3. It seems the remnants of my brainwashing still linger!?

Since leaving the village, I’ve been traveling through a forest teeming with monsters for about ten days, and I’ve realized something.

“When I use my skills, I turn into a Dark Knight!?”

It turns out that due to the remnants of my brainwashing, whenever I use martial arts, magic, or divine revelations, my form gets enveloped in dark armor, and the shield I hold becomes shrouded in pitch-black magic, making me look just like a Dark Knight.

In other words…

“Isn’t it bad if I fight in front of people…?”

The Dark Knights of the Demon King’s army are a force that ordinary adventurers can’t contend with, and even the kingdom’s regular army has had to swallow their pride against this strongest legion.

It’s said that a single Dark Knight is comparable to a B-rank party…

There are countless people who harbor grudges against such Dark Knights, and if I use this power, even ordinary folks nearby would come at me swinging whatever barrels or bottles they could find. If I went to the Adventurer’s Guild, I’d be torn to shreds and end up as a public display.

“Another problem has come to light…”

I slumped my shoulders in the forest. With all this talking to myself, I can’t help but feel a bit empty…

“Ah… I really want to see everyone…”

As I immersed myself in nostalgia, the night began to grow darker. It was getting dimmer, and I was thinking about going to sleep when suddenly, an orange light caught my eye. What is that?!

“A streetlight!!”

The drowsiness vanished as I headed toward the light that had caught my attention.

It seems that in the empire I am about to head to, magical technology has remarkably advanced in recent years, and streetlights automatically turn on when the night grows dark—a truly convenient innovation.

I forget the weight of my gear and run like a child.

“Have I finally arrived at the empire?!”

I was so overwhelmed with joy that my heart was more exuberant than ever before.

The trees of the forest came to an end, and light entered my eyes.

I suddenly closed my eyes, and as they adjusted,

there stood a massive iron gate.

It was imposing, easily ten meters thick.

What surprised me even more was that there were no guards in front of the gate,

and the sign before it read:

(Visitors are prohibited from passing through the gate after the twelfth hour of night. This is to prevent the intrusion of monsters. If you wish to enter, please return after the fifth hour of morning.)

In other words?

“I can’t get in?!”

It was already late at night, having passed the first hour.

Reluctantly, I set up my tent and spent the night beside the gate.

The next morning, when I woke up, I found myself in an unfamiliar cell.

Unable to comprehend the surreal situation, I looked around suspiciously,

when I heard the sound of footsteps approaching—clack, clack.

A tall man with sharp eyes, clearly looking down on me, appeared.

Without any preamble, he spoke first.

“You have various charges against you, and for that reason, you will be interrogated here.”

So, I wake up in the morning to find myself being interrogated?…

Magical Empire Arc