Billford Tucker

Author’s Note: This is quite a long chapter. I considered splitting it up, but since it’s all one sequence, I thought it would be easier to follow as a single update. (Sweat) I hope you enjoy it.

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Billford Tucker was one of the most memorable characters in Noblesse Oblige.

He was a man in his twenties. Originally born into an Earl’s house, he was brilliant, virtuous, and had a future that was basically guaranteed even if he just sat around doing nothing. However, driven to utilize his peerless magical techniques to their absolute limit, he had aimed for the knighthood and eventually rose to the rank of Commander.

He had achieved legendary status on the battlefield. His alias: [Flash].

This didn't actually refer to his physical speed. Rather, it came from a magic buff that allowed him to perceive the flow of time in slow motion for brief, instantaneous bursts. During those moments, Tucker was world-class in both offense and defense. From an opponent’s perspective, it was a nightmare; you couldn't understand how he was dodging everything, nor why his attacks seemed impossible to parry.

Then, one day, he committed a grand sin.

Kingslaying.

In aristocratic society, it was the one act that could never be forgiven. He didn't just kill the King; he slaughtered his fellow soldiers who had been present at the scene.

Midway through the game’s story, the protagonist, Allen, was forced to confront him. A battle against a legendary traitor—it was enough to make any player’s blood pump. But the difficulty was absurd. In a "death game" like Noblesse, dying ten times to a boss was standard procedure. For Tucker, the average death count was closer to a hundred.

It was a total crap game, yet it was the best game ever made. And this was supposed to be the start of the Tucker arc...

◇

"Cynthia, Lilith. Even if you find him, don't you dare lay a finger on him."

After we finished our meal, I gave the two of them a stern warning. Naturally, they tried to protest, telling me they couldn't just stand by. I had to snap back at them repeatedly until I finally forced them into a reluctant agreement.

As long as they don't make the first move, he probably won't try to kill them.

"If Weiss-sama is going this far, does it mean he’s really that strong?" Lilith asked.

"Yeah. If we’re talking about a single instant of combat, he might even be on par with Eva."

"...Will you be okay?" Cynthia looked at me with a worried expression. She looked terribly pained, which only made her look more beautiful.

"Yeah. Besides, someone like him makes for the perfect practice partner."

I wasn't lying. There was no point in hunting small fry forever. Lilith tilted her head curiously.

"But how do you know so much about him? I thought you only heard his name for the first time the other day?"

"...I have my ways. I’m good at gathering intel, remember?"

It’s basically cheating, but it’s not like I can tell them that. Still, if it makes me look like some sort of mastermind, I guess I’ll take the win? Wow, I really am a small-timer.

"If I decide Weiss’s life is in danger, I will stop you—even if I have to use force," Cynthia declared.

"...Yeah. I’d appreciate that."

Actually, hearing her say that makes me pretty happy.

"Alright, let's head out and see if we can find where Tucker is hiding."

---

"Don't know him." "No idea." "Who knows?"

I spent the entire day walking until my feet hurt, but I couldn't find a single lead on Tucker’s location. But he was human. He had to eat, and he had to sleep. The reason he had come to a town like this was likely because there were fewer snitches here. In a place crawling with villains, people tended to keep their mouths shut. If there wasn't a profit in it, nobody said a word. That was the secret to longevity in this dump.

"When you think about it, is he even in the city?" Lilith mused. "He’s a wanted kingslayer. If it were me, I’d hide out in the woods until the heat died down."

She was right, normally. But Tucker was a special case. He had a specific reason for being here. He was looking for a ship.

"That would be true if he were just running away, but he’s not."

"He’s not?"

I figured I could share at least this much. "Yeah. He’s—"

In that moment, I felt a massive collision of mana nearby.

Dammit, did someone beat me to the punch? As expected of the protagonist. His luck is ten times better than mine.

"...Weiss, isn't that Allen?" Cynthia asked.

"Yeah."

"What should we do?"

It seemed they had noticed it, too.

"Let's go!" I shouted, breaking into a run toward the source of the mana.

We arrived at an old, crumbling, abandoned inn. The front door had been smashed off its hinges. Did they find him and corner him inside?

"Cynthia, Lilith, go wait in the northern woods. About five hundred meters in, there’s an open clearing. Wait for me there."

"What? Why there of all places—"

"Just go! I’m going to lure him out. If Tucker shows up, stall him. Cynthia, I’m counting on you."

"...Understood."

Cynthia was quick on the uptake, thank God. The two of them shared a look and sprinted off without demanding an explanation. Even though this plan sounds insane, they still trust me. I really don't deserve them.

But I had to focus. I looked up and leaped into the air.

[Unnatural Wall]

I manifested several invisible platforms in mid-air and ran up toward the second floor from the outside. I smashed through the boarded-up window, wood splinters flying everywhere, and found Allen and Tucker locked in a tense standoff. Both were bleeding, but Allen was clearly in worse shape—he was covered in gashes.

