I still think about…
He covered his face with both hands, picturing her face—the captain of his Holy Knights.
Oh, Seras…
When the Black Dragon Knights came, she fled the capital. From what he’d heard, she was still on the run.
I don’t regret letting you escape me. Not regret, but…
The thought of her in trouble made him sick. He had no idea if she was even safe. He let out a stifled groan, pangs of regret stabbing at his chest.
No…I must’ve made the wrong choice. How did it come to this?
“I should’ve taken her. Forced myself onto her if I had to!”
His daughter, the princess , had always kept men away from Seras, even Ortola himself. She was a holy knight of the realm—no man could have her.
The holy knight vow of chastity had been his daughter’s idea to begin with. Ortola had only ever interacted with Seras in public—the ways and times they might meet were limited by his position as Emperor. Ortola was always uncomfortable around his daughter, even afraid of her, and Seras was always by her side. He had no choice but to give up on the knight.
Ahh…
Whenever he thought of her, his body came alive at the memory. Her body, those seductive flowing lines, her soft, pink lips… Those breasts, barely covered despite the best efforts of her tailor… Her silky voice gently caressing his ears… The sweet, unmistakable scent of a woman. She was sophisticated and kind, and above all that, beautiful beyond compare. Seras Ashrain stirred something in the loins of even the withered, dried-up Emperor when she passed him by.
I can’t have it…
Above all, he was terrified of her being somebody else’s.
She should be mine. She offered her sword to me. By rights, she’s my property. In the days when I truly ruled this realm, that was enough to satisfy me, but now…now I can only quench my burning desire for her in my fantasies. I try to be satisfied with this, and yet…
He began to weep.
She could always tell the truth from lies. I tried my best to act the noble emperor in her presence, but in truth, I’m just a coward.
Now Seras was gone, a runaway from his lands, lost by his own daughter. He’d known Princess Cattlea intended to send Seras away, but he let it happen anyway.
I would sooner die than see her in the hands of those Bakoss thugs…or so I thought back then. I wanted a peaceful, long life for her—some beautiful thing living out her days far away from this place…
He clenched his hands in the fabric of his dressing gown.
But I…
“I can’t do it.”
He couldn’t forgive her. He could not let it end like this.
Sooner or later, she’ll be captured and defiled by some other man. I cannot bear to think of it…!
She would never return to him. She would never be his.
Someone else is bound to take her, and I…I will never be free from this torment!
His head dropped.
“Seras…” he mumbled.
The former Holy Emperor brought his hands together in prayer.
“This is my final wish. Please, I beg of you…” His voice was hoarse, strained but resolute. “Die! Disappear from this world and never return!”
Mimori Touka
“CIVIT GARTLAND?!” said Seras, gripping her sword and preparing to fight.
I guess he’s as famous as he thinks he is, huh?
“And…the Elite Five?!”
Just four of them up there, though…one’s missing.
Civit held another white spear aloft, pulled from the leather quiver on his dragon’s harness. He had a sword at his belt, too, still in its scabbard. He’d come prepared for a fight.
“I shut him up, Orban,” said Civit, never taking his eyes off me.
The blond man on his left, Orban, scratched his head. “Yeah, but did you have to kill him?” Orban’s skin was dark, his face well-proportioned and handsome. He wore a sly frown.
“He shouldn’t have let the girl best him. I imagine Ortola’s desire piqued his interest.” Civit’s red eyes were unwavering, his face completely expressionless.
Orban looked down at Gizun’s corpse.
“Selfish, greedy, easy to manipulate…I’m gonna miss him,” Orban said.
“That’s your problem. He was in my way—killing him was the easiest way to get him out of it.”
“Gizun was always focused on what he wanted. Had a feeling he wouldn’t make it through this mission. Maybe I shouldn’t’ve brought him after all, huh?”
“He was clearly past his prime. If he’d been able to dodge that spear, I would’ve rescued him.”
