The farmer, comforting his daughter while watching the knight's back, sensed something strange.
It should still have been daylight at this hour. Though forest nights came quickly, in his experience, there should have been ample time before the sun fully set in this season.
Yet the forest was rapidly darkening. As if someone were stealing away the light.
Where the sunset had been, something like black fog now hung. And beyond it, two red glowing eyes like will-o'-wisps rose up.
A mountain spirit. His arms tightened around his daughter.
But there was one thing the farmer failed to notice.
Something resembling the black fog spread by the mountain spirit was also flowing from beneath the knight's feet.
***
It came.
I faced the Baikon with its glowing red eyes. Normal people would only see its form dimly until their eyes adjusted to the darkness, but a Dark Knight's eyes could see well in darkness.
It was one of the few useful traits of the Dark Knight profession, which had little more than an impressive name. I could see spirits clearly too. Though there was the minor issue that they could also see me clearly.
The Baikon, perhaps realizing I could see it, kept its distance and wasn't approaching too closely.
It seemed confused. Originally, Dark Knights were commanders who led the forces of darkness. Baikons were the most suitable war horses for them.
It probably thought I had brought the mountain sacrifice as a dowry to form a contract with it. I had indeed referenced such contractual forms somewhat to protect the father and daughter.
The circle meant that the pair inside were magically under my protection. The moment the circle was damaged or they stepped outside, they would become the Baikon's prey.
Conversely, if the Baikon didn't want to make an enemy of me, it couldn't take them at will.
[How curious...]
A resonant baritone. Too good a voice for a man-eater.
[Despite setting up an improvised altar of the Abyss, you haven't imbued the sacrifices with any dark magic. Had I not seen you directly, I would have thought this was a trap set by holy knights.]
Grrrr. A sound that might have been a sneer or a laugh echoed through the fog-shrouded forest.
[You must be quite greedy for power. Was even a drop of dark magic to bless the sacrifices too precious to spare?]
"Blessing? It's nothing more than shackles to prevent escape. You place too much importance on formalities."
The truth was different. Though various evil powers were lumped together as "dark magic," the power typically used by Dark Knights had something in common.
The more you used it, the more likely you were to develop mental illness.
I wanted to live with a healthy mind.
[Oh? Then by what means did you bind them?]
"Love."
[Love? Another interesting answer! Explain further.]
I stepped forward. The Baikon was greedy but clever. If I hadn't been a Dark Knight, or if I hadn't captured its interest this way, it would have fled the moment I approached.
"I told them I would spare only one family member. I threatened that if they ran, even that one would die. What touching family love."
[Truly, your words are right. Love is their shackle. You are greedy and cunning!]
The Baikon marveled. My sensibilities were still normal enough not to be pleased by praise from a man-eater. I glanced back at the father and daughter. They were still in place.
Fortunately, I had warned them beforehand. They would think all this conversation was just hallucination.
"I possess power and intellect worthy of you. Come to me."
The Baikon cautiously approached me. If it bowed its head and I offered the pair as sacrifices, the traditional contract between Dark Knight and mount of the Abyss would be established.
Finally, the Baikon lowered its head as if asking me to bless its horns. I solemnly nodded and...
Quickly drew my sword and swung.
***
The farmer couldn't hide his shock at the horrific conversation coming from outside the circle. The voice was too vivid to dismiss as mere hallucination.
If the knight hadn't warned him beforehand, he might have believed it was real. He had thought the knight suspicious from the start, judging him by his appearance.
The farmer wasn't fleeing with his daughter now because of the knight's prior warning, and because the knight had been kinder than expected on their journey here.
The knight approached the mountain spirit. The spirit slowly lowered itself before the knight. Was this also an illusion? Should they flee now?
As the farmer agonized, the knight drew his sword.
The black greatsword fell toward the crown of the mountain spirit's head with lightning speed too fast for a simple villager's eyes to follow.
[KEUHEONG─!]
