***
In the early morning, a wooden sword being swung in front of my nose cut through the chilly wind.
A sparring hall for vassal knights in the Dukedom of Jackson.
Dale countered the knight's blade swinging towards him. As soon as he countered, he moved the blade out of the center, dug right in, and plunged his body toward the hilt of his sword.
Pow!
As soon as he struck, the blade of the wooden sword in Dale's hand was already pointed at the back of the knight's neck.
The winner or loser was decided after just a few exchanges.
"Huh!"
Witnessing that scene, Lord Helmut gasped in surprise. Even the knights who were watching the fight between the two were no exception. Although Dale's opponent was an Esquire who had not been officially knighted, the value of Dale's victory could not be diminished in the slightest.
The person Dale was dealing with, who turned 19 this year, came from a family of knights and had walked the path of the sword all his life. A young knight who is about to be officially knighted under the name of the Duke of Jackson. He was defeated by a child of only nine years old.
To a wizard who has no intention of following the path of the sword!
"Miles, good job."
However, no one, including Helmut, reprimanded the knight who lost to Dale.
"It's not your immaturity. Don't blame yourself."
"... All right."
The defeated knight also put aside the bitterness in his heart and accepted the inevitable reality.
Is there any other way to think about it as unfair?
The world is not fair. Dale of Jackson, the prodigy of the dukedom, was the living proof of that 'unfairness.'
Dale's growth, which showed extraordinary sword skills from around the age of eight, was truly astonishing. By the time he turned nine years old, he was even capable of using his own sword style.
A quick sword style suitable for a young body.
It was a sword style that understood his situation surprisingly calmly. So much so that one wonders if a highly skilled swordsman is inside the body of a child.
"Uncle Helmut, who is your next opponent?" Dale asked as he adjusted his wooden sword. Helmut burst into laughter at that boldness.
"How about one of the top Seven Swordsman of this Continent next!"
"Great!"
As he said that, Lord Helmut was about to get up.
"Dale."
From beyond the white marble corridor, he heard a voice calling him.
"We humbly greet his excellency the Duke!"
As soon as the voice was heard, all the surrounding knights kneeled down and showed respect. Dale turned his head. Dale's father, the Duke of Jackson, was there.
"Father?"
"Are you practicing your sword skills here?" the Black Duke asked as he crossed the pillars of the corridor.
"Yes."
Apart from Dale walking on the magic path, it was well known that he did not neglect his sword training.
"It's great to see you devoting yourself to training."
Seeing this, the Black Duke did not hide his satisfaction as Dale's father.
"But I guess that's enough for today's sword training."
After speaking, he continued with a very serious expression.
"There is something I want to show you."
"I understand, Father."
Dale nodded silently.
"Unfortunately, the confrontation with Uncle Helmut will have to be postponed until later."
"Haha, I'm looking forward to that day!"
Dale let go of the wooden sword he was holding in his hand, as if he felt regretful. Helmut laughed heartily as usual, then quietly bowed to the father and son as they walked away.
After saying that he wanted to show him something, the place Dale and his father headed to was the magic workshop in the dukedom's basement.
And an unexpected face was there.
"You are here, Dale."
"Mrs. Sepia?"
It was Dale's tutor, an elf wizard of the 6th circle, and an elder of the Blue Magic Tower, Sepia.
"Follow me."
As he watched the two of them crossing the workshop, Dale also felt an unusual atmosphere and fell silent.
'What happened all of a sudden?'
The place where the Black Duke was headed was the end of the workshop, and furthermore, the passage leading from the basement at the end to an even deeper and darker basement.
Dale followed quietly. And as soon as he took a step beyond that passage, an ominous chill passed through his whole body. It was a secret room surrounded by layers of stringent barriers that an ordinary wizard would not even dare to venture into.
Lined up everywhere, it was like an armory, with overflowing equipment.
As soon as he saw it, Dale could sense it. The fact that the things here are by no means ordinary equipment.
All of these pieces of equipment contain powerful magical power, and magical energy of a very dark and ominous nature.
'Artifact of the Demon King Spirit…!'
Just when Dale couldn't hide his interest and was about to take a step forward.
"Don't touch it carelessly."
A voice was heard sharply stopping Dale.
"These are equipment imbued with powerful dark power."
Crossing the room, the Black Duke continued.
"We, the House of Jackson, have handled and controlled this cursed power for generations."
The power of a taboo that is feared and at the same time, revered by people.
"To protect our land and people from our enemies."
Even necromancy and black magic are no exception.
"That is why, as the eldest son of the duke's family, it is also the power you must carry."
"What do you mean?"
