It seemed they were keenly realizing what changes had come over Truvenia while they had wandered here endlessly. To think that humans had been placed in such a wretched plight. Looking at them, Damon continued in a low voice.
“Of course, you cannot say you bear no responsibility for their plight. Because from the beginning, you should have corrected the lords’ mistaken decisions…”
Before he could finish, Primberg’s voice rang out like a scream.
―Enough. Say no more. We, too, are suffering.
Both sides kept silent for a while. No one was willing to speak first.
Whoooosh.
A wind sharp enough to flay flesh swept around them from every direction, but no one moved. Since he was protecting his body with magic, Damon did not feel the cold; and besides, there was no reason for ghosts who had died once already to feel the chill. The one who spoke to him was Reindelf. True to his reputation in life as a devoted husband, he asked after the safety of his family.
―Do you happen to know what became of our house?
“I don’t. All I’ve heard is that, as far as I know, a very small number of people barely managed to cross over to Arcadia.”
―And the rest…
“Is there any need to ask? They were probably made slaves of the orcs…”
Damon stopped speaking for a moment and swept his gaze over the ghosts one by one.
“Or they died and became food for them. One of the two, I suppose?”
At those words, coldhearted to the point of cruelty, the ghosts fell silent once more. They had struggled so hard, yet in the end, all their efforts had come to nothing. Since even their souls could not leave this place, the way to meet their families in the afterlife was hopelessly far away.
The second to break the silence was Helbertron.
―Then why did you summon us? Us, who have become useless ghosts now…
Seizing the moment, Damon continued.
“Whether you are useful or not is for me to decide. I came here to meet you.”
―Us? Why? For what reason…
“I intend to make you into Death Knights. You were called the best of Icarot in life, so you should become excellent Death Knights, no?”
―……….
“I have already become a great mage who has reached the 9th Circle. In other words, I am no longer the novice mage you remember. Therefore, I can guarantee that I will not be lacking in making you into Death Knights.”
The moment Damon finished speaking, the ghosts burst into low chuckles. Their reaction was as if they found it too absurd to endure. Helbertron’s ghost, wearing a mischievous expression, spoke to Damon.
―You came all this way for something as trifling as that? You’ve wasted your effort.
“……….”
―I’ll give you the conclusion first. We have absolutely no intention of becoming anything like Death Knights.
The ghosts of the Four Great Knights answered in turn, one by one.
―Though our bodies are dead, our spirits follow the oath of noble knights no matter what happens.
―It means that though we have died once, we have not the slightest intention of staining our honor.
―I can assure you, not a single knight’s soul here will follow your will.
―To say we would become Death Knights would be to imprison our souls in darkness for all eternity. Even if it were not you but the Great Demon King Nidelhark himself who came, our answer would be the same.
Despite hearing their answer, there was no change in Damon’s expression. He looked as though he had expected such a reply.
“Is that so? Understood.”
Without another word, Damon turned around. The ones taken aback by his reaction were, rather, the ghosts of the Four Great Knights.
―You’re just leaving?
―What an utterly frivolous fellow.
As he walked away with his back turned, Damon let out a voice low enough, yet perfectly audible to the ghosts.
“Well, trying to hunt dragons with dull, antiquated fools like you—perhaps I’m the one who’s lost his mind. It would be better to look for Sword Masters as planned.”
At those words, the ghosts snapped to attention. As if urgent, Helbertron caught Damon by the ankle with his words.
―Then you intend to face dragons?
Without even turning his head, Damon replied coldly.
“That’s right. My target is only the dragons. It was for that very reason that I learned magic as well… In particular, I intend to take the life of the Red Dragon Berkis no matter what. Of course, I will also have to bring down the remaining dragons and rescue the saintess who is being held by them.”
―Are you confident?
“I have never even thought about things like possibility. Dragons—the strongest beings on the continent of Truvenia. And this is revenge carried out against all dragons. If I thought about the possibility, I probably wouldn’t even be able to attempt it, would I? But I will do it. Even if I cannot accomplish it, it is something I absolutely must do…”
The ghosts kept silent for a moment. Damon turned his head slightly and looked at them. On his face floated a smile with an ambiguous air.
“Farewell. If you live here forever, you’ll be able to hear the good news. If I succeed in my revenge, I’ll be sure to send word…”
―Wait a moment.
The ghosts of the Four Great Knights, who had been silent, finally opened their mouths. On Helbertron’s face—the only one that still had a head attached—there was a look as though he had resolved himself to something.
―If we become Death Knights and help you, do you think the possibility of succeeding in your revenge will rise even a little?
Sensing that the other party had half taken the bait, Damon quietly drew in the fishing line.
“You fools… Didn’t I tell you beforehand that if I thought about possibility, it would be something I could not even attempt? Of course, you might be of some help.”
―You are not doing this with some other purpose in mind, are you?
“Some other purpose? What are you talking about?”
―The sorts of things wicked necromancers commonly do. Such as killing or kidnapping humans to satisfy your own desires.
Hearing Helbertron’s words, Damon shook his head as if dumbfounded. Yet their worries did seem to have a point.
