Chapter 71. Nameless Band (2)
'Sir... Black Knight?'
Why bother with formalities for some so-called impressive feat?
At the sudden tranquility of the woman amid the tense situation, I inwardly grimaced.
I've never shown myself to these people—no, to the public—before.
Once, when I attacked the soul stone in the carriage.
And once, when I went after Pintel at the forge.
And was there another time...?
Anyway! The faceless "Black Knight" inadvertently embodied a sense of mystery.
The sudden realization of my identity as the "Black Knight" was remarkably disquieting.
"Ah, that thing...."
That legendary tale passed down orally. That explains it.
It's the "true" story of this world, which was not revealed in the game.
Even so, acting as the "Black Knight" wasn't originally my character's role, so this reaction was novel to me.
"Could it be that the identity of that Black Knight...."
Do they know it's the Empire's infamous "Smiling Executioner"?
I guess ignorance truly is bliss.
"Re... really... is it truly you, Sir, Black Knight? Why are you here...?"
Finding it awkward, I quietly studied the woman's face.
Her emerald eyes and silver hair didn't suit a shabby cabin, and she appeared to be around Rinne's age.
'She was called Maier, wasn't she.'
I thought.
The name "Maier" mentioned by a spirit earlier popped into my mind.
'Was the illegitimate child of Solvern... here?'
Her full name was "Maier de Solvern Eania".
The illegitimate child of the Solvern family, renowned for their authority in "magic" distinct from the Donatien family, among the four great families of the Adratan Empire.
"Seeing her handle spirits, she can't hide her bloodline."
Their family's specialty was 'Spirit Magic'.
While the Donatien manipulated mana in nature to twist laws with their 'magic', the Solvern employed the naturally existing "spirit" to wield natural 'magic'.
Her ability to command spirits of the five attributes earned her the title 'Unique Talent of Five Colors', and she'd eventually become a pillar of the Empire's Magic Tower.
It's ironic that someone of her stature resided in this slum.
But it was none of my business now.
"Ah...."
Maier gazed at my face, sighed, and then glanced at where Baran lay.
Her emerald eyes brimmed with a hint of hostility.
"Could it be that you, the Black Knight, ah no! Did you kill our big brother?"
Although born a noble, Maier's speech was vulgar and exceedingly sharp, evidently poorly educated.
"Damn it, answer me! Was it you who...."
"No."
When I answered in casual speech rather than my usual formal speech, I heaved a sigh of relief tinged with awkwardness.
It was an unfamiliar experience.
"When I arrived, he was already felled by someone else."
"You lying bastard! There's so much mana scattered here. How do you cover it up? Hunin told me everything!"
Hunin? Ah, she means the spirit.
From its scent, it seemed she'd only contracted with the spirit of the wind.
At the mention of its name, a shy spirit with a faint glow scurried into Maier's arms.
"Hey, you bastard! Talk straight! I'm going to slice you up and feed you to demons...."
Swish──.
As Maier raised her voice, I lifted and showed the scabbard of the Moonlit Sword.
"Ask your precious wind spirit. Does my sword smell of blood?"
Maier flinched at my confident demeanor.
Barely audible, she whispered to Hunin in her arms, and soon enough, the spirit appeared as a glowing form.
- There's no scent of blood on this person's sword. I don't think it's him.
Despite being small, it was clear.
"Huh? It's not him? Then why didn't you say so!"
Maier took out her frustration on her spirit and then looked at me, still awkwardly, before speaking.
"Then what are you doing here, Sir Black Knight?"
"I came to tell you not to use my name. If you're part of the 'Nameless Band', you must suspect something, right?"
Though "Maier" was a named character, I wasn't sure she was part of the "Nameless Band" in this situation.
Understanding the main narratives and settings surrounding the Sword Saint, I struggled to recall peripheral characters.
There were just too many of them!
So, I decided to test Maier's reaction.
"Argh!"
... Still young, unable to hide her feelings. How does she become 'Unique Talent of Five Colors' at all?
"But looking at the current situation, it seems too late for a warning."
Upon my cold sentiment, Maier shifted her gaze to the deceased Baran.
As tears pooled in her eyes, she rubbed them away, attempting to hide her perceived weakness.
Then Maier, with tear-streaked face, spoke forthrightly.
"Help me."
What was she saying suddenly? Help after cutting out context?
"Damn it! Help me! Please find the one who killed my big brother Baran!"
"... Why should I?"
The strength in Maier's voice crumbled at my retort.
"Huh...?"
"I asked why."
"You're the hero of the commoners! A noble martyr, a shadow for the weak!"
What? The subjects' hero?
A noble martyr?
A shadow for the weak?
I wished someone could fix my hands from curling in embarrassment.
"Hem, that's a name you all bestowed on me. I don't wear this mask to help anyone. It's purely for my selfish desires."
More precisely, about 10% was to cover for the derelict Sword Saint, about 90% for my safety.
That's how it is.
"Just like you used my name for your safety."
"L-Lies...."
Seeing Maier unable to conceal her disappointment, I wanted to escape this complicated situation, but I had to say what needed to be said.
With Baran gone, it seemed appropriate to tell Maier, who called Baran her brother.
"However, there won't be a second time. If my name is used again then...."
