LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 70
Translator: Marctempest
Editor/Proofreader: TempWane
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Chapter 70: Peace and Turbulence
I hadn’t interacted with him much, but since he was my character, I could at least listen to what he had to say.
But to think he came here to meet me.
“······.”
Honestly, it was as I had guessed.
There wouldn’t be any other reason for the Black Knight to come to the Snowfield.
However, if his purpose wasn’t battle, I couldn’t quite figure out his intentions.
“You came here to meet me?”
“That’s right.”
His calm reply.
There wasn’t a hint of hostility.
I nodded and continued.
“It’s good that you’re not calling me a monster, but you’re really not here to cause trouble, are you?”
“That’s correct. I’ve recently had a small realization. My visit here is for another purpose.”
“Another purpose······.”
I straightened my posture and asked.
I thought it might be something important, but his response was unexpected.
“What purpose is that?”
“I don’t know.”
I couldn’t make any sense of it.
“···?”
My eyes blinked involuntarily, and my curiosity grew.
He didn’t even know why he came?
“What do you mean by that?”
“You’ve heard about my life before, haven’t you?”
“And?”
“Like my birth, I judged you as a monster. That’s why I sought a duel with you and lost.”
Chandrafail’s tone was low, but it wasn’t dark.
I decided to listen attentively.
“It was a devastating defeat. Even the battles against calamities weren’t as overwhelming as that.”
“······Hmm.”
His slightly wistful tone, tinged with regret, felt a bit awkward. That incident was probably due to a miraculous coincidence.
It was likely because of his poor condition rather than my strength.
“It was something I had never experienced before······ Afterward, it felt like a fog lifted, and I came to my senses.”
It seemed like he was saying that he grew after experiencing a true defeat. Regardless of the process, the result was satisfactory to me.
His growth was a good thing.
I spoke.
“So, is that what you came to tell me? That you’ve changed?”
“Not quite.”
“Then?”
The Black Knight paused for a moment to choose his words, then finally spoke.
“I still don’t understand completely.”
“No—”
“I need to figure it out. Will you allow me to stay here for a while?”
“···Huh?”
I flinched momentarily but quickly understood.
His humiliating defeat must have left him pondering all sorts of things.
Even the traits he had built his life on seemed to waver under the weight of his introspection······ This was a good thing.
As long as he didn’t cause any trouble, there was no reason to kick him out.
“I’ll allow it.”
He had also helped me recently.
Chandrafail’s response was concise.
“Thank you.”
“Alright. You can go now.”
The Black Knight immediately turned to leave.
As I watched him go, a sudden thought crossed my mind, and I stopped him.
“Wait.”
“······What is it?”
“Take off your helmet.”
It was simple curiosity.
Come to think of it, I’d never seen his face before.
According to the setting, he hated showing his face, but since I had put a lot of effort into designing it, I wanted to see it at least once.
“······.”
Whether or not he’d comply, I decided to just ask.
The Black Knight remained silent for a moment but unexpectedly removed his helmet easily.
Clang—
What emerged was a sharp, well-sculpted face.
His jet-black hair accentuated his features, and the firm set of his lips conveyed stubbornness.
He looked exactly as I had designed him.
“Seeing it in person feels different.”
“Different?”
“Never mind that. You’re injured, aren’t you?”
Apart from a small scratch on his face.
A faint mark as if cut by a sharp wind. It seemed to have slipped through the gap in his helmet.
He must have gotten it while fighting the undead.
Though it would heal on its own, the Ring of Lost Origins suddenly came to mind. Its radiance, along with the Memorize ability and another power—‘Healing.’
“Come here for a second.”
“Hmm?”
I hadn’t found much use for it, so this was a good chance to test it out.
Chandrafail tilted his head but stepped closer.
I reached out toward his cheek.
“!”
He flinched, his cheek trembling, but there was no need for actual contact. A radiant white light bloomed and seeped into the wound.
“Oh.”
The luminous aura was beautiful in itself, but its effectiveness was undeniable.
The shallow scratch vanished in an instant.
I withdrew my hand and looked at the Black Knight.
“······!”
Clear astonishment was evident in his eyes.
He must not have known I possessed such an ability.
I smiled faintly and sent him off.
“That’s it. You can go now.”
*
Daytime at the Grypheon Ducal Estate.
At a critical time when state affairs and politics were rapidly changing, Bulizé was listening to Harold’s report.
“Quellière…?”
“The name of the woman Artan admires?”
“Yes. Do you know who she is?”
“No, it’s the first time I’ve heard that name.”
“I thought so…”
The return of the Swordmaster, who had even visited the Theocratic Nation to identify the Crown Prince’s romantic interest.
As his words continued, the princess’s pupils widened in shock.
“The rumored Saint? I had considered the possibility, but… I’m still a bit surprised.”
“…What? The tale about her repelling the calamity is true? By herself?”
“And defeating the head of the Dark Holy Society? …Wait, not a saint but a goddess…?”
It was only natural for anyone to react this way.
That all these remarkable achievements belonged to one individual was beyond belief.
Harold recalled the words Quellière had spoken on the terrace.
“She… is on another level. Not someone humanity can comprehend.”
