Episode 88
* * *
It would be suicide to wander the continent without a single comrade, holding only a sword. Even in a world where there are legendary knights who can slaughter tens or hundreds of people with just a sword.
Furthermore, the probability that the ‘traveler’ present right now is someone of that level of skill is close to zero. Thinking rationally, there was no reason for someone of that level of skill to wander around in such a shabby state in the first place.
The Marcel Mountains, located in the southern part of the Empire and blocking the Guild City.
That is why the bandits of ‘Greenwood’ who were camped there did not hesitate. They drew their weapons to intercept the black-robed traveler and take what he had.
You don’t necessarily need to have valuable gold coins.
Guild City beyond the Southern Marcel Mountains.
Because the people living there are themselves very expensive commodities. In that sense, the thieves of Greenwood are no different from subcontractors who periodically deliver ‘goods’ to Guild City.
And with the tacit consent of the Great Guild, their business was very prosperous.
“Haha, look at this fearless guy.”
At least that was the case until the very ‘traveler’ came looking for them.
“I see you’re coming into our area without any fear. Are you a guest from out of town?”
“Oh, that’s right! I really am unlucky!”
Greenwood’s men snickered, and the traveler remained silent. In the pouring sunlight, the shadows cast beneath the hood were very dark.
“… … It looks like there’s some kind of human trafficking business going on here?”
The robed traveler opened his mouth.
It was a somewhat young voice that was hard to tell from the outside.
“… … !”
But for a moment, silence fell among Greenwood’s group at the sight of his confident demeanor. Not many people can maintain such composure in the face of thieves.
“Well, what’s the point of having a long conversation with a mere pyramid?”
The traveler, Dale of Saxony, muttered, as if he was satisfied with it.
“This, this kid… … !”
A sense of caution settled over Greenwood’s men. The silence did not last long.
Ahead, a bandit holding an axe stomped the ground and rushed forward.
Crunch!
At the same time, Greenwood’s men were momentarily unable to understand what was happening.
The arm that was holding the axe simply disappeared. Blood gushed out along the severed arm, but that was not the end. A ‘bloody thread’ wound around the thief’s body. From the crown of his head, down his lips and the nape of his neck, and in a straight line from his chest to his groin.
Immediately afterwards, another ‘bloody thread’ was drawn, and soon dozens of blood vessels were wrapped around his body.
Thud!
The thief’s body began to crumble into hundreds of pieces, just like the beginning of the movie “Cube”, without even a moment to writh in pain or scream.
“He, in the shadows… … .”
Greenwood’s men muttered as they watched their comrades fall to pieces.
“A, a monster appeared… …!”
Before he knew it, a shadow with substance was taking shape next to Dale.
It wasn’t a monster, it was a human silhouette.
Underneath the black helmet, pitch-black, dark hair flowed.
He was armed with the black armor that symbolized the Night Raven Knight, and in his hand was a knight’s sword that was not stained with a single drop of blood. He was not an ordinary Night Raven Knight. He was the best force that protected the House of Saxony from the shadows, having taken a vow of silence.
He does not care about the nobility or virtue of a knight, and does not hesitate to become an assassin’s sword when necessary… … The strongest knight force that thoroughly follows the methods of the House of Saxony.
《Grave Guard》… … Aurelia was there.
Lady Shadow.
A knight who is not a member of the Saxon Duke’s household, but who is thoroughly loyal to Dale’s shadow.
That day, Aurelia volunteered to become Dale’s shadow of her own free will. Through the Book of the Black Goat, she simultaneously accepted her shadow and the darkness of Shub.
That was the pact made between the ‘Old Dark Mother’ and the virgin Aurelia, and no more noble virgin could be seen in Aurelia’s appearance.
“These are the ones who must be killed. Kill them all.”
“As your lord wills.”
Dale said. Aurelia did not hesitate. She stomped the ground and rushed forward, swinging her sword again. Flesh, blood, and bone were scattered. With each stroke of life, ecstatic pleasure surged through the tip of her blade.
“Please, please save me… … !”
The screams of begging for help were so enjoyable that I couldn’t bear it. Is this what pleasure is?
“iced coffee…….”
The passion of killing. Like a child who doesn’t know emotions, slowly learning about the world.
Free from the divine yoke, Aurelia faced the world with her own desires and will, without turning away from her own darkness and shadow.
How much of it was his own will, and how much was the darkness contaminated by the Book of the Black Goat? Now, it was a good thing.
Just until the end, the prayers of the virgin Aurelia did not reach the goddess. The ‘Black Prince’ drove the virgin to ruin, and in that ruin, he reached out his hand. That day, the virgin Aurelia made a deal with the devil.
At the cost of the empire’s destruction.
Amidst the bandits’ pleas for their lives, Aurelia’s sword was swung.