He was paralyzed when you skewered him—he couldn’t have dodged even if he wanted to. Not that he would have stood a chance against a spear that fast.
A single bead of sweat rolled off my jaw.
They haven’t noticed my paralysis skill yet.
I looked over at Seras. She was clearly overwhelmed.
“E-Emperor Ortola?”
Sounds like this Ortola guy was the ruler of Neah. Why’s the emperor she once served trying to kill her? What did Gizun say before he died? He wanted to see her face when she learned the truth. Was he trying to tell her about Ortola?
I couldn’t understand it. From the look of it, Seras couldn’t either.
“The old man’s still got quite the fortune stashed away, y’see. He says he’ll give us all of it if we bring you to him. Those hidden vaults of his are full of things I’d like to get my hands on.”
“Why didn’t you just torture the location out of him?” asked Seras. As he answered, Civit’s gaze remained fixed on me, as it had been ever since he threw his first spear.
“He’s got a strange stubborn streak. Crazy, if you ask me—and torturing a crazy man won’t get you anywhere. No, he won’t tell us where they are until we give him what he wants. You.” Civit laughed mirthlessly. “Delusions and desire are a terrible mix.”
“Pfah! You saw through the man so fast it was terrifying!” the dragon knight on Civit’s right broke in. “Leaving Orban’s personal opinions aside, Commander Civit, would you remind me of our orders regarding Seras Ashrain?”
“Yeah, what’d His Majesty say?” said the other.
“We’re to capture her and deal with her,” responded Civit.
“He knows us too well. He ain’t no fighter, but he’s a good ruler, that one.”
“How should we proceed, Commander Civit? It might be good for morale to pass her around before we execute her. Gizun might’ve had the right idea about that.”
“That’s not gonna work, Schweiz ,” Orban interrupted.
“Why not? What do you mean?”
“Ortola told us to bring the corpse back clean—said if there’d been any men on her, he’d be able to smell it. Gross and creepy as hell, but if he wants a corpse back, who knows what he’s into. I tell ya, the guy’s gone off the deep end!”
Schweiz, the middle-aged dragon knight on Civit’s right, gave a grunt of disgust.
“Ugh. Very well,” he said plainly, accepting Orban’s logic.
Schweiz looked tough—almost bearlike. He was heavyset and had a thick, short beard, dark brown hair, and a black eye patch over his left eye. But there was nothing wild or feral about him—his calm baritone voice and cunning manner gave the impression of a noble at court, the kind who’d do anything to come out on top. His dragon mount was roughly the same size as Orban’s.
“It appears we can’t let her live, then. I apologize—it was a distasteful suggestion to begin with. Forgive me.”
“What are you talking about?!” demanded Seras, her voice ringing with indignation. “The gentle Emperor Ortola would never say such things! Enough of your lies. I will not stand here and allow you to insult my emperor!”
Orban smirked.
“Even I feel bad for you, little Princess Knight! The fighting stance, the righteous indignation…when you know the truth like we do, it’s just s
o dang funny! I guess the old man likes the faithful and innocent type, yeah? You’re pretty, though, I’ll give him that much.” His smirk became a grin. “The old man says he can’t die in peace as long as you’re alive.”
“I-impossible! What do you really want with me?!”
She’s bluffing. She must know they’re telling the truth—her powers must be showing her. That’s what’s throwing her so off balance.
Seras looked like she was on the verge of tears.
“E-Emperor Ortola… He would never…”
She fell to her knees. Schweitz looked down indifferently.
“What should we do with her, Commander Civit?” he asked.
“Isn’t it obvious? Give her a chance to win her freedom.”
“As always. Understood,” Schweitz said, nodding curtly. “Seras Ashrain will do battle with Commander Civit—if she wins, she is free to go. Sir Orban, is that acceptable to you?”
“So long as this little holy knight dies nice and pretty, I don’t care! ♪ I already know how this ends.”
