Chapter 62: Back to Drasen

[The royal family tried to summon you, but I refused.

I used the excuse that since the terror began in Trian, we will eradicate the magician bastards starting from Trian.

The justification is solid, so you should be able to avoid being sent to the capital.

Well, if you want to further enhance the reputation of the ‘Black Knight’, I won't stop you…….]

“Not at all, I have no intention of doing so.”

[……Right, I thought so.]

I could see the Count in the communication crystal sphere chuckling.

‘The Black Knight…….’

I never thought that the name I had roughly made up for my artifact would become my nickname.

And all of that was.

[I didn’t expect Maier and the other Holy Knights to praise you so highly. The inquisitors are fanatics with only God and the scriptures in their heads.]

Because of those fanatics.

“……I didn't know either.”

[For now, since both the Temple and the royal family have started paying attention again, those evil cultists will probably lie low. But we must take this opportunity to completely root them out. If there really is a Seven-Star behind them, we need to find out who it is and where they are.]

“What should I do?”

[First, you’ll have to patrol our Trian's subsidiary territories and check if any of those evil cult bastards are left. That's also the justification for refusing the royal family's request. But…….]

“But?”

Was it because of the look of subtle anticipation in Muno's eyes?

[……It wouldn't be bad for the first of those to be Drasen.]

The Count said what he had been hoping for with a smile.

“Really!?”

My face naturally lit up.

[Yes, really. I can tell just by looking at your expression. Aren't you tired?]

“My expression……?”

Those words struck me particularly hard.

[It's very bad. So go back and get some rest.]

“Is it really okay for me to do that?”

[I'm not just saying it without thinking. Isn't this also the busiest time for Drasen?

If you are a target of those evil cult bastards, there is a high probability that they will play tricks on Drasen, and if Drasen falls, our Trian's front line will collapse.]

Monster Wave.

The disaster from the northern mountain range that the northern part of the kingdom faced every winter.

And at the very front line was Drasen.

A barren land to which Enoch Trian, the Bulwark of the North, had sent his most trusted knight, Ryan Drasen, along with an artifact and even his daughter.

It was more like a fortress than a territory, so as the Count said, there was a high possibility that it would become the magicians' next target.

Of course, even so.

[Find any evil cultists who might be hiding in Drasen, fend off the Monster Wave, and help your family out a bit. And after that, start from Evian and chase the magicians. That is my order.]

“……Thank you.”

That order was, for all intents and purposes, a rest for Muno.

That's why he couldn't help but feel a little sorry.

It was true that he was tired now, but searching for magicians was by no means unimportant.

“Is it okay for me not to search the other territories first?

Isn't the conflict with Aslan just in a state of being patched up for now?”

[Puhaha, it’s fine. Those Aslan bastards have lost their justification now.]

“Pardon?”

[The Holy Knights testified that they saw that bitch’s face, so Lenok Aslan has to shut up.

He probably didn’t know that a particularly pretty face could become evidence, right?]

……A Count calling someone a bitch? A bitch?

In any case, Muno couldn't let go of his worries.

But.

[Puhahaha. You rascal, relax your face. Do you think you can do everything in the world?]

“Of course not, but……”

[Don’t look down on the Temple and the royal family, who have fought against magicians for hundreds of years, Muno. Now that the truth is known, they will soon find a way to remove that ‘Veil’.]

“Ah……”

[There is no such thing as a job that only one person can do in this world. If you want to do it, you can. Confidence is good, but don’t be arrogant.]

My face flushed for a moment at the Count’s advice.

Even if he said that, it was certain that the Count was being considerate of me.

[But it is also true that your ability is important.

So go back to your hometown and recharge. And help out with the family business a bit.]

Even if that family business was a rather rough one.

“I will faithfully carry out your orders and then chase the bastards again.”

To him, it was nothing but a grateful command.

On top of that.

[Muno.]

“Yes?”

[You are aware that you are in a position where you don't necessarily have to listen to my orders, right?]

“Ah……”

[I went to the trouble of giving you a free knighthood, so you don't have to be too tied down to Trian. Think of it as an old man’s request.]

The Count showed even more unexpected consideration.

In this country, what free knight would dare refuse an order from Enoch Trian?

Muno felt that the Count, who was called the Bulwark of the North, was being particularly benevolent to him.

Even though he wasn't a real blood relative.

“……Why are you being so considerate of me?”

[Because I know that you have a potential that surpasses my expectations.]

“Pardon?”

[A big bird is not to be caged in a small cage. Try to fly as high as you can.]

The Bulwark of the North, referring to himself as a small cage.

Could there be a greater compliment?

“……Thank you.”

All Muno could do was express his gratitude for that consideration.

* * *

From Ruble, in the southwest of Trian, to the Drasen territory in the north, it took a week even when riding a horse on the main road.

And Muno covered that distance in exactly 6 days.

“Hoooo……. Fuck, hook. What a pain, hook. In the ass.”

In the evening, as the sun was setting, Muno gasped for breath as he saw the familiar mountain range getting closer in the distance.

He had no choice, as he had been running on the main road with his bare body for half a day already.

“Ah, whatever. Let’s rest for now.”

Thud.

The moment he plopped down, Muno gave a bitter smile as he looked at the shallowly dug-up ground.

“Damn it……”

He hadn't thought that such a drawback would arise.

The reason he was in such a state was that his horse had given out just half a day after leaving Ruble.

It was difficult for a normal horse to withstand his body and armor, which had become heavier and harder as he grew stronger.

‘Even if I deactivate the armor.

