The Grasshopper Men's diversion seemed to be working well, allowing me to reach my destination with remarkable ease.
"Oh dear..."
I arrived just as a woman was about to be assaulted.
The victim was Anna, a female knight and Rose's confidante. And the one attacking her was that piece of trash swordsman who had once spouted nonsense about becoming defiled just by touching me. Defiled, really? If anything, the ones utterly defiled are you scoundrels, unashamedly trying to violate a woman in broad daylight before everyone's eyes.
Indeed. Anna did save me once before. I ought to repay that debt here and now.
Besides, this is terrible for Faf's education. Let us exterminate these pests at once.
"Save meeeee!!"
Taking Rose's scream as my cue, I kicked off the ground and materialized behind the pudgy, bearded, older swordsman. I seized him by the head and hoisted him into the air. Now then, let us test just how much force it takes to kill him. I might as well make good use of him.
"Ghih?! It hurts! Gigagagaga!"
Putting just the slightest bit of strength into my fingers crushed his skull to powder. Good grief. I had no idea he would be so fragile.
"Shattering from just this much. I knew it. He has even less durability than the weakest monsters in the labyrinth. The gap between the strong and the weak in this world might be remarkably vast."
Much like I once was, this man likely possessed no decent Gift. Perhaps out of an inferiority complex, he went out of his way to pick on the past me. Well, I feel not a shred of sympathy for him.
At any rate, I really should keep the God-Sealing Gloves active at a slightly higher restriction. Otherwise, things could become dangerously messy.
Seeing the headless corpse drop heavily to the ground, the shaved-head knight pinning Anna's arms let out a screech like a dying bird.
What an idiot. A fellow who betrayed his rightful master, betrayed his country, and sought to violate a defenseless woman now quakes in terror at his own demise? If you did not wish to die, you should have kept your head down. You should never have stepped onto the path of villainy. In short, these men lack it entirely—the resolve that we warriors must unfailingly possess.
Growing intensely irritated by that pathetic display, I kicked his head upward, rupturing it and shutting his mouth forever.
Now then, as for the rest—my gaze met the black-haired spearman holding Rose. When I offered him a brilliant smile, he let out a tiny shriek and scrambled to his feet.
Kicking off the ground, I slipped behind him, caught his neck from behind with my right hand, and lifted him into the air.
Right now, I am heavily restricted by the God-Sealing Gloves. Yet for him to be utterly unable to even react... the weak in this world truly are weak, after all.
"I-I haven't done anything yet! It's true! I was just egged on by that guy!!"
Glancing toward Fracton, the high-ranking noble who masterminded this farce, he screamed with a look of sheer desperation.
"You bastarrrd!!"
Veins bulged on Fracton's temples as he flew into a rage at the black-haired spearman.
"'Haven't yet,' which means you fully intended to join in, didn't you?"
From the memories of the past Kai Heinemann, this man had always hung around the two I just killed. Considering he was ready to violate a woman in such a blood-drenched place, this folly was surely not his first time. There is no need to even entertain such excuses.
Above all else...
"N-No, that's—"
"Besides, 'egged on'? You betrayed your comrades and sought to kill them. That was the path you chose. You must bear the responsibility for it. A classic case of karma, as they say."
I hurled the black-haired spearman high into the air.
"Stoo—"
As he fell screaming, I drove my right fist straight into the center of his torso. In an instant, the black-haired spear knight burst like an overripe fruit.
"..."
I had fully expected the remaining enemies to rush me, but they all merely stared in my direction, the color completely drained from their faces.
If they will not move, that is all the more convenient. Let us take this opportunity to heal the wounded.
Retrieving the Subjugation Compendium from my item box, I used Release on enough Healing Slimes for everyone and commanded them to tend to all of Rose's subordinates.
The slimes enveloped the knights lying on the brink of death, instantly mending their wounds before circling around me. They seemed to be begging for praise.
"Well done, everyone."
Good little ones, good little ones.
As I stroked their squishy, bouncy bodies, they jiggled with delight.
"Unfair! Faf wants headpats too, Master!!"
Letting out a wry smile at the spoiled dragon jumping up in frustration behind me, I gave the order.
"It's dangerous, so stay inside."
The moment I commanded them, the slimes were drawn back into the Compendium.
"I..."
Seeing the knights who should have been mortally wounded rising to their feet, Rose widened her eyes in shock for a moment, but then rushed over to Al, who was still unconscious, and helped him up.
From the interrogation of that handsome red-haired fellow, this man's true name is likely the Lion King—Arnold. A Royal Guard to the current King, and without a doubt, the greatest knight in the present kingdom. Since this gentleman never swung his sword in official tournaments, I have yet to see his swordsmanship. However, I heard from my grandfather that he is remarkably skilled, a pinnacle I should strive toward in the future. To think I would meet him under these circumstances.
