Kuro No Maou

Chapter 558 – Graduation

“When it comes to graduation, it does feel lonely after all.”

“Indeed. Thinking that this might be the last time I walk through the school holding hands with you, Kurono…”

Walking hand in hand with a cute girl. I see, this is indeed the wonderful student life I dreamed of. It’s only been a short time since I got together with Fiona, but it’s more than enough for me.

“But it’s not like I’ll be shedding any tears.”

Graduation is often associated with parting from friends, which is why everyone treasures the last moments… but in this case, there’s nothing like that, so it’s rather easygoing.

“Because you will stay with me from now on, Fiona.”

It’s a bit embarrassing to say, but it’s my honest feeling.

“Yes, Kurono, I will never leave you.”

Fiona’s grip tightens around my hand. If I had telepathy, could I feel her heart more strongly? No, even without such abilities, I can understand her just fine now.

“Hmm… it looks like tonight might get a bit intense. I might break my one-minute record.”

I like to think my nights with Fiona are going well. We sleep together every night, and it’s not getting stale.

As usual, Fiona takes the suspiciously effective aphrodisiac potions she makes in her workshop and challenges me, but the results are not dramatic. Still, it feels like we’re gradually getting used to it. Lately, I’ve been able to last around forty seconds.

“Oh, Kurono, tonight, in my uniform…”

“That sounds like a great idea, but let’s not talk about this in broad daylight.”

Suppressing my ulterior motives, we headed towards the main building to receive our diplomas.

“Hey, Kurono. I heard you’re graduating today.”

Just as we passed through the spacious main entrance, a familiar male voice called out.

“Kai, what are you doing here?”

Kai Est Galbraith, with whom I often spar, had become a familiar face. Even Fiona seemed to recognize him, giving a light greeting.

“Of course, I had to come say a word since my friend is graduating.”

He congratulated me with his usual bright smile. He casually called me a friend; what a reliable guy.

“Thanks. But why are you still at school? I thought the knights selected for the tournament had already departed for Avalon.”

The official name was the Avalon Empire Knight Selection Tournament. It’s like the knight version of the Koshien tournament, held from the 5th to the 10th of the New Sun Month. Without bullet trains or planes, it’s only natural to leave several days in advance.

“Yeah, they left yesterday. Don’t worry, I can catch up on horseback.”

“I see… Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“It’s no problem! But I have to go now. I’m cutting it pretty close.”

“You’d better hurry then. Good luck, Kai.”

“Heh, there’s no one as strong as you and Sariel. See ya!”

After watching Kai dash off in a hurry, we headed to our destination, the Chairman’s office.

Come to think of it, this is my first time here. Lily has been here a few times, but it’s only natural that ordinary students have no business with the Chairman.

After notifying the receptionist, we were promptly shown to the room. The response was remarkably smooth.

“Excuse us.”

Entering the room with a slight sense of tension, we were greeted by Sofia Sirius Pacifal, the Chairman, whom we hadn’t seen in a while.

Our greetings were brief, and we received our diplomas more straightforwardly than expected, along with some formal congratulatory words. With that, the ceremony was complete. We then engaged in some light conversation.

“Thank you for your help during the Galahad War.”

“Don’t worry about it. As an adventurer, I simply fulfilled my duty. You were the real hero, after all—”

The conversation centered around the Galahad War. Sofia had protected Simon all along, and during the battle with Reinfeld, without her help, Zach and Nyarko would have been wiped out.

“I’ve heard about Lily. She left and hasn’t returned yet, has she?”

“…Yes.”

“I’m not blaming you. I won’t pry into the details. Lily is a dear friend to me, and I’m just worried about her. I’ve requested a search, but there’s been no success. It’s as if she used teleportation magic; there’s no trace of her.”

Sofia seemed quite concerned about Lily, given their close relationship. Should I blame myself for being unreliable, or accept that the conflict with Lily was inevitable? I still haven’t found an answer.

“I’m sorry… We haven’t heard anything from Lily either.”

“No need to worry too much. She’s a capable adult. She will definitely return to you someday.”

Sofia, like Fiona, expressed confidence. As women, perhaps they had an intuition about such matters.

As for me, the fear of never seeing Lily again continues to swirl in the depths of my heart.

“By the way, how is Simon doing? Is he… lonely without me around?”

“No, not at all.”

He seems busy and content, developing guns and working with new companions every day.

“I see, he must be hiding his loneliness from his friends. How endearing.”

