Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: The Cursed Black Sword
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* * *
"Monster Hunter" Drake.
Nicknamed 'Drake the Monster Slayer.'
He was an S-Rank adventurer, one of only a handful in the Labyrinth City. In other words, he was skilled enough to hunt monsters in the ‘Depths,’ just like Dale.
Even before the Artifact Rush drew him to the northern Demon Lord's Domain, he was a formidable figure whose name was well-known across the continent.
But there was another reason Drake particularly intrigued Dale.
He couldn't sense any mana from the man.
He neither had a mage's circle in his heart nor a knight's accumulated aura within his body.
Was it possible to hunt such powerful monsters without relying on the power of mana?
Dale had wanted to observe him in battle, but unfortunately, he'd had few opportunities to encounter him in the far reaches of the Depths.
Furthermore, he was quite interested in the profession of a 'Monster Hunter.'
Those who made a living hunting monsters.
It was a job typically taken up by knights who had crudely learned aura techniques or by second-rate mercenaries. In a world teeming with monsters, it was hardly a special occupation.
However, 'Drake the Monster Slayer' was a warrior renowned throughout the continent, even among his peers. It was unthinkable for a powerhouse of his level not to use the power of mana.
After all, there was a clear limit to how much an ordinary person could hone their physical body.
Thus, a hypothesis crossed Dale's mind.
A transcendent power that couldn't be explained by mana.
'Could it be…'
It was at that moment.
"H-here is the sales permit!"
A receptionist approached Dale—no, Faceless—trembling.
It was a certificate appraising a high-purity mana stone of just over one kilogram, verifying its value and permitting its free trade within the Labyrinth City.
Dale accepted the certificate. With a glance, 'Drake the Monster Slayer' turned his head toward Dale.
The shadow beneath the hood silently gazed at Drake, but the standoff was brief.
"I need this artifact appraised and a sales permit issued."
He had already placed the spoils he had acquired from the labyrinth on the table.
The symbol of the fortune that the adventurers of the Labyrinth City so desperately craved.
An artifact.
It was a sword shrouded in darkness.
A black sword, reminiscent of the Night Raven Knights' aura blades.
The artifacts of the Demon Lord's Domain were imbued with a potent dark power, and it was not uncommon for those unworthy to touch them to meet their doom.
For this reason, adventurers were provided with magical tools from the Black Magic Tower capable of suppressing an artifact's power, and even Drake the Monster Slayer was no exception.
However, as Drake handled the ominous black sword, there was no sign of the magical tool meant to restrain its power.
It was as if handling an artifact of this caliber was nothing to him.
'Ho.'
Once again, gasps could be heard from all around, and even Dale couldn't hide his interest in the artifact.
Nevertheless, his time as the adventurer 'Faceless' was over.
The faint light of dawn was breaking, and after a short nap, it was time for him to resume his duties as 'Dale of Sachsen.'
* * *
In the Viscounty of Sachsen, the Great Labyrinth was not the only trouble threatening the Demon Lord's Domain.
However, it was clearly one of the greatest potential threats to be wary of in the process of developing the domain.
An Outbreak.
Commonly known as a 'Labyrinth Flood,' it was an abnormal event where the monsters within the labyrinth surged toward the surface all at once.
Fortunately, even when an outbreak occurred, the powerful monsters from the deeper levels like the Depths did not easily appear on the surface.
Still, if monsters were to pour out from a labyrinth of this scale, the extent of the damage would be needless to say.
Guarding against that very possibility was what was expected of the adventurers amidst the frenzy of the 'Artifact Rush.' Opening the Great Labyrinth and allowing adventurers to operate within it was part of that vigilance.
At the same time, the threats of the Demon Lord's Domain were by no means limited to the Great Labyrinth.
In fact, it was the things outside the labyrinth that truly plagued the Viscounty of Sachsen.
Protecting the people who constantly traveled through the viscounty, guarding against the raids of demons that appeared throughout the territory.
Simultaneously, protecting the pioneer farmers who were cultivating the Demon Lord's Domain into 'Imperial land' and steadily increasing their numbers.
Protecting the 'winter crops' that could be harvested from Sachsen's frozen earth and monitoring the movements of the 'Dark Land' beyond.
Dale's first duty as lord began with receiving reports from the organizations under his command.
The Night Raven Knights, the Black Armor Company, the Winter Watchers, and finally, the Shadow Court.
"The Sito Pioneering Monastic Order in the north is requesting additional troop deployments."
"We have a report that a small orc tribe, riding wolves, has plundered a caravan of the 'Kalimala Guild' crossing the mountain range."
"Have you located the orc tribe's base?"
"They are nomadic; the entire tribe consists of wolf riders who roam the Demon Lord's Domain."
The Winter Watchers, acting as Viscount Sachsen's direct intelligence unit, reported on the suspicious movements and activities of the demons within the domain.
"Regarding the Sito Monastic Order's request, we will review it again and consider dispatching the Black Armor Company."
"As for the orc tribe, we will deploy the cavalry as soon as a temporary base is found. Increase the number of search parties."
