You're Evil (2)

Damnatio, with his cold, emotionless gaze, stared down at Lux Kira. His father lay face down on the oakwood floor, panting heavily as he clung to life. Bones from Veriol Haphass and Zyrex Lugner were strewn across the floorboards, making the scene look straight out of a horror show.

Sweat and bloody grime seeped from Lux's pores as his skin took on a sickly purple hue, his veins bulging a nauseating green. Desperately, he fought to keep the cursed poison at bay with his light magic, his mind barely able to focus on his surroundings. But even in his state, he couldn't miss his son's entrance. A flicker of hope sparked within him, a lifeline he had to grasp if he wanted to survive.

With his face pressed against the floor, he managed to rasp out a plea. "Damnatio… son… p-please… save… m-me…"

But Damnatio didn't rush to his father's aid. Instead, he observed him closely, like an audience member at a theater, silently judging as if he were just a spectator who couldn't interfere. His face showed no sign of concern or eagerness, only cold indifference—his thoughts and feelings hidden, unreadable.

Sebastian sat nearby in a wooden chair, watching the father-son pair with a calm smile, clearly eager to see Damnatio's decision, showing no intention to step in.

Behind his master, Alfred stood stoically, his hand twitching towards his satchel where his grimoire lay. He weighed the thought of stopping Damnatio from aiding the man who had so openly lusted after the House he served and its matriarch. But he held back, recalling his master's words as they came here: No matter what Damnatio does, do not interfere unless he makes a move against us.

As if reaching a silent decision, Damnatio's grimoire floated out of his satchel and hovered beside him, pages flipping open with purpose. He raised his right arm, fingers positioned as if holding an invisible object. Gradually, a copper ring formed between his fingers, extending downward to manifest into an ornate, antique brass scale.

The empty scales balanced themselves with a faint hum, evening out as Damnatio activated his spell. A glowing light radiated from the scales, enveloping Lux in a shimmering aura that seemed to pulse with each beat of his weakened heart. Within seconds, the chaotic poison ravaging Lux's insides weakened, his own light magic beginning to tip the balance. The two opposing forces stabilized, caught in an agonizing equilibrium that left Lux suspended between life and death.

Sebastian's eyes narrowed. This must be Scale Regulate.

Lux coughed, his skin regaining a pale but healthier shade as his veins receded from their sickly bulge. Slowly, he rolled over onto his back, his bloodshot eyes focusing on his son through a haze. "T-thank you… Damnatio," he whispered, a breath of genuine gratitude escaping his lips.

Damnatio, however, offered no reply. His expression remained unreadable, eyes cold as he continued to observe his father's weakened form with the same detached scrutiny as before, as though his father's life held no more importance to him than the quieting scales in his grasp.

A heavy silence hung over the room, broken only by the ragged sound of Lux's coughing as his chest heaved with each strained breath. After a long moment, still too weak to rise, he gave his son an imperious command. "Damnatio… kill this traitor!" He gestured weakly toward Sebastian, who observed the scene with an unchanging, faint smile. "This heretic committed regicide, killing two noble lords, and tried to end my life—a royal's life. The punishment is death. The cruelest death imaginable."

Lux's eyes flicked from his son to Sebastian, then to the satchel hanging at Sebastian's side. "But first… restrain him," he added, desperation thick in his voice. "He has the antidote, I know it." Lux feared that any immediate conflict would risk destroying the only remedy to his condition.

Damnatio offered no response, only turning his head to look at Sebastian with those same cold, unreadable eyes.

Sebastian's smile widened as he reached into his satchel and withdrew a small glass bottle sealed with a cork stopper. Inside was a light green liquid that caught the dim light, seeming almost to glow. Holding the bottle out in his palm, he said with an air of nonchalance, "Given the limited preparation time, there's only this small amount. But it's enough to save one life. Use it wisely."

Behind him, Alfred extended a hand, and the bottle became encased in a soft gray aura before it levitated from Sebastian's palm, floating smoothly toward Damnatio, who caught it with a deliberate, careful motion.

