Dark Knight Kroki

　Looking down from the deck, it looks like the sea with clouds below.
　The airship floats above the sea of clouds.

"You're faster than I thought, Kroki. It looks like we'll be arriving at Luvania in a little while.

　Kuna, beside me, is pleased to see the progress of the empty ship.
　It is indeed fast. We left Nargol and we're almost to Luvania.
　It's a good idea to have a good time with your friends.
　Due to the miasma emitted by Modugal, the land is barren and difficult for living things to live in.
　Luvania is located in the northern part of the central continent, and because of the cold air flowing from the ice island, it is always cold and the weather is often light and cloudy.
　Creatures that died in such Luvania were prone to become undead, and the weakness of sunlight made it an easy land to live in for Zarxys' household.
　It's such a land that we're heading to now.

You're right, Kuna. I didn't expect to get an empty ship.

　The empty boat I'm on was given to me by Modes.
　It's probably a parting gift for me to go to the dead city of Modugal.
　Compared to the huge airborne battleship Nagulfal, the Demon King's throne ship, it is indeed small, but the airship is quite large and can accommodate Glorious, who is a giant, as well.
　It will be no match for Alfos' empty ship.

I'm not sure what to do about it, but it's almost on the way to Luvania.　The Dark Knight?　Guffawing.

　Herkert, who is riding with me, asks me.
　It was practically Herkert who told himself to go to Luvania.
　Therefore, he himself followed him to Luvania.
　He doesn't seem to leave it up to him.

"I can approach the vicinity of Luvania by airship. But I'll be heading to Maudgal on my own.

　We have to infiltrate enemy territory.
　If you go in with an empty boat, you will be noticed immediately. The same goes for a large number of people.
　We can only take a small group.
　Also, considering the freezing power of Zarxys, we should go in by ourselves.

'No, Kroki. No, Kroki, you can't go in there by yourself. Kuna will go with you.

　Kuna objects.

'I'm sorry Kuna. The coonas are too obvious. I can't take you with me. Besides, I want you to stay here in case of an emergency.

　Coonas are not good for covert.
　So is Herkert. Both of them have the ability to withstand the miasma, but they are not suitable for secrecy.
　The only way to do that is for them to stay here.
　And I want them to stay here in case something happens to me.
　Coona and Herkert would work well together.

'Such a kroki ....... Then take these guys with you.

　Then Kuna looks at the clown and Tiber.

'Huh? Why?

　I wonder.
　A clown, a puppet, would be too dangerous for Tiber, let alone a clown.

'A clown can take the place of a kroki if something goes wrong. And Tiber is very good at covertness. He should be able to help Kroki.
'What? But ......

　He tries to refuse because it's too dangerous for Tiber.
　But Herkert interrupts him.

'You're taking him with you. The Dark Knight. Geez. These guys are useful, you're going to let the White Silver worry you, huh?

　Herkert laughs wryly.
　There's something about it.

'I see. Herr Herkert.

　It was the word of a great witch with a brain as big as Lugus's, he would have to obey.
　Besides, I couldn't not listen to Coona when she told me not to worry about her.

'My lord. I'm back now.

　It was while I was talking with Coona and the others, the Guuno's who were out scouting with the flying dragon (wyvern) return.
　They are the female knights of the Damon tribe, and they are also accompanying us this time.
　I was actually planning to go with just myself and Glorious.
　However, Modes said it was dangerous and we ended up going with a lot of people.
　Kuna, who didn't come at the time of Gipsyll, is also accompanying us this time.
　There's also Tiber, the clown puppet and dark little fairy (Dark Fairy) who is always with us.
　Because of the presence of both of them, the deck is very lively.

''Thank you for your hard work. Sir Guno. What have you found?

　Guuno's face turns cloudy as he asks.

'That, my lord. There are angels all around Luvania. If we continue on, they will find us.
An angel?

　Come to think of it, the people of Elyos knew that Zarxis had returned to Maudgal.
　It reminded me of the words of the god Hayvos.
　Then it wouldn't be surprising if they were in the vicinity of Luvania.
　But that's not the problem.
　I can feel the hostility from right above the empty ship.
　It seems that Guno and the others were being followed.

''Haaaaaaah!''

　Someone rushes in from above my head.
　I pull out my magic sword and jump up.
　Gakin!
　Swords collide with swords in the air.
　That's when I identify the one who came rushing in.
　Unlike myself, I don't wear a helmet, it's an angel with flaming red hair.
　The red-haired angel flies to be played by her own sword, and when she spins around, she gets away from the empty boat.
　I myself go straight down beside Kuna.

'We meet again, dark knight!　I'm going to pay you back for the last time!

