The Sword Master Death Knight Awakens
Suddenly dropping foreshadowing like that—a Death Knight using aura. The moment I heard it, I reflexively shot back, “What kind of bullshit is that?”
A Sword Master was the pinnacle of talent, with only a handful existing even in a single kingdom. That was the case in all the web novels I'd read, and Heaven's Seres was no different. Even in our empire, there were just three: Arios, and Ares, who had awakened not long ago.
So what this priest was claiming was like stumbling upon an Olympic gold medalist while busting some street punks.
“I-it's true!”
As everyone stared in disbelief, the priest hurriedly shouted.
“I saw it with my own eyes! That terrifying Death Knight using aura! And it wasn't just one!”
“Not just one?”
“Lord Seres, that Death Knight emerged with about a dozen others estimated to be Expert-level!”
An Expert was just one step below Sword Master. In other words, it was like that Olympic champ showing up with a pro team in tow from a punk hideout.
“Why the hell would those things suddenly pop up?!”
Once the situation sank in, I yelled in sheer absurdity.
“This isn't some test where we have to take down that monster, is it?”
“Of course not! What lunatic would use a Sword Master undead for a test?”
The priest explained that they'd been purging undead here for a long time and confirmed it was safe.
“If it were dangerous, we never would have brought Lord Ayran and Lord Seres.”
“Then where did those undead come from?”
“...Undead don't have lifespans. Maybe some ancient legendary-grade undead went into a long dormancy and just woke up now?”
What nonsense is this? The explanations kept getting more ridiculous, narrowing my eyes at her naturally.
Catching my gaze, the priest cried out.
“Please believe me! Lord Ayran is holding them back with holy power right now, but he won't last long. We need your help!”
At her plea, our group showed varied reactions.
“Is that true?”
“Then we have to go save them!”
The priests who'd come with us were outraged at their comrades' peril.
“We should go save them. But if the enemy really is a Sword Master...?”
Hames, the priests' leader, calculated the risks more coolly.
“Seres, it's dangerous. Let's go home.”
Ares grabbed my wrist, insisting we leave.
Me? I had no real choice.
“Mother, we at least have to try something.”
If we abandoned the priests and fled, rumors would fly, tarnishing not just my hard-earned reputation but Ares's and the Huferion family's too.
“You know not even pretending to help would damage our good names.”
“...Damn it!”
Faced with the practical issue, Ares stopped with an irritated grunt.
She glared at Hames and said, “From now on, I'll take command. Any objections?”
“None. In a crisis like this, having a swordmaster like you lead is a relief.”
“If you agree, we'll go rescue those priests first. But if I judge it's beyond my power, we'll retreat fast.”
“Naturally. We can't all charge into death to save them—especially not now.”
Hames glanced at me subtly before handing command to Ares.
“Seres, don't leave my side no matter what.”
Under Ares's lead, we moved cautiously toward the site, on high alert.
There, we saw two groups locked in standoff.
One side was Ayran and his followers. Ayran stood at the front, face grim, pouring out holy power, with Hairel beside him doing the same.
One a saint candidate, the other a high priestess.
But facing them alone, emitting its own aura, was a single knight in pitch-black, fearsome armor that hid its form entirely.
It had stepped forward as representative amid similarly clad knights, matching the two holy powers.
Is that the Death Knight that uses aura?
The Death Knight, locked in a standoff for a while, noticed us and turned.
Then... “No way, Huferion?!”
It spotted me and Ares, exclaiming our family name in shock.
What? This thing can talk?
We were famous, so recognition wasn't surprising, but a Death Knight speaking? High undead must have superior intelligence compared to the low-level ones we'd met earlier.
And its voice was surprisingly cute—a woman's. Fitting for this world's gender quirks, though.
“Ah, Countess Ares?”
“Perfect timing, both of you!”
Ayran and Hairel spotted us and lit up with relief.
Even eyesores like me were valuable firepower in a pinch.
“Lord Seres, come here quick.”
“Use your holy power with us to pressure them.”
They wanted me to join their holy power standoff, but
“Seres, don't go.”
Ares held me firm.
“I wasn't planning to anyway.”
Not without knowing the full story.
“What the hell happened?”
From beside Ares, I raised my voice at the pair.
“How did a routine undead purge turn into a fight with a Sword Master undead?”
“Th-that's...”
“They attacked first!”
Ayran and Hairel stammered excuses, but
“Lies. You attacked us unprovoked, just for being undead!”