Lux, still sprawled on the floor, watched the exchange with narrowed eyes, suspicion gnawing at him. Why would they hand over the antidote so easily? he wondered, his thoughts racing. Does Sebastian fear my son's strength? Or perhaps he's wary of witnesses? Convinced that Sebastian was betting on mercy to avoid a swift end, Lux felt a grim satisfaction bloom in his chest. For once, it seemed his assailants' resolve was faltering.

Lux Kira sneered, scoffing bitterly. "Hah, you fool! You're already finished—death will be a small mercy for you! Your crimes are unforgivable—"

"Lux Kira." Lux stopped mid-rant, staring up in bewilderment at his son. Damnatio's voice was flat, void of any warmth, addressing him by name rather than with any familial title.

"Son?" Lux's voice wavered, confused by the sudden coldness in his son's tone.

"You may address me as Damnatio Kira," Damnatio replied, brushing off the familiar address. He gestured to his attire. "I'm here as a representative of the Clover Kingdom's Magic Parliament, to enact judgment—not as your son."

Lux looked puzzled, his mind racing. But, knowing his son's pragmatic nature, he forced himself to set aside the chilling formalities, latching onto the question that bothered him most. "O-on me? By whose order?"

"By mine." Lux's gaze snapped to Alfred Pennyworth, who stood behind Sebastian, finally breaking his silence.

Alfred straightened, his posture rigid as he elaborated calmly. "As per my lord's instructions, I was to report the whereabouts of any royalist or extremist factions targeting Conrad Leto or his loved ones. That tip was to go directly to Damnatio Kira—anonymously, and immediately."

Sebastian, watching with quiet satisfaction, nodded. "Even before reporting to me."

So, they're aligned. Lux glanced between his son and the "half-breed filth," his eyes darkening in disbelief. But his conviction held firm. This changes nothing. I was the target—justice is on my side.

"The one you should be judging is him, Damnatio!" Lux's hand trembled as he pointed at Sebastian, still seated calmly in his chair. "He poisoned Sir Haphass and Sir Lugner, and he even dared to attempt it on me, the head of the Royal Family!"

"Spare me the slanderous drivel, Lord Kira," Damnatio replied without a flicker of emotion. "Lying to a member of parliament during an official trial is high treason. Even royalty cannot escape such charges."

"W-what do you mean, Damnatio?!" Lux stammered, a hint of panic in his eyes, though he'd never admit to any misdeeds. "How dare you insinuate I'd stoop to such things! I am the Patriarch of House Kira, and you will grant me the respect and courtesy I am due, boy—"

Damnatio cut him off sharply. "Lord Kira, Mr. Pennyworth notified me of this location earlier. I arrived nearly twenty minutes before Lord Silva. Plenty of time to hear you… boasting of your plans to the two traitors."

He was here the whole time. Lux's mind spun as he tried to piece together what Damnatio's early arrival meant. Why didn't I notice? And why didn't Sebastian expose him sooner? He glanced at Sebastian's smug expression, the pieces finally clicking into place.

Sebastian arranged for Damnatio to arrive early to clear himself, Lux realized. If Damnatio had walked in on him poisoning us, he'd look guilty as sin. But… if he saw everything from the start? Watched me and those two fools sneer at Conrad, Lovilia, and the White Serpent? Watched me lay out my master plan? If he saw us drink and agree to those 'reforms'? Lux's heart pounded. Then Sebastian wouldn't be a murderer—he'd be a hero.

Lux's eyes widened as he looked back at Sebastian, recognizing the expression he'd missed before mockery. This bastard has been playing me from the start!

He couldn't accept it. No… if that's true, then I'm royally screwed. Lux's hand trembled as he pointed at Damnatio, desperation lacing his words. "H-how slanderous! You dare defame my good name?! Where is your proof?! I am Lord Kira, second only to His Majesty in the Clover Kingdom! 'He said, she said' is no grounds for judgment! Now, hand over the antidote, and I might just overlook your insolence—"

Once again, Damnatio cut him off, this time with a heavy, dramatic sigh, one of sheer exasperation. How low does this man think of me? Without a word, he reached into his satchel and retrieved a small object: a pocket mirror encased in rough metal. Calmly, he flipped it open to reveal a crystal glowing within.

