Vol 2 Chapter 52 – Betrayal【Vol 2: The Hero of the Fairy Tribe】

Standing alone in the room, Dihel’s confidant, the Dark Elf Zegin, looked down out the window.

With cold eyes, he watched the backs of the World Knight and the mercenary as they left the mansion to retrieve the lord’s daughter, following his desperate plea.

Pulling his military cap low over his eyes, he took a clairvoyance crystal out from his breast pocket.

“…Eufaria-sama, Labilia has arrived just as planned.”

A voice immediately replied from the small crystal.

“…I see. Who is the other one?”

“The hero who protected the Beast Kingdom, Noir. He is an expert who repelled the artificial heroes the Imperial State successfully mass-produced, and even defeated Helmis.”

“…That person’s disciple… Then, will he listen to what Eufa has to say?”

“There is a possibility. However, I don’t know if that rumor is true. I’ve never heard of Allen-sama having another disciple. The fact that he is acting together with Labilia means he is trying to obstruct the goals of our Obsidian Cult.”

“…Yeah. The objective is to assassinate Labilia. 【Soul Recall】 said that at least one World Knight sacrifice is necessary to call back Allen’s soul. For souls, quality matters more than quantity. This will achieve our goal. Try to capture the other one alive if possible.”

“Understood. What should I do?”

“Stand by at Dihel’s side. Don’t let the Imperial Army intervene. I’ll send a few people over there to back up Hellrick.”

“Yes, ma’am. I will continue to do everything in my meager power for the sake of Allen-sama’s resurrection.”

Zegin answered with a serious expression, but for some reason, the response from the crystal ceased.

“Eufaria-sama…?”

“…If everything goes well and Allen is brought back to life. Do you think… Allen will hate Eufa?”

“…That is…”

The Obsidian Knight who let his comrades escape, remained alone in the Demon Lord’s Castle, and fought with all his might to bring the Demon Lord down with him.

If he learned that he was brought back to this world by sacrificing the lives of the comrades he had saved, what kind of feelings would he harbor toward Eufaria?

“Even so… Even so, Eufa wants that person to live… Everyone does, right?”

“…Of course.”

Zegin pocketed the crystal, which had lost its light after their final exchange, left his room, and made his way to his master.

When he opened the door, Dihel was pacing restlessly around his office.

“…Dihel-sama. Why don’t you rest for a bit?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Zegin. My daughter must be going through something awful. She has to be suffering. She must be waiting for my help. There’s no way I can sleep.”

“…Then you won’t be able to move when it counts.”

Zegin’s advice didn’t reach Dihel. Well, he already knew it wouldn’t.

Incidentally, it was Zegin who had told his daughter about the Obsidian Cult.

He had taken advantage of her kindness, guiding her to visit the Obsidian Cult’s base on her own.

“I’m still worried about just sending those two. Shouldn’t at least you or I have gone with them? I know how strong a World Knight is, but Hellrick definitely has no intention of fighting fair.”

“Even so, a World Knight will surely get it done. If, by some chance, you were to fall into the Obsidian Cult’s hands, Dihel-sama, I wouldn’t be able to rest in peace even if I died.”

“…You are always worrying about me, aren’t you.”

What lay there was the trust for a friend of twenty years.

Zegin possessed it as well. His heart ached at the fact that he was betraying him, but on the other hand, he was an Obsidian Cultist.

He had seen it only once.

Leaving the Empire, Imperial Army Major General Zegin had rushed to his homeland, the Fairy Kingdom, as reinforcements, and that was where he met Allen.

Fairy-Elves and Dark Elves possessed an arrogance as if to say they were a race chosen by the gods.

Zegin hated his own kind more than anything. That was why he had left the Fairy Kingdom to become a soldier of the neighboring Empire.

And yet, Allen had captured the hearts of those difficult fairies and opened up to them.

He had seen the fairy races try to kill the magical beasts with magic, catching Allen in the crossfire, claiming they didn’t need the help of a human.

When that foolish fairy was about to be killed by 【Oxram of the Tree Star】, one of the Eight Demon Generals of the Demon Lord’s Army, Allen had thrown himself in harm’s way to protect him.

He had even saved someone who had just tried to take his life. Could such a human really exist?

It was a shock.

Having seen that nobility up close, Zegin became an adherent of Allen.

Zegin’s family was in the Fairy Kingdom.

Allen had saved the fairy races. Therefore, he wanted to return the favor. He had to return the favor.

There were more than a few in the Empire who harbored such feelings.

The Obsidian Cult had sent believers all the way into the core of the Empire.

Beyond Allen’s expectations, their roots stretched deep, deep into the Empire.

Through informants, they were set up to spring a trap no matter when a World Knight arrived.