I Finished Saving the World, But Then I Picked Up a Girl With Amnesia - Chapter 4

At the heart of the kingdom resides a sage who has unraveled the secrets of all magic.

The fact that rumors of her brilliance reached even the distant frontier just half a year after the Demon King’s defeat was the most strong proof of her talents.

A genius of exceptional mastery in the field of magic.

After the journey to defeat the Demon King had ended, she aimed to serve directly under the king as a court mage. Normally, the title of court mage is something that those devoted to the study of magic strive their entire lives to attain. However, the young sage, with only 17 years of time and the achievement of defeating the Demon King under her belt, reached for the pinnacle of her field.

A genius had gained the status and power befitting her. From there, all that remained was to rise even higher.

The passion that had been directed toward defeating the Demon King was now channeled into advancing magical studies and nurturing the next generation. As a result, it was said that the field of magic progressed by ten years simply because of her presence.

Officially, her position as a court mage was “advisor,” but in practice, she spent far more time teaching at the academy in the capital. Initially, her unusual origins led to suspicion from the nobles and knights. However, her devotion to fostering new talent and her remarkable accomplishments quickly silenced any criticism.

Of course, there was another reason for that.

“It seems you still don’t understand your position, Commander of the Knights.”

The young sage also threw herself fully into the court’s political struggles.

“Ugh… kill me.”

In a dimly lit room, hidden from prying eyes, a large man clad in armor was crawling on the floor, his face pressed against it as if licking the ground. The gleaming gold embellishments on his silver armor, along with the numerous ornate medals adorning it, spoke of his high status within the kingdom. In truth, he was one of the kingdom’s key figures—the commander of the knights.

“I won’t kill you. What good would it do me to kill you?”

Standing over him, pressing her heel against his head, was a girl.

The black robe she wore, blending into the shadows of the room, was adorned with gold embroidery, just like his armor. Yet, hers emanated an air of mystique. The hood obscured most of her face, but silver hair spilled from it, glinting eerily in the flickering candlelight.

Her breathtaking beauty was hidden beneath the hood as she smiled wickedly, continuing to press her foot down on the commander’s head.

“I had heard about the old-fashioned pureblood knights targeting the Magic Academy before I came to the kingdom… but I must say, you’ve been remarkably persistent in your petty harassment.”

“…Shana Granple.”

The commander spat out her name bitterly.

That was the name of the girl known as the Sage.

“Sage? Ha! You’re nothing but a cursed witch!”

“Oh, my. Please don’t flatter me so much by calling me a witch. It’s making me blush.”

“Shut your mouth! I already see through your true nature!”

“My true nature?”

“Yes, that’s right! Admit it! Show us the monstrous nature you’re hiding behind that innocent act! Reveal it! You are unfit for this kingdom!”

“Hmm? Well, if you insist, I’ll be honest with you.”

Shana brought a hand to her lips, covering her mouth, and curved those crimson lips into a crescent smile that contrasted sharply with her pale skin.

“Pathetic♡”

The commander was struck speechless.

“Fufu… Tell me, Knight-sama who protects the kingdom. How does it feel to be manipulated by nobles, to clumsily attempt political maneuvers, to have them exposed immediately, and to then be humiliated by a young girl stomping on your head? What are you thinking as you spew your words right now? Please, enlighten this inexperienced little girl.”

“Y-You…!”

“Go on, enlighten me.”

“Grrgh…!”

A creak echoed as an unbearable pressure bore down on the commander’s already immobilized body.

Without changing her expression, Shana reached for a sheet of paper on the desk.

“Well, I have all the evidence I need. Honestly, without it, even I wouldn’t be able to trample a man like you, one of the kingdom’s five Knight Commanders, so boldly.”

The paper detailed the illegal actions he had committed behind the scenes. Desperate, the commander stretched out his hand to snatch it from her.

“Guh…”

“My, such determination. Or perhaps, given your single-minded nature, I should say you’re strong in body, if not in brain?”

Finally, his arm, which had been pinned to the floor, managed to move. Perhaps out of pity for his effort, Shana allowed him to take the paper.

“I won’t… let someone like you… take my pride, my accomplishments!”

A loud crunch echoed as the paper was crumpled in his grasp.

Yet Shana’s expression didn’t falter. If anything, her sadistic smile grew sharper as she spread her hands wide.

“…Your accomplishments? Like this, perhaps?”

White paper fluttered through the air like confetti.

The commander stared, stunned, as identical copies of the document he had just taken filled the room, scattered everywhere. They hadn’t been hidden in her robes, nor had they been summoned through spatial magic. They had simply appeared, as if conjured out of thin air.

“Wh-What…”

“Isn’t that wonderful? With this many copies, I won’t have any trouble spreading them across the kingdom.”

“Stop… please, no… anything but that… I’ll do anything, so please…”

Realizing what she intended to do, the commander finally lowered his head to the floor, groveling.

If she had simply killed him, it would have been fine. But for a man who had risen to the rank of Knight Commander, entrusted with protecting the kingdom, being spared only to have his crimes exposed and his honor stripped away was the ultimate humiliation.

To live and be disgraced.

That fear weighed heavier than death.

—

“Yo! Sage-chan! Long time no see! How’ve you been!?”

The door swung open.

So suddenly, it was almost comical.

“…”

“…”

The Hero who had saved the world.

And the brain of the party, reunited at last, with the latter gleefully stepping on the head of a grown man as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“…”

“…”

“Um, Hero-san? Is something the matter?”

“No. You, in your innocent state, shouldn’t be witnessing this yet.”

In response to the voice of the girl behind him, the Hero replied in a resolute tone. Then, after carefully examining the scene before him—Shana and the Knight Commander—he nodded in understanding and clapped his hands together.

With an oddly warm and sympathetic look, he said:

“…Sorry. I see you’re in the middle of some kind of… special play. My bad. I’ll come back later.”

“Ah, wait, no…!”

The door closed.

Silence and the piles of paper were all that remained in the room.

“…Fu, fuuuu…”

Shana’s small frame trembled.

In the eyes of the girl known as the Sage.

In the witch-like emerald eyes that mocked the knight.

Tears began to well up.

“…Hero-san misunderstood me.”

“Eh.”

“…And it’s all your fault.”

“Hey, hold on! That’s unjust—”

The Knight Commander’s scream echoed about three seconds later.