　The red-haired angel yells, and flames spew out of her body.

'Have we met before?'

　For the record, I don't know the angel in front of me.
　This must be the first time we've met.

'You don't remember?　We fought you on the way back from your attack on that beautiful Lady Raina's earthly temple!

　The red-haired angel says regretfully.
　The earthly temple of Raina would be the temple of St. Renaria's Republic. Come to think of it, I was on my way back then. I remember encountering the angels and fighting them.
　This red-haired angel must have been among them.
　If I look closely, I can see a large group of angels and knights on pegasus approaching from far ahead.
　And he's one of them.
　It's a bit of a bad situation.

''My name is Athal!　He is the right-hand man of Master Alfoss, the Holy Knight of the Baili, and second-in-command of the Holy Order!　The Dark Knight!　You're going to fight me!

　The angel who called himself Athal cries out.
　But I don't want to fight this angel.
　Because we will have to deal with Zarxis in the future.
　This is not the time to fight with angels.
　This angel in front of me should also be here to deal with Zarxis.
　This is not the time to be fighting with ourselves.
　However, looking at the state of Athal, he has every intention of fighting.
　You can't help but sigh.

'Wait!　ATAL!

　The one who caught up with him stopped the atal.
　This is the second time I've seen him on a white dragon.

''Don't stop me, Master Alfoss!

　Artal answers without looking back.
　Alfos had come to this place too.
　Well, it's not surprising since he's the only god of Elyos who could compete with Zarxis, I think.

''We can't win with you!　ATAL!　He fought me evenly in the Crystal Garden!　Are you going to put up a fight against that?

　Artal looks surprised when Alfos says that.
　Then, beside him, Kuna complains, "Even? I hear him mutter.

'Silly?　I can't believe someone can fight evenly in Master Alfoss' crystal garden: ....... I can't believe they didn't use some kind of cowardly trick.

　I feel the will to fight disappear from the portal.
　I'm relieved.
　It looks like I won't have to fight the angels now.
　Besides, Alfos doesn't seem to have any intention of fighting him.
　This way, we can focus on Zarxys.

"That's what I'm saying, Artal. That's what I'm saying, Athalar. And then there's Zarxys. "I don't have time to fight with them here. Pull out.
'Yes, I understand, Master Alfoss. But I'll show you this one thing.

　As he says this, Athal takes his own hair.
　What comes out is a bald head.

''Eh?　It was a wig!

　I was honestly surprised. Athal's red hair was fake.
　But I don't know why he would show it.
　Athal's head gleamed.

''Hmph. Are you surprised, Dark Knight!　And you know what?　In the world where the brave men of light were originally from, when they failed and were sorry for their mistakes, to shave off all their hair!　It's a statement of your determination to lose!　Think on it!

　Athal says with a smug smile.
　No, I'm really surprised.

'Well, Dark Knight. Nice to see you again. Apparently you guys are worried about Zarxys too. So let's call a truce here, shall we?　What do you think?
Master Alfoss!

　Alfos suggests it, and Artal protests.
　But Alfos shakes his head.

'Zarxys is dangerous,' he says. Artal. If the Dark Knight will fight Zarxys, we can hope.

　Alfos laughs.
　Are you going to crush yourself and Zarxis together?
　However, if you still don't have to fight Alfos and the others, you might consider it a good thing.

'All right. I'll take you up on that offer. We won't mess with each other. Is that all right with you?
'Yes, of course, and also the Dark Knight. I like the Athal, too. That's an order.
....... Okay, Mr. Alfos.

　Athal looks unhappy, but reluctantly agrees.

'Come on, let's all go, shall we?

　Alfos said, and the angels, including Athal, retreated.

'Well, whatever. I'm glad we don't have to fight with them. 'Geez,'
Yes, Master Herbert.

　Myself and Herkert nodded.

'I am sorry. 'My lord. It seems to have been put on.'

　Guno said as Alfos and the others left and bowed his head.

''It can't be helped, as long as the angels are around, we can't avoid them.

　Then he urges Guuno to raise his head.

'You were kind of a hot mess, weren't you?

　It was Kuna muttering while looking at Athal's glistening bald head.




◆Jusio the boy.

　We hurried through the woods.

'My feet hurt, sister.'

　My feet hurt, I've been running all the time since a few minutes ago.
　I complain about it, but my sister Ange won't listen to me.

'No, Jussio!　If we don't get out of here fast, they're going to come for us!

