Chapter 11 - Bowing and Scraping

During my time with Fabian’s expedition corps, I had rarely received acknowledgement for my efforts, even when the results were positive because of me. I had joined the corps at a time when they were still incomplete and well in the midst of leveling up. Since everyone was going through a period of growth, they had mistakenly believed that whatever good achievements they obtained was due to their own efforts… when in fact it had been my support that had made it far easier for them. At the time, I had accepted things as they were, still under the illusion that all I needed was Fabian’s appreciation. I would be through with the others once the second playthrough began…

 Who would’ve thought he’d toss me aside like this? This was why people shouldn’t be trusted too much.

Normally, I wouldn’t have trusted Fabian so much. Because I had played the game from his perspective, I had thought I knew him well. Looking back now, I couldn’t help but sigh at my stupidity. This time, however, would be better. I wouldn’t consider this a game anymore and would avoid hastily judging with the things I knew. 

I planned to make Mayer Knox and the Dark Knights the strongest of them all because of the hurt I felt, just so Fabian would be unable to catch up in the end. I wanted to wait and see how well he did without me this time around.

Every year, a performance report meeting would take place in the imperial palace and all the expedition corps would gather. Since the meeting for this year had just ended, there was one year to go.

The mere thought of Fabian’s face twisting into a grimace when we met a year from now was enough to make my lips twitch upwards. I was being spiteful, yes, but so what? I wasn’t a Champion or anything so there was nothing wrong with me feeling a trifling bit of triumph. Considering the betrayal I had suffered, to end it at that was already polite enough of me.

Even if the time came that Fabian clung to me, I wouldn’t have the slightest inclination of going back. As if he wouldn’t abandon me twice over. Besides, a woman had to have loyalty. My thoughts might have been different had I told Mayer that I didn’t feel right going with him, but since I chose to join his corps, doing the moral thing was the way to go.

The moment I admitted to myself that I belonged to the Dark Knights, not the Champion’s corps anymore, a party member window appeared for me. My eyes filled with determination as I checked the list of all Dark Knights, which only I could see.

* * *

Axion took me for a tour around the camp, giving a simple explanation about the Dark Knights. Then, looking like he had just realized something, he asked, “Now that I think of it, your parents must be worried to tears about you. Since you joined us, you’ll have to live in Nochtentoria, so how about taking a trip back home?”

“Ah… My parents…” I trailed off, tone aversive. I couldn’t stop myself from grimacing—it was awful just thinking about Jun’s parents. Perhaps my feelings toward them could be explained by them being the first evil I had encountered upon waking in this world.

At that moment, there was a loud noise from far away; it was a crowd of villagers that had belatedly received news of the dungeon being closed. 

“The dungeon really is closed…!” 

“We’ve finally saved!” Someone cheered. 

“To think they’d manage to close it so quickly… As expected of the strongest corps, the Dark Knights!”

The villagers began to sing praises to the Dark Knights. I felt like they had some other motive and I wondered… Was I twisted inside for thinking that their lauding didn’t seem derived from pure gratitude? 

Moments later, the village chief showed up, pushing through the crowd. He bowed his crooked back to Mayer and said, “Thank you for saving our village! Although it’s not much, we have prepared a festival to express our gratitude so I hope you will partake in it with us.”

The way the old man bent low, his face almost reaching the ground, stirred sympathy… However, I knew the kind of person he was on the inside so he only seemed detestable to me.

“Jun. As the only mage in the village, you have a duty to fulfill. I want you to hold on in there so the gate doesn’t open until the expedition corps arrives,” he had said back when the dungeon opened. This man had talked about duty and whatnot when he had always looked down on me for being a useless support mage. And so, the villagers had insisted that I go inside the dungeon—ultimately forcing me inside—despite knowing there was nothing I could do in there.

Putting aside my disgust, the village chief was being so pitifully cautious around the captain that he almost seemed… slavish. Though of course, the latter didn’t care about that and curtly rejected the village chief’s offer. “I have no time for a feast; we will depart immediately.”

The village chief didn’t give up. “But still, if you could take our sincerity into consideration…!” Exclaiming so, he prostrated himself before Mayer. For him to be putting in so much effort to have the Dark Knights join their festival, there had to be something he was after—and sure enough, all the young folks with passable looks that lived in the countryside village were gathering around.