The Holy Knight
Jenia’s eyes widened. “A trial?”
Even though her limbs were perfectly fine, she obediently accepted the spoon Moare held out, letting the other girl feed her the porridge from the plastic container.
“B-but they attacked us first…”
“This unit recalls that its flames delivered the first strike.”
“Huh? Really?”
“It was a magnificent blaze.”
“Uhh…?”
Vertea’s face was lost in some kind of ecstatic trance. She really does love setting things on fire, Jinwoo thought. So that’s what a mystic’s aptitude looks like. Maybe I should think about what kind of aptitude I might have.
That was when Jenia spoke again. “But Mister Jinwoo, you seem strangely relaxed about all this…”
“It’s only a trial in name.”
“Is… is that how it works?”
“Probably.”
“Probably…?”
If I refused them outright and rejected any cooperation, they would execute me without hesitation. Efficient, if nothing else. Even after I had killed one of their own, they were clearly willing to recruit me if it served their purposes. There were no glaring moral failings on their part, either. They were arrogant and haughty, sure, but they didn’t treat people like livestock or practice cannibalism. They drank blood, but not exclusively from humans. Halflings, dwarves, elves, orcs, demons, succubi—they consumed the blood of any race. Among them, elf blood was supposedly the greatest delicacy.
At least conversation was possible. That alone made them fairly decent company.
It had been a full week since Jinwoo began staying with them. While recuperating, he had broadened his understanding of the world.
“Oh my, a pet?”
The dark elf was closer to a cruel predator, her nature steeped in malice. She had mentioned eating people. Even the way she looked at him went beyond cold—it was downright chilling. A race of women only, with black hair, black eyes, and facial tattoos.
Mare frowned at that predatory gaze.
“He’s a guest, Bishara. Please show some courtesy.”
“Really? What a shame. His face is exactly my type.”
“I have no plans to be eaten, so I’ll have to decline.”
“Oh? It can talk.”
She was supposedly the longest-lived race in the autonomous district. Yet she looked no older than her twenties.
“So, what brings you here?”
“Ah, where are my manners? The atmosphere around here has been a little strange lately, so I came to warn you to be careful. While I was at it, I thought I might hire a few hands. We need an investigation team.”
“Could you explain in more detail?”
“It looks like a flood is coming. I heard the Adventurers’ Guild commissioned you to subjugate some fairies. But it’s not just the Infernal Bazaar. The Queen’s Greenwood is also sending out roots nonstop. Monsters are even coming from the Hotel in this direction.”
“…From the Hotel? That’s unusual.”
“Yeah. Someone must have made a deal with a hotelier. Quite the event.”
As expected, the conversation was touching on things Jinwoo didn’t know. Hotelier. The Hotel. The Queen’s Greenwood. The latter seemed to refer to a labyrinth zone, but the Hotel and hoteliers carried a distinctly unnatural connotation. Perhaps they were labyrinth entities that traded with humans—and the monsters that lived inside the labyrinth itself.
If Vertea had been here, he would have asked her. But he refused to be the kind of father who distracted his daughter while she was working with pointless questions. So he stayed quiet, watching as every time Bishara’s hand drifted toward his knee or thigh, Mare slapped it away.
She has a strong sense of chastity. I raised her well.
Satisfied, he waited for the conversation to end before asking Mare, “What’s a flood?”
Once the dark elf had left and they were alone in the room, Mare paused with her teacup halfway to her lips and gave him a look that said she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“…Do I really have to explain something so basic to you?”
“Yes.”
“Sigh… If only you couldn’t talk. A flood is when monsters leave their territories and invade the Labyrinth City.”
“Labyrinth City? Isn’t the entire inside of the labyrinth the Labyrinth City?”
Mare’s gaze sharpened. Her eyes were already quite fierce on their own.
“Only the residential zones are called the Labyrinth City. The Entrance, Commercial District and Mercenary Headquarters, Wealthy Quarter, Residential Area, Magic Tower, Autonomous Districts, Adventurers’ Street, Pathfinder’s Citadel, Pantheon, and Elf Autonomous District.”
Mare set down her teacup and pulled out a map, pointing at various locations. Once he examined it carefully, it was easy to understand. The place called the Entrance was Songpa District. The Commercial District and Mercenary Headquarters were in Gangnam, the Wealthy Quarter in Seocho, and the Residential Area—clearly indicating poorer conditions than the wealthy quarter—was in Dongjak. He already knew about the Magic Tower, Autonomous Districts, Elf District, and Adventurers’ Street. But learning that Seoul Station was called the Pathfinder’s Citadel was unexpected. So was the fact that the Pantheon was in the heart of Jung District.
“Myeongdong Cathedral is the Pantheon…”
“These days it’s used only by the Church of Blood.”
“The Church of Blood?”
“Yes. The place that worships that detestable being who still lives so well… You didn’t even know that? Is there anything you actually do know?”
Her tone was harsh. When Jinwoo glanced at her, Mare was sipping her tea with a pouty expression. Ah, right. The Blood Clan and the God of Blood were on bad terms. It made sense—they were predator and prey.
“Anyway, the autonomous districts don’t receive protection from the mercenaries. When a flood happens, we have to handle it ourselves.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“The Blood Clan isn’t so weak that we desperately need the help of a single person. We also have the geographical advantage.”
She was right. The missionary headquarters they had claimed had mountains on both sides and only one entrance. With wooden fences, walls, watchposts, and every member being a vampire, they could repel most attacks.
“Are the other autonomous districts similar?”
“Not exactly the same, but they’re stronger than humans and live in fortified locations. Usually. It’s not something you need to worry about, Father.”
