Chapter 28: Revelation (1)

"Princess Chelsea!"

As soon as Damian Hassen left, Rebecca rushed over to support Chelsea Goldfairy.

"R, Rebecca... Did you see? What that guy did to me?"

"Yes, I saw. He was a very terrible man."

"I, I will definitely kill him. I will make him regret what he did to me..."

Chelsea shivered and muttered softly. Suddenly, her eyes filled with anger.

"Mustang Fury!"

Chelsea Goldfairy shouted as she jumped up. A man rushed in from the adjacent room.

"Y-Yes! Mustang Fury, I heard your call and rushed here!"

He was probably middle-aged, with a very plump belly.

"What's going on here! Why didn't the seductive fragrance work on him?"

"I, I don't know either. Sometimes people have strong immunity to black magic. I suspect this might be one of those cases..."

"Such an incompetent fool!"

Chelsea picked up a teacup from the table and threw it. The teacup hit Mustang Fury's forehead directly.

"That guy... I can't let him live. I will definitely kill him. I will make him regret the words he said to me today!"

Chelsea Goldfairy's eyes glinted with malice.

"Where is Guillaume Blackwing? Where is he?"

"G-Guillaume is at a tavern now. He said he needs to vent his anger after what happened today..."

"Is he drinking at a tavern the day before the duel?"

Chelsea Goldfairy's eyes glinted with a murderous intent.

Mustang Fury wiped cold sweat from his forehead and watched Chelsea carefully.

"Bring him to me immediately! I won't let him off!"

"L-Lady, please calm down! I, I will talk to him properly!"

At his words, Chelsea forced herself to suppress her anger.

"...Is it really true that Guillaume Blackwing can defeat Damian Hassen?"

"O-Of course! Who is Guillaume Blackwing? He is our Ulan's masterpiece! I have never seen a knight with a better aptitude for black magic than him."

"Then how could he be humiliated by Damian Hassen in the daytime?"

"That was an unexpected situation... If he had his weapon, the outcome would have been completely different."

Mustang Fury said confidently.

"Lady, please bear with it a little longer! We, Ulan, will put the dukedom in your hands!"

At Mustang Fury's bold promise, Chelsea said with a malicious look.

"Make sure you keep your word. Otherwise, you will be the first to die."

Mustang Fury's face turned pale.

* * *

'So, there was a black mage hiding here.'

On the roof of the restaurant.

Damian Hassen crouched low and eavesdropped on Chelsea and the black mages' conversation.

After leaving the restaurant, Damian Hassen immediately jumped onto the roof.

He then amplified his hearing with magic and listened inside the restaurant.

'It's not just a simple alliance. Chelsea Goldfairy is using the black mages like slaves.'

From the conversation alone, that was clear. But something didn't sit right with Damian Hassen.

'Black mages like them wouldn't submit so easily.'

The black mages Damian knew were ruthless individuals, with poison instead of blood in their veins. They wouldn't submit so easily.

Most importantly, the organization the black mages belonged to was a problem.

'Mustang Fury, right? He clearly said it was Ulan.'

Ulan.

The group to which the black mage who cursed the Hassen territory on the orders of the Black Snake belonged.

Ulan is a dangerous black mage organization that the church is desperately trying to track down.

Would black mages from such a place submit to a novice like Chelsea Goldfairy?

'What are they after?'

Suddenly, a conversation came to Damian's mind.

-Do you know what black mages desire the most? It's to settle down in one place.

Dorgo told Damian this in his past life.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't a conversation. At the time, Damian couldn't speak.

Moreover, Dorgo thought Damian had completely lost his mind.

So, it was just Dorgo talking to himself.

-Black mages' lives can be summarized as wanderers. They have to hide from people's gazes and flee from the church's pursuit. Over time, everyone desperately wants to settle down.

This is why black mages try so hard to infiltrate society.

To find a place where they can live safely.

