When the dagger had drawn demons like flies to honey, he alone had stood apart, uninterested.

A man who had no thought but to subdue a criminal and hand them over to the guards.

A man who, each time we met, pressed a new sword into my hands with a smile.

A man whose heart shone as clear and pure as the blade he carried.

A man who learned with frightening speed, as if his mind were a sponge.

A shabby vagabond, drifting with the wind from place to place.

He looked nothing like a knight, yet was more knightly than any knight I’d known.

The noblest knight I had ever met.

The one who practiced true chivalry, not in courts or castles, but at the very bottom.

His name was Sir Fluffy.

The moment I thought of him, I knew.

There was no reason, no logic—just instinct.

If anyone could master Vlad, it was him.

[Suppose Fluffy does become the sword’s master. How do you plan to find him?]

“There’s always a way. We’ve got a talented little cat, don’t we?”

I drew my sword and, with a flick, sent a slash tearing through a branch.

Two figures tumbled down with it.

“Eek!”

“Uhh…?”

Shushruta landed lightly, yawning, while Linda smacked face-first into the ground.

“Waaagh!”

I ignored the girl flailing with a bloody nose and looked at Shushruta.

“I need you to do something.”

“What is it?”

“Find Sir Fluffy. Bring him here.”

Shushruta’s eyes went wide.

“Sir… Fluffy?”

“Ask the Thieves’ Guild, spread word, whatever it takes. But get him here. Can you do it?”

She blinked.

“When?”

“As soon as possible. We don’t have time.”

“…Understood.”

She stretched, limbs cracking, then vanished into the trees with a rustle of leaves.

I slid Vlad back into my belt and headed for the annex.

Only thing left now was to wait.

“Ah, Devil! Wait for me!”

Linda scrambled up, blood dripping from her nose, and chased me.

Seven days until the duel.

Shushruta had yet to return.

In the meantime, the Black Prince kept sending me candidates. Each one gripped Vlad, and each one fell to its frenzy.

Zero successes.

By now, the dark circles under the Prince’s eyes had deepened, making his already gaunt face even harsher.

Perhaps concerned, one of the Black Knights slipped close to me.

“Lord Ashuban.”

“Yes?”

“…May I try again?”

It was Sir Max, the very first candidate.

“You already did.”

“I know. But… let me try again.”

I shook my head.

“It’s not so simple. Looks easy from outside, but holding back a frenzy isn’t light work. Costs a lot of mana.”

“…Mana?”

“Yes. And you won’t fare better the second time.”

“…I see.”

He sighed, and I studied him for a moment before letting my gaze sweep over the others.

Their eyes had changed.

Once, every glance was edged with hostility, bristling with killing intent. Now, though they said little, their stares carried a grudging respect.

All because that day I had subdued Wolfgang without killing him.

Or maybe not.

Either way, I was stuck here, wasting time when I could be training. My arm was still healing, and as Vlad’s current wielder, I had no choice but to see this through.

But even beating the damned sword had grown tiresome. No matter how many times I thrashed it in the Chamber of Truth, it came back snarling, stubborn as a weed.

I sighed and approached the Prince.

“Prince.”

“What?”

He blinked tired, bloodshot eyes at me.

“No more, are there?”

“…No.”

He shook his head heavily.

“I’ll find more.”

I studied his haggard face.

“When’s the last time you slept?”

“Sleep hardly matters now.”

“When’s the last time you had more than six hours in one stretch?”

He started counting on his fingers. When he reached for the other hand, he stopped and waved it off.

“…What does it matter?”

“Hey, Prince.”

“What now.”

“I know a wandering knight. If anyone can hold Vlad, it’s him.”

His face twisted immediately.

“A wandering knight?”

“Yes.”

I could see the doubt written plain. His best knights had failed, and I was suggesting some ragged vagabond?

“You sneer like that again? Are you looking down on wandering knights?”

“…I’m not. What’s his name?”

“Sir Fluffy.”

“…Fluffy?”

He frowned in confusion.

I nodded firmly.

“Fluffy.”

“…That’s a dog’s name, not a man’s.”

“Exactly. How can a person’s name be Fluffy?”

“Hm.”

He rubbed his jaw, frown deepening.

I almost laughed. All that worry and scowling—this prince would shorten his life like that.

“Never heard of him.”

“You don’t need to. I’ve already sent someone to fetch him. Until then, stop wasting energy. Sleep. You know this isn’t working.”

But the Prince only shook his head.

“It’s not meaningless. Just difficult. Time-consuming.”

“Suit yourself. But when the time comes, remember—I said Fluffy.”

“…And what makes you so certain of this knight?”

I picked my nose and shrugged.

“No reason. Just a gut feeling.”

“….”

He gave me a look that said he didn’t believe a word.

But what could he do?

I was Vlad’s wielder. The only one to subdue it.

My word carried more weight than his doubts.

“Wait for the cat to bring Sir Fluffy. Until then, do something useful. You said you’ve got other matters, didn’t you?”

“This is the most urgent. The most important.”

I sighed, staring at the stubborn man.

Six nights left.

And I was pinning everything on a doglike knight named Fluffy.

“I’ll handle it myself. Just go to sleep already. Look at those dark circles—your face looks like it’s about to collapse. At this rate, you’ll drop dead from exhaustion before you even sit on the throne.”

The Black Prince shook his head.

“That cannot happen. There’s not much time—”

“Bah.”

