Dodriel cackled and kept stomping on Gauron’s head.
“…”
Gauron didn’t argue. He couldn’t argue. The truth of Dodriel’s words was irrelevant; the only fact that mattered was that the emperor had abandoned him.
Barel Ronelia had been like a god to him. Gauron had lost his will to live.
“His Majesty wants reform, change, innovation! The new era he’s building has no need for old relics like you! …Hey, are you listening? Oh, he’s already dead,” Dodriel said.
He took the bloody robe off Gauron’s corpse and put it on, humming happily to himself.
“Ah-ha… I guess that makes me one of the Four Imperial Knights!” Dodriel said. “This robe’s a little baggy, but whatever.”
He turned toward me.
“I’d love to stick around and play with you some more, Allen… But we’ve accomplished our goal here, which means it’s time to go.” Dodriel jumped high into the air and created a platform to land on. Shadow spots appeared all over the city behind him.
“You’re running again?!” I shouted.
“This isn’t running, dear. I’m setting the stage for our ultimate showdown. The time and place need to be perfect for our passionate fight to the death.” His tone was unusually serious. “Until next time… Make sure not to die before then, okay?”
Dodriel disappeared into the shadows.
“Next time, huh…?”
It sounded like the next time I crossed blades with him, we’d be fighting to the death.
But the current danger has passed. The dangerous spirit power present throughout the city had vanished in an instant. The Black Organization members had probably used Dodriel’s shadow spots to return to Ronelia.
“Whew…”
I breathed a sigh of relief and saw a large crowd of holy knights who’d been fighting to defend the city heading this way. They were visibly exhausted. A man who looked as eccentric as ever was efficiently giving them orders.
“Squad One, search for people in need of aid! Squad Two, focus on cleaning up rubble! Healing Squad, prioritize those who are in mortal danger! Make sure to stay alert! There could be foes still lurking in the city!”
“““Yes, sir!”””
The man was Clown Jester, head of the Aurest branch of the Holy Knights Association. He was in his usual clown outfit and makeup.
Clown glanced my way and gaped when he saw Raine.
“Hold the freakin’ phone, what are you doing above ground, Raine?! You can’t just leave your cell and waltz up here as if it’s your backyard, man!”
“My deepest apologies, Mr. Clown. It was an emergency,” Raine said. He patted Serena’s head and gave a deep bow.
Clown scratched his head, looking like he’d pieced together what had happened.
“Ahh… Someone attacked Serena, huh? Guess I can’t blame you for breaking out, then. I’ll overlook it this time.”
“Thank you very much.”
Raine bowed politely and was about to return to the dungeon when…
“““…”””
…a crowd of people wearing prisoner’s clothes emerged from below ground.
You can’t be serious…
Raine had broken out of prison by using his Soul Attire to open a huge hole in the ground leading to the surface. The impact had probably shattered the glass of the other cells, freeing all the prisoners.
“Umm… Mr. Clown…?” I said.
“Hmm… This is kind of a problem…,” replied Clown.
We watched the prisoners nervously. Then Raine clapped his hands.
“Sorry for worrying you all. I’m all right. Let’s all head back to our cells,” he said.
“““Yes, sir!””” the prisoners responded.
“I hope to see you again, Allen,” Raine said before leading the prisoners back underground.
“…He’s become the boss of that prison, hasn’t he?” I asked.
“So that’s why everyone’s been weirdly well-behaved lately…,” Clown said.
We both sighed with relief.
“Oh, right, Allen. If you have any spirit power left, would you be willing to help us?” Clown asked. “I would be grateful for your assistance…”
“Of course,” I replied.
As a swordsman of Liengard, I couldn’t deny a request for aid. Besides, Clown had done a lot to help me. I especially owed him for when he’d risked his life infiltrating enemy territory to help us when we’d gone to rescue Shii from the Holy Ronelian Empire.
I had gone to thank him the day after we returned, but Clown had insisted he had no idea what I was talking about. He probably couldn’t admit that he’d infiltrated the Holy Empire, given his position as the manager of the Aurest branch of the holy knights.
Anyway, this is my chance to repay that debt! I thought excitedly.
“Allen!” a familiar voice called out from above.
I looked up and was surprised to see Kemmi Fasta on a glider.
“Huh? Chairwoman Kemmi? What are you doing up there?” I asked.
“It’s an emergency! Please come to Liengard Palace right away!” she said.
I exchanged a look with Clown and bowed in apology.
“Sorry, it sounds like I need to go.”
“No need to apologize,” responded Clown. “The Holy Knights Association can handle relief in the city. You go do what only you can.”
“Thanks.”
I bent down and jumped high into the sky, landing on the glider.
“Excuse me for this, Chairwoman Kemmi.”
“Bwuh?”
I picked Kemmi up under my arm and grabbed the wheel.
“I’m gonna go kinda fast, so please be careful not to fall,” I told her.
“Huh? Actually, I’d really appreciate it if you could let me down he— EEEEEEEK!”
Channeling a huge amount of spirit power through the handle of the glider, I flew toward Liengard Palace at maximum speed.