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Act 2-22.2 : Black Mist 1
Different from the other Temple Knights who came with him, he didn’t look down on Rember and his colleagues, that alone was testimony to Lucullus’ character.
Why?! Why is Lucullus-dono attacking the royal castle?
Rember wondered in bafflement as he parried Lucullus’ sword.
Right after he had made his report about the tower to the king, Rember had decided to escort Almina to her room. However, just as they were leaving the royal room, in the middle of their peaceful conversation, a scream broke out and eerily echoed.
Feeling the situation to be unusual, Rember quickly ordered his subordinates to escort the king to safety as he grabbed Almina’s hand and ran towards her room. He rushed through the halls, but his momentum immediately stopped as soon as he was faced with the scene of Lucullus defeating one of his co-workers.
The marble floors around Lucullus were littered with several unconscious knights and palace guards. Rember was shocked beyond words and couldn’t fathom what was happening. He stared at Lucullus with wide eyes as he saw the figure before him raise his eyes towards him and close in on them as he swung his sword.
Rember managed to somehow block the first blow.
「Why?! Why are you attacking the royal castle, Lucullus-dono?」
However, Lucullus didn’t respond to Rember’s question, it was as if he didn’t register Rember’s voice at all.
Thereupon, Rember finally noticed that Lucullus wasn’t in a normal condition. His eyes were empty as if he had lost all of his emotion. However, that revelation was currently useless as he couldn’t worry about it in this sort of situation.
He was forced to fight Lucullus.
Lucullus’ sword was fast, Rember could barely protect himself from the knight’s fast strike.
Strong! As expected of the Holy Republic of Lenaria’s Temple Knight!
The people who became normal knights were usually from families with high pedigree. The same went for Rember, he was also part of a noble family of Rox Kingdom. Temple Knights, on the other hand, put more importance in real skill rather than lineage. Anyone could become a Temple Knight as long as they had real power. Regardless of how high of a noble someone was, they couldn’t become a Temple Knight unless they were extremely powerful.
Rember had to admit that the man in front of him had power that was befitting that of a Temple Knight commander.
「Rember
」
Almina, who stood behind Rember, called the latter’s name with an anxious voice. Since she was right behind him, Rember knew that he couldn’t afford to back down.
Lucullus slashed his sword at Rember again. That slash was swift and heavy, Rember could barely cope with that attack.
After clashing for who knows how many times, Lucullus suddenly withdrew his sword.
「What the
」
Renber was confused by that sudden change. If things had kept going at the same pace, he knew that it was only a matter of time before he lost. He was pondering about the reason behind Lucullus’ halt when suddenly, a shadow appeared behind the Temple Knight.
「You’re that pharmacist, Orua
」
Rember knew the newcomer’s identity. Pharmacist Orua was a woman who came to Rox Kingdom around two weeks ago. He had met her in person back then, but couldn’t clearly see her complete visage as she was always covering her eyes. However, in this instant, her eyes that were always covered by black cloth coiling around her head, were now bare for everyone to see. At the eyes that shone before him, Rember finally realized what he was facing
「You were a Strige all along
」
He muttered as he glared at Orua.
Orua’s eyes weren’t that of a human. They were big and round, the place where the eyes should have been white were instead a gleaming yellow, they resembled the eyes of an owl; the eyes of a Strige. It was at this moment that Rember recalled that the fallen Temple Knights had been carried to Orua’s place first to receive treatment before they were sent back to the royal castle.
「I see, since that time, huh
」
But, it was too late.
「You’re different from the other knights, it seems you’re quite skilled.」
Orua’s lips broke into a wide grin.
I never expected that there would be a Strige disguising herself as a human and mingling among us 
Generally, not just anyone could enter the country, they needed a referral from the citizens of the country they were visiting, or they had to be a citizen of an allied country.
Naturally, there was an exception to this rule. That was when the person applying to enter the country had special skills such as being proficient in magic—accepting someone with such skills would benefit the kingdom.
Orua had gotten permission to enter the country due to her skills as a pharmacist.
But, now Rember thought that this country might need some sort of restriction to enter, even if the other person was a specialist. However, that would only happen if he could survive from this battle.
「Well then, how about you hand over that princess over there. She’ll become my tool for beating the hero.」
「OVER MY DEAD BODY!!」
Rember raised his sword, charging towards Orua.
All I need to do is kill this woman to end this ordeal. Orua has probably let her guard down since she’s standing behind Lucullus-dono. I have to use this chance!!
But of course, Rember was too naive, thinking that Orua was being careless.
Orua suddenly threw things towards Renber.
「What the?!!!」
Renber tried to protect himself in a hurry but he was a bit too late, the next moment, his body got assailed by acute pain.
The things that Orua threw towards him were bird feathers. The sharp, arrow-like feathers stabbed Rember’s body in various places.
「As if a lowly human like you can beat me. My feather arrows alone are enough to take care of you.」
Orua looked down at Rember, sneering as she spoke to him.
「Dammit
.」
Rember fell on his knees. His numbed body couldn’t move as he wanted.
「Rember!!!」
Almina screamed in desperation.
「Almina
 Run.」
Despite saying so, Rember knew deep inside that it was impossible. Even if she escaped from here, the passage beyond this place was a dead end.
Almina was literally checkmated at this very moment.
Why am I so weak? So weak that I can’t even protect the woman I love 
Rember started shedding tears, regretting his powerless self.
Orua approached them, kicking the fallen Rember to the side.
Rember, who got kicked away by Orua, rolled over to the edge of the passage.
Orua was slowly approaching Almina, like a death God playing around with her prey.
「Well now, come here!」
「NOOO!! SAVE ME――― REIJI-SAMA!!!」
「Fufufu, calling for the Hero, huh. That’s
」
The space in front of Almina shone before Orua could finish her sentence.
「WHAT THE!!」
Orua quickly retreated behind.
「REIJI-SAMA!!」
Almina screamed in delight upon seeing the figure that appeared from the light before her. After the light receded, Reiji’s figure valiantly became clearer in front of her.
「I’M HERE TO SAVE YOU, ALMINA!!」
Reiji flashed his usual refreshing smile.
Almina’s expression upon seeing the Hero was a face she had never shown in front of Rember.
Rember, who was left on the side, watched the two with an indescribable look on his face.