Aah, you can’t win this, Allen. No, wait, this is one of those 'scripted loss' events. You’re actually not supposed to win here.

Duke and Shari were nowhere to be seen. Either they were separated, or... they’d been taken out.

"Hope I’m not too late for the climax?" I drawled.

"...Another brat?" Tucker muttered.

Did he say 'another'? That means those two really did get... Good grief, this is why small fry shouldn't form parties.

Now, how should I play this?

"Pursuers are coming up the stairs, Tucker."

"...What?"

"Weiss, stay out of this!" Allen barked. "I found him first!"

"Ha! This is a competition, remember? What happened to your two idiots?"

"They’re safe! But they’re hurt."

I see. Well, at least they’re alive. So that’s why you’re so pissed, Allen. You really are an open book.

"So, Tucker, what’s it going to be?" I asked. He had no way of knowing if I was lying about the reinforcements. He had a goal. He couldn't afford to get caught here.

"...Hmph." Tucker’s expression shifted.

I let my mana surge to pressure him further. Still, I had to hand it to Allen; he’d actually managed to wound Tucker. Impressive. But I’d take it from here.

"...See ya."

In the blink of an eye, Tucker kicked through the wall and vanished. He’d clearly decided that fighting me and Allen at the same time—with more guards on the way—was a losing move. Even so, his magic was incredible. The wall was old, sure, but the way he instantaneously focused mana into his feet to maximize destructive power was a work of art.

I liked it.

"Dammit! Tucker, wait!"

"Allen, stay put. You’re bleeding too much."

"Shut up! He hurt Duke and Shari! I’m stopping him!"

Just then, Duke and Shari appeared at the top of the stairs. They were banged up, but they’d clearly received first aid. I see, so Shari finally learned Recovery Magic. Everyone’s working so hard, it makes me feel guilty.

"Weiss?! Why are you here?" Duke yelled.

"Duke, Shari, grab Allen. He can't beat the Flash right now. He’ll die."

"You don't know that!" Allen screamed.

Actually, I do. Trust me on this one.

"Allen..." Shari started, looking at him pleadingly.

"If you follow me, I’ll kill you. I’m serious." I let my killing intent flare, chilling the air instantly.

You guys aren't supposed to fight him yet.

"Goodbye. Go home and lick your wounds."

Leaving the stunned trio behind, I chased after Tucker. I activated [Dark Eye] to track his trail, and sure enough, he was heading straight for the forest.

And then...

"Yo, Flash."

Cynthia and Lilith were standing in his way, exactly where I’d told them to be. I’d been a little worried, but my fiancée and maid were as reliable as ever.

"Cynthia, Lilith, stay back."

Following my earlier order not to interfere, they both took a step away. Good. Stay there.

Tucker glared at me while healing his own wounds with magic. Short brown hair, sharp eyes—he looked exactly like his character art.

"Who the hell are you people? You want the bounty on my head that badly?"

"Something like that. Tucker, fight me. If you win, I’ll let you go."

"Ha! You’ve got guts, kid. Fine, I won’t hold back."

"I expect nothing less. After all, you’ve got things you still need to do, right?"

Tucker’s cheek twitched. I knew everything about him. What he’d done, and what he was trying to achieve.

"...Don't lie to me."

"It’s no lie. Tucker, you’re trying to get to Gurujutsu, aren't you?"

"...How did you find that out?"

"I know everything. But I’ll give you some good news. Your sister is alive."

"Wha... what?! What did you say?!"

Ah, there it is. That’s the reaction I wanted. You really are a good guy at heart, aren't you?

"Beat me, and I’ll tell you everything. I’ll even give you a ship. I don't think you’re going to get a better offer than that."

"...I don't know what your angle is, but if that’s the deal, be prepared to lose an arm or two."

"Yeah. It wouldn't be worth it otherwise."

I loved it—this suffocating tension, the stench of death in the air. This was real combat. This was how I’d get stronger. I wasn't going to play nice.

Take it from me—if you want it that badly. Show me a fight worthy of the 'Flash' name.

A heavy silence fell over the clearing. I slowly drew my whip with my left hand and readied my sword with my right. I flooded the blade with mana until it was coated in a black aura. Conversely, the whip began to glow with a brilliant light. It was a combination of Darkness and Light—my own customized version of the enchantment magic I’d seen Shari use.

"Time for a little presentation ceremony for my new move."

"——Forgive me."

The Flash moved. It looked leisurely, almost slow, but there wasn't a single wasted motion. The man was a genius. Unlike Allen or me, he was born with a natural, divine talent. It wasn't that his physical speed was high; it was that his mana flow was too beautiful.

