Chapter 1: Riclang  

“Have you been doing drugs again, Master?”  

A woman with purple hair.  

She scans the room and herself, then naturally furrows her brows.  

“…Lina? No, Diana… Yes, it was Diana.” 

Diana.  

A slave from a marquis family whom he had coincidentally taken in when he burned down the slave market.  

“Hoo….”  

Riclang irritably swept back his red hair.  

His murky green eyes turn toward the window.  

The weather is… Tch, who cares about that.  

“What time is it now?”  

“It’s almost noon. How about stopping the drugs now?”  

Riclang’s brow twitched.  

Diana’s nagging was the same as usual.  

He kept her as his personal attendant because he liked her audacious side.  

But today, for some reason, it was hard to tolerate.  

An inexplicable irritation surged up.  

‘You worthless slave, what do you even know?’  

“…I couldn’t sleep.”  

Because of the empire’s betrayal, he had lost everything.  

His homeland, family, house, and perhaps even himself.  

That’s why he lived as the ‘Scourge of the Empire.’  

A long nightmare.  

An utterly tiresome nightmare that had continued since that day.  

His younger brother was dragged away by orcs, crying for mercy, and his mother hanged herself with eyes wide open, glaring.  

His father always poured out curses laced with thick hatred.  

An old, utterly tiresome dream.  

And damn it, it was always a horrific dream for him.  

He was the only one who survived.  

Guilt and regret choked him every night.  

That’s why he relied on such drugs to get through each day.  

“Still, depending on something like this….”  

“Quiet.”  

A long sigh followed.  

“…I’m sorry for overstepping.”  

“Alcohol.”  

Diana bows deeply and picks up the bottle she brought.  

She hesitates for a moment before handing it to her master.  

A brief pause.  

But Riclang didn’t notice.  

He just snatches the bottle irritably with trembling hands.  

Without hesitation, he pours it straight into his mouth.  

Honestly, he couldn’t taste it.  

Gulp, gulp-.  

‘…Wait.’  

‘When did I open the cap?’  

“Pfft! Cough!”  

Riclang, who had swallowed a sip, spat it out in shock.  

“…What is this? Why does it taste like this?”  

A faint drug haze makes him dizzy.  

Glancing over, Diana was biting her lip.  

Betrayal.  

Another damn betrayal.  

Riclang’s face hardens coldly.  

“Ha, ungrateful wretch.”  

“It’s just a simple sleeping pill. It definitely won’t kill you… Kyaa!”  

In an instant, he grabs her forearm.  

With his other hand, he covers her mouth.  

Pushing her against the wall with brute force, Diana couldn’t even let out a scream.  

“You damn bitch, I was too lenient! There’s already someone outside, isn’t there!?”  

Even though he was drugged, he hadn’t noticed until now.  

That proves they’re quite skilled. Who the hell is it?

The empire’s emperor? The holy church?  

Or perhaps the marquis family after all.  

There are plenty who want him gone.  

First, deal with this traitorous bitch.  

Yes, snap her neck in one go.  

The moment he thought that, Diana was crying.  

With her eyes tightly shut.  

…Crying? From pain?  

No, that’s not it? What is it?  

His brain spins furiously.  

Then, a memory suddenly surfaces.  

The story she once told him about her younger brother.  

Like her, an illegitimate child, but as a male, he was left in the marquis family unlike her.  

Her only remaining blood relative, her precious brother.  

“…Your brother?”  

Her eyelids lift again.  

Her pupils were shaking violently.  

“Was your brother taken hostage? Is that it?”  

“They said they’d spare the child… I’m sorry. Sob, sorry….”  

She betrayed me to save her captured brother?  

You stupid bitch.  

Anger boiled to the top of his head, but strangely, his grip didn’t tighten further.  

…Sympathy?  

Ha, who is sympathizing with whom?  

“Damn it, get out right n-.”  

The moment he releases her irritably with shaking hands -.  

Boom-!  

With a loud crash, the door bursts open.  

“Boss, attack…! Urk!”  

A sword blade protrudes from the chest of a familiar subordinate.  

And behind him, white armor with a green tree symbol on the chest.  

Damn, of all things, the Holy Knights.  

The worst of the worst.  

“Riclang is here!”  

“Enter! Enter now!”  

Riclang immediately grabs the sword leaning against the table.  

“Damn it.”  

And without hesitation, he leaps toward the window.  

Watching this, Diana sobs weakly.  

Called a scourge, but not truly evil.  

At least, that’s the man named Riclang in her mind.  

…But she had no choice.  

“I’m sorry, Master. Really sorry….”  

Endless tears soak the floor.  

***  

…Ha, was I too high?  

Outside was already surrounded on all sides.  

“Huff…, huff….”  

He had fought for a while without proper armament.  

As mercenary corpses piled up one by one, and Riclang became covered in blood.  

One of the knights who had been standing aside approached.  

“Impressive.”  

Blond hair peeking from under the hood.  

A man about as tall and handsome as himself.  

