Chapter 53: The Knight of Sloth

The final week of the Special Task Force’s two-week training came to an end.

I applauded the members sprawled around me, all of them looking utterly worn out.

“Congratulations. I mean it. You’ve all finally become proper members of the Special Task Force.”

Murfin gritted his teeth and shouted.

“Become members, my ass… Are you saying we weren’t members until now?”

“To be honest, you really weren’t skilled enough to call yourselves that before.”

“…Damn it.”

Most of the Special Task Force, battered and exhausted, twitched as if suffering from aches all over.

Well, after spending a week being tricked by traps and staying up all night against me, and then fighting me for five days straight, of course they’d be worn out.

‘And… I’m not much different, am I?’

Even if it was just teaching these brats, fighting for five days in a row…

I may be the Hero who defeated the Demon King, but this kind of thing is bound to pile up both physical and mental fatigue.

“Rest well for the remaining two days. Then we head back.”

There were 15 days left until Count Georg’s inspection.

I had to make sure the members were prepared by then.

‘Mercenary Band Wolfhound.’

Ricky of the Blood Claw.

Dealing with him wasn’t difficult for me, but for the others, just standing face to face with such an opponent would be enough to drain their willpower.

I closed my eyes, quietly picturing the way I’d conduct the upcoming inspection.

Since I was just as exhausted from training the team, I let myself drift off to sleep for a moment.

After finishing the Special Task Force’s training without issue and returning to the unit, I was immediately summoned to the Royal Family.

“We failed to reclaim the Sacred Land.”

But I wasn’t the only one summoned—other Nobles were all here as well.

A bombshell of a statement swept through the court, and then one Noble spoke up.

“How many of the troops we sent… are still alive?”

“Only about forty percent of the forces sent by the Kingdom of Lumin have survived. From what our Spies say, our losses are actually the lowest.”

“…”

A heavy silence descended.

“Therefore, I intend to take extraordinary measures.”

“…Extraordinary measures, Your Majesty?”

Deaurus turned his gaze toward me.

“The Special Task Force Captain, step forward.”

Though I was called out suddenly, I moved forward without a hint of surprise.

All eyes from the Nobles were on me.

“From this moment, the Special Task Force will individually participate in the operation to reclaim the Sacred Land, assess the situation, and if anything is wrong, resolve it. The authority to decide the scope and method of resolution, as well as how to proceed, is entirely delegated to the Special Task Force Captain.”

Not an inspection, but an order for individual participation in the Sacred Land operation.

I instantly caught on to what this truly meant and bowed my head.

“I accept your command.”

Deaurus then addressed the gathering.

“The inspection authority held by the Special Task Force will continue to apply to citizens of the Kingdom of Lumin even outside the kingdom. However, since the Special Task Force will be away for a while, I will personally conduct the inspections within the kingdom. Other Nobles, do not be too alarmed if I show up unannounced in your territory.”

With my head bowed, I had to bite down to keep from laughing.

This guy—so this is what he was aiming for from the start?

As the atmosphere grew colder, Deaurus asked,

“Why is no one answering?”

“I accept your command! Your Majesty!”

“Good. I like a lively answer. Looks like I won’t have to test your loyalty again, thankfully.”

I could feel a few Nobles shivering, as if a chill had run down their spines.

Well, after all, it wasn’t long ago that a Demon appeared and a Noble lost his head right here in the court.

If they didn’t want to end up the same way, it would be best for their own safety to just keep their mouths shut.

“Now that the introduction is over, shall we get to the main topic?”

The problem was, Deaurus’s real business was only just beginning.

“Let’s discuss whether we should provide further support for reclaiming the Sacred Land, or end it here. Also, the number of Demons rampaging within the kingdom is increasing, but I’ve never once received a report on how each territory is responding to this.”

Deaurus’s gaze turned icy as he glared at the Nobles.

It was clear he had come prepared for this.

“I want to hear, in detail, just how loyal you all truly are to the Royal Family.”

A meeting that was called a discussion but really felt like a confessional dragged on for a full six hours.

“So, it means there are Nobles out there deserving a taste of Chidogon, even if it’s not related to Demons.”

“What’s Chidogon?”

“It’s a thing. My old comrade used to use it when torturing Demons. Apparently, Puppet Workshop craftsmen from the Prasion Kingdom use that word.”

“Hmph.”

After the long six-hour meeting ended, I had a private audience with Deaurus.

It was at his request, but I also needed to clarify the true meaning behind the orders given to the Special Task Force, so I had no reason to refuse.

“By the way, it seems you have questions about the orders I gave?”

“That’s right. In fact, it’s more of a certainty than a question, but I still have to confirm things that aren’t set in stone.”

“…Now that you say it, I’m curious myself. What do you want to ask?”

Calmly closing my eyes, I asked Deaurus,

“Besides Count Georg, is there someone else I’m supposed to inspect there?”

“…Huh.”

Deaurus looked like he’d just been caught out.

“How did you know? That’s actually the reason I asked for this meeting.”

“Mercenary Band Wolfhound is a force specialized in direct warfare. The battlefield itself is their stage. If Count Georg really is connected to the Demon Race, there’s no way those mercenaries would fail to protect him.”

Yet, Deaurus had moved to bring forward the inspection date I’d set as the Special Task Force Captain.

That could only mean there was a reason—and what was it?

