I Became a Righteous Knight in a Game

Chapter 126

Evangeline expressed her gratitude.

She seemed to feel ashamed of the fact that she had been in such a predicament, yet instead of avoiding or hiding it, she clearly repeated her thanks several times.

“It was what I had to do. We are comrades. Are we not?”

When she heard Reinhardt’s answer, she seemed deeply impressed.

Her eyes, which were always placidly calm, widened, and her pupils reflected Reinhardt’s image exactly.

“Thank you, Sir Reinhardt.”

“As for thanks, I have already received plenty….”

“This is my thanks for what you just said. For saying that we are, comrades.”

“It is a matter of course. You must remember as well, Dame. When you and I tracked down the warlock in Serigel, and when we captured him. I told you then. That I would never spare my help.”

The same applied whether the target was the Paganoa Knights or Evangeline.

That was what Reinhardt had said at the time.

He had no intention of transferring to a different knight order, but if they needed help, he would step forward at any time.

“…You did say that.”

“Yes. That is all there is to it.”

Evangeline finally acquiesced.

The endless words of gratitude ceased, and the conversation moved on to something more productive.

“As you know, Sir Reinhardt, the warlocks of Agrio-s contaminate the human mind. If it is powerful black magic, the target’s mind can be damaged to a point where it is difficult to recover.”

“Are you in such a state?”

“No. I am perfectly fine.”

“That is a relief.”

“Could you tell me how you did it? If possible.”

The method was simple.

He had resolved it amicably through conversation with Agrio-s.

But he couldn't say that.

“I just, had to do what needed to be done.”

“So that’s what it was.”

“Yes.”

“I am sorry. I knew it was a shameless question. However, in cases like this, we have had to slay our comrades.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because a human who has been harmed by powerful black magic cannot return to their daily life.”

Agrio-s of Domination shatters the human mind.

Nepas of Destruction breaks the human body.

Morganes of the Plague plants the seeds of disease in humans. So they can spread on the wind like dandelion seeds.

They were on a different level from cheap warlocks.

Black magic cast directly by a demon, or by the highest-ranking warlock, could not be dispelled by anyone.

Therefore.

If such a situation were to befall a comrade.

If the moment came when they let out a painful groan, struck by vicious black magic.

As a knight of Paganoa, they had no choice but to squeeze their eyes shut and slay their comrade.

It didn't matter how long they had been together, or what hardships they had overcome together.

Because there was no other way.

If they did not slay their comrade, the entire Empire would be in peril.

“…I wish to help, but I do not know the method. I simply did what I had to do. For now, I am just relieved that Dame Evangeline is safe.”

Evangeline nodded gravely.

“Thank you, Sir Reinhardt.”

“Please relay the same to the Personnel Officer. She must have been curious.”

“Yes. I will.”

“Let us talk more in detail later. I must rest for a while.”

Reinhhardt, in fact, also had many questions.

The current story had deviated far from the original work.

It was no longer easy to make judgments based on experience, and it was difficult to grasp exactly what was happening around him.

The experiences of Evangeline and Fermil would serve as excellent guideposts.

If he heard the details of the mission they had carried out in this gloomy mountain range, he could at least estimate how much stronger the enemy had become.

GLANCE.

Reinhardt looked at a corner of the tent.

In a place where a blanket had been rolled up to make a small bed, Bitdori lay unconscious.

Seeing its even breathing, it seemed its life was not in danger.

It would likely need sufficient rest as it had been directly exposed to the power of a demon.

[Community]

Reinhardt opened the community.

He found the comment Han Yura had left and left a comment under it.

ㄴ(Reinhardt): Are you there? You are, right? You must be.

ㄴ(Aslan): I'm here. Go ahead. Did something happen?

Fortunately, the reply came back instantly.

Reinhardt started to fill in the comment, then erased it all.

And he left a single-line comment that summarized the entire situation.

ㄴ(Reinhardt): Agrio-s has incarnated using Evangeline’s body.

***

“Incarnated? Why?”

It wasn’t easy for Han Yura to keep up with the rapidly changing situation.

The news from [Reinhardt] was quite shocking.

Agrio-s had taken Evangeline hostage to summon Reinhardt.

He had mentioned the fact that Reinhardt was not a being of this world and had specifically stated what he wanted.

He simply wishes to win the bet against Truma.

He has no intention of destroying this world.

Also.

The condition for Agrio-s to win the bet is to corrupt the human Reinhardt.

“This has gotten complicated, right? There was no such story originally, was there?”

“There wasn’t. You know that too, President. Agrio-s feeds on despair. A character with the cliché setting that he grows by feeding on death, you know.”

“I did say that.”

“In fact, the fact that they even made a bet didn’t make sense from the start. It makes even less sense now.”

“Looking at it from the game’s settings alone, that’s certainly true.”

In the president’s office at Skylines.

President Min Hyung-joon and Head of Development Han Yura were engaged in a heated discussion.

Speculations were exchanged rapidly.

Min Hyung-joon provided the overall story.

Han Yura painted the world based on the story she was provided.

In the minds of these two, what was happening to [Reinhardt] was something utterly difficult to comprehend.

