The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 62

Immediately upon bursting into Jean LeBlanc’s room, I grasped the battle situation.

Cecil, clad in the armor of a Holy Knight, was overwhelmingly dominating a heretic with swordplay so exquisite it defied description. Even as she wielded her sword, arrows of light emanated from Cecil, slicing through the heretic’s body mercilessly.

Behind Cecil, Jean LeBlanc lay prostrate on the ground, with Prince Raymond seated beside him.

Cecil glanced sideways at us as we entered the room.

“Are you the private soldiers of the LeBlanc family? Perfect timing! Get Duke LeBlanc out of here!”

Following the instructions, I rushed to Jean LeBlanc. The duke was bleeding profusely, yet he was still breathing. Leaving the situation to Cecil seemed sufficient. My focus should be on protecting the duke.

My arm was forcefully pulled as I was about to lift the duke. It was Prince Raymond who had touched my arm.

In a voice so low only I could hear Prince Raymond say, “Refrain from unnecessary actions, you lowly LeBlanc family footsoldier. Scum like you should vanish from this place without a trace. This is a decree from the crown.”

I couldn’t understand what he meant. Jean LeBlanc was Prince Raymond’s uncle. Why would he refuse to have a family member taken away? The duke’s life is in danger if we do nothing.

Luckily, I’m no longer a Holy Knight. For those belonging to the knightly orders, the royal family’s commands are absolute. However, my current employer is Duke Jean LeBlanc. Ignoring a royal command, I lifted Jean LeBlanc in my arms.

“Prince Raymond, I’ll protect you, so it’s best if you leave this place as well.”

As I stood up, Prince Raymond raised his voice loudly. His words were perplexing once again.

“Cecil! This man intends to abduct the duke! He’s not an ally! Kill him first!”

In the next moment, Cecil’s sharp gaze turned towards me. While engaging in holy combat with the heretic, she aimed her sword at me and began to mutter a sacred spell, seemingly preparing to activate another holy technique.

Kirke, who was nearby, said, “This is bad. What do we do?”

Indeed, the situation had become troublesome. Engaging in a battle with Cecil would endanger the life of the critically wounded Duke LeBlanc. It was imperative to make her understand that we were on the same side.

Holding Duke LeBlanc, I positioned my sword and leaped forward. Cecil’s slash was directed at us, but Kirke’s magical barrier protected us.

My target was not Cecil but the heretic she was fighting.

(The only way to protect Duke LeBlanc is to make a decisive move instantly.)

Over the past two months, I’ve added five heretics to my family. Starting with the ruthless Kirke, their abilities vary, but all are powerful heretics.

My heretic ability, “King of Heretics,” encompasses “King’s Enhancement,” elevating my status with each heretic’s loyalty oath.

This means my abilities increase with more heretics I add to my family.

I swung my longsword overhead, swiftly striking the opponent’s shoulder. At that moment, I activated the sub-skill “Shockwave,” possessed by a recently joined heretic, “Socrates, the Escapist,” maximizing the damage.

Instantly, the heretic’s platinum armor shattered with a resounding crash, leaving even me astonished at the sheer force. The man inside the armor turned pale and slumped to the ground, defeated.

I called Kirke to take Duke LeBlanc to the Holy Knights’ medical team.

“Don, you’ve gotten stronger again,” Kirke said, picking up Duke LeBlanc and disappearing. For now, at least, Duke LeBlanc’s life was saved.

When Kiruke disappeared, I said,

“Captain Cecil of the Holy Knights, this one is merely a lackey. Surely, there exists another heretic, far more formidable. Capturing that man should be our top priority.”

Cecil appeared taken aback.

“…A heretic even more powerful?”

“Yes, I would also appreciate your cooperation in capturing this heretic.”

As I tried to leave, Cecil grabbed my arm tightly. She peered intently at my face, obscured by the helmet.

Cecil said, “…Who are you? Your movements just now weren’t those of a mere mercenary. You seemed like a knight of the highest class…”

“No, I am merely…”

At that moment, Kano’s voice echoed in my mind.

“Hey! Don! We’ve managed to elude the Holy Knight, but now we find ourselves pursued by an exceedingly perilous heretic! What should we do?!”

I had a bad feeling about this. I quickly told Cecil, “Lady Cecil, I am but a humble errand runner for the LeBlanc household. Please don’t mind me. Now, I have other duties to attend to.”

I immediately left Jean LeBlanc’s bedroom. Around me, the skirmishes between the holy knights continued as usual.

The aim of this plot was probably to cause a major disturbance and, during the chaos, either abduct or kill a member of the LeBlanc family.

However, not even the three major dark guilds could make the holy knights turn their swords against the LeBlanc family. There must be a major player pulling the strings behind the scenes, but I have no clue who it could be.

Well, there’s no use in thinking about it now. The priority is to regroup with Kano and ensure the lady’s safety.

As I was leaving the mansion, I heard an unexpected voice.

“Mercenary there! Wait!”

I turned around to see Cecil. She ran up to me and said,

“I will go as well.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“The battle inside the mansion will conclude as planned in a few minutes, rest assured. From now on, please let me assist with your duties.”