Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: The Death Knight
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I slipped out of the meeting for now and picked up my conversation with Erebos.
‘An aura similar to Erebos’s...’
What could that mean?
Even as a ten-year veteran of [Devil Fantasy], nothing came to mind.
And for good reason—Erebos’s darkness was a unique ability possessed only by him.
It didn’t make sense for anyone else to wield it.
“...You’re saying that, but I have no clue. Did you secretly have a kid or something?”
“Don’t talk nonsense, Contractor! Who could possibly bear my child?”
“...If not, then just say no. Why get so worked up?”
Anyone hearing that would think it was true.
Anyway.
“Fine, assuming it’s not that. Then what is it? You said it felt similar to yours. Does that mean it’s not demonic energy?”
“...No, I don’t think so. There was definitely magi.”
“So a guy who uses both magi and darkness?”
“That’s how it seems. But it’s not my darkness. Just something similar.”
“What the hell does that...”
What was he talking about?
Using both magi and darkness, but not Erebos’s darkness—something merely similar.
I couldn’t make sense of any of it.
Erebos, as if expecting my reaction, continued nonchalantly.
“You only need to know one thing, Contractor.”
“What’s that?”
“That guy might be more dangerous than he seems.”
“...”
Someone Erebos himself acknowledged as dangerous...
‘Must be legion commander level at least.’
I’d have to meet him to know for sure, but it looked like a stronger foe than expected had shown up.
However.
“It’ll be fine.”
I wasn’t particularly worried.
Right now, I had a million elf soldiers and my comrades, all vastly improved, at my side.
Even a legion commander-level demon wouldn’t scare me anymore.
‘Come at me if you dare.’
If anything, they were the ones who should be afraid.
***
Thud thud thud thud!
We marched on the [Sanctuary of Silence] with our million-strong army.
Rather than waiting passively for them to attack, we judged a preemptive strike offered the best odds of victory.
‘Defending is usually advantageous, especially with night falling...’
Still, the reason we saw high chances of success was simple.
It was too early for them to have fully organized their forces.
They’d rushed out in a hurry, so preparations would take time.
From our side, it was best to hit them hard and fast before they could fortify.
‘...They probably won’t just sit tight until dawn anyway.’
Plus.
‘Demons aren’t the only ones who get stronger at night.’
Elves were inherently nocturnal.
In simple terms, they became more active and their combat prowess rose after dark.
The dim visibility had no effect on elves with their superior eyesight.
Even for me, fighting in the dark was advantageous.
I’d fully adapted to Erebos’s darkness lately, and its source was right beside me.
The only downside was that it might strain my comrades a bit, but overall, battling at night worked in our favor.
Under that judgment, we’d been approaching the [Sanctuary of Silence] for quite some time.
Click click click!
We’d covered only half the distance, but the soldiers halted their advance.
No need to ask why.
I could sense the enemies ahead.
“Prepare for battle—.”
Ervehim’s voice rumbled low.
Click click! Rustle rustle!
The soldiers reacted instantly, assuming combat formation.
Everyone held their breath, scanning the surroundings in tense silence.
Little by little, the noises from the creatures grew audible.
Ssssh! Ssssh!
Sounds of slithering across the ground.
Rustle, rustle!
Pushing through the underbrush.
Squelch... squelch...
Stepping on the dirt.
That’s when it happened.
“Fire!!”
The moment Ervehim’s booming command rang out.
Pew! Pffft!
The elves who’d been at the ready loosed their bowstrings.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A barrage of arrows slicing sharply through the air.
‘Their senses are sharp, as expected of elves.’
I’d only detected their magi so far.
But the elves’ eyes must have already spotted them.
I couldn’t just stand by, so I cast [Teleport] to a suitable position.
Flash!
The instant I did, I sensed three presences nearby.
Calmly touching the ground, I invoked [Light of Swimming].
Shiiiish!
The [Light of Swimming] shot toward where I’d felt their presences.
Soon, holy power erupted with screams from the hidden foes.
“Kieeeek!”
Their presences began to fade.
Realizing they were dead, I [Teleported] to another likely spot.
Flaaash!
At the same moment, danger flared from behind.
An elf-fired arrow was hurtling straight at me.
Thung!
I immediately cast [Barrier] to counter.
‘...That was close. Gotta keep it up constantly.’
With ranged soldiers firing from behind, these close calls were inevitable.
Of course, I was used to situations like this.
‘Had to watch my front and back against those zombie knights too.’
That experience let me handle it smoothly.
What about my other comrades?
[Groooar!]
Kwa-gaga-gang!
Thompson charged straight ahead like a mindless bull.
Trees and demons alike shattered with every headbutt.
Thud thud!
Even arrows flying from behind couldn’t pierce him—they all bounced off.
“...No worries for Thompson, at least.”
He wouldn’t get hurt by arrows, that much was sure.
Barundel was the same.
Rumble!
With thunderous booms, he zipped around like lightning.
No matter how many arrows came, Barundel dodged them effortlessly.
‘He’s fine too... What about Kayla?’
