In the woods of Liestia.



Have you succeeded in capturing the demon?

　A knight in white gold armor said.

　This place is in the forest in the Kingdom of Liestier.
　It's a day and a half away from the royal capital.

　More than a dozen knights had gathered there.
　They wore armor that covered their entire bodies and their faces were invisible. Barely, you could only tell if they were male or female by their voices.

　In the center of the knights was a knight in platinum-colored armor.
　He wears a cloak on his back and has a large sword and spear tied to his harness.
　The horse carrying the platinum knight is also covered entirely in armor. The horse inside does not make a single sound. It doesn't make a sound of breathing.

　The platinum knight lovingly patted the armored horse and looked around at the knights around him.
　The knights were kneeling on the ground and bowing to the white knight.

''I'm sorry. I still don't have any demons that could be used for the operation...''
'That's a shame. We're going to need as many powerful demons as possible for the operation.
I'm sorry. I was thinking of an ogre or a troll, if possible.

　One of the knights replied apologetically.
　The platinum knight sighed and

You have nothing to apologize for. It's just that this kingdom is a safe place. You're the only one who built a kingdom while the Sanctuary Church was destroyed.

　When the knights heard those words, they all looked up at once.

''──With your words!　The 'Sanctuary Church' has not been destroyed!
...whose legacy and will have been passed down to us!
I request that you withdraw, please!

　The knights shouted.
　The platinum knight saw this and shrugged his shoulders.

'I'm sorry if I've offended you. I have no intention of falling out with you guys. We are working together to reach the royal capital of the Liestia Kingdom.
Yes. We must reach the fifth level of Elysian's basement at all costs.

　One of the knights said.

'If any one of us brings back what is there, we will win!
A two-hundred-year obsession, that's a horrible thing.
If you think it's too dangerous to deliver it to the Kingdom of Riestia, then your highness...
Didn't I tell you to call me leader?

　Suddenly, the white knight spoke up.
　The knight at the front involuntarily held his mouth.

My apologies. But I'm sure our leader knows we can't just hand over the recipe for that to the kingdom!
I don't care.

　The platinum knight shook his head (headgear).

''I just want to make sure that this 'King Rider (Lord)' is the strongest.

　There is a sizzling sound inside the helmet, like the unraveling of a cord, and a platinum hair (platinum blonde) overflows from the gap. The knight reknots it annoyingly and turns to the knights.

'If I can make sure that this 'Kingdom of Liestier' is an obstacle to the Empire, I'll be fine with that.

　Then the white knight turned his attention to the depths of the forest.

''For that, we need a demon to use as a decoy. I'll go get a reasonable one.
Hold on!　You don't have to go yourself...
Don't wait.

　Immediately afterwards, the figure of the white knight - disappeared.

　And then the sound of horses' hooves came from deep in the forest.
　The sound of running on the ground. The sound of kicking a tree trunk. The sound of trees shaking.

　But the knights could not catch the figure of the platinum knight (their leader).
　It was too fast.
　The platinum knight is running through the forest in all directions.
　It doesn't matter if they are on the ground or in the air.
　Normally, trees are an obstacle to a cavalryman, but to a platinum knight, they are nothing more than footholds.
　From time to time, the trees sway deep in the forest.
　That was an indication of where the platinum knight was.

　Eventually....

What. There's a big one.

　Slyly, while dragging the demon, the white knight comes back.
　The hand grasps the legs of a demon that is much bigger than a human being.

"Oh, such a big thing is in this forest?
A demon like this should be enough of a decoy for you.
Your Highness is indeed a leader.

　The knights speak out.
　The demon that is being dragged around doesn't move even a twitch. With its large wings closed, it is crunching its bill (beak).
　It was breathing. It is not dead.
　It seemed to have been hit by the powerful blows of the platinum knight and seemed to have fainted.

"Take care of it quickly. Do you have some of the potion left?
Yes, sir.

　One of the knights put his hand into the luggage as told by the leader.
　The one that he carefully took out was - a metal tube.
　When the lid was opened, a pungent smell wafted out, and the knights and the platinum knights gasped.

　Inside the tube was a black, sludgy liquid.

'It's the last two bottles, isn't it?　Don't waste it.
Yes, sir, I understand. It's our fault that we've reduced the number of people in this room!
"It's not your fault. This potion would still be around if Felipe Gerast - a descendant of the Gerast Kingdom - hadn't taken it out. He used it all up, we used it at the border, and now we have two more.

　At the words of the platinum knight, the other knights straightened their posture.

That's why we have to find a way to make it happen again!
"For the rebirth of the 'Sanctuary Church'!
For the sake of our great nation that has protected us!

Do what you want.

　The platinum knight shrugged again.
　The face covered by the helmet does not show any expression.
　But the person just sighed with a disinterested sigh.

I've been told that the Phantom and the Beast - which were stolen by the kingdom - as well as the rumor that there is a mysterious 'Lord's Horseman'. I just need to be able to match up with them.

　The golden knight laughed behind his helmet.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out if the "magic guild" of the kingdom is using it correctly. It will also help you achieve your goal.

　The knight mumbled such things as he stared in the direction of the royal city.