Dark Knight Kroki

　After today's training with Polen, I returned to my mansion.
　The mansion is located on the outskirts of the Demon King's Castle.
　It's a small castle, even though it's a mansion, it's big enough to be called a small castle.
　When you enter the house, Guno and other female knights will greet you.

The best thing about this is the fact that it's not a bad thing. Your Excellency.
I'm home, Lord Guno. Did you find anything unusual?
'No, not particularly: ....... Speaking of which, the Great Witch of the Swamp is here to see you.

　The Great Witch of the Swamp is Herkert.
　Speaking of which, she said she was going to check on Cuna after lunch.

'Only, that made Lady Coona unhappy.
'Shit. ....... Yeah. ......

　I can feel a cold sweat running down my face.
　Cuna seems to have a hard time with Herkert.
　But it was Kuna who first apprenticed herself to Herkert because she wanted to become stronger.
　In a manner of speaking, he's a benefactor of Kuna, and it's indeed impossible to refuse him.
　However, you should go and appease Kuna.

'Then I'll have to go appease Kuna.

　Then he looks at Guno and the others.

'Sir. What's the matter?
'Nope. I always thought ....... What about that outfit?

　For some reason, Guno and the others are not dressed as dark knights while they are in the mansion, but instead they are wearing black bondage.
　If you look at them from behind, their butts are exposed.
　The Damon tribe is as beautiful as the angel tribe.
　It's not easy to look at those female Damon's when they are dressed like that.

"Eh?　His Excellency likes to dress like this, doesn't he?

　Guno says curiously.
　I want you to wait a minute.
　What do Guno and his friends think of me?
　I sure do love it!
　But I'm sure he didn't want to be found out.

'I certainly like it, but ....... It's very, very bad for my bottom half. ......
'Sir. That's why we're dressed like this, isn't it?　But more importantly, I'll help you take off your armor.

　The gunos come up to me to show off their cleavage.

'Awwww. ......'

　Guno and his friends will take off their armor.
　Then they will make you wear a costume made of fine black silk.

Thank you, Sir Guno: ......
No, please don't worry about it.

　Guuno then smiles charmingly.
　They're senior knights. So there's no need for them to go through all this.
　In fact, the dark elves and warbear maids are actually in this mansion.
　But they will take care of themselves.
　They are being taken care of as they go along. It's not a good situation.
　After I get dressed, I go to Kuna's.
　The princess of this mansion is asleep in her bedroom.

"Welcome home, Kroki.

　He says without looking at me from his bunk, as if he felt a presence.
　He doesn't hug me like he usually does. It's a sign that he's in a bad mood.

"I'm home, Kuna.

　He approaches the bunk and touches Cuna's cheek.
　Then Kuna hugs her.
　She's hugging me, but she's puffy.
　It's also cute, but I want her to be in a better mood.

'Buuuuut~'
Sorry, sorry. Control your temper, Kuna.

　I hush Kuna as I pat myself on the head.

'Okay ....... But you'll have to love me a lot.

　With that, Kuna was spoiled.




Damon's lady knight Guno

Your armor, my lord, is yours.

　I help Kuroki-sama change into his clothes and hand the armor he has taken off to the human bear (warbear) girl.

'Yes Guno-sama,'

　His Excellency's armor looks heavy for a girl who is only about half my height.
　Even though they usually take the form of human girls, they are quite powerful since their true identity is a bear.
　They're a very strong race, and even a child can beat a few goblins or orcs.
　But it's much weaker than us noble Damonians.

"Lucora. Hurry and prepare your lordship's food. His Excellency probably hasn't had much lunch.

　I command my dark elf maid, Lucora.
　Master Kuroki does not like the food of the Orcs.
　That is why he must not have eaten much lunch.
　If anything, he prefers the food of the elven race.
　That's why the elven maids are cooking for them.
　But it's only cooking.
　We Damon should take care of Nargol's strongest knight.
　That is non-negotiable.

