Ankoku Kishi Monogatari (WN)

「WHO ARE YOU, YOU BASTARD?」

The masked man is cursing at me.

I should be the one asking that, though.

Who in the hell is this masked man?

「And then, why you can move in my domain! Divine protection of dead person of Nargol-sama should snatch your power!」

Even if you say that, I think it’s because your domain has no effect on me.

When I'm trying to find the source of the dark magical power which gave birth to this thick fog, I arrived at that door, and upon my arrival, Mizuouji Chiyuki and Todoroki Naomi were already caught by him.

And thanks to the masked man who seized them, I unintentionally rushed out toward Mizuouji Chiyuki and saved them both.

Both of them have already left this room.

Currently, I'm looking at the masked man.

Though I might look like a suspicious person from an outsider’s perspective due to fact that I'm hiding my face, the one in front of me is also wearing an ominous mask to hide his face.

He might be the ring leader who created this thick fog.

「You don't seem like a comrade of the hero! Answer me! Who are you?!」

Naturally, I never said that I'm Reiji’s comrade, nor do I've the intention to become one.

On the contrary, I feel sick just by imagining myself getting along with Reiji as a comrade.

Well, it can't be helped if he thinks so since I ended up saving Reiji’s comrades after all.

But, the man before my eyes is trying to bring forth a calamity upon this country. I don't know who he is, but I have to stop him.

So, I summon my armaments with magic. The cloth that I wore until now vanished, and I transform into the dark knight.

「DARK KNIGHT!」

The masked man state clearly disturbed by my appearance.

「WHY! WHY IS THE SUBORDINATE OF THAT TRAITOR IN THIS PLACE?」

The masked man’s words made me feel curious.

「Traitor? About what?」

As a result, I asked the masked man about it.

「Humph, as if I'm going to tell you! Befriending Elios despite being the most beloved son of that personage and even going as far as destroying that personage!」

Spitting those words toward me, I receive some impact upon hearing his words.

It's a story that I really did not want to hear. Let's try to ask Modes when I return to Nargol.

「And why in the hell the dark knight is saving the hero’s women? They should be your archenemies」

It's not like I'm thinking of saving them either. It just ended up like that due to the situation.

「It's not like I’m saving them. Since you're the enemy of Modes, it's just natural that you're my enemy, too. Do I need any reason to fight against his enemy?」

The truth is, I'm doing this to save this country.

「Humph, I see. Though I don't know where you heard about my plan, now that you know it, you have to die!」

To be honest, coincidences have piled up one after another, resulting in this situation.

I feel the flow of magical power from the masked man.

「A mere dark knight is trying to stop this Zarxis, the right-hand man of Nargol-sama, the god of destruction. IN YOUR DREAMS!」

Zarxis’s words are making me feel anxious. Nargol, the god of destruction. This is the first time I hear those words.

「O PRISON OF ABYSS WHICH FREEZES THE DEAD SOUL, HEED MY CALL!」

The temperature of the room suddenly plummeted after Zarxis’s aria.

I know about the magic Zarxis is trying to use.

There's an abyss where the wandering souls of dead people are captured within in this world and is feared by the gods of this world. That is the very definition of death in this world.

Moreover, there's an ice prison which will capture the souls of dead people within this abyss.

Zarxis is trying to summon the ice prison of the netherworld. I was taught by Ruugas that it was the pinnacle of ice magic.

But, he cannot defeat me with such magic.

「O DARK FLAME, BECOME MY SHIELD AND BURN EVERYTHING TO DUST!」

With my cry, a dark flame appears in the form of a barrier and surrounds me.

My dark flame barrier and Zarxis’s netherworld ice prison cancel each other the moment they met.

「Dark flame, huh. Don't tell me Runfel-… No, you’re not him. I see, you're the rumored dark knight, Diehart」

I'm surprised when Zarxis mentioned that name. It seems I became a person of reputation. I hate to become a person surrounded by rumors, but…

「For you, who can beat the hero, to appear in this country… Orua sure is unlucky」

Zarxis sighs heavily.

