48. The King Knight and the Play
*
Abelesas looked at the food the clerics had provided and spoke in a refined voice.
“Are you all rabbits?”
“···?”
Glancing at the plate of boiled potatoes, wild herbs, and dry rye bread, Abelesas tapped the hardened surface of the bread with her fingertip.
“I want venison. Have you ever tried it?”
“···No?”
“Truly, you live a life as dry as this bread. Venison has a beautiful ratio of muscle to fat. The tough parts are good for chewing, and the soft fat is perfect for swallowing. I miss salt and pepper.”
When Fernandez stared at her face, Abel’s cheeks turned slightly red.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, it’s just… I was wondering if you passed the inquisition.”
“Of course, I did. A collaborator endorsed by a saint wouldn’t be judged as a heretic.”
Abel smirked, tearing off a piece of bread and began mashing the boiled potatoes with her spoon.
“I didn’t expect you to be a saint of Vaitas. I have so many questions for you. So, what brings you here? Did you come because you were worried about me?”
Since the inquisition took longer than expected, Fernandez handed Abel a late lunch. Abel, seemingly uninterested in eating, smeared the mashed potatoes on the plate, drawing patterns.
“You’re not completely ignorant of the state of the Material World, are you?”
“Of course not.”
“Then how on earth did you pass the inquisition so smoothly…?”
That was Fernandez’s biggest concern. Abel lacked common knowledge of modern society. How did she manage to pass the deep scrutiny of the Inquisition Office? He had even prepared to use the saint’s authority to rescue her if things went south.
“I was trained in swordsmanship by the Elven Wild Prince and assisted you in martial arts. It was under the command of the Elven Serpent King. I was assigned to watch over you, but I was influenced by you and converted to Vaitas as a human ‘maiden.'”
Abel emphasized the strange part and glanced at Fernandez. When Fernandez nodded nonchalantly, she pouted slightly.
“Quite detailed, aren’t you?”
“Indeed. One of my hobbies was watching human society’s plays.”
“Do you know how to wield a sword?”
“···? This won’t do. Follow me.”
Abel playfully smiled, put down her utensils, and stood up. It was a sudden challenge, but Fernandez shrugged and stood up. After all, it was important to gauge her abilities. Most of the time, she wouldn’t be able to act in her dragon form.
*
“If I win, you must present me with venison. Ah, do all the priests here eat like this?”
“Even the Monastery Head.”
“Truly, they remain unnecessarily frugal. Children need to eat well to grow properly.”
Among the priests who believed their bodies grew under the protection of the gods, it was a rare moment of common sense. Fernandez thought it was ironic that this 2,000-year-old dragon was more sensible as he lifted a wooden sword.
Diemonica’s [Outdoor Hall of Hymns] was filled with Diemonica exercising. They watched Abel and Fernandez, who had drawn their weapons, with interest, lifting dumbbells or barbells.
“I bet 150kg for 3 sets on our brother’s victory!”
“Oh, brother. That woman learned swordsmanship directly from the Wild Prince! I bet 65kg for 10 sets on her victory!”
The Diemonica continued their usual crazy banter and laughter. Fernandez ignored their words and drew his training sword, while Abel smiled softly.
“Now, show me your stance. I’ll guide you.”
Provoked, Fernandez glared and gripped the hilt. Abel shook her head, tutting.
“Your shoulders are too tense. That’s a trait of you Inquisition Officers. What you’re holding is a one-handed sword. Relax your grip and loosen your shoulders.”
“···You seem quite knowledgeable in swordsmanship.”
“Of course. Did you think Dane, the King Knight, learned swordsmanship alone as a child?”
There was a legend that King Knight Dane learned swordsmanship and chivalry from the Lake Goddess in his youth. As Fernandez tilted his head in confusion, her smile deepened.
-Whoosh.
She lightly swung her wooden sword, pointing the tip at Fernandez. There was no sign of aggression or intent to attack from Abel.
Fernandez frowned slightly and took his stance. Strike first, win first. Fernandez’s basic tactic was always to attack first. Unless forced to counterattack, the best strategy was to strike when the opponent was off guard or unable to respond!
-Thud!!
“Ugh!”
Fernandez’s sword bounced off into the air. The unique elasticity of the wooden sword reverberated through his wrist. It was an incredible force! The Diemonica gasped in admiration.
“This is how you counter if you rely on brute force.”
Abel spoke in a teaching tone. She whispered softly, spinning her sword and changing her stance. Though it was the same wooden sword, hers rippled like waves on a calm lake.
“Come at me again.”
“Hup!”
Fernandez frowned and charged. The same sword strike! But this was his own feint. Starting with an overhead slash, he twisted his body in the opposite direction of the opponent’s strike—
-Whoosh!!!
Abel’s sword drew a large horizontal arc, heading straight for Fernandez’s sword.
Fernandez stopped his body in the same swinging posture, twisted his waist, and suddenly attempted a horizontal slash.
The dynamic vision of Diemonica and the elastic core strength created an unconventional counterattack!
However, Abel’s sword rippled like a wave, wrapping around Fernandez’s sword and flicking it upward. Her delicate fingers lightly extended, touching Fernandez’s chest where his defense was open.
