WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Oblivious

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◈ The Weakest Knight Became a Swordmaster, But Only in Dungeons ◈

Chapter 22: Violet (1)

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Violet Blackgarden arrived at some ruins in a carriage.

‘Demonic energy...’

An intense demonic energy trail led beneath the ruins.

Violet was one of the rare humans with a constitution that allowed her to sense demonic energy. It was as if the demonic energy were flowing there specifically for her.

Violet tightly gripped her staff with both hands. Her hands trembled.

She recalled what had happened.

Just as during the incident on the first day of school, when the train fell into a Dungeon, a bizarre voice made of demonic energy had come to Violet in her dormitory.

─ “Child of Blackgarden. I have your mother safely in my care. Won’t you come find her?”

─ “Please come alone. I would like you to know that I am watching you.”

The voice rang unpleasantly through her mind, like nails scratching across a chalkboard.

Violet left the knight school and used a communication station to ask her family about her mother’s safety. External communication was forbidden at the school.

Her family replied that her mother had gone missing and that everyone was in an uproar.

After much deliberation, Violet had come alone to the place the blackmailer had told her about.

“What a childish threat...”

Violet’s eyes had turned cold.

Click, click.

Using the demonic energy as her guide, Violet descended into the ruins and passed through a complicated maze.

As she went, Violet secretly left faint traces of mana along every path she passed through. They could not be detected immediately and would only manifest after some time.

In case someone came looking for her.

She could not make any more obvious preparations. Since she could sense demonic energy, she knew that a Demonkin was truly watching her.

Before long, Violet reached a secret passage.

Beyond it...

Whoooosh.

A Gate came into view. The demonic energy led there.

“A trap...”

Violet glared at the Gate.

It was surely a trap.

But she could not turn back. The life of the person most precious to her was at stake.

Drawing up her mana, Violet entered.

* * *

“Ugh, it reeks.”

Ah, I almost stepped in some weird liquid.

Why does it smell so horrible?

‘Damn it, why did they make a Gate in a place like this?’

This was the place where a Gate Break occurred in Chapter 3 of the original story, and where Violet, the boss Undead Lord, appeared.

I had arrived at the underground maze beneath those ruins.

If Violet’s disappearance incident was underway, a Demonkin would have been watching her, so I could not follow too closely.

That was why I had kept my distance.

If Violet had entered the Gate by now, the Demonkin watching her would have immediately entered as well.

‘Oh, there it is.’

I saw something like fine pink dust. It was a trace of mana.

You could only find it here during Chapter 1, Act 7 of <Elwi>. It was easy to guess that Violet had left it behind.

In the original story, following these traces of mana led to the Gate.

Entering that Dungeon triggered an event where you were defeated by powerful enemies and got a game over.

‘But who am I?’

A Dungeon Swordmaster.

All my current stats were D+.

Starting from D-rank, whenever an attribute reached a plus grade, its value in Swordmaster state also rose by one level.

In other words, they would become A+.

The difference of one level at high ranks would be enormous. I should be able to defeat the enemies without much difficulty.

If I wiped out every enemy inside, there would be no danger of my identity getting out. Any communication magic they had would be blocked inside the Dungeon too.

Even if there were an unexpected variable, I could immediately detect and destroy it with my Swordmaster state’s sense of presence and mana detection.

Thinking that, I hurried through the maze.

Whoooosh.

I arrived at the Gate.

This Gate appeared right after Violet disappeared.

The original story mentioned that the Demonkin had created it to lure Violet into the Dungeon.

‘Time to meet the Demon King Army officers.’

The Demon King Army was a separate faction from the enemies rooted in the knight school who sought Elise’s power.

They were remnants of the fallen Demon King Army, dreaming of its glorious revival as they searched for the next candidate to become Demon King.

Violet must have looked like a fine vessel for the next Demon King in their eyes.

The Demonkin from the train incident, Orankel of the Red Eyes, had also once belonged to the Demon King Army. That was why Orankel of the Red Eyes had shown interest in Violet despite being part of a different faction.

The Demon King Army must have planned to raise Violet into a new Demon King in this Dungeon.

Which meant...

‘All I have to do is beat the hell out of them without holding back.’

All right, Demon King Army. Stick your necks out and wait.

Hoo.

After taking a deep breath, I crossed the Gate.

[Activating the unique ability “Swordmaster’s Soul”!]

Let’s go pick up our Violet.

* * *

Violet liked necromancy.

During her innocent childhood, when she had first begun studying black magic, she had proudly shown it off to her mother.

Whether it was a blessing or a misfortune, the girl had exceptional talent for black magic.

At first, her mother had looked at Violet with concern. Soon, however, she praised her and told her how amazing she was.

Other people were different. Whether it was her family or high society, everyone insulted and rejected Violet for being a Black Mage.

Necromancy was an evil power.

The idea that magic itself was not a sin had become widespread, making necromancy legal. Yet the scars black magic had left on history still ran deep.

Whenever Violet was sad, her mother comforted her.

─ “Violet, you just have to show people how wonderful black magic is.”

