I Became the Dark Knight in the Game - Chapter 86: Award Ceremony (2)

Medal Award Ceremony.

There was no explicit reason for Dale to refuse, nor did he have a choice in the matter. When summoned by the Emperor, attendance was mandatory.

Perhaps because Dale was their main reason for coming here, the members of the Imperial Knight Order departed swiftly.

Their synchronized strides left a strong impression as if they moved as one.

With the knights gone, the library’s occupants began to murmur among themselves.

The librarian standing nearby scratched his head in bewilderment.

“Phew. I thought they came for the old scribe again.”

“Have they taken him before?”

“There was an incident involving some rather harsh words about His Majesty in a history book.”

Dale recalled the sporadic records.

That meticulous old man had often used the term “bastards with swords” quite liberally.

He’s already had a tough time with the knights once before.

The librarian sighed and spoke up.

“Hmm. Congratulations. Not just anyone receives a medal. I’m envious.”

Dale observed the librarian’s half-hearted expression and remarked,

“That doesn’t quite seem like the face of envy.”

“Well, yes. The thing is, the medal ceremony is like a social gathering with all the nobles present. A commoner attending such an event wouldn’t exactly be welcomed with open arms. And to receive a medal on top of that? Oh, they’d make life unbearable, wouldn’t they? Ah, receiving a medal makes you a baronet now, doesn’t it? So, does that make you a noble as well?”

The librarian shook his head in disapproval.

He didn’t seem to have a very high opinion of nobles.

After glancing at the imperial edict, Dale said to the librarian,

“I should be going. Please tell Andrei I’ll come back for my cape later.”

“Either way, he’ll be too engrossed in his work to chat.”

Dale left the library and quickly made his way back to District 7.

A medal award ceremony, huh?

He knew about it thanks to Garland’s tip-off, but he hadn’t expected things to move this quickly.

Dale headed to the mercenaries’ guild to find Garland. When he opened the door to the office, Garland stood up from his seat.

“I was just looking for you, Sir Dale. Have you heard the news?”

Dale showed him the imperial edict.

“The ceremony is set for next week.”

“Is there anything I need to prepare? Like clothing?”

“You should be fine. The ceremony might feel a lot like a social event for nobles, but knights typically wear armor, so that’s the norm.”

“What about etiquette? Surely there are protocols for interacting with the Emperor.”

Garland burst out laughing.

“His Majesty the Emperor is unlikely to personally bestow the medal. He tends to keep a low profile at public events. And Sir Dale, you needn’t worry about etiquette.”

“Why is that?”

“Because no one will expect it of you.”

Garland gestured towards Dale’s “clothing”.

The imposing, pitch-black armor.

Who would expect polite courtesy from a heretic knight who was the object of fear and scorn?

“Just act within the bounds of common sense.”

“Common sense, right? I understand.”

When Dale muttered this to himself, Garland seemed to belatedly feel uneasy.

He quickly added,

“Just avoid causing any trouble. If there’s an incident at a gathering with the nobles, it becomes quite the headache. Besides, since you, Sir Dale, are currently affiliated with the mercenary guild, any issues could… reflect poorly on me.”

Dale gave a short answer to that.

“Don’t worry. As long as they don’t provoke me, I’ll keep to myself.”

“…. And if they do provoke you?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Garland responded,

“Hmm. Try to endure it if at all possible. Nobles can be quite troublesome if they set their minds to it.”

“I’ll bear that in mind.”

Dale answered without a hint of hesitation, but Garland looked at him with a somewhat anxious expression.

***

The day of the award ceremony arrived.

Upon hearing that a carriage would be sent for him, Dale waited quietly at the inn.

He was calm. To be honest, he was indifferent to receiving a medal or not.

It was the others who were excited.

Kayla was fidgety, and Harkin sipped his beer with an expression full of envy.

Elena spoke nervously.

“Do not forget your status as the leader of the Blue Lion Knights, and always conduct yourself with dignity and grace.”

“I don’t recall accepting such a position.”