“We shall see,” said a voice. It was the first time the dragon knight on the far left spoke. His whole body was covered in bandages, with his armor strapped over the top. His voice sounded male, though you couldn’t tell from looking at him. Only his left eye was visible through the thick white cloth.
“Holy Empire of Neah, former captain of the Holy Knights… She’s famous for her spirit armor.”
“I have, of course, heard the tales—why else would I be here? I wish to fight against this spirit armor!” said Civit. He paused and looked at me even more intensely. “Or so I thought. And yet…”
Schweitz frowned, wrinkling his brow.
“Commander Civit?”
“For some reason, I find myself looking past Seras Ashrain right now. That young man interests me.”
“I noticed your interest, naturally, but…what about him do you find interesting? No doubt he’s some inconsequential porter in Seras’s employ.”
“You’re wrong, Schweitz. That one’s interesting.”
Civit smiled at me, red eyes anticipating…something.
“Who are you?” he asked.
***
I froze. In the Mils ruins I was almost too careful, unable to tell which foes should be feared and which I could beat easily. This time was different—I looked up and saw the great dragons towering above me, their wingspans so wide that they blocked out the sun.
Right now, there’s a knife pressed to my throat. One wrong move, one clumsy attack, and Civit will kill me in an instant.
The Strongest Man in the World—Civit Gartland. My animal instincts screamed at me that the name wasn’t just for show. This guy is stronger than the Soul Eater.
Ever since he’d appeared in the sky, I’d been dripping anxious sweat.
If I make the wrong move, this all ends here. Life and death. Survive or perish.
It’s all up to me.
***
But why…? This happened in the Ruins of Disposal, too. I’m staring death in the face, but I…
“Why are you laughing?” asked Civit.
Why am I laughing? I always laugh in tense situations.
“Hey, Civit Gartland,” I said.
All right. He hasn’t attacked me yet. I can feel it—he wants to talk. I don’t think I can raise my arm, but I can keep him talking, and that’s enough for now.
“I’d like to have a chat. How ’bout it?”
Civit’s expression softened. He looked almost amused.
As long as I don’t give it away when I’m about to activate a skill, then…
“Very well. Allow me to first ask your name.”
All right. A battle of wits with the Strongest Man in the World.
“Hati Skoll.”
He shut me down immediately. “I see—a pseudonym.”
“Yeah…it is.”
“I suppose you need to hide your true identity, just like that Princess Knight you travel with.”
“Commander Civit.” It was Schweitz.
“What is it?”
“I simply cannot comprehend what you find interesting about that young man.”
“You don’t think it strange? He’s face to face with the Elite Five, and he isn’t even scared of us.”
“Is that so? He seems…very sweaty.”
“That’s not fear. Look more closely. He hasn’t yet lost his will to fight. He’s waiting for something—an opportunity, perhaps.”
“An opportunity to strike at you? With what? He could never get through a full incantation, and it would be a feat for even magical items to hit us all the way up here.”
“He knows if he makes the wrong move, I’ll kill him in a second. Even then, he laughs—and asks to talk! Not to beg for his life in surrender, but simply to converse with me. I have to say, this is refreshing.”
Schweitz looked taken aback, but Civit’s frown had softened.
“The little weaklings down there are trying to come up with a way to squirm out of this situation. They know I’m the Strongest Man in the World, and yet still they try.”
He’s smart…perceptive, too.
“Don’t you think it’s intriguing, Schweitz?”
“Indeed, now that you mention it.”
“We’ve found ourselves on an unexpected stage, and it’s far too early for the curtain call. I wish to perform a little longer.” He was still watching me intently. “Seras Ashrain no longer interests me as a potential foe. I don’t think she’d be much of a challenge.”
“She looks pretty messed up, too, after learning of Ortola’s orders.”
They’re giving me a lot of information to use against them just from listening to their conversation. I can’t just stand here silently though. Civit Gartland hasn’t dropped his guard once.
