Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Hero vs Black Knight
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-Clang!
Before the Face Stealer could even react, the Hero's and Black Knight's swords collided.
In the blink of an eye, the two were locked in a blade-to-blade struggle. Watching them, the Face Stealer hurriedly swapped faces.
From the arrogant mage of the White Mage Tower to the beautiful mage of the Blue Mage Tower.
"I'll provide cover fire!"
The Face Stealer shouted in a woman's voice.
Ignoring him completely, the Black Knight stared into the Hero's helmet.
'I can't see a single expression.'
No matter how he looked, the inside of his helmet was pitch black, as if it had been painted over. All that was visible were a pair of gleaming blue eyes shining from within.
"Hiding your true feelings, are you..."
Having been shaken once before by the Black Knight, it seemed he'd decided to conceal his expressions.
But to the Black Knight's eyes, the effort seemed pointless.
"Ah, but even so, your convictions will waver..."
Holy Power gathered in the Black Knight's arms gripping his greatsword.
"No matter that you are the Hero, your opponent is a criminal..."
Tears streamed from within the Black Knight's helmet.
"The Goddess decreed that it would not be the Hero who strikes him down. So, please... vanish from this world."
His fate already sealed by the great one above, the Black Knight had no intention of yielding easily, even if the Hero steeled his resolve.
Infused with Holy Power, the Black Knight began to slowly push the Hero back.
At that moment, the Hero likewise summoned his own Holy Power.
-Whummm...!
"This power... Ah, so you've been training diligently..."
The instant the Hero drew forth his Holy Power, the Black Knight could read countless efforts woven into it.
Though the amount was absurdly meager compared to before—perhaps he was holding back—the Black Knight didn't see it as arrogance.
'He's mastered his emotions...'
This was proof of the Hero's growth.
It felt like just yesterday he'd been swinging his sword wildly, ruled by his feelings. Now, he could already control them and fight strategically.
"Ah, this too is the criminal's karma..."
It was undoubtedly because he'd been thoroughly thrashed by the Black Knight once before.
Instead of sinking into despair, the Hero had risen stronger, standing before him once more.
And in mere days, no less.
"Ah, the Goddess is ever righteous in Her words..."
Even knowing his opponent had grown far stronger, the Black Knight neither denied it nor despaired.
"This is truly a joyous occasion..."
On the contrary, it only brought him greater joy.
"Aqua Spe—"
In that instant, the Face Stealer formed a spear of water in midair to strike at the Hero.
"Raaagh!!!!"
"Eek?!"
"This is a duel between the Goddess's son and a criminal! There's no place for a thief like you! Begone from this place at once!!"
"Wh-what do you—"
"Begone!!!!"
At the Black Knight's beastly roar, the Face Stealer instantly reverted to his original gaunt, emaciated face.
Cold sweat pouring down, he spun on his heel without another word.
"It, it was a pleasure, milord! Farewell!"
The Face Stealer fled at full speed without looking back.
Before long, he had vanished completely.
The Black Knight recomposed himself and fixed his gaze on the Hero once more.
"Here, only victor and vanquished remain—hero and criminal. The Goddess shall watch over us..."
He raised his left hand while gripping the greatsword one-handed.
"May the Goddess grant Her blessing."
Holy Power condensed excessively in his left hand.
Unable to contain it, his left hand began turning purple and swelling, but the Black Knight paid it no mind.
On the contrary, it was exactly what he aimed for.
"The Lamb shall not be harmed."
Finally, it burst, blood flowed, and regeneration repeated in his left hand.
In the process, the armor encasing his hand fused with the regenerated flesh.
What emerged was a monstrous hand, armor forming like a carapace, sharp bones protruding like beast claws.
It resembled a monster's limb more than a human's.
"Hah!"
The Black Knight immediately swung that hand down at the Hero.
The Hero tried to leap back, but the Black Knight was faster.
-Kclang!
A thunderous impact struck the Hero's helmet.
A trickle of blood seeped from within his armor.
-Thud!
The Hero lost balance and toppled sideways.
The Black Knight seized the opening, grabbed his neck, and slammed him into the ground.
-Boom!
"Your life ends here, but this is not my fault..."
He drove his greatsword into the ground beside the Hero's neck, tears flowing.
"Before you go, I'll hear your final words. Leave some honorable last testament..."
He pressed the claw of his monstrous hand against the bottom of his own helmet.
One thrust, and it would be instant death.
The Black Knight waited in that stance for the Hero's dying words.
"I... don't like you."
"What?!"
A girl's voice echoed from within the helmet, causing him to flinch momentarily.
In that instant—
-Slash!
"Gahk!"
Something black burst from inside the helmet.
