The Tale of Gerald Vader, the Heretic Knightโs Rampage Through Another World
After finishing shopping and dining with Nora and seeing her off near the villa, I returned to the Vader family’s villa.
It was already evening.
โWelcome back, Gerald-sama. The master won’t be returning today.โ
The handsome older gentleman who greeted me at the entrance was the head butler managing this mansionโTonio, I believe he was called.
I hadn’t specifically asked about my father’s whereabouts, but I understood that informing the son of his master’s absence was a priority for the butler.
I didn’t dwell on it, merely nodding lightly.
โ…Is that so? Did something happen at the castle?โ
โNo, I don’t know the details either… After all, the Master’s work often involves highly confidential matters.โ
Well, that makes sense.
Father holds a position akin to a close aide to the Marquis of Horace.
He must respond to sudden, unreasonable demands.
Tonio continued.
โEarlier, one of the head’s knights arrived and informed us only that he would be working through the night at the castle. But there’s no need for concern. It may be Gerald’s first time, but it’s quite common.โ
โI see. I’ll be heading back into town early tomorrow. If Father returns around dawn, please tell him that.โ
โUnderstood.โ
Still, it must be tough for Fatherโworking a regular day shift and then suddenly getting stuck with night duty too.
He acts all high and mighty when he gets home, but he really is a working adult after all, I suppose. I get lost in a strange reflection.
Well, I don’t know if knights count as working adults…
Well, from my perspective as a former corporate slave, all I can say is, โYou must be exhausted.โ
ใโ
โ…โ
After eating the meal prepared for me alone in the dining hall, I returned to my guest room.
The room assigned to me in the villa was smaller than my own room back home, but it was spotlessly clean and comfortable.
Sitting on the bed, I addressed the presence lingering beside me.
โSorry for dragging you all over the place today, Twina.โ
The presence wavered slightly, then replied immediately.
โNo, it’s fine. It was my first time seeing the outside world too. I enjoyed it more than I expected.โ
Her tone actually sounded cheerful.
But… it also sounded to me like she was trying to convince herself.
Even I knew that forcing her to accompany me shopping and eating with Nora couldn’t have left Twina, who called herself โmy companion,โ completely unaffected.
Besides, just following me around town couldn’t possibly be fun.
…That’s precisely why I bought this thing at the magic goods shop today.
โHmm… What are you doing, rummaging through your bag?โ
โI went to the magic goods shop this morning, remember? That’s where I found this.โ
As I spoke, I pulled a small pendant out of my bag.
It hung on a silver chain, with a blue gem set in the top.
As an ornament, it was rather plain.
But it was just as important as Nora’s bracelet… no, this was the magic item I truly wanted in this capital city.
‘This is… an amulet, right?’
โThat’s right.โ
Saying that, I opened it up to show her.
The small blue gem sparkled brightly in the room’s light.
โThis is a present for you.โ
โ…For me?โ
A puzzled voice came back.
Apparently, she hadn’t expected me to give her anything.
โYeah. Anyway, touch this.โ
Saying that, I placed the pendant on the bed.
…Then.
โ…Wh-what is this!?โ
Along with Twaina’s panicked voice, the pendant top began to glow intensely.
โGerald! My magic is being drained! What on earthโโ
โIt’s fine, Twina. This thing won’t harm you. Just relax and let it take hold. And even if it’s draining magic, it’s only what it needs to activate its power. It’s not a huge amount.โ
โ…! If you say so, I’ll just have to believe you…!โ
Twina’s voice, sounding resolved, echoed through the room.
The glow subsided almost immediately.
And then… right before my eyes, there was the figure of a silver-haired girl, clutching the pendant tightly in both hands and squeezing her eyes shut.
…Alright!
I made a mental fist pump.
Success.
โTwina, it’s okay now. Open your eyes.โ
โ… Gerald! I love playing pranks, but I hate being pranked. Promise me… you’ll never do this again…โ
Twina’s reproachful voice gradually took on a confused tone.
And then, she finally seemed to realize.
That her form had materialized.
She looked at her hand gripping the pendant, patted her body here and there… then looked at me with a dazed expression.
โ…Gerald. What is this talisman?โ
โThis is the โTalisman of Exposureโ.โ
โEksu…?โ
Twina tilted her head slightly.
Well, she wouldn’t understand just hearing the name of the talisman.
โThis is a type of talisman used to defeat undead.โ
โHow rude! I’m not undead, you know!?โ
โJust hear me out until the end.โ
Twina protested with a sulky expression, but I knew that already.
Anyway, I continued speaking.
โIts original purpose, as I said earlier, is to force a pseudo-incarnation through magic against incorporeal undead like โghostsโ. That’s what I used on you.โ
โ…I see.โ
She finally seemed to understand, nodding vigorously.
“I hate to admit it, but my body outside the dungeon is in a state extremely close to a spirit form. You could say I’m like a relative of a wraith. So… that’s precisely why it’s possible to construct a body using magic. Still, I’m impressed you came up with such a trick.”
โ…I don’t expect to get by in this world relying solely on swordsmanship and โProtectionโ either. I’ve been acquiring various knowledge.โ
Well, acquiring… or rather, I already possessed it.
I learned of this item’s existence from my gaming knowledge.
โWell… um, you see…โ
I scratched my cheek as I continued.
โIt’s better if you can materialize, right? Even if it’s for the sake of โProtection,โ staying invisible forever can’t be fun for you either…โ
โThank you.โ
Twina wrapped both hands around the talisman and murmured quietly.
She looked incredibly happy.
โIt’s the first present I’ve ever gotten from you. I’ll treasure it.โ
She stared intently at the talisman for a while… then lifted her face… but.
What appeared on her face was a strange, bewitching smile I’d never seen before.
…Huh?
โ…But I’m sorry, Gerald. This isn’t enough to make up for today.โ
Twina murmured quietly, suddenly closing the distance between us.
Caught off guard by her unexpected move, I let her draw near.
Twina pushed me all the way to the edge of the wall, then leaned her body against me.
Her body, composed of magic, possessed surprisingly strong physical strength, and I couldn’t escape the space between her and the wall.
โUm… Twina-san?โ
My mind was in chaos from the suddenness of it all as her face slowly drew nearer.
โI should apologize first. …I’m a greedy goddess.โ