Poke.

I took advantage of his carelessness and jabbed my fingertip into the pressure point beside his ear.

The Black Prince’s eyes lost focus, and he slumped down like a puppet with its strings cut.

Of course, I didn’t catch him.

Why would I catch this gloomy bastard? Nothing pretty about him.

“My lord!”

The Black Knight beside him panicked and hurriedly caught the falling prince.

“What have you done!”

Shhhk!

The sharp sound of steel rang out from all around.

The Black Knights instantly drew their swords, eyes locked on me.

A wave of killing intent surged toward me.

I picked my nose and said lazily, “Calm down, will you? He’s just asleep.”

The knights glanced toward the big man holding the prince.

That was Sir Smith, the one who always stayed closest to the Black Prince. He was like a stone statue standing guard before the prince’s chamber—solid and dependable.

Smith checked his liege’s condition, then gave a firm nod.

“He is merely asleep. Sheathe your swords.”

The Black Knights cast me sharp looks but obeyed, sliding their blades back into their scabbards.

I shrugged. “See? This is why it’s hard to do anyone a favor.”

Smith studied me. “Dark magic?”

“Pressure point.”

“A spell that forces someone to sleep, then. Are there side effects?”

“None. He’ll sleep soundly until his fatigue wears off.”

“...I see.”

Without another word, Smith lifted the Black Prince as if he were a child and carried him toward the annex.

The other knights gave me brief nods before following.

“...”

I watched the procession of black-clad figures disappear into the manor, then sat down in the open yard.

Might as well practice breathing exercises until Sir Fluffy arrived.

With Shushruta absent, the task of standing guard naturally fell to Linda.

“Linda!”

“Waaah!”

Rustle. The branches shook, then something fell heavily to the ground.

Sounded almost like a pumpkin smashing.

“Squawk!”

At my shout, Linda, who had been dozing on a tree branch, was startled and tumbled down.

She’d picked up Shushruta’s habit of sleeping in trees, but not his agility.

Well, a puppy can’t exactly imitate a cat.

“Ugh... Devil, did you call me?”

Snapping to her feet, Linda scurried over. Blood dripped freely from her nose—seems she’d landed face-first again.

“Tsk.”

I tossed her a handkerchief.

Smack.

It hit her face, and she flailed.

“Wah! What’s this!”

“A handkerchief. Wipe your nose.”

“Mmm... The Devil is so kind.”

“I am, aren’t I.”

She peeled the cloth off her face, grinning.

“So why’d you call me?”

“I’m going to meditate. Guard me.”

“Guard?”

“Yeah. Standing guard during meditation is called protecting the Dharma.”

“Protecting the Dharma...”

She repeated the phrase, trying to lock it into memory.

“If anyone comes near, warn me. Don’t touch me. If you do, you die.”

“Got it!”

She beamed, nodding eagerly, blood still running down her nose.

I scowled. “Stop licking your nosebleed. Use the cloth.”

“Okay... But hey, Devil.”

“What.”

“Do I get a reward if I guard you well?”

“...A reward? Like what?”

“Well! Could you let me lick your ear once?”

I nearly cursed her out but restrained myself.

“Why?”

“I just wonder what it tastes like.”

“...”

Right. She was insane, after all.

Letting her lick an ear in exchange for guard duty wasn’t much of a price.

“...Fine.”

“Yay! I’ll guard you super hard!”

She began circling me, glaring into the trees like an overexcited puppy chasing its tail.

“Good grief.”

I sighed, watching her antics.

The Heavenly Demon chuckled.

[That brat’s a ridiculous mutt. Fits you perfectly.]

“Fits me, my ass.”

Shushruta had better return soon.

I closed my eyes with another long sigh.

Time until the final battle: six days.

By noon, the Black Prince stormed into my room, furious.

“Devil! You damned country bumpkin!”

Bang!

I was mid-way pressing a point on my arm when the door slammed open.

“...Is that how the royal family teaches manners?”

He stomped over, grabbed me by the collar, and snarled in my face.

“You bastard. Touch me again and I’ll kill you before any so-called final battle.”

What a temper.

I grinned. “Well, well. Our prince’s eyes look clearer. Much better.”

“You son of a bitch...”

“Your dying face looks lively again. Don’t you think so, Sir Smith?”

Smith, who had followed him in, gave me a silent look. His silence was agreement.

The prince locked eyes with me, then shut his tightly. He seemed either to be suppressing his rage or fighting off a headache.

Finally, he let go of my collar with a sigh.

“So. That damn wandering knight.”

“Fluffy.”

“Fine. When is this Fluffy arriving?”

I shrugged. “No idea.”

“So we just sit here and wait?”

“Pretty much.”

“...”

He clicked his tongue and roughly pushed back his hair, glaring at the bandaged arm I was treating.

“There are six days left. You must heal before then. Understood?”

“I’m not a doctor. Save the threats for one of them.”

“However you manage it, be healed. And that wandering knight—Fluffy—must be here by today.”

“You’re awfully impatient.”

“We don’t have time. To reach the battleground in time, we need to depart at least three days early. Do you understand?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll do my best.”

He glared at me one last time, then stormed out.

Smith gave me a brief nod and followed.

I exhaled and pressed the point on my arm again.

The next day came.

Time until the final battle: five days.

Still no Shushruta. Still no Sir Fluffy.

(End of Chapter)

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.