Thrown off balance, the Black Knight tumbled backward ungracefully.
Even as he fell, the unidentified black mass writhed, clinging to his face.
"Wh-what is this...!"
While the Black Knight thrashed wildly against it, the "Hero" rose and gripped his sword again.
As he extended his hand, the black substance returned to it.
Only then did the Black Knight realize the black thing was a trap the "Hero" had prepared.
"Ah... For the Goddess's own son to resort to such vile tricks...!"
He'd long since recognized it as a remnant of black magic.
His face twisted in rage as he reached for the greatsword embedded in the ground.
The blade flew swiftly back to his grasp.
"It seems you lack any awareness of being the Goddess's son... Allow this criminal to teach you personally."
He gripped the greatsword midway down the blade and pointed it at his own chest.
"The Goddess granted sword and shield: the sword to cleave evil, the shield to protect the weak..."
The Hero watched him silently, sword in hand.
Memories of their last encounter must be haunting him.
So thinking, the Black Knight acted.
"Ah, O sole being above the heavens. Though my sword may break, my heart holds convictions firmer and sharper still."
-Crunch!
The greatsword's blade pierced the exact spot where his previous sword had shattered.
In that moment, a burst of light erupted from the wound.
-Fwoosh!
When the radiance faded, another greatsword gleamed in the Black Knight's hand.
-Whoosh! Whoosh!
Spinning the two greatswords in his hands, he advanced slowly toward the Hero.
"Your faith... was not wrong. I shall grant you the answer you sought in your anguish."
Black tears streamed from both eyes as he smiled.
"Congratulations. Your end shall be joined by the crystallization of my faith..."
-Whoosh! Whoosh!
The deadly blades whirled, slicing into the ground.
-Boom!
The Black Knight kicked off explosively in a surprise assault.
In that instant—
"Waves that fill the sea!" "Rocks that shield the earth!" "Glaciers that freeze the ocean!" Suddenly, chanting voices echoed from outside the dwelling.
'When...?'
The Black Knight, confident in his detection, was momentarily flustered by the abrupt voices.
-Crackle...!
Before he could retreat, water appeared on the floor, slicking his feet; rocks pinned his body; and ice encased his entire form.
"...What is this?!"
As he strained to break free, a faint white aura suppressed him further.
"Urgh! The White Tower Lord...!"
The Black Knight cried out in frustration as his dwelling's door swung open, admitting a colorful array of mages.
All of them were Mage Tower Lords.
"H-how?! Why have these arrogant mages—nay, the pinnacle of their towers—gathered like this?!"
"I gathered them."
"This voice?!"
From behind the Tower Lords emerged a man walking slowly.
His identity—one arm wrapped in bandages...
"He... Hero? How are there two Heroes...?"
It was the Hero, Ruin.
"How... how can there be two Heroes?!"
'The one I fought clearly bore the Hero's Holy Power...'
Confusion overwhelming him, the Black Knight turned to the one he'd been battling moments ago.
"You did well, Hero."
The voice from the helmet was one he'd never heard before.
"Who are you?! Who dares impersonate the Hero, this sinner deserving heavenly punishment...!"
As if answering his roar, the "Hero"—no...
Is carefully removed his helmet.
"Black Knight Netasio. Thanks to you, I've learned much."
A silver-haired, blue-eyed man he'd never seen.
At the sight, the Black Knight's face flushed crimson with fury.
"So overflowing Holy Power can be used like this."
What Is did next left the Black Knight speechless.
-Crunch! Crack, squelch!
Having removed his gauntlet, Is concentrated Holy Power in his hand.
As a result, it crushed, snapped, tore, and regenerated repeatedly.
"So this is how it's done."
Soon, it took a form similar to the Black Knight's left hand.
"H-how can you do that so casually...?"
"If your entire body is already in constant agony, this much pain is nothing."
"What...?"
Before the bewildered Black Knight, Is released all his Holy Power.
The power rippling around him shook unstably, as if proclaiming it was beyond mortal endurance.
The Holy Power enveloping his grotesquely twisted hand promptly restored it to pristine condition.
As if to say, Don't do that.
"Oh, it's back to normal. But this isn't the technique to finish you off..."
Is levitated the helmet with Holy Power and walked toward the Black Knight.
-Step. Step. Step.
Even though he was simply walking, the Black Knight felt an indescribable pressure.
"You... what are you...?"
Still unable to grasp the situation, the Black Knight watched as Is tossed the sword to Ruin, who caught it unsteadily.
Then, the Red Tower Lord hurled a shotel toward Is.
-Thud.
Is caught the shotel and charged at full speed, swinging it at the Black Knight's neck.
-Slice.
The Black Knight's head rolled across the floor.