The narrative picks up with Leon Stein, a Platinum Knight of the Royal Capital Holy Knights, facing a sudden downfall. He is summoned by Vice Commander Nadael, who confronts him about rumors of a romantic relationship with Holy Maiden and Commander Cecil Wave, his childhood friend. Leon, bound by a vow of chastity as a Holy Knight, struggles to answer, as he had promised Cecil marriage after her service. Nadael then questions Leon's age and lack of awakened skills, labeling him "talentless." Leon admits to being nineteen and skill-less, a severe disadvantage in a society where skills, appearing by age sixteen, are essential for adulthood and respect. Nadael reveals a magically recorded image showing Cecil in a compromising situation with Prince Raymond, the heir to the throne. Nadael explains that Raymond desires an heir from Cecil and has ordered Leon's expulsion from the Holy Knights to protect Cecil's reputation. Cecil herself has sent a letter agreeing to Leon's departure, requesting it be framed as his voluntary resignation for his honor. Leon is forced to sign a resignation letter and leave the Holy Knights, his platinum armor and position stripped away.
Disillusioned and seeking a new path, Leon attempts to join adventurer guilds but is repeatedly rejected, suspecting Prince Raymond's influence. He recalls his past as an orphan and the hardship of his current situation. While contemplating his next move in the bustling Victory Plaza, Leon witnesses a dispute between a priestess and a group of men. His ingrained sense of duty compels him to intervene, but before he can, a young elf named Kano approaches him, recognizing him as a former Holy Knight and offering him a place in her guild. Leon, prioritizing the priestess's safety, abandons the conversation and pursues the men into an alley. He finds the priestess injured and reports it to arriving Holy Knights. However, they accuse Leon of the assault, citing Cecil's supposed statement and the priestess's false testimony. As Leon is about to be apprehended, Kano intervenes, using smoke bombs to create a diversion and help him escape.
Leon and Kano flee through the labyrinthine streets of the capital, pursued by Holy Knights. Kano, possessing a "Hawk Eye Thief" skill, expertly navigates them through hidden alleys, eventually leading them to the "District of the Vanquished," a slum area outside the capital's jurisdiction. There, Kano reveals she belongs to a hidden, fourth dark guild called the "Michino Family," which has lenient recruitment policies. She invites Leon to join them, believing his skills and background would make him an ideal leader. Leon, initially skeptical, agrees to hear them out. He meets Kano's younger sister, Sani, and learns that the "Michino Family" currently consists only of the three of them. During their conversation, Leon's own latent skill, "King of Heretics," awakens, accompanied by the sub-skill "Hidden Face." This unexpected development, occurring after his expulsion and near capture, marks a significant turning point.
The narrative then shifts to Cecil Wave, the Holy Maiden and Commander of the Royal Capital Holy Knights. She is on a mission to execute two heretics in the Orleans Earldom, a task she finds trivial and questions why Prince Raymond assigned it to her. She reflects on her harsh words to Leon before his departure, regretting her impulsiveness. She had received a letter from Leon confirming his resignation, but also a message from Vice Commander Nadael stating Leon's voluntary departure and dissolution of their relationship. Cecil is deeply troubled, suspecting her words or the incident with Prince Raymond might have caused Leon's actions. She receives a letter from Leon, but it is not from him, but from Nadael, confirming Leon's departure. Distraught, Cecil orders an immediate return to the capital.
Meanwhile, Leon, now living in the District of the Vanquished with Kano and Sani, struggles to accept his new reality and his awakened "King of Heretics" skill. He finds the skill's abilities, particularly "Hidden Face," to be inconvenient. Kano, however, sees potential in Leon and insists he will become the "Don" of their dark guild. Leon learns that Kano and Sani are orphans and that their guild operates as a benevolent force within the slum, providing aid and taking on various tasks. Leon also encounters Seneca Forest, a notorious heretic known as "Cutting Seneca," who reveals he was hired by "Fat Pit," a local thug, to attack Leon for a bounty. Leon, despite his reluctance to fight, disarms Seneca, recognizing his potential. He also discovers he can now perceive "heretics" through a hazy aura around them.
Later, Leon witnesses Fat Pit extorting and assaulting an elderly resident. Kano intervenes, revealing her acquaintance with Pit and his predatory advances towards her. Pit, enraged by Leon's presence and Kano's rejection, attacks Leon. However, Leon's resilience and the weakness of Pit's thugs leave them unharmed. Kano defends Leon, highlighting his past as a Holy Knight. Leon, realizing the need for a stable income and a purpose, agrees to lead the Michino Family. During the ceremony of loyalty, Leon's "King of Heretics" skill evolves, unlocking "King's Authority" and "King's Insight," granting him the ability to attract and identify heretics. He can now see the true nature of Kano and Sani, including their hidden skills and loyalty levels.
The next morning, Leon, Kano, and Sani embark on their first mission as a family: finding a lost cat for a small reward. Leon observes the poverty of the District of the Vanquished and the sisters' dedication to their work. He also notices a young girl, who appears to be a heretic, holding the missing cat and expressing a desire for the "King's protection." This encounter, along with his newfound ability to perceive heretics, hints at a growing complexity in his new life.