The crystal pulsed as Damnatio raised it, its light casting an eerie glow over Lux's ashen face.

"Do you know what this is?" Damnatio's cold voice cut through the room as he held up the mysterious device, not really expecting an answer.

Everyone's attention fixed on the strange object, curiosity flickering in their eyes, but Damnatio went on before anyone could guess. "It's a communication magic tool, custom-made by House Francois. It utilizes memory magic capable of recording and replaying past events. It's been invaluable for gathering evidence on countless cases."

We have portable video cameras in this world? Sebastian thought to himself, surprised. Black Clover's tech standards are medieval, but every now and then you find advanced gadgets, like the ones in Morris' labs in the Diamond Kingdom, or Branch Zero's research lab. Still, this is next-level.

Lux Kira's heart sank as Damnatio activated the device. The crystal glowed, then began to project a scene from earlier. The view came from Damnatio's perspective, showing Lux seated with Veriol and Zyrex around a table, laying out his plan in sinister detail.

"The White Serpent has been alerted to the appearance of a dungeon near the border of the forsaken realm," Lux's voice echoed in the air. "Little do they know it's a trap—my family cleaned that place out decades ago. I hired trap mages to reactivate it, rigging the dungeon with arrays that'll tear their team apart. And to finish off any stragglers, I paid off one of Diamond's Eight Shining Generals. All for some riches and a few new test subjects."

Before the incriminating scene could finish, Damnatio snapped the device shut and tucked it back into his satchel. Looking down at Lux with the same cold indifference, he asked, "Do I need to continue, or will you accept this evidence? Or should I present it to Lord Conrad and let him decide your fate?"

Lux bit his lip in frustration, drawing blood, his eyes reddening as he hoarsely spat, "Damnatio… I'm your father!"

"Yes, you are." Damnatio shook his head, unbothered. "But what does that have to do with anything? Mixing work and personal matters is unprofessional—and unbecoming of royalty. Or have you forgotten? You told me that yourself, Lord Kira."

Sebastian, observing with newfound interest, fought the urge to clap. Damn, kid, I'm really starting to like you. Keep going.

Lux's fists clenched, nails digging into the floorboards hard enough to draw blood as he forced himself to calm down. "Damnatio… if this is about your mother—"

"Lord Kira." Damnatio's voice, once coolly indifferent, now carried a biting edge. His brows knit in distaste as he continued, "As I said, I'm here as a representative of the Magic Parliament, not as a member of House Kira, nor as your son. I won't allow personal feelings or vendettas to cloud my judgment. So if you're done making a fool of yourself, kindly present your case, so I can pass my verdict."

At the mention of Damnatio's mother, Sebastian raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering. Strange, he mused. There's nothing in my memory that stands out about his mother. I know Damnatio got his looks from his father—well, aside from his hair—and everything else, from his magic to his attitude, from her. But there's no record of any divorce or death. So… what happened?

Sebastian filed it away in his mind as an oddity. His predecessor had known every twist and turn of the aristocracy; surely, he'd have noted any drama between the Kira head, his wife, and his son. Guess that's something to dig into another time.

Lux gritted his teeth, sighing with the resignation of a man who knew his only path to survival lay in persuading his son of his innocence. "Very well, Damnatio Kira," Lux nodded, his gaze fixed on his son. "I admit I conspired against Conrad Leto's loved ones."

Sebastian's smile grew, sensing where Lux might be headed with this.

"But!" Lux continued, "that is no crime, as everything I did—and everything I do—is for the sake of the Clover Kingdom!"

Damnatio's expression remained unreadable as he nodded, giving Lux a simple command. "Explain."

