Here’s the English translation of the provided novel text, adhering strictly to the given glossary without additional commentary:
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### Episode 222
The Man Who Was a d*ath Knight
222? The Man Who Was a d*ath Knight #2
Swoosh.
A tiny sprout pierced through the dark soil of the flowerpot, rapidly growing into a shimmering silver bud.
Ding.
The bell-shaped flower emitted a crystalline chime, its pure sound echoing through the small cabin and the desolate cliffs.
“A flower… it bloomed? Here, give it to me.”
The Skeleton Knight snatched the pot from my hands, his blue eye flames flickering strangely as he stared at it. He remained motionless, utterly transfixed.
There’s a saying that if you keep fish and a cat together, the cat will spend all day staring at the tank, as if addicted to it. The way the Skeleton Knight gazed at the flower was eerily similar.
Seems like there’s a story here. Maybe something bad happened with that flower when he was still alive?
Just as I was speculating, the Skeleton Knight finally spoke in a heavy voice.
“Winter’s Bell, facing west. That’s the name of this flower. My mother loved it. She… was a nymph of the sea.”
A nymph of the sea?
From brook nymphs to ditch nymphs, and now a nymph of the sea. Just how grand must she have been?
Was she like a fully evolved Paranoi?
I recalled Paranoi’s matured form after her growth curse was lifted—slender, towering, and notably busty. But that image was also slightly concerning.
Even now, I worried someone might kidnap her. If she grew any more alluring, shady people would surely lure her away with sweets. That was partly why I hadn’t lifted her growth curse yet, despite my thirst for achievement points.
“Now that it’s bloomed, I can collect more seeds.”
“You wanted the flower to bloom so you could get seeds?”
“Yes. Apart from the seeds I have, this flower has long been extinct. I never thought it would bloom so easily. What did you give it?”
“It’s a stamina potion.”
I handed him the vial I was holding. He took it, peering inside as if trying to smell it—though, lacking a nose, that was impossible.
“The presence of a Titan… and a faint trace of a nymph. So that’s why it sprouted?”
At his question, I recalled the potion’s ingredients. Rumor had it that it contained extracts from Paranoi.
Frankly, that made me lose any desire to drink it. I only carried it around just in case.
“Roughly, yeah. Now that I’ve done my part, are you gonna train me or something?”
“Ah, right. That was the deal. Well then, young Necromancer, you’re in luck. I am the master of ten thousand weapons—the Weapon Master, the Widowmaker of Ptia. To receive my guidance… you’re fortunate indeed.”
Master of ten thousand weapons?
I’d heard of Sword Masters—warriors who reached the pinnacle of their craft. Hippolyte was probably called that as an epithet. But this skeleton was calling himself a Weapon Master?
It sounded so absurd I furrowed my brows.
“You don’t know who I am? The man who runs like a river, the Executioner Judge, the War Mage… none of that rings a bell?”
“Who are you?”
“…Gods, Necromancers really are like this. So absorbed in their own world, ignorant of common tales. Unless… has so much time passed since my d*ath that my legend faded? No, stories of heroes don’t just disappear.”
Hero?
That word lit a bulb in my head.
“Were you a Gold Tier adventurer?”
“Adventurer? Not quite. I was more of a hero than anyone in this world. Though it seems you’re interested in heroism.”
“I am, yeah.”
“A Necromancer wanting to be a hero? Amusing. But give it up. A life chasing glory is a short one. Live ordinarily, and you’ll enjoy a long, peaceful life.”
“So, are you training me or not?”
“Ha, as if warnings ever work on the young. Fine. Come outside. My training is short… and intense.”
After carefully placing the flowerpot on the table, he stepped out. I followed, noticing the Manticore corpse outside had been picked clean to the bone.
Beyond the slumbering Bone Wyvern, we faced each other in a wide clearing.
What kind of training is this?
“First, d*e once.”
Whoosh.
In an instant, the Skeleton Knight closed the distance and struck my chest with full force.
Crunch.
My breastplate crumpled violently. My body went limp, vision darkening before I could even react.
”Hmph. No flesh or muscle… harder to control my strength than I thought.”
His voice was the last thing I heard before my consciousness shattered.
—
###
“What the hell is this?!”
When I came to, I was lying under a strange moonlit sky, my body damp with what might’ve been river or seawater.
“Seriously, what the f*ck?”
I’d just been struck by the Skeleton Knight. But now, neither he nor the dark cliffs were in sight—just me, the sky, and the moon.
“What is this…?”
I couldn’t make sense of it.
After steadying my ragged breathing, I sat up, my rationality slowly cooling as I took in my surroundings. And then, I recognized this bizarre space.
A darkened sea-like void.
Again.
You’re back.
Turning my head, I saw a grotesque mass covered in countless mouths, eyes, and tentacle-like arms behind me. Its many mouths spoke in unison.
”Choose.”
”Accept.”
”Fate.”
Ssssshh—
An altar-like structure rose from below, as if a submarine were surfacing. On it lay three fruits: grapes, an apple, and a melon.
The scene was oddly familiar.
When had I seen this before?
Then it hit me—the dream I had after my first night with Luna. At the time, I’d brushed it off as just a dream.
But now, after being struck by the Skeleton Knight, I was back here.
Wait, did he k*ll me? Is this the underworld?
“Uh, excuse me…”
Mustering courage, I spoke to the grotesque entity. It didn’t respond, despite its many mouths.
“Am I… dead?”
”This is.”
”The boundary.”
”Between living and dead.”
”A space of chaos.”
”Primordial void.”
It babbled incomprehensibly before repeating:
”Choose.”
It seemed more interested in my selection than conversation. Resigned, I picked up the grapes.