Wow, this person is extremely positive, almost to a fault.

“Simon seems to be getting along well with his sister lately.”

“What, really!?”

Sofia, a stunning dark elf woman wrapped in chic white sheets and exuding mature charm, reacted with uncharacteristic agitation upon hearing Fiona’s comment.

“That sneaky female general, once again trying to seduce my brother… grr.”

Sofia, your reaction is truly unbecoming.

“I once gave her some advice… and from what Simon has said, it seems to have had some effect.”

“Really? What did you say?”

“I told her to acknowledge.”

“Acknowledge?”

“Yes. Even if it’s a lie, just acknowledge and affirm what the other person desires.”

Wait, could this apply to me right now…

“Is there something on your mind, Kurono?”

“No, nothing at all…”

I couldn’t help but avert my gaze.

Despite some awkward topics, we enjoyed a pleasant conversation with Sofia, and completed the graduation ceremony smoothly.

Thank you for everything. Farewell, Royal Spada Seminary.

On the 4th day of the New Sun Month, athletes from the participating schools were gathering in Selene, the port town of Avalon, where the Avalon Empire Knight Selection Tournament was to be held.

The reason the Knight Selection Tournament is held in Selene instead of the capital Avalon is because it has an ancient colosseum, almost as grand as Spada’s Grand Colosseum.

The Selene Colosseum, named after the town itself, is most notable for its half-completed roof that only covers part of the arena. Ancient colosseums typically were either fully roofed indoor structures or completely open-air outdoor structures, but a colosseum with a half-roof like this one is unique to Selene.

Despite being half-finished, the colosseum’s design gives an impression of completeness, showcasing the remarkable aesthetic sense of the ancients. This unique feature is admired by the people of Spada, who have a deep appreciation for colosseum architecture.

It’s almost inevitable that Selene, with its impressive colosseum, would be chosen as the tournament venue. Additionally, as a port town, it offers excellent accessibility for international participants.

The streets of Selene, flourishing from maritime trade, are characterized by white walls and vibrant orange brick roofs, presenting a different beauty and a refreshing coastal charm compared to Avalon.

“Man, I thought this last time I was here, but it’s really hot!”

Sitting on a bench with his uniform jacket discarded and shirt unbuttoned to reveal his well-defined chest and abs, is Kai Est Galbraith, a participant from the Royal Spada Seminary.

“You’re the one making it stifling. I can’t believe someone like you represents Spada.” 

Retorted Safi.

“You’re one to talk, wearing that heavy robe.” 

Kai shot back.

The two of them were in an area akin to an athletes’ village, a lodging facility near the colosseum. It was just Kai and Safi waiting together, but it was certainly not a date. They were simply waiting for a mutual friend.

“—It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Safi, Kai?”

With the bright early summer sun shining down, a figure with shimmering white wings approached, none other than the First Princess of Avalon, Nell Julius Elrod.

“Hey, long time no see!” 

Kai greeted.

“It’s really been a while, Nell. Almost six months, right?” 

Safi added.

“Yes, I’m so happy to see both of you back safely from the Galahad War and in good spirits.”

As fellow members of Wing Road, the three shared their joy at reuniting. They started with a brief update on their lives. Since Kai and Safi had returned to their peaceful student life after the war, there wasn’t much to say. However, close friends often let their conversations drift, which only added to the liveliness of their reunion.

“—By the way, Nell, you’ve changed quite a bit. What brought about this transformation?”

Safi’s memory of Nell was as a healer priest class, clad in white robes.

But now, Nell wore vibrant red and white attire, likely traditional clothing passed down in Avalon from ancient times. Her long black hair was tied into a ponytail, giving her a slightly more gallant and imposing appearance than the gentle image she once had.

“It’s not so much a change of heart as it is a class change. I’m no longer a healer priest; I’m a battle maiden now.”

“That’s not a class you hear about often.”

“True. But since you’re participating as a contestant… you’ll be fighting, right?”

“Yes, I’ve trained hard for this. If we end up facing each other, please don’t hold back.”

Nell’s gentle smile remained unchanged, but Kai sensed a certain intensity hidden beneath it. Though he had said there were no stronger opponents than Kurono and Sariel, he had a gut feeling that Nell might be formidable.

“Bold words. I didn’t expect any challenging opponents in the Knight Selection, but now I’m looking forward to it.”

“Heh, I’ve been training too. Recently, I’ve been sparring with Kurono!”