Lux exhaled in relief. As long as there's room to talk, I can twist the truth. Pointing to Sebastian, Lux began, "Even if Lord Silva's speech was a ploy to make me and my compatriots drop our guard, nothing he said was a lie! If we allow peasants and commoners to rise through the ranks and aspire to be more than what they are, they will inevitably lose their patience and bare their fangs at us—the nobility! The hands that feed them!"

"We can't let the Magic Knights or any noble position be polluted by this trash any longer, because giving them ambitions, goals, and dreams only stokes the fire. Once that fire's lit, they'll do whatever it takes to make those dreams real, and we nobles will be the ones to pay the bloody price!"

He gestured passionately, "The only way to stop this—and to crush their hopes entirely—is by taking away their symbols like the White Serpent, a squad led by a peasant and filled with commoners and minor nobles!"

"It's not just them!" Lux spread his arms wide, impassioned. "We must also get rid of their supporters and defenders—Conrad Leto, Julius Novachrono, House Vermillion, and…" He narrowed his eyes at Sebastian, "House Silva!"

"It's the only way to restore peace and order in Clover! We can't end up like the Spade Kingdom, can we? They've shut their borders, but any fool with a brain knows there was a coup! Loyce was a bleeding-heart fool. Give those lowborn trash an inch, and they'll take a mile!"

Sebastian nodded to himself. You're right, Lux. Distinguishing hierarchy is essential for any lasting organization. Attempting to bridge that gap often breeds arrogance and insubordination. But your one fatal flaw? You forgot your own place in all this. Watching Damnatio intently, Sebastian waited for the young judge to make his decision.

Damnatio's balance scales began to shift. On the right side, "nobility" and Lux's name were inscribed, while on the left side, "peasants" and "commoners" appeared, slowly weighing down the left scale.

"You are correct, Lord Kira." Damnatio nodded, and the right side sank heavily, appearing to outweigh the left like a seesaw. "The value that nobility and royalty bring to the Clover Kingdom is indeed far greater than that of the lower classes. After all, it is the nobility that governs this kingdom, defends it from external threats, and quells internal conflicts. We enact reforms, fund schools and churches, build roads, and distribute rations during hard winters and famines. Nobles are meant to uphold justice; if commoners and peasants stand against them, it implies those commoners are in the wrong."

Lux's face began to twist into a smug smile—until Damnatio shattered it with a single stroke. "But, Lord Kira, your conflict does not lie solely with the commoners and peasants." The name Conrad Leto etched itself onto the left scale, and in an instant, the scales balanced.

Lux's smile froze as Damnatio continued. "The worth and influence of the Wizard King, especially one as formidable as Lord Conrad, is practically immeasurable. He is the very force that deters Diamond from embarking on full-scale invasions, choosing instead to skirmish along our borders. His power alone maintains balance among the four nations, ensuring none dare overstep Clover."

Damnatio's tone sharpened, piercing through Lux's rising panic. "And now you want to conspire against him? To throw him into despair?" His voice turned accusing. "Are you out of your mind, Lord Kira? Lord Conrad may be idealistic, but he is no fool. If you attempt to harm those dear to him, he will discover the source. His loyalty to his squad and his wife runs deep, and if provoked, he could very well turn his power against the kingdom itself. With the Steel Princess weakened, many of our elite knights close to retirement, and Julius Novachrono—a close friend of his—where will you find someone willing, or even able, to stop him?"

Lux's pupils dilated as the scale tipped further in favor of the left side, teetering toward condemnation. But Damnatio was not finished.

"It isn't just Conrad you oppose," Damnatio went on, his voice low and unforgiving. "You are challenging House Vermillion, House Silva, our undeniable future Wizard King, Julius Novachrono, and all their vassals and supporters—the very people who will shape the future of this nation."

Lux watched in despair as the scales swung heavily in favor of the left side. The realization struck him like a dagger—what worth could a single royal house hold against two formidable lineages? House Kira's strength lay in politics alone, while House Vermillion and House Silva boasted generations of magic knights and warriors. And under Sebastian Silva's reign, their influence in the royal palace had grown immensely.

