Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 259

Chapter 259. Where the Sword Points (4)

While I felt an odd sensation about "driving a carriage" instead of riding a horse, I was skilled in handling 'horses'.

To be precise, I was adept at dominating 'horses'.

Instinctively suppressing fear was second nature to me.

"Thanks to that, handling a carriage isn't particularly difficult."

As I rode through the dark night, the view from atop the galloping carriage was truly spectacular.

The world was shrouded in darkness, which the carriage lantern barely sliced through, providing its own unique flavor and a different sensation altogether.

"What a perfect night to die."

However, my sense, far removed from the concept of 'art', warned me against such an adventure.

Driving at night is dangerous.

That was common sense I knew all too well.

Clatter──!

Just as I was indulging in such emotions and holding the horses' reins, I sensed someone landing on the carriage.

"He has come."

It was surely Uruhar.

From the start, holding the reins of the horses in the dead of night was to summon Uruhar.

If something related to Kaldrach escaped the capital, it was easy to deduce that "Eulsis" would react.

"Of course, Kaldrach isn't one to act so frivolously."

Eulsis probably thought it was a trap.

Still, unable to ignore it, Eulsis must have sent the one with the least "loyalty" affiliated with the 'Demon God's Horn'.

And that would be...

"Uruhar."

Among the four Imperial Knights, he's the most human-like one.

Not that he could be called "humane" from any typical perspective. It's just that among the monstrously strong, thoughtless Imperial Knights, he stood out.

"Kikubard would never be recruited."

That old man is obsessed with the title 'Sword Saint'.

Once, he bore the title of 'Sword Saint', but later lost it due to controversies about his conduct and the rise of 'Hayden Reich'.

"That old man only obsesses over his name and reputation, caring nothing for the empire's fate."

An elder who's lived long enough.

All that was left in his life was achieving further 'accomplishments', and his final goal was to reclaim the title of 'Sword Saint'.

"In contrast, Uruhar seems like someone I can communicate with."

He possesses his own beliefs, often conflicted between those and 'orders'.

While I think it's a standard Imperial Knights should uphold, it was particularly pronounced in Uruhar.

That's my take on it.

In 〈Kill the Demon King〉, Uruhar consistently presented himself well──.

"I'm the Black Knight."

Did I hear wrong?

What did this crazy guy just say?

***

The Black Knight.

Uruhar thought that should he reveal his true name, impersonating the Black Knight would be unforgivable, or so he hoped.

"...... Who am I to say anything?"

Since he himself was now impersonating the Black Knight. Just as he had that thought, the coachman turned his head.

And lo, he was genuinely wearing the mask of the 'Black Knight'.

"Y-you're......!"

Initially, a look of fluster spread across Uruhar's face.

Then, he was moved by having his admired figure right in front of him, which soon turned into an embarrassment that bubbled up from deep within.

"Yes, I'm a Black Knight like you."

"No, that's not......."

"Why are you so surprised? Didn't you just refer to yourself as the Black Knight?"

The Black Knight, speaking in a gentle tone, pulled the reins once, halting the carriage.

A sense of weightlessness enveloped Uruhar's body momentarily, and when he adjusted himself and looked towards the coachman's seat, the Black Knight had already disembarked.

Uruhar followed suit.

"Black Knight, why are you here?"

For a brief moment, with respect blooming, Uruhar got back to the main point and asked why the Black Knight was present.

"Is there any reason I shouldn't be here?"

The Black Knight nonchalantly replied. Something about his demeanor struck Uruhar as odd.

The carriage had departed from the capital under the orders of 'Prince Kaldrach'.

Meaning it carried the "Demon God's Horn" and was heading to the Federation.

"The Demon God's Horn."

From deep within, the longing he'd held for so long surged forth.

To get an autograph, one must first prioritize "the task at hand."

Unlike the previous encounter with the Black Knight, the current situation demanded his focus on the 'task'.

"Don't tell me, are you transporting the Demon God's Horn, Black Knight?"

"Could be, but could be not."

"I'm not here to play word games!"

"It seems like those guys aren't either."

"What!?"

In his heated moment, Uruhar had forgotten to glance around.

The Black Knight's comment helped him refocus, and Uruhar sensed presences from the bushes around the carriage.

"Could this be......?"

He wanted to ask if it was a trap, but judging by the Black Knight's response, it didn't seem so.

Also, he didn't think the man would do such a thing.

"...... Could it be a band of thieves?"

"If you don't want demons to kill you, no one's stupid enough to starve through banditry."

"Then why are there people here?"

"They must've been summoned by those hired to guard this carriage."

"What!?"

The Black Knight unsheathed the sword at his waist, as if he had anticipated this situation.

"They say guards protecting carriages at this hour often halt them midway to steal the package and sell it for profit."

"That's not protection; that's plain robbery!"

"You just realized?"

The blade of the Black Knight's drawn sword was pitch-black, as if it absorbed shadows.

A sword true to its name. Uruhar thought to himself, differentiating it from Yulian's gaudy gem sword.

"What!?"

The presences hiding in the bushes revealed themselves.

"Eight of them?"

The number of detectable presences was eight.

Any layperson might have panicked at this numerical disadvantage, but on this side stood the Imperial Knights.

"Wasn't the coach supposed to be an old man? These are two fit men, though?"

"So what? Kill them, steal what's inside, and it ends up the same, you dolt."

