Chapter 58

The acrid smell of blood on the battlefield. Thick clouds of dust rising everywhere. The earth is being torn apart, and the sky seems to split open in an outrageous display.

And there, standing amidst all this chaos, is Sir Beatrix Constantinople, gripping a Greatsword that’s half white and half black.

While I, who am nothing special, stand opposite her with my arms spread wide.

Beatrix’s sword blade trembles as it points at me. I smile crookedly and say,

“Swear your knightly oath to me.”

The time for informal talk has ended. Now what I need to do is lure her in respectfully with honorifics.

“I will become the lord you desire. With me, it’s possible.”

“Did you not understand my words?”

If there was anyone who didn’t understand, it certainly wasn’t me. I understood perfectly.

“You’re scared.”

“Of what?”

“That you might end up cutting down another lord with your own hands. Or worse, fall prey to some demon’s trick again and end up killing the lord you’ve chosen.”

“….”

Beatrix falls silent, acknowledging the truth in my words.

“…Yes, that is what I fear most. I fear becoming someone who doesn’t know their place, serving a lord only to harm them. I fear not loving my lord enough to protect them, leaving them to sacrifice themselves in a life-or-death duel.”

“So, what should I do then?”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Beatrix makes her decision.

“Try to cut me down.”

“Whoa, are you serious?”

“You must prove to me that you’re a lord worthy of my faith—not just with words but through action. Show me that I can trust you as my lord!”

“Alright! Here I come! If that’s what you want, I’ll show you!”

So, it’s come to this.

By now, Aru is probably in the middle of summoning Lucifer and Uriel.

I need to make Beatrix my knight before they arrive. Only then can I sever the contract between Lucifer and Beatrix.

Gooo-.

A chilling energy sends shivers down my spine. This is what I have to suppress right now.

No, suppression won’t be enough. I need to wound this energy. In my hand, I grip the Spade Ace card.

“Just so you know, don’t think I’ll go easy on you. This is a matter of life and death.”

Knights’ tests? Heard of plenty of those. But a lord’s test? That’s fresh. I like it. It’s rare to hear “I’ll only follow someone stronger than me,” but “I’ll only follow someone who can cut me down”? This kind of lord test might not exist anywhere else in the world.

Hmm, how should I break through this obstacle? I’m not underestimating it. My opponent is a Holy Knight contracted with a demon—someone already known as the strongest Holy Knight in the Holy Order even before signing that contract. And me?

I’m barely 109 years old—a kid. Sure, I’ve lived four times longer than Beatrix, but demons and humans operate on different scales.

“How long are you going to keep talking?”

“…My apologies for the lengthy preamble.”

With a firm grip on her sword, Beatrix steps forward. The ground shifts beneath her step.

It looks like an illusion, but it’s not. Beatrix’s footfall carries such immense power that the earth caves in where she treads.

Paaang-!

With both hands on her sword, Beatrix charges straight at me. If I counter directly, I’m dead for sure.

That’s why I counter directly. Beatrix likely expects this too. Striking the weak point an opponent hasn’t considered yet is fundamental in battle.

Paats-!

Diamond 5. The hardest shield in the world. This Diamond 5 card, made from Dragon King Endros’ fangs, cannot be pierced by Beatrix, even if she uses Lucifer’s power. Not even Lucifer himself could breach it against the Dragon King.

“Trying to block…? What are you thinking…”

Ka-ga-gak-!

“…! How…!”

“Hahaha! There’s always a way!”

Using just my index and middle fingers, I hold the Diamond 5 card and brace it against the incoming blade. Of course, I don’t place it directly in front to take the full brunt—it wouldn’t absorb the shock after all.

At an angle.

Deflecting the edge.

Just enough to twist Beatrix’s slash—that’s the limit of my ability.

“I noticed it earlier, but your combat sense is really good.”

“It’s a necessary trait for surviving in these perilous Demon Forests!”

The deflected greatsword streaks past me. As we cross paths, I draw the Diamond 5 card diagonally downward.

From Beatrix’s shoulder to her waist—I pour strength into the motion, ready to slice clean through.

Thud-!

But my attack fails. Beatrix is a seasoned warrior who’s seen it all. She anticipated my strike, switching to one-handed sword grip and using her free hand to knock the card aside.

