Chapter 61: The Black Knight

The tragedy that occurred in Ruble, in the Trian region of the Iron Kingdom, soon became known throughout the kingdom.

Magicians had been hiding their identities and had taken control of a city!

A few months ago, the terror of magicians had begun in a rural area called Drasen.

Rumors about a new technology called the ‘Veil’, which concealed a magician’s demonic energy, were spreading by word of mouth, but not many believed them.

But after the tragedy at the Ruble market magistrate's office, which had as many witnesses as it had victims, no one could deny the existence of that method.

Naturally.

It is certain that magicians have developed a way to hide their demonic energy!

That fact became a source of fear for the Iron Kingdom and was conveyed to those in power.

And in addition.

There is someone who can see through that Veil, which even priests cannot discern, and distinguish magicians.

The genius knight of Drasen. It is confirmed that he, who celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony this year, has already reached 2-Star.

The Black Knight, Muno Drasen.

The natural enemy of magicians. He is the hope of the kingdom.

Muno’s second nickname began to spread throughout the kingdom.

And he heard the news that he was beginning to receive the royal family’s attention through Count Enoch Trian.

[First of all, the place where this incident occurred is our Trian. We need you right now, so we will try to block the central government’s interference somehow. So for now, stand by. And……. I’m sorry for not believing you properly before, Muno.]

The Count ordered Chloe and Muno to clean up the chaotic Ruble and stand by.

Of course.

“You don’t know anything?

About administration?

But you should have at least the basic knowledge, right?”

“I’m an adopted son, and I’m not going to inherit the territory.

My ten-year-old brother would know better.

As you know, I received my knighthood as a gift too……”

“And you’re proud of that! Ugh.

Hey, then how am I supposed to handle all of this……?

Don’t tell me I’m alone?

I don’t know much either! I’m from a hunter background!!”

“……There must be surviving officials. You can just have them do it.”

“That’s the thing, I need to know something to give them work……”

“And, your words as the Vice-Commander of Trian will carry much more weight, Sir Chloe.

More than a young free knight.”

“Hey, you……!?”

“If you have any work for me, please let me know.

I will actively help, Sir Chloe.”

“Aaargh!”

Chloe had no choice but to take the fall for all the work related to cleaning up Ruble.

* * *

‘I’m sorry, Sir Chloe.’

It was true that he didn’t know much about administrative work, but from what he had seen over Palmer’s shoulder, the administration of this world was not as complicated as that of his past life.

Having received a relatively high level of education in his past life, he might have been able to do his part if he had set his mind to it.

‘Though how much help would that be.’

But there was another reason why he had left the work to Chloe.

‘For now, it’s better for me not to show my face in public as much as possible.’

Chloe would probably know that fact as well.

- I couldn’t believe it even as I was seeing it. Evolving during battle.

A 3-Star at sixteen……. And that ability he used when facing the magicians……. Right, brother?

Most of the Holy Knights who had been in the last battle with him, including Maier, couldn't help but notice Muno’s ability.

They too, though not as much as Muno, were individuals with holy power that was sensitive to demonic energy.

They had also eventually deduced why such a weak monster was summoned when the old witch had sacrificed herself at the end.

Naturally, Muno had been worried that the Temple’s interference would come through the Holy Knights.

But.

- Everyone, do not reveal the ability of Brother Muno that you saw in today’s battle to the outside.

Swear to God. For our comrade who saved us and fought with us!

- He will one day grow into a star that will deal a great blow to those lawless minions of the devil.

So until he becomes a star, we must first keep the secret so that he is not exposed to the hordes of evil. Do you understand?!

- Yes!

The Holy Knights, including Maier, had sworn to their god to keep the secret of Muno’s ability and had left.

- Even though she was much inferior to that demon cult leader, there were two 6-Circle magicians. But there were no 5-Circles at all.

And except for a few 4-Circles, there were no elites to speak of.

- The structure of the magician organization in this Ruble is very strange.

We intend to investigate that from now on, brother.

- As expected, the battles with the servants of the devil will become more intense in the future. At that time, you must be of great help, brother.

To think they wouldn't interfere at all, even though he had a premonition that he was destined to fight magicians eventually.

‘It was unexpected.’

Moreover, Chloe, who was not sensitive to demonic energy, had also made a rough guess and said something similar.

- Even if he’s a 2-Star, no, a 3-Star now, it doesn’t make sense for a knight like that to face a 6-Circle magician. That’s not a normal artifact, is it?

- The way it suddenly turned into armor, and its power too.

An artifact that evolves depending on the opponent, I’ve never even heard of such a thing.

- Those without power are guilty just for possessing a treasure.

Hide it as much as possible.

Even if she didn’t know that this armor was his ability itself, she was aware that it was no ordinary item.

Rattle.

The moment he reduced the volume of the armor to its maximum, it took the form of bands wrapping around his wrists and ankles.

‘Even if I reduce it, the weight is still the same…….’

But if he expanded it to its maximum again.

Crrrack.

