Episode 4: Gessler

“W-What’s this? Why is the Kreving family’s carriage here…? C-Could it be a surprise inspection of the territory!?”

Gessler, wiping sweat from his entire face, panics.

“N-No, it’s fine. If they question me about siphoning crops, I’ll just show them the falsified ledger. It’s fine, I can cover it up, I can cover it up…”

Muttering to himself, Gessler clutches his face with both hands. Meanwhile, the Kreving family’s carriage arrives and comes to a stop behind Gessler and his men. Stepping out of the carriage is an elderly gentleman… Evan.

“O-Oh, if it isn’t Master Evan…!”

As the head butler and confidant of the family head, Evan’s status far surpasses that of Gessler, a mere magistrate.

“T-To what do I owe the pleasure of your sudden visit to a place like this? I-Is the head of the house, Lord Siegfried, with you as well, perchance?”

“Well, now…!”

Evan’s eyes widen as he spots me holding the tip of a whip.

“A-Ah! This peasant, you mean? This insolent man—”

“Lord Siegfried!”

“W-What…? S-Siegfried…?”

Gessler stares at me, his mouth agape.

Hmm… There’s no point in keeping up the disguise now. I snap my fingers with a sharp click. In an instant, my attire transforms from a crude hemp shirt and trousers into a jet-black noble’s outfit.

“A-Ahh! Lord Siegfried!”

Gessler likely judged people not by their faces but by their appearances. That’s why he couldn’t recognize me as Siegfried when I was dressed as a peasant. Finally realizing who I am, Gessler reels back in shock… and tumbles off his horse with a shrill “Gyaaah!”

“You’re a bit early, aren’t you, Evan?”

I flash a smile at Evan.

“But I’ve learned more than enough.”

I hold up a single ledger for Gessler to see.

“W-What…?! T-That’s… no, it can’t be…!”

Gessler, sprawled on the ground and covered in mud, turns pale.

“Indeed. This is the ledger documenting the actual crop yields of this region. Unlike the falsified reports you submitted to the Kreving family, this one tells the truth… and it shows you’ve been extorting quite a bit from the farmers, haven’t you, Gessler?”

“N-No, that’s…!”

“And the amount of crops you’ve been siphoning off is staggering. Truly, you’re quite the corrupt magistrate, Gessler.”

“Guh… Grrgh…!”

Gessler trembles violently. Now, how will he play this?

“K-K-Kill him…!”

With a quivering voice, Gessler shouts at his lackeys.

“Y-You lot! Kill Siegfried von Kreving and his butler Evan!”

“W-What…? Lord Gessler, what are you saying…!?”

“I said kill these two! Listen! If we don’t, we’ll all be hanged for embezzling the Kreving family’s tax revenue! But… if we kill them, we can cover it up however we want!”

Gessler glares at me with unfocused, wild eyes.

“Kihehe… That’s right! We’ll just say Siegfried died in an accident… Oi! Whoever kills Siegfried will get enough gold to live in luxury for the rest of their lives!”

“E-Enough gold to live in luxury…!”

A glint of greed sparks in the eyes of Gessler’s lackeys. Spurring them on, Gessler shouts again.

“That’s right! Siegfried’s been called a genius since he was young, but he’s just a foolish noble who wastes his days in debauchery! With this many of us surrounding him, he’ll be easy to kill! And in return, you’ll get enough gold to live in luxury forever! Isn’t that a sweet deal!? Now, kill him! Kill him!”

“Heh… Don’t take it personally, Count…”

Gessler’s lackeys draw their swords and slowly approach me. I can’t help but let a smirk slip.

“Just so we’re clear, I am the master of the Gessler you serve. In other words, to you lot, I’m your lord. You understand that, right?”

“Heh heh, begging for your life, Count?”

“No, I just find your greed—willing to kill even your lord for gold—rather… refreshingly villainous. I don’t hate it.”

“What’re you blabbering about…? Just die already!”

Gessler’s lackeys charge at me. In that moment… I kick the ground with a foot infused with concentrated magical energy. A bluish-white flash bursts forth, and the air vibrates with a crackling hum. Closing the distance between me and the men in an instant, I channel magic into my hand and unleash a piercing thrust. My hand, now as sharp as a blade, effortlessly pierces the chest of one of the lackeys.

Next, I swing a hand chop at the man beside him. Infused with magic, my hand cuts like a true blade, slicing cleanly from the man’s left shoulder to his right flank. Without slowing, I dart through the rest of Gessler’s lackeys… and by the time I stop, not a single one remains standing.

The lackeys collapse to the ground, blood spurting from their bodies, not even able to scream their final cries.

“Huh…?”

Gessler, slumped on the ground, is the sole survivor. He looks around at his fallen lackeys, his face a mask of disbelief.

“W-What… Why…?”

“You said it yourself, Gessler. Siegfried was called a genius from a young age but was just a foolish noble who wasted his days in debauchery. This is the power that foolish noble gained after training seriously. Now, then…”

I slowly approach the last remaining figure—Gessler.

“Hiii! Lord Siegfried, please! Forgive me! Forgive meee!”

Gessler grovels, rubbing his forehead against the ground.

“I-I was wrong! I’m so sorry! Please, please…! Ah, wait… That’s it!”

Gessler looks up at me with a fawning, obsequious smile.

“I-If you spare my life, I’ll give you all the gold I’ve made from siphoning crops! W-What do you say!? It’s not a bad deal for you, Lord Siegfried…!”

“Haha… I see, I see… Gessler, you really know how to entertain me.”

I lift the slumped Gessler by his collar and set him on his feet.

“You’re truly… a remarkable man, Gessler.”

“Huh? H-Heh heh… R-Really? T-Then… you’ll spare my life…?”

Gessler peers at me with a cautious, hopeful glance. Ignoring him, I continue.

“You extorted money from the farmers, and when that was exposed, you tried to kill your lord—me. When that failed, you flipped like a switch, groveling and begging for your life. This, right now, is the epitome of a vile villain’s true form. Be proud, Gessler.”

I grip Gessler’s shoulder firmly with a hand stained red with the blood of his lackeys.

“I’m genuinely thrilled… to have met a despicable villain like you.”

“Huh? Ha… Haha…?”

Gessler seems unable to grasp the meaning of my words. Still, sensing he’s being praised, he forces an awkward smile.

“And… I’ll grant you the ending you deserve.”

I slowly draw the sword sheathed at the left side of my noble’s attire. The sharp steel glints coldly in the sunlight.

“W-What…? C-Count!?”

Gessler stumbles backward.

“N-No, no way… Y-You’re going to kill me!? W-Why…!?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I’ll give you the ending you deserve. A vile villain like you, purged by an even greater evil—me. A despicable villain being cleansed by a mightier evil… that’s the flower of villainy. Rejoice, Gessler. This is your grandest moment.”

“W-What are you talking about, Lord Siegfried!? M-More importantly… I-If you spare my life, you’ll gain all the gold I’ve made from siphoning crops! T-That’s far more profitable for you, isn’t it…!?”

“Hmm, not a bad offer. But killing you and taking the gold would yield the same result, wouldn’t it?”

“Ah…”

“Farewell, Gessler.”

“Hiiiiii!”

My sword, swung horizontally, severs Gessler’s neck with ease. Blood rains down, and his head soars through the air. Watching the scene, I murmur.

“You were a magnificent vile villain until the very end, Gessler. I offer you my heartfelt praise.”