Chapter 27
Simon jolted awake with a strange sense of unease.
Having grown from a mere boy into a desert warrior, he had been blessed with the protection of the earth—something that transcended the five senses and bordered on a sixth.
“Captain Simon!”
Springing to his feet, Simon equipped his armor and crescent blade before dashing outside.
Warriors stationed on the watchtowers surrounding the village were pointing in one direction, their faces tense.
Climbing swiftly up the tower, Simon looked ahead. Despite the late hour, a sandstorm stirred in the distance—kicked up by the hooves of charging cavalry.
“…Damn it. They came far sooner than expected.”
The previous raid had only been repelled thanks to Karl. But now? It would be impossible.
“Captain, what should we do…?”
“I don’t know. I really don’t. Damn it… We planned to relocate the village tomorrow night… For now, gather everyone who can fight. We hold them off, no matter what.”
All the villagers gathered around the palisade, knowing that the warriors alone wouldn't be enough.
The women took up bows, and the warriors gripped their weapons and shields tightly. Once everyone had taken position, Mama Suna stepped out from her tent.
“Fear not, children of the earth. In the end, all is under Sola’s care. If we stand with courage before fear, death will pass us by.”
A faint blue glow flickered in her eyes. A warm light then radiated from her body and wrapped around the villagers like a blanket.
Wobble.
Even for her, such a powerful spell came at a cost—Mama Suna, who had been standing proudly, faltered for a moment. Simon felt a surge of vitality flood through his entire body.
“The warriors will hold the front line. If things become impossible, I’ll give the signal. Takram, you take the women and children and flee with Mama Suna.”
Takram nodded, and everyone took up their positions. Soon, a cavalry force of over a hundred galloped straight toward the village.
“Archers! Nock your arrows!”
A sharp command rang out from one of the women, and all the village archers raised their bows in unison.
“Fire!”
Arrows sliced through the air and rained down on the enemy cavalry.
This time, however, the enemies were more heavily armored, perhaps having learned from the previous ambush.
“How the hell did they cross the desert in such heavy armor?!”
It was nearly unthinkable.
“Simon! They’re coming!”
The knights in heavy armor bypassed the palisades and charged straight into the warrior ranks.
The first assault was barely repelled, but their formation began to fracture under the second. Roughly seventy desert warriors clashed with the incoming cavalry.
“Gaaah!”
Several warriors were skewered by enemy spears, collapsing in pools of blood.
“Oh, Sola…!”
Despite the blessing that lightened their bodies, the difference in equipment and skill was overwhelming.
“…Is there no way?”
Simon threw himself into the front line, doing everything he could to take down more enemies. But those falling to the sand weren’t the invaders—it was the desert warriors.
In that moment of pure despair, screams and the clang of steel erupted from the enemy’s rear.
“The rear…! There’s an enemy in the rear! It’s… just one!”
A panicked knight cried out, and several turned to look back.
There he was—advancing like a streak of light, cutting through the enemy ranks.
Though similar to the armor of the demon’s offspring, it bore subtle differences. Over it, he wore a surcoat embroidered with the symbol of a god from the West Continent.
As he charged unflinchingly ahead, the twin moons behind him cast their light like a divine halo on his back.
“Karl!”
Simon roared—not that it had any practical effect, but he shouted the name from deep within his heart, like a lion.
“Karl has returned! We will win!”
As Simon’s voice echoed and the warriors’ hearts pounded in unison, the desert quivered.
In that moment, their eyes—once filled with despair—now gleamed with hope.
“Chaaaarge!”
His crescent blade gleamed, and enemy blood splattered across the sky. Karl advanced relentlessly.
The enemy cavalry, having entered the village, found themselves restricted by the narrow paths between the tents, unable to use their momentum and weight to their advantage.
Now trapped between Karl behind and the desert warriors ahead, they had no choice but to fight head-on, unable to maneuver.
When their mobility was cut, the weight of their heavy armor worked against them—each step sinking into the desert sand.
Their movements dulled, while the warriors—blessed by Mama Suna—fought faster and more agilely.
Karl, clad only in chainmail far lighter than plate armor, moved swiftly, cleaving through enemy necks. Some knights tried to break through, but were cut down by the second ring of archers.
Of the original hundred cavalry, fewer than twenty remained—and they soon dropped to their knees in the sand.
