Ankoku Kishi Monogatari ~Yuusha wo Taosu Tameni Maou ni Shoukansaremashita~

Chapter 72.1: Headless Knight

◆Leyak and Headless Knight

A knight mounted on a horse, running under the moonlight.

I enjoyed such time, strolling in the middle of the night while being carried around by that knight.

Though I felt that becoming Zand-sama was a great honor, it was really inconvenient due to my lack of feet.

That’s why I was being carried by my one and only knight.

「What do you feel right now after becoming my knight, Marchas-san? Normally, it’s impossible for someone as weak as you to wear armor.」

I asked so while looking at the knight carrying me.

He was donned in splendid armor and rode a nice horse.

All of these were things we received from Zand-sama thus making him look like a real knight.

He was by no means a suitable man to become a knight. So, I turned him into a special kind of knight. That’s why it was only natural for him to thank me for turning him into a splendid knight.

But, he didn’t give a reply.

「Fufufu, you can’t answer huh.」

I was smiling at him.

Well it was natural, for he has no head.

My headless knight《Dullahan》 was running under the moonlight on the back of his horse,《Cóiste-bodhar》.

The night wind felt so comfortable.

I became weak against the sunlight after I became a spirit. That’s why I really enjoyed my night strolls.

I don’t mind even if we are seen by people.

Because I just need to kill anyone who happens to witness our night stroll.

My 《Dullahan》 has already beheaded two people tonight.

Humans were such frail creatures that they would die when their head gets separated from their body. Such poor creatures.

How can weak creatures like them keep living in this world?

I only felt a deep gratitude toward Zand-sama who allowed me to be reborn from such weak creatures.

The reborn me became stronger. I mean, the current me could use powerful magic. Even without my 《Dullahan》, I was strong enough to make a strong man prostrate in front of me.

「Oh my? Do we have another guest tonight?」

I felt another sign of a living person on the way ahead of us.

I ordered my knight to draw his sword.

His sword will behead that person ahead of us as soon as he pulls it out of its sheath. I mean, the likes of humans wouldn’t be able to catch the movements of my knight.

Or so I thought. My knight suddenly came to a stand still.

「Eh? Is something the matter? Won’t you behead that person’s head?」

What’s happened to my knight? Why wasn’t he moving despite my order?

I looked at the people who stood in our way.

One of them wore jet-black armor. He looks just like the description of the Dark Knight that I’d heard from Zand-sama.

Is he the one who stopped my 《Dullahan》?

In addition, there was a figure of a woman standing behind that Dark Knight.

「My apologies but, may I ask you to stop?」

The Dark Knight spoke with a gentle tone to me as he bowed politely.

He was a polite man, but the pressure emitted from his entire body didn’t allow me to refuse.

Even my knight flinched in front of such terrifying pressure. I mean, was he so strong to the point of intimidating an undead who already lost their emotions?

「May I ask your business?」

I asked with a slightly displeased voice.

「Eehm… Business aside… That headless body over there… is Marchas’ body, right?」

I was really surprised. This Dark Knight actually realized that my 《Dullahan》 was actually Marchas’ body.

Why did he know that Marchas had already turned into 《Dullahan》 even though it happened just a while ago?

「Yeah, you’re right. The problem is, how did you know about that?」

I sent a bone chilling glare toward the Dark Knight. I couldn’t see his face since it was hidden by his helmet.

「A~h, as I thought… So this is the reason why I felt that something happened to Marchas’ body, I never expected for him to have ended up like this.」

The Dark Knight shook his head.

「Are you, Marchas-san’ acquaintance?」

Is that why he came all the way to this place?

Could it be that he came to avenge Marchas?

「Well… even if you ask me that question, I just happened to meet him yesterday… Ha~h… what should I do about this situation now?」

Though I couldn’t see the Dark Knight’s face, I knew that he was making a troubled face under his helmet right now.

I had no idea why he came to this place and he seems to be slightly irritated too.

Suddenly, my gaze fell on the woman who stood behind the Dark Knight.

The woman was looking at me, trembling non-stop from head to toe.

Then, I noticed.

「Oh my, it’s been a while, isn’t it?」

I was smiling as I greeted the trembling woman.

I remember that I’d met her before.

She should be a member of the same troupe as Marchas. Her name should be Sienna.

Sienna was looking at me, eyes wide open. Her face was as pale as well.

「Do you know her, Sienna?」

The Dark Knight asked Sienna for confirmation.

Sienna nodded, still trembling from head to toe.

「Y-Yes!! S-She came to join the troupe before!!」

Sienna couldn’t speak properly since she was still trembling non-stop.

「Was she already like that at that time… I mean just her head alone?」

「N-No!! S-She was still human back then!!」

The Dark Knight nodded upon hearing Sienna’s words.

「I see… in short, someone turned her into her current form. Excuse me, can you tell me about the one who turned you into your current state?」

Should I tell him about Zand-sama? I mean, I clearly felt hostility emanating from the Dark Knight’s entire being.

「Why should I tell you about that person?」

After saying so, I launched myself high in the air, separating myself from my 《Dullahan》’s arm.

This Dark Knight is dangerous. I have to get away from this place.

「Sorry but, I’ll make you to spit that person’s name out even if I have to force you!!」

The Dark Knight then stepped forward towards me.

「MY SERVANT!! STOP THAT MAN AND BUY SOME TIME FOR ME TO ESCAPE!!」

I ordered my 《Dullahan》 to stop the Dark Knight.

The 《Dullahan》spit out black blood from the cross-section at his neck.

The black blood went around my 《Dullahan》, casting pale blue light as if it had its own will.

This black blood was commonly known as 《Curse Blood》. Anyone who bathes in this blood will die in agony after seven days.

And the 《Curse Blood》 went towards Sienna.

This curse blood might not work against the Dark Knight. That’s why it was targeting Sienna.

「Black Flame Barrier!!」

Black flame gushed out from the Dark Knight’s body, forming a barrier around Sienna and protecting her from the black blood.

Honestly speaking, I should’ve assisted my 《Dullahan》 with magic but my priority was to leave this place as fast as possible.

And I would even use my 《Dullahan》 to stall the Dark Knight.

I was flying in a hurry in the air.

「Do you really think that you can get away from this place?」

Suddenly, I heard a bone chilling voice come from behind as a hand grabbed me.

The one who grabbed me turned my face around.

There, I saw a silver haired beauty.

I felt an unspeakable danger from this beauty.

「Zand-sama!!」

Save me, Zand-sama.

But, the connection that should’ve always existed between us… was gone.

「Resistance is futile. Kuna has set a barrier around this place. You can’t run, mutt. Now, it’s time for you to spit out more information about that Zand to Kuroki.」

The silver haired beauty let out a derisive laugh as she said those words.

***

◆Dark Knight; Kuroki

I burned Katia’s head with black flame.

I’ve already asked for all the information I needed with help from Kuna’s magic. All that was left was letting that woman called Katia ascend.

As for why I burned her, it’s because I couldn’t bear to see her anymore.

I would never think that she was truly an unfortunate woman, neither did the environment around her.

Rather, she might be amongst the fortunate ones.

And yet, she actually overlooked such a simple fact.

I burned her thoroughly since I couldn’t bear to see it anymore. This was my selfish decision.