Royal Knight

Kaito's eyes adjusted to the oppressive darkness surrounding him. The faint, sickly glow from the blue windows had vanished, leaving only the dim outlines of bones scattered across the ground. A shiver ran through his form—not from cold but from the sight before him. Human remains littered the cavern, remnants of those who had shared this grim fate.

He lowered his gaze to his arms, his breath—or what would have been breath—catching in his throat. The once smooth, healthy skin was marred, sections peeling away to reveal decomposing flesh beneath. Panic rose in him as he saw writhing insects emerge from the decaying patches, small worms squirming where life had long since fled.

“This… this can’t be real,” he murmured, his voice raspy, barely audible over the deafening silence.

His gaze traveled further down to his legs. The tattered remains of his flesh barely clung to his bones. Parts of his feet were stripped entirely, exposing glistening white bone. A grotesque parody of life, his body now bore the undeniable mark of death.

A sudden resolve pushed through the fog of his terror. He clenched his fists—or tried to, noting the unsettling ease with which his fingers moved, as though his decayed form obeyed him better than when he was alive. Trembling, he forced himself to rise.

The movement was startlingly smooth. His limbs, though broken and battered, carried him effortlessly. A strength he had never known surged within him, and his balance felt unnervingly perfect. His mind reeled at the contrast—this broken, decomposed body was somehow stronger, faster, and more agile than the living one he once had.

Kaito staggered, looking at his hands with a mixture of horror and awe.

“So, this is what I’ve become… A monster… No, a zombie,” he whispered, his voice tinged with disbelief and a flicker of grim acceptance.

Kaito tilted his head back, his glowing eyes scanning the vertical chasm above. The opening was impossibly high, and he could tell with certainty there was no way to climb out. Letting out a resigned sigh, he shifted his gaze to his surroundings.

The ground beneath his feet was uneven, littered with loose stones and dirt, but something caught his attention—several narrow paths stretched out into the darkness. The place looked like an abandoned mine, its structure crude and decayed.

He hesitated only a moment before choosing one of the paths. "No rush," he muttered to himself. "If anyone sees me like this… they’ll kill me without hesitation."

With slow, deliberate steps, he ventured into the tunnel. The oppressive silence was broken only by the occasional drip of water echoing through the cavern. As he walked, his thoughts swirled with confusion and anger.

What should I even do now? What kind of fate is this…?

Minutes passed, the eerie stillness pressing in on him, when suddenly a faint rustling caught his attention. Kaito froze, his undead instincts sharpening as he peered into the dim tunnel ahead. Emerging from the shadows was a massive ant, its shiny black carapace glinting faintly in the low light.

The creature was the size of a medium dog, its mandibles clicking menacingly as it approached. But what truly caught Kaito’s attention was the glowing text above its head, clear and legible as though floating in the air.

Explorer Ant - Level 3 (Monster)Power: 250

Kaito's lips twisted into a grim smile. "It’s big… but weak," he thought, his new instincts urging him to act.

The ant moved with startling speed, lunging at Kaito's leg. Its sharp mandibles clamped down as it injected a vivid purple venom into his flesh. Kaito instinctively looked down, expecting pain or weakness to follow, but felt absolutely nothing.

Before he could even process the situation, his body reacted. His undead instincts surged, and with a swift kick, he sent the ant flying. Its body shattered against the tunnel wall with a sickening crunch, leaving bits of its black shell scattered on the ground.

Breathing heavily, though not out of fatigue, Kaito noticed a shimmering blue window appear before his eyes.

You have received a small amount of experience.

The message lingered briefly before vanishing into the air. But no sooner had it disappeared than another window took its place.

You have acquired: Ant Poison Gland.

Kaito blinked, staring at the notification as it too faded away. A mixture of curiosity and cautious excitement bubbled up inside him.

"Experience? And an item?" he thought, his mind racing. "Does this mean I have an inventory?"

The memory of the strange blue interface from before surfaced in his mind—specifically, the moment the mysterious key had disappeared. Driven by that thought, he focused intently.

