Chapter 4
Chapter 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ruby
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: A Good Sword
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I slowly looked around the Straun Monastery.
It was a monastery that appeared extremely tranquil.
It was peaceful and quiet.
However, the Straun Monastery in my memory was different from this.
Skulls were rolling around everywhere, and the walls were smeared with blood.
There wasn't a single intact building left; only the sight of everything smashed to pieces remained.
Just as I was becoming aware that I didn't have much time to leisurely observe, Monted said a word and left his seat.
"You must be tired, but there's something you need to do first. As I mentioned earlier, you need to choose an aide to work with you. I'll call the knights who are worthy of serving Lord Rohan. One of them will become Lord Rohan's aide, so please think about the criteria for someone you'd want to work with."
I recalled the explanation Monted had given me on the way here.
'The Seven Knights Order and the Holy Knights Order of the Arlem Church are separate groups, but the aides for the Seven Knights are chosen from among the holy knights, right?'
Just as Gauriel had Monted, it seemed I was to decide on an aide to help me right now.
"For now, take a light shower and rest briefly. In the meantime, I'll make preparations."
"Very well."
Monted disappeared for a moment and then appeared with a monk in tow.
He then entrusted me to the monk's care.
I was guided by the monk to a small empty room.
"Please rest comfortably."
"Mm."
When I opened the door and entered, I saw a space exactly the size of my studio apartment.
But right now, the size of the room didn't matter at all.
How many days had I been sleeping rough?
Even this basic setup was more than I could ask for.
"Let me wash up first... Phew."
It was there that I faced my own reflection for the first time.
Well, but... it wasn't bad.
"Handsome. Hehe."
After roughly washing up and coming out, Monted was already waiting with preparations complete.
"Let's go."
"Mm."
Anyway, this world seemed to have something about working people to death without rest.
Without even a moment to rest, I headed to the next schedule again.
The interior of the monastery I entered following Monted.
Like the exterior, it wasn't particularly splendid or ornate.
Nevertheless, it was a strange place that gave one a feeling of grandeur.
Something curious suddenly came to mind, and I asked Monted's back.
"Are all the other knights of the Seven Knights Order here as well?"
"No. Except for Sir Andrew, the seventh knight who comes from the Church, all the others stay in their homeland during peacetime."
"I see."
It was good news.
It would be burdensome if they showed interest just because I was a newcomer.
While walking like this, Monted guided me to a small room.
I was able to face three holy knights standing in a row before me.
Monted pointed to them and continued speaking.
"Each of them has proven skills."
The middle-aged knight who appeared to be the most senior.
A knight with such a large build that he gave off an intimidating aura just by looking at him.
Finally, there was a young knight who looked small compared to the other two.
The last knight seemed to have been recently injured, as he was wrapped in bandages here and there.
I glanced over them briefly and nodded my head in response.
However, the knights still looked like they didn't quite understand what was happening.
The first to speak was the second knight with the largest build.
"Lord Monted. I came because you called, but... what is this about?"
He stepped forward half a step and asked, his palm looking like some kind of pot lid.
If he were to put on armor, he would probably look at least twice as big.
When such a person stepped forward, the intimidation was no joke.
Of course, Monted didn't bat an eye.
"Show proper respect. This person is Lord Rohan, who will newly ascend to the Seven Knights."
"Hmm."
"Wh-what did you just say... The seventh knight of the Seven Knights Order, who has never existed before..."
"...!"
The three showed different reactions.
However, being surprised seemed to be the same for all of them.
Even I was surprised to be standing here, so how could they be any different?
"You heard what I said. Of course, I've already reported this to the Archbishop."
"Did he approve it immediately?"
Looking at the context of their conversation, it seemed that becoming a seventh knight wasn't something decided so hastily.
Well, that made sense.
Even I thought this was too fast.
"Yes. He gave immediate approval. It's Gauriel's recommendation."
Only then did the middle-aged knight, who had been quiet until now, speak up.
"Did Lord Gauriel speak directly?"
"That's right. That's why the Archbishop also gave his recognition."
"Hmm. Lord Gauriel, who found all those many skilled individuals unsatisfactory..."
Now the knights' gazes turned from Monted to me.
Their faces seemed to ask what he had seen to make such a decision.
But I remained still.
No, it would be more accurate to say I didn't have the mental capacity to pay attention to other things.
'That person, why is she here?...'
It was because of the appearance of an unexpected presence.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Though I couldn't look closely because I was being careful to hide my eye movements as much as possible, I was certain.
The injured knight standing in the third position.
'Why is she disguised as a man...? Is there some reason? I should pretend not to know for now, right?'
Though she was pretending to be a man, she couldn't fool my eyes.
She was someone who had the nickname "Hound of Twilight."
No, to be precise, she was someone who would have that nickname in the future.
She was someone who appeared in Path of God as a demon hunter from the mid-game onward.
'Her name was... Diaz, wasn't it? I think I saw a setting that she was formerly a holy knight. To think she would be here...'
She was a named character among the demon hunters, and as a named character, she boasted formidable strength.
That's why she was also a problematic character.
No matter which character you chose as the protagonist, you would always encounter her as an enemy.
As soon as you entered the mid-game, an event battle with Diaz would occur, and that was the problem.
She was moderately strong, but she was too strong.
Thanks to that, the complaints from users who got stuck there were considerable, as I recalled.