Don’t panic—one mistake, and…
“I have a question,” I said, choosing my timing carefully.
“Very well. Ask away.”
“You’re looking for an enemy who can satisfy you in battle, right?”
“Correct.”
“Aren’t there tons of opponents for you to fight? Like the Demon King’s armies, for a start?”
“It would be difficult to do battle with them now.”
“Why?”
“The problem is Magnar.”
That’s the country on the front lines, on the far north of the continent…
“The King of Magnar doesn’t want foreign troops marching through his land. The Nightwall may be gone, but as long as his White Wolf Knights survive, he will accept no help from his neighbors, least of all from the Bakoss Empire after our invasion. I hope to someday face their chief rider in single combat, though, that I grant you.”
“Why not now? You’re the strongest man on the continent. Why not do whatever you want?”
“I am the leader of the Black Dragon Knights. I have obligations to the Emperor of Bakoss and my position in the house of Gartland. There’s no room to act recklessly, especially when it comes to diplomacy—regrettable as that may be.”
“Foreign affairs are such complex matters—and of course, while we are the strongest knights on the continent, we could hardly defeat every country if they were to rise up and unite against us,” Schweitz added.
The strongest man in the world, but risk of reprisal keeps him from being the most powerful. Civit can’t just kill whoever he likes. His love of country and family are chains around his neck, holding him back. That lack of freedom might be precisely what makes him crave a worthy foe.
“Why don’t you fight the Goddess? Vicius, of Alion?”
I need to find out what he thinks of her.
“The Goddess Vicius, eh? I have no quarrels with the gods for now, and there are strong ties between our two countries. It’s true I have no love for the Goddess myself, but…” Civit’s eyes flashed red. “Those other-world heroes she is known to summon—I have great hopes for them in the future.”
He’s talking about us�
�2-C. I knew he’d be interested.
“The holy priests of Yonato, Mira’s Wildly Beautiful Emperor, Ulza’s Dragonslayer… Surely there are other suitable enemies you could—”
“No. The blessed power of those heroes from another world, explosive growth that could rival even my own…I hope they can someday be worthy foes for me. Those others don’t compare.”
“Do you think the Goddess will allow you to fight them?”
“Once the fight against the Demon King is over, surely she’ll offer me one or two. Of course…” He lowered his voice. “Should the Demon King’s armies rip through the White Wolf Knights, annihilate Alion’s heroes, and tear the Goddess to shreds, we wouldn’t complain.”
I felt his supreme self-confidence oozing from every word.
He figures he’ll just fight whoever’s left—doesn’t matter who, as long as they’re the strongest.
“Come to think of it, there’s a rather deep connection between you and Alion, is there not, Seras Ashrain?” added Civit, almost to himself.
Seras looked up at him, her brow furrowed.
“To what are you referring? I have no such…”
She stopped, seeming to realize something. Civit sighed.
“A gift for one who’s about to die. Let me tell you why Neah fell,” he said, entirely disinterested. “Why did we suddenly invade the Holy Empire of Neah after holding back for so long? The reason was you, Seras Ashrain.”
“What? Y-you invaded…b-because of me…?”
It was obvious that Seras was completely bewildered. Schweitz looked down on her with pity.
“It appears she wasn’t told a thing.”
“N-nonsense! Why, in the name of all that is holy, would I be the cause of your invasion?!”
“Schweitz,” said Civit, sounding bored. Schweitz nodded, taking his cue to explain.
“The Goddess Vicius wanted you, Seras Ashrain.”
What? That foul Goddess wanted her? Why?
I looked over at Seras, who seemed as confused as I was.
“Why would the Goddess of Alion want me?” she asked.
“I believe it was back when she first predicted the Demon King’s arrival. She asked Ortola to give you up.”
Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything With Low-Level Spells (Light Novel) Vol. 2 Page 13