─ “How wonderful black magic is!”

─ “Y-Yes, that. Wonderful!”

─ “Wow...!”

Though everyone else rejected black magic, her mother alone accepted it.

Because she had been there, Violet had been able to live without being intimidated, even if she had become very shy around others.

─ “What do you want to become, Violet?”

─ “I want to become a Black Magic Knight who protects people with necromancy...”

That was why she had formed a dream as a child.

Caw, caw!

Crows cried out, hungry for flesh.

The sky was filled with ominous red clouds, while a ruined black castle sat atop a hill.

Large black crosses stood all around as if the area were a graveyard, and black flowers bloomed everywhere.

Fwoooosh!

“Urgh!”

A storm carrying demonic energy sent Violet flying.

Her undead servants protected her. Thanks to them, Violet suffered only minor injuries, but the servants were helplessly smashed apart.

Violet released a powerful basic wind spell and landed safely on the ground.

Her unconscious mother hung from one of the many crosses. She appeared to have been struck by magic.

The binding magic around the cross had already thwarted Violet’s attempt to secretly send a small undead servant to free her mother.

No matter what she tried, it was useless because a Demonkin thwarted her.

[That’s quite a scary look you have there. I told you, you can just give up. Or would you listen if I tore off one of your mother’s arms first? Ah, maybe I should let those bird-brained creatures have a bite each?]

Silver hair. Blood-red skin and spike-shaped horns. A Demonkin with a slender body covered by a dark gray cloak.

Demon Cerys sat cross-legged atop a black cross, looking down at Violet as though she were ridiculous.

Her voice grated like something being scraped. It was the same voice as the Demonkin who had threatened Violet.

Violet glared murderously at the Demonkin.

“Stop it...!”

[Then do as I said. Become our new lord. We’ll serve you very, very well. You only need to say one thing. “I will become king.” Then the contract will be complete.]

Huge red letters floated in the air behind Demon Cerys.

Violet could not understand the language, but from the circumstances, she could tell it was some kind of ominous contract magic.

“...Manifest.”

At Violet’s Word Command, undead servants carrying pink mana rose to their feet.

Demon Cerys let out a deep sigh.

[Haah. Why won’t you give up? What do you think you can do with those disobedient undead servants? Your defense is excellent, but you can’t attack. You can’t attack. Look, see? You stalled for time, and that one has arrived too.]

Bwoooooom!

“!”

Suddenly, green mist surged in from Violet’s left.

Wherever the mist passed, the black flowers withered and rotted away in an instant. It was poisonous fog magic that stole life.

Feeling the danger, a bird undead servant scattered the poisonous fog with its beating wings.

Violet turned to the left with trembling eyes.

A strangely distorted being approached with long strides, wearing a crow mask and a black robe.

Its arms had one joint too many, and it held a lantern scattering green light.

Violet recognized that light as demonic energy.

[You seem to have excellent talent for necromancy. Your flaws still appear significant, but I believe you can overcome them soon enough. You seem fit to serve as our new lord.]

[You came too? I suppose this Black Mage interested you that much?]

[Yes. She is a vessel I desire greatly.]

A long mouth opened beneath the crow mask, revealing sharp teeth.

A long tongue slid out between them as the creature licked its lips.

[Excellent. When you are reborn as the perfect Demon King, what a calamity you will become...! Ah, I look forward to it. I truly look forward to it!]

The crow mask cackled, raising its voice higher and higher.

Whoooooosh!!

A fierce storm of demonic energy rose in the sky. It was green poisonous fog.

Then a massive black bird appeared, wrapped in thick poisonous fog around its wings as it tore through the red clouds.

Krrrrumble!!

The scattered clouds roared with thunder and lightning.

Amid the booming noise, the enormous monster bird looked down at Violet with its three pairs of eyes.

The moment Violet felt the immense quantity of demonic energy the bird radiated, she was certain.

No matter what she did, she could not escape their grasp.

[Would it not be best for you to stop resisting!? You who possess the qualities of a sovereign! Please, allow us to serve you!!]

The crow mask cried out passionately.

[Screeeeeech!!]

At the same time, Poisonous Monster Bird Popus let out a strange cry.

Fwoooosh!

An enormous wave of demonic energy poured down from Poisonous Monster Bird Popus, violently whipping Violet’s dust-covered hair and clothes.

“Haa...!”

Violet steadied her breathing and placed a hand on the sword hilt at her waist.

The cursed sword, Dansel.

If she drew this sword, she could somehow kill at least one of them.

But she soon shut her eyes tightly and abandoned that thought.

Her mother was being held hostage, and the gap in their strength was unmistakable.

“King...”

If she spoke the one sentence they wanted, she could save her mother.

She only had to abandon her dream.

Even if her life plunged so far into the abyss that death would be preferable. Even if she became horrifically broken.

As long as she could save the person more precious to her than anyone else in this world, then that was all that mattered.

After agonizing over it again and again, Violet lowered her hand from the hilt. Demon Cerys’s lips curled upward.

