The Son of a Corrupt Lord Doesn't Want to Become a 'Saint'! V1C1
Stage 1-1: A new life begins from here
To whom does the phrase "winning in life" refer?
It refers to those who have the ability to exploit others.
And I am definitely on the winning side.
Being the eldest son of a duke, it is expected that I will receive the best education in the country and attend the prestigious Lichtenberg Magic Academy starting next month.
Naturally, I am expected to excel academically to uphold the family name and secure my enrollment.
My ambition is absolute evil.
It does not align with notions of justice like that of a hero.
Why should I spend my short life for the sake of others?
I want to pursue my passions and live life on my own terms, without allowing anyone to hinder me.
I aspire to lead a life similar to that of the Demon Lord, who opposes humanity.
And today marks the momentous first day of such a remarkable life.
"I apologize for the wait, Father."
"Good, my son. I am aware of your diligence in your studies. It is crucial to constantly better oneself."
"Thank you very much."
Gordon Vellet, my father, strokes his beard with a satisfied expression upon witnessing my gratitude.
At first glance, he may seem stern and strict, with a tough-looking face, but he is a caring parent who loves his family. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he even spoils us a little.
If there is any hobby or activity I wish to pursue, he ensures I have access to top-notch instructors, regardless of the endeavor.
He is the finest father, providing the optimal environment.
"Let's get straight to the point, starting next year, you will be attending Lichtenberg. You are aware that students are required to reside in the dormitories, right?”
"Of course, to fully concentrate on practicing magic, correct?"
"Yes. You can bring one caregiver with you to the dormitory. Choose someone within a month."
"Am I free to select anyone I desire as my caregiver?"
"Yes, this is also a test to identify capable individuals. It could be one of our maids, or if you prefer, you can hire someone. Just bring along someone who can support you during your time at school."
I have been eagerly awaiting this opportunity. I can acquire a competent subordinate without spending any money. The person I choose will not only serve during my time in the dormitory but also work under me for a lifetime. This means involving someone in my misdeeds.
If I wanted to select someone useful, I could hire an intelligent servant. However, that would be uninteresting. I want to witness how an individual with a righteous heart succumbs to evil. The heroes in stories may be deceived time and again, but they never lose their kind hearts. What if they were consistently exposed to evil? What if they became entangled in wrongdoing? I wish to observe such a life right by my side.
"I already have someone in mind."
"Ah, impressive indeed. I look forward to seeing whom you bring along," Father said with an evil smirk.
As soon as I bid farewell to my father, I swiftly tidied up my appearance and made my way to the town.
"Kukuku...
hahaha...! From this point on, my era shall commence. It is the beginning of my
extraordinary life. I am going to pick up my first accomplice."
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
At the edge of the capital city lies a run-down town called Washua, which is considered separate from the main city. This place has a notorious reputation for drugs, human trafficking, and illegal gambling – it's the most despised and corrupt town in the world.
Despite this, I found myself in the underground fighting arena of Washua, a place that represented the darkness of the capital.
"Finish him!"
"Attack! Take him down!"
Insults filled with moral decay were thrown at me from the crowd.
Facing me was a man who stood over two meters tall. He wore a horned helmet, held a massive axe, and was dressed in thick iron armor.
This man was my opponent in the match.
"I don't care if you've been winning so far, but don't underestimate me, a young woman," he said, breathing heavily. He had held the top rank in the arena until I defeated him. Perhaps he didn't like being beaten by a woman.
This match had been forced upon me.
"Enough talking. Come here," I said.
I heard a blood vessel snap as he swung his weapon with all his might.
It was a foolish attack driven by anger. Until now, he had relied solely on his strength, which might have worked against an opponent without technical skills. But I was different.
"――[Sword-line Madness]"
"...Huh?"
I redirected his force back at him. I evaded his axe and pushed his arm further, rendering it uncontrollable.
"Gaaaah!?"
"In the end, go down quietly," I said, silencing his screams of pain.
"Ngoo!? Aaaaa...aaaakh..."
I plunged my sword into his mouth, piercing through his throat and staining the floor with blood. I wiped the blood off my beloved sword and sheathed it.
Leaving the still-rousing arena, the arena master awaited me at the entrance.
"Hey, Chris. Someone is waiting for you," said the Manager.
"I don't have any plans like that," I responded to the Manager.
"Just come with me! Otherwise, I'll ban you from here!"
"...Okay."
The manager's language was rough, but I had no choice but to comply.
To survive in this place where I have lost my former glory and status, I am forced to fight and stain my sword with blood every day.
It's ironic that the despised and detested evil is what keeps me alive now. Following the manager, I was led to the VIP exclusive room.