The weight is the same.’

It could endure a trot or a canter, but to ride a horse to go at that speed, it was faster to just run on his own two feet.

He had that kind of ability now.

‘If only I had holy power too……. No, no.

That's not the right path.’

Since his body was tired, he was having idle thoughts.

But it was also daunting to think that it would be like this every time he moved in the future.

If there was a horse that he could realistically ride.

“A mixed breed of divine beast……. Ah, damn it.

How is that realistic?”

He let out a hollow laugh even as he said it himself.

In this world, there was also an existence called a divine beast , which was a concept that contrasted with monsters and demonic beasts.

The so-called legendary animals blessed by the gods.

Among them were special horses with wings or horns, like Pegasus or unicorns, which were also known as imaginary animals in his past life’s society.

It wasn't just a legend, as eyewitness accounts of seeing horses flying in the air were heard quite often.

‘Come to think of it, the monsters and divine beasts in this world have similar names to the ones I heard about in my past life…….’

Is it a coincidence?

Or is there some connection between this world and the world of his past life?

……Pfft.

“What does it matter……”

It was a question he couldn't know the answer to anyway, so there was no point in worrying about it.

His thoughts turned to a more realistic wish.

‘If only I could get that divine beast…….’

Of course, the divine beast that Muno was thinking of was just as rare.

And naturally, the people who had caught and raised one or rode one were only in stories.

“No, no. They do exist in reality.

The Dragon Sword Duke……”

There were rumors that that man, who was a Seven-Star in the Iron Kingdom, actually rode a wyvern , and there were many witnesses.

And there might be other people similar to the Dragon Sword Duke in other countries, that he just didn't know about.

Of course, even so.

‘They’d be that rare.’

He thought it would be at the level of winning the lottery.

No, if it were the lottery, he would at least have a chance to try.

‘Another way is…….’

The truly realistic method was to obtain a warhorse like a Crux, one of the mixed breeds of monsters and horses created by the Mage Empire Deus.

But even that was treated as a strategic material of the Empire and was not sold to the outside.

“Ah, damn it……!”

Then do I have to keep running?

Even though I'm a knight?

“Sigh.”

Out of unnecessary frustration, he just scooped up innocent dirt and threw it into the air.

And then.

- Grrrrrrrrowl.

“Hah……”

Hearing the desperate call of instinct, Muno cast his gaze into the forest next to the main road.

Drasen was just ahead, but it seemed he would have to camp here tonight to recover his stamina.

If there was a silver lining, it was that as his abilities had grown, hunting had also become easier.

* of

‘Gamy smell…….’

As his physical abilities developed, his senses had also developed just as much.

‘Found it.’

His sense of smell, which had always been sensitive, could now detect the smell of forest animals so well that he wondered if it was at the level of a dog.

A very familiar smell that faintly wafted in.

As soon as he smelled it, he quietly threw the few snake carcasses he had caught earlier into the bushes.

‘As expected, pork is the best meat.’

Rustle.

Shhh.

Muno took out the ‘Blade’ slung on his back, pushed his way through the bushes, and advanced into the forest.

And his black hair and black armor blended perfectly into the darkness of the setting forest.

“Oink.”

The sight of a boar that seemed to be digging up and eating something from the forest floor.

The moment he saw it, Muno threw the ‘Blade’ as it was.

Then the two-handed sword was compressed into the shape of a small dagger.

Whoooosh.

“Oink?”

The moment the boar raised its head with a chilly feeling.

A small but heavy dagger that flew in as if bending in a blind spot dug into its neck.

Thwip.

“Oiii……?”

Thud.

That was the end of the forest boar, which must have weighed 200kg.

And as soon as it fell.

“Alright~.”

Muno drooled at the mouth and rushed toward the boar like lightning.

At that moment, his brow suddenly furrowed.

‘Hmm?’

An unpleasant aura that stimulated a sense other than his sense of smell.

He felt a being with demonic energy approaching from the other side of the forest.

It was so faint and shabby that the Demon Devourer was not even stimulated, but demonic energy was demonic energy.

And soon.

- Krawk?

- Kruk.

A familiar and unpleasant noise began to be heard in his ears.

“Ukyakyak!”

“Kyaruk!”

“Krawah!”

Small and hideous humanoid monsters popped out from the other side of the bushes.

Green-skinned, with hooked noses, carrying small lantern-like blowguns that shot saliva, and daggers.

Goblins.

The kind that were commonly seen at the entrance of the northern mountain range.

‘Why are those things here……?’

He was bewildered, but that bewilderment did not last long.

Because as soon as they saw him, they flinched, and then, seeing the boar at his feet, they fearlessly shot poison darts from their blowguns.

Of course.

Thwack, thwack, thwack.

It seemed they didn't know that such things wouldn't work on a human whose entire body was covered in armor.

“These things……”

Crunch.

Thoughts later.

The ‘Blade’ that had been embedded in the boar’s neck took the form of a giant greatsword in his hand again.

Bang.

Muno's body, which had kicked off the ground, was already extending the hand of the grim reaper to those ugly little monsters.

Crack.

With one hearty swing of his sword, the monsters in front of him were sliced apart.

But.

The Demon Devourer in his head warned of the small monsters that were approaching as much as the distance had closed.

Then Muno's gaze, feeling something was wrong, naturally turned to the north.

“Don’t tell me……?”

If Drasen were fine, there would be no reason for low-level monsters from the northern mountain range to appear in the south of the territory.

With a sense of urgency, Muno’s pace began to quicken.