Dark Knight Kroki

'Ugh. ....... It doesn't work. Dr. Kuroki: .......

　Pollen laments as he gets down on all fours on the ground.
　Apparently Polen is just as clumsy as he is.

'Your Highness. 'Don't be discouraged,' he said. We'll just have to get the tools again.

　Finally recovering from Polen's fart, Puchina comforts Polen.

'Ugh~. Puchina...''

　Pollen destroyed all the training tools he had prepared.
　This doesn't allow him to practice the sword.
　But even so, it's a great power.
　Every time Polen swings the wooden sword, a large hole is created in the ground.
　Regardless of his sword talent, if it was only power, he would be one of the strongest.
　However, that's why the wooden sword is lost every time he swings it.
　Pollen is depressed about that.

''Your Highness!　Don't be discouraged!　No one can do it right the first time!

　I'll tell you a lie.
　According to the story, Rage was a guy who could do everything from the beginning.
　That's why some people can do it well from the beginning, d*mn it. I encourage him with tears in my heart.

'Is it true ......?'

　Polen looks at himself with tears in his eyes as he encourages her.

'Yes, I couldn't do it well at first either. After a lot of practice, I got better at it.

　This is true.
　I wasn't the type of person who could do everything from the beginning.
　At one point, I thought it was pointless for me to work so hard.
　But nothing will change if you are depressed.
　People are not equal.
　You have to play the cards you have. Even if it is a pig.

So I'm sure your highness will be able to do better.

　Then he takes Pollen's hand and causes him to do so.
　It's quite heavy.
　Pollen is much smaller than I am.
　But I feel like he weighs many times more than I do.

'Yes!　I'll do my best!

　Pollen grabs his own hand and says emphatically.
　Not good ....... My hand is going to get crushed.

'Yes. Let's go for it.'

　But he answers like it's nothing.

"Interesting combination, isn't it?

　The voice is called out.
　Myself and Polen look at the owner of the voice.
　Now Polen, the son of the Demon King, is using the training grounds. No one is supposed to go near here.

''Geez!　Auntie!
'Heh!　Dear Mr. Herkert!

　Polen and Puchina look at the direction of the voice and panic.

'This is Lord Herkert. It's been a long time.'

　I thank the one who called out to me.
　The owner of the voice is Herkert, known as the Great Witch of the Swamp.
　She looks like an upright frog with three heads.
　She is a divine race subordinate to the Demon King Modes, just like Lugas.
　In terms of position, she is second in rank to the same Demon King as herself, and is of the same rank.
　By the way, she is Modes' nurturer, and sometimes Modes is not up to her.
　It's a good thing that you can't get away with it, because even the Demon King doesn't bow down to her, or perhaps because there are many people who fear her.

''Um~. Auntie. What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in the East Swamp: ......

　A cold sweat broke out on Polen's face.
　She was Modes' nurturer, and she is also Pollen's nurturer. Just like Modes, Polen seems to be unable to get a head start on Herkert.
　Herkert usually lives in the poisonous swamp far east of the Demon King's Castle and rarely comes out.
　I've even met her once myself in the past.
　I've met her once before, so it is very unusual for her to be here.

I heard from the women's courageous courtiers that the mantids have not been seen for a long time, so I came to check on them. 'Guess what, Guess what!

　Herkert starts laughing like a frog.

'Ugh~. That's so unnecessary~'

　The female mantis force is Herkert's family. Through them, Herukato can learn more about the castle.

Herukato-dono. Thank you for your help with Kuna.

　I say thank you.
　Herkert sometimes takes an apprentice only for women.
　Kuna had studied with Herukert once to become a strong woman.
　She was well-versed in medicine and herbology. In those areas, even Lugus, the god of knowledge, is no match for her.
　He had also learned the power of Phanakea, the goddess of medicine and medicinal herbs in Elyos, from her.
　It is said that he did not get along with Phanakea's mother, Feria, the goddess of marriage and childbirth.
　And after Modes left Elyos, he never communicated with her.

'Oh. 'Oh, that's okay. Black Storm. She was quite a teachable child, you know.

　Herkert waved his hand and told him not to worry about it.

'Well, that's good to hear,'

　I was actually worried about sending Kuna to train with Herkert.
　I wanted to go with him, but Herkert only takes women as his basic disciples. So I couldn't go with him myself.
　So it was a relief to hear that.

'But there's a part of me that doesn't know what I'm going to do if I take my eyes off him. You're in a tough spot, too. Yes, I've come all this way. I think we should go see the kid. You don't mind?
Yes. I don't mind.
Um, what are you talking about?

