Chapter 44

The surrounding knights hurriedly fled in panic.

“They’ll probably run away like that if a crisis arises anyway.”

I’m not looking down on imperial knights as a whole.

They subject themselves to rigorous daily training, prepare for hardships, and, when the time comes, they offer their lives to protect the nation. Some of the more experienced knights possess remarkable strength. These are people who forge themselves into shields of the nation through unwavering conviction rather than talent.

However, every organization has a part that rots. People get comfortable, lose their conviction, and form cliques under those who feed them.

These are the people I hate the most. They start stealing without hesitation from those weaker than themselves. How are they any different from bandits? Taking unjustly from the weak should be despised.

The only ones left were two Royal Guards and a prince whose name I’ve already forgotten. Though intimidated by my words, the prince quickly regained his composure, likely remembering the Royal Guards flanking him.

“You once blew me and my bodyguards away. I’ve never forgotten that humiliation. No matter how strong you are, you can’t beat these two barehanded.”

The Royal Guards.

The elite knights of the empire, tasked with protecting the royal family. Even among the multiple Royal Guards, there’s a ranking system, and the top ten are treated as special knights.

The two standing beside the prince bore the markings VII and VIII on their armor.

Even those with numbered ranks among the Royal Guards aren’t necessarily virtuous. The highest-ranked one, who guards the emperor, is known for his love of booze and women.

These two might be moving for money or something.

They were massive. Comparable to orcs in stature. Both their height and bulk seemed nearly identical.

They drew their swords simultaneously, assuming a symmetrical stance. This is…

The two Royal Guards moved at the same time. Fairly fast. Their slashes were perfectly synchronized. I saw through it, slipping into their guard and kicking the left knight’s stomach with all my might.

If they were wearing cheap armor, my boot’s imprint would’ve been clear, but the Royal Guards’ armor was immaculate.

As symbols of the empire’s military might, Royal Guards are favored with top-quality equipment. Their armor is of the finest craftsmanship, and their weapons are top-notch as well.

Dodging the other knight’s slash, I placed my hand on his abdomen and struck him at point-blank range. The impact bypassed the armor, hitting his body directly.

He staggered back slightly but quickly regained his stance. It seems he’s well-trained. Not just any knight gets a number.

Both knights raised their shields simultaneously. Impressive coordination.

They tried to close in on me from both sides with their shields, but I leapt back to dodge. Yet, they immediately changed direction and charged again. I raised my arms to shield my face.

In the next instant, I was struck by a force like being hit by a boulder and sent flying.

I managed to land after a few steps. Quite the attack power. And their coordination is abnormally precise.

“Twins, huh? You can’t get this level of synchronization just from training.”

The Royal Guards didn’t respond, but there was no doubt. I remember a shadow monster I faced once that moved similarly. The perfect harmony of their movements throws off anyone facing them.

It seems I cut the inside of my mouth. I spit blood onto the ground.

The prince was watching, clearly pleased. My magic, without a catalyst, would be easily repelled by their armor. What a hassle.

The two came at me again with their shields raised. These two likely use their massive bodies and teamwork to corner and defeat opponents. That’s their fighting style—two as one.

Which is why they’re only given lower ranks.

I placed my hands on each of their shields, halting their charge. The enormous weight pressed on my arms, my muscles bulging as I was forced back. But their charge stopped just before I hit the wall.

Gripping their shields so tightly my fingers dug into them, I countered their strength with my own. The pain surging through my body was immense, but I ignored it. My nails were probably torn off by now. When a trained human exerts their full strength, a bit of damage is inevitable.

Overpower me with strength? Corner me with teamwork? That only works against the weak. What’s the point of trying to match a cyclops in strength? What can you accomplish with teamwork against a dragon?

To face overwhelming power, you either need greater force or something special.

For example, challenging a demon with brute strength is suicide.

I could sense the Royal Guards’ panic. Despite being larger than me, they were perplexed by the fact that they couldn’t overpower me with all their might.

Slowly, I began to move forward. The stalemate broke in my favor. No matter how much force they applied, they couldn’t push me back.

I kept advancing.

Unable to endure any longer, they threw away their shields and once again brandished their swords.

I picked up a sword dropped by one of the fleeing knights and decided to humor them.

Their synchronized slashes came at me, but merely parrying them with the cheap sword caused it to break.

“Such a poor-quality sword. Tell them not to use junk like this.”

I kept picking up swords, swinging them, breaking them, and discarding them, all while deflecting their attacks.

Each time, the Royal Guards were forced to retreat, and I gradually pushed them back to where the prince stood.

“What are you doing against an adventurer?! You are the Empire’s sword!”

“But such strength…”

The prince was yelling something. The Royal Guards seemed somewhat flustered.

“Use this.”

“That’s…”

The prince pulled out a pair of twin swords. They appeared cursed, judging by their ominous shape.

“I’ll explain to His Majesty later. Kill him quickly!”

When the Royal Guards grasped the swords, magic from the blades enveloped them. I couldn’t tell exactly, but it seemed these were special weapons.

Most likely forbidden swords, sealed away in the palace and never meant to leave.

The Royal Guards’ demeanor changed. It seemed they had been possessed by the swords.

Their movements were now far faster than before. Any sense of coordination was gone.

They charged at me, screaming, like monsters.

“Die here, Sky Knight!”

The prince screamed, spitting in his excitement. He wasn’t thinking about the consequences.

You should never give power to fools.

This was becoming troublesome.

Dodging their swords, I offered a little lecture.

“Hey, there are three kinds of power in this world. Do you know what they are?”

“Authority is the greatest power! Shut up!”

“There’s authority, wealth, and violence. You see, I’m always stuck fighting angels and demons, and no one really shares the burden.”

I dodged another sword. Got a few minor cuts, but it couldn’t be helped. The sword strikes themselves were simple, but they were fast.

“Don’t you think it’s unfair? That I’m the only one who has to bear that pressure?”

“What’s your point?”

“I want you to experience it too. Actually, I’m out of time. My ride’s here.”

“Kill anyone who sees it. No witnesses.”

“Well, go ahead and try. You can come out now, Mastema.”

Step, step, step.

Footsteps echoed. They were deeper than the night and darker than the shadows. A visitor from the abyss.

Even the two Royal Guards, possessed by the swords, stopped and looked.

Emerging from the darkness of the night was Mastema, dressed in black, with wings and horns—the demon.