I Couldn’t Stop my Childhood Friend from Turning Into a Villain

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of lesser demons infiltrating the Empire.

The Emperor has become concerned, and has called in all his forces, including the Imperial Guard, to drastically increase the level of security within the Empire, as well as its outer walls.

Rhode, who was supposed to be training at the Academy, and Liel, who was on leave of absence, were sent on scouting missions out of season.

“If you’re going on a leave of absence, shouldn’t you at least have a word with me?!”

Rhode protested in an exasperated voice, the first time they had seen each other since summer vacation.

Instead of answering him, Liel quickly grabbed a black mantis he had found during his scouting.

Instead of responding to Rhode’s chattering behind his back, Liel exerted pressure on the mantis.

Soon enough, the mantis crumbled to ash and disappeared, proving his strength.

“Showing off your evil powers again?”

Liel’s ability to capture a demon with his bare hands was outrageous, but so was his evil power that made it possible.

“You’re talking too much today.”

Dusting off his powdered hands, Liel turned his head slightly to look at Rhode. Unlike the mild reprimand, Liel’s eyes were glazed over.

He’s still the same.

Looking at his unchanging friend, Rhode blurted out a short comment.

“Is that what you say to a friend you haven’t seen in a long time?”

He felt bad for his friend for being so insensitive, so Rhode continued to talk to him.

But Liel only looked at him with annoyance as he continued to whine.

“You’re such a cold fellow.”

“Not necessarily.”

It’s just that he’s getting a little tiresome.

Liel didn’t say another word.

By the time they were out of the alley, Rhode hadn’t even gotten the usual “How are you?” from Liel.

The streets were crowded.

They seemed oblivious to the growing number of demons flowing into the Empire.

No wonder the higher-ups had kept the news of the demonic invasion under wraps to keep the general populace from being disturbed.

It wasn’t actually a problem for the security of the Empire, so Liel and the other knights felt it was the right thing to do.

“So how is your friend?”

Rhode asked politely.

“How is that your business?”

Changing the subject brought nothing but a snide response. Rhode decided to give up trying to talk to Liel at this point.

At the same time as he had made up his mind, just in time a reconnaissance order of Filia Knights came into his line of sight. They were quite a sight in their neat gray uniforms.

As he watched them from afar, he suddenly heard a voice calling out to him from behind.

“Uh, are you students from the academy?”

Rhode, who hadn’t recognized the voice, turned around in surprise.

There was a man in worn epaulettes who looked unlike any of the paladins passing by, his eyes shining as he watched the two of them.

The man’s pink hair fluttered in the breeze, and Liel felt an unexplained sense of foreboding.

“We came out as a request for reinforcement.”

Rhode replied in a gruff voice.

“Oh, forgive me, I was rude. I think it’s cute to see the students.”

He didn’t look old enough to find students cute.

But he couldn’t be sure. The epaulettes on the man’s shoulders gave away his identity.

The fact that he was dressed in the colors of the Knights of Filia, and that he was the only one wearing epaulettes, meant that he was the captain of the Templar Knights.

“……How long have you been here?”

Rhode asked impatiently, and the man’s eyes widened as if he’d never heard that before.

Then he burst out laughing.

“Does it look that way? I look like this, but I’m only 20.”

For a moment, he thought.

He looked exactly his age.

“……Do you have any business with us?”

Rhode quickly changed the subject. He was a little annoyed that he was teasing them, but he figured nothing good could come of messing with the head of the Knights of Filia.

“No, I don’t have a business with you.”

He smiled harmlessly.

“It’s just that I’ve never been to the academy before, and seeing your uniform made me feel a little jealous, so I impulsively spoke to you.”

Rhode was no slouch when it came to socializing, but certainly not as much as this man.

As he said, humans born with divine powers were required to take classes in divine powers at the temple instead of the academy.

In other words, for them, the temple was the academy.

But to think that a paladin who was good enough to be the head of a knighthood was envious of academy students who hadn’t even graduated yet…….

“Let’s say hello in advance, since we might run into each other when you get your knighthood.”

The man stuck out his hand generously. It looked like he meant to shake their hands.

Rhode didn’t see any reason to refuse, so he reached for the man’s hand without much thought.

If it weren’t for Liel, who suddenly grabbed his arm.

“……?”

“We were called by our instructor.”

Embarrassment was written all over Liel’s face, as if he were pressed for time, and even though that shouldn’t be a reason to refuse a handshake, he shamelessly continued his lie.

“Huh? In—.”

“Let’s go.”

Before Rhode could say anything else, Liel tugged him along with great force.

Rhode’s large body was dragged along at a brisk pace.

“There must be someone with divine power around ……?”

As if he had more to say, the man continued.

“I can sense divine power on your body, but I don’t think it’s yours…….”

“…….”

“Whoever it is must have been pretty close to you to give you a blessing.”

Blessing…….

Liel smirked, still remembering the pain he felt when Arinel’s holy power flowed through him.

“My late mother left me something before she died, I suppose.”

Liel lied, a half-truth, as was his nature.

The stranger soon apologized, his eyes filled with regret.

“Oh……. I didn’t realize that, and I apologize for asking such a rude question.”

Unlike his lighthearted question, his apology carried weight. Looking at the man bowing obediently to him, Liel smiled benevolently.

“Let’s go now, we’ve wasted too much time.”

He meant no more holding.

The man nodded in understanding and took a step back.

Liel stepped away from the man, his grip on Rhode’s arm still tight.

“Your mother was a priestess?”

Rhode asked, as if for the first time.

“Yes.”

Liel answered briefly, keeping his eyes straight ahead and his feet busy shifting.

He could still feel the gaze behind him. Not Rhode’s, but another’s.

⁂

My lesson with the Duchess is over. It had indeed ended within the month, as the Duchess had predicted.

Only three months after we started our lessons.

I thanked the Duchess sincerely. She didn’t react much to my gratitude.

The Duchess’s demeanor was as cold as it had been three months ago.

Still, gratitude is gratitude, so I thought I’d send her a thank-you gift later.

“Your Grace, a letter has arrived.”

I was sitting in my office, shuffling my feet and flipping through papers, when Sarah opened the door.

In her hand she held two envelopes.

One was a plain white envelope, but the other looked almost too luxurious to pass up.

I took the envelopes from Sarah and stiffened in surprise when I saw the recipient.

It was a letter from the Imperial Palace.

I swallowed hard and gingerly opened the envelope, the first thing I did, the letter glistening like it had been dusted with gold.

“…….”

The sender was His Majesty the Emperor.

There was nothing special in it. A casual greeting and congratulations on my inauguration made up half the letter.

But the punchline was in the very last line.

“Sarah……. I think you should go to the palace.”

My eyes widened as I saw the request to visit the palace sometime next week.

Suddenly?

Sure, my grandmother often stopped by the Imperial Palace, but…….

“I’ll have your robes ready for you.”

Sarah, realizing the intent of my words, replied with a stern look. For some reason, Sarah seemed to be in high spirits today.

I sent her a smile and quickly opened another envelope.

“…….”

This one was from Melissa.

True to her personality, the letter was short and to the point. But I could feel her concern for me in her brevity.

My nervousness slowly melted away. I still felt bad that I had taken a leave of absence without telling Melissa.

Before answering the Emperor’s letter, I must write a reply to Melissa.

I should tell her to come to my manor anytime, whether it’s during vacation or after she graduates.

But how did Melissa write to me right after her busy period?

What an amazing coincidence.