Chapter 10

“To you outside the monitor, battling the thieves felt like an exciting action game.”

Smack, block, create distance or roll on the floor to dodge attacks.

There was no real tension.

Faced with a big dog swinging a great sword, or a monkey that calmly resurrects after being decapitated, or cheating with specs and patterns against the Charcoal King, the thugs felt like insignificant opponents.

Sure, it’s common for the seemingly weak adversary to be unexpectedly strong, so one couldn’t be completely careless.

However, your perspective in the thick of battle was a bit different.

There was a vast gap between clicking a few mouse buttons from behind the screen and actually swinging a sword in real life.

Your position, the enemy’s position, surrounding obstacles—all these variables meant the sword’s trajectory had to constantly adjust, and the shield was more than just a convenient barrier; it needed to accurately catch and deflect attacks.

Stepping inside the enemy’s legs to throw them off balance or using walls and furniture to restrict their swinging space were subtleties that could only be done on-site. Not because it was trivial, but because it was delicate enough that you couldn’t manipulate each action with a keyboard and mouse.

Moreover, unlike you outside the monitor, who habitually tried to dodge or block every enemy attack, the you on the battlefield knew it was often more efficient to just take small hits while fighting.

The immense combat experience etched into the body of the “Tin Knight” served as a skilled guide, showing you what was acceptable and what wasn’t.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you were two people. You were both the player and the player character.

Some might point out the contradiction, but it was what it was, and there wasn’t a way around it.

And instead of grappling with philosophical issues for no reason, you were the sort who preferred to fight more enemies during that time.

“L-l-l-save me—cough!”

The battle ended swiftly.

Rather than killing dozens of enemies one by one, you focused on chopping arms and legs, and the incapacitated thieves were quickly dispatched by your teammates following behind you.

“Die! Die! Because of you, our family…!”

Initially, the women, all hunched up with overwhelming eagerness, gradually grew more spirited, and even the men, who had been cautiously observing, joined in the fight.

Your effortless ability to slay dozens of thieves revealed the stakes—they knew if they didn’t fight properly, it could very well be their heads on the line later.

“What the hell are you?!**”

After most of the thieves occupying the tavern were swept away, the few remaining seemed to be in utter panic.

It was no surprise they’d feel extreme fear and confusion as their companions, whom they had just been drinking with, lay lifeless.

Of course, you didn’t need to accommodate that. If they didn’t want to be subjected to human trafficking, they shouldn’t have committed such heinous crimes.

You beat the remaining thieves into submission and signaled Roni.

At first, she seemed flustered, not understanding your intent, but once you gestured a few times, she nodded.

“Answer my question honestly. Where are the people kidnapped from the Friedel Territory?”

At Roni’s question, the thief rolled his eyes.

“Me? Kidnapped? You must be mistaken—”

His words didn’t finish.

You swung your sword and beheaded him.

Red blood and gray brains erupted, and everyone except you flinched and trembled.

The reaction of the surviving thieves, especially next to those witnessing their comrade being cleaved in two, was intense.

You pointed your sword at the next thief.

Roni spoke in a hesitant tone.

“Where are the people kidnapped from the Friedel Territory? Or even your boss’s location would suffice. If you know anything, spill it. Otherwise… well.”

She swallowed the end of her sentence, but what it entailed was clear.

To assist the thief’s understanding, you nodded your sword up and down.

The thief turned pale and replied,

“W-we don’t know how the boss disposes of the goods! The boss decides that! We barely get any info from him!”

That was not a satisfying answer.

You shifted your gaze to the remaining thief.

Based on his response, the thief’s tongue sped up.

“But we know where the deputy is! If it’s him, he would know where the boss is and how to deal with the slaves! So please!”

This answer was somewhat useful.

You nodded in agreement and stood up the surviving thieves.

Then, you patted them on the back.

“Ugh.”

One man, probably recalling his earlier beating, looked queasy with a massive bruise on his face.

Good news.

It meant your intent was conveyed clearly.

It’s easier to instruct someone to repeat what they’ve already done rather than giving completely new directions.

“So, knight. Are you planning to let them guide us right away?”

When you nodded, Roni’s gaze flickered between the darkening sky, the tavern in shambles (specifically the first floor), and your colleagues around.

You had a general idea of what she wanted to say.

Thus, you found yourself in a dilemma.

With no significant injuries and plenty of magical power from Dorothea still available, you felt entirely capable.

But more than that, you wanted to fight more.

Your hands were finally loosening up after swinging a real sword and shield, and you didn’t want to end the battle here.

However, that feeling stemmed from a lack of understanding of pain and fatigue, as well as not experiencing any threats to life.

For ordinary people, imposing your standards on them is exceedingly cruel. You didn’t turn a blind eye to that fact.

Of course, if you just thought of ‘fighting,’ you could simply rush in on your own without involving your party, but then who would translate your words?

It would also be the same for rescuing the ‘young lady’ and other slaves.

“Alright. Let’s hurry.”

Roni’s phrase pulled you from your thoughts.

“Given the flamboyance of our rampage, news will soon reach the Columbo gang, or rather, the thieves. Once they regroup and prepare for a fight, we will be at a disadvantage.”

