I Became a Dark Knight in the Game

35 – The Sorcerer’s Melancholy (1)

“Thinking back now, I regret it a bit. I said I’d take just one coin, but I didn’t specify whether it should be a silver coin or a gold coin. I should have asked for a gold coin instead of taking a silver one.”

‘What’s the truth here?’

Orisin’s confusion deepened at the projection of such simple and honest desires. Listening to the stories around him, like those from Morigina or Armed, Kriel was undoubtedly a knight like no other.

However, listening to Kriel himself, he was just an ordinary human muddling through each day.

Pretending to be a noble knight just to look cool. In reality, he had planned to escape with style but had the misfortune of encountering the Wild Hunt.

After pondering deeply, Orisin concluded that it didn’t matter either way.

A model knight didn’t necessarily have to be a special person. Not only special people could be role models for others. Sometimes, simply living one’s life faithfully could move the hearts of others.

*

Kriel dreamed.

Was it because of the conversation he had with Orisin before bed? Kriel was watching himself fight the Wraith King from a third-person perspective.

In a one-on-one fight, the three most influential factors in the battle would be power, speed, and durability.

When he stood before the Wraith King, Kriel already knew that his power and speed were no match for the Wraith King.

What he relied on was his durability. The manifestation of the traits he possessed as a dark knight, the commander of the Abyss Legion.

As a dark knight, he had an advantage over most corrupt beings, not just those from the Abyss. The most important thing was that the Wild Hunt led by the Wraith King was, of course, composed of wraiths.

Being entities far from physical bodies, they couldn’t recharge their vitality, but wraiths were generally beings made of grudges.

From the perspective of a dark knight who drew power from resentment, their very existence was like a potion. Each wound inflicted on the Wraith King, each pain, would strengthen Kriel’s body and sharpen his blade.

Thinking about the aftereffects of pulling the grudge to the maximum was not something to be done. Why else would the saying “take it and repay it later” exist?

So he charged, and he lost.

“Reckless, damn it.”

Having exhausted all grudges, he fell into ruin like someone who couldn’t repay gambling debts. Disappearing from the Ket estate without staying long was an extension of that.

The hallucinations and phantom pain were so vivid that he might mistake an approaching person for a monster and attack them.

When he first opened his eyes, the guest room in Ket Castle looked so damp and desolate, it was like a torture chamber. Armed, who had been by his side for half a day, looked like a torturer approaching with a branding iron and a circular saw.

Until the side effects subsided, he had to endure in a remote mountain valley where there were no people. Disappearing without properly organizing his belongings as soon as he opened his eyes was for that reason.

The fight between the Wraith King and the past Criel was coming to an end. The past Criel, barely standing with the support of a greatsword, looked at the present Criel.

It was a silent question of whether he intended to fight again if he returned.

Criel burst into a laugh.

“Brat. Stop whining.”

A fleeing knight is not stylish.

*

Criel washed himself moderately.

“Master! Open the door! Master!”

“I decided never to believe you again when you said you’d wash me!”

During camping, Tuon often promised to prepare water, saying he would help with washing. Criel had been deceived by her twice so far.

“Ahhh! What is this water! Why is it so cold!”

“Ah, don’t you know? To reach the state of being impervious to cold and heat, you must pour water colder than frost over yourself when you are most defenseless.”

The water was colder than ice, supercooled by Tuon’s ability. Criel lamented and asked her to bring warm water next time.

And the next day, of course, water retaining the warmth of a volcano was poured over him. Along with the suggestion that a true knight must be able to wield a sword regardless of heat or cold.

Criel agreed with the intent but not the methodology. After that, Criel refused all of Tuon’s washing assistance, shouting, “No, not again!”

“Fooled twice, but not a third time.”

Criel, who had moderately groomed himself and strapped on his sword, checked the time.

It was time to meet Armed.

“Hmm…”

[What are you thinking about?]

“Well, I’m going to meet a noble lady, and it’s not right to go armed. I can’t help it with you, but what about the other two swords?”