“…Truly.”
His tone carried a weight of fear.
For a statement coming from the Swordmaster, it was astonishing, causing Bulizé to tremble slightly.
“The fortunate thing is that she’s not an enemy of humanity. She even helped Artan make his decision.”
“Artan’s decision… Is it related to his recent actions?”
“Yes. It’s about resisting the global threat that endangers the continent, the ultimate goal he set before becoming emperor.”
As Harold exhaled lightly and Bulizé swallowed dryly, the moment arrived when that terrifying declaration resurfaced.
“It’s for the conquest of that landfill, the Burial Grounds.”
“…!”
The princess’s breath stopped momentarily.
It was a goal as terrifying as it was extraordinary.
After contemplating for a while, she finally calmed down and grasped the situation.
“…So that’s how it is.”
Sighing deeply, she accepted the reality.
Falling in love with a deity… As absurd as it sounded, it made a strange sort of sense.
Whether achievable or not, that was simply how it was.
But to conquer the Burial Grounds?
Considering the harm the calamity had caused over such a long time, it wasn’t an incomprehensible decision, though it was extremely bold.
“Certainly, now is not the time to discuss political marriages.”
“Indeed. That matter will have to be postponed for now.”
“Yes, well…”
As Harold predicted, Bulizé wisely made her judgment.
It was evident Artan had already made up his mind, so stopping him was out of the question.
Moreover, if the calamity could be eliminated, the empire’s influence would reach unparalleled heights.
“Our Grypheon family must prepare as well.”
The Grypheons were a loyal faction more devoted to the Crown Prince than anyone else.
If it couldn’t be avoided, they would have to act first.
*
…Back to the Snow Castle.
Chandrafail, like Nell had done once before, was exploring the castle.
The vast and towering interior prompted a rare murmur of admiration from him.
“This is a very unique style. I’ve never seen such architecture.”
The monotonous color scheme evoked an astonishing sense of mystery.
Whoever had created it had done an extraordinary job, and even the Black Knight, indifferent to buildings and art, found himself intrigued.
“Hmm?”
He found himself in a dining hall-like area where he encountered Dewade.
The holy knight had removed his helmet and was seated at a table.
“Chandrafail… That was your name, correct?”
“Indeed, guest.”
Unlike the Black Knight, Dewade had fully embraced Quellière’s suggestion that “covering one’s face entirely seems stifling.”
Though they were temporary comrades, they had already exchanged names.
Although Chandrafail was reluctant to reveal his true name, it didn’t matter much since Quellière already knew it.
“Is this a dining hall?”
“So they say. Black Knight, why don’t you try something light as well?”
On the table were teacups and some strange, jelly-like food.
It caught the Black Knight’s attention.
“What is that?”
“A dish… or rather, a dessert called ‘slime jelly.’”
“Slime?”
For the record, there were no slimes in this world, and this item was an event specialty.
With no other choice, Chandrafail asked again.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know either. I can only speculate it’s named after the artisan who created this dessert. Perhaps Quellière herself named it.”
“Interesting.”
Seeing his faint interest, Dewade urged him again to try the dish.
“Quellière said we could eat freely.”
“No. I do not enjoy eating.”
The very concept of needing to consume something to survive struck him as a colossal waste.
The Black Knight dismissed his interest and moved on.
Eventually, he stumbled upon a gallery-like space.
“Hmm?”
A refined area displaying various paintings.
Indifferent to art and culture, he would have walked past it, but he decided to take a look.
The expectation that everything in this castle was unique drove him, and it turned out his intuition was correct.
“Ho······ I see.”
He still had no interest in artistic exploration.
However, the paintings in this space, each with distinct styles and themes, were captivating.
It felt like a grand collection carefully curated from the works of many artists.
Before he knew it, he had become a little absorbed and murmured to himself.
“Amazing. At least hundreds of painters must have worked on these─”
“That’s not it, you idiot.”
A sharp voice interrupted him.
When he turned around, there stood Nell Sartilla with her red hair.
She was someone Chandrafail had pursued back when she was called the Red Calamity.
“Not true?”
Knowing she was in the castle, the Black Knight remained utterly unbothered.
This seemed to annoy Nell, and her brows furrowed even more.
“Of course not. Do you think Quellière, of all beings, would gather painters to make these?”
“Then there’s another explanation?”
“It’s simple. She painted them herself.”
“······Painted them alone?”
The Black Knight looked around.
“All of this?”
It didn’t make sense.
Not just the quantity, but the quality and styles didn’t seem like the work of one person.
At least not if they were human.
But Nell spoke with complete sincerity.
“Exactly. Isn’t it obvious?”
“······.”
Her exasperated tone made it sound like it should have been common sense.
Even the Black Knight seemed slightly shaken.
“···It’s possible, I suppose.”
He knew enough about Quellière’s capabilities.
Though ultimately, it didn’t matter to him. The Black Knight gave Nell a glance and resumed walking.
Nell immediately followed him.
She changed the subject.
“Hey, don’t you have something to say to me?”
“Something to say?”
“Yeah. Think about everything you’ve done to me so far. Aren’t you even a little sorry?”
