The Knight Who Devours Magic - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 100. Trian?
“Ugh……”
Over ten thousand gold coins.
That staggering sum amounted to two years’ worth of Drasen’s entire budget.
And the jewels stored separately—even without the skill to appraise them, he could guess their value rivaled the coins themselves.
If he took all of this back to Drasen.
It would be an enormous help to a noble house that spent every year preparing for Monster Waves and caring for its people, yet could barely afford meat.
Of course, his father always managed to eat meat when necessary.
“……So this is what it feels like to be full without eating.”
Just thinking about it gave him a strange sense of security.
Thud.
Thud.
With each step he took carrying the heavy strongbox, he couldn’t help but flinch.
From the eyes fixed on him from every direction.
If they’d been ordinary vagrants or thugs with greed burning in their gaze, he could have beaten them or frightened them away.
“Damn it……”
But most of them were children in filthy rags, looking as though they hadn’t eaten in days—that bothered him enormously.
And his keen senses made sure he caught every whispered word they exchanged.
“That knight just gave away money……”
“Brother, I’m hungry.”
“But he looks scary.”
It bothered him.
It bothered him immensely.
‘If I hadn’t met Father……’
Each time that thought crossed his mind, and whenever he recalled the hunger of his past life, pity welled up inside him unbidden.
Even though he knew he couldn’t save those children……. Wait.
“Ah, damn it……”
Then, suddenly, he realized there was a way to help the children with this strongbox’s contents.
Only some of them, perhaps.
……Curse it.
He resented his sharp mind for remembering such needless things.
‘Fine. All right.’
Either way, it was a good deed, and his parents would praise him for it.
“You children without mothers and fathers—follow me! I’ll feed you and give you shelter!”
The moment those words left his lips directed at the watching children.
He felt their eyes shift instantly.
Of course, not all of them immediately began following him.
“Orphans without parents can live at the Temple if we give them money! So come on, those of you without homes—follow me!”
At those words, the children hesitated but began approaching him one by one.
“Is that really true, sir knight?”
The bravest child, the first to come forward, asked with trembling courage.
“Of course!”
The moment Munno nodded vigorously.
A long procession formed in his wake.
‘I’ll have to visit the intelligence organization later.’
There was no point in going to them while carrying this strongbox anyway.
Munno rationalized his self-inflicted nuisance and turned his steps toward the south, where the Royal Capital’s Temple stood.
* * *
“Thirty gold per child is the standard fee, yes?”
“Yes, that’s correct, brother. That’s a noble deed you’ve done.”
The elderly Priest counted the coins from inside the strongbox, his face wreathed in a broad smile.
It stung to see his wealth slip away like this, but he had no choice but to bear it.
‘One, two, three……. Still, that should cover nearly three hundred children. That’s fine. More than enough.’
The Priest wasn’t being greedy with the money.
Any organization, ultimately, could do nothing without a budget.
Knowing this was an unavoidable truth of society.
He could only suppress his aching heart and force a smile.
“Thank you, sir knight!”
“Thank you, sir knight!”
“Thank you! We won’t forget your kindness!”
“I won’t forget, I promise!”
“You… won’t forget?”
A soft chuckle.
‘Hmm…….’
Still, watching the children bow repeatedly and wave their hands, a satisfied smile bloomed unbidden.
Of course, even with a donation, the Temple would not accept children who had living parents.
That held true at any of the Seven Great Temples—not just this one dedicated to Ra, the god of sun and light, whom he had just visited.
Even as a polytheistic faith, the fundamental doctrine remained singular, unified across all sects.
“Brother, can’t we go?”
“I thought you’d give us food.”
“Mother’s sick…….”
Not all of the children trailing behind him were orphans.
“Priest.”
“Yes, brother.”
“After entrusting these children to your care, there’s still a sum remaining, isn’t there?”
“Ah, yes. A small amount…….”
“Then please provide food for the other children out there, and if any household has a patient, arrange for treatment as well.”
“Ah, your compassion moves me to admiration once again, brother. But to care for the entire Slums would require resources and manpower we simply do not have…….”
He knew that no matter how much effort he invested, he could not provide for all the poor children even in the Royal Capital, let alone the whole world.
That was the duty of those who governed, not of a knight.
So for now, he would simply reach as far as his hand could stretch.
“I’m not asking you to care for the entire Slums. Just the children who have followed me here—please look after them. Here, these aren’t gold coins, but there are some jewels…….”
“Oh. In that case……. This should suffice.”
As he held out the pouch of jewels, the Priest sifted through the glittering stones inside and took only the smallest ruby, setting aside the larger, more brilliant gems.
That gesture alone made the Temple seem worthy of trust.
“Ra himself will surely be moved by your kindness, brother.”
“Please, think nothing of it.”
“If only there were more souls like you and that charitable lady in this world—how much more livable it would be.”
“That lady?”
“Ah, there is a kindhearted sister who gives to us regularly. People should understand that true beauty lies not in skin or appearance, but in the heart……. Ah, forgive me—I’ve been rambling. Age makes my tongue run away with itself…….”
“Ah, no. So there is such a person.”
“Yes? Ah, yes. She regularly brings the poor children from the Slums to us.”
“I see…….”
Yes, those who gave regularly were the true benefactors.
Not people like him, who felt virtuous after a single windfall.
