Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Black Storm (4)
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In the public eye, Stillman was known by this moniker.
'Talent bestowed by the gods.'
At the age of twelve, he had bested an adult knight in a duel.
Thanks to possessing both divine power and mana, he could invent all sorts of flashy techniques.
That was why, when he first entered the Holy See,
not only the archbishops but even the pope remembered his name.
However, he found no satisfaction in the glamorous life of a holy knight.
His true dream was to become a powerholder who answered to no one.
To sit in such a lofty position, doing nothing but indulging in luxury—that was his goal in life.
The title of genius swordsman alone wouldn't get him there.
So, he worked hard for it.
For a holy knight, it was an exceedingly worldly pursuit, but his determination and talent were nothing short of extraordinary.
After all, the desire to eat well and live well resonates far more than half-hearted faith.
In time, Stillman became the one the Holy See relied on most.
But lately, he was starting to feel the burden.
The main church had wobbled several times, and they were demanding more and more responsibility from him.
So, he decided this would be his last hurrah—just once more.
He planned to shine in this Northern Supreme Sword selection tournament and then cash in on it.
I did my part, so give me a high position and stop bothering me with tedious tasks.
'In a promising talent tournament like this, the only swordmasters will be me and the Tutton Grand Duke's daughter anyway.'
He'd entered the tournament with such a light heart.
And yet.
And yet...
'What the hell is this guy...?'
There was no hesitation whatsoever in the warden's sword.
Even though his body would be shattered, rendering all that money and honor meaningless.
His strikes were utterly fearless, like those of a man living only for today.
"What's wrong? Where did all that momentum from earlier go?"
Even as water poured from the skies, flames still clung to his body.
Yet the green eyes shining through his silver hair showed no sign of pain.
They fixed on their prey with murderous intent alone.
That hollow gaze, utterly opposite to his own, sent chills down Stillman's neck.
He had never encountered such an enemy in his life.
"Hah, don't bluff. Your body's already burning up...!! In the end, I'll..."
Stillman swung his sword fiercely in resistance.
But for some reason, his body wouldn't move as swiftly as it had in their initial clash.
"Huh...?"
Sensing something off, he blankly looked down at his own body.
In that instant.
The eyes of the holy knight, who cherished his body so dearly, twitched beneath darkening circles.
His uniform was no longer its pristine white.
"Cough...!!"
Only when he realized the state of his body did bloody foam rise in his throat.
His blue eyes churned wildly amid his disheveled white hair.
"I get it now. You're a black knight sent by the Empire to eliminate the Holy See."
"Did all those cuts finally make you lose your mind?"
I calmly retorted, gripping my twin daggers in both hands.
Unlike him, who trembled as he nursed his fresh wound, I had no intention of brushing off the flames licking my body.
"Your dagger techniques aren't from some rural baron's house. They're a chaotic mix of all sorts."
Of course they were.
Having absorbed only the strengths of every opponent I'd staked my life against, they'd naturally blended unconsciously.
"Only black knights fight like madmen. They don't care about means or methods to win."
"Not caring about methods to win isn't exclusive to black knights."
I approached the holy knight who'd lived selfishly in all three of my previous loops.
The damn national hero who, despite his immense power, had done nothing to prevent doom.
"Anyone in a fight for their life disregards means and methods. Only pretty boys like you who've only ever dueled know otherwise."
"Shut up! Who asked for your lecture...!!"
Stung to the core, Stillman swung Hesperia desperately.
But his movements, with almost no experience fighting while injured,
were noticeably sluggish—even to the spectators.
"I'm lecturing because I'm at a level to do so."
One swing from him, and I countered with two slashes.
When he reluctantly raised his sword to block, I shoved him off-balance with my body.
Then I stabbed his staggering flank countless times.
That brutal, ruthlessly practical assault
left even the onlookers stunned.
"The Holy Knights Order Commander is getting so thoroughly trampled..."
The light's holy knight, utterly ravaged by the Empire's notorious delinquent.
At the sight, the crowd scanned around for someone—anyone—to help.
And as if answering their desperate pleas, Dang Sopae stepped forward.
Shweeeek—!!!
Intense daggers grazed my cheek.
A few strands of my silver hair were severed, burning away in the white flames on my sleeve.
"I can't just stand by any longer."
The Eastern Continent master had dozens of black daggers wedged between his fingers.
Somehow, he'd spat on his shoulder to forcibly reattach the severed tendon.
He truly wasn't one of the ten strongest in the East for nothing.
He charged at me while unleashing all those daggers in one go.
But.
Not a single one of his erratic projectiles reached me.
An assassin's prey is limited to straightforward knights.
I, however, was both knight and assassin.
"I knew you'd see that coming...!!"
As his daggers depleted, he created distance and drew his dagger.
The real attack had been the blade coated in venom so potent it stung the eyes.
He was indeed experienced in life-or-death duels from the Eastern Continent—his offense was razor-sharp.
But only to that extent.
As he thrust with his short twin blades, I immediately drove my foot into his solar plexus.
"Kgh...!!"
His weapon exposed, he didn't retreat.
To deny me time to recover and respond, he pressed relentlessly.
"I'll help too!"
Stillman, finally regaining his wits, joined in.
Suddenly, they were like brave heroes uniting against a stronger villain.
"Yes, now you're fighting for real...!!"
"The Commander won't fall so easily!"
The crowd began cheering them on.
Praising the fame of Holy Knights Order Commander Stillman and the Eastern Continent's top master to the heavens.
But.
There was one thing they didn't know.
Conversely, true assassins...
gain real fame by remaining unknown.
And no one remembered my days as an undercover agent.
"Good. Come at me together."
I showed no concern even in a 2-on-1.
