Chapter 78 : Am I Cut Out for the Streets?

“Ah, f*ck…….”

Chaleuleuleuk.

As he gathered the temporary tent(?) encircled by iron chains for sleeping outdoors, Muno cursed without realizing it.

In his dream, he was about to get into a very good mood with Karina.

- I’m not interested in men weaker than me.

But it ended with him getting a sound beating along with those sudden, absurd words.

Perhaps the painful memory of the spar, where he couldn't even graze her despite squeezing out every last bit of his strength to the point of fainting, remained deeply ingrained.

Therefore.

“Next time, I will win. Definitely.”

Thud.

He had slept using a bundle of iron chains as a pillow while maintaining his armor, but his condition was good.

From an ordinary person's perspective, it was no different from sleeping comfortably with a bare body.

His body wasn't one to be worn down by the midwinter cold, yet he had even lit a bonfire, and thanks to the iron chains spread out on all sides and fixed in the shape of a tent, he was fully prepared for any potential intrusion by nocturnal animals or attacks from magicians.

His originally sensitive sense of smell now seemed to be better than a dog's, and his physical abilities were enough to make short work of most predators, so hunting was easy.

The only bothersome task was plucking the feathers and removing the innards when grilling meat, but the grease, fur, and blood that got on him at that time would disappear if he retracted the armor once and deployed it again.

In a word, his current state was.

“Somehow, I’ve become an expert at wild camping…….”

Having said it to himself, he felt a sense of patheticness for some reason.

He thought that thanks to developing a rather amazing ability, he would live a comfortable and prosperous life this time around.

But he was spending his days in a way that even the dirt spoon among dirt spoons probably wouldn't.

‘Well, it’s not really that uncomfortable…….’

That made it even more pathetic.

“Why is eating and sleeping on the streets so comfortable…….”

Could it be that my destiny is set to be this pathetic?

He shook his head to brush off such ominous thoughts and stood up right where he was.

He couldn't predict what would happen when he went to the capital, which must be why these strange thoughts kept popping into his head.

‘But there’s no point in worrying about it.’

When your head is a mess, pushing your body to its limits is the best remedy.

“Hoo…….”

Muno glanced at the rising sun, then began to move his feet south again.

And those steps soon became a single gust of wind, starting to cross the fields.

* * *

Morning, when the castle gates opened.

Kwakwakwaka.

“Wh-what is that!?”

“Everyone, on guard!”

A mercenary at the rear of a merchant caravan, just before the Iron Kingdom's capital, Ironheart, shouted as he saw the gust of dust approaching from behind.

By the time the commotion that spread from him reached the guards protecting the castle gate.

The black knight who had kicked up the gale of wind stopped his relentless sprint at the end of the main road.

“Huaah……. Is that it?”

Muno ignored the countless gazes staring intently at him and cast his eyes toward the distant castle wall.

“It’s pretty big…….”

A high wall, so tall it couldn't be taken in with a single glance, encircled the massive city.

“If it looks this high from here, is it actually over 20m tall?”

A metropolis with a resident population of over 200,000 within the castle and over 1,000,000 if you included the nearby towns that were almost small cities, Ironheart.

Thanks to the blessings of all sorts of spirits imbued in the castle walls, the capital was known as a clean and livable city with almost no smell of filth, unlike what one would expect from a giant city. But to Muno, the sight only elicited that much of an impression.

The grand scenery didn't properly register in his eyes, as he was busy savoring the relief that his ten-day cycle of camping and running had finally come to an end.

“That armor is menacing…….”

“Wearing armor like that, he ran at that speed? Without a horse?”

“He looks young…….”

“Wait……. Black armor, a black greatsword, black hair. I think I’ve heard of him somewhere?”

Fortunately, it seemed the embarrassing nickname ‘Black Knight’ had not yet reached the capital, and another sigh of relief escaped him.

Dudududu.

“It’s the Gate Guard!”

“There are knights too!”

In the distance, a troop of mounted soldiers could be seen galloping toward them.

And even before they arrived.

“Are you Sir Muno Drasen, the ‘Black Knight’!?”