And so.
‘I should keep some aside too. At least enough to send home to my family.’
He had made a donation that left him feeling reasonably satisfied, and preserved a measure of wealth for his house as well.
Yes, this would do.
‘This will…….’
Caught between the bittersweet ache of it all, laughing and grieving at once, Munno failed to notice what was happening behind him.
That far from the Temple, a Masked Figure who had been trailing him since the Slums was watching the entire scene unfold.
The slender silhouette melted into the shadows with such natural ease that it was almost invisible.
The Masked Figure observed the children receiving food before the Temple entrance for some time, then vanished into the darkness.
* * *
What followed required tedious arrangements.
He had to find a new guide to lead the way.
“Ah. Sir… sir knight……. I didn’t run away—the situation was…….”
“Never mind. Just guide me.”
He had to retrace his steps the way he had come.
And fortunately, the return journey proved unobstructed.
“There, right there.”
“Hm…….”
If one wanted to do business, shouldn’t the shop be in an easy-to-find location?
Yet the building before him now, bearing only a modest flag with the letter ‘L’ upon it, existed in such a remote corner that one could hardly find it without knowing exactly where to look.
“Then I shall take my leave…….”
“Go on. Ah, wait.”
“Yes, sir!?”
“Don’t lay a hand on those children again. I’ll be checking in regularly.”
“O-of course!”
Throughout the escort, the Thug Leader had been dripping with cold sweat as though suffering from hyperhidrosis, but in that instant he vanished like lightning down an alley.
And then.
The moment he approached the door of that building.
Creak.
“Hmm?”
“I’ve been waiting for you, Black Knight.”
The door swung open without so much as a knock, and a muscular giant with an impassive face bowed his head toward him.
“You caused quite the commotion before coming here. Rather loud about it, too.”
“Ah. I saw something unsightly and cleaned it up. Is there a problem?”
“No, not at all.”
Plink.
The middle-aged man who had introduced himself as El poured tea into a cup and smiled.
“On the contrary, I’m grateful.”
“Grateful?”
“The Ted Family has been demanding excessive protection fees, and I was looking for someone to deal with them.”
“Interesting.”
“Though I never expected it would be that notorious ‘Black Knight,’ the ‘Street Destroyer.’ Ha.”
Munno regarded the middle-aged man with an unremarkable face and brown hair, then nodded.
‘El must be an alias.’
This ‘L’ — the information organization name associated with it — had to represent something larger.
Though there was one curious thing.
“I didn’t know someone like you operating here was an Enhanced Body Practitioner. Judging by your build alone.”
It might have sounded like an insult, but El accepted it with an easy laugh.
“Well, I’m nowhere near the Black Knight’s formidable reputation.”
He was probably earning more than a regular knight from some provincial order or a veteran mercenary, which might explain his presence here—though by the look of this building alone, he didn’t seem to possess that kind of wealth.
Of course, this room itself was decorated quite well—more like a noble’s salon than a simple café.
“Either way, it’s not my concern.”
“Pardon?”
“No, never mind. But if you were already waiting, knowing I’d come—do you also know why I came?”
El answered with a quiet chuckle.
“How could we know that? You haven’t told us.”
Sip.
“But we can make an educated guess.”
“Hmm?”
“I suspect you have much on your mind regarding tomorrow’s party. I understand you made quite an impression during the recent mage hunt, and all the princes have likely invited you.”
“I see.”
He’d half-suspected it, but this didn’t seem to be just talk—there was substance behind it.
“Would you like information related to this?”
“Of course. Start with a list of nobles attending the Third Prince’s party and what precautions I should take.”
“What’s your purpose?”
“My purpose?”
“If you merely wanted information about nobles, you could ask the Third Prince directly. But I understand you have an acquaintance with Princess Roanna?”
Oh, interesting.
At those words, his brow drew tight involuntarily.
“Is it already being said that I’ve joined the Third Prince Faction?”
As the question escaped him with evident frustration, El’s eyes widened slightly.
“Surely you’re not refusing to join? You’re with Drasen and affiliated with Trian?”
“Tsk.”
Damn it.
He’d already suspected as much, but hearing it from a complete stranger now—someone entirely uninvolved—irritation flared within him.
‘If I had to choose a faction, the Third Prince’s side would be the logical choice, but…’
He’d deliberately refused the leash, yet others already assumed it was fastened around his neck.
“I have no intention of getting involved in the Succession War.”
Since his counterpart was an information organization, he at least wanted to be clear about that fact.
But the response was entirely unexpected.
“Still, what if Count Enoch Trian does participate?”
“What!?”
Munno found himself rising to his feet without thinking.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Wait—Count Enoch Trian, that old man, is entering the race? Really?”
“Ah…! No, that’s not certain yet. I don’t have confirmed news.”
“Sigh, here I go again….”
“…But if the Count of the Borderlands values Princess Roanna so dearly, wouldn’t he dispatch a few knights to escort her?”
“Don’t tell me you’re peddling conjecture as intelligence.”
“Heaven forbid. There are already several knights who have departed Enoch Trian and are heading toward the Royal Capital. I thought perhaps you’d recognize them, Lord Munno….”
There, in a place where he’d come to prepare for an unwilling gathering, he found himself confronted with unexpected news.
“…Should I tell you more?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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