''I understand, Lady Guno. It's fine to be as diligent as usual, right?

　Lucora asks to confirm.
　I turn around and answer as a matter of course.

'Of course I do...'






Black haired wise man Chiyuki

　Riding the Gryphon, we head north.
　Our destination is the northern city of Velos.
　There are many clouds in the sky, but there is no problem for the Gryphon to fly.

In the end. I'm sure you're not the only one who's late to leave. Mr. Rage.
'Yes. Chiyuki.

　Says Rage, who is flying on a pegasus beside me.
　There's no particular reason why our departure was delayed.
　I've got a lot of chores to do, but it's something I can do after I go north to check on you.
　It's not a reason to be late.
　I look at Rage's face as he flies beside me.
　He's usually so proactive, but he doesn't have that.
　I can tell. Rage is unwilling to go check on me.
　Perhaps he's afraid of Shirone's childhood friend.
　That's why his legs have slowed down.
　I can't hide my surprise that this has happened to the fearless Rage.
　But the person in question wouldn't admit to being afraid.

Hey, Chiyuki-san. Isn't it about time we took a break?

　Reno, who is riding a hippogriff, suggests a break.
　He's certainly been flying since he left in the morning.

''Eh~. Reno. We still have a long way to go. Are you going to take a break now?''

　Syrone, who is flying with his own wings, says in frustration.
　Syrone is the fastest of the lot if she's just going in a straight line.
　As for her, she would like to go further.

''Sirone. I understand that you want to hurry up. Let's take a break for now. It's true that we could go a little further, but you want to rest at a decent place to stay, right?

　I say admonishingly, but Shilone is not happy.
　There is still time for the sun to set.
　However, there are few countries that have proper lodgings.
　If we're not good, we'll have to sleep in the field.
　But there must be a little larger country near here.
　We will stay there tonight.

'Silone. There is no Sahoko or Kaya now. We can't camp there if there is no one to cook our meals. We'll rest here.

　Rage quiets Shirone.
　Sahoko is away with Kyouka and Kaya.
　That's why he's not there now.
　And Sahoko and Kaya are the only ones among us who can cook a meal.
　As long as we can't cook even if we pick up food from around there, we can't camp out.
　We have brought some portable food that is easy to eat, but we don't want to consume it as much as possible.
　For that reason, we should take a hotel early today.

Ugh~. I understand. Reiji-kun.

　Rage says this, and Shirone seems to reluctantly agree.
　The five of us go down to the ground.
　At the end of the landing is one country.
　The name is the Kingdom of Sendea, as I recall.
　It's the country that became famous a hundred years ago when a young king abandoned his wife and child and eloped with an elf's daughter.
　The two apparently fled from here to the Hardy Forest in the south.
　I don't know what happened to the two of them after that, but the human is probably dead.
　Since then, I heard the whole country has become elf-hating, but it's none of our business.

'Nao-san. Do you see any signs of anyone watching you following you?

　When we get down to the ground I ask Nao.

'No, I don't feel anything. I'm sure you can smoke it out if you're wearing it. I'm sure you can't follow me through the air. ......

　Nao shakes her head.
　It's like we're being watched by someone.
　Nao says she sometimes feels a bad feeling.
　Apart from the purpose of this trip, we also have the goal of catching that observer. But I can't do anything about it if he isn't following me.

"Nao-chan. You're not like Ruby-chan?

　Ruby is the fire rat that Nao had caught earlier, the one that was watching us.
　The rat seems to have been taken back to Nargol by Sirone's childhood friend.

'No, Reno. If it's Ruby, I know what you're talking about: ....... The one monitoring you is giving you a very unpleasant look. It's not Ruby.
If he's not wearing it, does that mean he's with Sahoko and the others?

　Sirone tilts her head.

'Sirone. In the meantime, you're supposed to let Kaya know if anything happens. I'm sure she's supposed to be ready to come back in transition if the need arises.

