I Became the Dark Knight in the Game
Chapter 39: Search (1)

Esther was offering prayers in the main hall of the temple.

The filtered light through the stained glass scattered brilliantly over her head.

She quietly closed her eyes in front of the silver ring, a symbol of the temple.

She was deep in thought.

“You seem troubled, Esther.”

When she heard a voice coming from behind Esther turned her head.

And there she saw an old woman with a stern face standing there.

“Priestess Ordan.”

Ordan,

She was a high priestess of the temple, and she was also in charge of Esther’s education. The latter was known as a promising candidate to succeed the saintess.

Ordan had always been strict with Esther.

However, Esther knew that behind that strictness lay kindness and love.

She was one of the people Esther trusted and followed the most.

When Ordan inquired about her inner thoughts, Esther felt compelled to answer.

“Yes, my mind is troubled and confused.”

“What troubles you?”

Esther hesitated before responding.

“Do you remember the dark knight…. who came to our temple?”

“I do remember. How could I forget? Why do you ask?”

Curiosity flickered in Ordan’s eyes.

“Some time ago, he purged a thieves’ guild. Residents of the slums who witnessed the fight spoke of it. They said he was merciless, even to those who lost their will to fight and begged for their lives. They described him as a monster.” sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ɴøᴠel Fɪre.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Ordan nodded silently, and Esther continued.

“Perhaps those people deserved their fate, but I keep wondering if there was a better way. No, I know the truth. It’s just my naive idealism, like a child’s tantrum.”

“And? Are you disappointed in this heretical knight?”

“Disappointed… Not really.”

Esther shook her head.

“I’ve started to think that maybe I was mistaken about him.”

“What kind of person did you think this knight was?”

“…….”

Esther couldn’t answer immediately.

Dale, just by his existence, challenged Esther’s beliefs and faith.

Until now, Esther had viewed all heretics as inherently evil and cruel.

Not just Esther, but most of the temple thought the same way.

However, Dale was different.

She had seen him sharing food with children.

She saw the respect he showed to the deceased and witnessed him fighting bravely, more than anyone else.

Dale, though perhaps twisted in some ways, was certainly…

“He was a man from whom there was much to learn. Sometimes, I even felt admiration for him…”

It was a difficult confession to make to other believers. If they heard her speak this way about a heretic, they would not approve.

But she could speak of it to Ordan.

“Do you still think that way?”

“…. Yes. I just feel shocked because the image I had of Sir Dale didn’t match reality. I regret hastily vouching for his character, and I feel foolish for doing so.”

Ordan closed her eyes for a moment and pondered Esther’s words.

Then she opened her mouth.

“Many in the temple do not view your association with that knight favorably. They fear that the purity you possess might be tainted.”

“……..”

“But my view is different. Do you know the saying that a weed, which grows in harsh conditions, is tougher and more resilient than a flower raised comfortably in a greenhouse?”

Esther nodded her head. She too once had been a daughter of a poor farmer.

She possessed some knowledge of farming.

Ordan continued speaking.

“Faith and belief are similar. It is said that faith without any suffering can easily be broken by even the slightest storm. Paradoxically, it’s doubt that truly strengthens belief.”

Ordan gently patted Esther’s shoulder.

“Doubt and doubt again. When you confront and overcome these doubts, that’s when your faith will stand firm.”

“Priestess…”

“If that dark knight shakes your faith and heart, then you have no choice but to confront it. In doing so, perhaps God will illuminate your heart.”

Ordan smiled. The wrinkles around her mouth emanated kindness.

Esther stared blankly at Ordan and nodded her head.

“Thank you, Priestess. I feel enlightened.”

“Offering sound advice to the young is one of the few uses old folks have.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Now, stop moping around and get up. Your brothers and sisters in faith are very worried.”

“Oh…”

“It’s mealtime anyway, let’s go together.”

Having said that, Ordan turned her head and started walking ahead.

Esther smiled as she watched her warm back from behind. She felt relieved to have shared her worries.

As expected of priestess Ordan.

However, there was something Esther didn’t see.

The face of Ordan who had turned away, was unlike the compassionate priestess from just moments ago.

She was wearing a cold, eerie smile that seemed inhuman.

Esther was unaware.

That while overcoming doubts can indeed solidify faith, victory is not always assured.

Ordan didn’t mention it.

How many predecessors had failed to conquer their doubts and strayed onto the wrong path.

***

A large-scale summoning notice.

The sudden announcement puzzled the group, but Garland managed a wry smile.

“I know it’s sudden. But before I explain, could you first report on the mission? It’s related to the summoning notice.”

“Alright.”

Dale started with a brief report, and Mazel supplemented the missing details.

A village annihilated. A pack of wolves.

The tracing of the target’s movement path by Dale and Harkin, crossing the giant’s territory. Mazel moving separately.

And even the relic staff the woman carried.

Garland nodded in satisfaction as the report concluded.

“Excellent. Anticipating the target’s path and preventing damage to the village, even risking passage through the giant’s territory… There were some hiccups along the way, but in the end, you successfully completed the mission. I can’t help but say it was perfect.”

Kadal also expressed his admiration.

“Just like the rumors say, you handled the task neatly. It’s said even the famous mercenary king worked in this manner… Sir Dale, have you no interest in joining the guards? I could use my influence to secure you a good position.”

Garland couldn’t help but smile bitterly at Kadal’s audacity in trying to recruit a guild mercenary right in front of him.

This brazenness was both Kadal’s strength and weakness.

In a way, it also meant that Dale was highly sought after.

However, Dale shook his head.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll pass.”

“Tch. At least pretend to consider it…”

“Rather than that, now that the report is finished, we should return to the beginning of our discussion.”