In all the years Lux had scoffed at the so-called righteous ingrates like Leto and Novachrono, he had failed to grasp what they truly represented: strength. Unimaginable strength. It wasn't just their magical prowess; it was the loyalty they inspired in their followers. People were drawn to them, willing to sacrifice much to support their ideals.

I just never thought my son was one of them, Lux Kira thought bitterly, letting out a hollow chuckle that echoed in the silence of the room.

Damnatio's gaze remained cold as he looked down at his father, his voice steady and resolute. "Lord Kira, everyone has a place in this world. As the patriarch of a royal house, your position is very high, second only to the king. But the Wizard King is still a king, and opposing him signifies only one thing: you're evil. Therefore, I find you guilty of treason."

Lux's pupils widened in horror, desperation flooding his veins. "W-wait, Damnatio! I demand a retrial, under his majesty's gaze—"

But Damnatio was unwavering. He shook his head, his expression unyielding. "Just know this, Lord Kira. You are not condemned today for conspiring with a neighboring power or for selling our citizens and national secrets. Nor for your other crimes—bribery, rape, coercion, slavery, human experimentation, debauchery, and theft among many others. No, your death here is for one reason only: for opposing a superior. In your next life, remember that only a king can look down on all, and regardless of your fantasies, you are no king."

"D-Damnatio, you still need me! You've only heard my plans; you still require the finer details! Spare me!" Lux's voice rose in desperation as he attempted to stand, to reach for his son, but the words fell on deaf ears.

In response, Damnatio simply raised the antidote, Lux's last hope shattering before his eyes. The glass bottle containing the precious liquid splintered into a thousand pieces, and the antidote itself seeped through the floorboards, lost forever. No one would even have the chance to lick it clean, and with it, Lux's hopes of survival slipped away like grains of sand.

Damnatio was done here. "Scale Regulate." He uttered the incantation with an indifferent tone, and as he did, the stalemate between the Light and Poison within Lux's body shattered. The poison, regaining the upper hand, surged forward, spreading rapidly through Lux's veins. To make matters worse, Damnatio's magic suppressed Lux's mana, rendering him unable to resist this time.

"Ahhh!" Lux screamed in horror as his body contorted, turning a ghastly shade of purple. His veins bulged with a sickly green hue, and in mere moments, he began to melt from the inside out, reduced to nothing more than a handful of rotten bones.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Damnatio turned silently, meeting the gaze of Sebastian Silva, who sat leisurely on a wooden chair, offering a round of applause. He looked every bit regal and unbothered, as if this was merely another day at court.

Damnatio studied Sebastian's impassive expression for a moment before the scales of judgment dematerialized, and his grimoire floated back to his side. With a voice that remained emotionless, he questioned the Silva patriarch, "Do you find this amusing? An act of patricide against one of your worst enemies?"

Damnatio knew of his father's jealousy toward Sebastian Silva, the same Sebastian who had tried to carve a path for himself within the royal palace, only to be met with resistance from Lux Kira. The rumors of Sebastian's treatment of his own family were no secret; if he could turn against his own blood, Damnatio had no doubt he felt little affection for his father.

Given all this, Damnatio expected Sebastian to gloat, to wear a triumphant grin. Instead, he watched as Sebastian shook his head, his tone surprisingly earnest as he spoke. "I'm not here to mock you, Damnatio, or should I say Lord Kira now. I'm just praising your fairness. I knew you were trustworthy."

Damnatio raised an eyebrow, puzzled. He scrutinized Sebastian's face, searching for any hint of deceit, but found none.

Sebastian wasn't lying. The whole reason he had ordered Alfred from day one to seek out Damnatio for this task was because he had complete faith in his judgment. In the original work, Damnatio was introduced as a man with zero tolerance for crime, so much so that he was willing to try his own father. He was a figure devoid of mercy or compassion, more inclined to condemn a multitude of innocents than risk allowing evil to slip through his fingers.

