Jack of All Trades, Party of None

Today, a summit was held in Noyurdo, the empire’s second-largest city near the border between the Nohitant Kingdom and the Sobel Empire, where the monarchs of both nations were to meet.

However, suddenly, the hero—Felix Roots Kreuzer—appeared on the scene and without hesitation, began ruthlessly killing the kingdom’s people one after another.

“Hah… hah… hah… Hahaha… is the gap really this wide…? I thought since you fought well against Orun, who even beat you, at worst I could at least buy time to help His Majesty and the civil officials escape…”

The building where the summit was being held had already turned into a pile of rubble. Warren slumped against a wall, whispering weakly.

Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, and his armor was dented and battered—he was utterly worn down and battered beyond description.

“……”

Felix, the very man who had brought Warren to this state, looked down at him with cold eyes devoid of any emotion.

Once Felix appeared, the empire’s people quickly fled the scene, and all the kingdom’s people except Warren lay dead.

Naturally, the entire city was thrown into a state of panic. Yet, amid the chaos, Warren’s trusted aides had managed to quickly head to the Royal Capital—an unfortunate situation, but a small mercy.

“…I never imagined you would resort to such a reckless act… Are you satisfied? Killing us all…”

Warren taunted Felix with a voice full of bitterness.

However, Felix showed no reaction to Warren’s words and slowly raised his sword.

(Sigh… What a brief end. Well, technically, I should have died over ten years ago. I don’t care about dying anymore. — But failing to protect His Majesty is something I’ll regret forever. Letting my benefactor, the one who gave my life meaning, die like this… I’m a failure as a guard…)

Watching Felix’s sword come down on him, Warren was filled with regret.

“—Wait.”

Just as Warren closed his eyes to accept inevitable death, a voice from somewhere else called out.

Following that voice, Felix halted his sword.

Warren opened his eyes again, glanced at the blade inches from his face, then shifted his gaze toward the speaker, widening his eyes in surprise.

“Long time no see, Warren.”

The man speaking was clad in bright red clothes and approached the two with a cold sneer.

As the man got closer, Felix sheathed his sword and slipped behind him, out of his line of sight.

“Gary…”

Warren whispered in disbelief.

“Wow, pathetic. Ten years ago you were leading us… Now you’re nothing but a shadow of yourself!”

The man called Gary spoke down to Warren in a contemptuous tone.

His name was Gary O'Ryle.

Originally an explorer belonging to the Golden Resonance, like Warren, he was once known as a hero.

“Why are you here…?”

“Hey, hey, you know I belong to the Cyclamen Cult, right? I’m in charge of this entire operation now. As one of the cult’s executives, that is!”

The direct cause of the Golden Resonance’s dissolution was an attack by Amuntzarse.

Outnumbered—five of them against over twenty enemies—two comrades were killed during the assault.

Warren, Albert, and Gary should have died too, outnumbered and overwhelmed.

But they survived. They were saved by a certain man.

Gary became devoted to the man who saved his life and followed him.

“You say ‘this operation’…?”

“…Yes. Didn’t you find it suspicious that the king came so easily to the empire? The king was brought here under our will. To create a world at war with his very life!”

(It’s true there were some inexplicable points about His Majesty’s actions this time. But there’s no way he would come here knowing he would die…! His Majesty wanted to avoid war with the empire at all costs.)

“You look incredulous. Narrow-minded. You see too small a world, Warren! This world revolves around Lady Belia! If she wills it, the world moves accordingly!”

Then Gary, with crazed eyes, loudly praised Belia Sans—the person he was devoted to—as a sublime being.