I Possessed the Heroine’s Teacher

Pellinore’s ability was truly remarkable. Absorbing the damage his allies received, he endured injuries that would have killed him dozens of times over and still stood his ground. Honestly, just based on his resilience, he reminded me of a hero straight out of mythology. Adding to this his enormous size, he looked like a giant guardian statue.

“You move quite swiftly! It seems grand mages possess physical skills comparable to knights!”

“I was trained in basic swordsmanship and combat techniques by my elder brothers.”

Truthfully, I was narrowly dodging his attacks by the skin of my teeth. If I could mix in counterattacks with my physical skills, the situation might be different, but doing so would break the promise I made to myself just moments ago.

I would face this opponent as Werner. Even if it meant facing death.

“Urgh…”

Pellinore let out a brief groan, unable to endure the increasingly severe burns. Most of his subordinates, too, succumbed to the pain and lay sprawled on the ground.

Pellinore claimed he could absorb damage, but he had never said he could absorb the pain. While not entirely certain, I continued testing quick, simple spells to confirm my theory. As expected, though they didn’t hinder his movements significantly, I observed reactions—gritted teeth or a slight grimace—whenever he was hit.

However, fleeting pain wasn’t enough to subdue Pellinore’s subordinates.

Then, I recalled a rumor I’d once heard—that burning was the most agonizing pain in the world. That memory inspired me to use Hellfire, a spell Werner had developed. Fueled by the target’s guilt as kindling, the ferocious flames were more than sufficient to subdue Pellinore’s subordinates.

“So it’s true… A tiger’s followers are tigers as well.”

True to the reputation of the Green Forest Bandits. The power of Hellfire depended on the guilt within its targets. The fact that these flames burned so fiercely, even with a blue hue, indicated how deeply they felt guilt over condoning this situation. They were different from the trash who had killed Count Holstead’s family.

“One last time, I’ll ask. If you surrender now, I’ll extinguish the flames and allow you to serve under me. Do you truly have no intention of walking this path with me?”

Even as his entire body burned, Pellinore never lost his smile. His endurance was beyond comprehension. His tanking abilities must have far surpassed even Ricardo or Melchior, my elder brothers.

“Even as righteous bandits, thieves must live in the shadows. Just as lions don’t graze on grass, thieves do not live on the king’s wages.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Even righteous bandits who break the law must face the death penalty. Should we be brought into the fold, the country would descend into chaos, and in that chaos, innocents would suffer. Didn’t you say you’d save those close at hand first? This is the fate we’re destined to fight against.”

I detested glorifying villains. Yet… I found myself wishing desperately to bring this man to my side. Someone as romantic, upright, and pure-hearted as him—I couldn’t help but want to recruit him.

“In that case, could you at least secretly cooperate with me—”

“Don’t underestimate the Black Round Table. Such petty schemes would be discovered instantly. And… I loathe deceiving people.”

He was right. I was the one in the wrong. His conviction, while perhaps misguided, shone with unyielding purity.

“You’re incredible… Truly. It pains me to know we can’t walk the same path. If only I had met you before you were stained by this world.”

“I feel the same. If only you had been a bit more flexible.”

“A lack of flexibility is something we share, isn’t it?”

Pellinore gave a small chuckle at my jest. Despite absorbing the damage, enduring the pain of his body burning at several times the intensity was surely agonizing.

“You, so upright that you reject my compromises and pursue your ideals of romance…”

“And you, so uncompromising that you refuse to join hands with someone who’s walked the path of evil like me…”

“I lament that I met you too late to save you from the path of darkness and must now destroy you.”

“And I’ll fight, finding hope in the fact that there are still righteous people like you.”

I summoned Armadura. It was my way of showing him respect, a declaration that I would fight him at my full strength.

“Die, Grand Mage!”

“…I would have preferred if you lived, O righteous bandit.”

I gathered magic at my fingertips. It was painful, knowing I was about to kill someone who could have been a great friend.

