WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Order
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◈ I Became the Dark Knight in the Game World ◈
Chapter 43: A Staged…? Duel (1)
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Morgina had been incredibly busy ever since leaving the Church of Eve Kaha's headquarters.
‘You got engaged, and you want me to falsely testify that I officiated the ceremony?’
Is this bastard out of his mind!?
That was the first letter she received after finishing her closed-door training, so of course she lost her temper. Making full use of the superhuman physical abilities she had attained, she raced from the Sacred Kingdom to the Empire's border in a single burst.
Morgina received unexpected news at the Gate City. It happened during the inspection at the city entrance.
“This is my holy symbol to prove my identity. I've already opened my bag.”
The guards examined Eve Kaha's necklace closely, dragging out the process. Morgina nearly cut her palm to summon her mace without thinking. It was obvious they were stalling.
‘Did the higher-ups become supporters of the noble faction? Are they forcing their subordinates to crack down on the clergy?’
If that were the case, then even in the middle of this rush, she would need to swing her mace around for a little exercise. Just as she studied the guards' expressions, wondering whether they were being forced into unpleasant work...
“Is this Eve Kaha's holy symbol?”
“Yes, it is.”
Ah. Morgina clicked her tongue. Had some priest caused a scene because he could not control his temper? Even that old lady, the Head of the Order, had circulated an official notice telling the order to handle such matters without letting word get out.
“You're a priest of Eve Kaha! The Church's Champion did a great service for our city!”
“What?”
After hearing the story, Morgina realized it was exactly the sort of thing Kriel would do. A problem had arisen while he was passing through, so he had dealt with it at once with a sword at his hip, then left, just like a knight from a fairy tale.
Strictly speaking, he had three swords, but that was not important.
Morgina subtly questioned the Gate City's Border Guard commander and Advisory Mage. She asked whether Kriel had been traveling with anyone.
“You mean a companion? The Spirit in the sword?”
She doubted that horsehead deserved enough respect to be called “sir,” but an answer was an answer. Morgina confirmed that no one but Orisin had been at Kriel's side. After exchanging a few polite farewells, she hurried on once more.
‘Let's think.’
She unfolded the letter again.
Kriel's letter was extremely brief. He had become engaged in the Duchy of Argetlam. However, due to circumstances, he would testify in court that the engagement had not taken place now, but had already happened in the past.
Could she testify in court that she was the priest who had officiated the engagement ceremony? After that came the usual words about being sorry for asking a priest to give false testimony.
‘No, the thing he should be sorry for isn't asking me to lie under oath.’
Shouldn't he be sorry for getting engaged to someone else when I'm right here?
The more she reread the letter, the more her insides boiled. No, simply calling it boiling could not capture how she felt. Her fingertips holding the letter were cold, but her chest felt hot enough to burst.
A sense of loss, as though emptiness were consuming her from within. On top of that came bewilderment so heavy it was almost fear.
Rationally, she understood. She had never told Kriel a single word about the other meaning of Champion. She had tried to look after him in one way or another, but her attitude had also been harsh...
Morgina lowered her head.
If he had truly gotten engaged, what could she do now? With that blockhead's personality, once he made a vow, he would try to remain loyal unless the other person betrayed him. Perhaps even if they did betray him.
‘Then what can I do...?’
There was nothing she could do. If she rushed there now, would he not say, “You weren't there when I needed you, so why come now?” For a moment, she wondered if she should turn back. Maybe she should just go back to hunting the Abyss as usual.
After taking a deep breath, Morgina raised her head again.
“Who cares? Even if the engagement is already done, that bastard didn't invite me, so I'm allowed to lose my temper a little.”
Weren't they comrades, in their own way? You could even say they worked at the same place. If someone this close got engaged without saying a word to her, she could probably give him a little pat once or twice and still be within the law.
“Goddess. You agree, don't you?”
A crow suddenly flew in and cawed. Taking it as a revelation as she pleased, Morgina's spirits returned.
“Good. Good. At least there was nobody who looked like a fiancée by his side until he passed through the Gate City.”
She had also heard about Kriel's destination from the Gate City's Advisory Mage, Llewellyn. She had known that Kriel was currently in the Duchy of Argetlam, but she had still wondered why he had suddenly gone there.
Her question had been partly answered when Llewellyn explained that the Abyss Eradication Society had convened there and that they had transferred their invitation to Kriel. She could also fill in part of the timeline surrounding Kriel's engagement.