《Grapes Blessed by the Ocean’s Waves》
”Neptune, ruler of the seas and one of the three chief gods alongside Jupiter of the skies and Pluto of the underworld, grew these grapes in the nymphs’ orchards. Infused with their affection, they’re incredibly healthy… but sadly tasteless.”
”Consuming them will expend Karma to enhance your current blessing, Radiant Hand.”
”Spend 1 point of Strength to upgrade Radiant Hand to Damp Hand?”
”Warning: 100% chance of Hyperhidrosis manifesting.”
“What the f*ck is a Damp Hand?!”
And a 100% chance of excessive sweating? Horrified, I dropped the grapes. The entity let out a low, gurgling laugh, as if amused.
Next, I reached for the apple.
《Apple Hidden in the Abyss’ Depths》
”In the primordial night, Nox became obsessed with cultivating apples in Tartarus. She hid the ripest ones, occasionally gifting them to guests. The worm-eaten ones, however, she passed to her husband, Erebore. This apple was one he lazily stashed away in his domain.”
”Consume to expend Karma and awaken the new blessing Dark Eyes.”
”Spend 1 point of Stamina to acquire Dark Eyes?”
”Warning: 60% chance of Myopia/Astigmatism manifesting.”
“Tch, even a god’s leftovers?”
But a new blessing? Dark Eyes—would it darken my vision or grant night vision?
Unsure, I moved to the melon.
《Melon, Symbol of Love and Beauty》
”One day, the goddesses of Mount Hypos debated whose chest was fairest, asking a passing traveler to judge. Venus won, sparking a minor war. To commemorate her victory, she created melons shaped like her own br*asts.”
”Consume to expend Karma and awaken the new blessing Alabaster Skin.”
”Spend 1 point of Agility to acquire Alabaster Skin?”
”Warning: 80% chance of Gynecomastia manifesting.”
“Ugh, d*mn it.”
That was my only response.
After weighing my options, I chose the safest bet—the apple.
”Apple of the Abyss.”
”Erebore’s power.”
”Progenitor’s might—”
”Accept it.”
As the tentacled monstrosity droned grandly, I bit into the apple. A sweet, crisp flavor surged from my tongue to my spine, down to my toes.
As my consciousness faded again, I managed a grateful:
“Thank you.”
Weird as it was, this entity didn’t seem malicious.
”Come again, little friend.”
Its many mouths seemed to smile.
—
When I awoke, I was lying on what felt like a bed. The cramped cabin—the Skeleton Knight’s home?—was dimly lit despite having no torch.
Must be the effect of Dark Eyes.
As I scrambled up, the Skeleton Knight turned from his seat.
“Already awake? You should’ve been out for at least two days.”
“What the hell was that?! Were you trying to k*ll me?”
I reached for my club, only to find it—and my gauntlet and coin pouch—missing.
“You thieving bone b*stard!”
“Thief? Harsh. I just removed your gear so you could rest comfortably. It’s all over there.”
He pointed to a corner where my belongings were neatly stacked.
Relieved but still furious, I snapped, “You didn’t have to k*ll me!”
“I just sent you near d*ath. If you’re upset, my apologies. So? How was dying?”
“Shitty. Hard to explain, but—”
“Exactly. That claustrophobic crawl through the void. Now you’ll fight like hell to avoid feeling it again. That’s the first step of my training.”
“Ah. The first step.”
It sounded profound but was ultimately nonsense. What was I expecting from a fleshless skeleton?
As I gathered my things to leave, he spoke again.
“Hassan of Samaria. That’s your name, yes?”
“Huh?”
“I looked through your belongings while you slept. Your identification plaque says it all: Hassan of Samaria, Bronze Tier Adventurer of the Mars Guild, Guest of the Continent.”
My grip tightened on my club.
An undead rifling through my things? This was undeniably dangerous.
“Hassan of Samaria, to d*e—to lose—means everything you have can be taken. Even those around you may be endangered. Better to live a beggar than d*e a king of the underworld.”
“If you’re just gonna spout clichés, I’m leaving. Goodbye.”
As I moved to exit, an unnatural chill brushed my neck, freezing me mid-step.
Something’s outside.
Something huge.
Instinct screamed at me not to step out.
“Oh? You sensed it? I thought your agility was trash since you couldn’t dodge my strike. But your instincts aren’t bad. Stay inside. My guest is arriving. Don’t even breathe.”
Swoosh.
The Skeleton Knight grabbed a round shield and long spear before stepping out, calling into the darkness:
“Molleg, back so soon? Did you forget the beating I gave you last time?”
A deep sigh echoed, followed by a voice dripping with malice:
“Knight of d*ath, just accept my offer already. Serve under me, Molleg, Lord of Hell. When I seize power, I’ll grant you a high rank in the underworld.”
“Ha. I’ve cast aside honor and wealth. I need nothing from hell.”
“So you’ll fade into oblivion as a nameless wretch? Even the intellect Pluto granted you will soon vanish. Is that what you want?”
“…”
“Last offer. Join me, d*ath Knight. Refuse, and I’ll devour every seed you cherish!”
“N-not the seeds—!”
BOOM. BOOM.
The ground trembled as something massive approached.
CRASH.
The cabin’s wall shattered as an enormous head—big enough to demolish the hut—burst through.
A flat, human-like face with saw-like teeth. A Manticore, but colossal compared to the ones I’d seen.
“And you are…?”
It frowned at me, confused.
In response, I swung my club with all my might into its philtrum—a critical weak spot.
“YOUR DADDY, YOU GIGANTIC f*ck!”
SCREEEEE—!!*
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[Author’s Note]
Today, the rough sketches for the illustrations are mostly done…!!!
(You’ve probably already seen the artwork below before reading this, huh…?)
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(End of translation.)
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
