I Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble, Nothing More Than the Hero’s Foil: Since the Hero Can Only Bring Misery to My Favorite Heroine, I’ll Use My Game Knowledge and Over-the-Top Effort to Rewrite the Scenario and Make Her Happy. - Chapter 19

“Swordsmanship skill proficiency acquired.
Swordsmanship skill has increased to Level 4!
Accuracy and attack power increased by 40%.”

The system voice echoed in my head.

Through repeated battles with high-level monsters and my first large-scale fight against human opponents, my swordsmanship had reached a new level.

“Hyah-ha-ha! So, you’re the famous Cain Schwarz? What a surprise! But you’re too naive! Haste! Resist Fire!”

Gordon sneered arrogantly as he cast buff spells, enhancing the speed and fire resistance of his men.

“To cast buffs on this many people at once… calling yourself a magical prodigy might not be entirely baseless.”

I had to admit, I was surprised.

Though Gordon didn’t appear in the main game storyline, his magical skills were formidable.

“Hyah-ha-ha! Of course! Now, take Elise hostage! No matter how strong Cain and Selvia are, they’re finished if we grab her!”

“Yes, sir!”

The thugs grinned maliciously, emboldened by their newfound strength.

“I won’t allow it. I’ll protect Sister Elise.”

“Selvia! Th-thank you!”

Selvia stood firmly in front of Elise, shielding her with determination.

“Hyah-ha-ha-ha! Fool! You’re clearly a fire magic specialist! With Resist Fire, you’re nothing more than a weakling!”

“That’s not exactly true, though…”

I couldn’t help but interject.

Selvia’s Albidus Fire wasn’t technically a spell, so magical defenses like Resist Fire wouldn’t work against it.

However, its overwhelming power and difficulty to control made it dangerous to use against humans—it could easily kill them.

Selvia understood this, which explained her hesitation.

“Don’t worry, Selvia. You don’t need to fight this time—I brought reinforcements.”

“What…?”

“Cain, sir! Lancelot has arrived!”

In a flash, Lancelot leaped over the thugs, landing gracefully in his tailcoat.

With a single strike, he dispatched the men advancing toward Elise.

He wielded a broad knight’s sword, a weapon typically used on horseback to crush enemies in full armor.

“Lancelot! Guard the two of them. I’ll handle Gordon.”

“Yes, sir! And I must say… your speed is remarkable, Cain. To think you left me behind!”

I had arrived far ahead of Lancelot, thanks to my rigorous training. My legs had become so strong that I could match the speed of a racing carriage.

I marveled at the potential of my body. The more effort I put in, the more it rewarded me.

“Now it makes sense! Speed is everything for a swordsman. Swordsmanship is about striking faster than your opponent. Strengthening your legs and core is essential—and your training reflects that perfectly!”

“Well, actually, I was just training to run away from enemies…”

I had started running for fun, spurred on by Elise and Selvia’s cheers. Before I knew it, I was running nearly 20 kilometers daily.

Looking back, it was no wonder Elise had stopped joining me for morning runs. Only Selvia kept up, gasping for air but never giving up.

“You’re too modest, Cain. This Lancelot is deeply impressed!”

Lancelot bowed sincerely.

“W-wait, Lancelot!? You mean the former Vice-Captain of the Royal Knights!?”

“The legendary knight who was once considered the strongest in the kingdom!?”

Gordon and his men paled as they recognized Lancelot.

“My father specifically warned me never to cross paths with Lancelot! I made sure he wasn’t around before attacking… how is he here!?”

Gordon glared at Lancelot, biting his lip in frustration.

“Do not overestimate me. The true strength lies with Cain Schwarz. He works tirelessly to protect those he loves, embodying the ideals of knighthood!”

“What!? To think Lancelot would say such things about him…”

I wasn’t particularly interested in knightly ideals, but apparently, in Lancelot’s eyes, I was the perfect knight.

“My loyalty belongs to Cain Schwarz. He has ordered me to protect these two, and as a knight, I shall fulfill my duty, even at the cost of my life. If you’re not afraid of my blade, come and face me!”

Lancelot’s aura was overwhelming, making him appear larger than life.

“Hyahhh! This wasn’t part of the deal!”
“We just came for easy money!”

Some of the thugs, terrified, began to flee.

“Hold it! You’re bandits who have plundered Schwarz territory! Do you think I’ll let you escape?”

I chased down the fleeing men, striking them with my training sword. My countless hours of practice made my strikes precise and devastating.

Since I was using a wooden sword, none of them would die, but each blow knocked them out cold.

These men had planned to assault Selvia and Elise and sell them into slavery. They deserved no mercy.

In the game’s storyline, Elise didn’t exist. Perhaps in this world, she had been captured by bandits, triggering the original Cain’s descent into darkness.

“Damn it! Don’t run, you cowards! Protect me! Kill Cain Schwarz, and I’ll reward you with ten gold coins each!”

Gordon screamed hysterically. Some of the men regained their morale and tried to surround me.

But they were too slow. Despite their Haste buff, their movements were inefficient.

Before they could surround me, I struck them all down in a single motion. Five men fell to the ground at once.

I intentionally refrained from using the unique skill of my sword, Black Moon Blade, which would add dark elemental damage.

If I had activated it, they wouldn’t have survived. These men needed to face justice alive.

“Impressive, Cain! You’ve become so strong—you’re amazing!” Elise cheered.

Her encouragement brought back memories. Elise had always been there for me, acting as my mother figure after we lost ours.

Anyone who dared hurt her would pay dearly.

“Damn it! Fireball!”

Gordon launched consecutive fire spells, aiming directly at me. If I dodged, they would hit Elise.

He thought this would corner me, but he underestimated me.

“Haaahhhhhh—!”

I slashed through the incoming Fireballs with my sword.

Normally, magic couldn’t be cut, but the dark energy of Black Moon Blade devoured and nullified the spells.

“Wha—!? My Fireballs—disappeared! What kind of power is that!?”

“This is Cain’s unique skill, Black Moon Blade. Magical attacks won’t work on him,” Selvia explained proudly.

Gordon’s face twisted in shock.

“I’ve never heard of such a thing!”

“With the combination of the skills Arrow Deflection and Black Moon Blade, ranged attacks are useless against him. The only way to beat Cain is in close combat—a challenge even for me,” Lancelot added.

Gordon and his men were visibly shaken, their fear mounting.

“How can some noble brat be this strong!?”
“This isn’t possible!”

“Wait! I surrender—Gyaaaah!”

Some tried to beg, but I knocked them out without hesitation.

Not a single one of them would escape. My speed allowed me to catch those who turned to flee, striking them down one by one.

“Hyahhh! If you hurt me, I’ll tell Prince Leon that you defied his orders! You’ll all be ruined!” Gordon screamed.

“Do you think I’d let that happen?”

I swung my sword at Gordon’s leg, shattering the bone.

“Gyahhh! It hurts! It hurts! Mommy! Father never hit me, but you—!”

By the time the dust settled, nearly 100 thugs lay unconscious around me.

“Lancelot, bring the item we bought from the merchant.”

“Yes, sir!”

Lancelot retrieved a scroll from his bag.

“Th-that’s a Slave Contract Scroll!? Y-you’re going to make me a slave!?”

Gordon’s face twisted in utter despair.