“Promise me that you will not touch my mother or my friend...”

[More than a promise, I swear it. We were never interested in them to begin with. You were our only objective. Well, it is also the will of the lord we will serve, so of course we should grant it.]

Violet placed a hand over her chest and took a deep breath.

Then, the light-brown-haired man called the weakest at Griffin Knight School suddenly came to mind.

‘Mr. Hazely...’

Ron Hazely.

The second person who had accepted her. And the first friend she had ever made.

She wanted to see him desperately.

She wanted to spend more time with him.

But she decided that this was enough.

‘Thanks to you, I was truly happy.’

Thank you, Mr. Hazely.

For giving me memories good enough to be more than I deserve.

Ssssss.

[Oh...!]

The contract text floating in the air responded to Violet’s will, glowing more brightly in red.

Violet’s voice fell softly.

“I... king...”

Then...

“VIOLET!!”

Kuuuuuum!

A powerful shout carrying mana filled the sky.

“......!”

Violet and the two Demonkin were all startled.

Fwoooosh!!

Suddenly, blue flames of enormous force bloomed in the sky.

Like flames devouring oil in an instant, the blue fire consumed the poisonous fog storm surrounding Poisonous Monster Bird Popus and began devouring its massive body.

The red sky was suddenly covered in blue.

[Screeeeeech!!]

Poisonous Monster Bird Popus twisted its body wildly as it let out a desperate scream.

[What is that! What the hell came...!? Huh!?]

A chill ran down Demon Cerys’s spine. She leaped to her feet.

The mana was so vast that even her instincts warned her.

She could feel that something which should never have come here had arrived.

Then a flash of light flickered.

Slaaaaash!!

A fierce silver-gray mana slash cleaved through Poisonous Monster Bird Popus and shot toward Demon Cerys like an arrow.

[Are you insane!!]

Demon Cerys recoiled in shock and quickly kicked off the cross to evade it.

The silver-gray slash cut through the cross, tore through the ground, and exploded.

Booooom!!

Rumble!

Some of the black crosses around them collapsed, and the binding magic restraining Violet’s mother was helplessly destroyed.

Then an unidentified figure kicked off Poisonous Monster Bird Popus and shot forward.

Fwoosh!

A shockwave erupted.

He reached the ground in an instant and effortlessly caught Violet’s mother as she fell from the cross.

Immediately afterward, Poisonous Monster Bird Popus’s corpse fell and crashed into the ground.

Boom!

The earth shook, and a thick cloud of dust rose.

The crows screamed and flew about in panic as black feathers drifted down like snow.

Poisonous Monster Bird Popus.

That powerful magical beast had been defeated far too absurdly easily.

“Mother...!”

Violet set aside her confusion and questions to seek out her mother first.

Through the slowly clearing dust, a man approached while holding an unconscious woman in both arms.

Violet’s eyes widened. She could not accept the sight before her.

The person approaching while carrying her mother was a light-brown-haired man with two extraordinary swords at his waist.

“Mr. Hazely...?”

Her friend.

Ron Hazely.

Ron bent one knee and carefully lowered the woman he had been carrying before Violet.

Violet immediately pulled her mother into an embrace.

“Ah...! Sniff...”

Deep emotion welled up inside her, but Violet desperately held it back. Her mind was in utter turmoil.

“How... did this happen?”

Violet barely managed to speak in a voice thick with tears. Her voice trembled endlessly.

“What else would it be?”

Wanting to reassure Violet, Ron gave her the innocent smile he had always shown her.

“I came here to help you. That’s all.”

“......”

“Wait here, Violet.”

Ron turned his gaze toward the Demonkin. His expression quickly cooled into something emotionless.

A clear blue glint carrying resolute killing intent shone from his eyes.

“I’ll finish this quickly.”

Violet could not close her mouth. She could not think of anything to say.

With the clouds swept away, it was as though a huge hole had opened in the red sky.

Sunlight poured down beneath it, exalting Ron as if in reverence.

The crows had already fled in terror.

[What are you doing! You can never beat that! We have to run, quickly...!]

As Demon Cerys flew toward the crow-masked Demonkin and shouted urgently...

Wooooooom!

[Ah...!]

Terrifying mana pressed down over the entire area as though it possessed physical force.

It felt as if their whole bodies were being crushed. Their survival instincts screamed urgently. The Demonkin almost dropped to their knees without realizing it.

Ron walked toward the two Demonkin with Violet behind him.

Boom!!

The remaining black crosses, which had barely been standing, could not withstand the oppressive force of the Swordmaster’s mana and collapsed one after another.

Demon Cerys broke out in a cold sweat. At the very least, she was certain what kind of being her opponent was.

[A... Swordmaster...]

It was impossible to escape from that man.

Shiiing.

Ravenous Wolf Sword Kalzak left its sheath, its cold sword cry sharply cutting through the air.

“Nice to meet you, you damned Demonkin.”

Swordmaster Ron Hazely.

He opened his mouth as silver-gray wolf’s breath streamed from him.

“I came to take my friend home.”

Footnotes:

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