The future hero of the Order, and a proud knight himself. Kalia Vadnick.

　But the knight she is referring to is a little, or a lot, different from the chivalrous being that is revered in plays and theaters.

　The image of a knight in Karia Vadnick's mind is... It's just a strong man. Even if they have the heart to reach out to the weak, even if they are willing to give their lives for justice. If you're weak, you're not considered a knight in her mind.

　Therefore, strength in her mind is not something to protect the weak. Strength, she once said, is a means to defeat something even stronger. And whether that strength is military or financial, she said, the strong are those who strive, and the weak are those who do not. Kalia Vadnick believes in this idea with all her heart. She is convinced it is true.

　The theory of the strong. The arrogance of the brilliant. Oh, how I miss that. I remember he said it to me directly. Your weak life is worthless.

　--"Geein...

　Cheeks fluttering, she peers down below. Kalia Vadnick is waving her sword as she battles a boar-shaped magical beast several sizes larger than herself. The sight of a young girl fighting with her silvery hair swaying looked like a fantastic scene.

　The reason why Kalia Vadnick was allowed to speak and act in such a violent manner was because of her own talent. The other was her competence. She was undeniably beautiful. It is a common rumor that when she began to rise in the ranks of the Knights, more and more women aspired to become knights because of her beauty. Regardless of the truth of the rumor, it is certain that she was strong and beautiful enough for such a rumor to be whispered. So she was forgiven. To live a life of blasphemy against the weak.

　Oh, no. I hate it so much. There's only one man I ever wanted to see, Alueno. Why should I meet the first person I don't even want to see?

　Kalia Vadnick, who's been my enemy at every turn on my journey to salvation. The reason is simple. Because I was the weakest link in the party by far. So they discriminated, prejudiced, and persecuted me. A way of life that's too straightforward and has no tolerance for anything outside of its own standards. I hated him.

It's funny.

"That's funny, before ......, before that, you would have defeated him. What's taking you so long?

　From the tree tops, I observed the struggle between Kalia Vadnick's swordplay and the might of the hexenbiest. And then, involuntarily, he frowned.

　I vaguely remember when I first came here, back then. At that time, when I still had something like a conscience in my heart, I would have tried to stop Kalia Vardnick from fighting the Hexenbiest.

　But what came back to me was a backhanded fist. He slammed his fist into my face with all his might, breaking my nose and causing me to collapse on the spot. I didn't realize it until after it was all over and the night was over.

　Yes, yes. I remember this battle in the woods was the first time the name Caria Vardnick became known to the world. I can't say for sure since I wasn't there, but I heard that she successfully defeated the hexenbiest.

　I, on the other hand, was not so lucky. My reconnaissance failed, of course. For a long time, I couldn't take on even the simplest jobs, let alone subcontract work for old Richard. I was nicknamed the "dredge" and lived a miserable youth.

　Oh. I'm getting angrier and angrier as I think about it.

　But at any rate, it must be true that Kalia Vadnick defeated that hexenbiest here. But it's taking an odd amount of time. No, it's not. She's definitely been pushed.

　She's doing a great job with the sword, fending off the hexenbiest's violence, but that's it. She's clearly lacking in decisiveness. She's probably looking for an opening, but she doesn't have enough time to turn it into one.

"What the hell are you doing, man?

　He snaps his teeth. What the hell is that skill? That's really Kalia Vadnick. The girl I knew never fought like that. She didn't waste time moving like that. Every detail was refined, everything calculated, and she wielded a sword with unmistakable genius.

　I hate that guy. Yes, he hated him. But his power was undeniably real. So I hated him, but I recognized him. But what was that? Immature, incomplete, inept. He was trying to fight a big hexenbiest with that kind of skill?

　I don't know why you're angry. I don't know why he's biting his lip and looking at me like that. I don't know anything. My mind is very complicated.



　The antagonism that had somehow been maintained up until now was shattered. Kalia Vadnick, unable to take the violence of the hexenbiest, slightly lost her stance.

　The hexenbiest roared loudly. She still hasn't recovered her stance. She's at the limit of her strength. And when that kind of hexenbiest roars... And when that kind of hexenbiest roars, that's when it sees its opponent not as an enemy, but as mere prey.

　--Giiiiiiiiin.

　Her sword was flung away by the hexenbiest's fangs, leaving a reverberating sound. She took a step back to avoid the attack, but it was too shallow. At that distance, the hexenbiest's charge would have caught her perfectly.

　Suddenly, I remember. I remembered that she had a big scar on her body, on her shoulder. When I saw it, it broke my cheekbone...

"Oh. d*mn it, ......!　What the hell are you doing?

　Oh, no. I can't stand to watch this.

　I hate it. That's why I hate this guy. He kicks the scaffolding, shaking the green rags. Two knives in his hands. Cheap, loose grip. But that's enough, all I have to do is fall. I steer in a straight line, right between the eyes of the large hexenbiest.

　Fortunately for the hexenbiest, it's glued to the defenseless form of Caria Vadnick in front of it. Then there can be no mistake.

　Jump. Jump and kill. In a straight line. Gouge through.

　Leaving a silvery trail, my body collides with his weakest point, right between the eyes.

　The sound of wailing and tearing flesh...

"Gu...aaaaagh!

　The iron gouged out the flesh and nerves, causing blood to gush out. The knife was fed by the impact of the fall and pierced the hexenbiest's brow to the root.