As a result, I lose my balance, and Beatrix retracts her arm to deliver another punch. I pull my abdomen back, allowing the blow to land lightly.

Phewk-!

And I collapse onto the ground, clutching my stomach while screaming loudly.

“Aaaah! Ow! I’m dying! The knight is trying to kill the lord!”

Naturally, this is meant to lead Beatrix into letting her guard down. Adding a teary glint to my eyes would make it even better…

“Don’t act like a baby. I didn’t feel anything at the end of my fist.”

…Indeed, veteran-worthy. Guess this level of acting doesn’t work on her.

“Hehehe.”

Shaking off my pants, I rise. In my view, Beatrix stands ready with her sword raised in salute.

Even though she reduced the impact of the punch, it still hurts. My stomach feels queasy.

Alright, what should I do now?

Before I can deeply ponder this question, Beatrix spins rapidly and swings her sword. The target is my neck. A merciless, sharp strike without an ounce of mercy.

Without time to think, I bend my upper body backward. The ferocious strike narrowly misses my head, ruffling my hair.

Beatrix’s real move comes next.

Bingguurrr-.

“…Uh-oh.”

Taking advantage of centrifugal force, Beatrix follows the swing of her sword and rotates her entire body. The Greatsword completes a full spin and returns mid-swing.

Right now, my head is in its path, and there isn’t enough space to evade.

No time to think. I immediately draw the Diamond 5 card and attempt to angle it against the Greatsword once more.

Clearly a mistake. I should have anticipated that Beatrix, a master of combat, wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice.

Kwaang-!

“Uwaaaah!”

“Magician! Is this all you’ve got?! Your boasts were far too overblown compared to your actual strength!”

At the moment the card meets the sword, Beatrix changes the direction of her blade, ensuring a direct clash instead of a side-on collision.

The Diamond 5 card isn’t soft against the sword, but my muscles are a hundred times softer compared to hers. Except maybe my chest or buttocks muscles.

Overpowered, I have no choice but to release the card. The world’s hardest shield slips from my grasp. From the start, this was a targeted strike aimed at removing the card from play.

The discarded card clatters to the ground. Beatrix gazes coldly at me, now disarmed, and speaks.

“Now you can’t block my sword.”

“Guess so, I’m done for.”

It seems Beatrix has no intention of showing mercy. Believing her only defensive option is gone, she raises her sword. The familiar energies of black and white gather around the blade. The sky is no longer blue.

“If you can’t stop this attack, you will die.”

“Ah.”

“Perhaps it would’ve been better if you hadn’t awakened any desires within me. Taking away hope after giving it is rather cruel, isn’t it?”

“Don’t give up. If you abandon hope, despair is all that remains.”

“If you can’t cut me down here, I will die. I don’t want to indulge in unattainable dreams.”

“So it’s either mutual destruction or mutual survival, huh? Sounds fun to me.”

“…You remain cheerful until the very end. You lack any sense of gravity whatsoever.”

“Life’s too short to waste. Might as well enjoy it twice!”

In fact, I’d probably enjoy life three times if given the chance. That’s just the kind of guy I am.

“Please, stop this attack and cut me down.”

Kooaaaa-.

A thunderous sword strike, filled with piercing aura, hurtles toward me. Dozens of meters of razor-sharp aura enveloping the sword blade soar skyward before descending upon me.

The iron blade doesn’t reach me. Instead, it’s the divine and demonic energy-infused blade aiming for my throat.

Beatrix’s eyes, as she swings her sword vertically, reflect resignation. They carry regret and reluctance. She must believe I can’t possibly block this attack.

Originally, I intended to further coax her into underestimating me.

Can’t do that now.

If she shows such audacious belief, I have no choice but to shatter it. Breaking someone’s belief is my job after all!

Wooong-.

Purple magic power blooms at my fingertips, taking the form of telekinetic energy that envelopes intangible forces.

Some claim telekinesis only works on tangible objects. It’s a common misconception, but also wrong. Why? Because I’m about to break that rule.

“Hmm?”

The ethereal blade bends. The demonic energy of Lucifer and the divine power of the Lord are reborn at my fingertips. Its target shifts, plunging darkness into Beatrix’s vision.

Fwoooosh-!

“…!”

