NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 130
“Deputy Director! Let’s go eat something!”
“Isn’t it better to spend some time with the family for a while??”
“Of course, the daughter comes along too! Let’s hurry!”
“Alright, I got it.”
“Oh, go out first! I might have left something here.”
“Quickly find it and come out.”
The God of War pushed the Deputy Director outside and started pacing around the Deputy Director’s Office.
The Knight Commander was huddled up, watching the God of War.
Recently, after the God of War sent the Deputy Director outside, he seemed to be spending more time prancing around the office.
I don’t know what the gaze meant, but it often lingered on the Knight Commander.
I wondered if what was said to the Deputy Director was merely an excuse.
“Alright! Here it is. Tanton, shall we go eat together?”
“No, I have work to do.”
“Ah, what a pity. Well, I’m off then!”
In the end, I snatched something from the Deputy Director and dashed out of the office.
So, why was I in the Deputy Director’s Office?
Since fighting alongside Muyun, I sensed that the God of War was acting strangely, and I wanted to protect the Knight Commander, who seemed the most likely to bear the brunt of it.
Of course, my power was nowhere near that of the Knight Commander, but she showed no signs of vigilance, having lost her memories.
It was to prevent any sudden attacks in advance.
However, since the Deputy Director, the Princess, and Muyun trust the God of War so completely, I had no way to do anything about it.
No matter how much I say, “I think the God of War is acting weird!” no one would believe me.
They might even think I’m being strange, possibly dismissing it as just a feeling.
Thus, I had to refrain from acting rashly until I had clear evidence.
So, I needed a period of observation.
But being so openly vigilant like this could only be done a couple of times.
“Tanton, it seems like you’ve been staying in the Deputy Director’s Office lately.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. I think it’s been almost a week.”
“Doesn’t that just mean the Deputy Director likes it that much?”
“If you’re going to say something disgusting, just get out.”
The fact that the Deputy Director was starting to get uncomfortable with me was a sign that he values his personal space.
Persisting through these weird remarks could eventually lead to him seriously being upset.
I probably couldn’t hold out much longer than a day or two.
Since I’m not the Knight Commander, I can’t stay in the Deputy Director’s Office for long.
Moreover, the bigger problem was that the God of War’s actions were changing gradually.
If I quietly observed the God of War’s behavior in the Deputy Director’s Office, there were times when he would suddenly look at me with a vacant gaze.
Just like that time when I found him, his eyes were glaring at me, red as crimson, reflecting his displeasure at being unable to carry out his plans.
One day, under the pretext of a ‘mistake,’ he suddenly threw a hand axe at me, nearly sending me to the afterlife.
“Oops, my bad.”
Though it was certainly the God of War’s unique cheerful smile, it felt far more chilling than seeing the grin of a typical villain.
So, I thought I should stop being so openly vigilant.
I even thought about changing my location to the Knights’ Rest Area, but since so many knights come in and out of there, staying long wouldn’t be a good idea.
The knights coming to rest wouldn’t be able to relax properly because they’d feel awkward because of me.
For now, I lay down in the Knights’ Rest Area.
My head was throbbing.
No matter how you looked at it, something was definitely off with the God of War.
If left unchecked, the Knight Commander would be in danger.
But no one would acknowledge this fact.
Even if I tried to secretly do something about it, nothing would go smoothly.
Could this be called being in a dilemma?
What should I really do?
As I winced at the throbbing in my head, I heard the voices of the outsiders.
“My lord, it seems you are in need of help.”
Well, I’m at a point where I’d want someone’s help, but how can you assist in this situation?
Direct involvement is difficult, and even if you want to do something through me, it’d only be possible with solid evidence.
“Hehe, my lord tends to underestimate our capabilities.”
The Dragon Slayer spoke as if she had everything figured out.
What’s with that voice, so full of conviction?
She seemed so reliable that I wanted to lean on her.
“How about trying to ask me for a favor?”
I’m curious about what you plan to do, but I’d like to hear it first.
“If you agree, I’ll help you. However…”
For a moment, it felt like the Dragon Slayer paused, almost stammering.
Why? What else is she trying to say?
“If you promise to grant me a favor, I’ll help you.”
“You, what kind of scheme are you brewing!”
