I Possessed the Heroine’s Teacher

I began to follow the child. The child smiled innocently while chewing on a piece of bread. Judging by how they even offered me some, it seemed they were living quite well here. Compared to the emaciated bodies of children who had died agonizing deaths in the laboratory, this child had a healthy figure and a rosy complexion.

Could there really be someone taking responsibility for and caring for these children? If so, how had these people even entered the Black Round Table’s hideout? Even Werner’s comrades had taken quite some time to locate this place…

Before I knew it, the child and I were standing in front of a massive door. It was easily over five meters tall. I couldn’t help but wonder how one could open such a fortress-like iron door. The child took a deep breath and shouted loudly.

“Boss Uncle, I’m back!!!”

A deep and powerful voice resounded from inside.

“Amy! You said you’d be back shortly, and now you’ve finally returned!!!”

The voice, reminiscent of Zhang Fei from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, made me flinch momentarily. It wasn’t just loud but carried an overwhelming presence that was intimidating by itself.

Then, with a screeching sound, the massive iron door slowly opened. Standing behind it was a giant of a man, easily over 2.5 meters tall. He wasn’t just tall—he looked like a fortress built of muscle.

“And you are…?”

“Werner Alten, Imperial Mage. I fell into a trap while investigating the area and ended up here.”

“I see. A pleasure to meet you! I am Olag, leader of the bandit group Green Forest!”

The Green Forest… That was the bandit group founded and later abandoned by Squall’s mentor, Darkwing. They were known for robbing merchants who amassed wealth through dubious means and dismantling criminal organizations that profited from drugs or human trafficking, distributing the stolen wealth to victims. They also made it their mission to liberate slaves.

“Green Forest… I’ve heard of your reputation. It’s an honor to meet your leader here.”

If they were part of the Green Forest, it wouldn’t be surprising if they had infiltrated the Black Round Table. Members of the group were known for their exceptional skills.

“I never imagined I’d meet Werner, one of the legendary heroes. Hmm… But standing here talking feels odd. Please, come inside.”

I followed Olag inside. The interior felt somewhat like the inside of a pyramid—unexpectedly clean and orderly. The place was filled with children who, like the one before, appeared to have been taken as experimental subjects. There were also many individuals who looked like Olag’s subordinates.

“Kids! It seems the Empire finally decided to send someone here! So, the great nation’s royalty isn’t just a bunch of tax-collecting pigs!!!”

Even hearing it again, his voice was thunderous. He’d make a great general. His subordinates were no ordinary people either. Each one looked stronger than even the crown prince’s royal guards. However, they stared at me with eyes full of hostility. As bandits, they likely didn’t harbor much goodwill toward government officials.

Olag sent the girl, Amy, away and began rummaging through a sack in the corner. For a moment, I thought he might pull out a weapon, so I instinctively prepared myself. But instead of a weapon, he pulled out bread and handed it to me.

“You must be hungry after coming all this way. Here, eat.”

Actually, I wasn’t that hungry. I had eaten the lunch Lorcha packed earlier, though it had been awful. The meat was burnt, the sandwiches were salty, and the croquettes were undercooked. Even the Celestial Mage Elder had taken a bite of the sandwich, only to pass out for about 30 seconds. The scariest part was how deceptively normal and appetizing the food had looked.

Still, I couldn’t refuse Olag’s hospitality. I took the bread and sniffed it slightly, just in case it was poisoned. Noticing this, Olag tore off half of the bread and took a bite himself.

“Don’t worry about poison. Adding poison to bread made from the sweat and toil of honest farmers isn’t in the spirit of a bandit.”

Trusting his words, I bit into the bread. It was hard and had a slightly burnt flavor, but it was edible. The bread was still warm, as if kneaded by the hand of the sun.

“What did the Empire send you here for?”

“As you might expect, to kill the scum of the Black Round Table who are conducting these vile experiments.”

“I see… But this place is hard to reach unless you fall into a trap…”

“… To my embarrassment, I stepped on one of those traps on my way here.”

“Hahaha! Even heroes make mistakes, it seems!”

Olag laughed heartily. Personally, I didn’t dislike people like him. It was rare to meet someone so straightforward and good-natured.

“Then, may I ask you something? Why are you stationed in a place like this?”

Even if they had come to raid the Black Round Table, it was strange that they hadn’t attacked yet and were instead taking care of children. Given their capabilities, they could have escaped long ago if they’d deemed the Black Round Table’s forces too strong.