“We’ve been waiting for you, Black Knight!”

“Aw, damn it…….”

So embarrassing.

At the loud shouts that echoed all around, Muno couldn't help but rub his face.

“Just as I heard, you’re quite unique…… ahem, ahem. I’ve heard many rumors.

You’ve arrived three days earlier than expected. Uh……. without a horse, that is.”

The middle-aged blond man with a mustache who dismounted his horse quickly wiped the bewildered expression off his face and extended his hand.

“Ah. I am Rantus McDowell, Captain of the Capital Guard’s North Gate.

Sir Muno Drasen, I have been waiting under His Majesty’s command.”

At that, Muno immediately extended his hand as well.

‘Just a glance tells me he’s at least a 4-Star.’

Judging by the weightiness transmitted through the air with his movements, he seemed to be at least that level.

Besides, being the Captain of the Capital Guard’s North Gate wouldn't be a low position, and seeing as he has a last name, he probably holds a title as well.

“I seem to be much younger, so I believe it would be fine for you to speak comfortably, Sir Rantus.”

At the words spoken while shaking hands, Rantus smiled gently as if pleased, but immediately shook his head.

“I couldn't possibly do that.

Not to someone who has come under His Majesty’s command.

If we have the chance to meet again in the future, I would like to sort out our titles then.”

A 4-Star knight with a title is this polite simply because the king summoned me.

Recalling again the power of the royal family that his father had told him about, Muno immediately nodded his head.

“I appreciate your consideration, Sir Rantus.”

“Don’t mention it. I will now guide you to the royal palace. However…….”

Rantus, who was nodding with a smile, immediately changed his words upon seeing Muno’s dust-covered state.

“Would you like to stop by the guard’s barracks for a moment to tidy up your attire?”

“Ah…….”

Only then did Muno realize his condition, and he momentarily retracted his armor before deploying it again.

Chaleuleuk.

Pak.

The moment he retracted it, all sorts of foreign matter fell away.

The moment he deployed it again, the armor revealed a clean, polished appearance.

“Oh……!”

“Truly an amazing artifact.”

“As expected……. You need something like that.”

Hearing the gasps of the watching guards, Muno gave a bitter smile.

‘I can guess what kind of rumors have been spread about me.’

Well, it didn't matter either way.

He simply nodded, feeling the lingering grubbiness of his actual body(?) that didn't disappear even after dusting off the armor.

“……I do need to wash up. I would appreciate your help.”

“I see. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

However, there was another problem.

When Rantus, who was about to mount his horse, turned to him and extended his hand.

Muno had no choice but to refuse his goodwill.

“Ah, if I get on, the horse won’t be able to bear it.”

“……Pardon?”

“This armor is much heavier than it looks, so there isn't a horse that can carry me.

That’s actually why I ran here.”

“Paardon……?”

As Rantus made a dumbfounded expression.

“Koner.”

“……Yes.”

At a glance from who appeared to be his second-in-command, the largest and youngest-looking knight scowled and dismounted from his horse.

“Please take my horse, Sir Muno. He’s a pretty sturdy fellow.”

“It will still be difficult for him……. Well, yes. If we’re just walking, he should hold up.

Thank you, Sir Koner.”

It would be rude to keep refusing goodwill.

Muno carefully mounted the horse that the knight had offered.

And.

“Heeeing!”

The horse, which staggered for a moment, seemed surprised as it glared at its own back before glaring back at its owner.

“As you can see…….”

“Ahem-hem. Slowly, let’s walk slowly.”

“……Yes.”

Heeeeeing!

The party, personally escorted by the North Gate Captain, cut through all the long lines in front of the gate and advanced without hesitation.

Thanks to that.

“Who’s that?”

“Is it because of that knight in black armor?”

“Who on earth is he?”

“I think I’ve heard of him somewhere.”

“But why does the horse look so feeble?”

Muno's presence, being the only one in black armor, couldn't help but stand out even amidst all that.

‘Oh, man…….’

So much so that it was difficult for the person in question to even hold his head up.

But there was also a fortunate thing.

