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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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Sometimes, while reading novels, Ethan would wonder:
Why was dark magic always taboo in fantasy worlds?
It was a mystery.
Until he read a comment that said:
‘Honestly, I don’t understand why dark magic is taboo.’
‘I almost cursed out the author, but I held back. Praise me.’
Ethan immediately understood.
Dark magic involved resurrecting dead family members.
And using them as servants.
That alone was enough to condemn dark magic.
Using a knight who had sacrificed his life to protect others…?
It was an insult to the dead.
A line had been crossed.
Ethan gritted his teeth, his grip on his sword tightening.
A blue aura flickered around him.
“Lien of the Halberd. This is the only peace I can offer you.”
He channeled his mana and swung his sword horizontally.
A wave of energy shot towards the death knight.
The knight raised his halberd to block the attack.
Clang!
The energy dissipated, the sound of metal grinding against metal echoing through the air.
The death knight slowly raised his head, his glowing red eyes fixing on Ethan.
It was an unsettling sight.
“I… Who am I? Why am I here?”
The voice was still deep and eerie.
“I… Ah… I remember now… My last order…”
Ethan and Tia held their breath, watching intently.
“Kill them… Destroy all humans… That… was my order…”
Tia stepped forward.
“Come to your senses, Lien! You were a knight of the empire! Don’t succumb to evil!”
“Succumb… to evil?”
“Yes! You’re the legendary knight who protected the people of Arvis Island! Fight it! Don’t be swayed by the enemy’s tricks! Please!”
Tia’s voice trembled as she spoke the last word.
Lien stared at her silently.
Blink. Blink.
His red eyes flickered.
Then they flared, like a fire igniting.
“I…! I…!!”
A deafening screech of metal against metal followed.
Ethan instinctively shouted at Tia.
The knight’s fighting spirit was intense.
Words wouldn’t sway him.
“Tia, get back!”
A wave of red demonic energy erupted.
Ethan felt himself being pushed back by its sheer force. He dug his heels into the ground.
He’s strong.
Ethan could feel it in his gut.
And logically, it made sense.
He was using red demonic energy.
It meant he was stronger than the demons who used purple demonic energy.
“Tia, go! I’ll hold him off. Find someone who can help! Go get the professors!”
“Ethan, wait! What are you talking about?!”
Could he even hold his own against this opponent?
He wasn’t sure.
But he knew he couldn’t fight while protecting Tia.
“Go! I’ll take care of him!”
“I can’t leave you! Do you think I’m that selfish?”
“What are you talking about?! I can’t fight while protecting you!”
Ethan gritted his teeth, watching the death knight’s every move.
“Think rationally, Tia Erze! You have to stay calm and collected. That’s your family’s motto!”
He couldn’t see her expression.
But she must be biting her lip in frustration.
She must be realizing that she was useless in this situation.
But Tia was smart and rational.
“I’ll find help… I’ll go get the professors! Don’t lose!”
“Okay, I’m counting on you.”
“I won’t forgive you if you lose.”
Ethan heard Tia running away.
Her footsteps faded in the distance.
He continued to stare at the death knight.
He was an outsider, an anomaly in this fictional world.
If he died… wouldn’t the others take care of the rest?
The thought briefly crossed his mind.
“The women… and children…”
“What?”
“Evacuate the women and children first…!”
“You… Don’t tell me…”
The death knight’s red eyes glowed brighter.
“Are you ready to fight now, black-haired warrior?”
“You were waiting for Tia to leave?”
“Yes.”
Ethan smiled.
Honoring his oaths, remaining loyal, protecting the empire.
That was the motto of the 7th Knight Order.
“It’s almost… touching. You’re clinging to your beliefs even though you don’t even know who you are.”
He felt a pang of sympathy.
“…I remember now.”
“What?”
“I am a knight of Gamigin. I obey her orders. Nothing else matters.”
Gamigin…?
Why was Gamigin’s name being mentioned now?
The 4th ranked demon general, Gamigin.
For some reason, her appearance had been moved forward.
And Lien had never appeared in the original story.
He had only been mentioned in passing.
It was all because of me.
Ethan felt a surge of guilt.
“And battle always makes me feel alive!”
Lien charged at Ethan.
Their swords clashed.
Ethan blocked the death knight’s attacks with his mana-infused blade.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
He blocked the relentless barrage of attacks, then dodged a kick aimed at his side. The death knight swung his halberd, predicting Ethan’s movement.
Ethan quickly retreated, unleashing a bolt of lightning magic.
“Huff… huff…”
The death knight was undead.
He didn’t feel tired, nor did he show any fear.
He was wearing black armor.
There was only one way to defeat him.
Sever his limbs, pierce his armor.
Ethan didn’t have time to think about the consequences.
He had to act now.
He focused his mana, channeling it into his sword.
His aura expanded outwards.
The earth trembled, and his heart pounded.
Linchester Swordsmanship, First Form.
‘Flash.’
He gripped his sword with both hands and swung it horizontally.
A flash of blue light erupted, cutting through the air.
His master’s words echoed in his mind.
‘If you use this swordsmanship, make sure you kill your opponent.’
‘What happens if I don’t?’
‘You’ll die.’
Ethan gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain.
His master would have scolded him for his slow and imprecise movements.
But this was the only way he knew how.
He was releasing his mana in a single burst.
He would overwhelm his opponent with raw power.
‘I’m going to hit him!’
Lien raised his halberd to block the attack.
But this was a secret technique, infused with massive amounts of mana.
‘Even if he blocks it, I’ll cut right through!’
The wave of blue mana surged forward.
The ground shook, and everything in its path was obliterated.
The halberd’s shaft was no exception.
The death knight was consumed by the energy.
Ethan couldn’t withstand the recoil.
His feet slipped, and he was thrown backwards.
Bang!
Trees were sliced in half as he flew through the air.
He could feel the muscles in his arms tearing.
Adrenaline coursed through his body, dulling the pain.
A cloud of dust and debris rose from the destruction.
He crashed into a tree, his back slamming against the rough bark.
The forest was unrecognizable, a scene of utter devastation.
‘It looks like a bomb went off.’
Ethan groaned, pain shooting through his body.
He forced himself to sit up, gripping his sword.
His vision blurred, then cleared.
‘If this didn’t kill him, I lose.’
And if that was the case, he was ready to accept defeat.
If this attack couldn’t defeat his opponent, it meant he had no chance of winning.
Ethan stood up, his vision swimming.
He gasped for breath.
“Huff… huff…”
He walked through the destroyed forest, his body aching.
He felt a surge of anxiety as he approached his opponent.
He found the death knight leaning against a tree trunk.
The area was a disaster.
The knight’s lower body was lying a few feet away.
He was still clutching the broken halberd shaft.
His pride seemed undiminished.
He slowly raised his head, his eyes meeting Ethan’s.
Blink… blink…
His red eyes flickered, the intervals growing longer.
“Black-haired warrior…”
“…”
Ethan just stared at him, unable to speak.
“What… is your name?”
“Ethan.”
“…Ethan. A good name.”
The knight’s eyes dimmed.
“It was a good fight.”
“Yes… a good fight. Rest in peace.”
“Thank you…”
The light faded from his eyes.
His helmet clattered to the ground.
But he was still clutching his halberd.
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