I unsheathe my sword.

「Shall we end this, Zarxis? I want to erase this thick fog. Moreover, there are so many other things I want to ask about. So, will you tell me? 」

I want to ask about his relationship with Modes. Nevertheless, I don't think that he's going to be a good child and answer my questions.

「It's not the end yet! ! O MY GREATEST UNDEAD! ! 」

Zarxis is retreating. At his position, a gigantic object emerges out of nowhere.

「This is … A dragon?」

A dragon has appeared. Its size might be comparable to Glorious. But, it might not be a normal dragon. It is just made of bone.

「This is a dragon zombie I made from the body of a fire dragon. I have placed it here to protect this room. You won't be able to easily beat this one since it possesses fire resistance. Within the time you try to solve it, the hero and this country will be destroyed」

I'm looking at the zombified dragon.

「It was originally a dragon like Glorious, huh …」

This dragon is dead. I really can't forgive the one who made it unable to rest peacefully.

「Go, dragon zombie! Keep the dragon knight busy!!」

The dragon zombie charges toward me according to Zarxis’s order.

I face that charge from the front and stop it successfully.

I'm not blown away by the impact of that charge.

「GUH!」

I unintentionally let out a groan due to the impact.

「Good boy! Just like that, stop the dark knight!!」

Zarxis seems to be cackling.

I ignore his cackle and focus my consciousness while I'm embracing the head of the dragon.

I saw something that resembled a black thread inside the dragon’s consciousness. I insert my magical power to sever that thread.

「O’ proud dragon, I've severed the thread that was preventing you of your eternal rest. You can sleep peacefully now」

When I say so, the zombified dragon became obedient.

「NO WAY! Taming my dragon zombie!!」

Zarxis, who tried to leave the room while I’m pinned down by the dragon zombie, is shouting a with disbelieving voice.

The dead dragon raises a thundering roar.

Suddenly, I could feel the soul of the dead dragon entering my body.

「I see … So you want to go with me」

Naturally, I have no reason to refuse it if it wants to go with me.

The body of the dragon disintegrates steadily.

「Kuh. What the hell did you do!? Even those gods of Elios can't do that!」

Zarxis seems to be angry.

「Eei! It can't be helped, huh. I feel bad for Orua, but it can't be helped!」

Zarxis body slowly became transparent.

「Trying to escape? FIRE BIND!」

I try to catch him with a blazing rope made from the fire dragon power that entered into my body previously.

But, it's too late.

「If only I could use transfer magic…」

It's truly regrettable. There were so many things I wanted to ask him, but I guess I have no choice but to ask Modes when I return to Nargol.

My priority right now is to look for a way to eliminate that thick fog.

So, I'm searching for something that Zarxis must have left behind.

Thereupon, I'm looking for a place with a powerful flow of magical power. When I turn toward the place where I feel the flow of magical power, I discover a huge magic formation that is shining in red.

The magic formation is drawn from the center forming radial line with the lines are connecting to each other like spider web.

Something resembling the thick fog is gushing out from that magic formation.

「Could it be that this magic formation is the one that summoned the thick cloud?」

I destroy the magic formation with my demon sword.

Consequently, the red light and the magical power gushing out from that magic formation disappeared.

「This should make the thick fog vanish」

「I'm worn out … Even if it's just you, please escape from here …」

Gallios is saying so with a determined face. I don't know how much remaining power I have after demolishing the building to make a barricade to prevent those zombies. To be honest, I'm at my limit.

「I'm with him, Shirone-sama. We already have no means to run, but you definitely can escape from this place」

Nimri persuades me similarly.

「You guys …」

Thank you very much, but even I can't escape from this place. My wings couldn’t be summoned out since a while ago.

Moreover, I've a hunch that there's some kind of barrier in place to prevent anyone escaping from this kingdom. So, it might be nigh impossible to escape from this place.

「Uhn, I won't run. Everyone will be alright, Reiji-kun will do something about this!」

I've no choice but to trust Reiji-kun.