As expected, the Dragon Slayer made a sketchy proposal that raised my anxiety.
As soon as she said that, Fiore’s voice erupted out of nowhere.
Since that day, Fiore has seen me in a horrid light.
“Are you trying to block my lord’s actions when you have no way to help? Then, my lord will have to abandon what he seeks to achieve. You know exactly what you want to see, right, Weed? If so, then I won’t stop you.”
“…Are you sure about that?”
“Of course. Have I ever acted without evidence?”
Though I can’t recall a time when she acted based on solid ground.
Fiore seemed poised to retort, but whether because of the coercion against me, she couldn’t say more.
I’ve never seen the Dragon Slayer display such certainty before.
Alright, for now, let’s hear her out.
“Hehe, you can look forward to it.”
Thus, the Dragon Slayer’s plan was set in motion.
#
“I didn’t expect such dangerous outsiders to appear in Bandre Village.”
“The fact that the Deputy Director is going makes me uneasy.”
“What can we do? I have to go. And the God of War is there, after all. Though he seems like this, he’s actually quite clever. Just follow his orders and don’t worry.”
“Understood.”
The Deputy Director, having received the sudden news of the outsider’s arrival in Bandre Village, immediately boarded the White Mask’s train.
As I watched her, I maintained a blank expression and passed the time.
“Tanton, by the way, you seem particularly pale today. Are you unwell?”
“No, it’s probably just the cold.”
“There’s no way you’d feel cold in your knight’s uniform… Huh, I understand for now. I don’t have time to worry more since I’m busy.”
After saying that, the Deputy Director immediately fueled the train and set off.
It was evident how much faith they had in the God of War.
To put him in the temporary Deputy Director’s position was quite telling.
“Did the Deputy Director really need to go?”
“True.”
The God of War, who had been missing for a while, might create confusion if he wore a mask.
Ordinarily, it would make more sense for the existing Deputy Director to go.
He must be the one to go.
“Well, let’s head back to headquarters for now.”
“Understood.”
Upon returning to the Knights Headquarters with the God of War, I chose not to sit down but stared at the back of the God of War, who was suddenly frozen in place.
I was quietly watching that back.
In an instant, the hand axe strapped to his back was drawn out, and the God of War swung it towards somewhere.
Once that sequence of actions was complete, my gaze began to lower gradually.
Wait, what’s happening?
“Hehehe, hAHAHAHA!”
In my narrowing sight, the God of War let out a maniacal laugh.
The God of War did not stop laughing even after Tanton collapsed.
Perhaps he felt he could finally execute the plan he had been plotting.
“That bastard won’t let me move freely because he’s always hogging the space.”
The God of War stepped on Tanton’s head, which had fallen to the ground.
For some reason, observing Tanton’s head gradually turning purple, the God of War scoffed disdainfully.
“He said he could handle the outsider, and already it’s rotting. Was it all a bunch of nonsense?”
Believing he completely finished Tanton, the God of War immediately shifted his target.
The Knight Commander’s face turned pale when she sensed that she was the next target.
“Hey, Commander.”
The God of War approached the Knight Commander and grabbed her hair.
“Ugh, ugh.”
“What’s wrong? Where’s that strong look? You’ve lived for over a hundred years, so you shouldn’t be afraid of anything. Right? Huh?!”
The God of War yelled in an uncharacteristic tone and slapped the Knight Commander’s cheek.
Despite not inflicting any wounds, the Knight Commander weakly fell.
She appeared to have no will to fight.
At that moment, it seemed like scales were forming on the God of War’s skin.
“Seems like even if you lost your memory, your instincts remember. I’ll make you suffer as much as you’ve made me suffer, Commander.”
Pulling the Knight Commander towards him by grabbing her arm, the God of War locked eyes with her as if he would pierce through them.
Just that was enough to twist the Knight Commander’s expression into a painful grimace.
I couldn’t watch any longer.
I kicked a box in frustration and stood up.
“What, what is this?!”
That which had been “the God of War” turned back in shock.
Then their face began to redden as if filled with betrayal.
Well, how absurd.
Who should be feeling betrayed here?
I drew the sword Sintol had made for me and pointed it at the God of War.
“Gotcha, you bastard.”
Now, the battle against the unknown outsider begins.