This unwavering sense of justice led to misunderstandings. Take the time he wanted to make Asta the scapegoat for the Elf Invasion. Was he wrong for considering that? Morally? Ethically? Absolutely. But practically, politically, from the viewpoint of a government? No.

At that point, Asta was just a brat—barely known outside the ranks of the Magic Knights and, to make matters worse, possessed by a devil. It wasn't a secret that a devil had orchestrated the entire catastrophe. For a kingdom like Clover, which showed no mercy to such heretics, who else but Asta could be blamed? Someone had to bear the weight of the public's ire.

As for the actual perpetrators? The mastermind behind it all was dead, and the elves had fled to Elysia. William Vengeance might have been a candidate for blame, but that was out of the question—he was next in line to become Wizard King, already adored by the populace. In a kingdom struggling to hold onto its morale post-invasion, the revelation that one of their beloved heroes was a traitor could spell disaster.

What about the other options? Sure, countless citizens had been reincarnated as elves, including four Magic Knight captains. Choosing Asta over those esteemed powers would have seemed ludicrous. In that sense, Asta could easily be viewed as the embodiment of evil.

Does that suck? Yes. Does it leave a bitter taste in one's mouth? Absolutely. Do I understand why such decisions are made? Yes. Do I condone that choice? No. But that's the harsh reality of the world we inhabit—where individuals are sacrificed and thrown under the bus for the greater good or the benefit of the majority.

Damnatio Kira is misunderstood because he is a paradox. He is cruel and merciless, precisely because he is fair, logical, and impartial.

It is this personality trait that gives him the ability to make such decisive choices, and it's why Sebastian has faith in him. He knows that with Damnatio's cold-hearted logic, the value of the Kira patriarch and the whims of two minor noble houses forming a pathetic excuse for a royalist faction couldn't outweigh such an overwhelming majority.

Truthfully, Conrad's existence alone would be enough for someone like Damnatio to make the same choice, but the backing of powerful entities like House Vermillion and Julius Novachrono serves as the icing on the cake.

Damnatio Kira always sides with the higher authority because they possess more power, and if something were to happen to them, the Kingdom would face a greater loss. It was crystal clear which side represented the higher power here, so Damnatio had already made up his mind about the action he would take.

He probably just gave Lux one last chance to defend himself, to uphold his honor and beliefs as a member of the Magic Parliament. Yes, for that and only that—certainly not out of pity or familial love. For Damnatio Kira, like most nobles, prioritizes their work, positions, and the well-being of the kingdom above all else. Especially over something as fickle as love.

In the aristocracy, love is practically a stranger. Houses like Vermillion are rare exceptions. Nobles do not treasure one another through love; they measure worth. And the worth of the Wizard King, his successor, and two royal houses is astronomical.

Sebastian looked at Damnatio and opened his mouth to speak. "Conrad can never know of this; you're aware of that, right?"

Damnatio nodded indifferently. "Of course. I'm no fool. Knowing that the patriarch of the ruling family plotted against your loved ones wouldn't instill eagerness in most to continue serving a nation, and I doubt Conrad would be an exception."

It's nice talking to smart people. Sebastian sighed in relief before continuing. "So? How are you planning on handling this?"

Damnatio paused for a moment, deep in thought. "Father raised me as his successor; taking over as the master of House Kira wouldn't be difficult. Unlike House Vermillion and House Silva, we have a much clearer hierarchy—no branch family would dare compete with me for the position."

Sebastian shook his head. "I'm well aware, but that's not what I'm talking about. How are you going to declare your father's death?"

Damnatio spoke indifferently. "I don't have to. If I say he died, he died. No one would dare ask why. Usurping power is just another day in the life of nobility. Even Uncle would be pleased. Father has shown greed for his position many times; Uncle has long been looking into ways to get rid of him. I won't have to do anything; Uncle will sweep all rumors under the rug and appoint me as Patriarch. He wouldn't even ask himself—he could care less. All that matters to him is that Lux Kira is dead, and it will be years before anyone can threaten his seat on the throne again. Especially because there has yet to be another Light Mage in House Kira."