「He will do something about this situation. It'll leave a bad aftertaste if this is ended with me still quarrelling with Kuroki」

I recall about my childhood friend whom I had forgotten about. He's just a normal person. He's an extremely boring person who won't make my heart thump like Reiji-kun. But, that boredom is something that I'm wishing for at a moment like now.

I take my sword. AS IF I'M GOING TO DIE IT LIKE THIS!

「Everyone, please bear with this situation for a while longer!」

So I tell them.

Some people are trying to move even if they've to crawl in order to follow my words.

My body also feels listless. I am barely managing to swing my sword for quite some time.

Some of the freedom fighters don't even have the power to move anymore.

But, they have no choice but to force their body to move. Everyone is doing their best. So, there's no way I can fall here.

Thus, I raise my sword.

「Light!」

Someone suddenly shouted that word.

I can feel something warm above me.

「The dark fog is vanishing rapidly」

When I take a look at my surroundings, I realize that the dark fog is vanishing.

And then, the sun made by Reiji-kun is floating above us.

I feel power gushing forth from inside my body after bathing under that light.

The thick fog dispels. The entire kingdom is currently illuminated by this light.

The collapsed people also slowly stand on their feet after bathing under that light.

The zombies are also extinguished by this radiation.

It seems we were saved from this dire situation.

「See, we were saved by Reiji-kun」

「Sorry, I'm so useless …」

Sahoko apologizes to me.

「Spirit-san won't come out even when I call them …」

Rino is saying so with a sad tone.

「I see …」

I mutter disheartenedly.

I put the unconscious Nao beside me.

I met with Sahoko-tachi after returning to the ground above.

Though I asked Sahoko to heal Nao, she couldn't use her power.

It might be due to this thick fog.

It seems we were helpless and unable to do something about this fog.

So far we were in this kind of dire situation only when we met Diehart.

But when I ponder about it seriously, we might have been just lucky until now.

「I'll leave Nao-san to you guys」

I stand up.

「Where are you going, Chiyuki-san?」

「To that underground passage. I think something in there is the one that is creating this thick fog」

Different from them, I can still use my magic. That's why I'm the only person in this place who can do something about this situation.

「It's dangerous to go alone, Chiyuki-san! There's also that person who caused this to Nao-chan, right?」

Sahoko says so.

「There's someone who is fighting that person alone in that basement. I can't leave him alone」

「「EH?」」

Sahoko and Rino are surprised by my claim.

「Someone is … fighting in there? Even though everyone should have lost their power …」

「Even we had a hard time in this situation」

Sahoko and Rino are displaying shocked faces.

「He … might be the pervert we're looking for….」

It's just my guess. Currently, there's another human of another world in this kingdom aside from us.

The power he displayed in that underground. If he's that pervert, then everything is in place.

I don't know why he hides his face, though. Did he have something to hide from us?

And, he's currently fighting alone in that basement. He might need my help, that masked man is dangerous.

Thus, I plan to return to where I came before.

「Ah, the light is….」

I can hear Rino’s voice behind me.

I direct my sight toward the sky after hearing her voice. Reiji’s sun, which had been completely covered by the thick fog, is now appearing in its full glory before us.

When I analyze my surroundings, I realize that the dark fog is vanishing.

Did he manage to do something in that basement? I can think nothing but that as the reason.

「Not bad huh, you pervert….」 [TL : Are you praising him?]

「Reiji-sama….」

Almina, lying down alongside me, is also looking at the battle between the hero and Orua.

Almina seems tense.

Maybe I have the same expression on my face, too.

The hero movements have also dulled.

He’s barely dodging the barrage of attacks from Orua and Lucullus.

「Huhm! ! As expected of the hero. Even when I'm using berserker magic on these guys, you can still fight on par with us」

Different from the previous battle, Lucullus’s state is clearly abnormal. His face is completely like a beast.

「Thanks for the praise. I can say the same things for you too, who is always hiding behind his back. How about showing yourself if you want to fight」

The hero is laughing as he says so. Though he put up a strong front, he's clearly at a disadvantage here.

Orua is using Lucullus-tachi as her shield while bombarding the hero with magic to disrupt him.