"After some time, we will gather troops to subdue the group of orcs who have wandered from the Demon King's Territory."
The Black Duke continued speaking.
"And you will also be joining me in this expedition."
"…!"
Only then did Dale realize the situation.
"I can also go with father…‽"
The Duke of Jackson nodded quietly.
"So, before heading out, you will first learn how to control the dark power here."
In other words, the things here are weapons prepared for Dale.
"Accepting and adapting to the power of an artifact is never something that could happen overnight."
"You don't have to worry too much, Dale."
After speaking up to that point, Sepia, who had been silent, opened her mouth.
"I will also do my best to help you."
In a very kind voice.
"… ."
Dale's eyes quickly turned to the artifact display shelf. A sword and a suspicious book, a helmet and armor, in a place where all types of equipment are lined up.
'This is!'
At once, something intensely caught Dale's attention. At first glance, it was a black cloak with no other features. But how can I forget?
The shadows that should be cast beneath the cloak are wriggling like living creatures.
'Shadow cloak.'
It was the equipment of a high-ranking demon that Dale faced in the past as a warrior from another world.
Berka, the Demon King's Demon General and the Phantom Duke. The highest-level artifact he favored, which gives substance to shadows and allows him to perform all kinds of martial arts and defense.
For Dale, who handles both magic and swords, it was truly the optimal equipment.
'An unexpected big fish was caught.'
That's why Dale didn't hesitate. Ignoring his father's warning, he stretched out his hand and snatched the shadow cloak.
Just driven purely by the desire for power itself. He is literally like a child who doesn't think twice.
"Dale!"
As soon as he snatched it, the Black Duke continued to be astonished.
Artifacts have great power in and of themselves, but at the same time, they place a huge burden on users. In particular, those powered by the power of darkness are so dangerous that even touching them can lead to death.
Even the Duke of Jackson would not demand such severe pain from a nine-year-old child.
Perhaps what the Black Duke initially wanted to give was, even considering Dale's genius, it would be something worthy of 'the level of a nine-year-old child.' At best, it is at a level that allows you to summon a low-level dark spirit to protect you in times of emergency.
However, what Dale chose was a high-ranking artifact that could not be compared to a 'lower level dark spirit', and without hesitation, he snatched up the shadow cloak and wrapped it around his body.
Darkness enveloped me.
As soon as it was wrapped around me, the shadows under the cloak began to wriggle again like living creatures. Like a swarm of piranhas that smell blood and flock to you.
It was by no means an 'ordinary shadow'.
"Hungry! Hungry! Hungry!"
A living shadow with malicious intent. The end result is that you become prey to hungry shadows and there is not even a single bone left.
That was the terrible future that suddenly appeared in the minds of the Black Duke and Sepia.
That's why the two people are trying to quickly use magic to protect Dale. Dale calmly extended his hand and stopped the two of them. Leaving behind the auditory hallucinations of shadows echoing endlessly in his own ears.
"No need to worry."
Dale said. In a voice without even the slightest hesitation or agitation. Submitting the shadows that had been running wild at his feet just moments before.
Yes. The shadows that were shaking like crazy just moments ago are staying in place without even a single movement. As if bowing one's head in front of something one cannot dare to defy.
"I'm fine."
In Dale's words, for an instant, the movement of the two people stopped.
"How on earth──?"
It's an unbelievable sight. The Black Duke watched, holding his breath in surprise. With an expression of astonishment incomparable to any time before.
"Well, isn't it painful?"
In response to Sepia's question about his cautious concern, Dale smiled bitterly.
"Just a little."
An intense malice that comes towards you as soon as you put on a cloak.
This is the dark power that the Jackson family must bear. And it will be the destiny of the Jackson family to bear this evil, and to properly control and direct its power.
It would not be easy for the average mind to even handle it. And the very moment you succumb to this malice, you become prey to these shadows.
Artifacts are like greedy creatures, never giving power without compensation. In particular, those that use the power of darkness as their driving force are of even worse quality. But in the end, that was about it.
"It stings, just a little."
Nevertheless, the shadows swaying beneath my feet are delighted, as if they are having an audience with a new owner.
"But I'm fine."
Dale answered with his usual unwavering voice.
That's all.
For the sake of humanity, he has spent his entire life fighting monsters on battlefields filled with fire. They were then bred as hunting dogs of the Empire, slaughtering countless strange beings and 'enemies of the Empire.'
Compared to the malice that encompasses Dale's entire life, the malice of these shadows is not even a needle prick.
"Can I try on more of the things here?"
Dale said, his eyes shining innocently like a child. There was still endless equipment to try on.