There Is No World For ■■-Chapter 199: Interlude – A Knight’s Diary

[Day 3]

[Let’s admit it. This is real.

I really did fall into another world.

This isn’t some childhood delusion—it’s actual reality.

No, not reality.

If this were reality, then no way my creaking forty-something body would’ve turned into a spry teenage one, and there’s no way I’d be writing this shit inside a manure-stinking stable in some backwater farm.

Fuck.

Why the hell did this happen to me?]

[Day 14]

[It’s been two weeks since I fell into this world.

I’ve thought it over and over again, but I still don’t know why this happened to me.

Isn’t this the kind of situation where a god or a fairy shows up to explain things?

But I haven’t seen a damn thing. I wasn’t hit by a truck, I didn’t see any angels or demons. No clues. No hope. Just dumped into this world.

Fuck.]

[Day 24]

[I asked the farm owners.

I don’t know how much this fucking stable costs, but after three weeks of labor, isn’t that enough?

According to those shitty farm folks, after deducting food and shelter, I owe them two more years of work.

When I protested, the neighboring farmers came running and threatened me.

I think I’m fucked.]

[Day 56]

[Escape attempt failed.

My arm’s swollen and red. Pretty sure the bone’s cracked.

Just wait, you dumb bastards.

And especially you, Dale, you piece of shit... I thought we were friends.

My ribs still ache where you hit me.]

[Day 89]

[A clerk from a noble’s castle came and took down my info.

When he asked my name, I said Miguel de Cervantes.

The writer of Don Quixote, whom I respect deeply.

After the clerk left, the farm couple beat the shit out of me for “daring to claim a surname.”

Goddammit. Like it’s my fault everyone in this village is a last-nameless serf.]

[Day 287]

[I worked alone the entire day.

Because Dale’s off fucking the farm lady.

Goddamn.]

[Day 365]

[There was Russian written on the fertilizer bag:

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

What the hell?]

[Day 398]

[So, to summarize—this world I fell into is from that damn franchise film I was working on.

One problem: it’s not set during the story’s main timeline.

It’s during the era when Earth begins invading the fantasy world.

By my calculations, the protagonist won’t even be born for another 40 years.

Motherfucker.]

[Day 655]

[Dale ratted me out for keeping a journal.

Pens and paper are rare here, so I kept them hidden... but of course, they came to confiscate them.

I claimed ignorance and barely talked my way out of it.

But judging by that bastard Dale’s eyes, this isn’t over.

Let’s see who dies first.]

[Day 671]

[Dale’s half-crippled now.

The farm owner happened to catch Dale slacking off.

Happened to find him fucking the missus at the time.

And happened to have the whole village witness it.

The farm lady cried, claiming she was the victim... but even these dumbass peasants aren’t that oblivious.]

[Day 702]

[Dale got sold. Some creepy guy in a black robe bought him.

If he bought a cripple who can’t even walk, then it’s obvious what for.

This world’s a pile of trash.]

[Day 811]

[The lady of the house seems to think I was the one who exposed the affair. Sharp bitch.

But it’s already too late.

I’ve finished preparing to burn this village to the ground.]

[Day 829]

[Watching the village burn was fucking beautiful.

Did the farm lady repent with her last breath, or curse my name?

God, I hope it was the latter.]

[Day 830]

[Hit an unexpected roadblock.

The stolen packhorse doesn’t know how to carry people, and I don’t know how to ride a horse.

Still, it’s better than nothing—so I decided to name him.

Rocinante.]

[Day 833]

[Holy shit, no one’s ever going to believe what I just saw.

A lion-bodied, winged, giant-faced freak of a monster came down from the sky and bit Rocinante’s neck clean off.

I barely escaped with my gear.

I’m sorry, Rocinante.]

[Day 875]

[This place called Baltua is a fucking hellhole.

They threw me in jail for over a month just because I didn’t have proper ID. What is this, a military base?]