But the mountain spirit was faster. It twisted its head and caught the blade aimed at the center of its head with its horns. The deflected sword caused the knight's body to sway.
[You deceived me!]
The Baikon's single cry. The knight didn't miss the opening. His body tilted from the recoil of the deflected greatsword. He regained his balance by stepping forward firmly with his right foot.
And the blade that had pointed skyward came back down toward the Baikon's neck.
The second attack followed too quickly for words. The Baikon realized this knight had never intended to negotiate.
Should it flee?
The knight had already seized the initiative. Continuing the fight here would be disadvantageous.
As the Baikon's demonic nature quickly made its judgment to preserve its life, something else rose up from within.
Another facet of the Baikon's reason that had been preventing it from feeding properly. Unlike before when this reason had prevented the Baikon from doing things, this time it was urging it to act.
This reason, now aligned with demonic rage, compelled its body to tear out the knight's heart.
***
Criel sensed things wouldn't go smoothly. Baikons were typically cunning, and if you couldn't capture or kill them in one strike, they would torment you with their four legs.
Just as his mind reeled at the thought of chasing the Baikon through the dark forest...
The Baikon showed a reaction very different from Criel's expectation. It began charging at Criel in a frenzy, like a bull rushing at a matador.
The Baikon's charge, wrapped in black fog rising from beneath its hooves, looked like a thundercloud leaving a trail as it rushed forward.
Had it been an ordinary monster, Criel would have gladly severed its neck with his greatsword along that straightforward trajectory.
But the Baikon was no ordinary monster. It was too fast. Sensing that the Baikon's charge was faster than his attack, Criel kicked off the ground.
It was enough to avoid the Baikon's physical charge, but his sword was still in its path. The sword, colliding with the Baikon's golden horns, flew from Criel's grasp and embedded itself in a nearby dead tree.
Criel felt as if the Baikon was somehow grinning. If it was beyond a simple monster, it naturally knew how to express emotions like mockery.
Once again, the Baikon's body was enveloped in fog. That fog not only obscured vision but apparently also contributed to the supernatural acceleration from before.
Criel's judgment was swift. He needed to grab it before it fully accelerated.
The "darkness" wielded by Dark Knights was divided into three categories. First was Bloodlust, which could be collected through physical pain. Second was Grudge, originating from mental suffering. And finally, the Abyss.
The degree to which they eroded the mind increased in that order. When he first used Bloodlust, he saw hallucinations for three days and nights. When he tried Grudge, phantom pain was added. He hadn't even dared to properly use the Abyss.
Because of these severe side effects, Criel intended to use only Bloodlust-based skills if forced to use any skills at all.
Conveniently, most Bloodlust abilities focused on strengthening the body. They were suitable for the current situation where he needed faster and stronger power.
He released the Bloodlust accumulated from slaughtering forest monsters without reservation. Red energy, refined from monster flesh and blood, enveloped Criel's body.
Kuwung─!
Red light rising from the darkness beneath his feet clung to his armor like cobwebs. A roaring sound accompanied his first step of the charge. Criel collided with the Baikon before it could begin its own rush.
Criel grabbed the Baikon's two horns with both hands. The Baikon charged, trying to impale him through his armor.
The two forces met in the middle, neither giving an inch. As their strengths were evenly matched, only the ground beneath them screamed and cracked.
Criel seemed to falter first. His left hand lost its grip on the horn. Seizing the opportunity, the Baikon twisted its body. A violent thrashing with its entire body.
Criel barely managed to twist the Baikon's trajectory with just his right hand as it charged to pierce his heart. By the time the Baikon's head was draped over Criel's shoulder,
His empty left hand wrapped around the Baikon's neck, and the strength in Criel's right hand intensified.
The Baikon sensed that Criel was trying to break its neck.
Now the confrontation became a test of strength between the Baikon, straining the veins in its neck to resist, and the knight trying to break its neck by twisting its horns.