You think you're worthy of saving the world?

"who?"

Yuri asked.

I subconsciously looked up at the top of the other person's head.

Since entering the singularity, I've developed this habit: I can directly see the other person's name and level.

Then, what was displayed there was—

"The Demon King's Army's Four Heavenly Kings - ?????? (Lv. ??)"

"...Can't it be fully displayed?"

The hero's (player's) abilities are not omnipotent.

Yuri could not know the other party's name until the other party introduced themselves or had sufficient information.

However, one thing is certain: the opponent's level is definitely not lower than one's own.

Seriously... it's the Four Heavenly Kings again? I've run into two of them in one night! Don't you guys have your own main jobs?

The black knight spoke up: "Who I am is not important, what matters is what you are doing, hero."

"Huh?" Yuri clicked his tongue in displeasure.

He was currently wearing a bathrobe provided by the hot spring hotel, which offered zero defensive capabilities.

Even without considering equipment, Yuri's current strength is probably no match for his opponent.

His intuition told him that the black knight in front of him was probably the strongest of the Four Heavenly Kings.

Yuri has accumulated a wealth of video game experience since the Game Boy era, and he is very clear about the various characteristics of the so-called "Four Heavenly Kings" in games.

In terms of composition, the four members of the Four Heavenly Kings are generally configured as follows.

① A seemingly intelligent strategist

② An extremely strong and violent general

③ A cute girl with a sensual vibe or a sexy older sister

④ A handsome man who is both righteous and wicked, and always at odds with the protagonist; the protagonist's nemesis.

Clearly, the lich that Celestia just killed belongs to category ①, while the black knight in front of them belongs to category ④, which is the hero's nemesis.

Depending on how the story unfolds, there's a good chance that such a character will become a member of the main group later on.

They either help the protagonist at crucial moments, join the team directly, or die to shield the protagonist from bullets.

So that's how it is, the hero's nemesis...

But why? Yuri just felt extremely annoyed and had no intention of wasting any more words with the black knight in front of him.

"Summon Celeste," Yuri thought, realizing he was probably no match for her now.

Those who understand the times are wise; this is exactly what should be done here...

"You must be very happy, hero," the knight in black armor continued.

"what?"

Yuri abruptly stopped his preparations to summon Celeste and glared at the black knight.

The black knight coldly said, "The so-called 'Journey of the Hero' is nothing more than traveling and having fun with women. How shameful."

Yuri returned the sneer with the same: "Hmm? The Four Heavenly Kings went to such a remote and desolate place, one to die and the other to preach?"

The Black Knight snorted and ignored Yuri's taunts.

"I can't sense any qualities of a hero in you. All you do is cling to women?"

Being protected by a woman, enjoying her adoration, and accepting her kindness...

You feel quite satisfied, don't you, that you can easily manipulate women who are far superior to you?

"........."

As a beam passed through Yuri's palm, the "Azure Queen" appeared in the night.

The next instant, Yuri charged towards the black knight without saying a word, swinging his sword.

The silent blade sliced ​​through the cold air and slashed down over the black knight's head, but was dodged by the opponent at the last second.

"Did I hit the nail on the head? Brave warrior, are you getting angry?"

The black knight didn't draw the longsword hanging at his waist, but only dodged the attacks, probably because he didn't take the hero's strength seriously at all.

Although the Four Heavenly Kings themselves did not say so, Yuri insisted on this view.

"I don't see Celeste that way!"

Yuri swung his saber again, the tip of which was only centimeters away from the black knight's chest.

"That's exactly what you did!"

The Black Knight raised the volume.

"The Demon King seems to like you quite a bit. I really don't understand what's so special about you."

"This is the difference between you and the Demon King, you lowly soldier!"

Yuri shouted and launched an even fiercer attack.

The black knight retreated step by step, dodging the fierce slashes at just the right angle.

"Next... shouldn't you expect the Demon King and the Princess to fight each other and be jealous of each other over you?"

The black knight sneered, "You really are enjoying yourself, hero."

"..."

This guy……

Yuri gritted his teeth.

"so what!"

He was agile and nimble, and the "Azure Queen" drew graceful arcs under the moonlight.

During the days he's been inside the singularity, Yuri has raised his level to Lv.43 (+18).

The subsequent 18 levels are obtained by gaining Celestia's experience in the Singularity and cannot be brought back to the real world.

However, this does not prevent him from currently possessing the strength of a sixth-rank individual (for now).

The Black Knight, despite his rapid evasion under the onslaught of the hero Yuri, gradually found himself losing his edge.

"Stop being stubborn, how about you draw your sword?" Yuri said.

"whispering sound……"

The Black Knight ignored him and continued to dodge Yuri's attacks.

At this point, Yuri understood more or less—the other party was trying to break him down on a psychological level.

Unfortunately, he will never lose when it comes to willpower.

"Lord Brave——!"

Just as the battle was becoming increasingly intense, a stern female voice rang out from behind.

"...!"

The black knight looked toward the source of the sound.

It is Princess Celeste.

Didn't she already go back to her room? Why is she here?

It's likely that they planned to raid the hero's room in the middle of the night, only to find it empty, so they went to investigate.

The appearance of the strongest princess, who had just caused the death of one of the Four Heavenly Kings, has shaken the Black Knight.

Yuri did not miss this wavering.

As expected, you too are afraid of Celestia's power...

You talk a good game, looking down on me for clinging to women... but you're just afraid of Celeste!

A red light suddenly appeared on the left arm of the prophesied son.

As the red mist drifted by, the left forearm transformed into a grotesque demonic prosthetic arm, gripping the black knight's upper right arm like a hydraulic clamp.

"—!"

The black knight was taken aback; he tried to break free but found he couldn't move at all.

Yuri wouldn't let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip by.

"Suffer to death!"

With his left hand controlling the black knight, he swung down "Azure Queen" with his right.

"------!"

The knife fell.

A perfect slash from the left shoulder to the right rib.

I initially thought this guy was some kind of ghost... but it definitely felt like I hit him!

Blood gushed from the gaps in the black knight's armor as he staggered back a few steps before kneeling on one knee.

"You're not as powerful as you say, you little devil."

Yuri didn't step forward to finish him off, but instead looked down at him with disdain.

"Don't say it's an unfair victory. You're just too weak because you were distracted during the duel."

"........."

The Black Knight did not refute this.

He pressed down on his upper body, which was covered in blood and gore, and raised his black helmet to look back at the hero.

"You win tonight, right?"

As the Black Knight spoke, he glanced at Princess Celeste, who was running towards them.