Chapter 5: Let’s Turn the Spectators into Accomplices!

A few days had passed since my encounter with Marquis Markovar. That day, I boldly declared to his face, “I’ll make you switch sides from Luciel to me!” His trembling reaction struck me as underwhelming at first, but looking back, he must’ve been quivering with joy at the prospect of being guided down the true path. Hmph, a fitting response for someone destined to be my lackey—er, subordinate.

I was all fired up at the start, but these past few days, I’d been racking my brain over how to actually gather intel on him. Markovar’s a cagey bastard—makes sense, given his shady dealings—so getting dirt on him would require some finesse. For now, all I could do was keep wrecking the Great Forest of the Underworld and…

“Here I come, Klaus-sama!” Sofia shouted.

“Yeah, bring it,” I replied.

…train with Sofia. As she swung her sword at me, I casually parried with my Shiny Sword, brushing off her attack with ease.

So, how’d we end up here? It all started the day I arrived at the Great Forest of the Underworld. After I torched the place, the knights were left dumbfounded, but Sofia? She immediately begged me to train her. Normally, I’d shut that kind of request down, but Sofia’s different. She’s destined to face me as the final boss alongside the protagonists, so she needs to be strong. If she came at me half-baked, it’d be a real pain in the ass. So, I took it upon myself to personally coach her.

I’ve been teaching her swordsmanship and magic, and over these few days, her weaknesses have become clear. Her level’s decent—thanks to the power-leveling I helped with during the 【lGreat Labyrinth of Eltoria raid. Compared to her starting stats in Altena Fantasia, she’s got some serious firepower now. The problem? Her proficiency. Her sword and magic skills don’t match her level at all. Sure, leveling up raises the proficiency cap, but unlike levels, proficiency only climbs with time and practice. Using high-difficulty techniques might speed things up a bit, but…

As I mulled this over while sparring, Marie silently appeared at my side. “Master, it’s about time to head to the Great Forest.”

“Hm? Already?” I took the towel she offered, wiping my sweat, and glanced at Sofia. She was hunched over, hands on her knees, panting heavily, looking utterly spent.

“Haa… haa… No matter how much I attack, I can’t break through Klaus-sama’s defenses. This is the gap between us…” She seemed shocked, but her eyes held no trace of surrender. That’s a good mindset, but ideally, I’d like her to grow faster—

“Master, I’ll take the towel,” Marie said.

“Hm? Oh, sure.” I handed it back, catching a faint flicker of emotion in her smile—probably just my imagination. More importantly, as she said, I needed to prep for the Great Forest. To keep stoking Sofia and the knights’ resentment, my daily forest-burning routine had to continue.

“Destroying the Great Forest, huh…” I muttered.

“Is something wrong, Master?” Marie asked.

“Nah, it’s nothing.” I brushed her off, but a nagging issue was brewing in my head. Over these past few days of relentless destruction, a massive problem had surfaced.

(I’m so damn sick of burning the Great Forest every single day!!!)

That’s right—a colossal issue. Thanks to my constant magic barrages, monsters stopped showing up in the areas I torched, meaning no level-ups for me. Worse, my proficiency’s already maxed out, so there’s nothing to gain. In a way, I’m dealing with the exact opposite problem as Sofia. Talk about a dead end. Still, to keep my villain cred intact, I had to keep at it. If only there were a way to stir up Sofia and the knights’ discontent without me personally leading the charge—

“Wait a sec…” My genius brain sparked a divine idea. A perfect, ultra-C-tier plan that would solve all my problems—Sofia’s proficiency issues included. This was it. The only way! How am I this brilliant? I cackled internally, “Hahaha!”

◇◆◇

With my genius plan in motion, I headed to the Great Forest of the Underworld as usual, joined by Marie, Sofia, the knights, and Marquis Wyndham. On the way, the knights were whispering among themselves.

“Hey, he’s not seriously doing it again, is he?”

“Blasting that kind of magic every day? Unreal.”

“I’d heard the rumors, but… Count Renford’s on another level.”

Their voices and faces oozed shock and fear. And why wouldn’t they? The Great Forest was a treasure trove of resources, and they’d come to support me in harvesting it for the kingdom. Instead, I kept burning it to ash, betraying their expectations. They could only watch, unable to complain, their frustration piling up. Perfect. If they hated it that much, I’d respect their feelings… in my own way.

