NOVEL WEB Ch. 85
Chapter 85
Turning my head, I saw Muller and Shuga, who’d been summoned by the Emperor, arriving swiftly on horseback.
Horses weren’t allowed in the tournament, but if I’d had one, I could’ve at least asked Adela a few questions.
“We will now begin the traditional hunting tournament of the Imperium Empire!”
Despite the presence of the Emperor and his proxy, the imperial head butler, a noble from Kazaks' faction led the proceedings, as the Emperor was nominally there to observe.
“The hunting tournament is a stage for the young noble knights of our Imperium Empire to showcase their valiant spirits and bravery! Though it was replaced by the dungeon tournament for a time, Prince Kazaks' wish to revive this tradition to uphold the Empire’s discipline has brought it back!”
Naturally, among the promising noble knights, certain standouts drew attention.
“A hunting tournament out of nowhere. It’s surprising.”
“No helping it. It’s our duty.”
“Y-Yeah, I’ll do my best…”
Elisha, Bord, and Mary, heirs of the Four Great Ducal Families.
“Hah, hunting. Sounds fun.”
“It’s not about fun—do it for His Highness.”
Muller and Shuga, also heirs of the Four Great Ducal Families but clearly in Kazaks' faction.
“It begins.”
Prince Kazaks, participating to boost his status while checking Adela.
“….”
And the Black Knight, recipient of the Hamerd Award at the dungeon tournament, drawing everyone’s attention and scrutiny.
“The hunting tournament begins by randomly teleporting participants into a vast hunting ground
There, you can hunt released prey to earn points! Among them are rare species and powerful monsters, so be cautious! Of course, hunting those could earn you high scores in one go!”
The tournament was point-based, unlike the dungeon tournament, which tested strategy, judgment, and more.
It was simpler.
“And upon teleportation, an emergency escape magic will be cast on you! If your life is in danger or you sustain a critical injury, it negates the wound and summons you back here! You are the future pillars of the Empire, so focus on hunting without worry!”
But for me, death here would be real.
The emergency escape magic assigned to me was surely sabotaged.
“We will begin teleportation!”
The teleportation magic circle on the ground began to glow brightly.
As I waited to be moved, I felt eyes on me.
“….”
“….”
“….”
The vast majority of participants were glaring at me.
Among them were Elisha, Bord, and Mary, who hadn’t received the kill order, and Muller and Shuga, who surely had.
“Black Knight.”
And Prince Kazaks.
“Prepare yourself.”
A flash of light, and my body was teleported somewhere.
***
The moment I opened my eyes, I had to dodge an incoming attack.
“Ugh! L-Lucky! Die, Black Knight!”
I evaded a sword thrust by an unknown noble knight in light armor, grabbed his arm, and yanked him down.
I kicked the head of the fallen knight.
Crack.
His neck snapped, and an “illusion” of his death appeared.
His real body was likely teleported back already.
‘Embarrassing.
Eliminated right at the start.’
That’s the price for thinking he could attack me and walk away unscathed.
***
Meanwhile, at the banquet hall observing the hunting tournament, the Emperor and other spectators sat or enjoyed banquet dishes while watching.
The observation used magic to transmit visuals and sounds from the participants.
Unlike the dungeon tournament, the first-person perspective made the bigger picture harder to see but promised unparalleled excitement.
And right at the start…
“Argh!”
A bewildered noble appeared on the magic circle.
Spectators in the hall gasped and swallowed hard.
“W-What a disgrace…!”
The noble, barely saved by the emergency escape magic, covered his red face and fled into the mansion.
On the screen, a corpse identical to him lay with a twisted neck.
“Impressive.”
The Emperor’s murmur went unchallenged.
It was the truth.
The noble who attacked had the advantage, teleporting slightly faster than the Black Knight.
For a swordsman to gain the upper hand at close range against a sniper was as good as a win.
Yet he was defeated for one reason.
“The Black Knight’s skill exceeds my expectations. He’s stronger than at the dungeon tournament. Like a dragon swimming upstream.”
Below the Emperor’s supreme throne were seats for the Princess and Prince.
With Kazaks participating, only Adela was present.
“….”
Unlike the Emperor, Adela couldn’t relax.
She knew the depths of Kazaks' recent, vile schemes.
‘Martin…!’
He’d survived the first hurdle, but that meant it started at this level.
He’d face hundreds more crises, each growing fiercer.
‘Should I have stopped him from going?’
Regret came too late—she should’ve escaped this trap, even if it meant swallowing her pride.
‘Harris…!
Nursemaid…!’
Her childhood, though materially lacking, was emotionally rich.
Back then, she lacked the strength and knowledge to protect her knight and nursemaid.
Now, she was about to lose again—not to the Emperor, but to her damned sibling sharing the same blood!
‘What about that girl?’
Suddenly, the maid Martin cherished and protected so fiercely came to mind.
If Martin died here, what would happen to her?
Then, the murmurs in the tournament hall grew louder.
“Oh, look at that!”
“Good heavens, the Black Knight!”