It becomes a full plate armor that covers his entire body without a gap.

Muno smiled as he looked at the armor, which had become a part of his body like an exoskeleton.

‘It feels like I’m getting farther and farther away from being human, but at least it’s cool, so that’s a relief.’

There was not a single flaw in the elegant curves that followed the thick and sharply protruding chest plate down to the tips of his toes.

And yet, the joint areas moved smoothly without limit, and the shoulder parts, which were the thickest and wrapped in several layers, were equipped with sharp charging horns and yet bent freely and flexibly in all directions.

Similarly, the elbow parts, which wrapped around the joints in three layers and had horns, looked perfect for messing people up in a brawl.

Even.

Crrrack.

“It can even do this……”

A full plate armor that even allows for a pose where he bends his back and puts his hands on the ground.

‘It has become a metal with elasticity. It has become several times stronger than when I was a 2-Star.’

The part below the waist that protected the man’s center was finished with a moderately wide design without hindering movement, and it was a great relief that it didn’t protrude like that terrible formal wear from Iron.

On top of that, the metal coat that hung down in threes from the back of the waist to below the buttocks like the feathers of a peacock protected even the back of the knees without being cumbersome at all.

And the knee armor, which seemed to be wrapped in three layers instead of two, was less sharp than the elbows but protruded moderately and also looked suitable for messing people up.

‘Am I thinking too much about messing people up……? No, it’s natural.’

Given the characteristics of the Drasen Greatswordmanship, which handled a giant two-handed sword, brawling with people at close range was also important.

‘It would be perfect with a helmet. No, would that make my vision uncomfortable?’

The combat gauntlets that flexibly wrapped around each joint of his hands and arms even had small protrusions to prevent slipping, and the safety-boot-shaped boots were also more reinforced than before, making it a truly perfect combat-type armor.

He had obtained a custom-made full plate armor, which was so expensive that only his father had one in Drasen.

He had never seen armor of this style in this world, but it felt strangely familiar.

‘I must have seen it somewhere in my past life.’

It was probably a design that was unconsciously modeled after something he had seen in a creative work like a game or a comic.

It was a design that he liked so much that it was embedded in his subconscious.

But other people’s opinions seemed to be a little different.

- It’s too hideous and terrifying. Especially the gauntlets and boots look really bizarre. It seems to be a particularly thick and heavy armor even among heavy armors, isn’t it stuffy?

That’s what Chloe had said.

‘As expected, the aesthetic sense of this world doesn’t match mine.’

Moreover, unlike her pointing it out, all of this armor was his own body, so there was no reason to feel stuffy.

Rather, the clothes he wore underneath felt more cumbersome.

Of course.

Thud.

The weight, which was enough to leave a deep footprint on the training ground floor with just a light stomp, was a little concerning.

‘I guess I’m doomed to never swim in my life.’

That was about the only inconvenience.

The heavier the weight, the more advantageous it was in most battles.

He just thought he would have to be a little careful in battles in swamps, on the coast, or by the river.

Though he didn’t know how often that would happen in the Iron Kingdom, which was mostly mountains and fields.

- I understand that you are at an age full of vigor and vitality, but it would be better to refrain from making official appearances for a while, brother.

- Right. It’s obvious that armor is a treasure, but you’re still a 3-Star, so if you act rashly, too many flies will stick to you.

- On top of that, although the real experts will recognize your level, Sir Muno, a 3-Star at sixteen will receive a lot of checks. I have never heard of an achievement like yours, brother.

Muno recalled the advice Maier had left before he left once more.

Chloe had also agreed with it, so her complaints about the administration should just be taken as an indirect complaint about the excessive workload.

Right, that’s what it is.

‘It’s not that I’m being selfish, but that I’m being considerate…….’

As his conscience pricked him, he decided to stop thinking about the cleanup of Ruble.

In fact, there was a more important matter at hand right now.

It was time to test the body that had suddenly evolved in a dire situation.

Properly understanding one’s abilities was a basic of a knight.

“Hooooo.”

The moment he gripped the pitch-black two-handed sword created by Spirit Arts, its blade trembled.

The powerful strength of his evolved body felt thrilling even to himself.

Thud.

Whoooosh!

Just a light swing of the sword made the air explode and a wind rise.

To the point where he wondered if the Wind Slicer from when he had just awakened and a normal strike now were at a similar level.

‘Good.’

Thud.

The moment he stepped and charged, his accelerated body instantly appeared in front of the wall 10 meters ahead and rammed it with his shoulder.

Kabooooooom!

Ruuuuuumble.

A powerful strike that seemed to make the entire training ground ring.

‘With just a shoulder charge, I can break down a stone wall.’

And there was almost no burden transmitted to the body inside the armor.

And what that meant was clear.

‘As long as I protect my head…….’

The fact that he would never be harmed by the attacks of ordinary soldiers now.

In fact, in other kingdoms except for the Mage Empire, a knight wearing a custom-made full plate armor complete with a helmet is treated as a powerful tactical weapon on the battlefield.