　Then she takes my arm and forces me to run.
　The country we were living in was close to Luvania, the land of death.
　From the land of Luvania, the armies of death came out of that land and came toward our country.
　There were so many of them that even if all the adults in our country were to protect them, there was no way we could do it.
　So we decided to abandon our country and run away.
　But the army of death is fast, and they catch up with us and our friends are scattered.
　In the midst of all this, my sister and I flee alone.
　We were our own family.
　I never knew my parents. By the time I was old enough to remember, it was just me and my sister.
　Life was difficult, but my sister was kind to me.
　We worked hard to survive together.

Ah!

　My legs get tangled up and I fall.
　It hurts so much.
　I couldn't take another step.

"Jucio!　I'm fine!

　My sister kneels at my side.
　I look up at her and she looks at me with concern.
　The expression on her face suggests that she's also very tight.

I'm sorry, sis. ...... I can't run anymore.

　I whine.

'No, Jussio!　For God's sake, stand up!

　I can see the tears in my sister's eyes.
　Her voice is trembling. My sister seems to be crying too.

'Oh?　Is the game of tag over?

　Suddenly, I hear a voice from the side.
　When I turned around, there was a woman standing there, dressed in bloody, bright red clothes.
　The woman was very beautiful and her skin was very white. It was as if she was an illusion.
　There should have been no one near her just now.
　How come I hadn't noticed it before?

''Keke!　You are a delicious child. Princess Zafarada. Give me just one finger for me.

　Another voice comes from another place. Closer this time, on the ground.
　Then he sees the one who made the voice and almost screams.
　It's a large rat that was there.
　However, the rat's face looked like a human being.
　The rat was smiling irritably.
　Seeing that, my body trembles.
　The rat is a monster in tow. This woman dressed in red might not be human.

Well, what shall we do about it?　Brag?

　The woman called Zafarada opens her mouth, and that's when you see it.
　You see the countless fangs in her mouth, and when you see them, fear rises from your heart.

'Jusio!　I'm getting away!

　My sister forces me up.
　But I fall down, unable to move an inch.

I'm sorry sis. I can't move anymore ....... Leave me and run away.
Jussio: ......

　She looks like she's about to cry.

'I'm sorry. There's no way we can get away with it now.'

　Zafarada approaches.

'Please. You'll miss your brother. ......

　My sister cries and pleads with me.
　Zafarada laughs when she hears this.

'Oh, aren't they beautiful, yes?'

　Zafarada stares at me intently.

'What's wrong, sir?　Princess?
Good heavens, what a find. He's mixed in with the rest. Okay, I'll help your brother, but not you.
What?

　Her sister's surprised voice.
　As she floats up in the air, her sister's body is pulled back to Zafarada.

"Hmm, I'll take your blood then.

　Zafarada opens his mouth wide.
　Her mouth is ripped open to her ears, and countless fangs grow in it.
　It is thrust into her sister's neck.
　From then on, it didn't take long.
　In front of my eyes, my sister's body gradually becomes thinner and drier.

'Oh ....... Sis.

　I couldn't do anything but watch, unable to do anything but watch.



Vampire Count Jussio.

　I wake up in a coffin.
　It's a dream from decades before I became a vampire (vampire).
　No matter how much time has passed, it clutches at me.
　I get up from the coffin.
　It's dark around me.
　I used to be afraid of dark places. I couldn't sleep without my sister holding my hand.
　But now that I'm a member of death's family, it feels comfortable to me.
　The hearse is on the top floor of the castle, where there are no windows.
　When I, the owner of the castle, woke up, the ghost attendants in the castle began to stir.
　Ghosts have the same abilities as magic hands, they can carry things without substance and can clean up.
　It is said that some ghosts can become poltergeists.
　After the ghost's maid prepares the clothes and changes, I walk around the castle.

'You're finally awake?　Jussio......, my lord.

　Brag, who is now under my control, swears.

'What can I do for you?　Brag?
It's not a thing!　I suppose you are called to Maudgal to celebrate the return of the great dead king, though!　I can't wait to get ready!

　Brag is right, we must go to Maudgal.
　Otherwise, our Princess will be in a bad mood.

'Why at all are you a lord who came afterwards!

　Brag complains.
　Brag was once a human like me.
　He sold his own people and family to the gods and wished for immortality, and got the immortality he wanted.
　But it wasn't what he wanted.
　Not a vampire, but a filthy, man-faced rat.
　I, on the other hand, am a vampire count (vampire account) with a fiefdom (county).
　In the territory of Sanshos, a region of Luvania, there are humans kept as food.
　I control and dominate them.
　Brag doesn't hide his frustration at the fact that those who came after him have become nobles (Noble).
　But it's no use being told that.

''Brag. Does that mean you're going against the princess's decision?

　Brag snorted in frustration as he said this.

'Guh!　I didn't mean to do that!
Okay, then.

　Now, I would have to go to Maudgar.
　I had to hurry up and get ready.