Just as the battle ended, the sun began to rise on one side of the desert. It was a brilliant light that chased away the deep night.
***
“Why did you come back? Even if you leave now, it’ll be too late to find the Star Sword.”
“Likely so.”
Karl’s calm response left Simon dumbfounded.
“You… really are a strange man.”
“So I’m told.”
Simon had expected such a reply.
“How about a meal? The food here is rather good.”
Pfft.
Chuckling at Karl’s usual tone, Simon guided him to a tent. From then on, dishes started flooding in—freshly prepared, piping hot. It was a completely different reception than the last time.
“Back then, it was just stew and bread.”
“You can’t treat a passing traveler the same as a savior.”
Nodding, Karl picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth.
“…Ho.”
A sigh that was nearly a groan of delight escaped him—it was incredibly delicious.
As he continued eating, Mama Suna appeared before him without him even noticing.
“You don’t look so well.”
“I overdid it. Comes with the job.”
“If you're here to give thanks, that’s enough. I did it because I wanted to.”
“Why do you need the Star Sword?”
“I don’t.”
Mama Suna’s expression twisted subtly.
“To a knight, a sword is just a tool. As long as it doesn’t bend or break, it’s fine.”
“I see. That’s not just empty words. Then why are you searching for it?”
“To continue my story.”
“…?”
Even as a shaman, Mama Suna couldn’t comprehend his answer. Her eyes narrowed.
“You really are as strange as Simon says.”
Smirk
Karl’s usual faint smile touched his otherwise expressionless face.
“So I’m told.”
Mama Suna chuckled and unclasped the necklace from around her neck, handing it to Karl.
“Mama Suna, that’s—!”
“Shh.”
Simon gasped, but Mama Suna silenced him with a finger to her lips.
“What is it?”
“It will lead you to the Star Sword. You’ll understand when you get there.”
“I thought it only appeared once every ten years.”
“With that necklace, it might be different.”
Karl didn’t ask further. He simply nodded and returned to his food. It had been a long time since he’d had such a truly satisfying feast.
And so, the next morning, he set out at first light.
“Please… come back one day. Karl will forever be a savior to our village.”
Karl answered Simon’s farewell with a silent nod before riding off.
It wasn’t even clear if this place was truly the East Continent he once knew.
There was no map to lead him back here—but he resolved to return someday.
Ahead of him, the light compass Mama Suna had given him shone brightly.
Thanks to the necklace, the light was clearer and more vivid than ever. At a swift pace, Karl reached his destination.
***
At the place where the light path ended, Karl scanned the surroundings.
It was quiet—just sand in all directions. Hardly the kind of place where a legendary sword would lie hidden.
Crunch, crunch.
He slowly walked through the sand, inspecting the area.
An hour passed, but nothing stood out.
Still, Karl couldn’t imagine Mama Suna had lied.
In that case…
He took the necklace in hand and began inspecting it closely.
“Hm…?”
Looking closely, there were button-like indents.
Could it be?
Taking off the necklace, Karl began pressing the button-like parts one by one.
Clack.
After a while, he heard it—the faintest grinding sound of stone shifting. It was so subtle it would’ve been easy to miss. But in a place like this, it was unmistakably out of place.
Karl pressed and held one of the buttons. The ground began to shift—slowly enough to be visible. After some time, a hidden path leading underground opened in the heart of the desert.
Karl descended the newly revealed passage.
There it is.
At the end of the long corridor inside the cave, a single longsword stood embedded in a platform.
It was the very definition of a "longsword"—nothing more, nothing less. No special shape, no ornate carvings. Just pure, functional beauty.
Karl approached the platform and wrapped his hand around the sword’s grip. This was the reason he had come—no reason to hesitate.
“Hm…?”
He had assumed it would come free easily, but even as he poured strength and mana into it, the sword didn’t budge.
And then, as always, an unkind system message floated into his vision:
[Drawing the sword will grant you the Fate: Legendary Knight.]
Bestow a fate?
Karl didn’t like that. There was no clear reason why, but the message rubbed him the wrong way.
That damn game system—useless through every near-death experience—was now pushing him toward a path it desired.
He didn’t like that at all.
Become a knight of legend?
At that moment, memories of everything he had endured since falling into this world flashed before his eyes.