Regardless of whether you want to be there or not, the mere presence of a powerful person attracts and fascinates people.
　Therefore, it is easy to talk about such trivial matters as who the strongest person in the world is at the banquet table.

　There are probably several candidates.
　For example, even if you look around the world, there are only a few - even heroic, S-ranked adventurers, many of whom are said to be "undefeated" or "annihilators".

　Also, everyone thinks of the legendary war, the descendants of its champions. Therefore, there are those who say that the Brave Men are the strongest on earth.

　Or the Red Empire - the largest and strongest of the human nations with a total population of over 70 million, the Empire's strongest knight Siegfried Steinberg, who stands at the top of it, and the sister of the current emperor, who is said to be the Empire's final weapon Some say she is Eureka von Klaus Wilhelm.

　Others think of a maiden praying in the Holy City of Aquarion. Many say that Stella, the water dragon priestess, is the one who has the deepest connection with the dragon and enjoys its favor, and is worthy of the strongest name.

　Others name the Commander of the Divine Iron Cavalry of the Military State or the White Knight, perhaps the most famous in the Holy Land.

　The debate was meaningless, and the unanswerable argument went on forever.

　Then, when asked who was the strongest legion of mankind, strangely enough, people could only give one answer.

That's probably the Sacred Knights.

　People said that.





◇




　The small village was stained red.
　Fires were raging everywhere, and many, many charred wooden houses were collapsing.

　The streets where the villagers would normally go in harmony with each other were stained with blood.
　What little happiness they had been able to laugh at in spite of their poverty was easily lost to the whims of the powerful.

　The area was filled with screams of sobbing and sobbing children sobbing in pain.
　My father, who had called out good morning to me in the morning, had grown a sword from his neck and was as disconnected as a speechless doll.
　My mother, who should have been smiling, was held down to the ground and used as an outlet for her desires.

''Run away, te...........''

　My mother says so, but my legs aren't going to move anymore. There was no way I could get away with it even if I moved.
　I wanted to think it was a lie.
　I wanted to cover my eyes that it was a nightmare.
　But the screams would never fade from her ears, and the strong men would continue to shake and rape her mother forever and ever.

　The girl had no choice but to fall to the ground, helpless, and just continue to watch the despair.

"...Why..........!　Why are you doing this.........

　We were supposed to be the same person.
　We're supposed to be able to talk to each other.
　Why do you do these horrible things?
　Why do I kill my father, my neighbor, my friend, who was so kind to me?
　I haven't done anything to them.
　I was just living a normal life.
　I was happy.
　Why? Why?
　I was so frustrated, so hateful, I didn't understand, I couldn't help but open my mouth.

'Pfft, hahahahahahahahaha!　Why?　It's only natural for humans to hunt a beast in human skin, but what are you talking about?

　The man spits this out as if he is a heartless fool.

'Look, we're humans. What's so funny about killing a beast?　Well, don't worry. If you stay still, I'll at least put a collar on you. You'll find your master one of these days.

　The man said this as if he was speaking common sense, as if it was commonplace.
　The girl was still unable to do anything about it.

　Soon, the village was devastated and the survivors were gathered in the hall.
　They were deprived of their freedom of limbs, shackled around their necks, and the women and children were chained like slaves.

　This is not so uncommon within the Seven Kingdoms.
　Subhuman hunting, the substance of which was there.

　Everyone nodded as if they had all given up on living.
　Those who showed a willingness to resist were beheaded to make an example of them. The head of the boy next door, who used to play with me a lot, was gone. So I wasn't going to try to fight back anymore.

All right, that's it.

　There was nothing I could do, I was helpless, I couldn't do anything - that's when I gave up everything and tried to stop thinking.

W--

　With a terrifying explosion, a person fell from the sky.

"You--who are you!

What?　Who do you think you're talking to?

　At that moment, one of his heads flew up into the sky.
　Before you know it, the thin, single-edged sword that was pulled out and delivered again took a life without even attaching any return blood to it, and a moment later, fresh blood gushed out.

"Ta, captain--Ki, you--

　She was a beautiful woman.
　Her wet black hair was swaying around her shoulders, around her waist, tangled in a tangle. The dark-colored vestments she wore gave off an unspeakably divine light.

　I just thought it was beautiful.
　So, the girl couldn't help but feel hopelessly hopeful about the woman who seemed to be even a divine messenger.
　However, in hindsight, she couldn't help but think that she had been incredibly foolish.　

'Nah, you're a competitor - hey, who are you talking to just now, who are you talking to, you want to die?

"What are you talking about...　Hey, you're the....

　A strong knight holding a blade and wielding violence rattled and trembled.
　As if he noticed something, he quickly put away his sword, straightened his posture and saluted.



"The Sacred Knights, the Black Knight--Ilmina. And what's this one doing?
　The girl knew that name too.
　It was a name used as a synonym for despair among the beastmen.
　The Sacred Knights, or Sacred Knights, is the name of the strongest knightly order, which is said to be superior to the military power of a single country in just one group.
　The captains of the unit all had colors that indicated each of them, and they were absolute powerhouses that were said to be both one-horse and ten thousand.
　The pinnacle of the Holy Knights, the most powerful knights.
　How could such an existence be in such a remote village - I can't help but think so.

''No, no, I mean, this is - we are hunting for a beast that could be a commodity at the order of a saintly person. Right now, we believe that three platoons are hunting sub-humans in the surrounding villages.
　Hearing this, the woman spat uncomfortably.

Yeah, so?

Now that we have done our job, we will be returning to Rhinelander...

Well, then I'm done with that.

What?　Um--

　The words did not last.
　My head just fell off.
　That's why the words didn't last.

"What are you doing--!

　That's what you did!　When it's their turn to complain!　You--are you really a knight in shining armor?

"Hey, the Black Knight is losing his nerve--all hands unleashed--

　One against fifty.
　It was also one woman against a strong man.
　As it turned out, it wasn't even a fight.

　The whole area became a sea of blood.
　The girl can only watch the heads flying in the sky one by one, one by one, in a daze.

''Why are you doing this!　Why are the Sacred Knights of God's peak guard?　Why do you want to kill our congregation?

God?　God, God, God, God, God, God, God, God, God, God, God, God, God, God, God!　God, huh?　God doesn't play into your hands, scum!

We are a special forces platoon under the command of St. Eduardo...　You think I'm going to get away with this for free--

First God, now a saint?　d*mn, hahahahahaha, don't make me laugh too much!　I know it's going to be uncomfortable, but--die.

　Illumina stomps on the chunk of flesh that has become a speechless corpse.
　Again, and again, and again, and again, and again.
　The guts were crushed with a squishy, sounding sound, and the stench was staggering.

'God, God, God, God, God, ha, God hey?　God isn't a deafening exoneration to make up for your sins.

　The woman said this as she spat it out.
　There was no one left to hear those words.
　Every single knight who had laid waste to the village had died out.

''Oh, thank you--thank you--''

　Saying that, Illumina hesitantly kicked away the villagers who jumped with emotion.

''Hu--Kafu--!

I'm not going to sit on my hands, you piece of shit.
　Saying that, cold eyes pierce the girl.

''Aren't you........on our side.......?
　The girl asks Illumina, who has dispelled her nightmares, "Ha, there is no such thing as an ally in this world.

''Ha, there's no such thing as someone's friend in this world.
　Illumina spun the words as if to spit them out.

'd*mn it, I'm sick of it--God and man.