“The failed reclamation of the Sacred Land. The sudden deployment of the Special Task Force. And even keeping the inspection authority in effect outside the kingdom. There has to be a reason.”

In other words, if the person I’m meant to inspect at the Sacred Land isn’t just Count Georg…

“That’s the only conclusion left.”

“…Correct.”

Deaurus let out a quiet sigh.

“Your insight is impressive. Are you really only in your mid-teens?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever told you my age.”

“…Right. You haven’t.”

Seeing Deaurus so easily convinced, I asked,

“So, who else am I supposed to inspect?”

“There are two.”

“…Not just one, but two?”

“Yes.”

Deaurus spoke in a calm tone.

“Are you familiar with the Black Knight and the Knight of Sloth?”

“Of course. Like Jerni Houston of the Order of Honor Knights, they’re part of the Three Knights of the Kingdom… Wait a minute.”

I looked straight at Deaurus, wondering if I was thinking of the same thing.

“Is it really what I’m thinking?”

“It is.”

“…That’s quite a drastic move. Did you have a change of heart?”

“I did. I’ve found it harder and harder to trust our own Nobles. And…”

“And your closest aides are included in that group of Nobles?”

“Yes.”

Deaurus sighed and poured himself some tea, the fragrant scent spreading through the air.

“Astonishing. I never thought you’d put your closest aides among those to be inspected.”

With Jerni Houston, it had just so happened that she was inspected at the time, but with these two, things were different from the start.

“I thought a lot about it.”

Deaurus frowned, as if recalling a distant memory.

“I think it all started… the day you and I first met.”

“…You mean when we crossed swords in the Core Room beneath the Royal Family?”

Thinking back, that was already several months ago.

Time really does fly.

“The Chimera Research Facility in the Royal Family’s underground, the other passage that connected to the Core Room… The fact I didn’t even know about its construction until then… With all those things tangled together, my suspicions only grew wider and deeper.”

Paranoid suspicion… You could call it that, but at this point, who could blame him?

Honestly… I’d been thinking the same as Deaurus, too.

“At least, thankfully, Jerni Houston had nothing to do with the Demon Race. At least I know for certain that one person is on humanity’s side, so I can be relieved.”

“On humanity’s side… So you don’t consider her one of your own?”

“As you know, humanity isn’t some noble race. We just respect each other and observe boundaries.”

“And when some don’t keep those boundaries, they fall for the Demon Race’s nonsense and betray us.”

“The problem is, those same people dress themselves up as if they’re keeping the boundaries.”

“Exactly. That’s the most infuriating part.”

If I could just cut everyone with the Holy Sword and take out whoever bled black blood, that would be perfect.

But reality wasn’t so simple.

“That’s why, when I thought about who could hide things from the Royal Family and conduct massive projects in secret, only those two came to mind.”

That’s probably why, after so much deliberation, the king is only now making progress.

Loosening my neck muscles, I asked,

“I get the part about the Black Knight. He’s famous, so I know a fair bit about him.”

A knight of overwhelming presence, the strongest among the Three Knights of the Kingdom besides the Sword Master King.

It’s common knowledge that he aims to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Sword Master King, so there’s nothing more to say.

“The problem is the Knight of Sloth. I have no idea who he really is.”

The Knight of Sloth.

This infamous knight was shrouded in rumors, but nobody seemed to know what he was actually up to.

I knew the King personally kept him close in the Royal Family, but he always operated from the shadows and never appeared openly.

So all I knew were rumors—his true identity was a mystery.

Deaurus answered,

“That’s to be expected. He rarely reveals himself. In fact, the nickname ‘Knight of Sloth’ didn’t come from the people, but from Jerni herself.”

“…Huh.”

She gave such a title to a knight she claimed far surpassed her own skill?

And she’s the one who’s actually an Honor Knight?

What could that possibly mean?

As I pondered, someone approached the office door.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Your Majesty. It’s the Administrator. I’ve come as summoned… may I enter?”

“Come in.”

The door opened and the Administrator entered.

He was a man with striking blue hair and tired-looking green eyes.

Despite that, his calm demeanor showed the confidence and pride of a true professional.

“Administrator. You’ll need to take a break from Royal Family duties for a while.”

At those words, his pupils shook with surprise.

“Your Majesty, what do you mean?”

“It means you have something else to do. Something even more urgent than managing royal affairs.”

The King’s gaze turned to me.

“And it’s important enough that you’ll be working alongside the Special Task Force Captain.”

“…”

“You two are already acquainted, aren’t you? You were together at the execution of the Captain of the First Knights’ Order.”

“That’s right.”

“Yes.”

As the Administrator and I exchanged glances, Deaurus spoke.

“Administrator… no, Sir Vincent Mirhart. You’ll be joining the Special Task Force for the operation to reclaim the Sacred Land. Work together with them on Count Georg and the Black Knight.”

“As a knight… you mean?”

“Yes.”

The Sword Master’s eyes seemed to pierce right through Vincent.

“You’ve spent so long with paperwork—don’t you want to feel the weight of a real sword again?”

Vincent showed a clear expression of displeasure.

“I’d much rather stick to paperwork. Isn’t there any way out of this?”

Deaurus bared his teeth in a savage grin.

“Denied.”

“…Haa.”

Seeing Vincent’s posture and expression, I understood immediately.

‘This guy… is the Knight of Sloth.’

The fact that he was so openly reluctant to wield a sword—even in front of the Sword Master King himself—was proof enough.