That fat pig has some use after all. Sebastian scratched his cheek before nodding in understanding.

The succession of the Clover Kingdom is a bit strange; after the Silvamillion family broke up into three households to honor the first Wizard King, it became an unspoken rule that the King must possess Light Magic. Only then would they be deemed worthy of inheriting Lemiel's legacy.

Light represents holiness and purity; naturally, anyone with such magic is considered to embody those characteristics. Only such a person is worthy to sit on the throne and receive the last name of Clover.

"As for the Haphass and Lugner Houses…" Damnatio narrowed his eyes at their remains in consideration. "The rot starts from the top. If their leaders are like this, I have little doubt about what kind of people these Houses are. I will investigate their situations covertly; if it's not as bad as I think, I can consider leaving behind a bloodline. But regardless, there will no longer be nobility that goes by these names in the Clover Kingdom."

Very thorough. Sebastian wanted to give Damnatio a thumbs up but thought better of it. If this were modern society and Sebastian was a teacher, he really wouldn't resist giving Damnatio a gold star.

"And what of the actual trap?" Sebastian moved on to what he was truly curious about.

Damnatio answered calmly. "Naturally, as my father's successor, I have access to the same network as him. I'm well aware of the location of the dungeon he's referring to and the identities of those trap wizards he hired. I'll order them to go back and disarm all the traps again. Trust me, they won't dare say no."

Sebastian nodded, then moved on. "There's still that general to consider, and he might bring some men to ambush the White Serpent."

Damnatio paused and considered. "I'll try to get in touch with him and tell him the deal's off. He can still come if he wants to be met with an army of magic knights. If I'm unable to, then we can only put faith in the capabilities of the White Serpent. For commoners… and a peasant, their abilities are the real deal. They are the kingdom's number one current squad right now for a reason."

"They can deal with one general and some thugs. Moreover, the general was hired to finish off a few survivors; he probably wouldn't dare act when he discovers they all survived the dungeon."

Sebastian didn't nod but instead smiled, thinking of something. Well, I've been looking for a chance to test out my strength secretly… this is it.

Sebastian looked up at the boy. "Damnatio?"

"Hmm?" Damnatio looked towards Sebastian, wondering what now.

Sebastian smiled and responded, "Tell me where that dungeon is. I'll deal with him."

"Just you?" Damnatio asked incredulously, letting a rare amount of emotion show. Which wasn't really wrong, considering that Sebastian Silva, a support mage, just offered to fight an equivalent of a Clover Kingdom captain.

Sebastian could feel Alfred giving him a similar look from behind.

"Of course not!" Sebastian shook his head. Even though in the original work, the eight shining generals were fodder, they were still said to be captain-level. He didn't have a suicide wish for his first battle in this life. He just wanted to test his strength to get an idea of where he stood in this world, not risk anything. There was no need for that just yet.

"You'll help me." Sebastian pointed to Damnatio, who raised a brow.

Before Damnatio could reject him outright, Sebastian continued, "I'll be doing the fighting; you'll just be hiding as support and regulating that guy's magic whenever he fights back."

An awkward silence engulfed the room.

Alfred studied his master's back, thinking deeply. Sir, if you want a punching bag to vent your stress, I can find someone. You don't have to risk it against an actual threat.

How cowardly. Damnatio Kira did his best to hide that thought as he was just about to reject Sebastian.

But Sebastian didn't let him. "It's a good chance to cripple some of Diamond's strength and make them more obedient. They probably won't dare to attack the borders for a while after we succeed. Come on… think of the worth." Sebastian persuaded Damnatio like a businessman.

Damnatio Kira was conflicted; he knew that this was ridiculous. None of them were fighters, and this should be laughable—a death wish. But he also knew Sebastian Silva never did anything without 100% certainty, and he really didn't look like someone marching to his death.

So Damnatio sighed, rubbed his brows, and nodded. "Alright. I'll relay the location to Alfred and meet you there, three nights from now."

