Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 268

Chapter 268. There's Space Behind the Pillar (3)

Kurururung──!

A terrifying noise, reminiscent of thunder, continuously echoed above their heads.

Due to the injury, a foreboding thought flashed through Uruhar's mind amidst the pain.

'The building is collapsing.'

His legs couldn't muster any strength due to the wounds and bleeding. He still had enough energy to escape if only there were no other hindrances.

"Hmm."

Seeing Kikubad sigh, it was evident he had no intention of escaping. Instead, the old man seemed to entertain the option of 'dying together'.

"Keheuk."

A warm mouthful of blood spewed from Uruhar's lips. The metallic taste lingered on his tongue, making him feel nauseated.

"Don't die."

Although he was on the verge of losing consciousness amidst the whirlpool of pain and emotions, a sudden voice brought Uruhar back to his senses.

"If you die, it becomes bothersome."

Enchanted by the Black Knight's words, Uruhar replied without thinking.

"Do-don't worry. Dying now would really be unsightly."

Uruhar, barely coherent, managed to respond. The Black Knight seemed amused by his feeble reply, letting out a chuckle.

"You have a strong sense of self-awareness."

"Ce-ceiling."

"Hm?"

"The mansion...... is it collapsing because of you?"

At his question, the Black Knight shook his head.

"It's not my doing."

Though the Black Knight denied it, he spoke as if he knew this would happen.

"Well, it's true that it was my order."

So, in the end, it was your doing. Such words nearly escaped Uruhar's lips, but he held them back.

"Hold on."

Putting aside his confusion, Uruhar looked at the Black Knight, who quietly told him to take his hand. The knight extended his hand to him.

It was an area with a view of the torn ceiling. He had dragged Uruhar there and now, out of nowhere, asked him to grab his hand.

"...... Ugh."

Yet again, entranced, Uruhar took his hand.

"Be careful; you might bite your tongue."

"What? What are you...."

Squish.

A strange sensation was felt in the hand holding the Black Knight's. At the same moment of curiosity.

Whoooooosh──!

"Uwaaaaaaah!!"

Uruhar's vision began to change.

From the dismal world surrounded by bricks and wooden planks, to a view filled with black clouds and the moon.

"Uhoooooou!!?"

Overcome with surprise, an animal-like sound escaped his mouth. His semi-conscious state made him feel like he was drooling.

'What, what on earth is that!?'

The roof of the mansion he had burst through. Entering his sight was the 'jet-black something' that had thrown him.

A creature congealed from shadows and shaped into a form, adorned with countless eyes.

Demon?

Such questions flashed through his mind, but tackling the current situation came first.

'How should I land!?'

With his body and 'mana vein' in a bad state, landing in this situation was sure to result in disability at the very least.

While expecting the worst, Uruhar finally reached a conclusion.

'...... The Black Knight didn't put me in this situation without a plan.'

Feeling the impossibly strong wind against his body, he closed his eyes.

Briefly losing consciousness should allow him to sort things out.

***

"This is quite a blow."

Kikubad made a calm remark while observing the surroundings, on the verge of collapse.

"Having the Demon God's horns arranged here, unable to read the flow outside was a shame. To think......."

With a chuckle, Kikubad looked up at the place where Uruhar was taken by 'Angelica'.

A constant roar of destruction of wood and stone resounded from above. I knew the sound was Angelica causing havoc.

'Thus, the space built couldn't bear the weight, so it's bound to collapse quickly when Angelica demolishes pillars.'

It was a thought I had before falling down here.

After all, if descending directly was dangerous, it seemed prudent to bury the 'Demon God's horns' along with the mansion.

Though I did actually come down.

"A crazy fellow to rear a demon."

Even with a brief glimpse, Kikubad seemed to instantly pinpoint what 'Angelica' was.

Indeed, with that appearance.

Not recognizing her would be strange.

"Speaking of lunatics, those who wish to resurrect the Demon God to raze the Empire are even madder."

When I voiced a slight disdain for Eulsis, Kikubad's expression darkened a bit.

But it didn't seem that he was displeased about the insults directed to 'royalty'.

"Hmm, you're right."

Incredibly, he nodded as if agreeing with me.

Indeed, Kikubad was collaborating with Eulsis, fully aware of his intentions.

"That mama's boy, how old is he yet still can't leave his mother's embrace."

Surpassing mere agreement, Kikubad began berating Eulsis, his supposed master.

What the hell.

Though I knew he wasn't working out of 'loyalty' to the imperial family, I didn't expect him to criticize with such severity.

"Avenging a dead mother! A man should aim for much grander things than being consumed by such narrow dreams."

As he railed against Eulsis, it seemed Kikubad's emotions were growing more intense.

"In contrast, Hayden Reich, that fellow's ambitions feel different."

An unexpected name rolled off his lips.

"Prying into all sorts of filthy affairs to bridge the class gap, a tenderhearted notion."