In the instant I wield telekinesis, Beatrix’s aura blade, redirected 180 degrees, pierces through her abdomen. Blood gushes violently from her mouth due to the sudden reversal of blood flow.

“Cu, cough…!”

Sliiishhh-.

The sword energy dissipates, but its mark remains—an unmistakable hole through Beatrix’s abdomen.

Beatrix kneels on one knee, struggling to stay upright. Clutching her greatsword in reverse grip, she leans on it for support. Her complexion turns pale.

I approach her step by step, reaching the struggling woman. Sitting cross-legged in front of her, I grin broadly and speak.

“Is that all?”

“Huff, huff… Wha, what…?”

“What? How did I do it? There’s no way I’d tell you! It’s a trade secret!”

“But if I may elaborate, call it magic? Lady Beatrix, you should thank me! Had I used the Joker Card, you wouldn’t even be left with a trace right now!”

“Was dropping the card earlier part of your plan…?”

“To provoke your ultimate attack, naturally! Hahaha!”

Beatrix’s head droops involuntarily. She shouldn’t die from a mere punctured belly. So why is she doing this?

Ah, could it be ‘that’?

“I… lost.”

“Hahaha.”

<“You are my true lord.”>

Beatrix’s hand releases the sword embedded in the ground. Trembling, she struggles to maintain her posture. Lowering her left hand to the ground and bending her right arm at a right angle, she extends it horizontally.

Investiture ceremony.

Time to uphold the knights’ tradition.

Clang-,

I grab the Greatsword with my own hand, pulling it out despite its overwhelming weight, and bring it close to Beatrix’s face. Solemnly, I declare:

<“To whom does your loyalty belong?”>

<“To my lord... cough. To my lord.”>

<“For what does your honor exist?”>

<“To avoid tarnishing my lord’s name. Ugh...”>

Pale-faced, Beatrix manages to answer the questions. Biting her lips tightly to stem the uncontrollable bleeding.

<“What purpose does your sword serve?”>

<“My... sword...”>

Beatrix pauses briefly, her eyes darkening. A moment to sort through past regrets and memories.

<“...My... sword...”>

Her brown irises regain their vitality. The noose around her neck snaps. Filled with renewed ambition, Beatrix firmly declares:

<“Is to cleave and divide those who dare oppose my new lord.”>

Though lacking physical strength due to her injury, her resolve shines brightly. Hope, desire, and ambition return to her as she swears allegiance to me.

<“Very well.”>

“…”

<“You are now my knight, my sword following my will.”>

“…”

<“Beatrix Constantinople. I hereby appoint you as a knight of mine, Oscar Lucifer.”>

“…Lucifer?”

Listening silently with bowed head, Beatrix lifts it upon hearing my final word. Now officially my knight, she questions curiously.

“Lucifer, you say? My lord, what exactly did you just say…?”

I don’t respond. Instead, I forcibly hoist the weakening Beatrix onto my back.

“Lucifer, you say? Lord, what did you just mean by that…?”

Beatrix fires rapid-fire questions while wriggling, but it’s futile. A human with a perforated abdomen losing gallons of blood has no strength left, regardless of how powerful they might be.

Trub-.

Carrying Beatrix on my back, I stride confidently forward.

Toward the warehouse where Aru has likely completed summoning Lucifer by now.

“Hey! Lord! What did you just say! Lu, what does Lucifer mean…!”

“Hahaha, questioning me won’t get you anywhere. I was merely born that way. Go argue with our ancestors instead!”

“Ancestors…?”

“Well, let’s enter, shall we?”

Creeeak-.

I burst through the door of the warehouse, which somehow survived the storm of swords. Beatrix’s eyes widen dramatically. Inside, Aru greets me happily while the gaze of a demon with black wings locks onto me and Beatrix.

“Kung-kung? Young demon, you came? I did everything you told me to!”

“Finally, after making this arrogant summoner wait patiently, I get to see the face of the one who dared summon me, Lucifer. Let’s see how impressive you truly are…”

“…! Lu, Lucifer!! Why are you here… cough!”

“Hahaha, looks like the main characters are almost all here. And Aru, good job! You’re still the best wolf in the world! I’ll treat you to something tasty later!”

It’s time for the climactic trio confrontation.

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