Return of the Calamity-Class Death Knight-Chapter 380: SS 28

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Side Story Chapter 28: Death Knight (1)

How long had it been since he had seen his family’s faces?

Damien thought to himself as he looked up at the setting sun.

Lately, the fragments of the Demon Kings had suddenly started popping up one after another, preventing him from returning home for a while.

“Theo should be on his summer vacation by now.”

A smile broke out on his face as he remembered Theo’s face, pestering him to take him to the Elven Island this summer.

-Damien… Damien Haksen…!

But his cheerful mood was completely shattered by the voice coming from below.

Damien’s expression crumpled as he looked down.

There, a human with severed limbs was dying.

The body was human, but the mind was not.

This being’s soul had already been devoured by a fragment of a Demon King.

-I won’t… forgive you… because of you… Theta… Theta…!

The remnants are most strongly influenced by the emotions they recalled just before death.

The Demon King controlling this man’s body was Iota.

He was a bastard who had been in love with another Demon King named Theta.

-Lord… Damien…

Just then, another voice was heard.

Right next to him, a young woman was dying with her heart pierced.

-Please… look upon… me… again… I am…

This woman’s soul had also been devoured by a fragment of a Demon King.

It was none other than the fragment of the Demon King named Theta.

-Damien… I will kill you… for sure…

-I… am always… watching you…

Funnily enough, the two fragments did not recognize each other.

Like broken machines, they were only emitting their emotions toward Damien.

“This is why a fragment is just a fragment.”

The remnant left behind when a powerful being dies possesses high intelligence.

But it is only intelligent; it is not alive.

And upon closer inspection, there were many broken parts.

Just like these two.

“Annoying things.”

Of course, compared to the main body, the power of a fragment was but a speck of dust.

But even that speck of dust was too dangerous for humans.

It was impossible for humans to eliminate the fragments of the Demon Kings with their own power.

Damien had to step in.

Thanks to that, Damien had to move personally every time a fragment of a Demon King appeared.

“Who in the world is it. Who is controlling you all.”

Recently, the number of crimes committed by the fragments of the Demon Kings had been increasing.

It meant there was someone spreading the fragments of the Demon Kings.

“What on earth are they aiming for?”

Even though they knew they could not win against Damien in the end, they kept making the fragments of the Demon Kings appear.

It was a foolish act, no different from hitting a rock with an egg.

But the opponent was continuously repeating that foolish act.

It meant there was some kind of intention.

“What are they plotting while diverting my attention?”

Damien asked the fragments of Iota and Theta.

But the two fragments still only expressed their emotions toward Damien.

“I was a fool to ask you.”

Damien swung his sword and cut off the two’s necks.

The fragments were cut down along with the bodies.

As the fragments were annihilated, black smoke billowed out.

Damien silently watched the smoke scatter, then muttered.

“By the way, I wonder if that kid Theo is doing well.”

* * *

Hello. It’s Theo.

It’s been a really long time since I’ve greeted you all after coming back from Hell.

How have you all been these past few months? I’ve been busy studying for exams.

The Academy holds exams periodically. And I heard that if your score is below the standard, you have to take supplementary classes.

The terrifying thing is that if you have to take supplementary classes, you have to give up your summer vacation!

No matter how you look at it, giving up my vacation!

How could I possibly accept such a terrible thing?

I immediately asked Hazel and the Princess for help and immersed myself in studying for the exams!

“Oppa, I told you. That’s not the right answer.”

“Theo, you have a good memory, but your application skills are poor.”

The two of them taught me really harshly. I almost cried several times in the middle of it, but I held it in.

Because my uncle had promised to take me to the Elven Island this summer.

The Elven Island is a truly beautiful place.

The World Tree growing in the center of the island, in particular, is so awe-inspiring to look at.

Anyway, so I studied really hard. Really hard.

Thanks to that, I got a score of 60! And a score of 60 is just barely enough to be exempt from supplementary classes!

“We taught him, and he got a 60…”

“Not everyone can be good at studying.”

The two of them were somewhat dumbfounded, but I did not care at all.

My goal from the beginning was to get out of supplementary classes!

And the long-awaited summer vacation began.

“Uncle, I’m here!”

I quickly returned home and looked for my uncle first. But my uncle was nowhere to be seen.

“Mister Victor, where did my uncle go?”

“Ah, he hasn’t been coming home at all lately. It seems he’s busy with outside work.”

Hmm, if he’s busy, it can’t be helped.

I decided to wait patiently until my uncle returned.

In the middle of it, Hazel came over to ask me to hang out, but I refused.

Because I was supposed to go to the Elven Island with my uncle.

But a day passed, two days passed, and almost a week went by, but my uncle did not appear.

“When is uncle coming back.”

Grumbling in my uncle’s basement every day became my routine.

Not being able to go to the Elven Island is one thing, but how can he not show his face for over a week!

I cannot just let this slide. I’m not going to say a word even when my uncle comes back.

For at least a day, that is!

As it was nearing two weeks, something strange started happening to me.

“Ugh, uuh, uwaaak!”

