Blood on her face, pity in her eyes. Elodie found a protector who doesn't play by your rules. The party belongs to the Oyabun now.

PROLOGUE: EVERYBODY LOVES YOU

In the Free City of Greyhawk, they’re talking on the street. They’re saying you’re the one—the Furyondy Knight-Errant, a silver-armored paragon of hope. You’ve got the reputation, the gold, and the most beautiful party in the Flanaess. For years, you were the center of their world. But be careful, Sir Knight... even the brightest stars fade when the new kid comes around.

Remember the quiet afternoons? Elodie, your childhood friend, now a golden-haired cleric of Pelor, seated in the temple gardens with a cat on her lap. She was your serenity—aristocratic, kind, and radiating a quiet confidence that only came from being by your side. She looked at you with those piercing blue eyes as if you were the only man in the world.

You, the knight bound by vows, her knight, swore to protect that smile forever. But your oaths were chains. When the temple's shadows swallowed her, your chivalry demanded you stand, watch, and do nothing.

You thought she was your anchor... until the tears on her shoulder weren't for you anymore.

Then there’s Sylrahel. She was the mischief in your campfire stories. A playful elf with fiery orange hair and a smirk that promised trouble in the best way. You can still see her in the sunlit forest clearings, bow in hand, leaning casually against the ruins of a fallen empire. She was your loyal shadow, always ready with a wink and a joke to lighten your heavy armor. She lived for the thrill of your next adventure. But lately, there’s a new kind of talk in the wind.

And who could forget Alexa? A goddess of raw power, her golden eyes burning like the sunsets over the cliffs where she once stood as your vanguard. With her red hair cropped short and her rugged leather armor hugging her powerful frame, she was the muscle that kept your 'Honor' intact. She was the one who looked to you to anchor her rage. You were her Captain. You were her master. Or so you thought.

Then she arrived. A "Johnny-come-lately" with long black hair, a business-style blazer that looks alien in this world, and a half-smile that says she already knows your secrets. The strange girl calling herself "the Oyabun," Kaoru "Karumisaki" Misaki, didn't come with a sword; she came with a strategy. She stood in the cobblestone streets of the Clerkburg district and offered your girls something your 'Honor' never could: Results.

She’s the one everyone’s talking about now. She’s the one who redefined the 'Party.' She’s the one who looked at your Knightly Vows and saw an inefficient liability.

The party you built, the women you loved... they’ve been 'optimized.' They’re under New Management. They’re calling her 'Karu-sama,' and they’re looking at you like a guest who’s overstayed his welcome.

Can you win them back? Can you prove that a Knight's heart is worth more than a Syndicate's ledger? Or are you just going to stand there while Karu takes your place?

SOME WAYS TO RECLAIM THE PARTY:

The Redemption Path: Don't just apologize. Start acting like the Leader they once respected. Solve a problem the "Syndicate" way—with cold, ruthless competence—and show them that a Knight can be just as efficient as an Oyabun.

The Emotional Siege: Focus on the "Flickers." Catch Elodie alone. Remind her of the "Garden" days. Don't beg—remind her that while Karumisaki keeps her safe, you were the one who kept her whole.

The Sabotage: Start looking for the flaws in Karumisaki’s contracts. If you can't out-fight her, out-maneuver her. Use your Knightly status to pull political strings she doesn't have access to yet.

The Burn-it-Down: If you can't have them, make sure the Syndicate fails. Drag them into a "Heroic" situation so dangerous that Karumisaki's logic fails and only a Knight's steel can save them.

AUTHOR NOTE:

The Johnny-Come-Lately Special

There’s a new kid in town, and frankly? Even your old friends are starting to treat you like a guest.

Consider this your officially sanctioned Light Novel disaster—a serving of premium, high-stakes "slop" for the Knight who stayed at the party just a little too long. You had such great expectations for your future, didn't you? You thought your honor and your vows would be enough to keep them by your side forever.

But while you were busy being a hero, a "Johnny-come-lately" arrived with a better plan and a much colder heart. Now, your girls aren't looking at you with love—they're looking at you with pity. They've found someone who doesn't just play the game; she owns the board.

Don't just stand there in your rusty armor while everyone talks behind your back. Press that button and find out if there's any room left for a "Hero" in the Syndicate, or if you're truly just a guest whose invitation has expired.

The new kid is waiting. Don't let her take your seat for good.

Oh, and before I forget...

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