Mazel intervened to prevent the conversation from veering off topic.

Kadal, hiding his disappointment, spoke seriously.

“While you were chasing that cun*t, we managed to hunt most of the crocodiles released in the sewers.”

Harkin asked,

“What do you mean by ‘most’? That sounds rather vague. Isn’t that a bit negligent?”

Kadal became annoyed.

“How would I know how many crocodiles she released? It was hard enough to find them with the waters rising due to the rainy season. There might be one or two still hiding. Do I have to explain everything?”

“… I apologize.”

Harkin who had intervened in vain was taken aback.

Garland spoke with a bitter smile.

“Fortunately, this time, thanks to the efforts of you and the guards, we were able to minimize the damage. The problem is that such incidents have been occurring far too frequently lately.”

Garland, rifling through a file of recent incidents, continued.

“Take for instance, the warlock Dale encountered during the raid on the thieves’ guild, or the woman who released the crocodiles this time. There have also been several other major and minor threats. While most of the culprits have been caught, some have escaped.”

Kadal shouted indignantly.

“This city was founded by our great Emperor himself, and it stands as humanity’s last bastion! And yet, some trash dares to undermine it!”

“Could it be the work of demons?”

In response to Mazel’s question, Garland shook his head.

“We don’t know the exact forces behind these acts yet. But the immediate problem isn’t that. The real issue is that the severity of these threats to the city is escalating.”

Garland’s expression was grave.

“The city is in danger if things continue this way. I’m not sure about the upper districts, but at least the outer districts are at risk. There’s been a lot of discussion among the council members, and the proposed solution is…”

“To intensify the city’s inspections and thoroughly clean up the slums.”

There was a moment of silence after Kadal’s statement.

The group didn’t immediately grasp the implications of Kadal’s words. No one spoke.

As if anticipating this reaction, Garland sighed and added,

“It’s a shockingly extreme proposal, so your surprise is understandable. Cleaning up the slums… Opinions are divided even among the council members.”

Kadal slammed his hand on the table.

“It’s harsh, but it’s necessary! Every time we catch these troublemakers and interrogate them, all of them—every single one—have been preparing their deeds while living in the slums! And there are probably many more hiding there now. Are we supposed to just leave them be?”

It was, of course, a logical concern.

Compared to the area within the city walls, the slums had poorer security and lax surveillance.

It was an ideal hiding place for criminals planning illegal deeds.

However, the issue was the reaction of the slum dwellers.

Dale spoke up,

“The people in the slums won’t just sit by idly.”

The slums were big.

The population of the slums was now equal to that of the entire city within the walls.

Even now, refugees from a country destroyed by demons continued to pour in, whci meant that the slums would only grow larger in the future.

Although their economic situation was significantly inferior to that of those living inside the city walls, their sheer numbers were a force to be reckoned with.

There’s also the issue of justification.

Up until now, the council had practically neglected the slums.

The proof was that when Dale destroyed a thieves’ guild in the slums, the guards took no action.

Had Dale committed such slaughter within the city, even if his targets were thieves, he would have been imprisoned.

Would they now turn the slums upside down, claiming the city was in danger after all this time of indifference?

There are already people from the slums who have a strong rebellious temperament.

Strong resistance was expected.

Garland also looked troubled.

“That’s why there’s a divide in opinions among the council members… But the mood is leaning towards taking forceful action. Now that we’ve discussed this far, do you understand why the summons was announced?”

“You plan to overturn the back alleys using mercenaries’ strength.”

“It’s just a precaution for any unforeseen circumstances. We aim to handle this as peacefully as possible.”

However, no one really believed that these were just precautionary measures.

Since they expect something to happen, they were willing to pay a high price to gather people.

Garland felt a bit embarrassed by his own words so he awkwardly smiled and said,

“Anyway, it would be great if we could have the help of the three of you. You are all exceptionally skilled, after all.”

“Is the summons mandatory?”

“No, it isn’t. It’s just that the reward is more generous than usual, and the credit for this task is significantly higher. What do you think? Are you interested?”

“Ooh…”

Harkin showed interest. Indeed, the conditions were not bad.

Dealing with people from the slums seemed better than confronting dreadful demon servants, vicious one-eyed monsters, or a mad woman wielding a relic staff.

Then, Kadal who had been listening, shouted,

“You must do it! This isn’t even something to ponder over!”

“Ka-Kadal…”

“We are the loyal subjects of His Majesty the Emperor and have received his grace! This is our chance to repay that kindness, and we cannot refuse!”

Dale who was listening to the conversation thought indifferently.

I don’t particularly recall owing anything to the Emperor.

Anyway, it seemed that the fiercely loyal captain of the guards believed that all the city’s residents were under the Emperor’s grace.

Harkin also murmured in a voice as quiet as a mosquito’s,

“Wow, it’s rare to see such an old-fashioned person these days.”

At that moment, Mazel who had been silent stood up.

“Mazel?”

“I’ll pass. This isn’t my area of expertise. Look for someone else.”

Kadal’s face contorted suddenly.

But Mazel didn’t even blink one eye at that gaze and turned to Dale and Harkin to bid farewell.

“Both of you, good work this time.”

“Ah, you too.”

“Good work.”

“I hope we can work together again in the future.”

After he uncharacteristically spoke of future endeavors, Mazel left the office without a hint of hesitation.

Garland who was accustomed to such a cool and decisive attitude from Mazel let out a wry smile while Kadal’s face turned as red as a ripe fruit.

Before Kadal could erupt in anger, Garland quickly opened his mouth.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about Mazel. What about you, Sir Dale? Would you consider taking on the task?”

Dale thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“I would…”

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