I started having nightmares every night.

Strangely, I could not remember what kind of nightmare I had.

It was definitely incredibly scary, and my body was drenched in a cold sweat.

“Theo, have you not been sleeping well lately?”

“Your face is so gaunt.”

My mom and dad were worried every time they saw me.

I said I was fine, but in truth, I was not at all.

I was having a hard time because I could not sleep every day.

“I wish uncle were here at a time like this.”

I have had nightmares like this every day in the past. It was so bad that I was afraid to fall asleep.

Then, by chance, I happened to sleep next to my uncle once, and wouldn't you know it, the nightmares completely disappeared.

I guess it’s because I feel safe when I’m next to my uncle.

“I miss uncle…”

Did my earnest wish reach the heavens?

“Theo, your uncle is coming back today.”

My mom delivered some very happy news! I smiled genuinely for the first time in a while. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

“Really? When is he coming?”

“He said he’d be late in the evening, but he didn’t give an exact time.”

“He’s coming late in the evening, you say.”

While eating, I made a firm resolution. Today, I would absolutely not go to sleep until I saw my uncle’s face!

But contrary to my resolution, drowsiness washed over me as the sun set.

I was so sleepy that I was nodding off without even realizing it.

It’s so strange. I’ve never been this sleepy before.

“Theo? Go inside and sleep.”

“Look at this kid. It seems he can’t even hear his mom properly.”

“You should carry him on your back.”

In a half-asleep daze, I heard their conversation.

I was about to close my eyes just like that…

“Huh?”

Then I suddenly snapped to my senses.

When I came to, it was the middle of the night. I was lying in my bed.

“Uncle? Is he back?”

I got out of bed and went outside. I was planning to grab anyone and ask.

But since it was already the middle of the night, there was no one in the corridor.

Having no choice, I decided to go to the basement.

At this hour, that was the only place my uncle would be.

I walked through the forest path and arrived at my uncle’s basement.

The moment I went inside, I felt a great sense of relief.

“Uncle…!”

Seeing my uncle’s face after two weeks, a small tear trickled out.

I walked over in one stride and crouched down in front of my uncle.

“Ehehe, it’s Uncle Damien.”

My uncle was still sleeping, clutching his sword.

“Don’t… don’t look at me like that…”

And he was still in agony.

I brought a blanket and laid it out next to my uncle.

I was planning to sleep here tonight…

-As expected, with you here, I can get close.

My body stiffened at the voice that suddenly came from behind.

I put down the blanket and slowly looked to my side.

A black ghost that had appeared at some point was standing next to me, looking at my uncle.

-Damien Haksen’s senses have already reached the realm of a Transcendent. As a mere fragment, there was no way for me to approach him.

What in the world is this ghost? No, how can it be here without my uncle knowing?

-Let alone approaching him, it was not easy to even build up strength inside you. Thanks to that, I could only gather my strength little by little. For a very long time.

The ghost looked at me.

-But there is just one being who can break down Damien Haksen’s guard. And that is you, Theodore Haksen.

“…Who are you?”

I asked, swallowing dryly. The ghost grinned.

-Theo, thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to get this close to Damien Haksen.

“Don’t… shorten my name as you please.”

-Has Damien Haksen ever told you about the past?

The ghost did not answer my question.

It was not an intentional disregard, but rather as if it were only saying what it wanted to say.

-He probably hasn’t. That cowardly bastard.

“I’m not particularly curious.”

-I will now show you. What Damien Haksen is hiding.

In that moment, an instinctive fear washed over me. I immediately called for my uncle.

“Unc…”

But before I could, the black ghost reached out and touched my forehead.

In that moment, the whole world spun around.

A dizzying sense of floating dominated all my senses.

And when I came to, I was standing on a green field.

“Wh-Where am I?”

I was just looking around in a panic.

On the horizon far away, I could see soldiers in formation, marching.

There were so many of them that the ground shook every time they stamped their feet.

“Sons of the Tarak region!”

A knight in the center raised his longsword high and shouted.

“Today, we will execute the vile dark mage! Our valor will be remembered for ages to come!”

The soldiers answered the knight’s cry with a cheer.

The air of the field rang out thunderously.

-Where are you looking.

Just then, I heard the ghost’s voice.

I reflexively looked toward the direction of the sound.

But the ghost was not there.

Instead, a knight was standing there motionlessly.

A build far larger than a human’s.

Black, thick-looking armor.

A large greatsword hanging on its back.

“…A Death Knight?”

It was not my first time seeing a Death Knight.

My uncle, for one, is a Death Knight.

But for some reason.

Why, unlike with my uncle, do I feel so scared, so terrified of this one?

At the fear that was slowly creeping up on me, I took a step back without realizing it.

<Move!>

Just then, a voice was heard.

<Why aren’t you moving! It’s my body! Listen to me!>

The voice was coming from inside the Death Knight’s body.

<Please, I’m begging you! Listen to me! Do as I say!>

At the very familiar voice, I muttered with a dazed expression.

“…Uncle?”

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]