Reincarnated in an Otome game as the ugly character in the background - Interlude ─ Saint or Demon?

Interlude ─ Saint or Demon?

In a remote neighborhood of the imperial capital, several men were gathering.

One of them was walking with a group of escorts.

It was Serge’s father.

One of his companions was speaking to him.

“Chief, are you sure about this?”

“There is no turning back Byron.”

“The revolution must begin bit by bit. Your son, Gunter was a victim of the corruption of this country.”

“If we want to avoid more innocent victims in the future. We must start small and start moving.”

“Today’s guests are agents of the Unified Government, right?”

“Is it safe to trust foreigners?”

Serge’s father hesitated for a moment then answered.

“Currently we already know that the Black Crows are infiltrating the palace. Olgren was one of them so they have lost several of their cards.”

“That does not detract from the fact that the highest authority of this nation is not a member of them. Since, if the emperor truly knows everything, why doesn’t he do something?”

This man’s question was a sincere one with an equally sincere answer.

“He can’t do nothing.”

That’s what the prime minister would tell you if you asked him.

The emperor is just one man, even if he is feared as a monster, he can be killed by a bullet or lack of oxygen.

It is because of the fear of strict treason laws that several people consider the emperor a tyrant.

What they don’t know is that these strict laws were imposed by Loic I several years ago.

They were implemented to keep in check nobles who tried to outsmart or circumvent the laws under excuses which were backed by allies.

Corruption will always exist.

Strong laws exist to prevent this.

If the emperor were truly corrupt, he would have half of the capital executed for no reason.

But he does not as he is not one.

Serge’s father and his companions arrived at the warehouse where the meeting was.

Inside were a group of men in suits, including an elf.

It was Oberon, Tina’s father.

He asked them.

“Why the delay?”

“We’ve been waiting for minutes for you.”

“Sorry. We have to be careful.”

The reason Oberon was with them was because they promised to help him help take back their homeland if he would help them.

Oberon agreed since there was nothing more important than the sacred tree to them.

His age was already around 270 years old.

When he turned 216 he joined the revolutionaries when he was looking for information about the holy kingdom.

After hearing details that no one knew, he decided to help them.

Currently a secret war is being waged that no one knows about.

The Ideal Empire.

The Arklight Empire.

And the Titania Holy Kingdom.

They are the three powers of this world.

A war between the Bezarius United Kingdoms against them started last year.

No one can stop it.

Nobody can prevent it.

Just like the game, the war that will gradually destroy the empire’s defenses has arrived.

But… this time it is different.

There is someone who can stop it.

*Steps*

“What’s that?”

They heard footsteps approaching from behind.

It’s impossible for them to be heard normally.

Whoever it was, they’re doing it on purpose.

Byron began to panic.

“It can’t be!”

“I don’t think he noticed us!”

The footsteps were getting closer and closer.

“Damn it!”

Serge’s father cursed from within.

“Did he set us up?”

“Everyone take your weapons!”

The steel door was ripped in half like paper.

A smoke screen showed a silhouette and flickering spotlights illuminated a wicked silhouette.

It was a red-colored demon.

“Shoot to kill!”

They aimed their rifles at the mysterious individual.

Bullets flew like flies impacting the body in all directions.

Even magical attacks came.

Seconds passed and the cloud of smoke vanished.

There they could see who was in front of them.

A man wearing red armor.

That man spoke.

“Louis Seburg. I have been watching you for some time now.”

“For a long time now your actions as well as those involved are clear evidence that you are trying to harm the empire.”

“This is treason according to our laws.”

The man began to walk as he was shot from all directions.

“Therefore, I will proceed to mete out the appropriate punishment for the worst criminal act in this country.”

“With the exception of the elf over there, so as not to violate the law against harming demi-humans. He will be sent to jail for an investigation, the rest will be executed this instant.”

In that horned armor, two black holes were for eyes, a golden light shone, and then─

◇◇◇

Two imperial guards were walking down the same neighborhood as Serge’s father and his accomplices.

They were conversing.

“As I was telling you. My son is really fussy, he insists that I buy him that toy.”

“I know, the worst thing is that this toy is expensive.”

“Why are decorative figures of sword saints so expensive?”

“They are very popular. Even my wife bought one of Lucius-dono. They sell like hot cakes.”

“I understand that, the truth is I bought one of Goredolph for my collection of legendary sword saints.”

“It’s amazing that the most expensive figure is from ‘him’.”

“It can’t be helped. We’re talking about ‘him,’ the strongest sword and shield in the nation. I still remember when I was a teacher at the swordsmanship academy, everyone was commenting on how great it would be to be just like that guy.”

“What do they see good in him? He’s just a weird guy passing by the emperor’s side.”

“He probably made it there because of his connections or his sister or daughter is one of the emperor’s mistresses.”

“Hey shut up! Haven’t you heard the rumors?”

“Are you talking about those rumors that say that guy can hear everything?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s impossible for a human being to hear what’s going on in a place as big as this─”

“Good afternoon.”

A voice suddenly spoke to them behind them.

They turned to see who it was.

There they saw a man in red armor holding in his hands two things.

In the left was an elf, it had been knocked out plainly, there was no scratch on it.

He picked it up as if it were a market bag carrying bread and juice.

“I must go to the palace to make my report. I charge you to take this individual to jail. Inside his pockets is my report of all he has done for years.”

“Since the former sword saint Christina is his daughter, I thought they were in cahoots, but they were not.”

“Also when you arrive, make a direct mobilization for two criminals.”

“Linus Arcs and Serge Seburg are treated as traitors for conspiring against the empire.”

“If you’ll excuse me, I must go give this to the palace.”

He pointed to his right hand, it was a large leather pouch which was leaking something.

It was red liquid from something that was there.

“Call housekeeping and have them take care of it.”

He pointed to the warehouse up ahead.

The imperial guards saluted him shivering.

“W-We understand!”

“Thank you for your work!”

“There’s nothing to be thankful for. I am the sword of the emperor, I will move to eradicate all evils that threaten his life or the empire’s.”

The man resumed his walk and went in the direction where the guards came from.

One of them noticed the red drops falling from the bag.

He approached and touched it with his hand.

When he smelled it he was startled.

“This is… blood. It’s someone’s blood.”

His partner was shaking, he spoke to the man who peed on himself.

“Hey, did you know why they call him the twilight saint?”

At that moment, the man walking casually disappeared.

The man swallowed spit and said.

“They say that the first day he came here. An invading army came and before we could mobilize the army to repel them… he just took care of them.”

“Everyone’s report said the same thing. ‘That was the work of the devil itself’. they said.”

“For that reason his armor is red and his helmet has horns… to let the enemies know that their death is guaranteed.”

His companion vomited as the one who narrated said.

“Since calling a ‘demon’ to a ‘saint’ would terrify even the citizens.”

◇◇◇

That man was jumping from building to building at a great speed.

“Today’s work is still far from done. I’ve carried 674 executions today. That’s less than yesterday’s.”

This man was the sword and shield of the empire.

“I must hurry back and report this.”

The strongest man in the world.

“I must not stay away from the emperor, my Master.”

A character in the game who never appeared and in the end died without his face coming out.

“Because I am his escort. The Twilight Saint, Seox Leonhard.”

The strongest sword saint of all, he will always protect the capital, since that’s where the emperor lives.

_____________

Seox is pronounced as “Six” and is a fusion between two words, “Sechs” which is six in German and “Ox” for the horns.

Leonhard. It means “Leonard” in German as “Lionheart” as well.