And the strength of his exoskeleton, no, his armor, was by no means at the level of a normal full plate mail.

If it were considered an artifact-grade full plate mail, its value would be difficult to even estimate.

“Ha!”

Thud.

When he jumped after kicking off the ground, his fist touched the training ground ceiling even while wearing that heavy armor.

Of course, he wasn’t at the level of jumping tens of meters high with just his leg strength like that Chloe, nor could he augment his physical abilities with holy power like Maier.

‘It’s enough.’

In the first place, being able to jump to this height while wearing such armor had to be seen as a superhuman leaping ability.

And he even had chains to assist his movements.

As he had done in the last battle, it was also possible to jump higher using them.

Just like now.

Rattle.

‘Here I go.’

As the chains that shot out from his wrists and ankles began to assist his movements by bending according to his will.

“Huuup!”

Bang.

Swish, swish, swish.

A scene was created where the knight in black armor crisscrossed the entire huge training ground like lightning, slashing his sword in all directions.

Thud. Bang.

Crunch.

A loud noise was made every time he used the chains to brace himself on the ground and forcibly twist his balance to move as if ignoring inertia.

‘Now, thin trees will break the moment I wrap them.’

That was a very minor drawback compared to being able to perform three-dimensional maneuvers by bracing himself on the ceiling, floor, and walls without discrimination.

And honestly, he didn't even care about that.

Rather.

“Hahahahaha!”

The extreme mobility and the pleasure of destruction brought about by the thrilling and violent movements reaffirmed that he had grown once again and led to a mental exhilaration.

‘At this level, even that Karina…….’

I think I can win.

Muno forgot about the outside commotion for a while and indulged in the sensory pleasure.

“Puhahahaha.”

How long had he run rampant like that?

The moment he felt he was too excited, he stopped moving.

Creeeeak.

Thud.

“Hoooooo.”

And after catching his breath for a moment, he looked around at the parts of the training ground he had destroyed.

Even if the Ruble knights, the original owners of this training ground, had trained in a group, it wouldn't have been this damaged.

“Tsk……”

The traces of destruction created while releasing his stress calmed his mind down again.

‘Let’s be calm. From now on, it won’t be as easy as now.’

Had things ever gone this well in my life?

Of course, passing through several near-death experiences couldn't be called easy.

'In the end, I overcame them, so it went well.'

That's why it was even more unsettling.

'My fate can't be this good…….'

It could be seen as defeatism or pessimistic fatalism, but having lived the life he had, he couldn't help but think that way.

Just looking at his current life, it had been a series of hardships until he awakened just a few months ago.

He had lost his parents as soon as he was born, was captured by the evil cult bastards and experimented on, and lived for 10 years with a demon embedded in his head.

There was no way that could be an ordinary fate.

'Something's going to go wrong. Definitely.'

There was no evidence, but it seemed better for his mental health to be prepared for it.

Moreover, he couldn't be complacent about his progress in martial power either.

He had definitely felt it when his body, including his armor, had melted in the blue flame and he had absorbed the old witch's demonic energy.

A feeling that even if he had absorbed that massive amount of Origin Mana in a healthy state, he would never be able to cross the 4-Star wall.

He had an intuition that in order to cross the wall and evolve again in the future, something more than just simple energy was needed.

And a sense of helplessness that he might be stuck at this wall for the rest of his life if he couldn't figure out what it was.

But fortunately, it wasn't as if there was no way out at all.

Because he had many people around him to ask for advice.

'Should I ask Sir Chloe? Or my father…….'

As he was blankly thinking about that, a chuckle escaped him.

"I've got some leeway, haven't I……."

In fact, it was understandable.

Because after experiencing the previous battle, he was now certain.

‘As long as it’s not a Seven-Star-level magician, I can face them.’

A certainty that he had acquired enough power to become the ‘natural enemy of magicians’ that his father had spoken of.

Thinking about it that way, he wasn't particularly afraid even if his abilities were to become known.

Well, even if that wasn't the case.

‘I’ll always live my life by facing things head-on.’

He didn't know what the future would hold, but as he had always done, he wouldn't live his life running away.

Even if it meant being hit, broken, and shattered.

‘I will move forward.’

That was Han Munho's, Muno Drasen's, way of life.

And it was the stubbornness and last pride that he had built up from the bottom, being pushed around here and there.

'Right. That's how it should be.'

However, for now, a little…….

“……I want to rest.”

The moment the voice of his heart unknowingly came out of his mouth, a bitter smile appeared.

How many times had he fought as if throwing his life away recently?

The achievements he had gained because of that were sweet, but the mental fatigue was another story.

It hadn't even been a few months since he left home, but he was already starting to miss the desolate land and warm people of Drasen.

If those evil cult bastards started to lie low because of this incident, wouldn't it be okay to go back?

Is that too optimistic a thought?

'Maybe they'll target me even more actively…….'

No, wouldn't it be different if the kingdom and the Temple were paying attention?

As he was blankly thinking about that.

- Sir Muno! A communication from Trian!

The awaited news had arrived.