The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 60

After a night had passed, as we made our way to the LeBlanc family’s mansion in our carriage, I glanced over the morning’s edition of the capital’s newspaper. It featured articles more detailed than the extra edition I had perused the night before.

The assault on Duke LeBlanc took place during a carriage journey from the Giant Stone Castle to his mansion, reportedly by five individuals concealing their faces. The LeBlanc family’s escorts, comprised of Holy Knights, managed to fend them off without losing their lives, but the situation remains precarious.

The attackers fled, and while their identities remain unknown, the fact that several Holy Knights were seriously injured indicates that a significant heretic was involved in this attack. Clearly, some dark guild is also involved, but no further details were provided.

While I was reading the newspaper, Kano expressed his concerns with unease.

“Don, are you sure it was a good idea to take on this assignment with just the three of us?”

This time, guarding Lady Elena LeBlanc was assigned to me, Kano, and a heretic who had just joined the Michino Family.

Then, a certain heretic patted Kano’s shoulder with a smile.

“Kano! There’s no need to worry. In my Gambino days, I completed every task I was assigned! The only failure was my retaliation against the Michino Family.”

The woman who laughed was the mastermind behind the explosion at Pitt’s wine cellar, the mad dog Grittz referred to as a heretic with screws loose. Yes, she is the witch known as the Merciless Kirke.

The reason this heretic was in the carriage with Kano and me is straightforward: Kirke had joined the Michino Family.

After Manina and I defeated Kirke, we sent her back to her guild, the Gambino Family, as a sign that we had no intention of continuing the conflict. However, Kirke appeared again in the Loser’s District.

I took a combat stance with Nina, but Kirke took an unexpected action. She knelt before me, expressing her desire to swear loyalty.

After witnessing Manina’s magic, she realized her insignificance and developed a deep respect for me, who had tamed Manina.

I didn’t trust her words, but her abilities intrigued me. I decided to assess her capabilities, and upon doing so, I was surprised by the result.

Kirke’s loyalty was astonishingly high at 80, indicating that marriage, sexual relations, and enslavement were possible due to her high level of loyalty.

Although skeptical about her loyalty, I thought that sending her back to the Gambino would only lead to more trouble, so I decided to have her join our family. This significantly boosted the Michino Family’s combat capabilities.

Kano remarked, “It appears you have faith in Kirke, Don, but I remain skeptical. I’ll be treating her as if she’s a spy from the Gambino. The last thing I want is to end up heartbroken by her betrayal.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll get along just fine!” Kirke responded, playfully mussing Kano’s hair.

For this assignment, my face and Kirke’s were altered using my “Hidden Face” skill. Previously, I could only change my face, but after defeating Grittz, the skill evolved, allowing me to alter the face of another heretic.

Of course, Kirke was being pursued by the Holy Knights. Without this skill, I wouldn’t have brought her along.

As we approached, we began to see Holy Knights more frequently.

Many Holy Knights were on guard, especially around the LeBlanc family’s mansion, creating a tense atmosphere. We were allowed to enter the mansion after showing a letter from the LeBlanc family to a familiar gatekeeper and undergoing a heretical skill check by a magic device. Still, the Holy Knights glanced at us suspiciously.

According to rumors, Jean LeBlanc, who was injured, is resting inside the mansion under strict surveillance.

Kano twitched his pointed ears anxiously. “Why would the LeBlanc family request us? With so many Holy Knights around, their defense seems impenetrable…”

I agreed. Not only were there many of them, but skilled Holy Knights from the regions had also been called in, indicating a high overall level of capability.

The three of us were briefed on the assignment by Lady Elena LeBlanc’s butler in a small private room.

The LeBlanc family has tasked us with the guise of their private soldiers to personally ensure the safety of Lady Elena LeBlanc, directing us to don armors that conceal our faces, adorned with the LeBlanc family crest.

I naturally voiced a question.

“Why have you requested us to guard the lady? With so many Holy Knights present, wouldn’t it be unlikely for her to be in danger?”

As if worried our conversation might be overheard, the butler spoke in a hushed tone.

“The reason is our lack of trust in the Holy Knights, hence the necessity for your prowess.”

“What do you mean?”

Next, the butler revealed something shocking.

“A Holy Knight, tasked with guarding our lord, conspired with the assailants. This detail remains undisclosed, per the Holy Knights’ request…”

The Holy Knight in question had been apprehended and was currently being interrogated, but he refused to confess anything.

While we were still trying to grasp the fragmented situation, we donned the armor lent to us by the butler when suddenly, the outside of the room became noisy.

The butler, flustered, said, “Prince Raymond has come to visit the lord. Please get ready without drawing attention, and welcome the prince.”

Hurrying into our armor and following the butler, we saw Cecil. And it was Prince Raymond who entered the mansion under Cecil’s lead.

The Holy Knights lined up in the entrance hall, knelt, and bowed their heads simultaneously. Normally, I should have done the same, but I remained standing still for a while.

Hearing a whisper from a nearby Holy Knight saying, “You there, that’s disrespectful,” I finally returned to reality and knelt. The scene I had just witnessed stayed vividly in my mind.

While kneeling, I activated Kano’s “Silent Voice” skill, which allows one to send words directly to a specific person without being overheard by others. I communicated with the two members of our family.

“Be cautious. The man wearing the Holy Knight’s armor right behind the prince is a heretic. Depending on his actions, apprehend him immediately and, if necessary, interrogate.”

Of course, at this point, it’s unclear whether that heretic is an enemy. He might be a heretic hired for special security, just like us. Since we cannot rely on the Holy Knights, we must keep transmitting information and coordinate as a trio.

However, the response I received through Silent Voice was unexpected.

“Le… Leon?”

Cecil’s confused voice echoed in my mind.