“Then let’s start by examining that. Let’s leave out all other factors. How exactly did you design the character of Agrio-s?”

“A demon. Evil, competitive, impulsive like a child, yet with a clear desire for growth. To swallow the world and surpass the Archdemon he follows.”

“And Truma?”

“A personal god. Aside from the fact that he’s not a demon, the two aren’t actually that different. The more followers who serve him, the stronger he becomes, so he treats Agrio-s like a wild boar.”

“A wild boar?”

“A wild boar that eats up the crops he has painstakingly grown. To Truma, this world is like a field. He works hard, performing miracles with what little divinity he has, and thus increases his followers, but….”

“Agrio-s tries to swallow that. No, he tries to overturn the whole thing.”

“So he gets angry. That’s also the reason why both of them actively intervene in the world in the latter half of the game. Agrio-s to destroy. Truma to protect.”

They were different from other demons or gods.

Agrio-s and Truma were characters set up in a rivalry from the beginning.

They were also the transcendent beings the player encountered most frequently in the game.

Sometimes as a wall to be overcome, and sometimes as a more reliable ally than anyone else.

“Let’s change our perspective a bit. You said they’re rivals, right? Let’s assume they’re prideful and impulsive kids.”

“What if two kids who were bound to clash someday, happened to clash a little earlier by a chance encounter?”

“Clash earlier?”

“The catalyst is Reinhardt. Both of them happened to run into each other while watching Reinhardt. Then the two kids realized what the other was thinking.”

Agrio-s had to destroy the world.

Truma was in a position where he had to protect his own turf.

But it wasn't an easy task for either of them. If they clashed head-on, both would suffer considerable damage, regardless of victory or defeat.

“Just as their pride was pricked, and when they thought about it practically, a direct confrontation didn't seem like a good idea, and at the same time, there’s an interesting being?”

“So that’s why they made a bet?”

“They found a very efficient method. If Reinhardt is corrupted, it’s Agrio-s’s victory, and if he fails, it’s Truma’s victory. The winning side can take everything they want.”

“…Even I would accept that.”

“It seems both are confident they can win. That’s probably why the bet was established.”

Grasping the situation was instantaneous.

The choice had been given to Reinhardt.

“The key is what each of them is thinking. Truma will probably try to protect Reinhardt using conventional methods.”

“Agrio-s will be the problem, then.”

“That character has such a flighty personality. It’s not a problem that can be solved by thinking with a human brain, so we’ll have to borrow the power of civilization, right?”

“I’ll run a simulation.”

“I’ll inform Reinhardt’s side.”

The two quickly divided the work and parted ways.

Han Yura went to the development room, while Min Hyung-joon remained in the president’s office and brought up the community screen.

ㄴ(Aslan): Hello. This is Min Hyung-joon, the president of Skylines.

ㄴ(Reinhardt): Yes.

ㄴ(Aslan): I just discussed it with Section Chief Han, and…….

Min Hyung-joon conveyed the conclusion.

Although it wasn't something he could be one hundred percent sure of this time either, for Reinhardt, it would at least serve as a reference point.

ㄴ(Aslan): For now, that’s how it is. I want to help you more concretely, but the situation over there has completely left our hands. I feel very sorry about that.

ㄴ(Reinhardt): That’s enough for now. What about the other side? Last time, Section Chief Han said she was trying various things to get me out of here.

ㄴ(Aslan): For now, Team Leader Choi is struggling in the villa building, and Section Chief Han is moving in accordance with that, but to be honest, the results are minimal.

Team Leader Choi Ho-jun.

He, who had been in charge of marketing, was now spending several days in the villa where [Reinhardt] used to live.

He had intentionally imprisoned himself, and Han Yura repeated the process of getting him out.

But there was no clue to be found. She tried a new approach every time, but the result was always the same.

ㄴ(Reinhardt): So what should I do now? In your opinion, President.

ㄴ(Aslan): If it were me, I would have sided with Truma. Section Chief Han would have done the same. But that doesn’t seem like a good idea. How about you walk the line for a while?

Until something becomes certain.

Walk the line.

It meant to show that he was conflicted between Agrio-s and Truma.

ㄴ(Aslan): Agrio-s also said something like that, didn’t he? That he has no intention of destroying that world.

ㄴ(Reinhardt): Yes.

ㄴ(Aslan): That’s what I based it on. Act like a knight who is contemplating in the context of, I can protect the world if I just sacrifice myself. How about it?

Of course, Reinhardt would not sacrifice himself.

That was also a difficult option from President Min Hyung-joon’s perspective.

Because Reinhardt was an indispensable being in figuring out the cause of this incident and solving it.

“To avoid getting crushed like a shrimp in a whale fight, that’s the only way for now. Truma is not an unconditionally good god either. He’s the type who might do anything when he gets angry. And Agrio-s, well, it goes without saying.”

In such times, one must maintain balance.

Until a clear answer emerged, one had to become a competent bat that could switch sides at any time.

Just then.

ㄴ(Reinhardt): I’ll be back in a bit. Truma has shown up too.

At the comment that was posted, President Min Hyung-joon slapped his forehead and let out a sigh.

“This is a mess on both sides. A mess.”