Chapter 301 – The Magician and the Ancient Knight

“Theodore-sama!”

Led by Ashley, everyone came running over.

“Are you injured?”

“I’m fine. The Ouroboros took the hit for me.”

I might end up with some bruises later… but considering who I fought and how, that’s to be expected.

Just to be safe, Ashley used Healing Magic on me.

“Theodore, was it?”

Lazaro spoke. His voice was remarkably calm.

“You have good companions.”

“Yes. They’re precious to me.”

When I nodded at Lazaro’s words, I thought I could hear him chuckle softly beneath his helmet.

“At your age, with such skill. Your Magical Power Circulation… you must be a descendant of those sorcerers.”

“It seems so. I only recently found out myself, so I don’t know much about it. Do you know something about that?”

When I asked, Lazaro shook his head.

“As I said earlier. I possess only the minimal memories necessary to be myself and fulfill my purpose. I only spoke with those sorcerers face to face when fighting the Demons. I could tell you why I took up the sword, or how those sorcerers fought, but I doubt that’s the information you’re seeking.”

Why he took up the sword. I see… Motivation is an important topic.

“Not necessarily. I think many people would want to hear about it, and I’m interested too.”

“Hmm. Well, I have some questions for you as well. But first… why don’t you collect the spoils from the monsters?”

Lazaro pointed toward the corpses of the Lava Chimera and Elephas Soldiers.

Some of the monster corpses Lazaro had slain had disappeared… but the Lava Chimera left behind a fairly high-quality Magic Stone. Though it doesn’t have the Fire Element like the Flame Demon’s Magic Stone, it should be quite useful for building the airship.

From the Elephas Soldier, we got ivory. It should have various uses.

After finishing collecting the materials, I went to Lazaro, who was standing by the stone monument, to continue our earlier conversation.

“What did you want to ask me?”

“There are several things… First, I’d like to know about the situation outside. For someone of your caliber to come retrieve the Orb… it can’t be for nothing.”

“That’s right… Well then—”

I proceeded to tell Lazaro about our fight against the Demon group.

“—You even defeated the Black Bones? I wouldn’t have believed it if not for having tested your strength myself…”

When I briefly explained the circumstances, Lazaro shook his head. Gardinis, huh? That guy seems to have been notorious since Lazaro’s time.

“Is there anything else you wanted to ask?”

“Hm? Ah, no, it’s a trivial matter. I was fighting you to test you. But, young man… you were different. For example, that clothing of yours.”

Lazaro glanced at my Chimera Coat. It seems he had noticed that my clothing was some kind of Magic Tool. It was supposed to be a contest of skill with just our weapons… True, I didn’t use Nemea, Capella, or Balor.

“You had no reason to hold back your cards and accommodate my methods. I understand you wanted to earn my recognition, but I wondered if you really needed to go that far… It just struck me as curious. You probably already guessed, but I’m not human.”

Saying this, he opened the visor of his helmet. Inside was a skeletal face. After showing it briefly, he immediately lowered the visor again.

“Even this form isn’t made from real bones. It’s all just a creation of magic.”

Considering this is the Blazing Fortress, I thought it would be a harsh place for a normal human to be stationed…

Perhaps he was given properties close to an undead to preserve a human’s will. His Fighting Spirit, and especially his use of Water Mirror, probably place him well outside the framework of ordinary undead.

But… Lazaro’s question…

I can understand that Lazaro accepted defeat and his own destruction. If the opponent who defeats him is someone from the Verdgar royal family or Claudia’s side, then even in defeat, he would have achieved his purpose.

The fact that he wields a Greatsword also makes it difficult for opponents to hold back against him. That’s precisely why Lazaro told us not to hesitate and to come to defeat him. That’s also why he revealed that someone else had the information. Or perhaps… he thinks I was being soft for not coming to kill him.

“…It’s not that I looked down on you. How should I put it… It’s stubbornness.”

“Stubbornness?”

“I hate Demons. For me, killing you—who has fulfilled your mission for so long—for the sake of fighting Demons would be putting the cart before the horse. I couldn’t stand it.”

When I said this, Lazaro froze for a moment, then began to chuckle softly. Soon he was laughing out loud, his shoulders shaking.

“I see, I see. Indeed, I hate Demons too. The living Lazaro and you might have gotten along well, young man.”

“Perhaps. But I don’t think you’re an imposter. Since your mission is over, don’t you think we could explore ways for you not to be bound to the labyrinth… the Blazing Fortress?”

“Kukuku. You become more interesting. Even after seeing my face, you can still say that?”

“I don’t think appearance matters much.”

If I said otherwise, my words to Claudia would become lies too.

When I spoke, Claudia closed her eyes and smiled quietly.

“If we create an outpost of the Blazing Fortress in Termwills… you might be able to go outside. Though that would require a contract with the castle lord.”

“Hmm. I don’t understand much about magic… but I’ll look forward to what happens after my master awakens.”

Saying this, Lazaro offered a handshake. I took his hand.

“I’ll come again before the seal is released. I’d like to visit up to the Sealed Door. Would it be alright if I collect the broken sword?”

“Fine by me. What do you intend to use it for?”

“No. I was thinking of repairing it and returning it. I imagine it would be difficult to be in the Blazing Fortress without a weapon.”

“Hmm.”

Lazaro pensively touched his chin, then picked up the Elephas Soldier’s scimitar that was lying nearby. This too seemed to be a considerably heavy weapon.

When he thrust the thick-bladed scimitar’s tip into the ground, a heavy sound and vibration resonated through my feet.

“Then… let’s make it a promise. This blade should suffice for the time being.”

“Understood. Then, until another day.”

“Mm. My battle with you… it’s been a long time since I enjoyed one so much.”

“Me too.”

After exchanging these words—we left the labyrinth via the stone monument, seen off by Lazaro.

After returning from the labyrinth… I decided to first head to the Adventurer Guild to exchange today’s spoils—the staff, ivory, Living Armor parts, Hellhound pelts, and other materials—for money.

During the wait while our materials were being appraised, Rosemary murmured.

“…The Mirror Knight Lazaro, huh?”

“I didn’t get to ask earlier, but what kind of stories are told about him?”

When Grace asked, Rosemary covered her mouth with her feather fan as she answered.

“He’s a famous figure in the Verdgar Knight Order. According to literature, he devised the secret technique Water Mirror and saved Verdgar from crisis. Considering the situation at the time, it was probably related to Demons after all.”

So he was the one who created Water Mirror. I didn’t know that.

“I’ve heard stories about the Silver Knight. In fairy tales, it was just about how he led the knight order and fought Demons.”

Ashley said.

“The Mirror… Silver Knight. Lazaro might be the basis for that. But while that mirror-like armor is famous, it seems not much was known about the person beneath it.”

“That’s probably for the same reason as me.”

“Most likely. The important thing was that there was a Demon Slayer, and if he served as a standard-bearer, his armored appearance was sufficient.”

Also, they probably didn’t want to leak information about Water Mirror.

As for why Lazaro took up the sword… even without being told, it’s something you can guess. Since he probably hates Demons too, that’s likely why he understood my reasoning.

…Well then. After we’re done here, should I head to the workshop as I told Old Sigmund? I’ve also added the plan to have Lazaro’s sword repaired.