Pellinore once again charged at me, dagger in hand. The severe burns on his body ensured that killing me would also mean his death. Was defeating me so important to him? Even if it meant dying? Even if it meant failing to achieve the justice he sought? Was his pride worth that much?

“Spirit King of Steel, forge a blade that can slay even gods.”

I could have forged a longsword, but I deliberately crafted a dagger that fit perfectly in my hand. Gripping it tightly, I watched as Pellinore charged forward.

“Ha! Did you think that with your surface-level dagger skills, you could defeat me, a master?”

Shlunk!

My dagger pierced through Pellinore’s skin and drove straight into his heart.

“That dagger technique… This isn’t the handiwork of an ordinary mage…”

Pellinore’s injuries were grave. If I had used lightning or fire-based magic, he would have fallen immediately. Yet, I deliberately chose to craft an indestructible dagger with steel-based magic.

“Indeed, this isn’t the skill of a grand mage.”

If he wanted to fight to the death to uphold his pride, if he wanted to risk his life to defeat me that badly… I decided to break my vow. If he wanted to win against a grand mage so desperately, I wanted to help him do so. After all, unlike him, I couldn’t throw away my life for pride or ideals. I just wanted to do something for him, touched by his resolve.

“Congratulations, Pellinore… No, Olag. You have defeated the Grand Mage. And yet, tragically, you have lost to a coward.”

“Hah… That is truly joyous news. By the way, I have a request.”

“A request? I’ll hear it and decide.”

“I have removed the marks on my subordinates that allowed me to absorb their shocks. With me fallen, they have no chance of defeating you. Instead of letting them endure the agony of burning, grant them peace.”

“Very well.”

That was a request I could grant.

“Steel dragon, pierce the bodies of my enemies with your fangs.”

The spears I created pierced Olag’s subordinates swiftly, granting them an instant death without time to feel pain.

“My thanks.”

“Still, I’m surprised. Your heart was pierced, yet you’re still so lively.”

“I’m merely squeezing out every ounce of strength. For a leader to die before their subordinates… is there anything more ridiculous?”

Ah… What a fool. The thought that I hadn’t met him earlier was truly infuriating.

“For the last time…”

At that moment, I heard children’s voices outside.

“Uncle! What’s going on? Were you fighting?”

“We kept hearing strange noises inside!”

“Did you fight with the new man? Talk it out, don’t fight!”

Hearing the children’s voices, Olag groaned and forced himself to stand. With staggering steps, he leaned against the iron door and shouted.

“Kids! Your uncle is fine! Look at this booming voice! What better proof do you need that I’m okay?!”

He was forcing himself to shout, squeezing out his voice to reassure the children even as he was dying.

“Your big uncle and the other uncles have to go far away for a while! So can you promise to listen to the new man for just a little while?!”

The children hesitated but eventually agreed when Olag pleaded with them. Only then did he turn toward me with a faint smile.

“For the last time… I entrust those children to you. Unlike me, you are someone who doesn’t compromise and saves those right before your eyes…”

“Fine, I promise. Do you have any last words?”

“Yes… I am grateful for this chance to speak. The Tower Lord of the Tower of Earth… he is one of us from the Black Round Table… He is, in truth, the leader of a great band of rogues… Please try to talk to him… He, like me, is a foolish man who has gone astray…”

“I understand. I’ll try as you suggest.”

“I wished to die as a righteous bandit… But as you said, having compromised with evil, I now die as a mere pathetic thief… How regretful…”

And with that, Olag’s life came to an end. Despite suffering injuries that would have killed an ordinary person dozens—no, hundreds of times over, he held on till the very end and even left behind a dignified farewell. A fool, yet an admirable one.

I approached him and gently closed his eyes.

“Unfortunately, I have no tears to shed for a member of the Black Round Table.”

From my pocket, I pulled out a piece of bread. It was the bread that the child Amy had reluctantly handed me earlier.

“But… I can at least leave an offering.”

The creed of the Green Forest Bandits was to share bread without hesitation with the poor and hungry. If so, there could be no offering more fitting for him than this piece of bread.