Upon arriving, I made a grand announcement. “My spell-casting in the Great Forest ends here!”

“““What!?””” Sofia and the knights gasped, their eyes wide with disbelief, probably overjoyed that I was finally stopping the destruction.

Too bad. That’d only boost my reputation again, and there’s no way I’d let that happen. Facing the stunned crowd, I declared with authority, “Oh, my words were unclear. I’m only stopping my spell-casting. The destruction of the Great Forest? That continues.”

The murmurs grew louder.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Who’s gonna do it instead…?”

They clearly weren’t following. Then, Wyndham stepped forward. “B-but, Lord Renford, no one here besides you could possibly pull that off…”

“Hah, too naive,” I sneered.

“…Pardon?” He blinked, catching a glimpse of my intent but still not getting it. Did the king’s right-hand man really think he could outsmart me with that weak response? Fine. For the sake of the masses, I’d spell it out.

“If one person’s not enough, just add more. Simple as that.”

“No… you don’t mean…” Wyndham’s eyes widened.

I turned from him to the knights. Did they think they could just stand by and watch? Too soft. Time to show them who they’re dealing with. I laid out my cruelest plan yet.

“I’m going to teach you all the essence of my magic. It won’t be easy to master, but if everyone here works together, you should at least manage a fraction of it. From now on, you’ll burn this forest to the ground with your own hands!”

That’s right. This was the ultimate scheme: turn these knights, sent to support me, into the main culprits of the destruction. I’d make them defy the king’s orders themselves! A perfect idea! They’d never dreamed they’d be the ones betraying the crown. Seeing their shaken faces, I knew I’d won.

But then, one knight spoke up. “W-wait, Lord Renford! Burning the forest means we’d have to use the same magic as you, right? Even with all of us, that’s impossible!”

He wasn’t wrong. No matter how many knights pitched in, they couldn’t replicate my magic. But—

“No problem. We have Sofia.”

“…Me?” Sofia tilted her head.

I nodded firmly. In Altena Fantasia, Sofia was a standout character, excelling in both swordsmanship and magic. Her unique ability? Gathering and wielding others’ magical energy. It was likely tied to her mastery of the Sword that Guides Hope, a blade that channels surrounding mana. That ability would shine here. With Sofia as the focal point, the knights’ combined magic could make this work. Plus, there was a bonus: channeling so much mana would be tough, boosting her proficiency exponentially. It’d skyrocket her growth.

The catch? If Sofia, a princess, refused, even I couldn’t force her. But—

“You think you can do it, Sofia. Or are you backing down without trying?”

“—! If Klaus-sama believes in me, I won’t back down! I’ll do it!” she declared.

Plan executed. Poke her pride, and she’d agree every time. I’m so perfect it’s terrifying. Has there ever been a genius like me across all of time?

Anyway, with Sofia on board, the knights had no room to refuse. I meticulously taught them the magic, ensuring they’d perform at their best.

Thirty minutes later, we were ready. “Here I go…!” Sofia focused, channeling the knights’ collective mana. Multiple spell formations unfolded, and despite their complexity, she controlled them with her natural talent. Then, the moment arrived. Her eyes snapped open, and she thrust her hands forward, shouting:

“Linked—Excessive Barrage: Explosive Inferno!”

A blaze of fire erupted. Smaller than my own but still packing serious heat, it slammed into the forest floor.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOOOOM!

Explosions roared. When the spell faded, the area was a scorched wasteland. (Hm. About a tenth of my output, but… passable.) The Excessive Barrage: Explosive Inferno was a fusion of multiple spells, making it easier for a group to cast, and this was a solid success.

“““…””” Sofia and the knights stood stunned, unable to believe they’d done this. Heh, perfect. Let them soak in the reality of their actions.

Just then, Wyndham, who’d stayed back, approached. “Lord Renford, I have a report. I’ll be returning to the capital today.”

“What?” His sudden announcement clicked immediately. He must see this as a serious issue and wants to report to King Alden. That means a direct order to stop will come soon. Even I can’t defy the king… but fine. Until then, I’ll keep riling up the knights’ resentment.

(Oh, right…) My gaze fell on Wyndham’s intact eyes. In the game, he’s one-eyed, thanks to Markovar’s Phantom Hand. Since he’s fine now, that injury must happen within the next few months. Hmph. Normally, I’d steer clear of meddling, but…

“Alright, one piece of advice. Make sure you don’t lose the light in those eyes.”

