I Became a Righteous Knight in a Game

Chapter 72

It was said to be like a thorn in a pocket.

It meant that a person with outstanding talent, like an awl in a pocket, would inevitably become known to the world.

Reinhardt’s situation was exactly like that.

His overwhelming talent drew aggro from friend and foe alike, and the result of that had just arrived.

‘So all the demons are paying attention to me.’

It was obvious what kind of end a human who received the attention of demons would meet.

Either they would surrender and become their minions, or they would face a miserable death and be cast into hell.

Soon, numerous warlocks would come to Reinhardt’s base.

They would break down the walls of Serigel, corrupt the minds of its citizens, and raise them as undead.

‘It’s not a situation I didn’t expect. I thought it would come to this someday.’

Of course, Reinhardt had been anticipating it to some extent.

He had already dealt with three warlocks.

Coincidentally, all three belonged to different factions.

And while it might be different for the Paganoa Knights, Reinhardt, who hunted warlocks, was just a nameless knight from the outskirts of the Empire.

‘But why did they come to me? Just to deliver that news?’

What was important now was their intention.

The demons were a crisis that would soon arrive, and Miya and Jenkins before me were a problem that had to be solved right now.

‘To lure me into the Paganoa Knights? No, no matter how I look at it, that doesn’t seem to be the case…….’

There was a certain atmosphere that revealed itself no matter how much one tried to hide it.

Miya Luxpenber had taken a step back from this conversation.

It was an attitude she wouldn’t show if she intended to recruit Reinhardt.

“Jenkins.”

Having organized his thoughts, Reinhardt opened his mouth.

“To whom do you belong?”

“I, of course, belong to the Paganoa Knights……”

“That is not the question I asked. Where and what mission are you carrying out?”

Bitdori’s vigilance remained.

Jenkins’s suspicious smile also remained, and Miya’s face became troubled.

Jenkins spoke again.

“You’re suspicious of me, aren’t you?”

“I am certain.”

“That's amazing. Even within the Paganoa Knights, no one has ever figured out my identity at a glance. Except for Personnel Officer Miya right here next to me.”

“Is that so.”

“Well, this is a bit troublesome. I thought I had hidden it quite well. What should we do? Personnel Officer. We might need to discuss this a bit, don’t you think?”

Miya nodded with a reluctant expression.

“Ugh, I suppose there’s no choice. I’ll grant permission.”

Permission was granted.

It was clearly permission to reveal his identity.

Jenkins faced Reinhardt with his characteristic smiling eyes. He was showing a slightly more genuine attitude than before.

“Sir Reinhardt. I am a bat-like fellow. I am helping with the work to destroy this world from within their base.”

So, to put it simply.

“Are you saying you are a warlock?”

“Yes.”

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Reinhardt’s heart began to pound faster.

Blood rushed to his head. Veins bulged on his fists, which were clenched with immense strength.

[Injustice has been detected.]

Execute the warlock.

You cannot refuse.

[Buff Applied: Justice x3]

All stats are increased by 243.

My mind went completely white. The flow of my thoughts was cut off, and Reinhardt drew his sword.

And.

“Ppiiiit!”

Splash–

As if cold water had been thrown on me, my reason returned.

Blink.

The surroundings were quiet. Miya Luxpenber was gritting her teeth with her eyes wide open, and the warlock Jenkins was smiling with black demonic energy wrapped around his hand.

Reinhardt’s sword was pointed at Jenkins’s neck.

It was at a distance where a slight movement of the hand could cut him down.

“Wow, I almost died right there.”

“I will hear your explanation.”

Reinhardt barely managed to say that.

He had almost cut Jenkins down by mistake.

If he had been even a little late in regaining his senses, that would surely have been the outcome.

‘Bitdori. I'm sure of it. It’s thanks to Bitdori.’

It was Bitdori again this time.

The little guy was chirping something at Jenkins, as if very angry, but still, it didn’t throw a punch.

Gulp.

I couldn’t change my attitude in this situation. Reinhardt maintained a stern expression and glared at Jenkins.

“Explain. So that I may be convinced.”

“Sir Reinhardt! Jenkins is an ally! He’s a warlock who works for humanity!”

It was Miya’s urgent plea.

Reinhardt’s head creaked as it turned toward her.

“A warlock who works for humanity.”

“You know the reason I hold the position of Personnel Officer in the Paganoa Knights, right? So first, the sword……”

“Let’s hear it from him directly.”

Reinhardt turned his head again.

Jenkins’s smile deepened.

“Yes, I am on the side of humans. Although I am a warlock, I have never directly harmed a human. I strongly requested not to favor such operations.”

“Is it something you can simply opt out of because you do not favor it?”

“What if I said it wasn't because I didn't want to kill humans, but because I had no interest in killing humans?”

“What is the reason you are granted such special treatment?”

“I’m treated rather well, you see. I was born with relatively excellent talent.”

Reinhardt closed his mouth for a moment, then naturally sheathed his sword.

However, he didn't put it back in the scabbard. He just lowered it slightly and sat down again.

“Explain in detail. I have not yet completely let go of my suspicion.”

***

Jenkins was a spy for the human side who had infiltrated the ranks of the demons.

He had received a share of the demons’ power, learned Black Magic, and was devotedly participating in the work to destroy the world.

However, he did not participate in slaughtering humans. His talents lay elsewhere.

