The provided chapters detail the machinations of a cunning individual named Gaikaku, who operates under the guise of a seemingly bumbling but magically adept figure, while secretly orchestrating elaborate schemes for personal gain and power.
The narrative begins with Count Borick, a portly and self-important nobleman, showcasing his magical prowess by effortlessly destroying a magically resistant "Immovable Rock" before a crowd. This display, however, is a carefully constructed illusion. Borick, despite his public persona, is aware of his limitations and relies on Gaikaku's hidden assistance. Gaikaku, a hunched and disheveled man, reveals himself to Borick in his private chambers, acknowledging that Borick's magic is a "trick." Borick, pleased with the success of his charade, which has garnered him respect and even talk of joining the Royal Knights, discusses a secret mission from the Royal Family: an Elf who has deserted the Knights has entered his territory. Borick, driven by envy and a desire to eliminate those he perceives as superior, tasks Gaikaku with eliminating the Elf. Gaikaku, for a hefty sum of gold, readily accepts, promising to dispose of the "outcast."
Gaikaku, disguised as a carriage driver, leads a convoy into a mountainous region. The convoy is ambushed by bandits, who are quickly overwhelmed by Gaikaku's true forces: hulking, fur-covered giants, revealed to be female soldiers in specialized "Fresh Golem" suits. These giants, equipped with weapons, easily dispatch the bandits. The Elf, revealed to be a powerful mage named Aviol, emerges, protected by multiple layers of magic barriers. Aviol, initially dismissive of Gaikaku's forces, is astonished when Gaikaku's attacks, powered by a distant, unseen "Demon Tower" artillery system, repeatedly breach his defenses. Despite Aviol's immense magical power, Gaikaku's relentless assault, amplified by the combined magic of twenty Elves powering the artillery, eventually depletes Aviol's energy, leading to his defeat and death. Gaikaku, revealing his true nature as an illegal magic user, collects Aviol's corpse for a substantial reward from Borick.
Gaikaku's operations are revealed to be far more extensive. He commands a diverse group of subordinates, including Ogres, Goblins, Dark Elves, and Beastmen, all acquired through the slave market. He utilizes advanced, often illegal, magical technology, such as the "Fresh Golems" and the "Demon Tower," to achieve his goals. He also employs a network of Elves as magical power sources for his artillery and Dark Elves and Beastmen as specialized combat units. His base of operations is a hidden research facility disguised as a rural village, where he develops and refines his forbidden magical weaponry.
Borick, eager to solidify his position, accepts an offer to become a Knight, driven by his own insecurities and a desire to maintain his facade of competence. He is tasked by the newly appointed Grand Knight Commander, Tistria, to prove his worth by undertaking a mission. Meanwhile, Gaikaku is also tasked by Tistria with a mission: to eliminate an illegal magic user who has been selling dangerous drugs and has already killed Borick's forces. Gaikaku, recognizing the irony of being tasked with dealing with another illegal magic user, readily accepts, seeing it as an opportunity to further his own ambitions and potentially gain favor with Tistria.
Gaikaku's forces, now bolstered by a hundred human mercenaries from the "Amazoness" mercenary group (whom he has effectively enslaved by paying off their debts), embark on their mission to confront the illegal magic user, Tanrou. Tanrou, a vain and insecure magic user, has enhanced his followers with illegal muscle-enhancing drugs. Gaikaku, however, counters with his own enhanced Ogres, also utilizing similar illegal enhancements, leading to a brutal clash of augmented warriors. While the main combatants clash, Gaikaku's human infantry infiltrates Tanrou's base to apprehend the illegal drug manufacturers.
The narrative culminates with Gaikaku's "Bottom-Tier Slave Knight Order" (a self-deprecating name he bestowed upon his forces) successfully completing their mission. They capture the illegal magic user and his associates, securing the territory and demonstrating their effectiveness. Tistria, impressed by Gaikaku's strategic brilliance and his ability to achieve objectives with minimal casualties, offers him a position as a Knight Commander, recognizing his potential despite his questionable methods. Borick, meanwhile, is left in a state of bitter resentment, having been outmaneuvered and exposed as a fraud by Gaikaku and Tistria. The story sets the stage for Gaikaku's rise within the Knight Order, hinting at future conflicts and the ongoing struggle between legality and pragmatism in the world.