He aimed for my arm. I could see it coming, I understood the trajectory, but the moment I tried to move, he used his eyes to drag the world into slow motion. From an opponent's perspective, he was the ultimate predator. You felt like you were moving through molasses while he picked you apart. Once he landed a couple of hits, it was over; you’d never be able to touch him again.

But he wasn't perfect. If he ran out of mana, his ability died. And even in slow motion, he wasn't invincible.

Just before his blade reached me, I flicked the whip. He didn't bother dodging it; he figured a little graze from a whip wouldn't do much damage. He was being careless.

But my whip wasn't that forgiving.

The moment his sword was about to bite into my arm, I boosted the mana of my [Barrier] to its absolute limit. It was a convenient defense, but blocking a direct hit from a master like him drained a massive amount of mana. It was a double-edged sword, but if I could just stop this one hit, I’d win.

"——What?!"

"Ha! Too bad for you."

The [Barrier] held. His sword was repelled by the magic wall with a sound like shattering glass. But that wasn't why he was shocked.

"What is this... my mana... I can’t use it?!"

After my pathetic loss to the dragon, I’d been thinking desperately. A dragon’s greatest strength was its mana. So, I just had to find a way to sever the source. Right now, I could only cause a brief disturbance, but I’d figured out how to disrupt a target’s mana through my whip.

I coiled the whip tightly around Tucker’s left arm to keep the flow of interference going.

"How do you like that? Where’s all that boastful mana gone?"

Tucker tried to force his mana to surge, but it just sputtered and died.

"...Dammit."

I think I’ll call it [Mana Turbulence (Unroute)].

The binding wasn't that strong; if someone used raw physical strength like Darius, they could break it. But I had a sword in my right hand. Unless you were a muscle-brained freak, I could kill you before you could resist.

"...How pathetic. Is this how it ends for me?"

"No. We’re just getting started. That was just a test run for the new move."

I slackened the whip and let him go. Tucker leaped back, putting distance between us, his eyes wide with shock. I needed to fight strong people, accumulate experience, and gain power that no one could match. I was going to use him for everything he was worth.

"...What a terrifying brat. You’re actually using me as a training dummy."

"Less talking, more fighting. If you keep losing to me, you’re never leaving this forest."

"——Don't regret your arrogance, kid!"

After that, Tucker came at me again and again. His attacks were razor-sharp, and even without his mana, his swordsmanship was terrifying. My body was carved up; my cheek was slashed open.

Hours passed. I was covered in blood, the bone of my arm visible through a deep gash, but I kept fighting. Cynthia tried to intervene several times, but I waved her off. Lilith just waited silently.

I’m sorry for being such a selfish guy.

But the moment a few of my fingers were sent flying into the grass, Cynthia finally snapped.

"Weiss-sama!" "Weiss!"

Tucker was also at his limit. Any further and one of us was going to die.

"Enough..." Tucker wheezed. "Just kill me."

"No, we’re done. That was a great lesson. I’m glad I got to see your Flash up close."

Magic was a world of imagery. Fire and water were easy to visualize, but unique abilities were different. It was way more complex than I’d imagined, but thanks to him, I’d finally managed to study the mechanics of his skill.

"Weiss-sama, give me your hand."

Lilith picked up my severed fingers and began chanting Recovery Magic. She’d gotten a lot better when I wasn't looking. I could feel the nerves reknitting—a disgusting sensation, like having my throat slowly stitched back together.

"In the end... what was the point of this?" Tucker asked.

"I just want to get stronger. And you were the best teacher I could ask for."

"...What a kid. I never did get your name."

"Weiss Fancent. Ever heard of it?"

"...The infamous villain noble?"

"That’s the one. It’s an honor."

Seriously, how far have these rumors spread? Whatever. Once my fingers were back on, I turned to him.

"Tucker, I’m letting you go."

"...What? Are you serious?"

"Tucker the Kingslayer... or should I say, Tucker the Sister-Lover?"

"Why do you keep...?"

"Your sister really is alive in Gurujutsu. I’m not going to tell you how I know, but it’s a fact. If I tell you that her aide, Millie, was the one who saved her, you’ll believe me, right?"

Millie was the one friend Tucker truly trusted. He’d probably spent all this time thinking she’d betrayed him, but the truth was the opposite. Cynthia and Lilith looked totally lost, but that was fine.

"...I don't know what to believe anymore."

"What do I gain by lying to you?"

Tucker fell silent. He couldn't find an answer because there wasn't one. He had no choice but to trust me. Finally, a small smile escaped his lips.

"...Fine. What do I do?"

"I’ll prepare a ship and give you some gold. Go see your sister."

"Why go this far for me? We’ve never even met."

"Yeah, you’re right."

Honestly, I’m wondering that myself. But I guess it’s only fair to pay your tuition fees.

Just then, Allen burst into the clearing. Man, protagonists really are terrible at following directions.

"Weiss!"