At any rate, the fact that Arnold was defeated means either that Sword Emperor is even more capable, or Arnold was prevented from fighting properly because Rose and the others were taken hostage.
"Princess...?"
Perhaps his mind was still clouded, as Arnold muttered faintly.
"You... was that summoning magic just now?"
A burly man with a graying shaved head and a cloth wrapped around his mouth asked while observing me, as if peering at a ferocious beast inside a cage.
"It is slightly different, but well, it calls forth monsters. In that single regard, there is no difference."
"Fuhahahahaha!!"
The other black-robed figures, presumably imperial soldiers, looked on with bewilderment as the gray-haired man suddenly burst into roaring laughter.
"Such astounding physical capability, combined with a skill to summon ultra-rare monsters. You are worthy of becoming our compatriot. Come with us! In exchange, I will not lay a finger on those women. Well? It is not a bad offer, is it?"
"Lord Enz, that goes against His Imperial Majesty's orders!"
A black-robed man beside him, seemingly his adjutant, immediately urged him to reconsider.
"Hah! That man possesses power equal to or greater than our own. His Majesty will surely be far more pleased with him than with some mediocre summoned Hero whose very arrival is questionable."
"However—"
Grabbing the lapels of the adjutant, who was still trying to protest, Enz growled in a low, menacing voice.
"Hey! You dare defy my word?"
"N-No, forgive me!"
Hey now, do not go settling matters on your own while ignoring my will.
"N-No! Kai!"
Rose called out in a voice shrill with panic, and
"Lord Enz, that is not what was promised! Princess Rosemary was to marry the Empire's Third Prince and establish peace with our country! Do you intend to break that covenant?!"
Fracton shouted, his face pale with fury.
"Peace with the kingdom? Marriage with the Third Prince? Those were merely claims your side made on your own. Our Empire has no such intention. That woman is merely a lab animal for our country's Hero Summoning. Nothing more, nothing less."
"No way..."
His face painted in pure despair, Fracton hung his head. Either way, having sold out Rose, this man is utterly ruined.
"Do not decide things on your own. I have no intention of going along with you lot."
The present me is by no means a good person. Rather, since my sensibilities deviate drastically from the morals of this world, calling me a villain would be more accurate.
However, I have not fallen so low as to ally with bastards who unashamedly talk of turning a defenseless woman into a lab animal. After all, I too was once powerless. The logic of that brand of strong men makes me sick to my stomach.
"Naturally, I did not expect a man of the kingdom to come along quietly. Zignir, let us do this. I shall dedicate myself to rear support."
The atmosphere shifted. Hmm, taking on two of the Empire's Six Knight Generals simultaneously will be tough, but well, I have fully accounted for this possibility. It cannot be helped.
"Don't screw with me! Don't butt in anymore! If you pull any more unnecessary crap, I'll seriously kill you!"
The scarred man, Zignir, drew the sword at his waist, took a stance facing me, and shot a murderous glare at Enz.
"Are you an idiot?! The opponent is a summoner! As if you can win with swordsmanship alone!"
At Enz's sudden outburst of fury, the black-robed men shrank back.
"No, I am not a summoner. I am a swordsman."
Disappointing. Utterly disappointing. That stance and those movements of Zignir's—they do not belong to someone who has mastered the sword. They belong to a cheeky brat who simply believes himself to be strong without a shred of doubt. With that level of skill, there is no way he could ever defeat the renowned Lion King. It seems Arnold was indeed prevented from fighting properly.
Even so, why did a man of Former Sword Emperor Ashburn Gastrea's caliber pass down the title of Sword Emperor to such an unrefined brat? If it is skill of that level, the Empire surely has plenty to spare. Incomprehensible. Far too incomprehensible.
"Are you a relative of Ashburn Gastrea?"
"Ashburn Gastrea is my grandfather."
If so, did he allow the succession based on bloodline alone? Did I overestimate Ashburn Gastrea? No, that innocent yet utterly flawless swordsmanship of Ashburn Gastrea was the genuine article. He is not a man who would drag our way of the sword through the mud simply out of fondness for his grandson.
If that is the case, did he find some measure of value in this person? Well, fine. This man is green. In that case, he is not worth pointing a blade at.
Picking up a nearby spear, I sheared off its tip with Raikiri and took a stance.
"What kind of joke is this?"
Perceiving my intent, Zignir's face contorted like a demon's as he spat the question.
"Hmm. The current you is not worth pointing a blade at. Come at me. I shall give you some practice."
"Fine by me! I'll make sure you can never spout that arrogance again!!"
With thick veins bulging on his forehead, Zignir slashed at me.
Taking a stance with my wooden shaft, I parried the blow, beginning the practice to discern the intent of the great Former Sword Emperor, Ashburn Gastrea.