-Thud!!
“Cough!!”
Fernandez’s body bounced off and rolled roughly on the ground. He quickly pushed himself up, his breathing cut off by the sudden attack, his lungs contracting violently.
“Gasp, ugh. How on earth?”
“At least in your age group, you shouldn’t have any rivals. You’ve got the basics of swordsmanship down. It must be thanks to that ‘blessing’ of the Inquisition kids.”
Abel slowly approached Fernandez, brushing off the dirt on his body as she spoke.
“Martial arts developed to overcome the physical disadvantages of the human body. How can human strength compare to that of a bear? Or a troll? An ogre? A giant? Even someone bigger than you would be tough. Vision, reflexes, strength, endurance—there are more beings stronger than humans than weaker ones.”
At Abel’s words, the Brothers of Diemonica flinched. Bears, trolls, ogres—they could handle those…? One of the Diemonica brothers lightly lifted a massive dumbbell, lost in thought.
“The development of techniques is driven by the need to overcome limits. Fernandez, your body has somewhat surpassed human limits and will continue to do so. But remember this.”
She handed the wooden sword that had fallen to the ground back to Fernandez.
“Don’t get buried in your potential. Always aim higher, have a broader perspective. Never stop—isn’t that what you humans are all about?”
The dragon who loved humans smiled as she spoke. She gently reached out and stroked Fernandez’s hair. Her height was about a hand shorter than Fernandez’s, so she had to stretch her arm high.
Fernandez looked down into her sparkling blue eyes. Somehow, he felt like a 16-year-old kid again. His lips were dry. He struggled to speak.
“Shall we go finish our meal?”
Abel’s eyes softened and glowed brightly. She whispered quietly to Fernandez.
“Dragons are carnivores.”
*
In the end, Abel decided to settle for dried jerky. The jerky given to Inquisition Officers on missions was terribly tough and salty, dried to the point of being hard. She chewed on the jerky without even roasting it over a fire.
“So, you’re planning to return to the Kingdom of Dane?”
“That’s right. Your help is absolutely necessary.”
The plan had been established with Abel’s assistance in mind from the beginning. There were things only Abel, the mentor and great mother of the founding king, could do.
“Take this.”
“Hmm… The writing in this era is somewhat different from what I know. The vocabulary is a bit frivolous.”
Abel took the report from Fernandez with a puzzled expression and read it.
*
[Investigation Report: Closed Silver Mine in the Barony of Cardus]
Investigation Area: Eastern and Western Barony of Cardus, Dane Kingdom, Closed Silver Mine.
Investigation Summary: Investigation into a series of disappearances near the area and rumors among local residents about the disappearances.
Investigation Progress:
1) Reports of sightings of emerald-green apparitions and ‘chilling laughter’ among residents near the closed silver mine.
2) Investigation of 5 checkpoints at locations where sightings were reported. No significant findings.
3) Investigation of the disappearance areas. No significant findings.
4) Encounter with bandits near the closed silver mine. Brief skirmish followed by retreat.
5) Request for subjugation sent to Baron Cardus (Attachment 1).
6) Confirmation of bandit subjugation status and search of their hideout. No significant findings.
7) No heretical circumstances found in the area.
Investigation Team:
1) Heretica, Mars Antidos – Returned.
2) Torchman, Grain Hauser – Returned.
We shall burn demons, heretics, and witches.
Lead Investigator: Heretica Mars Antidos.
*
Abel tilted her head and took another bite of jerky.
“So, in the end, there was nothing?”
“Didn’t you also get a verdict of ‘nothing’?”
“Ouch, that hit hard.”
As Abel grinned, Fernandez chuckled and took a sip of tea. He unfolded the map attached to the report. The map marked the investigation locations, checkpoints, disappearance areas, and bandit encounter zones.
“Do you remember where this region is?”
“Hmm. I don’t know how to read maps… Hmm. Human maps all look the same to me.”
“The old name of this region was ‘Black Valley.'”
“…Ah.”
Only then did Abel open her eyes wide and scan the map. She nodded and pointed to the investigation area.
“Right, right. If you think this was originally a river, and there’s a mountain above it… If you think there was no village here, it kinda makes sense, doesn’t it?”
Abel hummed in a nostalgic voice.
“Right… Black Valley. What a creepy place. So, you think this is their doing?”
“How could it be? It’s been nearly two thousand years. But I do think there’s something there.”
During King Knight Dane’s wandering journey, legends of one of the many monsters he slew are said to lie dormant in this Black Valley. Fernandez’s mind seemed to unfold the epic tale of King Knight Dane.
Undead, swamp monsters, hill giants, even the Church of the Underground Burial—the king’s heroic tales were the most popular stories in the Dane Kingdom and a pride of the Dane royal family. So famous that even now, there’s hardly anyone in this area who doesn’t know them.
What if a rumor spread? A boy blessed by a dragon and favored by the gods, who slew undead, swamp monsters, and hill giants to save the people.
The return of King Dane.
That was the first goal of this journey.
-How shameless, Fernandez. Playing the hero.
Faijashi spoke with a mix of disgust and amusement, laughing heartily.
*
![[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TS-Obsessed-Gamer-The-Ultimate-Return2.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return")