　Pollen, who didn't know Coona, tilted his head.

'Geez, geez. Come on, talk to me. More importantly, it's lunchtime. It's been a long time since we've had dinner together.







Polen, Princess of the Devil's World

　The Nebula Room is the dining room of the Demon King's Castle.
　However, unlike the Dark Hole Room where your father, the Demon King, eats, it is the dark knights and others under his command who eat there.
　But right now, we are the only ones in the room.
　The reason is because they refrained from me.
　The black marble ceiling is inlaid with jewels adorned with various stars, representing a nebula.
　The jewels shine themselves and this room is always bright.
　On the large dining table are insect dishes, a favorite of my aunt's.
　The insects are freshly caught in the Dark Forest to the south of Nargol.
　I put my favorite dish, fried giant locusts, into my mouth.
　The fragrant flavor and the superb oil is very tasty.
　I suddenly look at Dr. Kuroki.
　He hasn't made any progress with his meal.
　I don't think he's eaten even a twentieth of my food.
　I haven't eaten more than my aunt who loves stewed rotten flies and Poo-chan who is chewing on a hive full of beehives.

'What's wrong with you?　Doctor? You don't seem to be eating very well, do you?
'No, Your Highness Polen. I hope you don't mind, my dear. I don't usually eat much myself.

　The doctor only eats vegetables that are offered for cooking.

'Come to think of it, he prefers fruits and vegetables to meat. And he has a very small appetite.

　Poo-chan explains.

'It's a waste. It's so good.'

　I said and stuffed my mouth full of sweet and spicy small worms.

'Polenya. You're eating a little too much. The meat is all over the place. Your sword doesn't touch well.
Ugh!

　My aunt chides me.
　In fact, I had thought that I myself might be like that.
　When you swing a sword, the flesh of your joints gets in the way and you can't swing it well. Maybe I should lose weight.
　But I don't want to hold back on my favorite sweets.
　Lying down and eating my favorite fried slices of garlic is a bliss.
　It is outrageous to stop eating it.
　So we'll change the subject.

'Come to think of it, I haven't had dinner with your father ....... Buhihihihi.

　I laugh and cover it up and try to change the subject somehow.

'Totally, you haven't changed since you were a kid, have you? You change the subject whenever it becomes inconvenient.

　My aunt lets out a sigh.
　But I think my aunt saw through it.

''Your Highness. Why doesn't Modo ...... have dinner with His Majesty?

　The doctor asks with concern.
　He has a very serious look on his face.
　I get nervous when he looks at me like that.

'Well. That's ...... right? Since we fought once, it's kind of hard to ...... face to face with each other.

　I can feel my heart beating faster as I say it.

'I see. ....... That's right, Your Highness. Do you have a favorite food of yours?'

　The doctor ponders for a moment, then suddenly asks what your father's favorite food is.
　He comes up with something.
　What is it? I don't know. But I'll tell you what it is.

"Let's see. I think your father liked Kraken food: ......

　I say, remembering the old days.
　I think I used to drink a lot of alcohol while eating food with Kraken.

'I see. Well then, Your Highness. Why don't we go catch some kraken?

What, sir?　What's the matter with you all of a sudden?!

　I panic.
　Kraken are great sea animals that live in the North Sea.
　I hear it's quite a hassle to go and catch them. As a hermit, it is too difficult for me.

''Present the Kraken to His Majesty and dine with him. How about that as an opportunity to make up for it?

　The doctor nodded yes and said with a big smile.
　It was so refreshing.





◆Kuna, the White Silver Witch.

　Kuna and the others are in Kroki's mansion in Nargol.
　This mansion is not suitable for secret talks because the female knights, Guno and the others, are also in this mansion.
　However, as long as there is no castle of goji, we have no choice but to receive reports here.
　I've told Guno and the others to stay away from the room.
　So it should be fine for a while.

'The brave men are moving slowly. What's going on, Xand?
I don't understand. I don't know, Lady Kuna. But I'm sure he's on his way~.

　The clown Zand wriggles around.
　I am even more annoyed by the situation.
　It seems that the brave men are heading towards the castle of the Gotashi, but they are moving too slowly.
　Kuna doesn't like to be kept waiting by anyone other than Kroki.
　What are you doing, brave men?
　In fact, I think it's a good idea to see how the silly Datier will stand up to the brave men.

'Xand. Kuna doesn't like to be kept waiting. Go check it out. If you can, hurry the heroes along.
Okay. Lady Kuna.