"Can't you recognize who I am?"

Uruhar was about to reveal his identity by removing his hood.

Even against criminals, it's forbidden to apply punishment immediately on the spot.

Unless one insulted the imperial family, standard protocol was to apprehend the individual and hand them over to the imperial guards.

"Whatever, just who...... Ugh!"

However, the "Black Knight" wasn't constrained by such standard protocols.

Striking swiftly, the Black Knight's kick connected with the jaw of the man in front.

A brigand sprawling on the ground in an instant, and the Black Knight heeded no attention as he sliced through the man beside him with his drawn sword.

"Aagh!"

The scream, amplified by the dawn's silence, echoed eerily through the forest, startling the bandits who hastily brandished their weapons.

"Y-you, what are you doing......!?"

"You came armed and didn't expect to swing them?"

Flash.

The Black Knight glanced over at Uruhar.

"You're no different. These guys didn't come for a chat. Even though you're an Imperial Knight, they won't concern about that."

"I-imperial Knights!?"

The word "Imperial Knights" leaving his lips caught the brigands off guard.

Nevertheless, as the Black Knight predicted, the killing intent in their eyes didn't dissipate.

"...... Tsk."

Uruhar clicked his tongue. He had questions he wanted to ask the Black Knight.

Whether he was connected to the 'Demon God's Horn', and why he was at this location.

It was in part due to this impatience that he intended to announce his title to send the bandits away.

"I, too, have questions for you once we handle these bastards quickly."

As if he'd read Uruhar's mind, the Black Knight spoke.

"So, I could use your assistance."

A request for help.

Were it anyone else, it would have been an uninspiring statement, and Uruhar, having heard such requests multiple times as an Imperial Knight, might not have been moved.

But it was a request from the 'Black Knight'.

That Black Knight, indeed.

Overwhelmed by the situation, Uruhar felt his confusion begin to clear due to that fact alone.

"Gladly."

***

A member of the Imperial Knights and the Black Knight.

When these two joined forces, what could six mercenaries scavenging through banditry possibly do?

Naturally, the situation was resolved in an instant.

'I knew Uruhar admired the Black Knight.'

The earlier request for help was meant to exploit that 'admiration'.

When someone they admire asks for something, isn't it human nature to want to live up to that expectation?

'What a cunning bastard.'

I wondered if it's due to the character of the 'Black Knight' I was portraying, or whether it was just my inherent nature.

"To fight with the Black Knight at my back...."

I remained uncertain, as I had always thought my character wasn't this devious.

"A parry from an Imperial Knight is commendable. One wouldn't want to turn you into an enemy."

"...... Hmm?"

Uruhar scratched his head, chuckling awkwardly at my praise.

"N-not really. Speaking of which, Black Knight... It's the first time I've seen your swordplay, but it was this amazing!?"

"Hmm."

"It felt familiar somehow. Almost like the style the Sword Saint used."

What?

Wait, did he deduce that just from seeing a few strikes?

"...... The Sword Saint's style?"

Uruhar paused to think.

There aren't many disciples of Hayden Reich, the Sword Saint. With his passing, those trained in his style are few and far between.

"Excluding the woman, Rinne."

The remaining one was Yulian. Me.

"Black Knight, by any chance......."

Gulp.

"Were you acquainted with the Sword Saint?"

Despite suspecting it, Uruhar hadn't thought to consider that I, Yulian, might be the Black Knight.

"I get it."

'The Black Knight is Yulian? If those who played 〈Kill the Demon King〉 knew, they'd be flipping in disbelief.'

"I was acquainted. He even taught me a few times."

"What!? I knew it!"

Uruhar beamed when I confessed I knew the Sword Saint.

Then, as if recollecting something, he cleared his throat and composed himself.

"Ah, but we shouldn't be talking about this now."

Once his composure returned, Uruhar steered the conversation back to the main topic.

"Black Knight, I need to know why you're here."

"On a carriage supposedly transporting the Demon God's Horn?"

When I asked, Uruhar nodded.

"To cut to the chase, the 'Demon God's Horn' doesn't exist in this carriage."

"What!?"

"Why not take a look yourself? See what's loaded inside."

With that, Uruhar inspected the carriage's package hold with a skeptical eye.

"There's indeed nothing here?"

Naturally, there was no "Demon God's Horn" inside. The false information was sent by someone embedded in the Dawn Society.

'Eulsis didn't believe it from the start, so he sent the outlying Uruhar.'

Thanks to anticipating that, I was able to discreetly meet with Uruhar.

"The rumors about the Demon God's Horn are false. You know Prince Kaldrach wouldn't do such a thing."

Uruhar slowly nodded.

"...... Then why did Prince Kaldrach act this way? And why are you with Prince Kaldrach, Black Knight?"

In response, I slowly opened my mouth.

"You know the current state of the imperial family."

"What are you implying?"

"Do you know why the Demon God's Horn is in the capital, or why Eulsis is trying to gather all four?"

Uruhar shook his head.

"Regardless of the details, carrying out the imperial orders is an Imperial Knight's duty."

"You fool."

I spat out a scathing criticism at Uruhar.

If he countered this, I'd reveal "Eulsis' true aim".

And further, what he committed to the Emperor.

"Hmm?"

There was no retort. When I turned to face Uruhar, he seemed dejected, head hanging low.