“Hahaha! Just like you, we made a ridiculous mistake!!!”

“Mistake…?”

“We heard that bandits had stashed a hoard of treasure here, so we came to rob it… Only to find this facility. We wanted to leave, but the enemies outside are too intimidating, so we’ve been stuck here!”

“And the children?”

“We’ve been deliberately triggering traps to rescue children who were trying to escape. It’s been almost six months, but many kids are still unrescued, and I feel nothing but guilt for those who have already died.”

“Six months…”

I was beginning to piece together the situation.

“Let’s drop the transparent lies, shall we? Judging by your demeanor, you’re terrible at lying.”

I wasn’t sure why he thought such an implausible lie would fool me.

“Hahaha! My apologies. I guess I never learned how to lie properly with my unrefined upbringing!”

Olag was still laughing heartily. He turned to the children with a gentle smile and said:

“Kids, your uncles have something to talk about with the new visitor. Could you step outside for a bit?”

The children pouted.

“But Uncle, it’s boring to wait outside…”

“Hahaha! Don’t worry, the conversation will be over soon! Once we’re done, I’ll play with you!”

“Then carry me on your shoulders!”

“I want to sword fight!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll do everything you want. Just give us a little time.”

With that, Olag reassured them and ushered the children out, closing the thick iron door behind them.

It didn’t make sense. He claimed to have been stuck here for six months, unable to leave, yet there was no shortage of sacks filled with food. On top of that, bread that’s been around for six months without a speck of mold? It wasn’t as if this was bread made by Shani.

“You may now speak freely,” Olag said. “And thank you for allowing the children to leave.”

“The children are innocent,” I replied. “I’m not a cold-blooded monster who would drag innocent kids into this. Now, let me ask you straight… are you with the Black Round Table?”

At that, Olag’s hearty laughter gave way to a bitter smile.

“Indeed. I am the head of security for one of the Black Round Table’s research facilities.”

“I could already tell you weren’t entirely a bad person just by the way those children looked at you. If you surrender now… I’ll personally persuade His Highness the Crown Prince to let you work under me.”

“Seeing you in person, hero, I can tell you’ve gone soft.”

Olag’s gaze, now filled with hostility, was a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor. He was clearly no ordinary man.

“Soft, you say?”

“I will never betray the Black Round Table.”

“Why not?”

“When a man loses a fight he has staked his honor on, it is only natural to accept the consequences.”

I see. It seemed he had been defeated by someone within the Black Round Table and subsequently ended up as one of their members.

“In that case, let me make a proposal of my own, Sir Werner.”

“And what might that be?”

“Join the Black Round Table.”

For a moment, my blood boiled with rage. This man was suggesting I join the same scum who used children for experiments and massacred innocent people. Clearly, he didn’t know who he was dealing with.

“What the hell are you even saying…?”

“The Black Round Table is powerful.”

“I already know that!”

“It cannot be destroyed from the outside. That’s why I aim to change its immense power from within and use it for justice.”

“What nonsense are you spouting…?”

“There are moderates within the Black Round Table. If you, Sir Werner, were to join and lend strength to the moderates, together, we could reform the organization!”

Olag was making his case with sincere determination. I couldn’t deny that his argument had some merit. Changing the organization from within might indeed be easier than attacking it from the outside.

But there was something that bothered me.

“Then let me ask you this: why haven’t you rescued all the children being used as experimental subjects? Why only care for those who’ve escaped?”

“… Conducting visible activities is too risky. This is the best we can do without drawing attention.”

In that case, my answer was clear.

“If undermining you from within means turning a blind eye to atrocities like the ones I’ve seen today, then my answer is already decided.”

I raised my fist and delivered a sharp punch in the air as a gesture of defiance.

“Go to hell.”

Olag let out a sigh.

“Then there’s no helping it. What a shame. I truly thought we could understand each other…”

He removed his top, revealing his muscular build, and bellowed:

“In that case, I’ll kill you here and use your death to climb the ranks and realize my plan! Forgive me, Sir Werner, but this is where you die!”

“Fine. Let’s settle this.”

Olag, along with his subordinates, assumed a combat stance.

“I am Pellinore of the Black Round Table! To prevent countless future tragedies, I will take your life!”

If that’s how he wanted to play it, I would respond in kind.

“I am Werner Alten, Imperial Mage and a hero of the realm. I cannot condone the atrocities committed here, and for that, I will destroy you all.”