Starting my final warning, I sensed presences around the cabin out of nowhere.
"One, two, three...."
Three figures approached stealthily, clearly trained in assassination.
"Could they be from the Nameless Band?"
More than enough possibility. After all, their leader, baran, had been residing here.
Perhaps Maier's loud voice drew them in.
"Hmm?"
Before long, the thought proved misplaced.
A subtle bloodlust crept in with alarming precision.
With my 〈Remarkable Intuition〉, sensing the bloodlust from those not even bishop-level was child's play.
And then....
"They're the ones who killed Baran."
"Fine! I'll find the perpetrator, even if alone...."
Snap──!
Mid-sentence, Maier witnessed a sharp light slicing through the tent of the entrance.
I, who had sensed the danger earlier, grabbed her hand, pulling her towards me.
Good thing I had prepared.
"Ugh...."
Thud!
Maier, bewildered, stared at me as I caught her.
Then, looking at the dagger embedded beside her, her face turned pale.
"A-a dagger!? Where did that come from!?"
"Lucky you. Seems like the ones you're seeking are back."
"The ones I'm seeking...?"
- ... It's the same smell! Baran's blood scent from outside is drawing nearer!
The spirit, nestled in Maier's arms, fueled my certainty.
Watching out for the encroaching intruders, I glanced at the spirit and asked, prompting it to flicker gently in response.
"Are you sure?"
Judging by the flicker back and forth, it seemed affirmative.
- And... this person, it seems they can see me!
Deeply versed in 'magic', I could vaguely perceive their form, though the lack of connection made their shape unclear.
Finding it peculiar that someone other than its master could see it, hunin hid again into Maier's embrace.
"Once more, I'm asking. Help me."
Having seen the dagger whiz past her, Maier resolutely requested my aid.
Her plea didn't spill aimlessly as before, repeating the title of 'Black Knight'.
"Big brother Baran... Though not by blood, was someone I considered family. I want revenge."
Maier remained calm, her words steady.
"I'll do whatever you ask...."
Ignoring her plea and focusing on the dagger lodged in the wooden wall, I carefully examined the blade.
'Using the Moonlit Sword might draw too much attention. I'll have to use this for now.'
Whether pleasantries or not, if I wanted out of here, I'd have to engage with those approaching.
Perhaps interpreting my actions as an agreement, Maier offered her gratitude.
"Thank you, Sir Black Knight. Just like the rumors say!"
Rumors are like floating clouds, ungraspable and ever growing in size.
Her words were incomprehensible to me.
What did she mean by "just like the rumors"?
... Don't I also want to survive?
***
Though unfamiliar with the 'Black Knight', given his notorious reputation, curiosity got the best of Rinne.
With stagnant swordsmanship and her mentor, the Sword Saint, away in the Holy Kingdom, seeking insights from someone better seemed optimal.
- 'The Black Knight's sword danced in the moonlight! I wish I could see it once more!'
Thus, Lupina's mention of the "Black Knight" piqued Rinne's interest.
'... Haa.'
Ideally, there was someone she could have sought for guidance.
'Yulian... Ugh.'
Despite swallowing her pride to seek his aid, Yulian vanished like the wind after their encounter in the Dusky Flames.
'He'd usually pop up perfectly when told not to acknowledge me.'
This indifference stirred an unintended defiance in her heart.
'I'll never go to him for guidance,' she resolved, directing her steps toward the filthy slums.
'Rumor has it that the Black Knight frequently appears here?'
Rinna was aware of the allure surrounding 'Black Knight', fueled by tales of old and his reprimanding of unreasonable nobles, contributing to his fair popularity.
Among lower ranks, particularly in the 'slums', his recognition was high; it's said the Black Knight used this popularity as a shield to conceal his presence here.
Though she was eager to witness his techniques and persona firsthand, a creeping worry touched her thoughts.
'Is this okay?'
Journeying to the slums out of curiosity, she knew the Black Knight's precarious position, being neither part of the royal guard nor any official imperial entity.
Getting tangled with a renegade could spell trouble.
'... Will they catch me? Anyway, I'm only here to see what kind of person and swordsmanship he has.'
Despite these small apprehensions, a bigger nuisance troubled her.
'... It's filthy.'
Although not her first time in the slums, the squalor was enough to make her grimace.
'Utterly dreadful, yet I've come again.'
She'd previously acted indifferent when visiting with Yulian, though inherently her constitution was not favorable to dirt.
Back then, her strong front was purely to evade Yulian catching wind and mocking her for it.
'Well, nothing I can do.'
Knowing all too well that one thirsty seeks the well, she straightened her expression, moving deeper inwards.
And eventually, after a short while,
'Oh?'
Her attention was caught by three men confronting a particular hut.
Looking like well-trained knights, they were unusually tense.
'What are they doing?'
Though uninterested in unnecessary matters, the sight of a man emerging from the hut caused Rinne to hide instinctively.
'A completely black mask and regal knightly bearing.'
Exactly as Lupina had described.
'So, that's the Black Knight.'
Contrary to Lupina's enthralling tale, the Black Knight's presence was nothing but disappointing.
'... Looks horrifyingly grotesque, doesn't he?'
Clacky's Corner:
She alone is the Five-Colored One.