Chapter 53

Chapter 53. Second Persona (1)

"Ugh... I concede defeat."

With a low groan and a twisted expression, the knight eventually admitted his defeat.

Watching him, I let out a smile, shaking off the beads of sweat that had formed on my forehead.

"Is there no next opponent?"

Yulian was defeating knights with unfamiliar weapons, at some point, rumors started to spread, and spectators gathered at the training ground.

Even formal knights appeared to challenge the fortress known as 'Yulian'.

'... I've inadvertently stumbled into this situation.'

Of course, from my perspective, it wasn't entirely bad.

If I had been dealing with the riffraff, rather than these formal knights, my skills wouldn't have developed.

In this way.

⇒ You have acquired 「Aura Conversion」.

I wouldn't have had the opportunity to gain new traits.

Initially, applying aura to weapons other than a 'sword' was quite challenging.

But as time passed and I repeated duels, I quickly adapted to any weapon, thus allowing me to acquire such 'traits'.

"... It seems there is no one else. Truly disappointing. Is this all you have to protect the imperial family?"

I said, with a sneer on my lips to the surrounding knights, who could only swallow their saliva.

It seemed there wouldn't be any more challengers, which was regrettable.

Thinking so, I placed the rapier, which I didn't usually use, back on the weapon rack.

"Good work, Sir Yulian."

Then, a knight who had been watching nearby rushed over to offer me a towel.

He was a man whose face seemed strangely familiar. It felt like I had met him before.

Ah, I remembered. He was a member of the Azure Lion Knights who accompanied me when I last visited the special district of Julin.

Ah... I remember the surname, but what was his name?

"It's, it's Fern. You might have forgotten since it's been a while since we last met..."

"Sir Fern Tellund. Don't doubt my memory. Huhu, by the way, has Sir Heinrich, who went with us, recovered?"

As I attached the surname to the name he provided, color returned to Fern's face.

I wasn't sure why he was so delighted, though.

"Yes, yes! He was hospitalized for a while due to the injuries inflicted by the demon, but he has just completed rehabilitation!"

"Is that so? It's good to hear. The demon from back then was just a bi-horned after all."

Wiping sweat with the towel Fern handed over, I mentioned this, and he broke into an awkward smile.

"Hah, haha... Only Sir Yulian would describe a bi-horned demon as 'just' that."

To be honest, recalling that time, the word 'just' wouldn't be entirely appropriate.

Back then, I hadn't yet perfected the 'Moonlit Sword', nor was I properly attuned to my body, nearly meeting death against the mere bi-horned demon.

"Certainly, being able to coat aura on any weapon, even those with a thinner blade than usual, allows you to speak in such a manner."

Fern seemed to frequent this third training field often.

His tone suggested he had witnessed me attempting to apply aura to various weapons multiple times.

"And... although it might just be my feeling, the aura of Sir Yulian now seems sharper than the one I saw before."

At his plain compliment, I glanced at Fern.

Sharper than before.

Indeed, I felt the same way.

Compared to when I first became 'Yulian', the difference could be described as worlds apart.

"Especially since someone of your high level continues to strive and polish yourself like this..."

"Sir Fern, you possess talent as well."

Hearing my growth acknowledged by someone else, having only been satisfied and pleased by it myself before, didn't feel bad at all.

Thanks to that, I offered kind words to Fern, unlike usual.

"Pardon?"

"You will grow into an excellent knight. Perhaps, you might even enjoy the same fame as mine."

"That, such..."

"Ah, if it's fame such as the 'Smiling Executioner', that might be a bit unpleasant."

Did I say something unnecessary?

I returned the towel Fern handed me. He murmured 'Thank you' in response.

Was he grateful because I returned the towel?

It wasn't mine, to begin with.

I turned my steps to leave the training ground.

'I've become stronger than before.'

I thought that I no longer had to tremble in fear like when I first became 'Yulian'.

I had finally reached a level where I could fully utilize this body.

'Moreover, considering what's ahead, I don't have much to do.'

At most, I'd pretend to be part of 'Dawn Society' and perform 'Blind Eyes'' duties.

Though there are things I need to keep hidden, haven't I managed well so far?

Sufficient strength.

A stable daily life.

No more awkward acting.

Living in this world had stabilized, no exaggeration.

'Indeed, unless the world I knew has deviated greatly.'

***

After finishing my training and taking a shower, I returned to the 'Blind Eyes' office.

"... And Sir Pintel succeeded in securing the Soul Stone."

Hmm.

Receiving a report from Lazlot on the information about Dawn Society, I let out a brief sigh inwardly.

'... Why?'

I had heard before that Pintel was going to raid a company to secure the Soul Stone.

As Dawn Society secures more 'Soul Stones', the resurrection of 'Demon God Barbatos' would draw nearer, and I, who couldn't overlook that, had to prevent Dawn Society from obtaining the Soul Stone.

However, the mention of 'Pintel' moving to secure it didn't instill any sense of threat.

Stopping that was the second persona of Hayden Reich, the protagonist of this work, the 'Black Knight'.