[Day 876]

[Baltua is a fortress city that defends the northern frontier from monsters.

Turns out it is a military base.]

[Day 888]

[Met my first Earthling here. A guy named William Ford. When I told him I was from Earth, he gladly offered to help me return.

Finally, I can leave this shit world and go back to Earth.]

[Day 921]

[William, that fucking bastard, was a slave trader. I was locked up for over a month.

Almost got sold off to some no-name noblewoman, but thankfully the Imperial Knights rescued me and even returned my gear.

I’m grateful, but something still felt off.

The name of the squad captain who saved me... was the same as that lunatic knight who fights the protagonist.]

[Day 957]

[I became a squire to the knight order. Gotta eat somehow.

And the captain turned out to be a pretty decent guy.

Kind, charismatic, and honestly... just a good person.

Is this really the same guy who burns down L.A.?]

[Day 1203]

[The Empire’s in terrible shape.

Earthlings are monopolizing the market with industrial goods, and using “merchant protection” as an excuse to deploy troops.

If you ask me, they need to restrict exports of mana metals, elixirs, and magical tools—and resolve this through politics and economics.

But rumor has it the Emperor’s planning a full-on invasion of the USSR. No fear at all.]

[Day 1533]

[They say 80% of the dumb shit in modern history was Britain’s fault.

They were right.

The British army just attacked a kingdom under the Empire’s protection.

We’re at war now.]

[Day 1579]

[We won.

But...

Even superhumans who could block machine gun fire with a sword didn’t stand a chance against a few dozen Tallboys.

If they’d seen the planes, they should’ve just run.

But they stayed behind to buy time so the noble assholes could evacuate—and a bunch of rookies and commoner knights died for it.

The losses were so bad they even asked me if I wanted to officially train as a knight.

Thinking ahead, I should obviously say no...

But fuck it. I don’t know anymore.]

[Day 1622]

[Why the hell did I say I wanted to be a knight.]

[Day 1872]

[There’s one thing the entire order agrees on—our captain is the future of the knights.

If he’d been born on Earth, he would’ve become a legend.

Even knowing this isn’t real, I still can’t help but be inspired by the guy.

But fuck, could he go easier on the training?]

[Day 1966]

[Finally felt mana!]

[Day 2001]

[Still can’t believe I’ve officially become a knight.

To avoid being mistaken for an Earthling, I didn’t use “Miguel de Cervantes” at the knighting ceremony.

Instead, I called myself Sancho.

Fitting, right?

Don Quixote’s already part of the order.]

[Day 2468]

[The Earthlings’ invasion has begun in earnest. Trade routes are being cut, and tension’s building around the dimensional gates.

The Empire and the mages aren’t complete idiots—they’ve started importing guns.

But these jackasses think any weapon without mana is vulgar, so they’re handing rifles to slaves and conscripts.]

[Day 2631]

[And of course, the Emperor’s health takes a nosedive at a time like this.

Even the mages and the Saint can’t figure out what’s wrong. All they do is blast him with healing spells day after day.

I might be saying this as an Earthling...

But the symptoms really look like radiation poisoning.]

[Day 2?12]

[It’s begun.]

[Day 3?-1]

[The Deep Tower and the knight order successfully moved the Berlin Gate to the Marcher Lord’s territory.]

[Day 3???]

[We’ve secured the Gaeseong Gate. Victory is within reach.]

[Day 3???]

[Unexpectedly, news of victory came even from the Marcher Lord.

He singlehandedly pushed the French army back to the edge of the dimensional gate.

Now, if the Holy Knight Order and the Saint just join the fight...]

[Day 37?3]

[Did the movie’s lore change?

It definitely said the Soviets crushed the Imperial Capital with tanks...

But the USSR hasn’t even entered the war.]

[Day 3???]

[A monster appeared at the Marcher Lord’s front.

No doubt about who dragged that beast over the mountains.]