Frauf looked at Dale with admiration and said,

“To think you could hold such an honorable position. As a fellow warrior, I’m envious. Truly envious! Sir, I actually have a favor to ask. It’s a bit of a difficult one, though…”

“If you know it’s difficult, don’t ask it.”

“Could you take me with you? Huh? I’ll be good! Oh, what if we do this! We get a big bag, and I’ll hide inside it. Then, after that…”

Dale ignored Fraud’s impractical scheme and focused his attention outside the door.

Just then, sounds of someone panicking and horses being startled could be heard from outside.

“They’re here.”

“Huh?”

Dale walked to the door and peered outside.

A coachman leading a luxurious carriage was visibly alarmed at the sight of the large Harty.

“What sort of monster has come to the city…”

“Were you sent from the upper district?”

At Dale’s inquiry, the coachman was taken aback. The sight of Dale was almost as intimidating as the giant wolf itself.

But having been forewarned and prepared, he was quickly able to compose himself.

The coachman spoke politely in a manner befitting someone who serves a noble.

“Are you Sir Dale?”

“Yes, I am.”

“It is an honor to serve you.”

Dale climbed into the carriage and shut the door.

After calming the startled horses, the coachman soon set the carriage in motion.

As the luxurious carriage made its way down the main road, passersby all stepped aside to clear the path.

The coachman seemed accustomed to such treatment and continued driving the carriage at a pace that was neither too slow nor too fast.

Their destination was District 2, where the nobles resided.

The Marquis who was considered the right hand of the Emperor was expected to present the medal.

Dale took in the sights of District 2.

As expected from a district of nobles, it boasted rows of clean and expensive-looking mansions.

However, the size of these mansions was not particularly large.

They were less than a quarter of the size of the Count’s mansion Dale had seen in the castle of Kaelum.

It makes sense.

The size of District 2 was limited.

So was the number of people who could live there.

Hence, the mansions inevitably had to be smaller.

Yet, among them stood a particularly large and majestic estate.

It was the destination for today, the Marquis’s residence.

Upon reaching the entrance of the Marquis’s estate, the coachman brought the horses to a halt and announced,

“You’ll need to proceed on foot from here. The servants of the mansion will guide you.”

“Thank you.”

The coachman seemed a bit taken aback as if it were the first time someone had thanked him for his services.

The coachman cleared his throat and spoke.

“It was just me doing my job, no need for thanks. If you’d like, I can take you back when you’re ready to leave.”

Dale nodded his head and made his way to the main entrance of the mansion.

The front of the mansion was already bustling with numerous nobles and their carriages.

To think all these are nobles.

Even after the war had significantly reduced their numbers, gathering them all together like this still made them seem numerous.

The nobles who were familiar with each other engaged in conversations with joyful expressions on their faces. Whether they were genuinely happy or not was another matter, but the atmosphere was certainly cheerful.

And Dale certainly stood out in such an atmosphere.

The nobles cast disdainful glances his way.

“Is that him?”

“Tsk. A heretic receiving a medal. The world does change, but this is a bit much.”

“Are they trying to flaunt catching someone barely worth calling a demon? His Majesty is too merciful, that’s the problem.”

“Did you hear about that bizarre novel he’s published? All looks and no substance.”

The overall sentiment was hostile towards Dale.

A few young ladies and noblewomen, who appeared to be avid readers of the novel, sent admiring glances his way, but the surrounding mood prevented them from approaching him.

It’s been a while since I’ve encountered such blatant hostility.

Dale’s body reacted to the overt hostility. His hand was inching towards the hilt of his sword more than once.

But Dale was a man of patience. Had he drawn his sword for so little, he would have been involved in brawls throughout the city long ago.

Ignoring the murmuring nobles, Dale approached a servant dressed in black.

“I’ve come for the award ceremony.”

“Ah, I shall guide you to the mansion.”

Dale followed the servant and headed towards the mansion.

The spacious hall of the mansion was packed with more people than Dale had observed from outside.

Nobles, knights, mages, and even merchants were present. It seemed like anyone with a certain amount of power in the upper districts had gathered here.