Could it be?  

“A guy who can’t even handle mana properly took over the empire’s underworld, huh? Makes sense. They weren’t cheap mercenaries.”  

Riclang catches his breath while eyeing the opponent carefully.  

“What brings the holy knights of the church to this filthy place? This is the underworld where only money is trusted.”  

“Insolent fool!”  

“How dare you!”  

The other holy knights around the blond shout.  

From their reaction, the blond is a superior, and a high one at that.  

This confirms it.  

“Ha, the anointed one of the church. What an honor? Didn’t expect to see the Goddess’s First Sword here.”  

“You’re quite famous too, aren’t you? The Scourge of the Empire, Riclang.”  

Even while speaking, he scans the surroundings constantly.  

….Damn, there are so many.  

And his blood energy isn’t gathering properly since earlier.  

They must have done something.  

“Enough introductions, can you come back later for religious solicitation? I’m a bit tired right now.”  

“Oh, you must always listen to the Goddess’s words. Even if it’s right before death.”  

The sly tone grates on him.  

…Treating me like a caught mouse?  

Dare to?  

Riclang’s brow furrows.  

“Get to the point.”  

“Blackmail, extortion, murder, smuggling, imprisonment… Quite a list. Surrender quietly.”  

“Bullshit, if I was going to get caught for that, it would’ve happened long ago. You know how much money I’ve spread around.”  

“Well, if I must say… You’ve earned a lot of hatred from His Majesty the Emperor.”  

Damn, this is properly screwed.  

An inquisition ordered by the empire’s emperor?  

This is a real headache.  

“Since when did the church become the emperor’s lackey?”  

“Let’s call it a cooperative relationship.”  

“…Ha, I get the picture.”  

The current emperor can’t recklessly eliminate him.  

That’s why he’s been bribing so many people.  

But if it’s the empire’s church, it’s different.  

Who would stop an inquisition supported by the emperor?  

“So, surrender? Why, to make me repent?”  

“Not impossible. The church’s arms are always open. Even to a scourge like you.”  

“Bullshit. Pulling out nails and toenails, searing eyes—that’s what you call repentance these days?”  

“It’s purification. Don’t worry, you won’t die. Our church’s priests are excellent.”  

Crazy bastards.  

He mutters that and flips the middle finger.  

“Hm, regrettable.”  

With a quiet gesture, three surrounding holy knights approach at once.  

…This is bad.  

“Hey, where’s the knight’s honor? Really going to do this to an unarmed civilian?”  

“Kill him!”  

One from the front, two from the sides.  

Already different from the clumsy mercenaries.  

Riclang, watching, charges straight ahead instead.  

The opponents are the ones caught off guard.  

“Urk!”  

Instead of the knight’s sword embedding in his shoulder, he thrusts his own into the guy’s throat.  

No, it just grazed. Too shallow.  

Tch, if it’s not instant death, it’s meaningless.  

He immediately rolls on the ground.  

“You rat!”  

One knight catches up instantly and swings down.  

He barely dodges, but another’s kick shakes his head.  

“Urk!”  

Holding onto consciousness, he quickly grabs the extended foot and pulls, toppling him.  

Then, grabbing a rock, he smashes the guy’s helmet with all his might.  

Clang-!  

“Urgh!”  

After a couple repeats, the struggling body goes limp.  

Now, just one left—  

Slash-!  

A chilling sensation from behind makes him roll immediately.  

But he’s already cut.  

A stinging pain rises from his arm.  

“..Hoo.”  

As he stands again, he staggers. Dizzy.  

Damn, his condition is the worst.  

“Stop.”  

At the low voice, the charging figures halt abruptly.  

Riclang doesn’t miss the moment.  

He quickly reaches into a blood puddle by a nearby mercenary corpse.  

Trying to activate blood magic, but it doesn’t work.  

“Blood sorcery, I see? Unfortunate, but it’s futile. For a while, only holy power will activate in this area.”  

As expected.  

A church relic? Or that monster knight’s ability?  

Three church knights charged, and two are down…. Should I admire or lament?  

Anyway.  

He flips back his hood, and the blond holy knight approaches.  

Riclang senses it from the leaking pressure alone.  

I’m going to die.  

His whole body signals warning.  

“Huff, huff…. Hey, aren’t I too small fry for you to step in?”  

“You? You’re being too modest. If you handled sorcery or mana, you’d be far more dangerous.”  

“Sudden surge of faith here, can’t you let me off?”  

“Recruitment closed today.”  

This blond knight is on a different level.  

‘Sword Master.’ A superhuman who has stepped beyond human limits.  

Plus, overwhelming holy power befitting a church hero.  

A monster that even other sword masters in the empire yield to.  

Dangerous. Truly dangerous.  

I need to find a way….  

“Just one question.”  

Riclang’s eyes dart around.  

What he needs is time.  

“Obvious ploy, but… ask.”  

“What happens to Diana? She betrayed me, so do you guys give her a reward or something?”  