Kikubad's assessment of 'the Sword Saint' mirrored Eulsis', but he seemed to hold a more nostalgic sentiment when mentioning his name.

"Despite having insane dreams, the resolve to execute them felt commendable."

"...... Weren't you just saying Eulsis' thoughts were narrow and insane?"

"They differ."

Kikubad laughed.

"Eulsis dreamt from a dead mother, while Hayden pursued his own dreams, that's the distinction."

A subtle standard indeed.

"Then why serve under Eulsis?"

I queried for a clear answer, but a louder crashing noise from the mansion interrupted.

"Time is short."

Anyway, I wasn't particularly interested in the story of someone who was about to die buried under a mansion.

"Aren't you planning to run away?"

When asked, Kikubad merely shrugged.

"Though displeased, I've been ordered to guard this place. Thus, I won't leave."

Kikubad apparently intended to protect this place until the end, perhaps thinking he could recover the 'Demon God's horns' while escaping.

Despite speaking so maliciously about Eulsis, this was a point I couldn't quite comprehend.

Snap──!

Stretching my hand towards the ceiling, 'Angelica' descended and stuck to my hand as it did when I sent Uruhar.

"I'll see you above from this ghastly place next time, tsk tsk."

As I made my escape from the collapsing mansion, led by 'Angelica's' hand, Kikubad's voice lingered from below.

See you again, eh.

For an ordinary person, dying buried under the mansion would be the norm.

'Tsk.'

That bastard really seems like someone who'll come back alive. Such a thought crossed my mind.

***

"Huh!"

Uruhar, who had briefly lost consciousness, came to his senses.

Though floating toward the sky before closing his eyes, now he could feel the itchy touch of grass against his behind, leaning against a tree.

"Ugh......."

Once he regained his senses, the pain originating from his body overwhelmed him.

Coupled with a bit of dizziness, the harsh metallic taste whirled in his mouth.

"Saved me, huh......?"

The fact that he could open his eyes unharmed was thanks to the Black Knight. Indeed, being thrown into the air for 'some reason' had a purpose.

'But.'

How did he manage to wreck the mansion so thoroughly?

How could he even completely destroy the ceiling, making it convenient to escape?

As an 'Imperial Knight', Uruhar could destroy a mansion too. However, how on earth did the 'Black Knight' manage it, planted on the ground below?

"Ugh."

Sorting out his thoughts, suddenly a sense of humiliation washed over Uruhar.

Imitating the 'Black Knight' before the actual one was fine now. Honestly, it had been an embarrassing act, yet somewhat bearable.

More importantly.

'...... To the Black Knight.'

Receiving help from a terminally ill Black Knight.

In a limited time, the Black Knight must have countless tasks needing attention.

For sure, it's the mission to find the 'Demon God's horns' and prevent the demonic resurrection for the Empire and continent's peace, with numerous objectives at bay.

Yet here I was, wasting the Black Knight's precious time.

"Sorry......."

More than the pain from wounds, his chest began to ache.

"I'm sorry, Black Knight......!"

"What nonsense are you spouting."

"Uwaaaa!"

Startled by the sudden voice, Uruhar was surprised. Moving in the process, he felt an even sharper pain from his wounds.

"O-owh...... Black knight!? I thought you left?"

"There were some matters to tend to."

As he said that, the Black Knight cast his eyes on the ruins of Fulcurn's mansion.

It was clear the 'Demon God's horns' were buried below. He assumed 'Kikubad' was crushed beneath.

While there was a fleeting thought that the old man might find a way to survive.

"And there's no need to apologize."

Listening to his earlier words, the Black Knight naturally continued.

"I didn't foresee Kikubad being there either."

The Black Knight spoke calmly. His composed manner drew a sudden curiosity from Uruhar.

Almost as if he couldn't consider this knight to be 'terminally ill' at all. Uruhar wondered if perhaps he misunderstood.

Unaware of Uruhar's thoughts, Yulian turned his gaze away from the collapsed mansion to scout a path back.

'Only two horns left, I suppose.'

One is with him.

The other is buried.

So, two 'Demon God's horns' remain. Despite calculating this, Yulian couldn't help but feel anxious.

Approaching the total solar eclipse.

Yulian figured Eulsis wouldn't just stay idle until then.

'Stopping his forces and recovering the horns as much as possible would be best.'

Thinking logically, there was no room for error. Bearing that in mind, there was no time to prepare, counting down to the 'total solar eclipse'.

"Time's running short."

Yulian, lost in thought, inadvertently muttered in front of Uruhar.

"No matter how perfect the plan, some faults could arise. I wish to end this before time runs out."

Yulian assumed Uruhar already knew. He figured Uruhar understood the 'total solar eclipse' was the pivotal point for 'resurrection' and that little time remained.

"Sniff......"

Startled, Yulian turned to Uruhar.

Suddenly, the sound of suppressed crying came from Uruhar.

'Why, why is he crying?'

Were his wounds that painful?

Even Imperial Knights have childish sides, it seems. Yulian mused thusly.