'Now I understand Ulan's intentions. They are using Chelsea Goldfairy to dominate the dukedom.'

Among the black mages who have attracted the church's attention, very few survive.

Therefore, Ulan must want a strong shield to protect them.

That's why they chose Chelsea Goldfairy. They undoubtedly plan to use her to gain control of the dukedom.

'Those scum are overstepping their bounds.'

Ulan's attempt to dominate the dukedom reminded Damian of Dorgo's behavior in his past life, who treated him like a slave.

'I will crush their plans thoroughly.'

Damian's eyes glinted menacingly.

* * *

Damian returned to the VIP room.

After arriving, Damian first infused the black magic power stored in his body into the bracelet.

'This thing is really useful.'

The bracelet he obtained by killing Ulan's officer Agito had the ability to store and conceal any energy.

Thanks to this, Damian could hide the black magic power he absorbed completely.

'I wish I could get rid of black magic altogether.'

Damian hated black mages and black magic. He wanted to erase them from the world.

However, he collected black magic power as a precaution.

'Life is unpredictable.'

Damian's life as a mercenary was going well until he met Dorgo, the demon, and his life was ruined.

He stored black magic power to prevent such unexpected situations.

After storing all the black magic power in the bracelet, Damian took out the Thousand Mile Sword.

'It's better to show them directly rather than explain to the duke.'

Damian's plan was simple.

He intended to destroy the black magic in Guillaume Blackwing's body.

When the black magic is destroyed, the black magic power will be released, revealing its existence to everyone.

'The Sword Demon's realm is also suitable for this.'

Damian lightly flicked the edge of the Thousand Mile Sword with his finger.

Hum.

The sword vibrated fiercely with just a slight shock.

Damian infused magic power into the Thousand Mile Sword and flicked the blade again.

Hum.

The vibration became even stronger. At the same time, a nearby window broke.

'This is not easy.'

Damian looked displeased.

Originally, he intended to break a chair, not a window.

But he failed to adjust the sound properly, so the window broke.

'How did the Sword Demon adjust this?'

The Sword Demon was not only skilled with swords but also had a talent for sound.

He was born with perfect pitch.

Damian lacked the Sword Demon's sense of sound.

Therefore, he understood the technique and realm but couldn't use it skillfully.

'I need to practice if I want to use it in the duel tomorrow.'

Damian spent the whole night making the sword sing.

* * *

The next day, the day of the duel.

The duke's retainers gathered at the training ground on time to watch the duel.

Among them were many of the duke's knights, including those who would participate in the duel with the viscount.

"Brother Pavel, who do you think will win?"

One of the candidate knights asked a short, stocky knight.

Pavel, the short knight, scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"Considering only reputation, Guillaume Blackwing will win."

Although Guillaume Blackwing was a knight from a distant land, his reputation was well-known here.

"Then, will we finally be free from that demon, Damian Hassen?"

The candidate knight shivered and asked.

In recent days, the duel knights had been beaten by Damian Hassen under the guise of training.

Resisting was futile; they would be beaten mercilessly. If they tried to run, they would be caught.

What made the duel knights suffer the most was Damian Hassen's bizarre striking technique.

No matter how hard Damian Hassen hit, no injuries remained on their bodies.

So, the duel knights couldn't even report to their superiors.

"If Sir Guillaume Blackwing wins, that will be the case."

With such a major conflict, the losing side would have to leave the dukedom.

If Damian Hassen lost, the duel knights would be freed from those terrible days...

"But I somehow feel that guy won't lose..."

Pavel Vermund thought of Damian Hassen.

His bizarre sword technique, his ability to make one lose their mind, and his cruel methods.

Just thinking about him made Pavel's legs tremble in fear.

"Well, no matter what, Sir Guillaume Blackwing should win, right?"

As a fellow knight laughed, a man shouted as he entered the training ground.

"Haah!"

He was a huge, muscular man, especially with long and thick arms, like logs.

