Chapter 25: Treya, the Captive Knightess

“Yes, that’s right. Emperor Ivan Achinov. The potbellied one you remember, Captain. Heh, heh.”

Treya covered her mouth as she laughed.

Wow.

I couldn’t believe what I had just seen.

That kid was the emperor dripping with scum.

No explanation was needed about the emperor.

He was just a bastard—what explanation could there be?

Still, if I had to explain…

It all began when some demon was summoned.

That demon whispered immortality—that was the trigger.

‘Who was it again?’

The Alchemist of Wrought Iron?

If the alchemist hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have understood either.

Why my hometown had to be destroyed.

Why we had to massacre the barbarian village based on rumors alone.

Only after hearing the alchemist’s words did I understand.

We were all sacrifices to create a “giant magic circle.”

When we realized that, the knights were slaughtered, and as Treya and many others fell, the gate was connected.

Terrible demons crossed over into our world.

And the emperor who was deceived by the demons?

He willingly played the lackey to survive.

He sold out the people and pursued his futile ambitions.

I think I killed him about seven years ago.

Around then, at least.

Even when I met Diablo, my once calm heart began to violently shake.

“Captain? Captain.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve called you several times. Please calm down. Personal revenge is forbidden in Valhalla. No matter how many times you kill, they just resurrect again.”

“Ah, right?”

“Besides, it’s already over. Captain, you’ve finished your revenge. It’s all done.”

“Phew… Sorry. I got a little excited.”

I ran my hand through my hair and muttered.

‘Was my expression really that dark?’

Well.

It was understandable.

I still hated the emperor.

I exhaled and calmed my mind.

“Another cup?”

Treya asked, holding the kettle.

“Yeah. Please. Was I ugly?”

“Heh heh. Not at all. I’ve been worse.”

“Really? How did you hold back then?”

“I didn’t. When I first met the emperor, I crushed his lower body, and after he recovered, I crushed it again. By the time I came to my senses, a Valkyrie had intervened. She warned me to be careful.”

“Oh, that’s brutal.”

I laughed as I accepted the tea.

Well.

Treya probably had a lot bottled up too.

Everyone here seemed to have a grudge against the emperor.

“But…Didn’t you say he’s the channel master? It sounded like he’s the owner of the channel. Did everyone forgive him? It felt like a welcoming atmosphere.”

“Huh? Well, isn’t this a world where even demons get along? Being the channel master isn’t anything special. He just happens to be the strongest there, so he became the representative. We didn’t choose him ourselves.”

“The strongest? The emperor?”

“Heh heh. It’s surprising, isn’t it? But you saw his appearance, right?”

“That look just now? Well, if you’re a pervert, you do it your way…”

“That appearance worked. It gained users’ favor, which brought in lots of support and investment. I… couldn’t understand it, though.”

Treya shook her head with a smile.

That look worked? Gained users’ favor?

I suppressed a flood of thoughts and asked briefly.

“Because he’s cute… right? He looks cute on the outside.”

“That’s not wrong. The emperor changed himself according to his tastes, but among users, it was popular. Being popular meant more chances to go on expeditions, and going on expeditions often means leveling up. I heard many heroes even copied the emperor.”

“Seriously, copying that? This world is really beyond me.”

I muttered as I drank my tea.

Then something strange occurred to me.

That guy…

‘Wasn’t he said to be stronger than Diablo?’

No way, I thought, and continued.

“Could that guy be 5-star? El Diablo is 4-star, but that guy’s 5-star?”

“Huh? Yes, that’s right. The emperor’s current rank is 5-star. His title is Arcturus the Ferocious Emperor. As I mentioned, the other Arcturuses are just imitators. He’s the original of all Arcturuses.”

“Whoa! He’s 5-star?!”

I pinched my forehead and sighed.

To think I’d see a world where the emperor is strong.

Thinking about it, it was all my fault.

Because I killed him and sent him to Valhalla.

“Right, Treya?”

“Yes. More tea?”

“No, I have a question. Your class. Are you also a Wandering Swordsman? It seems all knights are Wandering Swordsmen. Just curious.”

I looked at Treya.

Of course, I doubted it.

All subordinates ‘connected’ to the Wandering Swordsman were male.

If appearance was the standard, Treya might be different.

“It’s not that I’m proud… but I’m 4-star. It’s nothing special.”

“4-star! That’s you for sure! You’ve been like that from the start?”

“No, heh heh. Not many are 4-star from the beginning. I was 2-star at first. My title was ‘The Captive Knightess.’”

Treya answered with a sly smile.

‘Captive knightess?’

The chilling phrase sent a cold sweat down my back.

“You were captured? You were a captive?”

“No. Don’t be surprised. Why are you so shocked?”

“I wonder what kind of treatment you’d get if caught by the emperor…!”

“Heh heh. Calm down. I wasn’t truly a captive. It’s just that my last form was so miserable that the name stuck. Class is decided by a hero’s appearance and traits. Please calm down, heh heh.”

Treya smiled.

Oh…

My cold sweat was justified.

The atrocities committed by the imperial guard included mistreating captives.

I had jumped to conclusions.

“And thanks to that name, it satisfied users’ needs! That’s how I got to 4-star!”

“Needs?”

“Needs! Aggro! Interest! Simple, right?”

Just then, Diablo, finished with the settlement, approached.

I didn’t know what he was talking about as he suddenly barged in.