His main job was to refine demonic energy and use the refined energy to create tools that warlocks could use.

‘A spy, he says.’

Only then could Reinhardt understand the current situation.

How Jenkins knew about the demons’ interests, and also how he could operate while openly showing himself.

‘Miya Luxpenber vouched for his identity. For Miya, seeing through lies is not a difficult task.’

One who inherited the blood of the Luxpenber Ducal Family but was devoted to humanity.

Reinhardt naturally knew the abilities Miya Luxpenber was born with.

There could be no error in judgment.

Because she was a person who only saw the right answer.

‘There were characters like that in reality.’

There were characters like that in the game, too.

Like a warlock who was thought to be an enemy but turned out to be an ally, or a traitor mixed in among the allies.

Jenkins was just one of those figures.

Considering that Reinhardt had heard his name for the first time, he was likely an ill-fated extra who died before entering the main story.

“Ppiit, ppiii? Ppibit……”

Bitdori looked confused.

Since it didn't seem like it would attack right away, Reinhardt looked at Jenkins again.

“Why did you come all this way? It would have been sufficient to use a colleague’s words.”

“I wanted to meet you once. You’re quite famous, you see. And there were also parts I needed to confirm myself.”

“Confirm?”

“I have things to report when I go back, don't I? To ensure that the interest in Sir Reinhardt does not cool down.”

This bastard.

Reinhardt thought so for a moment.

To ensure the interest does not cool down.

Those words meant that he would continue to keep the demons’ interest focused on Reinhardt.

“What is your intention in saying that?”

“W-wait! From here on, I’ll speak!”

Miya interjected at that moment.

Reinhardt turned his gaze as a sign of permission.

“Lately, we at Paganoa have been feeling that our operations have become easier to carry out.”

“What kind of operations?”

“Various ones. But the goal is all the same. To reduce the demons’ influence and to interfere with the warlocks’ plans.”

“You mean their resistance has weakened.”

“Exactly.”

Nodding, Miya added.

“It’s thanks to the decreased attention on us. Because someone else has drawn the demons’ interest.”

That someone else was Reinhardt.

Reinhardt finally understood the situation.

Why Miya Luxpenber came all this way, and what kind of request she would make from now on.

“What we want to request is simple. We hope that you will continue to be as active as you are now.”

“Is this an offer to join the order?”

“Not at all. The reason the demons are interested in you, Sir, is because of your affiliation.”

The reason was obvious.

From the demons' perspective, Knight Reinhardt was an individual who had not yet been influenced by Paganoa.

“Soon, those who approach you to corrupt you will appear. They will certainly be strong, and Serigel might get caught in the crossfire.”

Countless trials and difficulties would come crashing down, but please continue to do well in the future.

In summary, that was what Miya's words meant.

‘It’s not that difficult a task.’

Reinhardt was strong.

As long as a situation where a demon directly knocked and visited didn't occur, he could easily dispose of any enemy that appeared.

I had to accept the proposal.

But even while thinking so, Reinhardt hesitated.

Only when Miya's expression became tinged with impatience did Reinhardt open his mouth.

“I can offer my help as long as it is within the eastern part of the Empire. But.”

“But……?”

“I must know as much as you do, Miya. What is happening in this world.”

Normally, it was content I would never hear, but the situation was different now.

Anger was an emotion I could control.

Even if I didn't know the exact structure, the current Reinhardt was at no risk of going berserk.

“But I can’t reveal all the information……”

“I must know.”

At the very least, I had to grasp how the expansion pack's story was progressing.

Faced with Reinhardt's expression, which showed no intention of backing down, Miya sighed and nodded her head.

“I understand. I’ll share it. And as you are surely aware, what I am about to tell you……”

“I will not tell anyone. There are no exceptions.”

“I trust you. Because you are Sir Reinhardt.”

The basis of her trust was Miya’s own ability.

The radiant light that surrounded Reinhardt even at this moment.

“Somewhere in the world, there is an empire of demons.”

The moment Miya said that.

Zzzing–

A tingling sensation ran through my fingertips, and a message appeared.

[Injustice has been detected.]

Miya Luxpenber has mentioned the empire of demons. Grasp its true nature and respond righteously.

If you ignore this injustice, the effect of [Justice] will be reduced.

But there was no change in my emotions.

[Justice] was also at its maximum stacks, so there was no change.

“They exist on the surface, but at the same time, they do not. I’m not trying to play with words. It’s just that there’s no other way to explain it.”

Miya was cautious, but Reinhardt knew the meaning of those words more accurately than anyone.

‘No matter how you look at it, it’s hell. Is there any other place that could be called an empire of demons?’

Hell.

The homeland of demons, and the place where fallen humans were thrown upon death.

According to the lore, the human world and hell were separated by a strict boundary.

A boundary so strong that no demon, no matter how great, and no human would even dare to think of crossing it.

The moment that boundary collapsed was the moment the main story of the original work began.

It was the opening of a sort of Phase 2.

‘But they said this was a past timeline. Why is hell being mentioned already in an expansion pack?’

Reinhardt tried hard to hide his anxiety and looked at Miya.

But the words that followed.

Were exactly as Reinhardt had feared.

“Right now, the boundary between the two worlds is collapsing at a rapid pace. At this rate, we might face a descended demon in about a month.”