Perhaps because he had arrived three days earlier than planned.

Rantus showed no sign of rushing him at all, and had the sense to prepare washing water and formal wear for him at the guard’s barracks.

Thanks to that, Muno, who had washed off the accumulated grime from sleeping outdoors, was able to head toward the inner castle with him again with a lighthearted expression.

“Haha. You look radiant.”

“……Yes. Thank you.”

As expected, the Iron Kingdom’s formal wear, with its overly padded shoulders and awkward emphasis down there, was the epitome of discomfort, but he had no choice but to answer politely.

“The armor is one thing, but that greatsword is……?”

“Ah……. I’ve tidied that up roughly as well.”

Muno tapped the ‘Blade’ he had transformed and wrapped around his waist, mumbling vaguely.

He did it because he thought he'd attract more attention if he started talking about Spirit Arts.

“I knew you were no ordinary person, was that sword an artifact as well?”

Thankfully, Rantus misunderstood on his own.

However, an unexpected remark followed.

“However, before the audience, you must take off all artifacts.

That is the rule.”

“Pardon?”

“……What is the matter? Isn’t it obvious?

You are meeting His Majesty, the master of this country, you cannot go in carrying a weapon.

The only exception is His Excellency, the Dragon Sword Duke.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. Ha. Haha…….”

What do I do about this?

The sword made of Spirit Arts was one thing, but the armor was a part of his body.

How could he possibly take it off?

The guards had already seen him shrink the armor into bands on his arms and legs.

As his mind raced and his eyes darted around.

It seemed Rantus misunderstood his feelings.

“You need not worry about the royal family confiscating your artifact.

No matter how much it’s an anti-magic user artifact, the royal family is not so destitute as to covet it.”

“Ah, yes. Haha. It’s not that…….”

Ah, what do I really do?

The only thought that came to mind was to just reveal his ability.

But if he did that, the fact that what was known as an anti-magic user artifact was actually his own ability would be revealed to the world.

He would become a public enemy, ranked number one on the list of targets to be killed by every magician in the Mage Empire.

‘Ah. F*ck……. This is driving me crazy.’

No, on second thought, it seemed like those evil cultists already knew.

A resigned thought also crossed his mind that it might only be a matter of time before information about him flowed to the Empire anyway.

But then.

“Before the audience, the chamberlain's office will inspect for possession of artifacts or weapons.

You just need to entrust everything that falls under that category.

And after the audience, they will be returned to you exactly as they were.

You don't need to worry.”

“Ah, an inspection?”

“Yes.”

For a moment, he could feel a little relieved.

If that was the case, his armor wouldn't be caught.

Of course, if the chamberlain's office and Rantus were to cross-reference and compare notes, they might find out that the Black Knight's famous armor was not an artifact after all.

“Will you be guiding me only as far as the inner castle, Sir Rantus?”

“That is correct. I have my own duties to attend to.”

It's rare for the secretaries who are always by the president's side to communicate directly with rank-and-file employees.

Many small and medium-sized enterprises also engage in such formalities, so how much more so for a country?

“That's a relief.”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

……This damned mouth, let's really watch what I say this time.

He berated himself again for the thought that had slipped out and walked while looking straight ahead.

“A specialty product from ‘that country’ for just……!”

“Monster hides from the North!”

“Southern fruits, rare fruits for sale!”

The noisy market alley, and the luxurious street of the nobles that followed.

“What do you think? Ironheart, isn't it amazing?”

“Yes. It is rather novel.”

Everything was new, but that was about it.

Perhaps his reaction was below expectations, as Rantus's face stiffened a little.

Fortunately, it wasn't long before their destination came into view.

A royal castle that looked sturdy and splendid even at a glance.

“That is the royal castle…….”

The moment Rantus pointed to the castle gate and was about to launch into an explanation.

Muno was already focused on something else.

Because the person he had pictured in his mind for so long was right before his eyes.

“……Hm?”

“Pardon me for a moment, Sir Rantus. And……. it’s been a while, Young Master Muno.”

The brilliantly beautiful her, smiling sweetly.

It was the Knight of the Gale, Karina.