[Day 4???]

[The Crown Prince and most of the Emperor’s children have started showing the same symptoms as the Emperor.]

[Day 41??]

[The communists opened a bright red dimensional gate in the heart of the Empire.

Stalin sent troops “to protect his revolutionary comrades”... He didn’t say it outright, but this is a declaration of war.

We gave up the Gaeseong Gate and headed for the capital.]

[Day 42??]

[A military uprising has broken out at the Deep Tower.

Word is, the mages banned conscripts and slaves from using air conditioning and started paying them with flour mixed with sawdust.

Fucking lunatics. God, I hope that’s just a rumor.]

[Day 4???]

[Hit by an artillery shell—woke up in the infirmary. They say I was unconscious for 21 days.

The deputy commander who was caught in the blast with me died on the spot...

And our commander was promoted to deputy.]

[Day ????]

[Holy Knight Juana Tulleyrand has reportedly developed a blessing that works with guns and bullets.

They say it’s proof the gods still bless us...

But is it really?]

[Day ????]

[Stalin is just staying holed up in the city the communists took. No major movements.

Thanks to that, the knight order finally got some breathing room and headed for the Marcher Lord’s front.

The new deputy commander is hyped out of his mind at the thought of meeting the Marcher Lord. Is he really that amazing?]

[Day ????]

[A one-man army. The Judge of the Gods. A peerless hero... and the Champion of this era.

Can you believe all those titles belong to one man? I can.

If a guy who can crush a tank with a single punch and bring down aircraft with sword aura isn’t a Champion, who is?]

[Day ????]

[I feel like I’m going to die. I haven’t slept in three days.

Monsters, the ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) British and French armies, and the occasional U.S. troops... the fighting never ends.

Why did the Marcher Lord lose in the film’s lore again? I remember he was impotent, but... that’s not really helpful now.]

[Day ????]

[The Emperor’s bastard youngest brother bowed to Stalin.

He handed over an elixir, and even issued an imperial edict ordering the entire knight order to return to the capital.

Fucking son of a bitch.]

[Day ????]

[The commander refused the Emperor’s orders.

And as the price for defiance, he removed his armor.

The deputy became the commander, and I became the new deputy.]

[Day ?87?]

[With the Saint as our witness, we swore to the Marcher Lord that we would return.]

[Day ???9]

[Rumors say rioters have broken into the Holy Capital. The commander fears the Holy Knight Order will retreat.]

[Day ?3??]

[The Holy Knight Order retreated. The Marcher Lord was left behind, alone.]

[Day 50??]

[The rest of us in the knight order told the commander we had to overthrow the Emperor.

A coup. It’s the only way to save the Marcher Lord.]

[Day 50??]

[The Allies fired a nuke, using the excuse that a massive monster horde had been spotted near the Marcher Lord’s front.

A nuclear weapon.

Only then did I remember why the Marcher Lord became impotent.]

[Day 5??3]

[That fucking bastard.

The Emperor is preparing paperwork to hand the Marcher Lord’s territory over to the French.

There’s no time. The coup has to happen tonight.]

[Day 5??4]

[The commander refused the coup. Why?]

[Day ???7]

[The commander was right. We were wrong.

As if they’d known we were coming, Soviet troops were already stationed at the palace.

If we had gone through with the coup...

Fuck.]

[Day 5???]

[An imperial decree was issued: the knight order is to be disbanded.

There was no resistance. We’d known this was coming since the day we didn’t rebel.

Our comrades left the Empire.

Some went off to fight Earthlings elsewhere. Some returned to their families.

And I... decided to follow the commander.

Sancho can’t let Don Quixote walk alone.]

[Day 6?23]

[It feels strange to write in this journal again.

After leaving the capital with the commander, we’ve been living what you could call a fulfilling life.

Taking down Earthling slavers, hunting monsters... stuff like that.

Maybe it’s just self-justification, but our worry for this world is genuine.

