I Became the Dark Knight in the Game - Chapter 81: Heroes (1)

Soul domination was notably more effective on beings with weaker mental strength and weak will.

This was especially true for dim-witted beasts and lower undead.

That was precisely why Dale’s attempt at soul domination had worked so effectively on the skeleton.

“Really, what are you doing, Sir Dale…”

Erielle, having given her piece of mind, sighed deeply.

The skeleton that had been freed from soul domination was still standing blankly as if it had lost its senses.

Erielle inquired,

“Master Ludwig, are you alright? Are you coming to your senses?”

It was only when his name was called that the skeleton showed any sign of response.

With the characteristic smoldering gaze of the undead, the skeleton silently observed Erielle and Dale for a moment before lumbering back to its usual spot.

There, it began to swing its sword in the air.

“One. Two. Three. Four. Five.”

It appeared to have forgotten the count it had been keeping before and started counting from the beginning again.

Dale scratched at his helmet.

Against expectations, not even a hint of anger was shown.

The skeleton seemed utterly devoid of emotion.

It was like a machine crafted solely for the purpose of swinging a sword through the air.

Erielle who was resting a hand on her hip remarked,

“Anyway, I’m glad to see Sir Dale grow stronger. Please continue to put forth great effort. After all, Sir Dale is now the face of our temple, like it or not.”

Dale merely nodded in response, though he didn’t take the words to heart.

He would continue to act as he always had. He didn’t care about others’ opinions of him.

When Dale left the temple, he was greeted by Harty who had been sitting at the entrance.

Gazing at the bright sunlight in the sky, Dale pondered his next move.

There was no shortage of tasks awaiting him.

He needed to collect his reward for a successful mission at Rebecca’s merchant guild and report to the mercenary guild.

He even thought about going to Kayla’s inn and showing his face. Because somehow he felt like she was just waiting for him to come back.

There’s much to do.

It was his first time back in Irene in a while and he had a lot to deal with.

After some deliberation, Dale said to Harty,

“Let’s head to the guild.”

The sun was still high in the sky, leaving too much of the day remaining to simply return to the inn.

Though it was somewhat annoying, Dale had decided to first pay a visit to Garland.

The mercenary guild they arrived at was crowded as always.

Mercenaries looking for missions or companions stopped in their tracks at the sight of Dale’s entrance.

The appearance of a knight who had hunted a demon caused all to fall silent and willingly make way for him.

Dale walked through the center of attention and approached the reception desk.

The receptionists no longer showed any signs of fear towards Dale and greeted him warmly.

“You’ve arrived, Sir Dale.”

“I’d like to see Garland.”

“The guild master has been eagerly awaiting you. I’ll guide you to him immediately.”

“I can go by myself.”

“Haha. We can’t do that.”

An employee from the reception walked out and personally escorted Dale to Garland’s office.

Such treatment was unprecedented; the usual approach was more indifferent.

But now, the treatment he received was akin to that reserved for a distinguished guest.

Though the unusual treatment made him somewhat uncomfortable, Dale found it ridiculous to insist on going alone in such a situation.

He silently followed the employee to Garland’s office.

The employee knocked on Garland’s door.

“Branch guild master, I have brought Sir Dale.”

“Let him in.”

In contrast to the previous slum search where he was buried under a mountain of documents, Garland was now leisurely enjoying a cup of tea in his office.

When he saw Dlae, Garland’s face lit up with a welcoming smile before he turned to the employee and said,

“Thank you for your help. You may return to your duties now.”

“Yes.”

After the employee respectfully bowed and closed the door behind him, Garland gestured invitingly.

“It seems we have much to discuss. Please, take a seat.”

Dale sat down in the chair opposite Garland, which creaked and strained under his weight.

Garland chuckled wryly and remarked,

“You’ve become stronger, haven’t you? Your aura seems different too.”

“Right.”

“Indeed. It’s only natural, after all. You’ve vanquished a demon.”

Dale was about to repeat a point he had made many times before at Garland’s remark.

“Ganiagos had just been resurrected and…”

“Could only wield a fraction of its original power, I know. But even if it was only a half-strength demon, the fact that you defeated it will become a truly valuable asset for you, Sir Dale. Both in terms of experience and… socially standing.”

“Social standing?”

When Dale asked that, Garland whispered in a tone only Dale could hear.

“In fact, this matter has attracted the attention of the nobles in the upper districts and even His Majesty the Emperor. And why wouldn’t it? A demon has been brought down for the first time in years. Even if it was just newly resurrected, it holds great significance.”

The fact that a demon was hunted is in itself a great morale booster, not just for the citizens, but also for the soldiers at the front.

It plants a seed of hope that perhaps, in this seemingly endless war, victory might one day be achieved.

This would be a very pleasing thing for the Emperor who had to maintain an empire that was unstable in many ways.

Garland added softly.

“This is something I’ve heard through the grapevine, but it seems likely that a medal will be awarded to you, Sir Dale.”

“A medal?”