"You’re late. And you brought the extras, too."

Shari and Duke were right behind him.

"Allen, I’ve caught him. But I’m not killing him here. I’ve decided to hand him over to his own country's authorities."

"...You? Following the law?"

"Hey, I want that reward money."

I gave Tucker a quick wink and signaled Lilith.

"Lilith, take him away. You heard the plan, right?"

"...Yes."

"Tucker, go with her. Don't cause trouble."

"...Yeah. Thank you, Weiss."

Tucker walked away unsteadily, led by Lilith. He thanked me in a whisper, but I didn't need his gratitude. Lilith would finish healing him on the way. Allen watched them go, his expression solemn. I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"...I don't really get it, but does this mean we lost?" Duke suddenly yelled. "Does that mean I have to kowtow?! Me?! To Weiss?!"

This guy really was a riot.

"I’ll call it a draw this time since you found him first."

"...Weiss, I truly don't understand you," Allen said.

"Yeah, well, you aren't supposed to."

This was fine. He was probably frustrated about losing to a 'villain,' but it couldn't be helped. The plot demanded a scripted loss here.

"Cynthia, let’s go. Lilith will catch up later."

"Yes."

See ya, Protagonist. You might not be happy about it, but this is a happy ending. I got what I wanted, too.

It was time to go home.

▽

"...Tucker is dead?"

"Yes."

It had been a few days since we returned to the mansion. My injuries were gone, but my mana was still recovering. I was trying to meditate when Zebis dropped the bombshell.

After our encounter, Tucker had successfully reached Gurujutsu. I’d heard he’d even reunited with his sister. And now he was dead? Goddammit.

"Who did it? Pursuers?"

"No. It was an accident. A child was drowning in the sea, and he died saving them."

That idiot. After everything, he died in the ocean?

"Dammit!" I slammed my fist onto the desk.

Flash Tucker... the only reason he’d killed that King was to protect his sister. His country had been wealthy until a sudden drought turned it into a wasteland. They begged for aid, and a neighboring King offered to help—but only if they handed over Tucker’s sister as a plaything. The corrupt leaders of his own country agreed. Tucker fought to save her, killed the King, and killed the soldiers in self-defense.

That was the truth of the Tucker arc.

In the original game, Allen would meet Tucker without knowing any of this. To Allen, he was just a villainous kingslayer. It was a tragic clash of justice. Tucker would win, but the injuries from the fight would allow pursuers to finish him off later. Then, Allen would meet Tucker’s sister, learn the truth, and fall into a pit of despair. It was a notorious "depression episode" that everyone hated. Afterward, Allen would go on a rampage and destroy the entire corrupt kingdom in a grand "serve-them-right" moment.

I knew all of this. I wasn't kind enough to save him for free, so I used him as a sparring partner, and then I saved him as payment. I thought I’d fixed it.

But he died anyway.

The timing was too perfect. I checked the date—it was the exact day he was scripted to die in the game.

What is this? The world’s 'corrective force'? Even if I save someone, is it all just a temporary delay? Is everything I’m doing... meaningless?

I didn't know. Even now, the real villains who drove him to this were living in luxury while his sister was left alone. I hadn't intended to interfere further. It wasn't my business, and it could bring trouble to House Fanscent.

But he was dead. Who was going to take revenge now? Because I’d changed the story, Allen didn't know the truth.

"...Tucker’s sister is still alive, right?"

"Yes, there is no doubt."

"I see."

I’d told Zebis the truth about Tucker. I didn't tell him how I knew, but he trusted me enough not to ask.

If you’re going to do something, see it through to the end, huh?

"Zebis, contact my father. And I have another job for you."

"As you command."

I started moving that very day. The people who had cornered Tucker were human trash—the kind of scum that wouldn't be enough if you killed them a thousand times. Since I knew the plot, finding evidence was easy. Bribes, political pressure, whatever it took. I dragged every bit of their filth into the light.

A few weeks later, every single person involved in the conspiracy against Tucker was found hanging from a rope. Maybe now Tucker could rest in peace.

He was... basically my second master, after all.

"Zebis, give all this money to Tucker’s sister. Call it condolence money."

"This entire sum, sir?"

"Yeah. It’s just bounty money I took from other criminals anyway. I owed the guy. Do I need a better reason?"

"No. I understand. It shall be done."

In the end, I couldn't change his fate. Tucker was dead, and his sister would have to live alone. Meanwhile, monsters were becoming more active worldwide, and war was breaking out in the south.

Everything was following the script. The Calamity was coming.

But I wasn't going to give up. I’d fight destiny a thousand times if I had to.

Tucker, I’m taking your 'Flash' with me.

[Innate Skill Acquired: Flash (Time Lapse)]

When activated, the world appears to slow down. Mana consumption is extreme, but when used with [Dark Eye], I can even perceive the underlying structure of magical formulas.