Unfortunately, my logical explanations had zero impact.

No matter what I said, the responses I got were filled with disappointment and disbelief in our trustworthiness.

In the end, I had no choice but to throw my hands up in surrender.

If they were really going to go through with something so crazy, I just pleaded with them to please not get caught.

That was all I left behind as I dismissed those fervent Black Fang supporters.

The once-crowded streets were now void of a single person.

Siel and I had wiped out the traces of magic inscribed on the land and dismantled the temporary relief center.

I looked around, lost in thought.

‘Can this be considered a success?’

I had managed to save quite a few people and successfully diverted the Empire’s gaze.

Sure, in the process, I had inadvertently done the Black Fangs a bunch of favors with their supporters, and my reputation took a hit.

But hey, it’s not a huge problem.

The Empire and the Black Fangs are at odds with each other right now… So slipping them a hand wouldn’t hurt.

It seemed like a good choice to come here, and just as I was pondering that while gazing at the empty street…

“…?”

I was definitely the only one left, and I was on my way back to the mansion.

Yet, a few scruffy-looking old men stared back at me.

Their hair was a complete mess.

Dark circles hung beneath their eyes like they’d been awake for days.

Could it be that they’d caught wind of a relief center opening up nearby and were hoping to mooch off some food?

I approached them, thinking I’d give them something to eat and send them on their way…

“P-Please! Help us!”

I heard a familiar voice.

A voice I had definitely heard a few times before.

And there were three of them, too.

It didn’t take long for me to figure out who they were.

‘Oh right. I completely forgot about these guys.’

Knights.

Imperial Knights.

Those who had come to find us before and ended up making us work for them.

…What on earth happened to them to end up like this?

I clearly told them to take a break whenever they needed to.

Yet it seemed they weren’t even listening to my words.

I approached to check if they were sick. Then….

“…What are you doing?”

The knight was trembling all alone, backing away and even tripping over himself. Upon a closer look, he was crying.

The three of them seemed to have huddled up, tightly shutting their eyes, and after about 30 seconds, they finally opened them.

The knight in the middle, looking dazed, stammered out a question.

“W-Were you going to kill us?”

What a sudden question.

Naturally, my expression turned to one of confusion.

Why was this topic coming up out of nowhere?

“Why would I kill you?”

I couldn’t help but let that incredulous inquiry slip out.

What in the world do they think of me?

“Well, we’re useless now, after all…”

The knight spoke, sweating nervously.

Useless, huh?

That might not be entirely wrong.

Due to various circumstances, we had ended the relief center a bit early, and everyone had been evacuated.

Now, whether the Empire figured out where we were located or not, it wouldn’t make much difference.

“You’re right; I don’t have a reason to spare you anymore.”

As soon as I said that, the knight’s face turned pale once more. I hastily continued before they fainted.

“However, what does that matter?”

“…Huh?”

Such a dazed response.

The knight looked visibly flustered.

It seemed he didn’t fully understand what I was saying, but really, it wasn’t complicated.

“Just because you’re useless doesn’t mean you have to die.”

No longer having any use is one thing.

Keeping you alive wouldn’t yield any assistance, anyway.

Does that justify killing someone?

“That kind of thing is something the Empire would do.”

At least, I don’t want to do such things.

Maybe it’s a bit softhearted, but I didn’t think it was wrong.

Because I lived like this, I was able to meet the companions I have now.

If I lived my life not caring about others dying for my own benefit, I wouldn’t even be standing here.

I probably would have died alone in that mining camp.

“…”

The knights stared blankly at me.

Though I told them I’d show mercy, seeing them unable to accept it was truly regrettable.

However, since the relief center had now closed, they essentially became my last guests.

So, I extended a hand to show my generosity.

“Why are you just standing around? Get going before I change my mind.”

The knight grabbed my hand and got up.

Then he looked at me intently and opened his mouth.

“Now I understand.”

His eyes were a mixture of various emotions.

“You tried to save us, just as you saved others.”

The knight continued with a long-winded speech.

It was about how he realized this amidst the daily life of trying to save people rather than attacking them.

Hearing that, I found myself dumbfounded.

Because the truth is, I had been annoyed and just used them as slaves.

And I had even forgotten about them halfway and left them to their own devices.

“Now that you’ve taught us, we will do what we must according to what we’ve learned.”

However, I couldn’t splash cold water on their moved faces.

And honestly, I was so tired of trying to explain myself at this point.

So, I just nodded in silence and finished the farewell.

With that, I completed all the clean-up and as I left the beloved relief center, I fell into thought.

Just what was going on here?

Things were not unfolding as I thought at all, yet

The results were surprisingly not bad, which felt oddly whimsical.

*

Recently, the Second Prince’s smile had not disappeared.

Even while leisurely smoking a cigar, the corners of his mouth showed no signs of dropping.

The reason was incredibly simple.

Perhaps fortune was on his side, everything was going smoothly.

The Second Prince had finally received recognition for his achievements.

His foolish younger brother.

Even the Third Princess, who always looked down on him, was unusually quiet these days.

‘That’s the only outcome there could be.’

His sister was incapable, while he excelled.

While she was wasting time trying to investigate some insignificant potion merchant because she thought “something seemed off,”

The Second Prince eventually uncovered the true identity of the leader of the Black Fangs after persistent investigations.

Ultimately, that merit was recognized by his father,

And now, that annoying sister had also stopped squandering time and was focusing on the search operation according to his father’s orders.

‘Even if she joined me, she wouldn’t be of any help.’

Could she be trying to pick a fight or something? The Third Princess had been nitpicking against him over trivial matters.

Something about how the vibes seemed ominous.

Wondering if he was properly managing his subordinates, among other things.

What nonsense!

It was the biggest nonsense imaginable.

Asmodeus personally confirmed yesterday.

None of the underlings were in contact with the Black Fangs.

He even said to rest easy since no one seemed irrationally obsessed with the rapidly spreading Black Fangs faith.

So, if there was any worry, it should be over the state of her head.

Every time she relied solely on her instincts and wasted time, it was a source of unbearable shame as a family member.

‘Well, it’s fine for me.’

Her incompetence made his competence shine even more.

I’m sure this would move my father’s heart significantly.

This definitely secured a tremendous advantage in the succession battle.

‘It’s still unpleasant that I had to rely on that weirdo.’

But if this is the outcome, I can certainly bear that level of risk.

After all, in a situation where all demons were strangely refusing to touch the Black Fangs, there were no other options apart from that guy.

That annoying smile.

Always looking pleased about something, which made him unbearable.

But he produced overflowing results.

Obtaining the photograph of the leader of the Black Fangs in exchange for one-tenth of his soul was merely a minor task.

Asmodeus is still keeping an eye on the Black Fangs leader.

As a high-ranking entity, direct interference is difficult, but by periodically sacrificing vast amounts of soul, he can maintain his sight over everything—that wasn’t just a tall tale.

Thanks to his father’s support, Asmodeus was currently using the souls secretly gathered by the Empire as fuel to watch over the Black Fangs leader.

“What’s he doing now?”

[Hmm…. He’s erasing the monstrosity that directly attacks the human psyche to protect others from this world.]

Thus, the Black Fangs were already in the palm of their hands.

No matter what they did, they couldn’t escape his gaze.

Every action and habit of that guy was thoroughly analyzed and would one day become a trap to catch them.

‘…I won.’

The rapidly spreading Black Fangs faith.

While they would be celebrating their victory in arrogance,

The reality of this battle was somewhat different.

They were unwittingly driving themselves into a corner.

The world might claim this battle as a loss for the Empire, but

‘This battle is our victory!’

The goddess of victory was smiling upon him.