Vol 3 Chapter 1.2 (2/2)
I cast thunderbolt repeatedly around the thieves as a payback for their insults.
The sudden magic attack threw them into a state of panic momentarily, but they soon regained their calmness and launched themselves at me.
I braced myself and cast magic on my sword, enveloping it with lightning.
“Ye got a strange looking sword there. Ye won’t be able to cut anything with that, ye know.” [Thief]
One of the thief threw that remark upon seeing my sword.
It was certainly not an ordinary shaped sword; The shape of the blade is jagged like a lightning bolt.
“Hmph, a bunch of fools. You don’t understand the magnificence of this sword!” [Youki]
I evaded the thief’s attack with ease and slashed at him, paralysing him with the lightning and knocking him unconscious.
It would certainly be hard to slice through things with this sword, but it didn’t really matter since I would be using lightning attack with it. It would be fine as long as I could defeat my opponents.
I began annihilating the thieves with the combination of my magic and swordsmans.h.i.+p. The instant I reduced their numbers by half, they started fleeing the scene.
This might have been their strategy from the start, but I wouldn’t let them escape since the situation this time was different from when I fought against the muscled apes.
I knocked all of them unconscious one after another and bound them.
“Fuu, it’ll be over once I hand them to the knights from the nearby town.” [Youki]
The moment I had that thought, I heard the sound of footsteps coming close.
It didn’t seem to be just one person.
“Who are you?!”
The one emerging from the darkness of the night was a knight in armour. Could it be that our fight had caused too much ruckus?
It seemed that the commotion had drawn the attention of the knights on patrol.
“Hmph, I’m Magic Knight of Black Lightning… Hm?” [Youki]
As more knights gradually made their appearances, I noticed someone familiar among them.
That seemed to be Raven… and Duke next to him.
All of them were in armours, but if one were to take a close look at only Duke, you would notice metal fittings connecting his helmet to his armour.
“Hmm? Were you the one who did this to these guys?!” [Knight]
One of the knights had apparently gotten the wrong idea.
He seemed to have misunderstood me as a thief who had attacked these guys.
I guess it couldn’t be helped. Considering all the misunderstandings I had caused when I was working on my quests, I had understood it well that my outfit would give people the wrong impression.
The way things stood, I would end up getting drawn into needless trouble.
Should I just take my leave?
“I’m not sure what you’re misunderstanding there, but… my name is Magic Knight of Black Thunder! These guys are thieves and I am someone who was despatched by the guild to subjugate these people. Now that I’ve completed my mission, I’ll let you guys handle the rest… Farewell!” [Youki]
“Wha-!? Oi, hold it right there!” [Knight]
After saying what I wanted, I leaped backwards and activated ‘Vanis.h.i.+ng Wave’, fading into the darkness and disappearing from his sight.
“d.a.m.n it… Search for him. He shouldn’t have gone that far.” [Knight]
I had indeed disappeared from his sight, but I hadn’t actually gone far away.
Even though the first knight who had discovered me gave the command, the rest of the knights were in a state of panic.
That reaction of theirs was a given, though, since someone suddenly disappeared from their sight.
I decided to leave this place as is.
However, before I could do so, I heard the sound of a handbell coming from Raven.
…Was he trying to calm the agitated knights?
After confirming that all the knights had settled down, he whispered something to Duke.
“Raven’s… I mean this is the instruction from commander. You don’t need to pursue that person earlier. These people seem to be the thieves from Raven’s list of wanted criminals, so we will be apprehending them.” [Duke]
Duke gave the command on behalf of Raven.
…Was this how they usually operate?
How on earth did Raven instruct the knights before Duke joined?
The knights then began to make a move as instructed by Duke, no, as instructed by Raven. The knight who wanted to pursue me looked slightly discontented, though.
As the knights hauled the thieves away, Duke and Raven stayed behind to inspect the area. I, on the other hand, remained in the same place while still being invisible.
I had somehow ended up staying behind as well as I wanted to see how the group of knights operate.
“…Sorry, Duke. You had to give the command in my place. It’s hard to give them the instruction with my memo since it’s too dark.” [Raven]
“Seriously. Please graduate from your handbell soon.” [Duke]
Duke shook his head in resignation.
Well, it would certainly be impossible to convey a message through memo in the dark, and it was inefficient to use a written memo for every single thing, too.
He should at least try taking the first step while he was with the group of knights.
“I understand it, but… I’m really sorry.” [Raven]
“If you’re really feeling apologetic, then do something about it. At this rate, you’ll not make any progress in your romance.” [Duke]
Raven’s face stiffened.
The words earlier must have hit his sore spot.
What he said was true, but Duke sure hit him where it hurts most.
“…I will do my best.” [Raven]
“Then it’s fine. Raven should go back first. I’ll be done with this patrol soon.” [Duke]
“Yeah… I’ll leave it to you. By the way, was that person earlier… Magic Knight of Black Lightning? Somehow…” [Raven]
“Ahh, just go back quickly. The doc.u.ments about the thieves apprehended earlier will be out soon.” [Duke]
“True. Then I’ll return first… Sigh.” [Raven]
Raven’s shoulders seemed to droop a little as he made his way back.
…His appearance from behind seemed sorrowful, as though he was fading into the darkness of night as well, further intensifying his melancholic aura.
I should probably invite Raven along the next time I go somewhere.
“Now then. You’re still here, right? Captain?” [Duke]
Duke began glancing around all of a sudden.
Why did he stay behind? Also, how did he know that I am Magic Knight of Black Lightning?
At the moment, I was in my incomplete demon form.
My voice should have been different, too, due to the helmet over my head.
Well, it would be fine as long as I didn’t reveal myself.
There was no need to hide myself from him, but it would be much cooler to conclude this incident as a mysterious individual.
“It’s fine if you don’t wish to reveal yourself, but you should come to your senses soon. I don’t know when you started this Magic Knight of Black Lightning business, but… whenever you do this kind of thing, you will always end up regretting it. Right, Captain? Well, I’ve given you the advice, so I’m going back.” [Duke]
Duke waved his hand in a broad arc before leaving, probably because he didn’t know where I was.
I cancelled the ‘Vanis.h.i.+ng Wave’ spell and began pondering over the events that had transpired.
Since Raven and the rest had hauled the thieves away, the mission was completed.
It had ended, in many ways…
“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!”
After I completed my mission and listened to the conversation between Raven and Duke, my state of mind seems to have returned to normal.
Duke’s words then dealt the finis.h.i.+ng blow.
I would always end up regretting it… It was true, wasn’t it?
I couldn’t help but to shout out loud at this conclusion.
I took off what I was wearing and changed back to my usual attire in a hurry.
After shoving the chuuni outfit into the bag, I began to run back as I yelled.
“WHAT THE HECK WAS I DOING–?!!” [Youki]
I found out about it at a later date, but it seemed that Duke had heard my voice. My only saving grace was that Raven hadn’t heard me, probably because he was too depressed that he hadn’t paid attention.
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