I Became a Dark Knight in the Game

20 – This Order Needs a Grand Knight (3)

Huff, huff. Morigina burst in, panting.

“The secret talk is over, right? Guide me through the resignation process of the Grand Knight position!”

“We were just talking about that. I gave Sir Criele the choice.”

‘Sir.’

It was a strangely unfamiliar title.

In the Western Army, ‘knight’ was not seen as a field commander but rather as an individual with strong martial power. Like when I was dispatched to take down Orisin.

Rather than taking orders from someone or commanding someone, wielding a sword alone suited my personality better. Even though I was a knight, being a dark knight, I wasn’t formally knighted anywhere.

“Choice? To Criele? Grandmother, you can’t be serious…!”

“You interrupted while I was about to explain. It’s just the choice of whether to carry the insignia of the Grand Knight or not. Anyway, you weren’t planning to give it to anyone other than Sir Criele, right?”

“…..”

People who were close enough to call me by name rather than a formal title like ‘Sir’ usually just called me by my name. Even when Morigina was still pretending to be weak, I never heard her call me ‘Sir.’

“Without any obligations, just use it when necessary, you said?”

The leader nodded leisurely.

“I’ll accept it gratefully. I’ll do my best not to tarnish the honor and prestige of the Eve Kaha order.”

Awesome.

For the first time since becoming a dark knight, I finally got a proper ID.

*

Morigina grumbled to Criele.

“No, if you were going to accept it so easily, why did you insist on refusing me?”

“The position of the Great Warrior is a heavy one. It should be given to someone more deserving, more qualified.”

Ha. Morgina clicked her tongue. There was no knight more fitting for the Great Warrior than that stubborn ox.

“But the one who will become the leader said that even if I resign, you wouldn’t appoint anyone else. Since I’m a wanderer without any status, I’ll just borrow it until you find a good person.”

Hearing Criel’s words, spoken in a casual tone as if he would return it immediately if necessary, something seemed to boil inside Morgina.

“…Hey, wait a minute.”

Morgina tilted her head.

The duel trial commotion that Criel had caused. To settle that commotion, the commander of the Western Army had appeared and negotiated with Criel.

“Didn’t you have a position as the chief knight of the independent guerrilla unit directly under the commander of the Western Army?”

“It’s a status that will disappear once I retire.”

“You said you couldn’t retire?”

Criel turned his head away from Morgina. No matter what he said about this topic, it would come back as a wound.

To treat the position of chief knight as if it were nothing. Morgina thought that guy really had a strange personality and opened her mouth.

“You’re planning to leave like this?”

“I’ve finished all the things I had to do at the main base of Eve Kaha.”

It was originally a place he had planned to visit to relinquish the position of Great Warrior. Although another task had arisen due to his involvement with Tuon, that side had also received a ‘no immediate issues’ judgment.

“Sigh… Just wait for a day. There are plenty of rooms for pilgrims. Stay the night.”

Criel chuckled. Worrying about strange things.

“Is it because it’s dark outside? You know better than anyone that I have good night vision.”

[I’ll show you something good…]

Suddenly, Orishin intervened. Orishin flew right between Criel and Morgina and let out a spirited shout.

[It’s a glowing unicorn.]

And then it started to shine brightly. It was the first time Criel had seen such a sight.

[If it’s just the horn, it can change color too?]

Without a word, Morgina grabbed Orishin’s horn and threw it far away.

[Attacking a ghost physically is cheating──!]

Since its essence was bound to the horn sword, no matter how far it flew, it could return immediately if it wanted to. Coldly judging, Morgina looked at Criel and spoke.

“Don’t worry about that. You lost your armor this time, didn’t you? I’ll make you a new one, so wait.”

“Oh.”

“Even if it’s for a limited time, you are my Great Warrior. I can’t stand seeing you in shabby condition anywhere.”

Kriel accepted Morgina’s favor. Getting a new set of armor would cost a considerable amount of money. If he returned to the Western Army, he might be able to get one set for free, but he had no intention of going back to the barracks just yet.

It was the next day.

“Ugh!”

Water splashed onto Kriel’s face. The cool moisture, like the morning breeze in midwinter, forcibly woke him up.

‘What just happened? Is this the daily routine of the Eve Kaha Order? Do they splash water if you can’t wake up on time?’

No wonder Morgina’s personality was twisted. Kriel lamented the relentless discipline of the Order as he turned his eyes.