A medal. An honor bestowed by the Emperor upon those who have achieved great deeds.

The medal was not only a significant honor but also brought tangible benefits.

For instance…

“Receiving a medal naturally comes with the title of a baronet.”

The title of a baronet.

Even as the lowest rank of nobility, a noble was still a noble.

The world had changed since the appearance of demons. The value associated with the name “nobility” wasn’t what it used to be. Those without power have died and disappeared.

Yet, nobles still had advantages over commoners.

They had more rights to enjoy.

Dale simply nodded his head for the moment.

If Garland was speaking of it, there must be some credibility to the story, but Dale preferred to think about the medal once it was sure to be awarded to him.

More pressing than that was the matter of his mercenary rank.

“Now that I’ve completed this mission, does that mean I’ll be promoted to the Bronze badge rank?”

“Ah, then please start with your report.”

Dale recounted his experiences in detail, from participating in the caravan and fighting off bandits to slaying Ganiagos. He left nothing out.

Given the importance of these events, Garland frequently interrupted with questions or to confirm facts while meticulously crafting his report.

After completing the task, Garland wiped the sweat from his brow and remarked.

“Whew. You’re the first mercenary since the King of Mercenaries to have the experience of killing a demon.”

“Does this mean my promotion is confirmed?”

“I’d prefer to promote you even further, but… due to the procedures involved, I’m afraid that’s not possible. My apologies.”

With a respectful bow, Garland then produced something from his possession and handed it to Dale.

It was a thin bronze plaque with Dale’s name engraved on it. The back was adorned with the guild’s emblem.

“This is your mercenary badge. We had it prepared in advance, thinking you might come looking for it.”

As Dale fiddled with the badge, Garland explained,

“Now that you’ve reached Bronze rank, you’re entitled to several benefits. You’ll have priority in selecting missions, can purchase goods at reduced rates from stores affiliated with the guild, and more…”

“I suppose this also grants me access to the upper districts.”

“Indeed. Sir Dale is now recognized as a valuable asset to the city with the right to enter the upper districts.”

Does this imply that those in the lower districts and slums are not considered necessary by the city?

Garland then extended a few certificates.

The certificate in his hand affirmed that he was granted access to the upper districts, with the Mercenary Guild vouching for his status.

To enter the upper districts, he would need to present this certificate each time.

“Please be careful not to lose it. While we can issue a new one, the process is quite cumbersome and time-consuming.”

Dale nodded his head in acknowledgment before carefully tucking away the certificate.

He was already planning to visit the upper districts the very next day with this certificate in hand.

“I shall take my leave now.”

Having concluded his business, Dale made to leave the office but suddenly stopped in his tracks.

A name Garland had mentioned, the “King of Mercenaries” sparked a question in his mind.

Heroes who killed demons.

Facing Ganiagos had heightened Dale’s interest in the heroes who had managed to defeat a fully-powered Ganiagos.

He had heard bits and pieces about a figure known as the King of Mercenaries whom he believed to be one of these heroes.

Dale had grown more than before and had established himself well in this city.

And now that he had some free time, he wanted to look into this hero.

And Garland was likely the most knowledgeable person regarding such matters.

The rumors going around about heroes were either empty or unreliable.

Dale opened his mouth.

“I have a question.”

“Hmm? Please, go ahead.”

Garland responded with a puzzled look.

Dale tried to ask a question about his own doubts.

“The story about the mercenary king and those so-called heroes….”

Just then,

A knock on the door preceded an employee’s entrance into the office.

The employee whispered something to Garland, who nodded in response.

Then with a genuinely apologetic expression on his face Garland turned to Dale.

“I’m sorry, Sir Dale. An urgent matter has arisen. Could we perhaps discuss this another time? Unless it’s urgent for you, I could delay this current matter…”

Dale shook his head.

“No, it’s alright. It’s not urgent. I’ll ask another time.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Dale stepped out of the guild accompanied by the employee.

By the time the work was finished, the sun had set and a twilight shadow was cast over the city.

“……”

Dale stood still for a moment while lost in thought.

Suddenly, Harty nudged his waist with his blunt nose as if asking what was wrong.

“It’s nothing. Let’s head back to the inn.”

Together, Dale and Harty made their way to Kayla’s inn. Upon opening the door, they were surprised to see the dining table piled high with food.

Elena, Kayla, and Harkin, who had returned at some point, were busy bringing in dishes.

As the door opened, all eyes turned in unison.

Kayla and Elena’s faces brightened upon spotting Dale.

“Sir Dale!”

“Sir!”

Their expressions were filled with joy and they were clearly delighted by Dale’s return after so long.

But there was someone even more pleased to see him…

“My dear friend! Welcome back!”

Fraud who had been polishing his weapons while the others were busy with the food rushed over with open arms.

Dale deftly sidestepped Fraud and made his way further inside.

“What’s all this?”

Kayla replied,

“What do you mean? You’ve come back after such a long time, so I thought I’d show off my cooking skills a bit.”

Dale locked eyes with Kayla and asked,

“I assume this isn’t free, right?”