The Black Sword of Saxony, wrapped around a pitch-black aura blade.
* * *
Greenwood’s Citadel.
The black Valkyrie was slaughtering the bandits of Greenwood. Who could possibly think of the noble maiden of the Isle of Britannia in that avatar?
She has no pure white wings made of light, nor a hint of splendid and noble gold. There is simply an unspeakable joy in each and every swing of her sword.
That day, it was entirely her decision to face her own shadow through The Book of the Black Goat. And that decision made her who she is today.
The Black Virgin, Lady Shadow.
The hem of the black Valkyrie’s cloak rose and twitched as if it were a living creature. Just like Dale’s ‘Shadow Cloak’. It became a pitch-black skewer, striking down the bodies of the thieves from all sides.
Blood was splattered.
“Ah, ahhhh… … .”
Dale walked towards the Greenwood leader who was sitting there in fear.
“I have something to ask.”
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“Ma, please speak!”
At Dale’s words, the Greenwood chief knelt down and begged.
“Is there anyone among the ‘Great Guilds’ of Guild City who is in contact with you?”
Officially, the great guilds each claim to be guilds of finance, textiles, commerce, law, etc., but… …at the same time, each of them is involved in all sorts of criminal enterprises that cannot be revealed publicly. Through the network of guild cities that dominate the entire continent.
In other words, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Guild City itself is a huge criminal organization.
The size of the ‘Callidoscope’, the guild that once attacked Dale, is incomparable.
It is said that the Black Tower of the past also received ‘test subjects’ from them periodically.
So, apart from becoming a customer of the Black Market, I had to find a way into the darkness of Guild City, into its deepest recesses.
“Oh, I know! I know!”
The head of Greenwood made a desperate appeal.
“There are people who come to pick up our captured slaves on a regular basis! I, I know them!”
“Yeah, I’m glad you know.”
Dale said. Suddenly, the black Valkyrie put away her sword. She left behind the corpses strewn everywhere.
The terrified leader peed himself, and Dale added as if to say, “Don’t worry.”
“Because that information will be your lifeline.”
* * *
A few days later, when people from Guild City came to Greenwood’s Citadel to receive periodic deliveries of ‘goods’.
“… … !”
He was left speechless in the face of the tragedy unfolding there.
There was a man dressed in a robe.
He wears a black robe, and the hem of his cloak flutters ominously in a place where not even a slight breeze blows. In the pouring sunlight, the shadows beneath his hood are deep and dark.
Also, the leader of Greenwood is kneeling beside him, trembling.
‘What, what happened…?’
At first, I couldn’t accept the situation. Did a punitive force come from another region other than Guild City to wipe them out? Then who on earth is that man over there?
“I can’t help but marvel at Guild City’s ‘business diversification.’”
The man opened his mouth. He lowered the hood he was wearing. Underneath the hood, the figure of a young child who had not yet taken off his attire was revealed.
“That’s a good thing.”
However, as soon as he saw the ‘skull decoration’ in his hand, a blood-curdling fear gripped his heart. It was an invitation to the black market. It was an existence of a level that a lowly person like himself could not even dare to think about.
The fact that a twelve-year-old was holding it meant only one thing.
The greatest genius in the empire. No, a monster of the Saxon family with a reputation even greater than that.
“Now, Your Highness the Prince of Saxony… …!”
“Sir, could it be that this group of thieves would do something so rude to the prince… …!”
The Guild City man asked cautiously, and Dale nodded.
“I made them pay the price for the rudeness they deserved.”
Dale said.
Phew!
At the same time, a pitch-black sword rose from the shadows beneath his feet. It was aimed at the Greenwood leader who was kneeling and trembling.
A black sword emerged from the shadows and disappeared into the shadows again.
“Ugh, ugh… … !”
The neck was cut and blood spurted out.
“But that’s where I found you.”
The ‘Black Prince’ of Saxony continued speaking without paying any attention.
“As a ‘black market agent’, separate from the customers of the black market… … .”
In a voice devoid of even a shred of emotion.
“Because I have something to share with the great guilds of Guild City.”
“Great, great guild… …!”
“Fortunately, there is someone in front of me who can take me to the Great Guild.”
“… … !”
The representative of the Black Tower. The people of Guild City held their breath at Dale’s words.
‘Seo, are you here to negotiate with the Black Tower to provide another ‘test subject’?’
At least, there was no denying that the Black Tower of the past was one of Guild City’s biggest customers. That was why the people of Guild City smiled in fear.
“Okay, good!”
It was a unique business smile that did not waver in any situation.
“Since the Duke of Saxony and the representative of the Black Tower have come to see me… … .”
I started doing quick calculations in my head.
“As the great guild of our guild city, we should also follow the appropriate example.”