"That man is Guillaume Blackwing..."

Pavel Vermund looked at him with amazement.

At first glance, it was clear that although their realms might be the same, Guillaume Blackwing was much stronger.

"Damian Hassen! Get up here! Today, I will crush you!"

Guillaume Blackwing shouted as he entered the training ground.

His behavior reminded Pavel Vermund of a gladiator rather than a knight. He was clearly strong but lacked any sense of decorum or dignity.

"Brother, that's the guy."

At that moment, a knight shook Pavel Vermund's arm and pointed somewhere.

Damian Hassen had just appeared at the training ground.

"Nice of you not to run away!"

Guillaume Blackwing laughed savagely upon seeing Damian Hassen.

In contrast, Damian Hassen yawned widely.

"Man, I didn't sleep well last night. My shoulders are stiff."

Damian Hassen massaged one shoulder and cracked his neck.

There was no sign of fighting spirit or tension. At his attitude, Guillaume Blackwing gritted his teeth.

"You're begging to be killed, aren't you?"

A fierce aura began to emanate from Guillaume Blackwing. Pavel Vermund swallowed hard at the rough energy.

Guillaume Blackwing was even stronger than he had imagined.

Guillaume Blackwing glared at Damian Hassen as if ready to pounce at any moment.

But the actual battle did not start.

"Looks like I'm late."

The duke's arrival was the reason.

"Sir Damian, did you sleep well last night?"

"I couldn't get any sleep because I was practicing something."

"Ah, I see. Whatever you were so focused on, don't neglect your sleep. Sleep is the best medicine."

The duke greeted Damian warmly and then approached Guillaume Blackwing.

"Guillaume Blackwing."

"Y-Yes, Your Excellency."

Guillaume Blackwing glanced at Gaol Heimrich, who was standing next to the duke, as he answered.

"I hope you will win cleanly and decisively."

The tone suggested the result was already decided, and Guillaume Blackwing's face darkened.

"Y-Yes, I will do my best."

But he couldn't explode in anger with Gaol Heimrich present.

"Well, let's not waste time. Let's start the duel."

The duke's declaration was made.

* * *

As soon as the duel started, Guillaume Blackwing charged across the training ground.

He held two hand axes, each glowing with a crimson aura.

"Damian Hassen!"

Unable to contain his passion, Guillaume Blackwing shouted loudly. Damian Hassen frowned at the noise.

'What a noisy guy.'

Despite his annoyance, Damian Hassen instinctively analyzed Guillaume Blackwing.

'His arms are equally developed. That means he's ambidextrous.'

Using dual weapons, the technique can differ depending on whether one is right-handed or left-handed.

But Guillaume Blackwing was ambidextrous, meaning his technique had no weaknesses.

'His steps vary in depth. That means he can't control his magic power well.'

Because he couldn't control his magic power consistently, the force of his steps varied, causing differences in depth.

'This is enough.'

At best, he was a fake knight who had raised his realm through black magic. There was no value in analyzing him further.

"Aren't you going to dodge? You're going to block me head-on?"

Guillaume Blackwing, who was almost within reach, raised his hand axes.

"There have been many who tried and failed!"

Guillaume Blackwing's arms tensed, and the two axes fell toward Damian.

Damian blocked the axes with the Thousand Mile Sword. As soon as the axes collided, the Thousand Mile Sword vibrated fiercely.

Hum.

The Thousand Mile Sword emitted a shockwave. The ground around Damian shattered.

The shockwave also sent Guillaume Blackwing flying. He rotated in mid-air and landed on the ground.

"W-What did you just do..."

Blackwing looked at Damian with a bewildered expression.

Others were equally surprised.

"W-What was that just now?"

"I-I don't know either."

"It sounded like a noise, and then Guillaume Blackwing was flying..."

No one had ever seen such a defensive technique, so they were naturally bewildered.

"...That was..."

Only one person, Gaol Heimrich, recognized the technique Damian used.