“Kurono…? Who is that again?”

For a moment, Nell’s smile froze.

“Huh? Nell, I thought you and Kurono were quite close?”

Nell’s expression shifted from confusion to realization, then to a mixture of sadness and regret.

Kai, being a close friend, had firsthand experience of Nero’s brooding over various worries, exacerbating his already difficult personality. At the time, Kai had little interaction with Kurono, so he didn’t understand the depth of Nell and Kurono’s relationship.

However, it was clear that Nell was unusually preoccupied with this individual. Nell, the epitome of an ideal, compassionate, and gentle princess, treated everyone equally and refrained from showing favoritism. Unlike Nero, Nell had always been conscious of her status as a princess, striving to maintain an egalitarian relationship with everyone since she began studying at the academy.

“Seriously, you’ve forgotten? I mean, during Ischia—”

“Kai, that’s enough. It doesn’t matter.”

Despite his persistence, Safi firmly cut off Kai’s probing, knowing that Nell forgetting someone like Kurono was impossible.

“But still—”

“Sorry, I need to get back. Our matches start tomorrow.”

“Oh, right. Well, let’s have a proper meal together after the tournament. I know some great places here in Selene from my childhood visits—”

With that promise, Nell gracefully turned and walked away, her wings trailing behind.

“Hey, something’s off with Nell.”

“You’re such an idiot. This is the kind of thing you shouldn’t meddle with.”

Safi had noticed Nell’s odd behavior too, which was why she had deliberately thwarted Kai’s inquiries.

“What could be going on?”

“Who knows? Kurono must have done something terrible, something so bad that she’d want to forget who he was.”

“He’s not the kind of guy who would do something like that.”

Kai’s defense of Kurono was firm. Despite the doubts and strange behaviors, Kai couldn’t believe Kurono would do anything to warrant such a reaction from Nel.

“Even if he didn’t mean to hurt her, it still happened. I swear, men who don’t understand a woman’s feelings are the worst.”

“Huh? It’s their problem if they get hurt over nothing.”

“You’re the worst.”

With words dripping with disdain, Safi turned and left.

Such insults were nothing new to Kai, and they no longer ruffled his feathers. What concerned him far more was Nel’s strange behavior.

“Nell’s eyes were really scary…”

The moment Nell had muttered “who” in response to Kurono’s name, her usually clear and bright eyes had turned dark and hollow, as if night had fallen in an instant. The transformation had sent a chill down Kai’s spine.

“Sigh… I can understand why Nero is so worried now.”

As he muttered to himself, the chill he felt compelled him to start buttoning up his shirt.

On the 5th day of the New Sun month, our group, the Element Masters, arrived in the bustling port town of Selene, following Kai.

“It’s quite lively here.”

“It must be because of the Knight Selection tournament.”

Selene, one of the largest port towns among the city-states, was usually teeming with sailors and traders. But now, there were many well-dressed gentlemen and ladies, and visitors who seemed to have come from nearby villages. The popularity of the Knight Selection tournament as an event was apparent, with an excitement similar to that of the Koshien baseball tournament.

“The excitement is palpable. Do they even know what they’re cheering for?”

The town was abuzz with activity, and it was clear that the Knight Selection was a major event. The fervor of the people was undeniable, making the atmosphere both exhilarating and overwhelming.

“The judgment that it’s safe was made by the Avalon military. Even if the worst happens and the city is damaged, it won’t be our responsibility.”

“I have a bad feeling about this… Our opponent is Chaotic Rim, after all.”

Yes, we weren’t here in Selene just to watch the Knight Selection tournament. On the day of the graduation ceremony, Avalon had formally issued a quest to subjugate the Chaotic Rim.

Quest: Subjugate the Chaotic Rim

Reward: 3 billion Clans

Deadline: Attack to begin on the 11th day of the New Sun month.

Issuer: 77th King of Avalon, Milliard Julius Avalon

Details: A new Rank 5 monster, Chaotic Rim, which has been rampaging sporadically across various countries, has been located and surrounded in our country. Swift extermination is requested.

This sudden quest had quite a backstory.

After causing havoc in Rune, the Chaotic Rim had escaped yet again. However, Rune’s elite force, the Shinobi, had managed to place a tracking spell on it.

Yes, ninjas exist here, but let’s skip that for now.

Thanks to the Rune Shinobi, swift information was relayed, and when the Chaotic Rim crossed the sea and landed on Avalon’s coast, Avalon’s knights were ready to confront it.