Mare’s heartbeat had quickened slightly, as if she was pleased that he was showing interest. Well, they did say paying attention to children was good for their emotional development. But why did he feel so uneasy?
Unable to pinpoint the source of that discomfort, Jinwoo simply looked at his daughter from where he sat.
“When is the trial scheduled?”
“We’re thinking sometime next week.”
“That late?”
“We usually set the date considering a human’s recovery period. Though it was surprising how much faster your recovery was than average.”
The torn hand muscles where the blade had pierced and withdrawn had already knit back together. Most of the cuts across his body had healed, and the problems caused by blood loss were largely resolved. It was thanks to Gambison’s defensive ability and his body’s instinctive reaction that had minimized the damage. Had that not happened, he would have died on the spot or taken far longer to recover.
“What will you do after the trial?”
“Hm?”
“I saw your nameplate. You registered as an adventurer.”
“Ah, yes. I suppose I did.”
“Then… even though it’s not particularly important to us, we could arrange some requests that still need to be handled.”
This was unexpected. Was that really okay?
“Just so you know in advance, the requests we arrange will be officially routed through our partnership with the Adventurers’ Guild. You won’t receive contribution points, but the pay is solid.”
Since it was being handled officially, it was hard to refuse. She was clearly trying to show consideration in her own way. He had expected her to reject him after he killed Corben, but it seemed she genuinely wanted to recruit him. It was admirable, but he would need to think about it carefully. Just as he was about to answer—
“My lord.”
A voice came from outside the room.
“Yes, what is it?”
“A flood has occurred. A large number of enemies are currently approaching from the main gate direction.”
“Toward us? No, not the dark elves’ side but ours…”
Mare looked flustered but held her tongue. She glanced at Jinwoo, then spoke.
“Respond. Do not initiate a preemptive strike. Begin interception only when they launch an attack toward the main gate. Also, tell the servants to prepare my armor.”
“Understood.”
Footsteps retreated. Mare stood up, frowning.
“It’s come to this, so please return to your room, Father. You may take a walk if you wish, but don’t get hurt.”
To think he would hear such words in his lifetime. It was absurd, yet it sparked his curiosity. He wanted to see what kind of battles the Blood Clan fought and what kind of group combat abilities they possessed. It seemed worth learning for the long term.
“Can I come with you?”
“…Hmph. What are you saying when you’d only be a burden? Just watch quietly.”
Though she tried to suppress it, the corners of Mare’s mouth twitched upward in excitement as she nodded.
“Then—”
His daughter opened her mouth to say something. Slanting sunlight poured through the window. Even the floating dust seemed to drift in slow motion.
Jinwoo felt an ominous premonition seize his heart. A sudden, sharp sense that something was wrong. But he couldn’t tell what it was.
Reflexively, he spread his micro-current.
The power that had saved him time and again, guided by instinct. The spreading micro-current read many things.
The vampire knights hurrying along at Mare’s command. Farther away, the knights gathered at the watchpost by the main gate, watching the swarm of monsters approach. The creatures walked on two legs, wielding weapons, and some rode tamed beasts. Yet they possessed no reason—only a ravenous hunger for slaughter. They clearly had a target. But what?
His sensory range stretched farther and then stopped. At the edge of the extended micro-current, he touched an unfamiliar shape.
It was something strange. Over three meters tall. A giant clad in armor. It twisted its massive body and leveled a spear. A throwing spear.
“Mare—”
Jinwoo shouted and rose to his feet, but it was too late. The time it took for the spear to be thrown and fly through the air was faster than him standing up and finishing his words.
A colossal spear, like a siege weapon, tore through the micro-current he had extended and hurtled forward. A roaring boom. The sound of air being ripped apart. A noise close to a sonic boom—something only an object breaking the sound barrier could produce.
Mare’s eyes, startled by the sudden summons, sharpened. Her head whipped around, ears perking. She reflexively reached out her hand. The instant she did—
CRAAAAAASH!
The wall shattered. As if made of sugar, the spear scattered fragments as it burst inside. And it still had momentum. Before Mare could block its path or do anything, she grabbed the spear, but her slender body was hurled backward. Like flicking a paper doll, she smashed through the opposite wall and was sent flying.
And then.
THUD!
A landing sound. Something stepped over the broken wall and entered.
It was a massive knight entirely clad in pure white. The snow-white armor covering its entire body was covered in countless scratches and adorned with all kinds of decorations, standing there with an impenetrable solidity that allowed no glimpse of what lay beneath. Just looking at it sent chills racing down the spine. Cold sweat followed.
Every time his micro-current touched it, the interior was laid bare. Its insides were made entirely of metal. Muscles of metal, joints of liquid metal. It was not human. It wasn’t even alive. It had no organs. All that existed was the metal filling its body and the armor. Yet it moved. It stared at him with intelligence.
“So you are the avatar of darkness.”
Not a question, but a statement filled with certainty. For some reason, goosebumps rose as if the room’s temperature had dropped several degrees. As it reached for the massive sword and shield on its back, Jinwoo instinctively pieced together the answer.
A being that could throw a spear with speed and skill that even Mare—with her outstanding physical ability and technique as the Blood Clan’s lord—could not catch. One leap to reach this place. A creature possessing astonishing flexibility, speed, power, and technique. And on top of that, a giant knight wearing pure white armor.
“Holy Knight.”
And then the familiar face that walked out from behind it. Scarlet hair and green eyes.
“Have you been well?”
The woman smiled sweetly and gave a slight curtsy, lifting the hem of her skirt.
“As promised, I’ve come thoroughly prepared.”
The moment Jinwoo saw her, he did not hesitate. He activated the Kill Switch.
“Please die for me.”
Sparks of lightning burst from his clenched fist.