「As if I want to fight you from the front. I've been investigating about you. You're strong, but your attack magic is nothing but light element. As long as we develop necessary measures, I can withstand your magic as long as your magic loses its power. Nevertheless, your fighting strength is truly beyond my calculations」

Orua is sneering at the hero.

「You have purposely prepared for this, it seems you're more troublesome」

「You still have some composure. Even so, what can the current you do?」

「Even if I can't do anything, my women will do something!」

The hero is saying so while laughing. It seems he's convinced about something.

「Hmm, fool … YOU GUYS, CHARGE!」

Orua is giving her order to Lucullus-tachi to attack the hero.

The battle between the hero and Lucullus-tachi resumes. Orua is attacking the hero with her magic from behind Lucullus-tachi. Their battle is so intense.

I can do nothing but watch their battle.

It seems the hero is being pushed back as time goes on.

But the hero still managed to do something abut it.

I wonder how many minutes are left till the balance crumbles.

Suddenly, several temple knights along with Lucullus are blown away.

And then, every member of Lucullus corps are beaten by the hero’s next attack.

「What! IMPOSSIBLE!」

Orua is screaming in suprise.

It's natural for her surprise. The one who should be pushed back has suddenly turned the tables.

「What just happened….」

Orua is still dumbfounded.

「The thick fog is …」

Almina is muttering.

Almina’s tensed face has returned to normal.

When I look around, the thick fog which previously pervaded the room is gradually vanishing.

「THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE!」

Orua is screaming.

「I've said it before, right? Chiyuki-tachi will do something about this situation! My women are strong, you know」

The hero is laughing.

Orua is looking at her surroundings as if she couldn't accept this situation.

「That's … impossible. Zarxis … sama is … lie …」

Orua is shaking her head as if unable to accept this situation.

「Reiji-senpai!」

「Rei-kun!」

Two persons are calling the hero’s name from afar.

This is the voice of the female comrades of the hero.

「The table has turned」

The hero is laughing as he says so.

「Guh …!」

Orua is groaning in frustation.

「I'm still not done yet … This isn't the end …」

Orua is taking a bottle out from her pocket as she retreated.

「Originally, I didn't wish to use this. Since I won't be able to turn back once I used this …」

「My power has returned. I don't know what are you trying to do, but you lost! ! 」

The hero is pointing his sword.

「Let's begin then! FEATHER ARROW!」

Orua is firing several feather arrows. But her target wasn't the hero.

The feather arrows are directed toward Almina.

「Oops!」

But, the hero moves faster than the feather arrows and knocks out all of them.

Orua takes advantage of that opportunity and uses the drug.

After drinking that drug, Orua's body from neck below starting to reveal the true bird form – one that belongs to the Striges. Her body seems to be expanding at an alarming rate.

「GUAAA! ! 」

After letting out such cry, Orua breaks the ceiling and vanishes toward the sky.

「Are you okay, Almina?」

The hero ignores Orua and smiles toward Almina, instead.

Almina has already recovered to the point of being able to standing on her own.

「Reiji-sama!」

Almina embraces the hero.

「Reiji-sama … That demon is …」

「It's okay, Almina. I don't know what she's trying to do, but she can't defeat me」

The hand of the hero is moving around toward Almina’s back.

「Rei-kun!」

「Reiji-senpai!」

Someone is calling the hero from behind.

Before I noticed, the comrades of the hero have gathered together. It seems those two are in bad mood seeing the hero and Almina embrace each other.

「Sahoko, Rino. I'll chase after that demon. I'll leave Almina in your care!」

After saying so, the hero separates from Almina’s embrace and then flies toward the sky through the ceiling that was blown open by Orua.

「Wait a minute, Reiji-senpai!」

「Geez, he's gone already …」

Those two are complaining while gazing toward the sky.

「Uuuh …」

I'm groaning in pain.

The two of them who hear my voice then look at my direction.

「Eh? This person is injured, Sahoko-san」

「He is … He is Rember, right? Are you okay?」

They finally noticed me. To be honest, I'm not okay at all.