Instead, in some chapters she would move as an ally, and then she would be incredibly reliable.
Diaz's strength came from the unique skill she possessed.
Her unique skill was:
'Merciless Attacker.'
As the name suggested, it was a merciless unique skill.
The ability implemented in Path of God was one that dealt damage proportional to health.
So no matter how much the player struggled, the opponent was difficult.
Also, because of that unique skill, even in the late game, her attack power never fell behind.
'It was said to be an ability inherited from her lord who was killed by demons during her holy knight days, right?'
I guessed that her holy knight days were right now, and it seemed that not much time had passed since her lord's death either.
Since her lord had died, she was probably assigned to me.
And those wounds and her hollow, dead eyes supported that reasoning.
'A chance to recruit a genius...!'
Without a doubt, it was a golden opportunity.
To be honest, with just one spatial slash, there were far too many anxiety factors.
But if Diaz had my back?
That would be a completely different story.
At least one life would be gained as a bonus.
'If it doesn't work out, so be it.'
And if she refused, it would be unfortunate, but I could just choose another aide.
A challenge with nothing to lose.
To focus the attention of her half-absent mind, I called the name of someone I hadn't even been formally introduced to yet.
"Diaz. I've decided on you."
Diaz was startled by my call.
"How do you know my name?..."
She looked up at me, then looked at Monted.
With an expression asking if he had told me her name.
But Monted shook his head with a curious look, as if he too found it strange.
Diaz's gaze turned back to me.
I answered with an expressionless face.
"If you want to know how I knew, I'll tell you. But only if you become my aide."
That was when it happened.
Someone burst through the door and entered.
"Agh. I really. I knew this would happen!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The man who suddenly burst through the door complained to Monted.
"Lord Monted. No, how can you do this? I applied for aide selection first."
The first thing that caught my eye was his blonde short hair tied back.
His handsome face seemed to make that hairstyle look stylish.
It made me think, 'So this is what face value means.'
It was a bit of a flaw that he looked somewhat rough around the edges.
He frowned and looked at me.
"Of course, there is a vacant position right now, but suddenly a new knight without any notice? Isn't that going too far?"
However, Monted, as if he had experienced this often, acted extremely calmly.
"Sir Andrew does not have the authority to express dissatisfaction with the knight appointment rights of the Seven Knights Order."
"But I'm still a member of the Seven Knights Order..."
"Even so, you don't have that authority."
Monted was completely resolute.
At this, Andrew's face became dejected.
"That's really too much. Sigh. Anyway, I still applied for aide selection first. I've been moving without an aide since Jack died too."
Though his face was directed toward Monted, Andrew's eyes were on me.
"I've already decided on Diaz as my aide."
"Nothing has been decided."
"Huh?"
"Unlike the Seven Knights, all aides are holy knights. The disposition of holy knights is naturally decided by the Archbishop."
"No, no. The Archbishop clearly said at that time..."
"The Archbishop said this. That he would consider it positively."
"..."
I didn't have a chance to talk, so I didn't know, but Monted's way with words was no joke.
Andrew's mouth finally closed completely.
He glared at me for a moment.
"A talent personally chosen by Lord Gauriel?..."
Something flashed like lightning, and a sound like tearing through air was heard.
A sword wind brushed past my face.
Swoooosh!
And the next moment.
In the blink of an eye, a sword tip was pointed right at my pupil.
It looked like my eye would be pierced if I swayed even slightly.
I stared at him, frozen in place.
'Whoa shit... What a surprise! He came in without even blinking...!'
If I had let my guard down, I would have wet myself.
I didn't even see when he drew his sword.
I didn't see him draw it, but there it was, pointing right at me.
Is this the level of the Seven Knights Order?
It was a completely different realm, even if the dimension was different.
I felt viscerally that if he had stabbed with intent, it would have been instant death.
'Coming here... might have been the wrong choice...'
Regret came flooding in belatedly.
But now it was too late to back down.
A new unique skill and a new aide were within reach.
But strangely, Andrew's expression, who had thrust the sword, was also stiff.
"..."
He seemed surprised about something... why was he like that?
Meanwhile, Monted, who had witnessed that scene right in front of him, shouted loudly.
"Sir Andrew!"
It was the first time Monted had raised his voice with anger mixed in.
I was startled by that shout too.
'Suddenly shouting and making a fuss! What if he gets surprised and stabs my eye?'
Fortunately, Andrew's sword didn't waver.
It was still held in front of my eyes.
Andrew finally made an awkward expression.
"Ha, haha. Lord Monted, really. Why are you getting so angry over just a friendly greeting?"
"Hasn't your rudeness gone too far! This person is a guest of Lord Gauriel and myself!"
"I understand, I get it. I understand."
As Andrew tried to withdraw his sword, I thought I should express my opinion a little too.
'If I look too easy, I'll face this kind of thing again.'
I quickly drew the toothless dagger from my waist.
Then Andrew, who had been about to withdraw his sword, stopped.
I tapped Andrew's sword with my dagger.
Secretly infusing it with spatial slash.
My dagger momentarily cut more than halfway through Andrew's blade.
Swoosh.
But the others seemed not to have seen it because they were focused on me.
I casually said a word as if I hadn't been intimidated at all.
"A good sword."
Then I left the room.
Behind me, the sound of cracking was heard.
Crack.
The sound of Andrew's sword, cut more than halfway through, breaking.
Clang...!
The blade fell to the floor.