Tuon looked at Criel with a shocked gaze. If he really left her behind, she would hold a great grudge.

Criel returned Tuon to the form of a gray cross sword and sheathed her. The greatsword was intimidating in size, but Tuon at least looked like a piece of art.

*

‘This is an inn?’

The inn where Armed was staying shattered Criel’s definition of an inn. Usually, the inns he thought of were closer to small lodgings. However, the accommodations where wealthy nobles stayed in other affluent territories were luxurious enough to be compared to hotels.

From the entrance, it started with a splendid garden courtyard reminiscent of a noble mansion. It would be a place corresponding to a ‘luxury inn’ in the game system, but the luxury felt in reality was on a different level from the simple images and texts back then.

As he opened the door and entered, he saw a reception desk where clerks were stationed.

‘It really reminds me of a hotel.’

Criel approached the clerk.

“I am Criel, invited by Lady Armed Ket. Where should I go?”

The clerk, momentarily taken aback by Criel’s sharp impression, did not let the hesitation show on his face. It was the skill of a seasoned professional.

The clerk, who was slowly reviewing the file, found Criel’s name on the reservation list. It seemed that the customer’s unusual appearance was noted in the remarks column.

‘Remarks: Ominous white hair.’

He wondered what it meant by ominous hair color, but seeing it in person, he understood.

“Please go to the Topaz Room on the 6th floor restaurant. Lady Ket has reserved a meal for you.”

“Oh.”

No wonder she told him not to eat and come up.

[No, if it wasn’t a meal invitation, what did you think it was for?]

Orisin asked incredulously. It seemed that Criel was quite oblivious.

“I thought it was a warning that I might see a sight that would make me vomit.”

Orisin was about to retort but closed his mouth, realizing he was here to lift the curse of the abyss. Indeed, when delving into the abyss, one was bound to encounter grotesquely twisted cursed creatures.

Such things were not good stimuli for the stomach’s digestive movements.

Passing through the hall of the restaurant to a deeper place, a private room. Criel confirmed the nameplate decorated with topaz and opened the door.

Armed was sitting in front of a white table, waiting for him. No other attendants were in sight.

“Did I come too quickly?”

“No, it was just right.”

At the academy, Armed wore simple clothes that were convenient for activity, reminiscent of her mercenary days. But the clothes she was wearing now, though not flashy, were close to a formal dress.

“Oh. Was there a dress code?”

“It’s a place where noble lords come. Well, you’re my guest in a private room, so no one will say anything about your attire.”

Criel asked with a wry smile.

“Aren’t you a noble?”

“Ah, about that. I actually quit being a candidate for the head of the family.”

*

“Why?”

*

Because of you, why.

…I couldn’t say that. To declare it so openly was too obscene.

Armed shook his head indifferently.

“It’s not fun. I guess I’m more suited to running around like a mercenary.”

This was after Kriel fought the Wraith King and drove him away. Among the three children of the Kett family, Armed was the only one who had any acquaintance with Kriel.

If she wanted, she could have used Kriel’s struggle as a good pretext to inherit the successor’s position. The great knight who fought the Wraith King did so at Armed’s request, something like that.

Kriel himself had left the Kett County, and the last person he met was Armed, so no one could object.

But Armed didn’t do that. He didn’t want to use the knight’s honor in such a way. Instead, he wanted to help with the knight’s lifelong wish, ‘Purification of the Abyss,’ which he had hinted at.

He also disliked the retainers and other competitors who only talked about the successor position, as if they had no interest in his fallen father. Armed wanted to receive an annual budget that he could freely use in exchange for stepping down from the successor position of the Kett family.

With the head of the family fallen, the two wives of the head, who were acting as full representatives, agreed to Armed’s proposal. There was no reason to oppose a powerful competitor who could threaten their children stepping down early.

Currently, she was a child given up in many ways.

To the extent that no one would oppose if she arbitrarily chose a son-in-law from outside.