It feel like that I was forgotten by the hero and Almina since a while ago. To be honest, I'm on the verge of dying here.

The white saint chants her healing magic.

The pain in my body disappeared.

It seems I barely survived.

「Are you okay Nao-san?」

When I ask Nao about her current situation, Nao nods in affirmation.

The thick fog has vanished and Nao has opened her eyes.

Though she managed to recover to some degree thanks to Sahoko magic, she’s still too weak.

Sahoko and Rino went toward the royal castle where the battle still seems to be in progress.

And then, here I'm with Nao at the entrance of the underground passage for the sake of meeting that person. He might be the one who repelled that masked person.

Nao and I are waiting for him at the entrance to express our gratitude.

Though I want to enter the underground passage, I can't bring Nao along with as she’s yet to recover, and it's too dangerous for me to go alone.

Naturally, I'll go inside if it takes too much time while waiting for him.

「Chiyuki … san」

Nao is calling my name.

When I look at her, she's looking at the sky.

I know that there's a bird that Nao keeps looking at since a while ago.

「Is that, a bird? Nay, it should be … a Striges? 」

I couldn’t confirm it since it's body is too big for Striges.

And then, that Striges-like bird body keeps getting bigger and bigger.

「What is that?」

Nao is muttering.

Nao’s and my eyes are nailed toward the sky.

The body of that Striges like thing has finally become as big as this kingdom.

And then, it turned into something that is completely different from a Striges. It has a bird-like body and lion-like head.

「Isn't that look like the demon bird living in the western desert …」

I have seen the picture of the demon bird that’s currently flying above this kingdom once in a book previously. The wind that is brought along with the demon bird living in the western desert is said to bring upon a calamity.

The gigantic body of the bird eclipses Reiji’s sun and casts a huge shadow, covering this entire kingdom.

「GUEEE~!」

Along with such a cry, the demon bird is flapping its huge wings to create a tornado. The buildings that are closer to this tornado is cracking.

「Things will turn sour if we do nothing to that demon bird isn't it………」

When I'm about to fly with flight magic.

「AH, REIJI-SENPAI!」

Nao is pointing with her finger.

A person who’s covered by light comes out from where that demon bird appeared. This time, for sure, it was Reiji who came out from that building.

Reiji is facing against that demon bird.

「YOU BASTARD! DIE ALONG WITH THIS KINGDOM!!」

The demon bird is screaming. It voice reverberates loudly in the surroundings.

Everyone in this kingdom might feel fear in hearing those evil emotions packed into that demon bird’s voice.

「AS LONG AS I'M HERE, YOU CAN KEEP DREAMING―!」

Now, it's Reiji who's shouting back with equal loudness. It was truly similar to the song that I heard a while ago.

「EAT THIS!」

The demon bird is flapping its gigantic wings and fired its feathers. The feathers turned into gigantic arrows and swooshed toward Reiji.

「As if that will work on me―――! ! ! 」

An innumberable amount of light spheres appear around Reiji.

Those spheres of light take those gigantic feather arrows down. This is Reiji’s magic, thousand light spheres.

「Now, it's my turn!」

With his cry, a gigantic magic formation appeared in front of Reiji.

「That is…」

I unintentionally mutter so. The magic that Reiji’s about to use is a magic that even Oudith and the other gods of Elios are unable to use – the Light Cannon of Heavenly Might. Rena explained with a shocked face when Reiji used this magic for the first time.

「GOOOO―!」

The pillar of light appearing from Reiji’s magic formation completely swallows the demon bird.

「GUEEEEEE―!」

Death throes of the demon bird are audible. The body of the demon bird eventually vanishes within that light.

And just like that, the pillar of light that disintegrated the demon bird travels far away, reaching the dark horizon.

The only one left after that is only Reiji along with his sun.

A silence engulfs the vicinity. Subsequently, it is followed by a wake of loud cheers.

Though there's no one around me and Nao, the cheers have reached as far as our place.

The cheers that praise Reiji keep resounding in the kingdom.