Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Jacques Noir (3)
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Demian swung his sword, severing Jacques Noir's neck.
The decapitated head rolled across the ground. The headless body staggered for a moment before collapsing to the floor.
"A knight mustn't let his emotions get the better of him."
Thanks to Jacques Noir being blinded by rage, Demian had been able to finish him off easily.
Otherwise, that last move would have been a bit troublesome.
"He's mastered all sorts of strange techniques."
The technique Jacques Noir had used at the end was no ordinary one.
But Demian had encountered plenty of techniques that exploded one's potential in his previous life.
As a Death Knight, Demian had been a disaster incarnate, so countless knights had no choice but to resort to mutual destruction to stop him.
However, none of the techniques he'd seen back then had shown such a dramatic surge in power as Jacques Noir's.
In particular, that final sword strike from Jacques Noir had been fearsome enough to rival a high-class knight.
"More importantly, I need to get out of here quickly."
The forest was utterly devastated, and massive sword scars marred the ground.
It didn't make sense that no one had noticed after all this commotion.
The nearby territories would surely dispatch knights to investigate.
If he ran into them and it came out that Demian had killed Jacques Noir, things would get complicated.
But leaving empty-handed like this wouldn't balance the books. Demian promptly searched Jacques Noir's corpse.
There wasn't anything particularly impressive. Just the sword Jacques Noir had been using and a pouch at his waist.
Demian examined Jacques Noir's sword. Unfortunately, it was just an ordinary iron blade.
The pouch, however, was different. Surprisingly, it was enchanted with space expansion magic.
It looked like a leather pouch the size of a fist on the outside, but the interior was quite spacious.
Any magic tool with space expansion was a treasure coveted by all.
That said, it couldn't compare to the sub-space ring Demian already possessed. In terms of space size or practicality, the sub-space ring was far superior.
Demian pulled out the items from the pouch one by one.
Emergency rations, healing potions, gold coins, and two books emerged.
Subduing Shadow Sword, Felling Star Earthglow Technique.
Both were techniques Jacques Noir had used.
The Subduing Shadow Sword was more than half lost, but the Felling Star Earthglow Technique was intact.
"Is there a mana cultivation method written in here?"
Demian was currently in the process of creating his own mana cultivation method. To achieve that goal, he needed as many reference materials as possible.
For sword techniques, his mind was already stocked with countless ones. If he lacked any, he could just observe and learn from other knights.
Mana cultivation methods were different.
They operated within the body and were far more intricate and complex than sword techniques.
Even for Demian, it was impossible to perfectly steal a mana cultivation method.
That's why books detailing mana cultivation methods were desperately needed right now.
Demian read the Subduing Shadow Sword with anticipation. But soon, disappointment clouded his face.
"The parts about the mana cultivation method are completely gone."
The Subduing Shadow Sword was mostly lost. Not only the swordsmanship sections but the mana cultivation method as well—all vanished.
Putting aside his regret, Demian opened the Felling Star Earthglow Technique.
Unlike the Subduing Shadow Sword, the Felling Star Earthglow Technique was pristine. But even here, Demian didn't get what he wanted.
-Sacrifice your life. Then you shall gain power.
He realized it the moment he saw the words on the first page.
This was the mutual destruction technique Jacques Noir had used at the end.
"I need a mana cultivation method, not a mutual destruction technique."
Demian clicked his tongue briefly.
Still, it was clear that the Felling Star Earthglow Technique was an extraordinarily advanced skill.
Wondering if there might be something to reference, he began reading further.
"......Huh?"
After flipping through a few more pages, Demian sensed something off.
For a mutual destruction technique, the content was too complex and detailed.
Demian sat right there and thoroughly read the Felling Star Earthglow Technique.
"......It's a mana cultivation method?"
It was cleverly disguised, but Demian could tell.
To anyone with shallow knowledge, it would only appear as a mutual destruction technique.
The true nature of the Felling Star Earthglow Technique was a mana cultivation method.
An extremely advanced one at that, with unique effects.
"A mana cultivation method that accumulates mana through combat."
The Felling Star Earthglow Technique wasn't a static cultivation method that absorbed mana while seated. It was a dynamic cultivation method that built mana through physical movement.
Unlike static cultivation methods, dynamic ones were exceedingly rare due to their high difficulty.
"And that's not all...... This mana cultivation method has the effect of strengthening the body."
The Felling Star Earthglow Technique was a method that stored mana in the muscles. The stored mana exerted a unique effect, transforming the muscles.
Faster, stronger.
The Felling Star Earthglow Technique was a mana cultivation method aimed at forging a body optimized solely for battle.
"To disguise such an incredible cultivation method as a mutual destruction technique......"
It was no wonder Jacques Noir hadn't recognized its true value.
Whoever developed it must have been a terribly mischievous person.
"This is a windfall."
Demian stored the Felling Star Earthglow Technique in his sub-space with a happy smile.
* * *
Demian returned to where his companions were.