They say the Earthlings are opening a new dimensional gate. We’re thinking of heading there.]

[Day 7???]

[The L.A. Gate is the entrance to hell.

Earthlings exploit imperial citizens for dirt cheap, and the nobles sell off countless serfs just to import more goods from Earth.

This city is swarming with slaves, like some pre-Civil War cotton plantation.

The commander and I have decided to fix this place.]

[Day 7???]

[According to the nurse, I woke up after four days.

Considering I got riddled with bullets by some gangsters from Earth, that’s pretty fast.

Apparently, the commander stormed their entire gang alone to avenge me.

Fucking lunatic.]

[Day 1????]

[Haven’t held a pen in ages, so I don’t even know what to write.

Well... not much has happened.

This city’s been renamed Gemini City by the Americans, and our knight order has become its local thugs.

“Thugs,” they say. Some might call this the downfall of the Imperial Knights...

But we’ve saved more citizens now than we ever did before.

The commander’s still obsessed with training, like he’s being chased by something...

As for me, I think it’s time to look for the protagonist.

If the story’s still following the movie, then the commander’s destined to be killed by him.]

[Day 1?328]

[While spying on Earth, I discovered something—this world’s not quite the same as I remember.

Some parts match the novel version, others have elements from the manga, and then there are bits that match the movie I was working on.

Don’t tell me the Saint being bisexual is canon too.]

[Day ?????]

[The commander’s been hiding his condition. Goddamn bastard.]

[Day ?????]

[For the longest time, I couldn’t understand why a saintlike man like our commander ended up fighting the protagonist.

But now I know.

He has dementia.

He’s holding on thanks to superhuman regeneration, but who knows how long that’ll last.]

[Day 1?923]

[We sent an enormous donation to the Holy Kingdom and asked them to send the Saint—but they only replied that age-related dementia can’t be cured.

Fucking bastards. Then don’t take the goddamn money.

We have to find a way. Some way.]

[Day ?????]

[Found records showing that past emperors who drank the elixir didn’t suffer from dementia.

The elixir...]

[Day ?????]

[If I remember correctly, the elixir is in the lair of the masterless dragon.

Minor issue—I don’t know exactly where it is.

I’d like to organize a large expedition, but that’ll attract scavengers like flies.

Shit.]

[Day ?????]

[Finally found the lair, but it had already been raided.

Who the hell did this? Don’t tell me... someone else from reality?

Fuck. No matter who it was, I need to find that elixir first...]

[Day ?????]

[Found the culprit.

They call him the Butcher of Incheon. He’s probably been keeping his identity under wraps, but I could tell instantly.

This guy—he thinks this world is a game.

And he’s the one holding the elixir...]

[Day ?????]

[The commander called me in privately.

He already knew I’d been chasing after the elixir, and that the city’s balance was starting to collapse.

Amazing how someone who’s halfway gone—lost between the war and reality—still sees everything so clearly.

He asked me... to kill him before he fully lost himself.

I told him I would.

Then I shut the door and cried.

Fuck.

I have to find the Butcher and the elixir.

He can’t die like this.]

[Day ??444]

[...Was I just being greedy?

Or is this world destined to follow its own preset narrative after all?

The commander has been overtaken by dementia.

He’s convinced he’s still fighting the Earthlings in the Marcher War.

We’ve locked him up in a building designed to mimic our old knight barracks...

But the moment he sees a dimensional gate or an Earthling, he’ll draw his sword.

Just like he did in the movie.]

[Day ???54]

[The knight order refuses to kill the commander.

Some even drew their blades on me, saying they’d rather die fighting Earthlings with him.

Do you think I don’t want to do the same?

But a knight follows their orders.

And the commander’s final order... was to kill him before he completely lost his mind.

I’ll obey that order. As a knight. As his subordinate.

Before my Don Quixote meets a horrific end at the hands of the protagonist.]