That was because souls that had become Death Knights could not disobey a necromancer’s orders under any circumstances. No matter how strong their willpower was, it was the same. Even if the necromancer ordered them to kill their families or their lord from when they were alive, they would have no choice but to obey. Damon well understood how they felt, but he decided to proceed coldly.
“What timid fellows you are. If you’re going to say such nonsense, then disappear at once.”
―Answer us. To us, it is a matter that can only be desperate.
Seeing the ghosts’ plaintive attitude, Damon finally sensed that the time had ripened.
“I cannot promise many things. But there is one thing I can swear on my name. I will let you fight dragons. This much, no matter what happens, I will uphold.”
A bright light appeared on Helbertron’s face. He soon began saying something to the ghosts of the other three knights. Since Damon could not overhear even the conversation of ghosts, he merely waited in silence. A little while later, Helbertron’s ghost stepped forward as if he were their representative and gazed at Damon.
―We will accept your proposal. In other words, we will become Death Knights.
“Truly?”
―Of course. Even if this decision means our souls will never be saved for all eternity, it does not matter. There is only one thing we think of: taking revenge on the dragons. For that, even if we fall into hell, we will accept it.
“……….”
―We will serve you as our master. We will not care how you use us. Only one thing. If only we can drive our swords into a dragon’s body… If you can do only that, then we do not care even if you make all of us into mere skeletons. What we desire most desperately right now is revenge.
Listening to Helbertron’s words, thick with sincerity, Damon quietly nodded. It was the moment he was about to gain powerful helpers.
“Good. The contract is established. Then I shall begin the grand rite at once.”
Damon set down the backpack he was carrying on the ground again. Since all his knowledge of necromancy was in his head, there was no need to look at a book. Damon looked at Helbertron.
“I will draw the magic circle. Prepare yourselves.”
―We are prepared.
Hearing the reply, Damon began drawing a magic circle on the ground. It was a magic circle meant to rebirth souls that had agreed to a contract as Death Knights. Meanwhile, the four ghosts stared fixedly at the magic circle Damon was drawing. Though they had made a decision that might mean their souls would never be saved, there was not the slightest trace of regret in their hearts.
“It’s finished now.”
With a voice as if drained of strength, Damon let out a long sigh. Before him, four Death Knights clad in black armor were shining their eye-lights.
Strangely, they were wearing extremely thin armor. It was not simplified armor that covered only the vital parts of the body, but full-body armor; yet its thickness was abnormally thin. It was armor one might think of as something like the leather garment worn beneath armor. Since it was in the form of chain mail, it did not seem to hinder movement at all, but there was no doubt that it revealed a significant weakness in terms of defensive power.
The grand rite ended successfully. All the dark magical power Damon had gathered until now was injected into the four ghosts, and at last they were able to obtain physical forms. The bodies of cursed Death Knights, that is. The Death Knights born through Damon—Helbertron, Reindelf, Primberg, and Saramis—kept flashing their eye-lights as they looked over one another.
Among them, Helbertron spoke in an extremely disappointed tone. The grotesquely resonating voice was no different from what Damon had heard inside the barrier. Those who had once appeared to be Death Knights because of an illusion had now become true Death Knights.
“I-is th-this the e-entirety of y-your m-magical p-power?”
“For now.”
“I expected as much, since you are not a Demon King, b-but it is somewhat disappointing. It is not even ten percent of the power I possessed in life.”
The other three knights also added a word each, as if unwilling to be outdone.
“D-damn it. One swipe of a dragon’s tail and we’ll be reduced to powder.”
“It seems we’re not a single bit better than skeletons.”
Damon, who had been listening quietly, lost his temper. In truth, the magical power he had gathered was only barely enough to transform them into Death Knights. There was, after all, a clear limit to the dark magical power a necromancer could gather. Unless one was a Demon King.
“Enough chatter. This is not all.”
Rising to his feet, Damon removed the magic circle. Then a strange light appeared in Helbertron’s eyes.
“Y-you are not going to make any more Death Knights?”
“There should be no need, should there?”
“Th-then does that mean you intend to oppose the dragons with you and the four of us?”
“For now.”
Helbertron reacted as if he found it absurd.
“D-do you not think that is impossible? With this level, we cannot properly hunt even a single wyvern, let alone a dragon. Did you not even have enough magical power to create phantom steeds (幽靈軍馬: phantom steed) for us?”
“……….”
“How truly disappointing. If this was how it would be, was there any need to summon us in particular? Even if you had summoned any of the ghosts here at random, you could have made Death Knights of this level…”
A peculiar light hovered over Damon’s face.
“Are you saying you regret your decision, then?”
“N-no, that is not so. Since we have made a contract, we will absolutely obey your orders. However, in this state, I can guarantee that we will not even be a momentary match for a dragon. Therefore, if possible, I would like to advise you to create more Death Knights. If you reveal your purpose, there will be no one among the ghosts here who will refuse.”
Damon smiled faintly.
“That is for me to decide. I have no intention of creating any more Death Knights. Are there any more questions?”
The remaining Death Knights, steeped in disappointment, kept their silence.