You briefly thought, “Hmm? Then wouldn’t we benefit from sweeping them all at once?” but since you had no voice, you kept that to yourself.

Thanks to that, Roni’s image of you as an ‘avenger who spares no mercy for villains yet fights fiercely for innocent citizens’ remained intact.

Silence truly is a virtue.

“Before the thieves get ready, we’ll aim for a swift conclusion. If that’s the knight’s will, I will follow.”

It felt like a dream turned into reality, but you didn’t specifically deny Roni’s words.

After all, agreeing to follow with overflowing enthusiasm seemed sufficient.

“We’ve come this far, so we can’t go back now!”

“U-uh, we seem to have finished our duty, so it’s fine if we go now… No, it’s nothing.”

The women reignited their fighting spirit, and the men willingly swore to join this righteous journey.

The remaining thugs started leading the way out of desperation to survive, creating a bizarre group that grew larger the more they fought.

***

There are two types of villains.

Those who recognize they are wicked and those who don’t.

Vesparo, the deputy of the Columbo Thieves, belonged to the former group.

He knew that the deeds he committed were evil and recognized that he was deemed a villain by society.

“Hey, Ves. Smile a little! You’ve got riches, tasty drinks, and stunning beauties—why the long face?”

Unlike Columbo, who strutted around like he was the proudest person under the sky, Vesparo was always cautious and reserved.

He was a thief.

He was a villain.

His life had accrued countless grudges, and it was a life where being stabbed while walking could be accepted as retribution.

Thus, while his subordinates indulged in drinking, gambling, and women, Vesparo kept a glum expression, keenly aware of his surroundings.

The city of Albert, a haven for thieves, welcomed criminals as ‘customers’ while also being a dangerous place. Evil confronts good, but it’s more common for evil to be consumed by the evil around it than to be hunted down by the righteous.

Though the Columbo gang was notorious in the area, many bandits in the city were equally notorious or even more so.

Seeing the crew relax in such a place caused Vesparo to think it was as foolish as having a party in the wild woods without a single guard.

‘…Should I have gathered them all close by? I hope they’re sticking to the command to group up in at least tens, no matter what happens.’

In a room on the second floor of the inn rented under the gang’s name, Vesparo looked out the window at the city skyline and clicked his tongue.

He wanted to gather all the subordinates wandering around having fun and make them stay on alert, but he knew it wasn’t a realistic command.

Just because it’s an organization doesn’t mean subordinates will unquestioningly obey their superiors. Even in a military unit, known for rigid hierarchy, insubordination is common in extreme situations, let alone expecting blind loyalty and discipline from a mere band of thieves.

To skillfully handle a horde of beasts that don’t know gratitude or rules, a bit of meat needs to be thrown their way.

It would have been a different story if Columbo had the charisma to control his subordinates without any form of compensation. However, he was currently en route to the lord’s castle for an important transaction.

Until the leader returned, protecting the gang fell solely on Vesparo’s shoulders.

Vesparo prayed to the heavens.

“Please let nothing happen today.”

“D-D-deputy! Our men were ambushed! According to the surrounding guys, they were nearly wiped out…!”

“Damn it.”

With a fiery response from the heavens, Vesparo cursed.

After all, even if he were in heaven, witnessing a bandit praying would likely prompt him to think, “Has this guy lost his mind?” and ignore it.

“Where were they?”

“Black Pig Tavern!”

“With the size of that place, there must have been at least twenty people. Are you saying they all went down? Do we know who the enemy is?”

“One knight in full armor, five women, and four men!”

If the Tin Knight could hear this, he would likely be perplexed that thief-types had such a detailed structure.

This was the result of Vesparo constantly urging his subordinates to pull their weight.

Even for thieves, they needed a certain level of competence to loot a noble’s territory like this.

Vesparo paused for a moment in thought.

From the composition of the attackers, he deduced the identity of the enemy and soon issued commands.

“Bring all the men here immediately. And drag a few of the slaves from the basement to be ready at a moment’s notice as shields.”

At Vesparo’s orders, his subordinate appeared flustered and replied,

“Weren’t the slaves meant for the deal with the lord? If we dispose of them as we please…”

“The most important goods were taken by the boss, and the rest are just extras. Now do as you’re told!”

Vesparo tended to consider the worst-case scenario, being cautious and prudent.

Considering the ‘goods’ the Columbo gang was currently trying to trade, it was entirely plausible that external pursuers could come looking for them.

‘A fully armored knight, huh? Could it be that’s someone dispatched from the Lion Duke’s bloodline? And over half the ambushers were women, so some group we were supposed to meet in the city seems to have gone silent—could it be related? The Mark fellows might have sold us out. I need to gather the men and contact the boss as quickly as possible—’

Crash!

A sound of something crashing and breaking from below.

With an ominous feeling, Vesparo hurriedly opened the door and rushed down the stairs.

And what he saw was stunning.

“Cough!”

The smashed front door, the chaotic first floor, and his subordinates falling like straw to the sword.

All that chaos was caused by a knight drenched in blood.

The knight’s gaze turned towards Vesparo.

「──」

The moment those blue flames-like eyes fixed on him, Vesparo realized.

This was the end of his life as a villain.

The misfortune that would seal his fate had come for him.

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