He prioritized the threats and formed subjugation parties with the Night Raven Knights and the heavy infantry of the Black Armor Company.
Furthermore, it was the role of the 'Shadow Court' to monitor the conflicts that arose between people within the Labyrinth City.
"It appears that an adventurer faction of noble origin, centered around the S-Rank adventurer 'Edward of Dules,' is exerting influence in the city."
"There is a growing tendency to openly disregard and exclude adventurers not of noble birth."
Not everyone in the city bowed their heads obediently to Dale's rule.
From the smuggling of goods obtained in the labyrinth to the factional disputes and trends among adventurers.
'Being a lord isn't easy.'
This was the workload for governing just 'one Demon Lord's Domain.'
How much more difficult must it be for his father, Duke Sachsen, who governed not only this Demon Lord's Domain but the entire Duchy of Sachsen?
The weight that Lord Black carried as the ruler of the north was something Dale could not even begin to fathom.
Dale gave a bitter smile, feeling as though he were a son understanding his father's hardships for the first time.
It was at that moment.
"L-Lord Viscount Sachsen!"
A soldier rushed frantically toward Dale, who was seated on the throne.
"An u-urgent report!"
"Speak."
"In the Labyrinth City's guild district... there was an accident while handling an a-artifact!"
The soldier was so out of breath he seemed on the verge of collapsing as he continued.
"The 'Sword of Darkness' brought by Drake the Monster Slayer went into a rampage during its appraisal and is now running wild!"
An artifact rampage.
For a moment, Dale held his breath.
The appraisal of artifacts from the Demon Lord's Domain was handled by the black mages of the Black Magic Tower, who could skillfully wield the 'power of darkness.'
Moreover, they were skilled practitioners who had achieved at least the Fifth Circle.
For even those black mages to be unable to handle its power and let it run rampant...
This was surely no ordinary matter.
"I will assess the situation myself. Prepare a horse at once."
"A-as you command!"
Dale rose without a hint of hesitation, followed by the two female knights who guarded his side.
Lady Black and Lady Shadow.
As he followed them, clad in the black armor of the Night Raven Knights, he was reminded of the events of that morning.
The black sword that was running rampant was undoubtedly the one 'Drake the Monster Slayer' had obtained earlier that day.
That sword of darkness was now rampaging, unleashing a power that even the black mages of the Black Magic Tower could not control.
Then how could that man... Drake the Monster Slayer... have held that sword and remained unharmed?
* * *
The guild district in the Labyrinth City.
The Fifth-Circle black mage, Cassius, was there.
His five circles accelerated madly, causing black magic to swirl around his feet.
In his hand was the artifact that Drake the Monster Slayer had obtained... the black demonic sword.
There was no trace of reason on his face as he gripped the sword.
With a crazed laugh, his pupils had rolled back into his head, and he was drooling.
At the same time.
The demonic sword in the mage's hand swung.
In all directions, black petals scattered.
The scattering black petals settled on the ground, and with each touch, the earth was stained with darkness.
It was like the lake of darkness Dale could create.
And then.
The area was submerged in a wave of darkness, and from within the lake, 'they' emerged.
Shadow Walkers.
Just as Dale's Shadow Cloak had once been, they were 'shadow creations' made of darkness itself.
"Do not retreat, under any circumstances!"
"We die where we stand!"
The heavy infantry of the Black Armor Company, surrounding the area, braced themselves as the Shadow Walkers charged toward them.
'This is not something mere infantry can stop.'
Therefore, Dale did not hesitate.
"Everyone, fall back now!"
Dale shouted, and at the same time, he stepped forward without hesitation.
He overlaid his 'Shadow Cloak' upon the lake of darkness being spread by the black demonic sword.
「Kieeeek!」
The Shadow Lurkers all shot out their thorn-like tentacles at once.
The storm of thorny tentacles began to mercilessly slaughter the insubstantial bodies of the Shadow Walkers.
He could sense it clearly.
Dale's Shadow Cloak and that demonic sword shared the same power.
An artifact was a general term for 'an item imbued with magical power.'
Among them, the artifacts of the Demon Lord's Domain were called 'artifacts of darkness' because they were not created by human hands.
For instance, the Holy Sword was a blade forged by the first Master of the White Magic Tower, and most artifacts used by noble-born mages were imbued with power by some renowned high-ranking mage.
But the so-called 'artifacts of darkness' were different.
They were the prized possessions of high-ranking demons, including the Demon Lord Valer of old—in other words, dark treasures forged by demon hands.
Therefore.
There was no reason to hesitate.
*Fwoosh!*
Centered on Dale's feet, the surrounding area was isolated from the outside, forming a barrier.
The World of Ideation.
Two years had passed since he had attained the Fourth Circle.
Dale's world finally revealed itself, swallowing the black mage who wielded the demonic sword.
A white and dark winter night.
Amidst the biting cold and darkness, another 'landscape' had been added to the scenery of Dale's inner world.
A Black Castle.
Just as Dale had taken possession of the Demon Lord's Domain and become its master...
That was no exception in this world of a white and dark winter night.