Chapter 33
A man entered through the main gate.
Golden hair and golden eyes, the symbol of the Imperium imperial family.
The First Prince, who might one day lead the Imperium Empire.
A prodigy who topped the Imperium Academy’s entrance exams and is now second in rank.
Blessed with both lineage and talent.
Truly a chosen one.
“His Highness Kazaks, the First Prince of Imperium, who will preside over this year’s dungeon tournant, is ascending the throne. All present, please give your full attention.”
As the head butler finished, the nobles raised their heads, looking up at Prince Kazaks, who was about to take the throne at the end of the banquet hall.
Prince Kazaks, his golden eyes gleaming, exuded a gentle yet weighty charisma.
“Dear workers of the empire, today, I have the honor of hosting the dungeon tournant in place of His Majesty the Emperor. I hope we can all enjoy a safe tournant that does not disgrace the empire’s radiant sun.”
To his left and right stood a man and a woman, guarding him.
Elisha glared at the man on Prince Kazaks’s left.
‘…Muller von Dale Amulrent!’
Blue hair and blue eyes, like the sea reflecting the sky.
Muller smirked at Elisha.
The Amulrent Ducal Family had long been at odds with the Harmadun Ducal Family.
The only one among the Four Great Ducal Families to oppose the protagonist.
“Eek!”
Mary paled, like a frog facing a snake.
The woman on Prince Kazaks’s right was none other than Shuga von Railly Deminiyan.
Mary’s twin sister.
Though they looked alike, their personalities were polar opposites, and Mary feared her.
“…Let us skip the formalities and enjoy the ti before the dungeon tournant begins. That is all.”
The nobles began to gather in small groups to converse again.
“Oh, as expected of His Highness the Crown Prince. Isn’t he magnificent?”
“With Lord Muller, master of the spear, and Lady Shuga, master of magic, it’s like seeing the empire’s future!”
Then it happened.
“Her Highness the Princess enters!”
The closed main gate swung open, and a radiant golden figure strode in.
“What, Her Highness the Princess? She hasn’t appeared in seven years….”
“Good heavens. The Princess is participating in the dungeon tournant?”
The nobles’ astonishnt quieted as the Princess, with her stunning golden hair, walked confidently.
But another shocking event unfolded.
“Who… is that?”
“Who could it be?”
As the Princess stood still, a mysterious Black Knight walked in and stood before her.
The Black Knight extended a hand, and the Princess placed hers on it.
The Black Knight began escorting her.
Only one person.
The Black Knight stood by the Princess’ side.
“I heard the Shadow Knights swore allegiance to the Princess. Is he one of them…?”
“No, surely not. Their oath binds their souls, preventing them from attending palace events.”
The Princess, shining like gold under the spotlight, contrasted with the Black Knight, clad entirely in muted black.
A strange pairing.
One noble noticed sothing slung on the Black Knight’s back.
“A gun…? The Princess’ knight is a firearm user?”
“Tch, a weapon known for lacking refinent and producing no great heroes.”
“Say, Count Ulvhadin. Do you know who that is?”
Attention turned to a sharp-looking man.
William von Dubon Ulvhadin, patriarch of the renowned firearms family Ulvhadin.
He studied the Black Knight with a grave expression.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before.”
Swallowing hard, he spoke the truth.
“But the firearm he carries is state-of-the-art. It rivals even mine.”
“For a Golden Knight like you to praise him.”
In this world, all combat personnel, regardless of role, beco knights.
Bronze Knights, Silver Knights, Gold Knights, Platinum Knights.
The exception is those who deliberately avoid ranking to conceal their identity—Black Knights.
The First Princess, amused by the nobles’ confusion, curled her lips into a smirk.
“My knight, no one hides as grandly as you.”
“Is that so?”
A modulated, deep voice echoed around.
While the Princess sipped wine from a party table, all eyes were on the newcor… the mysterious Black Knight.
What was his identity?
Why was he at the Princess’ side?
How strong was he?
Prince Kazaks shared the sa questions.
He descended from the throne to stand on equal footing with her.
“Princess Adela.”
“Oh, Prince Kazaks.
What’s the matter?”
“This is unusual. Are you participating in the dungeon tournant?”
“Is there any reason I shouldn’t?”
“…None.”
Prince Kazaks and Princess Adela stared at each other silently.
Their golden eyes clashed, sparking a storm of madness and charisma.
The banquet hall brimd with tense silence.
“…Enjoy your ti, Princess.”
“May this be an unforgettable day for you too, Prince.”
The Prince returned to his throne, and the Princess brought her wine glass to her lips.
“My knight, will you join for a drink?”
“…The dungeon tournant is soon.”
“Oh, right. My mistake. I’m quite excited right now.”
The banquet hall’s atmosphere relaxed.
Oblivious to Prince Kazaks’s displeased gaze, the nobles fixated on the new developnt.
“Her Highness the Princess is truly participating in the dungeon tournant…!”
“Goodness, it’s her first ti since seven years ago. No, was it a hunting tournant back then?”
“Shh, quiet. We mustn’t ntion that.”
“Ahem! Right, thank you. Anyway, it seems Her Highness is quite fond of this Black Knight.”
