IPMPBB 19

Chapter 19

“I… don’t understand.”

Cesare said.

“What don’t you understand?”

“I don’t understand why the commander has suddenly changed. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

“You think I’m just pretending to have reformed, hiding my true brutish nature?”

“……”

Cesare fell silent. It felt like even he didn’t really know what he wanted to say.

“Let me tell you one thing.”

I began, facing Cesare.

“I don’t need your approval to turn over a new leaf.”

Cesare flinched.

His eyes sharpened. His clenched fists trembled slightly.

But I didn’t care. I had said it to provoke that exact reaction.

‘Not enough. Should I push a bit further?’

Just as I was thinking that—

“…You’re doing it again.”

“Hm?”

“You’re shameless. Truly shameless.”

“Ah.”

Yes, that’s more like it.

“How can you say that after ruining my promotion?”

…Damn you, Elia.

This time, I was the one who stayed silent.

Cesare looked up at me with bloodshot eyes.

“Shameless human being.”

He crossed the line.

But again, I didn’t mind. I didn’t even get angry.

It was a necessary step.

My first impression after possessing Elia’s body and showing up for work had been simple:

‘This body carries a lot of karma. If I’m not careful, I might get stabbed in my sleep.’

Karma wasn’t something you could avoid just because you wanted to. It wasn’t something that could be erased on a whim.

Whether I found it unfair or not, I needed to work through it if I didn’t want to get stabbed.

That’s when Cesare caught my eye.

He was useful for clearing karma in many ways.

Aside from Carlos, he was the one who held the biggest grudge against me, he had been my adjutant, and—most importantly—he was a knight.

“No matter what I say, you’re not going to hear it properly right now.”

I started again.

“But I can’t just ignore it either. Even if I’ve changed, your resentment won’t go away that easily.”

Then, I unclasped my hands.

Cesare’s gaze latched onto my right hand again.

“Then how about this.”

“What do you mean… Ugh!”

I pulled a glove from my drawer and tossed it at Cesare’s face.

He barely dodged, but looked ridiculous doing it.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Cesare asked angrily, having caught the glove in a silly pose.

“Exactly what it looks like.”

I shrugged.

“I’m challenging you to a duel.”

“Are you insane?”

Cesare shouted in disbelief.

I shrugged again.

“Isn’t this the most appropriate way for knights to settle grudges?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“Oh, this right hand?”

I waved my right hand in front of him with a sparkle.

“This handicap should at least help you vent your anger a bit, don’t you think?”

“…I don’t want to win like a coward.”

Cesare said, his eyes wavering.

As expected.

‘So kind. Really.’

He wanted to bring Elia down, but in the end, he was still on the protagonist’s side—on the side of justice.

I wish that idiot Zachary back home could learn something from Cesare.

Pushing aside my thoughts, I focused back on Cesare.

“I’m a knight. And I intend to remain one.”

I said firmly.

“My injury is a part of me. I won’t deny it, and I won’t use it as an excuse to avoid my duty as a knight.”

Cesare’s eyes widened a little.

“So there’s no need to exclude me because of my injury.”

If I kept being treated like dead weight, others besides Cesare would eventually come for my position.

That’s why I needed to prove in this duel that I was still capable.

After all, this was the 3rd Knight Order—where strength ruled above all else.

“Are you serious about this?”

Maybe intrigued, Cesare asked.

‘Yeah, you’d be a fool not to take this golden chance to humiliate your hated boss in front of everyone.’

Not that I planned on letting him win, of course.

“I’m serious.”

I nodded with a faint smile.

I saw his grip tighten around the glove.

“You won’t regret it?”

“How many times do I have to say it? I won’t regret it.”

“Fine. I accept the duel.”

Cesare said resolutely.

“We’ll make it an official duel—use the training grounds and appoint witnesses.”

He was clearly trying to make sure there was no backing out.

“Do as you wish.”

That was exactly what I wanted, so I nodded gladly.

“Then come to the training ground this afternoon.”

With that, Cesare turned and strode out.

“Whew.”

As soon as the door shut and his footsteps faded, I stretched with a sigh.

“Keeping a stern face is exhausting.”

I murmured while rolling my sore shoulders.

I was busy handling other tasks when—

Bang!

Just as things outside grew noisy, the door burst open without a knock.

“Who…”

I turned to see who’d barged in so rudely and was startled.

“…Sir Ivach?”

The intruder was Carlos.

Looking pale as a ghost.

“What’s wrong? Something happen?”

I asked, concerned. Carlos wasn’t one to be easily shaken.

For him to look like that meant something serious.

When I asked, his expression shifted. The ghostly pallor turned into frustration and anger.

“Sir Ivach?”

I called again.

He didn’t respond, just stormed up to my desk and leaned in.

Bang!

He slammed both hands on the desk.

“What are you thinking.”

He growled.

“What are you talking about?”

“The duel!”

Carlos raised his voice, frustrated by my confusion.

Ah. So it was that.

Did Cesare seriously send out a public announcement like “Come watch the ex-maniac get smacked around”? How else did news spread this fast?

“You mean the duel with Sir Girotti?”

“Call it off. Now!”

“I won’t.”

I cut him off coldly.

“I know my standing in the order is shaky.”

Carlos flinched at my words.

“If I’m going to stay on as commander, this is something I have to go through.”

“That may be true…”

He gritted his teeth.

“But throwing yourself into danger like this—what if you get seriously hurt?”

I blinked in surprise.

Could it be…

“Sir Ivach, are you… worried about me?”

“…!”

Carlos’s face flushed bright red.

Not out of embarrassment or shyness, but sheer rage.

“Do you think I’d worry about you? I’m concerned about the disturbance this will cause in the order!”

“Ah, that’s all it is, huh.”

I had thought our relationship had gotten a little warmer. A shame.

Carlos looked at me like I was absurd.

Silence fell in the office.

After a moment, Carlos took a deep breath and lifted his hands from the desk.

“I’ll fight Sir Girotti in your place.”

He said it like a declaration.

“I’m vice-commander, so it won’t seem odd for me to stand in for you.”

He continued,

“I’ll reason with Sir Girotti. You stay somewhere safe.”

“No.”

I firmly cut him off.

“…Commander?”

“There’s no need for you to fight in my place.”

“I can’t just stand by while you put yourself in danger!”

“What you’re worried about won’t happen.”

I looked him square in the eyes.

“And I’m not going to lose.”

“That’s absurd…”

Carlos was about to yell, but stopped when he saw my expression.

I smiled, unwavering, as I met his gaze.

“I won’t lose. Because I’ll never step down from this position.”

Carlos stared at me, momentarily speechless.