There stood Tuon, holding a water bowl with a somehow triumphant expression.

“…What are you doing?”

The girl with ash-gray hair shouted, her blue eyes sparkling.

“Until now, I have not said anything considering the camping situation, but the dignity of a knight originally comes from one’s demeanor. One must wake up at dawn, wash away the filth of the night, and greet the new morning with a tidy mind!”

[Damn it, Kriel. A maid-sword that takes care of your daily routine. Is this kind of magic sword okay?]

“Shut up, you.”

Kriel let out a heavy sigh and accepted the towel Tuon handed him. He needed to wipe his wet face and think.

“…You shouldn’t wake someone up like this.”

“Why not?”

“Why not? Isn’t it common sense that splashing water on someone who is sound asleep is a rude act?”

“No.”

What does she mean, no? Kriel wondered if this sword even had a concept of common sense.

“Since when was a dark knight considered a person?”

Kriel closed his eyes tightly.

“Can’t a dark knight be a person?”

“Of course not. Just as demons are not treated as people, dark knights are not people either.”

Kriel knew that Tuon’s words were correct in the context of the Tirnanog RPG game system. If NPCs discovered his identity as a dark knight, they would usually shout ‘Die, abyssal spawn!’ and reject him.

A dark knight, who was an abyssal qualifier, was naturally a disqualified human.

[Wow… I used to be the only lunatic in this town. As expected, a postnatal abyssal contaminant cannot win against the pure madness of a congenital abyssal spawn?]

Ignoring Orisin’s nonsense, Kriel spoke firmly.

“I am not the abyss. I have not accumulated demonic energy so far, and I will not accept it in the future.”

“Is that so… If the master says so, then it must be.”

Feeling somehow irritated by her tone, Kriel turned Tuon back into the form of a sword. Since confirming the skill materialized as the name Yugeom (幽劍) in the constellation of his inner self, Kriel instinctively knew how to handle Tuon.

Until now, he had been wary of the contamination of the abyss and tried to avoid any association with Tuon, but after being assured by the cult leader that there was no direct connection between using Tuon and the abyss, Kriel had no hesitation in using the power of the Yugeom.

The divine sword hummed with intense protest, but Kriel’s resolve was unwavering.

Knock, knock, knock. The sound of someone knocking on the door in a lively rhythm.

Kriel opened the door. Morgina, who looked exhausted as if she had stayed up all night, was standing there.

“Hey. Follow me.”

“Are you alright? You don’t look well.”

Originally, Morgina had the stamina to easily endure a night or two of sleeplessness. This was due to her trained physical abilities and the fatigue recovery effect of her divine power.

It was the first time Morgina showed such signs of fatigue since the creation of the horned sword imbued with the soul of the Ori God. In other words, it was a state she only showed when she had exhausted both her divine power and physical strength simultaneously.

Considering it took three days to create the horned sword, the current exhaustion from pouring out divine power comparable to that in just one night must be more severe.

Hearing Kriel’s concern, Morgina forced a relaxed smile.

“The armor of the Great Warrior is originally forged by the appointed saintess. It’s my job. Don’t worry.”

Despite her fatigue, Morgina’s smile was refreshing and bright. Her usual hot-tempered nature had softened into gentleness due to her weariness. It was different in a good way.

Kriel followed Morgina’s lead into the depths of the fortress. It seemed to be the center where the red blood drawn from outside gathered.

The blood was concentrated in a round well-like place. The blood that fell into the well circulated back out to the moat outside.

From within the well, Morgina began to pull out pieces of plate armor, one by one.

“Try it on. I think the size should fit… just in case.”

Kriel brushed his hand over the plate armor, which was dyed in an antique ink color. Whether it was to add style or for structural significance to contain blessings, there were parts decorated with gold on the edges, so it wasn’t entirely jet black.

After some time, Kriel finally finished trying on the helmet adorned with horn decorations.

From fingertips to toes, he moved each joint. It fit perfectly without any feeling of obstruction on any part of his body.

“It’s a splendid armor.”

It was a rare pure compliment from Kriel to Morgina. However, Morgina’s expression upon receiving the compliment was strange.

“Uh…”

“What’s wrong?”

Kriel, not understanding the puzzled expression, asked. It was the finest quality armor he had ever worn. The Ori God popped out and whispered.

[Excuse me, sir, are you interested in joining the Demon King’s army?]

Kriel moved towards the mirror.