From that hole slowly descended a figure that resembled a knight.

However, it was wearing armor as dark as the night, looking this way.

 

Kai: “A human? No, different… What are you?”

 

Lancelot and Lightning-san had been fighting this black knight. I have only seen it in my memory journey, but it was the black knight I saw there.

The knight was staring straight at me. With a seemingly curious gaze, it looked at me with eyes as black as the night from behind its armor. Its expression seemed to suggest that it too couldn’t understand what was happening, almost as if it were observing.

I activated The Eye of God once more to check the status.

 

————————-

Name: Nameless Black Knight

Condition: Mental Confusion (Time until release: 100 seconds)

Job: Novice Knight (Black)

Skill: Eye of Darkness

Magic Power: 1,000,000

Attack Power: Reflection rate▶25% (Decreased) = 250,000

Defense Power: Reflection rate▶25% (Decreased) = 250,000

Agility: Reflection rate▶25% (Decreased) = 250,000

Intelligence: Reflection rate▶25% (Decreased) = 250,000

 

Equipment

• None

————————-

 

Kai: “1 million magic power!? And this status screen isn’t for a monster!?”

 

The status was not in the format of a monster but rather resembled that of a human.

At the moment I saw that, the black knight, who until now seemed to be unable to understand what was happening, started screaming upon seeing my eyes.

As if it had found an age-old enemy.

 

Black Knight: “Gaaaaaaah!!!!”

Kai: “Tch!”

 

I dodged its charge by moving to the side. Its speed was fast, but it was too linear making it not too difficult to avoid.

 

Black Knight: “Grrrr…”

 

It seemed like a beast devoid of reason.

With its momentum, it charged into the wall, turning back to me with a beast-like scream. Its black eyes dimly glowing as it drooled, directing hostility and releasing waves of killing intent towards me.

 

Kai: “… Could it be that the ‘mental confusion’ condition is affecting it?”

 

The name of the enemy before me was the same as the knights during the promotion exam. The nameless black knight, a name unlike the monsters I have encountered so far. It isn’t a species name, I think.

 

Kai: “Fuu…”

 

I calmed down once and readied my sword.

 

Kai: “Is communication not possible? I have something I want to ask…”

 

I uttered words, wondering if conversation was possible.

 

Black Knight: “Kill… white… god.”

Kai: “!?”

 

The black knight uttered some words. Although it was a language I couldn’t understand, the meaning of the words resonated directly in my brain. Just like when I touched the stone tablet with unreadable characters before, I was made to understand it in my heart.

As I was surprised, the black knight charged again.

This time with a definite intent to touch upon life.

It was undoubtedly getting stronger. To be precise, it was regaining its strength. A sense of reason was gradually dwelling in the tip of its sword.

 

Kai: “Damn it!”

 

I decided to give up and fight. There are too many unknowns, and even though an enemy that seemed capable of communication appeared…

But the opponent has 1 million magic power. Although the reflection rate is low, and in total it is about the same strength as me now, it’s not an opponent to be taken lightly.

Black magic power began to gather around the black knight. It was undoubtedly magic power of killing intent, with a clear intention to kill me.

I clenched my fist and closed my eyes. Opening them again, they shone golden as I resolved myself.

That day, I decided. To protect Aya, Reina, Nagi… and those I hold dear, I would become stronger and abandon my naiveté.

 

Kai: “I’m sorry… but I have to defeat you. No, kill you!”

 

I deliberately voiced strong words. As if to remind myself that I am about to kill something with human-like reason.

I will fight. Even if I don’t know where justice lies, I have a reason to fight.

The black knight ran.

Surpassing the speed of sound, an attack with magic power that could rival a transcendent aimed straight for my heart.

But there was no skill there.

If so.

 

Kai: “Mirage.”

Black Knight: “──!?”

 

There was no way it could hit me. I activated Mirage, disappearing from sight for a moment while dodging at the same time. The surprised black knight extended its arm, which I cut off with a strike from above.

 

Black Knight: “Gyaaaaa!!!”

 

The arm of the black knight flew off, and the same bright red blood as ours scattered around.

The black knight’s attacks were simply linear, making them easy to dodge and counter.

The black knight, holding its severed arm, looked at me. Its eyes seemed to be overflowing with anger rather than fear.

 

Black Knight: “Kill! White knight!!”

 

Suddenly, there was a release of magic power. Black magic power overflowed from the black knight. The time of mental confusion ended, and I could feel a clear intention from its eyes.

So, I…

 

Kai: “… ──Lightning.”

 

With clear killing intent, I delivered the finishing blow.

 

Black Knight: “Gah!”

 

Using Mirage and Lightning to teleport behind, I executed an attack with the maximum firepower of my most proficient surprise attack.

A strike with an intention to kill, aiming to end the battle.

Its power easily pierced through the chest of the black knight, whose defense reflection rate was low, from behind.

Blood flowed from its mouth, and the black knight dropped its sword on the ground.

The status had undoubtedly changed to the word “dead”, indicating that I had killed this being with a will. I recalled the words of the old president; now, by my own will, I had taken a life for my own sake.

 

Black Knight: “…Those eyes… Lancelot? No, different… What are you?”

Kai: “What does it mean… tell me! What are you guys? What is this about gods? And white knights?”

 

I questioned incoherently, lining up only words of the questions I had been pondering for a long time. Somehow, I felt this one knew the answers.

 

Black Knight: “You know nothing… This time, surely this time. We will annihilate you all, and our darkness will claim the world… wait for it, white knight.”

 

With those words, the black knight, which had turned stone-like, crumbled to ash.

Not even a magic stone remained, only ashes were left there. Perhaps my words had reached it, though I didn’t know why.

 

Kai: “…What was that?”

 

I gripped and stared at the ashes of the black knight in my hand. No status displayed; it had turned completely to ash.

 

Kai: “An enemy… perhaps?”

 

I wasn’t sure if it was an enemy, but this knight in this form had been fighting against the white knights. Were they enemies of the white side? At least, they didn’t feel like allies.

The status had described it as a novice knight (black).

 

That means there would be higher classes too. I didn’t know how strong they might be, but it would be dangerous if they were stronger than this opponent.

I was able to fight without much difficulty because it was in a state of mental confusion, but there was a massive gap in terms of magic power.

 

Kai: “…haa”

 

I dropped the ash as it was on the ground.

What a bitter aftertaste this battle had left. Even monsters have thoughts and intentions, and I have killed them, so I don’t intend to fuss about it now. But without a doubt, this enemy had a will, and we even exchanged words.

I wasn’t sure if my words had reached it, but it had shown some reaction.

 

System Voice: 『Conditions 1, 2, 3, and 4 confirmed as completed. Awarding full clear rewards.』

 

That inorganic voice, as always, declared my victory to me.

I must have won, against something. The battle ended without me feeling any of the exhilaration that victory brings.

I absentmindedly tightened my grip on the sword that I was about to drop.

 

Kai: “…I shouldn’t waver. I decided to fight, didn’t I?”

 

I had decided on the day when we sent Sophia-san to the heavens with Tanaka-san’s flames.

I had resolved while holding Reina tightly.

To defeat the root of the heretical God-Destruction Cult, and for that, I needed power. Enough power to even defeat Arnold.

So.

 

Kai: “I won’t stop, I”

 

I told my heart, which seemed about to halt.

First, I aim for one million magic power. Because I need power to carry through my will.