There should have been no room for another person to get involved during the journey from the Gate City to the Duchy of Argetlam. Something must have happened in the Duchy of Argetlam.
Surely it was not some ridiculous romance in which Kriel reunited in the Duchy of Argetlam with a lover from whom he had been painfully separated before Morgina even began serving as a military chaplain in the Western Army.
Hope flared in Morgina's mind. Maybe, just maybe, he was planning a sham engagement to save someone being sold off to some worthless noble.
The added condition had been strangely suspicious as well.
If Kriel had once again thrown himself into some incident by exercising his own “fake chivalry,” there would surely be rumors throughout the Duchy of Argetlam.
* * *
Morgina found large notices posted all throughout the Duchy of Argetlam.
“Champion Wanted for Trial by Combat. Specific details to be disclosed after consultation?”
It smelled suspicious. Who in this day and age invoked an outdated custom like Trial by Combat?
There was a nine-in-ten chance it was connected to Kriel.
‘It's exactly the sort of thing he likes.’
A knight who entered a duel bearing another person's honor. Kriel acted as if he did not care, but he practically proclaimed with his whole body that he was a chivalry fanatic. This was exactly the sort of matter that would make his eyes light up.
Perhaps he had requested a Trial by Combat because the engagement was, strictly speaking, a religious matter. It strengthened her prediction that this was a “sham engagement.”
With a much lighter heart, Morgina headed to Mazhar Gabi's interview venue. The reason she was going to Mazhar Gabi, who was clearly on Kriel's opposing side, was simple.
She did not doubt Kriel's ability, but if they were holding a Trial by Combat, would it not be better to arrange things so he could definitely win?
If she stepped forward as the Champion herself, fought Kriel for a while, and then staged a defeat, Kriel's victory would be assured.
Morgina was certain she could sweep aside the mediocre Champion candidates. Her confidence had a basis.
Once Morgina displayed a little of her strength, which could also be called a show of force, crushing boulders with her bare hands and smashing plate armor apart with her mace, Mazhar Gabi admired her and prepared the papers.
“By the way, which religious order do you belong to?”
Morgina wore priestly robes, but she had hidden Eve Kaha's symbol. If she failed the interview, her plan to fight Kriel and deliberately lose would fall through.
“...Could the person I must face be an important figure in a religious order?”
Morgina asked in return, pretending to be polite as she did when dealing with outsiders. It was an act mixed with the unease of an ordinary priest facing a bishop.
Mazhar quickly shook his head.
“Important... is a vague way to put it. But it is true that he is a key figure in the order.”
“I hear he is the Champion of the Church of Eve Kaha.”
Morgina frowned. She had expected it, given the requirements for a Trial by Combat, but was this truly a matter where Kriel would use his status as a Champion?
Conversely, that meant he was certain the Church of Eve Kaha's prestige would not be damaged. There was a high chance it was truly an act based on chivalry. Unless he was actually in love with the other person.
...She did not want to think about the latter possibility, but either way, did that not mean the man before her was the sort of thug who intimidated others?
“If the Champion stands against you, perhaps justice stands against you as well.”
“Please listen without misunderstanding. The man claiming to be the fiancé of House Kett's daughter has not shown his face to the Kett Family even once in the past several years.”
“...The count's daughter?”
“He must be someone she hired to ruin her marriage to me. I cannot lie before a priest, so I will be honest. My marriage to Count Kett's daughter is, of course, a political marriage. But she will not be unhappy.”
Mazhar Gabi explained at length what he could do for House Kett, and for Armede Kett. He also told her about his absurd meeting with Kriel and how the situation had developed.
Morgina listened silently to the long speech, then raised a hand.
“Wait, what did you say?”
“Hmm?”
“Ah, I didn't hear that properly. What did that Wandering Knight named Kriel say?”
Her speech seemed to have slipped into an informal tone for a moment. Mazhar Gabi tilted his head, but explained again.
“Right in front of me, he embraced her and said, ‘Armede is already engaged to me.’ Then he said that even if Armede Kett were not Armede Kett, but simply Armede, he would still love her...”
To be honest, even Mazhar had been unsure whether that knight had been hired for a sham engagement or was truly Armede's hidden fiancé. Those lines were embarrassingly sweet.
As Morgina listened to the explanation, her smile slowly widened.
“Um... why are you smiling?”
Mazhar felt an inexplicable fear at that smile.
“It's nothing, Young Master Mazhar Gabi. I'll accept the Champion contract.”
“Huh?”
“Bring the papers.”
Footnotes:
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