'... No, wasn't it after the caravan was attacked that they blocked the way back to the system?'

No matter how much I wracked my brain, the 'Black Knight' definitely exploited the moment to thwart them during the caravan raid.

I remembered that clearly.

The 'Black Knight' was one of the core content of 〈Let's Kill the Demon Lord Now〉.

'The reason I remember the name Pintel is because of this...'

The debut of the 'Black Knight' was one of the iconic scenes of this work.

A righteous knight thwarting Pintel.

The scene that, with all its impact and splendor, received cheers from many users.

That's why the report that Bishop Pintel safely secured the Soul Stone left me puzzled.

'No, why are you not doing your job! Hayden Reich...'

At this point, it was akin to dereliction of duty.

"Sir Yulian... Is your condition not good?"

Momentarily lost in my thoughts, I hadn't been listening to Lazlot properly. At his voice, I raised my head.

"Did no one appear?"

"... Pardon?"

Lazlot seemed taken aback by my question.

"When Sir Pintel raided the company. I'm asking if someone exceedingly strong, skilled with the sword, appeared."

"No, there was no such report..."

Lazlot replied negatively to my inquiry.

Which eliminated the possibility that the 'Black Knight' had appeared but was defeated by 'Pintel'.

'... It really is dereliction of duty!'

Frustrated to the point of biting my lip, I fumed internally.

The thought that my life here had stabilized was partly because of the expected exploits of the 'Black Knight'.

Why?

The 'Black Knight' intercepts the Soul Stones Dawn Society seeks, eliminates key executives one by one, and ultimately takes down the current Archbishop, 'Tenelon.'

'Hnnng...'

Yet, the Black Knight...

Hadn't appeared at the time he was meant to.

A bitter taste lingered at the tip of my tongue, and as a result, I furrowed my brows slightly.

It was unexpected.

"Do you know Sir Pintel's return route?"

"... Pardon?"

Perhaps my question seemed out of the blue, so Lazlot quizzically asked back.

"There might be potential incidents. We aren't the only ones coveting the Soul Stone, after all."

"... Ah."

Nodding in agreement, Lazlot began to speak.

"Sir Pintel, who succeeded in obtaining the Soul Stone, is supposed to enter the system through the western gate today."

"Is that so. Given the imperial eye, they'll probably enter the system late at night."

"Yes, it seems so."

Even while listening to Lazlot, the bitter taste on my tongue and ominous feeling brushing my mind persisted.

Nonetheless, somewhere deep down, as if a child believing in Santa Claus, I clung to a belief that the 'Black Knight' would appear.

'That fellow needs to work, so I have less work to do!'

Though it wasn't deriving from innocence but purely for self-preservation.

Receiving Lazlot's report, I began preparing to leave the imperial palace.

"... Where are you heading, Sir Yulian?"

"Oh, an urgent matter came to mind. Could you relay a message to Commander Ordwin for me?"

One of the privileges exclusive to Yulian, the core of 'Blind Eyes'.

It's that on days without assignments, there's no need to adhere strictly to work hours.

"Yes, understood."

Evidently aware of this, Lazlot nodded naturally.

"In that case... Should I hand over the paperwork stacked there to the commander?"

Glancing, Lazlot shifted his gaze to the pile of documents on my desk.

"Yes, please tell Commander Ordwin I appreciate it."

***

"Pheew..."

Inhaling deeply, the cold air from the wall chilled my lungs. Did my trained body help? The cold didn't feel overwhelming, yet complaints bubbled involuntarily.

'With Hayden Reich's intelligence network, he should be aware that Dawn Society secured the Soul Stone.'

I currently stood atop a large tree near the western gate, as Lazlot had informed me.

From there, wearing a hood to remain unnoticed, I waited for the carriage carrying Pintel to arrive.

In my estimation, this place was the last line of defense.

'He will appear, he must appear.'

If it passed through here, the 'Black Knight' wouldn't be able to prevent Dawn Society from acquiring the Soul Stone.

Inside the system, members like Monsignor and Bishops await, and should they swarm, even a 'Sword Saint' would be in danger.

'Still nothing?'

While various emotions roiled within me.

In the distance, a carriage appeared, approaching the gate.

Even in the pitch-black night, Yulian's eyes saw it clearly. Reflected in those eyes was the symbol recognizable only among Dawn Society.

'That's it.'

The carriage carrying the Soul Stone Pintel secured. That must be it.

'What on earth are you doing! Hayden Reich...'

Yet, no sight of the 'Black Knight', nor even a single owl chick. At this rate, the carriage would pass through this gate and enter the system.

Should that occur, an irreversible bridge would be crossed.

'Hah...'

Silently, I sighed.

I couldn't fathom the reason why the 'Black Knight' didn't appear here, yet one thing became crystal clear.

My troubles were about to increase.

Clip-clop, clip-clop──!

As the sound of hooves drew closer, I, standing atop the gate, rose from a crouch.

'Had I anticipated this, I'd have practiced at least once.'

After steeling my heart, I leaped onto the carriage.