　So far, we haven't heard anything like that.

"If you mess with Sahoko, whoever you're messing with, I'll be back in a heartbeat and I'll turn you into sword rust.

　Rage smiles wryly.
　Well, it's good that you're motivated.
　It's not good for us to be left discouraged.
　But still, a creepy person who is watching us. Who in the world is this person who is watching us?
　Maybe we'll meet them on the journey.
　I had such a feeling.





◆Kuna, the White Silver Witch.

　Kuna is in a glowing garden.
　White flowers are blooming in the garden and little blue birds are singing in their beautiful voices.
　There is no place like this in Nargol.
　This is a dream. I can see that.
　Kuna is now in the Heavenly Palace of Elyos.
　Kuna is in Elyos all of a sudden, when she should be in Nargol. You're thinking this is impossible.
　So this is a dream.
　Kuna walks through the garden.
　Then, an open space appears in front of her.
　She sits down on a chair at a table that has been offered there.
　The first guest is already waiting.

'We've been waiting for you. 'The alter ego.'

　The earlier guests call Kuna an alter ego.
　He seems to say that he is the real thing.

'What do you want?　Raina.

　I stare at the real thing in front of me.
　Goddess Raina.
　She is Kuna's original.
　Kuna and Raina are connected in spirit, perhaps because they are both former.
　That's why they can meet like this in their dreams.

The reason I called you out is to protest. "alter ego. "Why is it that they only love you, your alter ego?

　Raina sounded angry, but I didn't know that.

'I don't blame you. You are in Elios. You are in Elyos, and you deserve to be loved by Kuna by your side.
'They love you too much for that! What's with those maids and nurse uniforms!

　Both the maid's and nurse's outfits are from Kroki's hometown.
　Kuroki sometimes makes Kuna wear them.

'It doesn't matter. It makes Kroki happy to wear it.
'I don't mind if Kroki is happy about it, but ....... That's why it's so intense, and you can show it to me in my dreams. ......

　Raina lets out a sigh.
　Its cheeks are red.
　Perhaps it is remembering the night of Kroki and Kuna.

'What do you mean? It's better than dreaming about Morna, isn't it?
It's true, though: ......

　Kroki made Kuna so that Raina doesn't dream about Morna anymore.
　The reason must be that she loves the same man and is close to Kuna in spirit.

'Then I suppose it doesn't matter. Kuna is going now.
Wait. Tell Kroki to come to me next time. It can be done on the way to the library in Totona. I've been running low on Kroki's supply lately. ......

　His face is very weak.
　It looks like it's hard not to see Kuroki.

'That's going to be hard. Your mansion is in the middle of Elyos. It's too far away from Tona's archives.

　Tona's library is discreetly located outside Elyos.
　That's why it's possible for the Dark Knight's kroki to go there.
　In contrast, Raina's mansion is in the center of Elyos. If Kroki goes there, it will be noticeable.
　In the first place, this woman can't abandon her position and is hiding what happened with Kroki.
　So, wouldn't it be Reena who would be in trouble if Kroki went to the mansion?

''Ugh~. I don't know what to do, I should just go to Root Darkness, but Root Darkness doesn't seem to like me. ......

　Raina holds her head up.
　The rootlessness is Totona, the goddess of knowledge and books.
　Raina calls her that because she only reads books and doesn't come to the surface.
　When Kroki does his research, he sometimes goes to Totona's library.
　The dark-rooted woman doesn't like Kroki very much, as she uses her s*xuality to make eyes at him.
　Raina also does not get along with Totona.
　Therefore, she is troubled because she cannot go to Totona's storeroom.
　But it's too much trouble to keep up with the conversation any longer.

'Is that the end of the story?　This time Kuna will be back.

　Coona stands up.

'Hey!　Wait!
What's more?

　Coona turns around.

'You can wear all sorts of costumes, but just don't wear a cat's tail. That's a tough one to dream about.

　With a very serious face, Raina said.