In the room adorned with flashy and unwelcoming decorations, a person sat on a leather chair.
"....a child?"
"Chris! Watch your language!"
"Never mind. I won't be bothered by something like that. More importantly, Mr. Manager, could you let me be alone with her?"
"Uh, yes, of course! Ah, we won't let anyone get close, so please feel free to do whatever you want, hehe... Well then..."
The manager pushed me from behind and hastily left the room.
I had never seen him so humble before.
It's unclear whether this young boy holds such a high rank or status.
When I looked at him, he let out a sigh with an exasperated expression.
"That's ridiculous. There's no way you're going to start working in a place like this."
"What do you mean by that?"
"That man misunderstood and thought that I came to buy you because I desired a woman. But that's not why I'm here. Chris Ragnica, the former commander of the Holy Knight Order."
“...!”
Chris Ragnica, former commander-in-chief of the Holy Knights, was taken aback by the nostalgic nickname.
Even though it had been a few years since I had held that position, I still remembered it well.
The boy, Ouga Vellet, gestured for her to sit down and then settled deep into the chair.
"I am Ouga Vellet, the eldest son of the Vellet Duke family."
"What!? Really!?"
"Yeah. Here, as proof, I have a short sword engraved with my family crest."
As he says that, he reveals a dagger engraved with the unmistakable emblem of the Vellet family, a symbol that is etched in my memory.
Using a fake noble crest is a serious crime, and there's no way a child like him would use an imitation so easily. If he is indeed related to the Vellet family, it would make sense that he was able to find her whereabouts.
They are proficient in intelligence gathering and primarily responsible for diplomacy.
With that intelligence network, they could easily find someone like her, although there aren't many fools who would use it on a woman who has fallen so far.
"So, what does the Vellet family want with me? Sorry, I can't do what you want. I hate you nobles. You should know the reason without me telling you, right?"
"Of course. It was the nobles who judged and expelled you from the Holy Knights."
"That's right. They were corrupt nobles who concealed their misdeeds and fattened their own pockets in private attire!"
As someone who served as the leader of the Holy Knights, I had been condemning evil deeds. It was because I believed it would lead to happiness and peace for the citizens.
As I continued my activities, I discovered that human trafficking was taking place. I gathered evidence and advised the king to capture the nobles involved.
I believed the king would make the right choice and that this would eliminate another evil from the country!
But it was I who was driven out.
All the evidence was hidden, and the scenes of human trafficking were disguised as personnel lending. As a result, I was falsely accused of making a false report.
Stripped of my position as a Holy Knight and with no place to live, I ended up in the arena.
How humiliating it was to use the swordsmanship I had honed for justice, for the sake of the prosperity of evil, and only to earn a living for myself...!
I had no choice but to do so to survive. My weakness gnawed at my heart.
"I know that story too, having investigated it. But at that time, the head of the Vellet family, my father, was in a neighboring country. If he had been there, you wouldn't be in a place like this."
“Hmph, so what? Is that supposed to comfort me? It’s too late. I’m just a foolish Chris now...”
“...Honestly, I’m disappointed, Chris.”
“What?”
Did he just say he was disappointed in me...?
I glare at him, slamming my clenched fist onto the table. However, he doesn’t flinch and remains still, even though the table is now broken and wood chips are scattered everywhere. Instead, he sighs heavily.
“You’re swinging your sword with your emotions. Where’s the pride of being a holy knight?”
“...Shut up! I’m not a holy knight anymore.”
“I respected Chris Ragnica, who encouraged his companions, never gave up against the demon army, and never bowed his head.”
“...Ah... ah, please stop...”
Don’t speak of me in such shining words. You’re talking about my past self. I’ve given up on that person, I’ve abandoned that person.
I left that behind in the past to remind myself of my miserable current self.
“I can’t go back...! Chris Ragnica is dead!”
“If you feel like you’ve abandoned everything, start again from here.”
“Huh?”
“Start over from here, where you’ve given up everything because you’ve died.”
His warm hand rests on my cheek. My face, which was looking down, now looks up at him.
“Come with me. I’ll clear the way for you to shine with your justice.”
Tears roll down my cheeks.
I can’t stop him. It’s like he’s washing away the dirt inside me.
Pathetic, miserable, yet I can’t stop crying.
He gently wipes my tears with his fingers and holds both my hands.
“Show me that brilliance again, my knight, Chris Ragnica.”
At that moment, I feel like I’m being given a second chance. My heart trembles with joy.
I instinctively understand that the one I serve is not the country, but him.
“I swear to wield my sword for you, Ouga-sama.”