“Oh, having tea? Can I join?”

“Suit yourself.”

“I’ll drink!”

“I liked the tea he poured. Once you try it, there’s no escape. Okay, great!”

Diablo sat down with Treya’s permission.

It felt a bit out of place.

He smiled awkwardly and continued.

“What was that about? Needs? You mean Treya’s title drew aggro? Just from the name?”

I asked Diablo.

“That is…”

Treya tried to answer, but

“Oh, that? You saw the channel master just now, right? There’s a gap in the name, but it worked well. ‘The Captive Knightess’… erotic? That concept stirred up the interest. That’s why it pulled aggro big time.”

“E-erotic! That’s an outrageous claim!”

“Calm down. From the users’ perspective. Why would I feel erotic toward you?”

“That’s an unpleasant word. Watch it.”

“Yes, yes. Agreed.”

Diablo cut in with a smirk.

‘So the concept is decided just by a word?’

I nodded vaguely in understanding.

“In any case, many users liked the words ‘captive’ and ‘knightess.’ So what were we talking about? How did we get here?”

“We were talking about classes. Anyway, my class is 4-star — White Swiftblade Knightess. Does that answer your question?”

“I’m Diablo of the Crimson Flame! Also 4-star!”

“Didn’t you just see your class?”

“Oh, right? Hehe.”

Diablo and Treya spoke together.

But knightess?

That was an unexpected title.

“What about your subordinate?”

“Yes? Please ask. I’ll explain anything.”

“Hah. Thanks. So, weren’t you the one who disliked the knightess title constantly following you? You said before you’d rather just be a knight.”

“Huh? That’s…”

Treya looked flustered at my words.

“Hah! That works even better! When performance is similar, the handsome and pretty ones get more popularity. One word, one appearance — it’s all aggro. Our subordinate probably surrendered to capitalism, right? Gotta make a living.”

“Don’t say surrendered. It’s not surrender.”

“See! Even you’re sensitive to one word! Users are the same, you know. Haha!”

Diablo chuckled.

“Tch.”

Treya didn’t really argue back.

So the difference between the words ‘knight’ and ‘knightess’…

‘Means different needs?’

Well.

It wasn’t something I couldn’t understand.

The emperor had formed his personal guard entirely of young women.

Users seemed similar.

“That’s right. El Diablo?”

“Whoa. Why is our Swordmaster so talkative? Weren’t you supposed to be taciturn?”

“Concept…? Anyway, why do you use your real name? Everyone else goes by some fitting title. You’re the only one using your real name.”

I asked Diablo.

His eyes went wide in excitement.

“Kuhaha! You finally noticed! That’s because I’m just that great!”

“No, we’re just namesakes. Diablo is a common name in Valhalla. It just looks like a real name by coincidence.”

“Hey! Get your story straight! How often do we get to mess with newbies?”

“Not in front of me.”

“Ugh…”

Diablo and Treya bickered.

‘So it was just a coincidence of the same name?’

Still, I learned a lot.

I learned a lot on the stage just now, and here in the channel too.

‘How long have I been here?’

I rested enough, and my motivation was fully rekindled.

I cleaned my cup and stood up.

“Hm? Where are you going? If you leave, I’m coming too!”

Treya moved as I stood.

She smiled awkwardly and pointed at the air.

“The user called me. I should get going.”

“Huh? You know the user called? How?”

“Oh, they said they’d come in a few hours. I have to go wait in advance. Stretch and prepare, too.”

“Ah! Captain, as expected! Such behavior is admirable for everyone!”

Treya’s eyes sparkled in surprise.

‘Did I get tricked again?’

It was hard to fool her even once before.

I had fooled her twice now.

“Come again! When’s the rematch? Tomorrow? Or the day after?”

Diablo waved his hand and laughed.

“Come back anytime. This place is our home now.”

Treya smiled and said.

Home…

I looked briefly at my channel.

My heaven where the people I longed for gather.

‘Maybe my wish had already come true.’

Haven’t I met all the people I wanted to see?

‘But.’

There were still people not here.

Those who died before reaching singularity.

Those who couldn’t die in battle and couldn’t come to Valhalla.

My family.

And my parents.

I wanted to see them.

I nodded and said goodbye.

“Thanks for the tea. See you later.”

“You’re welcome.”

Treya smiled sweetly.

“Hey, hey! Did you know? She likes you! Her apprentice and superior with a ten-year age difference… with those pitiful eyes…”

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”

“Ugh! Ack! Sword! Put it away! Ouch! Ugh!”

Voices echoed behind me as I left.

Jokes aside.

Still, I felt cheerful.

I had rested in heaven; it was time to move again.

“All right! I won!”

“Ugh! How did you lose that?” “Using Cthun there?”

“Wishes are only illusions!”

Stepping out of the channel, I saw many people.

Valkyries flying in the sky.

Heroes visible below the railing.

To claim ultimate victory meant to become the best among them.

I exhaled and steadied my resolve.

“I’m looking for a battle opponent! Anyone, face me! I want to learn from you!”

‘Hmm?’

Then I heard a familiar voice.

‘Where had I heard that voice before?’

It was quite distinctive.

I glanced down and saw red hair.

‘Ah.’

I recognized the familiar face.

A man with red hair wearing a black robe.

His name…

Kumgui?

Kumgui from my card was shouting.

His intense entrance was unforgettable.

“I’m looking for a battle opponent! Anyone, please face me!”