To his amazement, another blue window materialized before him, larger than the others and divided into neat slots. At the top, the word Inventory glowed faintly, and within the grid, two items were clearly visible:

Inventory

* 1 × Pedro’s Key (Used to open the basement of Pedro's house.)

* 1 × Ant Poison Gland (Used for alchemy.)

Kaito stared at the display, a faint smirk forming on his lips. “Maybe… this isn’t such a bad situation after all,” he murmured, closing the window with a flick of his wrist.

Kaito trudged along the winding path, his steps echoing faintly through the narrow passage. Despite walking for what felt like hours, he encountered no more monsters. Just as his thoughts began to drift, a faint glimmer caught his eye. Embedded between a cluster of jagged rocks was a small, shimmering crystal glowing faintly blue.

Intrigued, he approached and cautiously extended his hand. The moment his fingers brushed against its surface, a glowing text appeared above it:

Lesser Mana Crystal.

"Could this be valuable?" Kaito wondered, tilting his head. His curiosity quickly turned into determination. Lacking any proper tools, he picked up a nearby rock and began striking the crystal with clumsy, forceful swings.

The crystal trembled under the impacts, but rather than coming loose, it shattered into fragments. A familiar blue window materialized in front of him:

You have acquired: Poor-Quality Mana Crystal Shards.

Kaito grimaced at the notification, frustration bubbling up inside him. "Great, I’ve ruined it," he thought, brushing dust off his tattered clothes. He didn’t even bother checking his inventory, instead continuing down the path with a sigh.

As the minutes ticked by, an unsettling hum filled the air, growing louder with each step. Suddenly, a massive figure descended from above. Its grotesque wings buzzed violently, stirring up dust and debris. Kaito froze, staring at the creature as another blue text appeared:

Soldier Wasp - Level 5 (Monster)Power: 1200

"Wait... this thing’s stronger than me!" Kaito’s thoughts screamed in panic as the wasp darted toward him with unnatural speed.

Before he could react, its sharp mandibles clamped down on his shoulder, tearing a chunk of decayed flesh from his body.

A blue notification flashed before him:

You have received 5% critical damage.Health remaining: 95%.

Kaito staggered back, his hand instinctively clutching his shoulder. No pain coursed through him, but the sight of his exposed bone and the notification left him unnerved.

"How can it not hurt but still deal damage?" he thought, worry gripping his mind as he faced the buzzing monstrosity.

Desperation gripped Kaito as he saw the jagged edges of his decaying body threatened once more. He quickly bent down, grabbing a handful of small rocks scattered at his feet. Without thinking, he began hurling them at the first wasp with all his might.

His aim, however, left much to be desired. Most of the rocks flew wide, clattering harmlessly against the walls, though the force of his throws left cracks in the stone. His eyes widened at the display of strength.

"I have power," he thought bitterly, "but without agility or precision, it’s useless!"

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Discarding the rocks, he adjusted his stance, raising his fists shakily into a boxer’s guard. He focused on the buzzing monster, bracing himself for the inevitable charge.

But then the buzzing grew louder.

Two more wasps emerged from the shadows, their wings beating furiously, their forms even more menacing than the first.

Soldier Wasp - Level 7 (Monster)Power: 1800

Soldier Wasp - Level 4 (Monster)Power: 800

Kaito’s heart sank as the text hovered ominously over them. "Wait, this is getting out of hand," he thought, panic rising in his chest. Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted in the opposite direction, his undead legs propelling him with impressive speed.

But his speed wasn’t enough. The level 4 wasp closed the gap, its mandibles sinking into his back and ripping away a chunk of decomposing flesh.

A blue notification flashed:

You have received 7% damage.Health remaining: 88%.

The impact of the bite sent Kaito tumbling to the ground. He hit the rocky floor hard, the force bouncing him off a cluster of jagged stones.

You have received 1% damage.Health remaining: 87%.

Before he could recover, the level 7 wasp swooped in. Its massive jaws clamped down on his leg, severing it cleanly at the knee.

You have received 15% critical damage.Health remaining: 72%.

