I Became the Dark Knight in the Game World - Chapter 62

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Order

◈ I Became the Dark Knight in the Game World ◈

Chapter 62: The Knight and the Prodigal (1)

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“Huh?” Orisin was taken aback.

[You’ve recognized the Abyss before, but has the Abyss ever recognized you? Even when someone did, it was because you deliberately set out to lure them in.]

That had been the case with Collin, the one who had failed to become a Demonkin. When Kriel approached in full armor, Collin had not thought him a Servant of the Abyss despite his vicious appearance, at least not until Tuon dramatically started saying all sorts of things.

“Unless it’s an ancient artifact on the level of the Temple Gate, there’s no way anyone would recognize me. And with the necklace Morgina gave me, it’s only natural that they won’t recognize me unless I raise my Blood Energy right in front of them.”

[But it recognized you?]

“That’s what it seemed like.”

Kriel recalled that moment.

The instant the Deceit Cup entered his field of vision, the world suddenly blurred.

It was unlike fog or shadows obscuring his sight. It felt as though everything had slipped out of focus.

When nothing in the world was in focus, only the silvery glow of the Deceit Cup shone clearly. Its flawless silver made it all the more ominous.

The cup whispered.

Kriel could instinctively sense its profound interest in him.

『You and I share the same goal…』

It was a chilling voice.

There was nothing especially bizarre about the sound itself. It had none of the inhuman flatness or cracked quality of metal scraping against metal. Taken individually, each voice sounded ordinary.

Yet it felt as though the speaker changed with every syllable. The word “you” had the whispering voice of an old woman. The next syllable had the high, bright voice of a child whose gender was impossible to tell. By the time it reached “I,” it had become a deep bass like that of an opera singer.

Something like a chimera of voices whispered to Kriel.

Without thinking, he raised his Battle Aura. His Bloodlust and Resentment tried to answer the call as if they did not know their place, but even in his confusion, Kriel kept his reason. He suppressed the Dark Knight’s powers and smashed the heirloom.

[No, idiot, that wasn’t calm!]

Wasn’t that just getting startled and throwing a punch on reflex?

Kriel scratched his head.

“Wasn’t it calm if I still had enough judgment not to use dark mana?”

Orisin dismissed Kriel’s pathetic excuse and reviewed the account.

At the level of Demonic Beasts like Tushkin Gabi and Collin Lir, they could not sense Kriel’s presence as a Dark Knight unless he revealed it himself.

Satranak, the Demonkin who had possessed Gratuon, had been similar. Satranak had not recognized Kriel through his presence, but through logical deduction based on the circumstances and the Blood Energy Kriel had used.

In other words, even a Demonkin could not see through Kriel’s disguise.

‘Though I can’t be completely certain with only one Demonkin specimen.’

[Whoever is reaching into this family has to be at least a Demonkin. More likely, a Demon.]

Kriel agreed with Orisin.

That unpleasant presence lay beyond what an ordinary servant of the Abyss could possess. It was not a Servant of the Abyss, but one of their masters. A Demon had to be involved.

Even at the lowest estimate, it had to be a Demonkin with considerable experience.

“The current Imperial Chancellor is from the Lir Family, right?”

[You told me that in the Gate City. If they swallow the Lir Family, can they shake the Empire?]

One name came to Kriel and Orisin’s minds.

The name of the Archdemon Tushkin Gabi had shouted as he died.

Grikenkos.

The mood in the room sank at the mention of a Demon. After the Demon King War ended in Tirnanog’s victory, was there any greater threat left in this world?

“Master, this will not do. I’ll cover the crow emblem well enough, so wear this uniform. It looks the best.”

The maid Demon Sword’s solemn words broke the heavy silence.

* * *

A great many words were exchanged at the Lir Family council, but the meeting’s subject eventually narrowed to a single question.

‘Where is the Truth Cup?’

“Silence, everyone.”

In place of the family head, who was serving as Imperial Chancellor, Nawiden Lir presided over the meeting. He was respected by every member of the Lir Family, whether from the direct or collateral line.

