“Uh, I felt like I’d regret it if I didn’t…”

As he said that, the man before Ruby slowly walked towards her.

“You’re a fool. You’ll end up regretting that decision all the way to your grave.”

At his decree, Ruby’s legs began to quiver uncontrollably.

She knew deep down that his words were true.

The horrific future awaiting her loomed large.

Torture.

Pain so excruciating she’d beg for death.

That was bound to last until she spilled her secrets, whether she liked it or not.

But she had no intentions of providing any information. No, she’d endure the torture until her mind shattered.

‘Help? I can’t count on that.’

Would the Commander swoop in to save her? Show up like a superhero and make everything right?

It’d be a stretch to claim she hadn’t hoped for just that, but…

There wouldn’t be a divine sword crashing down from the heavens to smite that man before her.

One could argue that was to be expected.

After all, no matter how mighty the Commander, even they couldn’t pull off such divine theatrics on repeat.

The mere act of a divine being interfering in the mortal world was a colossal challenge, so it was better to give up on that glimmer of hope.

“Let me ask you one last time. Are you truly confident you won’t regret your choice?”

An atmosphere thick with lethal intent surrounded Ruby as the man posed the question.

After a moment’s thought, Ruby answered…

“If you promise to spare my life, maybe I could allow for a little compromise.”

A calm lie slipped from her lips.

As she took a step back, Ruby secretly prepared one last trick.

His words hinted that he likely hated complicating matters. She thought he might respond positively to her lie.

But… the man’s expression remained dark.

Without a glance back, he simply swung his sword.

Ruby’s hidden blade clashed with his sword in a fierce collision.

The clang of metal rang out.

Yet the standoff lasted less than a fraction of a second.

The object she had thrown was an artifact the Commander had given her for the black market incident. A magical treasure that moved according to her will.

However, it was utterly powerless before his sword.

It was sliced cleanly, as if an artist had painted the fracture.

The blade Ruby had been controlling so deftly was split in half in no time at all.

“Well, it seems your decision is quite firm, then.”

Saying this, the man continued to advance toward her.

Had he caught on to her deception? Or sensed the incoming energy of the artifact and cut it down? Or perhaps it was both?

That remained uncertain.

But one thing was for sure…

“Now that you’ve made your choice, you must accept the consequences.”

The future awaiting her did not appear bright at all.

*

Something was not right.

I recognized it immediately upon seeing the shattered front gate of the ruined mansion.

The pieces of the broken security golem were scattered everywhere.

How many beings could pull off such a neat cut?

And out of those, how many could trespass into this mansion?

…The Empire.

Someone from the Empire had come here.

Not just any old figure, but a formidable force.

‘Bajar? Heinrich? Or perhaps Karl?’

I wasn’t sure which of the three it was, but judging by the energy radiating and the ghastly scene before my eyes, it was clear that whoever had invaded the mansion was a superhuman Swordmaster.

A power that could challenge a nation single-handedly, regarded as exceptional prowess.

And that monster had come to this mansion, where only Ruby was present.

‘…This is why I felt a sense of urgency about getting back quickly.’

My ominous premonition rarely steered me wrong.

Even on days I’d stumble clumsily over my own ear, my instincts would nail it right when it mattered.

A cold sweat trickled down my back, knowing the Empire’s Swordmaster had all but invaded this mansion.

Ruby was in grave danger.

Unlike others, she wouldn’t possess any means to defend herself against a Swordmaster-level adversary.

She wouldn’t be able to escape, either.

…In this situation.

There was only one thing I had to do.

I quickly stifled my presence and slipped into the mansion.

The overwhelming energy was palpable even from this distance.

Perhaps due to suppressing my mana, my body trembled involuntarily.

But I had no time to worry about that.

I moved quickly, avoiding detection, towards the source of the ominous energy.

Arriving at Ruby’s office, the energy suggested it was likely the invader’s location.

I cautiously peeked inside through the open door.

And what I saw…

Was Ruby in utter disarray.

She was bound.

Her face gaunt, with a blue liquid flowing through her veins.

I recognized that substance.

It was a torture drug used by the Empire in the previous work.

The most nefarious drug used to extract confessions from criminals. A venom that utterly violated a person’s mind.

The man was injecting Ruby with it.

“……”

Ruby’s eyes briefly met mine.

As soon as my face entered her line of sight, hope flickered in her gaze.

But that didn’t last long.

She didn’t utter a single word. No cries for rescue, no pleas for help.

The frightened woman put on a mask of indifference.

Ruby simply closed her eyes.

Even knowing I had come, she shook her head gently.

What did that mean?

It was painfully clear.

She was saying to turn away.

That forsaking herself was the sensible choice in this situation.

Usually, she appeared clumsy and awkward, but fundamentally, Ruby was an exceptional businesswoman.

Someone who could always coolly calculate costs and benefits, making sound judgments regardless of the situation.

For her to come to such a conclusion felt entirely justified.

‘If I step in here…’

Could I even win?

I couldn’t guarantee that.

But that wasn’t my only concern.

What if the opponent sent a video call spell to report me to the higher-ups during the battle?

What if I was spotted, and the Empire realized who I was?

The massive enemy that is the Empire would mobilize all its power to hunt me down. It wouldn’t be a matter of merely sustaining my life; avoiding annihilation would be tricky.

The chances of doom arriving as planned were exceedingly high.

So Ruby’s judgment was correct.

If she wanted to live, it was better to flee from here.

Considering the future, abandoning Ruby and making a getaway was the wise route.

One person’s life is not worth the same as the fate of an entire world.

But still.

Feeling like that wasn’t what I wanted.

I didn’t want to make a choice based merely on logic.

…The sword in my hand vibrated.

It was as if the Holy Sword was asking me.

What will you vow to me?

What conviction will you take as your guide while you move forward?

The predecessors had sworn to never falter before the Holy Sword.

Yet somehow, that oath had been broken, and thus, the sword that should have remained unbreakable had shattered in two.

So what should I vow?

It was clear even without deliberation.

I stood up.

And at that moment, a message appeared before me.

[Run away.]

The words were intact, unlike usual, standing out like a sore thumb.

Flickering weakly, they seemed to frantically advise me.

Yet despite that…

I ignored the message and pressed forward.

Without holding back the energy.

Naturally, the man before me couldn’t miss that. An intense killing intent surged toward me.

An overwhelming presence.

The Empire’s Swordmaster was glaring at me.

[It’s not too late now. Saving everyone is impossible. You must give up something to survive. Please run away.]

I swiftly dismissed that message from my view.

‘You can’t lose everything…’

True enough.

That message might be saying some sound reasoning.

This was an inefficient choice.

Everything up till now could turn to waste with a single misstep.

A typical blunder of losing everything by not wanting to let anything go.

‘So what?’
Betraying others, using them, abandoning them.
If I lived only for myself, the odds of survival would surely increase.

But is that really worth it?

When I survive through those actions, would I truly take pride in it?

Could I genuinely rejoice and smile over surviving?

No.

There’s no way that could happen.

So it was clear what I had to do.

“I vow before the Holy Sword.”

Knowing it would be a difficult path.

Even aware that this was a foolish choice.

“I will not give up anything.”

I will not abandon anyone.

I will save as many as I can and protect all those who need saving.

“I will reach the destination without losing anything.”

…In that moment, a brilliant white light enveloped the world.