“Of course! Harkin has agreed to cover the cost of the food!”

“What? This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

Once everything was ready, everyone gathered around the dining table to begin their meal.

Harkin boasted with exaggeration about how dangerous and amazing the journey had been.

Fraud listened intently and his eyes were sparkling with interest in Harkin’s stories.

As time passed, Balton who had heard the news came by, and Esther who had finished her work also joined them.

The inn quickly became bustling and lively.

While sipping on the beer Kayla had made, Dale thought to himself that considerations about being a hero or a mercenary king could wait.

For now, he was just savoring the moment.

***

In the upper Districts, district 3 housed facilities like the Magic Tower, the library, and the Mercenary Guild. District 2 was filled with nobles’ mansions and theaters.

And at the center, encircled by Districts 2 and 3, lies District 1. In other words, there was the imperial palace.

Dale planned to start exploring in District 3.

Though he had visited it several times in the game, he was sure there would be many changes.

The gate leading to District 3 was located in District 7 which was guarded by knights clad in full plate armor.

“Next, please present your identification.”

The knight spoke in a tone that held no highs or lows. As Dale stepped forward, a flicker of interest briefly lit the knight’s eyes.

However, the knight refrained from engaging in any unnecessary conversation and adhered strictly to the procedures.

“Present your certificate.”

Dale extended the certificate issued by Garland.

The knight received the certificate and handed it to a lower-ranking noble standing beside him. This noble meticulously inspected the document to ascertain whether it was a forgery or not.

The lower-ranking noble nodded at the knight. It was a silent signal indicating the certificate was genuine.

After the knight returned the certificate, he asked Dale,

“Is this your first visit to District 3?”

“Right.”

“Then, I shall explain a few rules to you.”

The knight said before lifting the visor of his helmet to speak more clearly.

“Firstly, covering your face is not permitted in Districts 2 and 3. You will need to remove that helmet.”

It was a measure intended to prevent any deceitful activities by ensuring faces were visible.

As to be expected from an upper district with many important people, the rules were strict.

“And you’d better not to draw any weapon you may have at your waist. In fact, it’s best not to carry one at all. Causing even a single incident could lead to consequences far more severe than just getting kicked out.”

“I understand.”

Dale nodded his head in acknowledgment.

Seeing that Dale listened without any problems, the knight softened his tone slightly as he continued.

“After sunset, individuals without permission are not permitted to roam outdoors. It would be wise to conclude your affairs before dusk and return to the outer districts. Do you understand?”

Was this an indication of a curfew?

The rules seemed somewhat different from what Dale knew. While the place had always operated under a strict order, the regulations now appeared to be significantly tighter.

Did something happen in the meantime?

Regardless of his personal feelings about them, Dale knew he had no choice but to adhere to the rules.

He nodded in agreement.

Only then did the knight step aside to let Dale pass.

“Enter. Welcome to the heart of the Empire.”

Dale stepped onto the bridge and laid over the moat. The moat itself was unusually deep and wide and filled with water, making it seem almost like a small river separating the upper districts from the outer districts.

Dale looked down at the strangely deep moat then lifted his head up.

Above the high walls that were even taller than those of Irene’s outer defenses archers and mages stood guard.

It’s practically a fortress.

It seemed that even an army of a million would struggle to breach such a stronghold.

Dale resumed his walk. The first thing he saw after passing the excessively thick wall was a statue.

It was an intricate sculpture made of marble. Dale assumed it was likely a statue of the current Emperor or the founding Emperor.

However, the neat inscription below it read:

[Glory be to the nameless heroes.]

[The King of Mercenaries, the Archmage, the Saintess, and the Faceless Knight.]

Dale stared blankly at the statue. For some reason, this statue captured his attention so strongly. He couldn’t figure out why at first.

But as he examined it more closely, he realized that the figures in the sculpture bore an uncanny resemblance to characters from his own memory.

“These are…”

Who they were puzzled him. After much contemplation, Dale finally remembered.

They’re all characters I’ve raised.

Could this be a mere coincidence?

Certainly, the figures weren’t exactly as he remembered from the small monitor screen.

Yet, several distinctive features remained unmistakably the same.

No matter how he looked at it, it seemed too perfect to be a mere coincidence.

Dale felt bewildered and confused. But he soon calmed his mind.

Right. It’s possible that the characters I’ve raised could be here.

That much, he understood.

From the moment he arrived in this world, Dale had become unfazed by most occurrences.

The idea that the characters he had nurtured were now alive, moving about and becoming heroes, wasn’t surprising to him.

In fact, it would explain a few mysteries.

Dale had been puzzled upon hearing that someone had vanquished the demons. After all, a demon in its intact state was truly a powerful being.

But now, that puzzle seemed to have found its solution. If the individuals represented by this statue had united their strengths, their victory would have been more than plausible.

Up to this point, he could comprehend.

However, there was one aspect he couldn’t accept.

How could all four of them be together?

The game set in this world was meant to be a single-player game.