The duke turned to Gaol Heimrich and asked.

"Sir Gaol, do you know the technique Sir Damian Hassen used?"

"A few years ago, a knight hired by the dukedom used a similar technique."

Gaol Heimrich looked at Damian Hassen with surprise.

"It was a very unique technique that I never forgot. I never imagined Sir Damian Hassen could use it too."

Gaol Heimrich recalled for a moment and then said to the duke.

"If my memory serves me right... You might see something even more interesting."

* * *

"What kind of strange magic are you using!"

Guillaume Blackwing kicked the ground again and charged at Damian.

Damian swept the edge of the Thousand Mile Sword with two fingers.

The blade began to vibrate slowly. As the vibration grew, the sword's hum grew louder.

When the sword's hum reached its peak, Damian flicked the blade with his finger.

Immediately, a shock was delivered to Guillaume Blackwing's abdomen.

"Ugh!"

At that moment, Guillaume Blackwing let out a scream and stopped, looking at Damian with confusion.

"T-This guy... keeps doing something strange..."

Hum.

Damian flicked the blade again.

This time, Guillaume Blackwing's face was distorted as if hit by an invisible cudgel.

"Ugh!"

Damian flicked the blade again. This time, the shock was delivered to his side.

"Ugh!"

Guillaume Blackwing wildly swung his axes with both hands. But nothing was caught by the axes.

"W-What is this? Is Sir Damian using magic?"

"But Sir Damian is a knight, isn't he?"

The retainers were bewildered by the bizarre scene.

"You brat! Stop it!"

Guillaume Blackwing swung his hand axes in anger. Red auras were released and flew toward Damian.

Hum.

At that moment, the hum of the Thousand Mile Sword changed. It was no longer heavy but sharp.

As the sharp hum sounded, the aura Guillaume Blackwing had released was split in half. The aura lost its focus and scattered.

"...What?"

Guillaume Blackwing's body stiffened at the unexpected sight.

Seizing the moment, Damian made the sword hum again.

At that moment, Guillaume Blackwing kicked the ground and jumped up hastily. The training ground floor was cut cleanly as if sliced by a knife.

"What a crazy guy!"

Guillaume Blackwing, bewildered, charged at Damian. Damian glanced at him.

'Time to stop playing around.'

He had been toying with Guillaume Blackwing to test the Sword Demon's technique.

Now it was time to reveal the truth to everyone.

'The terrifying aspect of the Sword Demon is not their ability in large-scale battles, but their ability to attack internally with the sword's hum.'

The realm the Sword Demon had reached as a master was called 'Resonance.'

Originally, the Sword Demon could only cause external injuries with the sword's hum.

But with 'Resonance,' they could affect the opponent's internal organs.

Each time the Sword Demon made the sword hum, the enemies experienced the pain of their insides being torn apart.

'This technique didn't work on masters.'

Masters had bodies trained to the extreme and very precise control over their magic power.

Thus, it was almost impossible to cause internal injuries with resonance.

'But it's still a useful realm.'

Damian flicked the Thousand Mile Sword. The sword's hum began to sound softly.

He grabbed the vibrating Thousand Mile Sword with both hands, raised it high, and then struck the ground with all his might.

A massive sound, enough to make one's head spin, filled the training ground.

The massive shockwave made Guillaume Blackwing's body tremble. He froze in place.

"You, you..."

Guillaume Blackwing's face gradually turned pale.

"Ugh..."

Guillaume Blackwing vomited something from his mouth.

It wasn't blood but a much darker, sticky liquid.

"Why is Sir Guillaume doing that?"

"Something's wrong..."

The substance Guillaume vomited hit the ground and turned into a gas, spreading in all directions.

A black fog filled the training ground. The retainers' faces hardened at the sight.

"Is this...?"

There was only one type of magic power in the world that was black.

"It's black magic power!"

The retainers shouted in alarm.