“First, let us invite Sir Kriel, who revealed that the Truth Cup stored in the vault was a counterfeit.”

The meeting room doors opened, and Kriel entered.

His pale hair, gleaming like bones, and his red eyes, seemingly filled with resentment, were as imposing as ever.

His attire softened that impression.

He wore a luxurious uniform clearly made by a master craftsman. His hair was neatly combed back. He looked strong and stern, like a high-ranking officer in the Imperial military.

He looked quite different from how he had looked upon arriving at the estate. The Lir blood relatives gathered in the meeting hall focused on Kriel.

“Greetings. I am Kriel, invited here as a witness to this matter.”

Kriel had given the matter considerable thought before coming here.

His greatest concern had been how to answer the question, ‘How did you realize the cup was fake?’

He had planned to use Orisin as an excuse again, as he had in the Gate City.

Surprisingly, though, no one asked the question he had anticipated.

“I heard you pointed out similarities between the Poison Ring and the Truth Cup.”

“That is correct.”

“You also resolved the trouble afflicting a village within our family’s territory.”

“That is also correct.”

“Could you tell us the locations of other villages where Abyss-related incidents involving Monsters have occurred?”

A large map of the surrounding region, drawn in considerable detail, lay on the table.

Kriel marked the locations of villages where Monsters or Abyssal corruption had appeared.

“Thank you. If a Servant of the Abyss capable of handling an artifact like the Poison Ring was active, Monsters must have been stirred up alongside them. We will begin our search around these locations.”

Though they had all met him for the first time, not one person doubted his testimony.

It was quite an unusual experience for Kriel.

During a break in the meeting, Kriel asked Nawiden why.

“Hm? So you are asking why our family does not suspect you, Sir Kriel?”

“Yes.”

“Ha ha. We suspected someone we should not have suspected and sent them to prison. We failed to suspect what we should have and lost our heirloom. What need is there to doubt a knight who exposed the plot against our family for all to see?”

Wow. This was a first.

A small but genuine warmth settled in Kriel’s heart.

* * *

After that, nothing related to Kriel remained on the council’s agenda.

The family announced that, since the Truth Cup was difficult to use immediately, they would find the most talented Spiritist among those in the Lir Family currently able to act.

Even as Orisin considered how they should deal with a Demon alongside Kriel, Orisin could not give up the hope of meeting a Spiritist.

Not long after the meeting ended, someone knocked on the door of Kriel’s guest room.

“Sir Kriel. It is Oife.”

[Oh. It seems the Spiritist is here already! Who did she bring? Or is it that elf from yesterday?]

Orisin spoke eagerly.

Kriel, however, focused on Oife’s trailing words.

“Uh... the Lir Family promised... No, is this right?”

“Hey, why are you taking so long? I even played word-chain games with that friend! We promised to drink together too! I did all that!”

[Ah.]

The hope drained from Orisin’s voice.

[That is the voice of a strange elf.]

As Tuon’s conclusive comment finished off Orisin’s hopes, the door flew open.

“Greetings! Your meal companion, Alberic, has arrived!”

[Excuse me! Excuse me, Oife! Nawiden said he would send a talented elf!]

Oife lowered her head.

Her young master was too embarrassing to show to others.

“Ah, it’s simple. I am the most talented elf Spiritist, after all!”

[What?]

“The young master inherited Lady Fand’s blood, in other words, the blood of the World Tree Elves. The young master is descended from those who live alongside the most primordial nature, so they truly possess the greatest talent as a Spiritist in the current Lir Family.”

[No!]

“Come on, come on. Get over here. Let’s start by looking at your back!”

[Ahhh! This guy is a quack!]

“It will only sting a little!”

Amid the commotion, Oife sighed and discreetly approached the door to close it.

That was not all.

Oife cast a sound-blocking spell over the room, followed by several detection spells.

Spells activated one after another in layers, as befitted the Lir Family’s covert guard.

Kriel watched carefully.

“Alberic.”

“Hm?”

“Oife has finished securing the room. Shall we get to the point?”