10 The Search
The royal capital of Highland, also called a fortress city, was living up to its reputation of being impregnable.
This country had the unique history of building a new city atop the ruins of an ancient civilization. Even the outer walls were made of metal from that ancient civilization, remaining completely intact against the Empire’s cannons.
Therefore, while the Imperial army had completely surrounded the royal capital, they lacked a decisive blow and had fallen into a stalemate.
However, when the Black Knight and his subordinate Reapers arrived at the Imperial army’s camp, the tide of battle shifted dramatically.
That day, a soldier keeping watch from a tower built atop the outer wall noticed approaching figures.
“What’s that?”
The soldier hesitated whether to alert the garrison. What was approaching appeared to be five knights clad in armor. No matter how skilled knights might be, it seemed unlikely they would attack with such small numbers. The soldier considered the possibility that they might be Imperial envoys.
But in the next moment, the soldier changed his mind. Through his telescope, he could see that the leading knight’s armor was jet black, and the four following him wore massive suits of heavy armor.
“It’s the Black Knight and the Reapers!”
The soldier in the tower shouted at the top of his lungs, then frantically rang the bell attached to the tower.
Not only was the Black Knight famous, but his four direct subordinates had also made their names known.
Like their master, they were clad in black armor and looked like knights from a bygone era. All four had large builds, and no one had ever heard them speak. On the battlefield, they existed solely to hunt enemies, feared by both ally and foe as the “Reapers.”
The news of the Black Knight and Reapers’ assault instantly heightened the garrison’s tension.
Cannons extended from the castle walls, aiming at the Black Knight and his men. Highland’s cannons were mass-produced after studying captured Imperial cannons, so their performance wasn’t exceptional, but they had sufficient numbers and the advantage of high ground.
Then, against just five enemies, dozens of cannons began firing simultaneously.
The area where the Black Knight and his men had been was instantly engulfed in white gunpowder smoke and dust clouds, making it impossible to see anything.
So much so that the garrison commander hastily ordered the bombardment to stop.
When the smoke gradually thinned and visibility began to clear, the lookout soldier screamed again.
“The Black Knight and his men are still intact! They’re walking forward as if nothing happened!”
Learning that the cannons were ineffective, the garrison commander now gave orders to the rifle units.
“Prepare armor-piercing rounds!”
Armor-piercing rounds were ammunition developed by the Empire to penetrate knights’ armor, and their effectiveness had been proven by Imperial forces. Other nations had imitated and developed their own versions, and now they were used by every country.
“Fire!”
With the commander’s order, the rifle unit began shooting. The armor-piercing rounds struck the Black Knight and his men’s armor with sharp metallic sounds.
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But still, the Black Knight and his men didn’t stop their advance. Their armor was special, and even armor-piercing rounds couldn’t penetrate it.
As the garrison fell into despair, the Black Knight reached the castle gate and drew his black greatsword.
“Impossible! How could that gate be broken with a mere sword!”
The commander shouted mockingly, though in truth, it was more like a prayer.
Unlike the outer walls, this gate had been built later by Highland. Though thick, it was made of wood, and there were some concerns about its durability.
The Black Knight raised his greatsword with all his might and struck it against the castle gate. Rather than cutting with the sword, it was more like being struck with a massive hammer—a dull sound echoed throughout the area. Part of the wooden gate was completely destroyed and blown away. What terrifying physical strength. No matter how skilled a knight might be, no one had heard of anyone possessing such power.
The Black Knight stepped into the royal capital through the breach he had destroyed, without a moment’s hesitation.
Waiting before him was Highland’s knight order. They had already drawn their swords, their resolve blazing as the final wall protecting the royal capital.
“In the end, it always comes to this.”
The Black Knight spoke to no one in particular.
“Knights and mages alike—all of them are merely descendants of the legacy and weapons of ancient civilization. The same goes for the extinct werewolves and dragons. We continue to fight over the dregs of ancient civilization. That’s why it must be ended. Using the same power of ancient civilization. No matter what price must be paid.”
While muttering something, the Highland knight order, overwhelmed by the Black Knight’s approaching pressure, moved first.
Knights charged forward with raised swords. In response, the Black Knight swept his great sword.
A sharp, heavy slash. With that single swing, several knights were cut in two.
Another swing, then another—with each stroke of his sword, more knights lost their lives.
Similarly, the Reapers who had followed behind continued to wield their swords with brute force, crushing Highland’s knight order like stepping on insects. Their heavy armor allowed no enemy attacks to penetrate, creating a one-sided battle.
Unable to stop the invasion of just five people, Highland’s army collapsed.
Imperial army units began pouring through the destroyed castle gate, and now smoke was rising from every corner of Highland’s royal capital. There was no massacre or plunder—this was thoroughly enforced by the Emperor’s command. However, they showed no mercy to those who resisted. This demonstrated the severity of their commander, the Black Knight.
That Black Knight walked through Highland’s royal castle, leading the Reapers.
Having cut down hundreds and bathed in their blood many times over, the black armor remained untainted, as if symbolizing his unwavering will.
Eventually, he reached the innermost part of the royal palace.
The royal family had ended their own lives. Completely surrounded with no escape, they had chosen to show their pride rather than fall into enemy hands.
However, the Black Knight felt no emotion as he headed straight for the king’s corpse. The royal crown was adorned with a large jewel.
“The final one, is it?”
The Black Knight forcibly tore the crown from the corpse.
“With this, it shall be accomplished… no, the final key is still needed, but…”
At his murmur, the Reapers who had followed showed no reaction, simply existing there.
The Black Knight continued to weave words as if no one were present.
“Just a little more, just a little more and the world will be ruled by a new god. Our long-cherished wish will be fulfilled, by The Castle of Canaan.”
The Black Knight’s muffled, mechanical voice carried a quality that seemed like excuses and piercing sorrow, but it vanished into the lifeless royal palace.
TLNOTE
While waiting for the next chapter, I encourage you, dear readers, to explore other masterpieces written by Daken-sensei :
- Monster Meat Led Me to the Throne
- Who killed the Hero?
- The Wicked Princess and 12 Eyes – The Strongest Squires and the Legendary Evil Woman, the Second Time in Her Life
- The Suspects of Necromancy
- The Exiled Merchant Saves the World with the Power of Gold (translated by my friend meerkat)
- The Last Magic (translated by my friend narwhal)
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
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