Kaito stared at his missing leg in disbelief. Fury boiled within him as he clutched at the ground, his fingers digging into the dirt. "Is this a joke? I’ve endured everything to end up here—losing to some overgrown bugs?"

His jaw clenched tightly, and his remaining leg pushed him up slightly as his thoughts churned with rage.

The buzzing grew louder, but for Kaito, it was a distant echo as his gaze fixated on the three wasps now circling his severed leg. His jaw tightened, his expression a mix of disgust and despair as he watched the monsters tear into the decaying flesh with vicious ferocity.

"Is this what I’ve become? Just a meal for insects..." he thought bitterly, the weight of his situation sinking deeper into his core.

That hunger... Since the moment he awoke as an undead, it had gnawed at him relentlessly. But now, seeing the grotesque scene before him, it swelled to an unbearable degree, as if it were consuming him from within. Staggered by this realization, his body began to falter. A sudden blue window snapped into view:

Warning: Fatigue 98%.At 100%, you will enter a hibernation state.

"Hibernation? Does that mean I’ll pass out?" he wondered in alarm, his mind racing for a solution. His eyes darted around the cavern until they landed on a series of cracks along the nearby wall. It was reckless, but there was no other choice.

Planting his hands firmly on the ground, Kaito began dragging himself toward the cracks, his nails scraping against the rough surface as he fought the weight of his weakened body. The sound of rocks groaning under pressure echoed as he pounded at the wall with all his strength.

The fissures deepened, spreading rapidly as the structure began to crumble. Kaito glanced one last time at the wasps, still preoccupied with his leg. A bitter resolve flickered in his eyes.

"Better this than being devoured by those creatures..." he muttered, striking the wall with every ounce of force he could muster until it began to collapse.

A final window appeared before his vision faded:

Fatigue 100%. You will enter hibernation.

The rocks tumbled down like a landslide, burying his unconscious body entirely.

The flickering torchlight cast uneven shadows across the stone walls as two guards, clad in simple armor, whispered cautiously to one another, their voices barely audible.

"Don’t you think these heroes are given too many privileges?" murmured the first, fidgeting with the shaft of his spear.

The second guard quickly glanced around, his tone low and warning.

"Keep your voice down. We’re not supposed to disturb the heroes—that’s a royal order."

"But it’s true," the first persisted, frowning deeply. "All I see them do is eat, drink, and demand women for... well, you know."

Before the conversation could go any further, the sound of firm, purposeful footsteps echoed down the hallway. Both guards immediately stiffened, standing at attention as a commanding figure approached.

A tall woman clad in finely crafted armor, adorned with intricate details that spoke of her high rank, strode toward them. Her crimson cape trailed behind her, enhancing the aura of authority that surrounded her. Her sharp gaze swept over them, every step deliberate and resonating with determination.

"Is there a problem with the heroes?" she asked, her tone sharp and expectant as she stopped before the guards.

"No, my lady," one of the guards replied instantly, his eyes cast downward.

She studied them for a moment, her expression unreadable, before raising an eyebrow.

"Then why aren’t they training as they should?"

The second guard hesitated, his discomfort evident as he stammered.

"Well... by the king’s orders, we’re not to bother them."

A flash of irritation crossed the woman’s face. Her lips curled into a disdainful sneer.

"Nonsense," she snapped, spinning on her heel in a graceful yet furious motion.

Without another word, she marched toward the heroes' chambers. Each step carried the weight of her growing frustration, and the tension she left in her wake lingered like a storm about to break.

The wooden door swung open with a loud bang, the sound reverberating through the lavish room. A commanding woman, clad in finely crafted armor with a crimson cape brushing the floor, strode in without hesitation. Her piercing gaze locked onto the man lounging on the grand bed.

He was a robust figure, his muscular build a testament to years of training, though his disheveled demeanor gave him an air of carelessness. Around forty-five years old, his short black hair framed a face partially obscured by a dark tattoo that hid much of his sharp gaze. Beside him, two women in nearly nonexistent dresses scurried away at the silent gesture of the armored woman, fleeing the room without looking back.

