framed you as a criminal to take control of the Holy Knights. Now, there’s no reason for us to be adversaries. The Dark Guild I belong to is more profitable than the Michino Family. Depending on your ability, I might even let you join.”

“There’s no way I would join a Dark Guild you’re part of.”

Nadale snorted through his nose. “To think you’d pass up a good opportunity, it seems you’ve gained a heretic skill but haven’t shed your foolishness. Besides, there’s no way you could use the king’s command.”

Nadale then turned his gaze to Lilith, entangled by plants. “Now, Lilith, shall we continue? Breaking the chaste vows of those sanctimonious Holy Knights and humiliating them is irreplaceable.”

I cut through the vegetation with another dagger, escaping the restraints, but the plants around us began to proliferate again.

Not only do the plants block my attacks, but occasionally sharp branches pierce towards me. I couldn’t dodge every time, and branches grazed my body. Even a slight touch tore the flesh, and blood flowed. The knight’s armors being penetrated was undoubtedly due to the plants controlled by Nadale.

And to make matters worse, the plants regenerated quickly. I increased my speed several times to slash at the plants entangling Lilith, but they regenerated immediately.

Echoing through the forest was Lilith’s command, “Leon! Don’t worry about me and run!”

She meant to take as many living Holy Knights as possible and leave this place, but there’s no way I could leave Lilith behind.

I knew Nadale was a heretic, but I hadn’t anticipated his strength to be this great. Given his ability, he’s likely a high-ranking official in the Dark Guild. A moment’s distraction would lead me to the same fate as my fallen comrades.

I was prepared for a battle to the death when suddenly, a “Don!” Silent Voice echoed in my mind.

“Don! I was worried and came! Uh, I really can’t grasp the situation. Just give me instructions!”

That voice was unmistakably Kano. It seems he used the skill “Shadow Walk” to hide his presence and come here. But this situation is too much for Kano.

“This place is dangerous! Get away from here!”

“If we do nothing, Don, your life will be in danger! Please, give me some instructions!”

I glanced briefly at Lilith. Nadale skillfully moved his tentacles around Lilith, entwined by the plant’s vines, slowly inflicting humiliation. Is there no way to save at least Lilith?

As I strategized while engaged in battle, another voice echoed in my mind.

“Aniki, isn’t there anything I can do? I can’t just stand by and watch this!”

The voice belonged to Seneca. Though I couldn’t see him, it seemed Seneca was also present at the scene. At that moment, I remembered the abilities of Seneca’s heretical skill and sent him instructions through Silent Voice.

“Seneca! Activate your heretical skill and cut the vines restraining the female knight, Lilith!”

Then, Seneca’s voice echoed in my mind again.

“Roger that, Aniki!”

Seneca’s heretical skill, “Speed of Light Assassin,” temporarily increases his speed by tens of times. With that power, he might be able to unleash a slash faster than the plants could regenerate.

In the next moment, as intended, the vines entangling Lilith were cut off at an incredible speed. Seneca’s abilities seemed to have improved, as he was cutting through the plants faster than when we had clashed in the Loser’s District, swiftly freeing Lilith.

The moment Lilith was freed, I was shocked. She had been tightly bound, her limbs unnaturally twisted, with several broken bones. I immediately sent instructions to Kano.

“Kano! Carry Lilith and deliver her to the Holy Knights’ Saintess Cecil! You can turn invisible, so you should be able to escape!”

“Understood!”

The next moment, Lilith disappeared from sight. It seemed Kano had successfully carried her away.

As Lilith vanished, Seneca appeared on the scene, likely because Kano had moved away, removing the stealth effect.

Nadale seemed clueless about what had happened.

“What just happened? Where is Lilith? Did you do something? The most interesting part was about to begin!”

“You should always be kind to women, that’s what the ladies at the brothel always say!” Seneca retorted, knife in hand.

Nadale’s smirk returned, perhaps regaining his composure.

“You’re the infamous Seneca the Ripper, aren’t you? Now you’re under Don Michino’s care. The big shots at the Dark Guild were missing you for a while.”

“Shut up! Don is different from those guys!”

“Seneca, I’ve decided to capture you alive. You seem like you could be of use to me.”

As Nadale waved his hand, plants began to sprout from the ground once again.

I sent another instruction to Seneca.

“Seneca! Be careful not to get caught by the plants!”

“Got it! What else should I do?”

“We’ll take this scumbag down together! That’s the only order! We can kill this piece of trash!”