Repeated clashes with the Chaotic Rim had revealed its abilities, including subterranean burrowing, and strategies to counter these had been developed. After intense battles, they managed to drive it into a dungeon known as the “Great Lighthouse of Selene.”

The Great Lighthouse of Selene, as its name implies, is a massive ancient lighthouse standing near the port town of Selene. It’s about 100 meters tall, quite impressive even by modern standards. The tallest lighthouse on Earth is just over 100 meters, so it’s comparable in size even by today’s measures.

The Great Lighthouse of Selene stands not on the coast overlooking the sea but at the top of a lush green hill. It is believed that in ancient times, the Lemurian Sea extended up to that point.

Due to its location on a mountain, it has been strictly maintained by human hands, and thus remains a dungeon by necessity. Fortunately, because it is close to human settlements, it hasn’t been overrun by powerful monsters; only low-rank monsters from the mountain inhabit the lighthouse and its surroundings. Therefore, the danger level of the Great Lighthouse of Selene is rated 1. It’s well-known among adventurers from the town as a place where many start their careers.

The Chaotic Rim, pursued by the knights, climbed the massive lighthouse like a King Kong and retreated to the top. The knights have tightly sealed the area around the lighthouse to prevent further escape. They’ve also deployed Earth Mages to cast barriers that hinder subterranean movement.

The situation now is to storm the lighthouse and defeat the Chaotic Rim, which is holed up at the top like a boss monster. The knights have effectively trapped the Chaotic Rim in one place, and in parallel with forming a subjugation team, the Adventurers’ Guild has also issued a request for aid.

This approach is similar to the Pride Gem situation, giving adventurers a chance to participate in the subjugation. From the knights’ perspective, it’s resolved if adventurers can defeat it; if not, even inflicting some damage would be beneficial. Adventurers are responsible for their own safety if they fail.

Additionally, by keeping the Chaotic Rim confined at the top, there’s a strategic aspect of starving it out. The lighthouse’s interior monsters have already been cleared, so there’s nothing for it to use as food—though this is likely a pretext.

“The decision to wait until the Knight Selection is over before attacking is purely Avalon’s convenience, isn’t it?”

The quest’s request clearly states that the attack will begin on the 11th day of the New Sun month. With the finals of the Knight Selection on the 10th, it seems evident that they are waiting for the tournament to conclude.

“Considering we’ve pushed it this far, I think it’s fine.” 

Fiona remarked with a nonchalant attitude.

Indeed, the Chaotic Rim is left with only the strategic advantage of the lighthouse’s summit where it can face a small number of foes. It can be starved if supplies are cut off, or if it descends from the mountain, it will face the overwhelming numbers of the knights. If it comes to that, the Chaotic Rim will likely be defeated.

The preparations to defeat the Chaotic Rim are all set.

However, if by any chance the Chaotic Rim manages to escape, it would likely target the city of Selene, which is overflowing with people. If it’s hungry, it would surely go after the city, where defenseless civilians would make a tempting target.

“This is a large city, so its defenses should be more than adequate. I don’t think we need to worry too much about it.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Our concern should be more about our own safety during the battle.”

“Exactly. Additionally, since this mission will involve a joint operation with other adventurers, we need to be cautious to ensure that our target areas are not taken by others.”

The Chaotic Rim subjugation quest has a restriction of requiring rank 4 or higher. Due to the lighthouse’s narrow structure, only a small elite group can be sent in. Having more people would actually be a hindrance.

Renowned high-ranking adventurers from Avalon have already gathered at the lighthouse. We’re probably among the few who have come all the way from Spada.

“For now, let’s wait under the lighthouse until the 11th.” 

Fiona said.

“Once this quest is over, let’s have a date in the city.” 

She added with a cheerful tone.

Her comment lacked any trace of tension, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah, it’s a beautiful city. It’ll be fun to explore. Plus, being a port town, the seafood should be delicious.”

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

I tried to push away my vague sense of unease as I chatted with Fiona while riding my trusty steed, Merry, through the bustling main street of Selene.

However, I couldn’t shake off my concern about Sariel, who had been silently trailing behind us. Since arriving in the city, she had been staring intently in the direction of the Great Lighthouse of Selene, as if on high alert.

Sariel, who had sensed the powerful aura of King Leonhart from far-off Galahad Fortress while she was the Seventh Apostle, seemed to be sensing something now. What could she be seeing?

I ended up not asking Sariel about it.