Adela snapped her head up, focusing on the screen.
‘…Martin, you truly…!’
***
Five hundred gold coins.
The “bounty” Prince Kazaks promised for the head of the Black Knight.
Enough to buy a mansion in the capital or start a large business.
‘Heh heh heh.’
Afraid?
Anyone who saw the Black Knight at the dungeon tournament would feel the same.
Fearful.
Never wanting to face him as an enemy.
But that’s when he’s alone.
Plus, there’s the emergency escape magic.
“Gunshots came from there.”
“Hah, advertising his location so openly?”
Hunting?
No.
Like knights before a war.
A heavily armed group of 20 moved in one direction.
Their target, naturally, the Black Knight.
The 500 gold coins on his head drew money-hungry packs like hyenas.
‘We’re different from the Black Knight.’
Hyenas’ greatest strength is forming packs and using their heads.
They approach unnoticed and tear into their prey in one go.
Even a lone, careless beast is finished.
Of course, we had to gesture to the watching audience that we were earnestly participating in the tournament.
“The Black Knight, a firearms user, excels at long-range sniping, giving him an overwhelming advantage in the tournament.”
“Checks come naturally to great power.”
“Hah, it’s reassuring to know so many share our thoughts.”
Look at Sir Dominic, the Sword Saint of the Defardly Empire, from the dungeon tournament.
Surrounded by many, he couldn’t escape.
If even the Platinum Knight Dominic fell, the Black Knight stood no chance.
“Here’s where the Black Knight should be. Stick to the plan.”
“Understood.”
The 20 split left and right, intending to encircle him.
As we formed the encirclement, we observed him.
The Black Knight was burying a goblin family killed by his bullets.
‘Hm, as expected of a renowned knight.’
His chivalry was alive.
He’d fought for his master but showed mercy by honoring the souls of the lives he took.
He could be called a White Knight or Holy Knight, not a Black Knight.
Conscience?
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t prick.
But life is a battlefield.
‘Blame yourself for choosing the wrong side!’
As the encirclement completed, some drew bows and nocked arrows.
The plan was to shoot and rush in to kill.
The Black Knight, turned into a pincushion, would become a cold corpse, pierced by blades.
‘Now!’
Eight arrows shot from all directions, targeting the Black Knight.
The arrows, fired simultaneously, pierced through the foliage, appearing suddenly to embed in his armor.
No matter how sturdy that armor was, arrows would lodge everywhere, and he’d collapse.
‘Five hundred gold coins!’
I was already dreaming of buying a house in the capital and living lavishly.
Until the Black Knight stepped diagonally back.
The eight arrows collided, broke, and fell.
‘Impossible!’
The Black Knight had moved just one step!
And that step happened to dodge the arrows?!
No matter, the plan must continue!
We were 20—nobles trained in elite courses!
As I drew my sword to charge, a thought struck.
‘Was it a coincidence?’
What if he hadn’t planned it?
To counter eight arrows from nowhere with just one step—if it wasn’t luck but skill?
My advancing leg froze.
“Die, Black Knight!”
“Argh!”
The other 19 noble knights, oblivious to the unease, drew their swords and charged.
The scene slowed, like slow motion, then stopped, like an eternal moment.
“Gnats…”
The Black Knight’s low murmur reached my ears.
“They keep buzzing around.”
I expected him to flee, but he charged forward.
He spun to dodge a downward slash, then delivered a spinning kick to the face.
A noble’s neck twisted completely, eliminated, even without hearing the crack.
“Argh!”
“G-Get it off!”
Grabbing the “corpse” of the noble with the grotesque, twisted face, the Black Knight threw it at the nobles on the left, who recoiled in horror.
In that moment, he raised his shotgun to the right and fired.
“Gah!”
“Ugh!”
A barrage of pellets turned three nobles into Swiss cheese.
The firearm’s power was twice what our data had estimated.
‘But!’
Meanwhile, other nobles closed in on the Black Knight.
His initial movement was impressive, but he was just a sniper.
Five nobles leaped and thrust their swords simultaneously.
This was the end—or at least a critical wound.
But…
‘What!’
The Black Knight attached a dark dagger under his gun’s barrel, wielding it like a short spear.
Boom!
A massive explosion sent the five nobles flying.
The shockwave from clashing mana knocked back the charging nobles—and even me, hiding.
“Got it.”
At the epicenter of the shockwave, the Black Knight stood unscathed.
It was… fear.
Golden runes and patterns floated on his black armor, glowing richly.
It felt like facing an ancient golden demon.
I understood why this dark specter was the Black Knight of the Golden Princess.
“Fighting a sniper in close combat is standard.”
His voice mocked, as if imprinting it on the audience.
“But to think it’d work on me—what idiot came up with that?”
I couldn’t see.
Not even the surroundings.
Only the Black Knight, approaching to kill me.
I was entranced—by fear.
This Black Knight was a monster!
And then, he moved…
With overwhelming power.
Unapproachable speed.
Skill beyond imagination.
…And began slaughtering us.