The Black Knight
Elsid waved goodbye to the Black Knight, Bearbid, and walked with quick steps deeper into the temple. Every wall inside the temple glowed with pure white light, and silver decorations like candles and goddess statues illuminated the space. He was looking around at the temple's interior as he ventured further in when—
"What brings you here? This area is off-limits to anyone but authorized personnel."
"If you're looking for the prayer room, go around to the back and turn right."
Two temple knights clad in pure white armor crossed their spears to block his path, declaring the area restricted. To avoid causing trouble for the hardworking holy knights, Elsid reached into the backpack slung over his shoulder and pulled out an item. It was an ornate box engraved with ancient patterns.
"I'm coming from the trading city of Nao. I have something that must be delivered, so I came looking for the right person."
Elsid handed the box to the paladins blocking his way.
"Would it be all right if we inspect it briefly?"
One of the temple knights lowered his crossed spear and asked politely. When Elsid nodded in agreement, the knight opened the box. Inside lay a bat wing that had once been part of a chimera.
"This is...?"
"It's a part of a chimera. We found it at the end of a bandit stronghold near Nao territory and worked together to take it down."
Honestly, that was the third most dangerous moment of my life.
"I see. So that's why it carries such an overwhelming aura of malice."
"Please wait a moment. I'll go deliver the news."
Perhaps because they were temple knights, they immediately recognized the bat wing—which looked ordinary at first glance—as something extraordinary. One of them quickly picked up the box and hurried deeper into the temple.
Some time later, the knight who had gone inside returned and acknowledged Elsid's entry.
"The bishop wishes to meet you. You may enter right away."
Following the knight's guidance, the deeper they went, the more the ornate decorations and murals disappeared, leaving only plain white walls. Eventually they stopped in front of a plain brown door.
"We've arrived. I'll take my leave here."
The knight finished his duty and returned to his post. Left alone, Elsid didn't hesitate. He opened the door and stepped inside.
As soon as he entered the room, a sharp-featured middle-aged man with black hair, dressed in neat white robes, greeted him with a warm smile.
"Yes. I fought alongside a knight and we took it down together. This is what we recovered."
The man set the bat wing from the box onto the table and asked the question. Elsid nodded in confirmation.
"It wasn't my power alone."
Especially since I only bought time. The effective hits and the finishing blow were all done by Sir T-Bone, the senior knight. If anyone deserves praise, it's him, not me.
Elsid smiled at the man's words. Even though they'd only just met, he felt genuinely happy that his efforts had been recognized.
The man who had just praised him suddenly bowed his head.
"What is it? If it's something I can do, I'll definitely help."
He couldn't just ignore someone who spoke like that. Elsid accepted the request.
Bruce kept his head bowed as he expressed his gratitude. His gaze, however, was fixed on the two swords hanging at Elsid's waist.
After accepting the request, Bruce left the room and headed deeper into the temple. Elsid followed him.
They were already inside the temple, yet they continued even deeper. As they walked, Bruce spoke to him.
"Is it just ahead? It's farther than I thought."
Yet no matter how long they walked, the corridor seemed endless. When Elsid casually remarked on it, Bruce's face grew tense. Elsid wondered what—or who—could make the bishop so nervous. Before long, they reached their destination.
"Here?"
Before them stood a single black door connected to what appeared to be a fairly large solitary cell shaped like a square cube.
"Understood."
He had already come this far. His resolve was firm. Elsid opened the black door and stepped inside.
The moment Elsid opened the black door and entered, whoosh! Candles lit up all around the room by some unknown mechanism, illuminating the space.
Someone spoke to him as he entered. Though brief, the voice was heavy and solemn, impossible to ignore. Elsid turned toward the source.
"You are..."
As he drew closer, he could see the speaker's full figure. The person before him was anything but ordinary. It would be more accurate to say he radiated the aura of death. A dark crimson fighting spirit unconsciously poured from his entire body, naturally forming Tugap. Matching that aura, the armor was a mix of two colors: pitch black everywhere except for the red patterns resembling leaves on his neck, eyes, and shoulders. At first glance it looked like normal armor, but every surface was covered in sharp spikes like the spines on a dragon's back, making him look like some grotesque monster. On his back, two swords—one pitch black, one crimson—hung sheathed.
"Who are you?"
Elsid couldn't hold back the question.
The monstrous figure pondered for a moment before answering.
The moment those words left his lips, the air around them grew icy cold. A chill ran down Elsid's spine.
Why did it feel so familiar? The name Black Knight... Wait. Come to think of it, he knew that title. Among the stories his grandfather used to tell, there was a warrior who wielded swords and bore that very name.
"The strongest warrior among the Five Heroes...?"
The man before him didn't deny it. So this really was the legendary figure...
"Clad in pitch-black armor, with ruby-red eyes blazing like those of a half-demon, the Black Knight 'Ark' fought a three-day, three-night bloody battle against the Greed Dragon—the largest of the Six Demon Generals..."
The Black Knight—no, Ark—cut off Elsid's epic tale before it could truly begin and grumbled about the bards' tendency to over-dramatize. But more than the fact that this man was one of the legendary Five Heroes, there was something Elsid wanted to ask personally.
"What happened to your appearance?"
So that was why he looked like a grotesque monster. A hundred years ago, in the age of legends. A time when his grandfather was still a child or hadn't even been born yet. It was impossible for Elsid to truly grasp.
"My story?"
How should I put this? It's not that I mind telling him, but it's a little embarrassing. Compared to the person standing before me, my tale would be like a candle flickering in the wind.
"Yes, I suppose so..."
But such worries proved unnecessary.
The hero before him was the type who preferred to communicate through clashing steel rather than conversation. Elsid liked that even more. As a warrior and a swordsman, they each drew the swords from their backs and waists, preparing to let their blades do the talking.