Staying here would mean getting caught by others for sure. Demian loaded his companions into the carriage.
"Let's go."
Demian used man-horse unity on the horses pulling the carriage.
Fueled by the mana Demian infused, the horses galloped at terrifying speeds.
The carriage shook violently, but his companions didn't wake. Thanks to the black magic Demian had cast.
"This seems like a good spot to stop."
Demian halted the carriage in a newly appeared forest.
He unloaded his companions and set up camp just like in the original forest.
By the time he finished, dawn was beginning to break. Demian dispelled the black magic on his companions.
"Haaaam."
Abel was the first to wake.
Abel stretched and yawned.
"Hm? Bro, you're already up?"
Abel asked, seeing Demian seated by the campfire. Demian tossed more firewood into the flames as he replied.
"The night air was chilly, so I woke up early. Ah, want a cup of tea?"
"I'd be grateful if you did."
Demian filled an iron kettle with water and placed it over the campfire.
A moment later, Demian poured the brewed tea into an iron cup and handed it to Abel.
"Here, drink up."
"Thank you."
Abel blew on the tea to cool it. As he sipped, he suddenly noticed something strange.
"But bro, was the forest always like this?"
The scenery before sleep and after waking felt somehow different.
He wasn't a hunter, so he couldn't pinpoint it, but it felt off somehow.
"Not fully awake yet?"
Demian gave him a what-nonsense-is-this look. Abel made an awkward expression.
Even he realized it sounded strange.
However, Abel's suspicion grew stronger as the other two woke.
"Ugh? Young master, the forest feels kinda weird."
"What nonsense."
"The trees look shorter than before bed...... and thinner too......"
"Trees are trees."
"That's true, but......"
Victor, rising from his bedroll, kept nodding.
"Quit yapping and prepare breakfast. I'm hungry."
"Yes, sir."
Victor quickly pulled out ingredients and began boiling a simple stew.
"Good morning."
Olivia Copperhead woke next. She stepped down from the carriage and stretched.
"......Huh?"
Olivia looked around, tilting her head repeatedly.
"Why does the forest feel...... kinda...... umm?"
With Olivia reacting the same way, Abel was convinced.
"......Bro."
"Yeah."
"What the hell did you do this time?"
"Nothing."
"Don't play innocent! Three people already said the scenery feels off!"
At Abel's words, one of Demian's eyebrows arched.
"What's so off about the scenery? You think I went around pruning trees last night or something?"
As Demian turned the tables, Abel was at a loss for words.
"Or do you think I snuck you all to another forest in the middle of the night? Why would I do that, unless I'm crazy?"
The more he heard, the more Demian's argument made sense.
Why would Demian go through such trouble?
"Forests always feel different at night versus in the light. You're just mistaking it for a change in scenery."
"......Yes."
"If you get it, quit the nonsense and fetch the utensils. Time to eat."
Abel stood with an embarrassed face.
Watching Abel head off, Demian muttered softly.
"Indeed, nothing can't be overcome with enough denial."
* * *
"......"
The Holy Knights who arrived at the scene were speechless.
The completely shattered forest and the clear sword scars on the ground.
Proof that a ferocious battle had taken place here last night.
What shocked the Holy Knights even more was Jacques Noir's corpse abandoned on the ground.
"......He was beheaded."
Holy Knight Thomas said with a deeply shocked expression.
According to reports, a nearby territory had heard the loud boom and requested aid from other nobles.
The Church had dispatched Holy Knights immediately upon hearing, suspecting it might be Jacques Noir.
The time it took to arrive here was less than a few hours.
For Jacques Noir to lose his life in that short span?
It would be impossible unless the opponent vastly outclassed him.
"Sir Thomas, who do you think could have killed Jacques Noir?"
One of the Holy Knights asked Thomas. After a moment's thought, Thomas replied.
"Jacques Noir was a top-tier mid-class knight. To kill him this swiftly......"
Thomas had fought Jacques Noir just days ago.
Though both mid-class, the skill gap was clear. Jacques Noir had toyed with Thomas before escaping.
To kill such a man......
"It has to be a high-class knight."
High-class.
The realm right below the true superhumans known as masters.
Not quite masters, but high-class knights were monstrous enough to earn the moniker.
A high-class knight possessed more than enough skill to kill Jacques Noir.
But the Holy Knights couldn't easily accept Thomas's words.
"But Sir Thomas, if a high-class knight was nearby, we would have known."
There were currently three high-class knights in the Apple Kingdom.
Whenever one moved, word spread across the kingdom.
"Perhaps he encountered an unknown high-class knight."
"An unknown...... high-class knight?"
"The world is wide, and there are many hidden experts. A master was once found deep in a valley, so it's not an unreasonable assumption."
Above all, Thomas had a reason to be certain it was a high-class knight.
"And if not a high-class knight, who else could kill Jacques Noir this easily?"
The Holy Knights had no choice but to nod.
That day, a messenger bird carrying news of Jacques Noir's death flew toward the Church.