She referred to all the cutting, stabbing, and ignoring her words completely.
What she wanted was an apology, though she didn’t expect to get one.
The Black Knight she knew was endlessly selfish and arrogant.
That’s why his response surprised her.
“I am sorry. I apologize.”
“···What?!”
“I think I went too far back then.”
Words she’d never imagined coming out of the Black Knight’s mouth.
Though his tone was stoic as always, the sentiment was shocking.
“Uh······ uh······?”
Nell could only gape in disbelief.
Chandrafail looked at her curiously.
“Didn’t you want an apology?”
“······Yeah, I did, but…”
She was confused.
She had come intending to call him out, but now that she’d received the apology she wanted, she didn’t know what to do.
The Black Knight stared at her blankly before turning his back.
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
“Uh······ Yeah. Sure, go ahead~?”
Leaving the awkwardly responding Nell behind, Chandrafail walked aimlessly.
This pristine paradise was so vast, there was never a dull moment.
Next, he found himself in one of the upper rooms.
Creak─
The first thing he noticed was the bookshelf, suggesting it was a library.
He stopped when he noticed something.
“······.”
Quellière was there.
Sitting alone in a rocking chair in the corner, engrossed in a book.
Bathed in the rare sunlight streaming through the window, she brushed aside her side hair as if it were bothersome.
Rustle─
The pages turned.
The Black Knight silently observed the scene, as if it were a painting.
With his fighting spirit subdued, he found himself viewing the world with a new perspective.
“···Hmm?”
After a while, Quellière seemed to sense his presence and looked up.
······.
She had been enjoying The Night Fox and the Bitter Birdberry.
When she felt someone’s gaze and looked up, she spotted the Black Knight.
“······?”
When did he arrive?
He must have been exploring the castle with her permission.
The face she had seen earlier was now hidden behind his helmet again.
When he didn’t speak, she was the first to break the silence.
“Did you take a look around?”
“I did.”
“What did you think?”
Her words seemed to bring him back to a more animated mood.
As always, his response was concise.
“Impressive.”
“Impressive?”
“The facilities surpass those of the Holy Kingdom. No one would expect a place like this to exist in a magical domain.”
That was true.
The castle hadn’t originally existed but was created according to her design.
The Black Knight’s gaze briefly wandered before landing on the book in her hand.
“What are you reading?”
“This? Oh…”
She hadn’t expected him to ask something so trivial, but there was no reason to hide it.
“It’s a simple fairy tale. The story of a fox spirit and the Bitter Birdberry. It’s tied to the origin of Chelmberd, so it’s quite fascinating.”
“I see.”
“If you’re interested, why don’t you read it too?”
She gestured with her eyes toward the rows of bookshelves.
“As you can see, there are a lot of books here.”
Of course, since there was no way he would actually read any books, it was a throwaway comment.
It implied, “If you’re not going to read, then leave.”
But then, he nodded his head.
“Indeed.”
“…Huh?”
And then, he pulled out a random book and sat down.
Coincidentally, he chose a spot near me.
It would have been stranger for him to sit far away when there were only the two of us, but the distance still felt uncomfortable.
The peaceful atmosphere and the Black Knight were an odd combination, making it even more awkward.
My gaze shifted sideways.
“You read books?”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
“Not really.”
It was just… surprising.
It seemed I didn’t know everything, even though I had meticulously created this world.
Chandrafail opened his book, and I returned my focus to mine.
“…”
A moment of silence settled between us.
He didn’t move at all, but I found myself unable to concentrate on the story I was reading.
Entirely because of his presence.
Given his past actions, I couldn’t help but wonder if he might suddenly turn violent and cause a scene…
While indulging in such thoughts, a question came to mind.
“Where is Paile?”
The girl who was always with him was nowhere to be seen.
It made sense why something had felt off.
The Black Knight answered curtly, with no regard for social niceties.
“Before coming here, I left her in a small town nearby.”
“A small town… Glenver? Why?”
“The Ice Mountain Range is notorious for its extreme climate. An ordinary child wouldn’t survive here.”
“Ah.”
Thanks to my Snow Maiden traits, I was perfectly fine, so I occasionally forgot that fact.
But still, I hadn’t expected the Black Knight to show such consideration.
“You left her in Glenver. Does that mean you have other companions?”
“No. I don’t know many people to begin with. She’s the only one.”
“…I see.”
So Paile was left alone in a place where she didn’t know anyone.
A creeping sense of unease began to rise within me.
“You didn’t just abandon her on the street, did you?”
“What’s the issue? I gave her money, so she’ll probably find an inn.”
“…”
I was wrong.
For a moment, I thought he had been considerate, but clearly, I had misjudged.
“If she’s lived in the Theocratic Nation all her life, she’d have no connections in Glenver. And you left her there alone?”
Even in the modern world, this would be risky, and yet here he was doing it in this dangerous world.
His inherently strong personality probably didn’t take such concerns into account.
I clicked my tongue internally.
“How long has it been since you left her there?”
“We rode Urbos right after, so it’s been about three days.”
“…Three days.”
It was a short yet long amount of time.
Shaking my head, I closed my book.