“The light in my… eyes? …! Understood, Lord Renford! I’ll take my leave!” Wyndham’s face paled as he rushed off.

Did he think I was threatening to blind him? Eh, whatever. If that’s how he took it, no harm done. The plan was a success. I’d turned Sofia and the knights into accomplices in destroying the kingdom’s precious resources. Could there be a greater victory? Feeling triumphant, I let out a hearty, “Hahaha!”

◇◆◇

Orto Wyndham, hailed as the king’s right-hand man, had joined the Great Forest of the Underworld expedition with a specific purpose: to keep Marquis Markovar in check. Let’s rewind. At a party Wyndham once hosted, one of Markovar’s retainers, claiming to be from the Phantom Hand, attacked. Markovar played dumb and escaped execution, but as punishment, part of his territory was lent to Klaus for the forest’s development. When Klaus demanded the vast Great Forest of the Underworld as his reward, King Alden and Wyndham shared a realization: Klaus was positioning himself to monitor Markovar. For a mere lord to propose such a thing thrilled them both. But reality outdid their expectations.

“Excessive Barrage: Explosive Inferno!”

“What power!” Wyndham gasped.

Klaus, with overwhelming talent, had single-handedly turned the forest into a wasteland. Wyndham felt ashamed of underestimating him, assuming the development was a bluff. But this only strengthened his resolve. This was his true mission. Markovar must resent Klaus for taking his land and luring his people to Renford’s territory. With his vast information network, he likely knew Klaus thwarted the earlier attack. When Markovar requested a meeting, Wyndham vowed to ensure Klaus wasn’t ensnared by his schemes. Sure enough, Markovar immediately hurled veiled barbs.

“They say your governance of the Renford territory is exceptional, earning you the people’s support. Why, some of my own subjects have moved to your lands. I’d love to learn the methods behind such success.”

His words were laced with anger over losing his people and a thinly veiled threat to take them back—a declaration of war. As Wyndham moved to intervene, Klaus’s response floored him.

“Of course, Lord Markovar. I’ll personally show you the true path you should follow.”

“—!?!?” Markovar and Wyndham both gaped.

Markovar hadn’t hidden his malice, openly provoking Klaus. Most would flinch under such pressure from a higher noble, but Klaus? Unfazed. He even countered with, “I’ll show you the true path.” The implication was clear:

“I know your schemes. You won’t get your way. I’ll expose every sin you’ve committed and lead you to judgment.”

Wyndham swallowed hard. Klaus’s intellect, strength, and sheer audacity overwhelmed even a high noble like Markovar. The shocks didn’t stop there. Days later, Klaus taught Sofia and the knights his magic’s essence, guiding them to raze the forest themselves. His teaching prowess and willingness to share closely guarded knowledge showed his generosity. Wyndham was deeply moved. (To think Lord Renford was such a sage… I thought I knew him, but I was naive.)

Klaus’s achievements—forest development, monitoring Markovar, strengthening the kingdom—were immeasurable. Wyndham realized his presence was unnecessary. (I can return to the capital.) With that, he told Klaus, “Lord Renford, I’ll be returning to the capital today.”

“What?” Klaus tilted his head, surprising Wyndham. He’d expected Klaus, with his foresight, to agree instantly. But then—

“Alright, one piece of advice. Make sure you don’t lose the light in those eyes.”

“The light in my… eyes?” Wyndham froze, puzzled. Was Klaus warning him about blindness? No, there had to be more. (Think. Why say this now, when I mentioned returning? I came to monitor Markovar. There’s a clue there…) Was Klaus saying he’d overlooked something—something hidden in the dark? (That’s it!)

“Understood, Lord Renford! I’ll take my leave!” Wyndham left, his eyes burning with purpose. (He’s right. I’ve missed something about Markovar. Klaus is indirectly ordering me to dig deeper, avoiding specifics to evade Markovar’s spies… or testing if I’m worthy.) A thrill ran through him. A boy half his age was gauging his ability from such heights, yet Wyndham felt no anger—only excitement and respect for Klaus’s brilliance.

(I’ll rise to the sage Lord Renford’s expectations!)

Postponing his return, Wyndham began investigating Markovar from a new angle. This would uncover shocking truths, setting major events in motion—but that’s a story for another time.