The woman stepped forward, her voice sharp and unwavering.

"Are you the hero?"

The man sat up slowly, a smug grin spreading across his face.

"You scared off my girls. So, what now? Are you going to take their place?"

Her eyes flared with a mix of restrained fury and defiance.

"Answer the question."

He shrugged lazily, his grin never faltering.

"Fine, fine, no need to get so uptight. It’s boring like that. Yes, I’m one of the heroes. In fact, I’m the boss of the other two. Now, do you want to know anything else, or are you going to lie down beside me?"

The woman took another step closer, her presence almost tangible as the tension in the room thickened.

"It seems you’re misunderstanding your position here," she said, her tone icy and dangerous. "Very well. If you can land a single hit on me, I’ll do whatever you want."

The man burst into a deep, arrogant laugh as he rose to his feet.

"A single hit? That’s a bit much. I don’t usually hit women. But maybe I’ll help you out of that heavy armor instead. Hate to break it to you, but ever since I came to this world, my strength has skyrocketed. I’m way stronger than those guards of yours."

As he spoke, he closed the distance between them, his eyes shamelessly fixed on her chest. He extended a hand toward her, his smirk widening with misplaced confidence. But then, everything shifted.

The air around him grew oppressively heavy, almost suffocating. His movements halted abruptly as if an invisible force weighed him down. A cold shiver ran down his spine as an unyielding pressure immobilized him entirely. Sweat began to bead on his forehead.

He tried to move an arm, but it was futile. His eyes widened, brimming with shock and a growing sense of fear.

"What… what the hell?" he muttered through gritted teeth, unable to even turn his head.

The woman remained utterly composed, watching him with a mix of disdain and superiority. She said nothing. Her mere presence had reduced him to a trembling statue.

The air remained heavy, as if time itself had frozen. The woman strode forward, her steps steady and deliberate, her sharp gaze fixed on the man. A faint smirk played on her lips, a mix of disdain and unwavering confidence.

“What’s the matter? Weren’t you going to take off my armor?” she asked, her voice sharp, almost mocking, as she reached out to him. She grasped his left pinky finger firmly, her eyes locking onto his. “Let me give you a piece of advice: never underestimate a royal knight.”

Before the man could react, a sickening snap echoed through the room. A bloodcurdling scream escaped his lips as he watched in horror—his pinky finger was torn clean off.

Staggering back, he fell to the ground, clutching his hand as blood dripped onto the floor.

“You… crazy bitch! What the hell is wrong with you?” he screamed, his voice trembling with pain and rage.

Elizabeth remained unflinching. She leaned slightly toward him, her words cutting through his cries like a blade.

“As I said, you’re misunderstanding the situation. You heroes aren’t here to indulge in luxuries. You’re here to serve the kingdom. Once you’re sent to war, you’ll face royal knights from other kingdoms who could end you in an instant.”

Her tone hardened further as she stepped closer.

“And that’s not even mentioning the monsters and demons out there, far stronger than anything you’ve encountered. A hero’s only advantage is their rapid growth, but that only comes with training.”

The man stared at her, terror filling his eyes. Before he could stammer a reply, Elizabeth moved even closer, her gaze locking onto his like a predator eyeing its prey.

“Listen carefully. I’m Elizabeth Ashborne, a royal knight. And if you piss me off again… I’ll tear off that thing hanging between your legs without hesitation. Understood?”

The man nodded frantically, his face pale from pain and fear.

“Yes… I understand…” he muttered between ragged breaths, clutching his bleeding hand as sweat poured down his face.

Straightening, Elizabeth turned on her heel, striding toward the door with the same commanding presence she’d entered with. Without looking back, she delivered a final order.

“Tell the other two to meet me in the courtyard in an hour.”

As she stepped into the hallway, the guards standing outside stiffened at her presence. Elizabeth paused briefly, her gaze flicking toward one of them.

“Go and fetch a priest to heal the hero,” she commanded coldly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Without another word, she continued down the corridor, her crimson cape billowing behind her as she disappeared into the distance.