It’s a social event, isn’t it? Now I understand the librarian’s lack of enthusiasm.

Engaging in conversation and building connections here could undoubtedly prove beneficial in the future.

But Dale did not partake in such things.

He had little fondness for nobles and doubted any attempt at socializing would bear fruit anyway.

Moreover, upon entering the mansion, the hostility directed at Dale intensified.

Especially the knights and nobles wearing swords sent envious glares his way.

The reason wasn’t hard to deduce.

Knights of the upper districts, or those aspiring to be, were obsessed with accumulating fame and achievements.

Even Kristen had been fixated on dueling Dale for this very reason.

Now, here was a heretic knight who had not only defeated Kristen in a duel but also earned the honor of slaying a demon.

It was only natural to be envious.

But it wasn’t just the jealous knights. Among them were those clever enough to see an opportunity in the situation.

One of the scions of a knightly family, clad in chainmail armor, made his way towards Dale.

And then he pretended it was a mere coincidence and slyly extended his leg in front of Dale.

The reason for this was simple.

If I can trip this fellow, he won’t just stand by. If I draw my sword then and manage to beat up this undead… the honor will be mine.

The plan was to provoke a fight intentionally and then take the opponent down.

In doing so, all the fame Dale had built would be transferred to him.

Though it was a plan too petty and dishonorable for someone of high birth, high status did not necessarily equate to high character.

With a contemptible smirk, the young knight went beyond just tripping; he outright aimed a kick at Dale’s shin.

But Dale already read the movement.

He brought his knees together and applied a precise force.

Clang!

The knight’s iron boot collided with Dale’s knee. But surprisingly, it was the young knight who lost his balance due to the force.

“Ugh!”

Caught off guard by the counter, the young knight ended up falling on his butt.

The loud clash of armor against the marble floor brought a moment of silence to the mansion.

All eyes turned towards them in unison.

Dale extended his hand to the young knight who had fallen on his butt.

“I think it would be a good idea to train your lower body. How can you even swing a sword properly if you fall so easily?”

Dale’s calm voice resonated in the silence.

It was a joke tinged with a hint of mockery from Dale. Dale’s jokes were usually not well received, but this time, his intention was conveyed accurately.

The young knight’s face turned a bright red with shame and rage.

To be humiliated in front of such a crowd, and nobles at that was unbearable for him.

With a burst of anger, the knight lunged forward with a fist.

“How dare you, a mere undead!”

Dale read the trajectory of the punch and extended his palm before catching the fist with precision.

When the young knight attempted another punch with his other hand, Dale caught it too with a swift grab.

The knight now subdued like a child by an adult was a pitiable sight.

Gritting his teeth, the knight struggled to free his fists, but the difference in strength was overwhelming. Dale had grown stronger and the young knight stood no chance against him.

Eventually, the young knight could only break free by enhancing his body with magical power.

But in truth, it was merely Dale who had let go.

“…….”

The atmosphere grew even colder as Dale casually toyed with the knight.

The humiliation the knight felt intensified.

With eyes blazing and magical power surging through his body, the knight finally reached for the hilt of his sword.

“I’ll make you regret this.”

Dale waited until the young knight drew his sword.

He had been holding back because of a promise to Garland to avoid unnecessary conflict, but drawing a sword was a clear overstep.

From that moment on, Dale would no longer have any reservations.

Just as the young knight drew his sword and was about to swing it,

A hand reached out from somewhere and grabbed his wrist.

“That’s enough. You’re going to get yourself killed.”

“Who are you to….”

The enraged young knight turned his head toward the owner of the hand that had reached out to him.

And then, the heat of his anger cooled to an icy chill. The color drained from his face until he was pale as a ghost.

It was as if he had seen the grim reaper himself.

No, perhaps the being before him was even more fearsome than the grim reaper.

The young knight exclaimed as he looked at the old man standing in front of him.

“Kn-Knight Commander!”

Standing there was the Knight Commander of the Imperial Knight Order. His words were crisp and chillingly precise as he said,

“Draw that sword, and you’re a dead man.”