The Death Knight exposed the truth in a fury, making them flinch.
“No way, you're not believing that, are you?”
“Lord Seres, who do you believe—us or the Death Knight?”
The Death Knight, obviously. I'd sooner trust a demon than you trash.
“Hoo~”
Ares sighed, grasping the situation.
Then, “I'll apologize for their rudeness on their behalf.”
She bowed to the Death Knights.
Chaos erupted. Everyone except me and Hames was stunned.
Even the Death Knights seemed incredulous.
The lead Death Knight spoke cautiously. “Aren't you Huferion?”
“That's right. I'm the current head of the Huferion family.”
“A descendant of one of the heroes who defeated the Demon King, bowing to undead?”
“If it's our fault, no choice.”
Ares was as pragmatic as she was cold. Avoiding a Sword Master fight with a bow? Worth it—especially with me at her side.
She wouldn't risk battle against uncertain odds when she had me to protect.
So she tried talking.
“We didn't come targeting you. We were just purging regular undead and had no idea about Death Knights like you.”
“Makes sense. We were dormant here for ages and only just woke up.”
“Why now?”
“No idea. Eyes just opened, we wandered, and they attacked.”
“Just an unfortunate accident, then.”
Ares worked to persuade. Our side panicked at your sudden awakening and attacked without checking. Sorry—let's call it even. Reasonable.
But
“Tempting, but it would have been better before our side took a casualty.”
The Death Knight coldly refused, pointing behind her.
One Death Knight lay collapsed amid the others, tended by comrades.
“That brown-haired man's holy power already felled one of my subordinates. Its false life will fade soon.”
“Fight us, and you won't walk away unscathed. Risk total annihilation for one?”
“Not 'one.' My subordinates and I are one body after over a millennium together. One falls, others follow.”
“...”
“We don't want to harm humans. That's why we stayed quiet. But with a comrade sacrificed, it's different.”
Ares fell silent, sensing no room for talk.
“Didn't want to fight, but no choice.”
She drew her sword tensely, aura rippling along the blade.
“Aura?”
“Sword Master!”
Only I knew Ares was a Sword Master. Everyone was shocked—even cool-headed Hames.
“A Sword Master? Amazing!”
Ayran reacted most wildly, eyes turning to hearts as he hid behind her.
“I've never seen anyone as cool as you, Countess. I'll support you—let's vanquish this evil undead together!”
“I'm planning to retreat at the first opening.”
Ares replied curtly to the hyper Ayran.
Watching them, I wondered: Could those two take down the Death Knights?
...No guarantees.
Ares was a fresh Sword Master. Even among them, experience mattered—Arios had proven that.
But the enemy? A millennium-old Sword Master and her elite subs.
Even with Ayran assisting, no sure win. Add the other priests, Hames, Hairel—the subs were wild cards.
Black Pain... couldn't use it. Demon King's sword in front of priests? No way. Secret for now.
They wouldn't let us flee anyway. Her rage over the dying sub was palpable.
“Hm.”
I briefly emitted Divine Power from my hand, observing.
Blast them with clear hostility like with Red? Major damage, maybe.
But tough now. We were at fault first.
They'd stayed put unlike regular undead—hard to muster malice.
Fuck, why this mess?! Routine undead hunt turning into life-or-death with elite warriors?
“If only I could heal...”
Could've treated the sub and moved on. Lamentable since I couldn't.
If they weren't undead, I grumbled.
“Doesn't matter.”
Hames suddenly addressed me.
“Undead or not, nothing you can't heal.”
“What? Holy power damages undead—that's basic.”
“I already told you you're special.”
She placed a hand on my shoulder, smiling gently.
“Trust yourself. Others can't, but you can.”
“...Really?”
“This time, focus on truly healing them. Then use your power.”
I took her advice, assuming the stance from my Red fight.
No way they'd let me approach, so I fired Divine Power at the target Death Knight.
“What?!”
The leader tried blocking in shock, but futile.
I engulfed her too in the light, sweeping the wounded sub.
The near-death sub sprang up.
Its comrades froze; priests gasped.
“Healing undead with holy power? Impossible!”
“Does he really have Divine Power?!”
Regular priests marveled in shock, but
“Lies, lies!”
“He's really the saint?”
Ayran and Hairel twisted in resentment.
“Seres, doing this without consulting me!”
Ares vented worry-laced anger, sensing headaches ahead despite averting crisis.
And finally.
“This can't be?! My lost power... returned?!”
The engulfed leader Death Knight muttered something bizarre.