Sebastian smiled slightly. "Good decision," he then held out his hand. "To a future partnership."

Damnatio looked at him blankly and spoke. "I just watched what happened to your last partners; I don't dare to shake your hand."

Sebastian withdrew his hand and hid his sheepish expression. Clearing his throat, he then looked past Damnatio to Lux's bones.

"Are you sure that was alright? He may have still been hiding some important information," Sebastian questioned calmly.

Damnatio shook his head. "I don't doubt it, but the danger a maniac like him poses to the kingdom while alive is far greater. Additionally, he is a light mage, known for his speed. As long as he has a window of opportunity, he can escape from our grasp. Using his connections and knowledge, it wouldn't be impossible for him to lie low, biding his time, or even take refuge in an enemy power to seek revenge. It is illogical to place my faith in magic-restraining technology or other abilities to detain him, so the logical choice is to eliminate him."

Logical, huh? Sebastian felt a bit wistful. Damnatio, Nozel, and this original body were so similar in that way—cold and calculating. I really wonder what environment gave rise to people like Lemiel, House Vermillion, Acier, and Noelle. Where did all that compassion come from?

Damnatio looked towards Sebastian. "You should be leaving now."

"Why?" Sebastian asked with interest.

"Because I will be having people come here to clean up the scene and coordinate to deal with these three subordinates. You don't want your involvement to be known, right? So it would be wise of you to leave."

Smart people really do make things easier. If only Nozel were half as witted as you. For an emotionless guy, you're pretty sensitive to others' feelings, or maybe you dissect emotions like you do with everything—through logic.

With a sigh, Sebastian stood up from his chair. "Well, see you around, Lord Kira." Without a word, he walked past Alfred, who bowed to Damnatio, and began to follow Sebastian out of the house.

As they reached the living room, Sebastian heard a call from behind. "Lord Silva?"

"Hmm?" Sebastian turned to see Damnatio looking at him, furrowing his brows slightly, clearly hesitant to say something.

Sebastian watched him stoically before Damnatio locked his gaze and opened his mouth. "Is Lady Acier truly done for?"

Oh? Sebastian felt a slight smile tugging at his lips. Of all the things I thought he was going to ask, this wasn't it.

Sebastian studied Damnatio closer. The bad thing about smart people is that they're a bit too perceptive. Did he call my bluff when I dismissed Acier so easily during my talks with those three? What should I tell him…?

For anyone else, Damnatio Kira was someone you wanted to avoid like a plague. But for a high-ranking royal like Sebastian Silva, Damnatio would always treat him as the side of justice and never screw him over unless he did something extreme like his father and caused him to be in opposition to many of the kingdom's highest powers.

Therefore… Damnatio is one of the most reliable allies I could ask for. It wouldn't hurt to bring him into my circle. Sebastian's smile widened, and he gave a one-word answer. "No."

Without awaiting a response or studying Damnatio's reaction, he turned away and walked out the door.

Stepping off the porch, the beautiful scenery returned to that of the neglected, abandoned land, as Sebastian and Alfred were once again under the effects of the illusion barrier.

"Alfred?" Sebastian questioned as the two stepped onto his materializing water eagle.

"Yes, master?" Alfred answered, standing obediently behind his master as the eagle began to steadily fly them back to the capital.

Without looking back at his butler, Sebastian ordered, "Tell me everything you know of Elara Kira."[1]

Omake:

Veriol looked to the center of the table. "Lord Kira, what will we do, if Conrad finds out it was us?"

"Hmm... good question," Lux said, taking another puff of his pipe, as he gathered his thoughts. "If Conrad has the Imperial Sword... things might get a little tough..."

Zyrex crossed his arms, frowning. "But would we be in trouble?"

You would. Lux rolled his eyes. As for me. "Nah, I'd escape." Lux gave a confident smirk as he looked ahead, unphased.

The declaration of the fastest.

Author's Note:

[1] Another OC, Damnatio's mother.