Episode 97: The Temptation of Evil

　Ricardo glares sharply at Siegfried.

　Even in his battered and bruised state, he maintains a posture ready to pounce the moment he spots even the slightest opening in his enemy.

　To him, Siegfried speaks quietly.

“You condemned me as an invader. Indeed, invasion is ‘evil’. I have no intention of denying that. However—can you say that what you’ve been doing up until now is ‘justice’ for you?”

“What…?”

“The Kirchhen Kingdom’s eastern front forces and the Serodonia Kingdom’s western legions have been locked in a standoff for many years. Was continuing that ‘justice’? That’s what I’m asking.”

　Ricardo’s gaze wavers.

“Maintaining tens of thousands of soldiers on the front lines requires enormous amounts of food. Moreover, both positions are on the borders of their countries, so transportation incurs massive costs. In the end, they have no choice but to requisition from the surrounding villages—even without battles occurring, the people starve and lose their lives.”

　Including those who starved to death, as well as those who succumbed to illness due to malnutrition, the number would be immense.

“…even so, that doesn’t justify the invasion!”

“Probably not. I have no intention of having you affirm this invasion either. I don’t seek validation from anyone for the ‘evil’ I’ commit. I just wanted to ask if what you’re doing is really aligns with your ideals. And… it was to buy time.”

“Buy… time…?”

　In the next moment, a sharp voice echoes.

“The encirclement of the enemy soldiers hiding in the tent has been completed!”

　The voice belongs to a red-haired knight.

　Ricardo instinctively turns his eyes to the tent where his subordinates, including Vice-Leader Feder, are hiding.

　There, an encirclement had already been established.

When had they flanked them—behind the tent were beastmen with gray hair.

　In front, an infantry unit led by a tall man.

　They maintained a precise distance out of bow range, completing a perfect encirclement.

“Everyone…!”

　A shock greater than when he lost his right arm strikes Ricardo’s chest.

　In this state, there’s no escape for Feder and the others.

　How did they know there were ambushers in the tent?

　Since when had they anticipated this situation and moved?

　—Such questions don’t even occur to Ricardo now.

　This monstrous man… Siegfried could easily accomplish something like that.

　And now—the only choice left for Ricardo is one.

“P-Please!”

　Ricardo drops to his knees, forcing out his words as if squeezing them out.

“I know I’m saying this for my own sake, but… please spare my comrades’ lives! I don’t care what happens to me! So…!”

He hadn’t yielded to the loss of his right arm or the searing pain burning his insides.

But—with his comrades’ lives held in the balance, he has no way to resist.

Sacrificing those dear to him to keep fighting isn’t the ideal way he believes in.

“Oh… you don’t care what happens, huh. —You certainly said that? Is it true?”

An unfathomable abyss stirs in the depths of Siegfried’s blue eyes.

Ricardo involuntarily holds his breath.

What is this man intending to force upon him?

In exchange for his subordinates’ lives, what kind of agony does he intend to make him taste?

That Celestina of the ‘Seven Great Calamities’ is said to drain her adversaries of blood, inflicting hellish torment before killing them.

Another of the ‘Seven Great Calamities’, Lugdura, is said to defile even the souls of the dead with necromancy, committing the utmost blasphemy.

The man before him—Siegfried surely possesses methods no less ruthless.

But strangely enough—if he doesn’t run, he himself doesn’t flee, he has a certain conviction that this man will surely protect his subordinates’ lives.

“—Yes, I don’t care… whatever happens.”

Even if the compensation is pain surpassing death—if his comrades’ lives are saved, that’s enough.

Siegfried is that.

“I see.”

　Siegfried reaches for the dagger still embedded in his left chest. He slowly draws it out.

Then, he swings the dagger toward Ricardo.

The next instant.

“Eh…?”

　Confusion appears on Ricardo’s face.

The pain is gone. The intense agony in his organs, the scorching sensation—everything. And—.

“My arm…!?”

The right arm that should have been lost. It was back to normal.

“I used my blood to heal your wounds.”

Says Siegfried.

Healing a near-fatal wound in an instant—it’s an unbelievable power.

However, in reality, Ricardo’s wounds are completely cured.

“Wh-why…?”

“You said you didn’t care what happened. So I did as I pleased… that’s all. For now, I’ll treat you all as prisoners. Call on your subordinates to surrender as well.”

Ricardo hesitates on what to say for a moment.

He has no intention of acknowledging Siegfried, the invader. Nor does he plan to become his subordinate.

But now—he should be grateful for having his and his subordinates’ lives saved.

“…Thank you for your generous treatment.”

　Ricardo bows deeply.

But to those words, Siegfried returns a sardonic smile.

“Kuku… Gratitude, huh? You’re naive. I only spared you because you have use value.”

“Use value…?”

　Is he still planning to make me his subordinate after all?

　Ricardo thinks so, but the smile on Siegfried’s lips… holds a somewhat different connotation.

“The time will come when you’ll understand. And—…—you should make good use of me too. If you truly want to realize your ideals.”