“…Diana? Who’s that?”  

A reaction like he doesn’t even know who she is.  

Seeing that, Riclang is certain: she was used too.  

“Ha, pathetic.”  

Yes, this damn world is always like that.  

The weak are always robbed.  

“But you know, you’ve done quite a few good deeds? Freeing slaves, sponsoring orphans—quite unexpected. Not very scourge-like.”  

“So, extra points?”  

“You harmed the Goddess’s knights, so purification is impossible now. Regrettable, but repent in death.”  

Death, death huh.  

Riclang doesn’t feel much resistance.  

The day he lost his family and homeland, most of him died anyway.  

What’s left is just some remnant living on vengeance.  

And now, fear death?  

Eh.  

“Ha! Want to kill me? Then come on!”  

He charges in an instant, his swung sword grazing the knight.  

He expected the dodge anyway.  

Riclang immediately throws the rock in his other hand.  

Aiming for the head.  

Clang-!  

But it’s blocked by the flat of the sword.  

As Riclang tries to swing again, a flash streaks by.  

“Aaaargh!”  

His right arm is severed.  

From hand to elbow, still gripping the sword.  

He reflexively punches, but it’s blocked by a palm.  

Thud!  

A kick to the abdomen sends Riclang flying.  

“Your bones and muscles are unusually tough. Is this sorcery too? Feels like cutting a troll.”  

…Cough, that’s a nice compliment, thanks.  

“You’re welcome.”  

Riclang’s brow narrows.  

That leisurely attitude has been pissing him off.  

“You damn bastard!”  

He charges.  

Just surrendering to rage.  

A blood-soaked madman rushes at the white armor.  

“Hm, this is disappointing. Or did you last long?”  

He dodges lightly and stabs the madman’s back.  

It pierces, but tough as expected.  

“Urgh…..”  

The red form collapses to the ground.  

It twitches a few times, then stills.  

Like a dark red worm.  

“A waste of talent. If you’d walked the Goddess’s path properly. Latum (praise)—Nikerba. As the Goddess wills.”  

“…Gurgle. H-hey.”  

The fading life utters.  

The noble knight is used to this.  

“I’ll hear your last words.”  

“…F…uck… you.”  

Too faint a mumble, so he leans in.  

“What did you say?”  

“…Go fuck yourself, you bastard.”  

“Quite the mouth on you.”  

Consciousness… flickering… damn.  

“Heh, fair enough.”  

A strained chuckle.  

The knight remains expressionless.  

“Your real name is ‘Ron Glenn Repent,’ right? Actually from a fairly renowned family in the north.”  

Ron Glenn Lepent. The Repent Duchy, Lepent family.  

A name so nostalgic.  

And a vicious scar at the same time.  

How the hell did he find that out?  

“You do background checks too?”  

“It’s a hobby.”  

Crazy bastard.  

He mutters that and chuckles strainedly again.  

“You know? Northern mountain wine is best ice-cold. Ha, now I can drink to my heart’s content.”  

“I suppose so.”  

The ramblings of the dying.  

The listener just nods.  

“Gurgle. Cough… Damn, again….”  

Blood phlegm rises, blocking his throat.  

Death begins.  

“…Hoo.”  

The knight thinks death is equal for all.  

Scourge or saint, who doesn’t have a wretched life? Each has their circumstances and reasons.  

That’s all.  

So he just listens quietly.  

He can do at least that for this scourge.  

“M…om….”  

A beloved face suddenly appears.  

Come to greet him?  

The knight looks into Riclang’s eyes and places the fallen red pendant in his hand.  

“O Goddess, Lord of Life. Guide us in life and in the moment of death. I entrust this lamb embarking on a long journey to you. Please lightly punish worldly sins and grant grace so he doesn’t lose his way. Almighty Mother, clothe this poor soul in fine garments, and grant him warm wine. Thus…”  

Riclang’s light begins to fade.  

The Scourge of the Empire is finally being cured.  

The prayer continues.  

A foul-smelling street.  

Unusually, it was a sunny day.  

***  

Consciousness fades.  

“…clothe this poor soul in fine garments, and grant him warm wine. Thus…”  

The hero reciting a prayer?  

Ha, how flattering.  

The dying candle leaves a trace of regret.  

A life without regrets?  

No, a life full of regrets.  

Riclang lived a bastard’s life.  

Now and in the past.  

Arrogant, indulgent, truly foolish.  

Blinded by jealousy, he couldn’t see his loved ones, and lost everything.  

Then burned the rest of his life in vengeance.  

Regret is always late, hence regret.  

What meaning now?  

Finally, complete silence arrives.  

…Yes, time to rest.  

I’ve done enough.  

***  

“…nim!”  

“…woke up!”  

…Huh? What’s this sound?  

“Young Master!”  

“Brother, are you conscious!”  

With the nostalgic voice, bright light pours in.  

As if awakening him.  

Riclang.  

No, Ron Glenn Lepent –  

Opens his eyes from a long sleep.