She was the one I was most concerned about personally.
In this chaotic melee, she tended to struggle.
She wasn’t fast enough to dodge arrows, and with everything overgrown, casting spells was tricky.
‘One wrong move, and she’ll burn it all down—hurting our own side too.’
But it turned out my worry was unfounded.
Unexpectedly, Kayla was outperforming everyone.
Even using techniques I’d never seen before.
Roarrrrr!
“Kuoook!”
The creature engulfed in flames thrashed wildly, but the fire never spread.
It burned relentlessly, feeding solely on him.
And that wasn’t all.
No matter what the demon did, Kayla’s flames wouldn’t extinguish.
If anything, they grew fiercer.
Tadadak!
Only when it reduced him to ash did the flames die down.
All the while, my eyes analyzed her magic.
‘...Injecting mana continuously even after casting?’
It looked that way on the surface, but somehow, I doubted it.
Probably something she’d picked up in the [Forge of Fire] that made it possible.
‘I’ll have to ask her how later.’
Pushing my curiosity aside, I turned my gaze back forward.
One less thing to worry about.
Now I could rampage freely.
“Feels kinda nostalgic.”
When did everyone get this strong?
Even rethinking it—
“You’re all dead.”
—they were the ones who should fear us, not the other way around.
***
Two hours into the full-scale battle with the demons.
Shiiiish!
“Guh...!”
The fight was still going smoothly.
Our elf casualties were far outweighed by the demons’.
However.
‘...This feels off.’
The unease only grew.
‘When’s their top brass gonna show?’
Their heaviest hitters hadn’t appeared yet.
Were they plotting some surprise from somewhere?
That nagging anxiety persisted.
And as always.
“E-Ervehim, Elder! O-Our village...!”
“Village?”
“It’s on fire!”
My bad premonition hit the mark.
“They hit us from behind...!”
The flustered Ervehim issued orders on the spot.
“Elites, follow me!”
“Yes!”
Pababat!
She shot me a wordless signal before dashing toward the village in utmost haste.
‘She wants me to come along.’
Catching her cue, I told my comrades.
“I’ll head to the village. Hold it down here.”
“Don’t worry! We won’t let ‘em through no matter what!”
With Thompson’s reliable words, I turned and raced for the village.
Flash!
A few [Teleports] later, I caught up to the elves ahead.
I stuck close to Ervehim’s side.
“...Fast for a human.”
“As you know, I’m no ordinary human.”
“Annoying brat.”
“Save the snark. Got a plan?”
“A plan?”
At my question, Ervehim nodded as if it were obvious.
“Yeah. Defend Albheim with everything we’ve got.”
“...”
Wasn’t that just stating the obvious, not a plan?
I’d sensed it since the war with Kazan Dur, but... Ervehim seemed surprisingly straightforward for an elf.
She looked the most intellectual of them all.
As those thoughts crossed my mind.
“Th-The village...!”
We’d reached the heart of Albheim.
I quickly scanned the area to assess.
Roarrrrr!
‘...It’s a mess.’
Too late, apparently—the village was in ruins.
Buildings of massive timber blazed, and demons rampaged in the central square.
They’d even spewed foul magi, corrupting the surrounding plants.
Crunch!
A grinding of teeth came from beside me.
It was Ervehim.
“You... damn bastards!”
Grrrrrind!
Fuming, she nocked her bow.
Twang!
A dozen arrows flew from her string in an instant, straight at the demons.
Pffft pffft pfft!
Faster than any other elf’s, they struck before the demons in the square could react.
All headshots.
Instant kills.
“Die!!”
Twang!
Ervehim, still seething, unleashed another volley.
I supported her with [Light of Swimming].
After repeating this a few times.
“...!!”
I faintly sensed magi.
Or was it even magi?
‘It’s different.’
Unlike ordinary magi.
It felt like some alien energy was mixed in.
“This is the aura I mentioned, Contractor.”
“Feels disgustingly off.”
Just as Erebos said—magi intertwined with darkness.
But it didn’t mesh well.
A strangely complex, profound vibe?
‘This must be what fused darkness and magi feels like.’
The mysterious energy grew clearer.
Then.
Vwooom!
It closed in instantly.
Not the source itself approaching.
Just something eerie it had unleashed...
‘Sword aura?’
With that question, I cast [Teleport], and Ervehim leaped onto a tree.
Kwa-gagang!
The sword aura grazed past my feet by a hair.
“Gahk!”
Not everyone reacted in time—cries erupted with sprays of red blood from some elves.
“Contractor, ahead.”
Following Erebos’s words, I pushed past them and faced forward.
And there.
[Good to see you, elf elder.]
A figure in black armor approached on horseback.
A black-armored knight on horseback.
Similar to Erebos’s true form, yet different.
Body structure, build, size... this one was far more human-like.
With that impression, I identified him the moment I saw him.
“...Death Knight.”
A fallen human, among the strongest of the demonkin.
[Death Knight].
The moment I faced the first being who’d sold their flesh to a demon.