59. Reversal

Larg had become Reet’s shield.

But Larg’s sword and protection barrier shattered, and the Duke’s blade reached his bare flesh.

Crimson droplets sprayed into the air.

Both Larg and Reet flew backward from the slash’s impact, slamming onto the ground.

Reet got to his feet and looked at Larg, who had been his shield.

“Larg!!”

With his protection barrier destroyed, Larg’s naked body had taken the full brunt of the Duke’s blade.

The wound was shallow—barely missing his vital organs.

But the bleeding was severe, and without immediate healing, his life was in danger.

“…Is power really all you want, Father? So much that you would do this?”

Reet found himself asking his father this question.

His father—who became a Holy Knight and rose to become knight commander.

But how many people had he abandoned along that climb to the top?

A knight, whose duty was to protect people, yet he had cast aside the innocent again and again.

But the Duke merely laughed loudly in response.

“What a fool you are. Becoming knight commander—First Rank—means exactly this.”

To rise to the top in this world, there was only one way: to crush others beneath you on your way up.

Those were the words of Reet’s father.

So that’s when I understood. My father would never change.

“Reet…”

Larg, lying beside him, turned his gaze toward Reet.

“Get out of here.”

At least let Reet escape.

Seeing this, the Duke laughed again.

“Don’t worry, Reet. I’ll kill you both soon enough.”

The Duke drew back his sword.

If he launched his next attack, Reet had no chance of winning.

But still—

I can’t lose.

That was the only thought in his mind.

“Sorry about this—”

He muttered, then turned toward Larg beside him.

Let me hit you once. Please.