The nobles’ conversations centered on ‘the Princess’ Black Knight.’
The Princess reveled in the attention.
This cunning Princess had gotten her way.
From young and old patriarchs to skilled knights, young heirs, and ladies, all spoke of the Black Knight.
“Exactly. Seven years ago, when her old first knight died, she wept so much. Back then, it was truly….”
Princess Adela’s head snapped around.
Her golden madness shot toward the loose-lipped lady.
“Eek!”
The lady, trembling as if seized, set down her glass and fled the banquet hall.
Seeing this, Princess Adela, satisfied, sipped her wine again.
I recalled the term readers used for her.
‘The Mad Princess….’
***
Before the dungeon tournant began, tradition dictated that participants conduct final checks in their waiting rooms.
I, too, was to perform final checks with Princess Adela in the waiting room.
The experience of the Princess’ technician, wearing opaque round glasses, repeatedly touching and staring at my entire body was novel yet unsettling.
“N-No, no issues.”
Pleased with the technician’s response, the Princess gave permission.
“Good. You may leave.”
“Y-Yes!”
The female technician scurried away.
“So, Black Knight.The dungeon tournant is about to begin. Any questions for ? Anything’s fine. I’m in a good mood, so I’ll allow it. Even a question about who to kill would be welco.”
“Princess, I do have a question.”
“What is it?”
“What happened to you during the incident seven years ago?”
“….”
The air turned cold.
The female technician trembled in shock, and the few remaining Shadow Knights snapped their heads around.
‘As expected, a landmine.’
Rage and madness swirled in the Princess’ golden eyes.
“Silence, hound. I showed leniency, and you climb endlessly…!”
‘Ugh!’
As the madness in her golden eyes deliberately ensnared , I felt suffocating pressure.
[External pressure detected.
User’s resistance is insufficient.
Activating Hound Armor’s full-power mode ‘Princess’ Gift.’]
The golden magic runes on the muted armor glowed, dispersing the pressure.
“Ha! It works well. How dare a re hound pry into its master’s affairs? Such arrogance. There won’t be a second pardon, so rember that.”
‘Should I just flip everything?’
Part of wanted to overturn it all and flee, but having co this far, I couldn’t back down.
Besides, I had asked the question carelessly.
“My apologies, Princess.”
“I thought you were just impudent, but you can apologize?”
“I’m a bit superior.”
“…You’re insolent.”
I know the truth.
The Princess’ side-story past.
It was in the original work.
Prince Kazaks was born in spring, and Princess Adela in winter, both to an Empress beloved by the empire, blooming into the world.
But as they say, happiness cos with misfortune.
During Princess Adela’s birth, the Empress exhausted her strength and died.
The Emperor, who deeply loved the Empress, blad the newborn Princess Adela for her death.
Thus, from birth, Princess Adela was confined and forgotten.
But one person.
In her childhood, Princess Adela had one knight.
An elderly knight who protected her like a father, taught her like a teacher, and played with her like a friend.
Back then, her golden eyes were full of innocence.
But seven years ago, at a hunting tournant, the old knight died, plunging ten-year-old Adela into severe depression.
With even the knight gone, no one looked after her, and she was neglected.
Then, one day, she reappeared in the palace, her golden eyes filled with cruelty and madness.
‘Back then, no one could’ve known.’
While Prince Kazaks faced repeated failures in his rivalry with the protagonist Gilbert, Princess Adela seized the opportunity to beco Empress.
The end was blood and madness.
A festival of chaos.
The fall of the Imperium, humanity’s final bastion.
‘Ha….’
This was why I couldn’t leave the Princess’ side now.
“Now, my hound. My Black Knight. The curtain is about to rise. Go and show them. That I am still alive.”
Look at the Princess, trying to ta as her obedient hound.
From now on, I must sohow return her to the kind, innocent child she once was.
Or kill her.
Because I’m neither a protagonist nor anything else—just a villain.
***
A vast hall adorned with intricate, elaborate magic circles.
Hundreds of dungeon tournant participants stood upon it.
Hundreds of caras recorded them.
“The dungeon tournant will now begin.”
The imperial head butler began the preamble for what was to co.
“The artificial Ti Chaos Dungeon about to be created is a Level 4 artificial dungeon, depicting the Imperium Empire’s founding war.”
He spoke as if it were grand, but it was the sa dungeon every year.
“As you know, the purpose of this event is for each family’s promising talents to experience the empire’s founding war, achieving ntal growth. It’s a aningful opportunity to see how they’ll lead the empire in the future.”
If a patriarch had no children or none suited for combat, they might send a young, promising knight.
That’s my case.
“May fortune and glory be with all participants.”
In Ti Chaos Dungeons, which are ranked up to Level 5, a Level 4 dungeon is considered extrely difficult, requiring at least thirteen Gold Knights as the standard raid team under international law.
That’s the minimum; sotis twice that number or even a Platinum Knight is deployed.
But there’s no need to worry.
This Ti Chaos Dungeon reenacts a past with a guaranteed victory.
Above all, the number of participants totaled 848.
Each was a rookie backed by a family.
They were the future of the Imperium Empire.
“We will now begin! Dungeon dive comnce!”
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