Dang Mujin subtly rose as if to assist, but I shot her a cold glare in warning.
Don't butt in.
"Once I crush you two as a pair, even these idiot spectators will finally shut up."
The fools swept up in mob mentality, blind to their empire's fate.
Sometimes I wondered why I bothered protecting them.
And today,
now in my fourth regression, I'd vent all that pent-up frustration.
"..."
I drew the dagger set from the princess—Rozanna's "Black Rain," relic of the former empress.
These artifact daggers had a unique trait.
Single-use, vanishing after one swing, but capable of near-sonic speeds.
Even as artifacts, their tricky nature made them shunned masterpieces.
But I knew how to use them effectively.
Since they were all disposable anyway, scatter them in advance where needed.
I flung the artifact "Black Rain" into the air.
The black daggers rained down across the arena, embedding in the ground.
In the spots soaked by the gushing underground water.
"I'll go after him first. Cover me from behind in the meantime."
"Got it."
Stillman charged at me with all his might.
Bleeding profusely, yet true to a swordmaster, he unleashed a final strike.
"Hup...!!"
Meanwhile, Dang Sopae focused with bloodshot red eyes.
Then he activated his family's secret technique.
Hurling dozens of daggers at near-sonic speeds.
Dodging them all while blocking the holy knight's strike was near impossible.
The princess knew it too, furrowing her brow.
The woman in the cat mask clenched her fists tight.
Anje and Grand Elder Dark, watching via crystal orb, didn't relax their tension.
They awaited my choice against the two swordmasters' desperate blows.
In that moment.
The crowd—and everyone in the arena—gaped in stunned silence.
"What in the..."
I'd slashed deep across the back of my hand with a dagger.
Crimson blood whipped out like a lash.
As searing pain shot through my body,
I felt my mind revert to the butcher of my previous loop.
Embracing that sensation to my bones, I took a step forward.
――――――.
In an instant, I dashed to the first dagger on the ground.
Ripping through the air, I arrived and snatched it up smoothly.
And in that traversal...
I'd sliced Stillman's waist at near-sonic speed.
"Argh...!!"
He crumpled sideways, unaware even of the foe who'd passed him.
Only fellow assassin Dang Sopae barely turned to glimpse me.
But by then, it was far too late.
――――――.
I was already at the third dagger.
The fourth.
All the way to the tenth.
Uprooting every scattered dagger, I carved their bodies to ribbons.
Finally, Dang Sopae realized.
All his wounds had deliberately spared vital spots.
With that, he lost all will to fight and dropped to his knees.
Thud...!!
The Holy See's last hope and the Eastern Continent's elite master collapsed together.
Both knelt, staring blankly at where I'd stood.
Having unleashed a prime technique after so long, I exhaled deeply.
Blood dripping from my hand, I stood alone at the arena's center.
".............."
Thousands of spectators watched the scene in dazed awe.
In expressions that couldn't believe this was real.
Not one of them had wanted me to win.
Knowing that, I closed my eyes gently.
Bracing for the jeers, I swallowed dryly.
Since ancient times, I'd always staved off doom alone.
No one ever acknowledged my efforts.
But...
In this life—my final chance—things unfolded differently.
Clap clap clap―――――.
Someone was genuinely delighted by my victory.
Perplexed, I cracked my eyes open.
Following the elegant applause, I turned.
Princess Camillia stood alone at the railing, clapping.
In this very situation, where her public support could plummet.
'Has big sis lost her mind...? Even if she took me as a retainer, siding with me here...'
I scanned the atmosphere with a troubled look.
In that instant.
"Woooah—!!"
Others besides her began earnestly celebrating my win.
No less than...
the Empire's hottest bodyguard group right now, the Wolf Boys.
"Don Derek—!! Don Derek—!!"
Ah.
I told them not to call me that.
I cradled my forehead at the title that screamed mafia boss.
Yet surprisingly, the crowd's reaction wasn't cold.
Especially the noble ladies, fans of the Wolf Boys.
Perhaps because the brilliant noon sun hit me full-on, my dark circles had vanished completely.
My green eyes gleamed through tousled hair, daggers in hand.
Sensing that peculiar decadence, the noble ladies suddenly burst into applause.
"...?"
What manner of creatures are women, anyway?
Having avoided romance in all four lives, I couldn't fathom their thoughts.
With the beautiful ladies' support, the cheers swelled.
Thanks to that, I could wave awkwardly without embarrassment.
"You did it, Derek Minster."
Dang Mujin, who'd been down, rose and supported me.
She gazed worriedly at the deep gash across my hand.
"You okay? That's a nasty cut."
"Had to. Needed this much pain to regain my old power... no, focus."
I brushed it off with a grin.
"You're a total masochist, huh? You like the pain?"
Masochist...?
That phrasing felt oddly familiar.
Suddenly, I recalled first meeting Myoran—when she'd mistaken me for someone into self-bondage.
"As if. Who'd be a masochist?"
"Sigh, this won't do. We need a doctor first. I know a good place—let's go there."
The cat-masked woman naturally hooked her arm in mine.
I felt the soft press of her ample flesh against my arm.
"Appreciate it. I'll head there after the judging."
I chuckled and nodded.
"Really? You said it yourself."
I sensed vitality return to Dang Mujin's previously limp body.
She recovered fast.
"..."
Camillia seriously eyed her partner clinging cat-like to me.
She whispered to her subordinate.
"Once the match ends, move the participants straight to the clinic."
"Understood. Your Highness's mercy leaves me in awe, as always."
Her subordinate marveled at the princess prioritizing their care.
Camillia narrowed her mature eyes and added,
"Make sure they're settled in. I'll go praise them myself."