　Then the clown disappears.

'What are you doing at all?'

　Kuna leaves the room.
　Now we have some time before Kroki comes back. How are we going to pass the time?

'Master Kuna!　Lady Kuna-ah!

　For a while, as I was thinking, Tiber, the Dark Fairy, came flying in with a panicked voice.

''What's wrong Tiber?　What's the fuss about?

　It's always May, but this panic is unusual.
''Lady Kuna!　Oh, my God!　Oh, my God!　The big frog is here!
What?!

　Kuna panicked at the words.
　There is only one person Tiber calls the Great Toad, the great witch Herkert of the swamp.
　The vanguard of Herkert's vanguard, the female mantis and the toadman, is a natural enemy of Tiber and the faeries. They are probably the ones you don't want coming.
　If you listen carefully, you can see that the faeries that have taken up residence in this mansion without permission are in a hurry.

It's not just a matter of time before you get to know them. If you don't want to see them, stay back.

　With that, Kuna goes to the reception room.
　I'm going to meet Herkert here.

I'm sorry to bother you. It's a rather noisy house by the way.

　Helkert comes in, guided by the woman Damon's guuno.
　Herkert, the great witch of the swamp, is an opponent that even the Demon King has to look at. She can't be turned away with just Guno.
　So, I'm going to lead you into the mansion.

''Herkert ....... What are you doing here?

　Kuna sits down in a chair in the parlor and responds.
　Normally, Kuroki, the master, should be seated there. But right now Kuroki isn't there.
　So Kuna, the mistress, takes this seat.

"Master," she says. "Master", indeed. Quite Morna. I wonder if all created goddesses have been distorted. You shouldn't use that secret technique, after all. Maybe we should warn the Modes boy.

　Herkert shook his head good-naturedly and sat down to sit face-to-face.
　Coona had been an apprentice to Herkert before.
　I don't like this woman, but her knowledge is comparable to Rougas'. It would surpass her in some areas.
　I'm sure this witch has made me a better pollywoman. I'll treat you with a little courtesy.

''Well then, Master. What are you doing here?

　She turns her eyes sharply and coldly at full strength.
　But this witch is unconcerned.

''Don't be alarmed. Silver. Guess I'm just here to see what's going on. I simply came to check on you. I've spoken to the Dark Knight of the Black Storm and he's agreed.

　The black storm Herkert was referring to was Kuroki.
　'I'm sorry Kroki, but I wanted you to say no if you could.

'Well, if you've seen what's going on, it's time to go. Why don't you go home. Master.
Not so fast. Guess not. What are you doing under the covers?

　Herkert's six eyes catch Cuna. I can see that his mouth is smiling, but his eyes aren't.

'I have nothing to hide from you.

　Coona stared straight back into Herkert's eyes.

'I'm not hiding it. You're going to tell me you just didn't tell me.
What are you talking about?
The Blue Forest. I hear the brave men are on their way. Shouldn't you report to the Black Storm?
!

　Frankly, I'd be surprised.
　Totally, this witch can't be careless.
　Currently, everything about the brave men and women, including information gathering, is being handled by Kuroki.
　However, since Kuroki doesn't have the ability to gather information, everything is done by Kuna.
　So you have to inform Kroki that a brave man is approaching.
　Why does Herkert know the information that he hasn't communicated to Kuroki?

Well, I've only just found out. 'Well, I just found out about it,' said the little faerie. It's easy enough to listen in with a bit of magic. Guffaw guffaw.

　Herkert smiles at that.

'Hmm. There's no need to report it to Croki. Datier deserves what he gets.

　Datier had it coming for him to try to trick Kroki.
　But a kind Kuroki would forgive such a Datier.
　That's why I don't want to tell Kroki.

'Well, you're right. Well, that's true, that's a good remedy for that kind of madness. But he's an old woman's apprentice, too. You don't mind if I go and help out a bit, do you? Silver?

　Datier had once been a disciple of Herkert's, too.
　That's why he knew how to make an aphrodisiac.
　It seems that Herkert is planning to help Datier.

''Hmm, fine, master. But the brave man is strong. More so than Master.''

　According to the story, the last time the brave men attacked, Kuroki dispersed them before Herkert could fight them, so they didn't fight.
　But the brave men are definitely stronger than Herkert.
　Herkert is also strong, but I don't think he can win.
　To begin with, only Kroki or the Demon King can beat a brave man.

I think you're right. I'll run away if I'm in danger. It's a good idea to have that kind of power. Guess what?

　Then Herkert laughed.