Episode 2

**Dark Knight** is the second episode of the Black Summoner anime series.

## Summary

At the Adventurer's Guild, Kelvin learns from Ange that he's been promoted to E Rank, but expresses concern for him taking on higher ranked missions without forming a party. This was mainly due to Kelvin hiding he was a Summoner to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to him. Noting that Kelvin will be vying for D Rank next, Ange advises that he upgrade his equipment before he takes the necessary steps toward his new goal. Acknowledging the advice, Kelvin asks to take on a D Rank quest; it's then that an adventurer named Cashel suggests that he take the Blackghost Knight quest. After his chat with Ange on a recent successful mission, Cashel introduces himself to Kelvin as a D Rank adventurer. A conversation from some adventurers in the guild reveals that Cashel has the strength of a B Rank and is a Rookie Crusher. Cashel offers Kelvin to join his party; however, Ange admonishes it as the Blackghost Knight is reportedly stronger than the others. On the other hand, Kelvin declines the offer, and when Cashel still insists, Kelvin uses his **Appraisal Eye** on Cashel to learn his stats and ominous title. So, in light of this, Kelvin suggests they have a competition between them of who can defeat the Blackghost Knight first. Cashel accepts the terms with a tad of reluctance and leaves as Kelvin plots how he'll handle the situation.

Cashel regroups outside the guild with his two shady party members, Gimul and Raj. Gimul informs Cashel of Kelvin's stats and skills, and the other member, Raj, is ordered to be the "gentle" muscle against Kelvin. However, he refuses to be gentle and proclaims he'll handle it the way he does with the others.

Around dusk, inside the Wicked Spirits' castle, Cashel's group reaches the castle's hallway, just before the throne room, where they find the bodies of undead skeletons scattered across the floor. Kelvin comes out of hiding with his Verdant Staff in hand, and Cashel's group notice this internally, sighting that he's a Wind Mage and how they'll handle him. However, Kelvin calls out to the group that they're hunting him and they, in turn, believe that Kelvin is after the bounty on Cashel's party member's heads. Uninterested in that, Kelvin taunts the group making Raj step forth to try and attack Kelvin, only to fall into his swampy floor trap called **Mud Vine**. Cashel deduces that Kelvin cast the spell using his concealment skill, and following his instincts, Gimul fearfully flees the scene, only to be confronted by the recently evolved Clotho.

A flashback reveals that after Kelvin killed enough monsters, Clotho evolved from a Blue Slime to a Slime Gluttonia. Back in the present, Clotho easily defeats Gimul, and then Raj escapes his swampy confines only to be constricted by Clotho. Cashel is sequentially dealt with by Kelvin, who deduces his adversary's motives for hunting adventurers as they're all tied up.

Wasting no further time, Kelvin heads into the room where the Blackghost Knight stood and, after using his **Appraisal Eye** on him, learns his name is Gerard as well as his stats and skills. After he observes Gerard's skills, Kelvin notes his interest in recruiting him. This leads to the two having a civil conversation, and Kelvin learns a bit about why Gerard became a monster. Wanting to make a contract with Gerard, Kelvin duels with him, and with the help of Melfina's advice and Clotho. During the fight, Gerard recalls the memories of the fall of the kingdom he once served called Alcarl, when an Elven emissary from the western continent named Jildora came and asked him to join the Lizea Empire and destroy the Empire of Deramis. The king refused the offer, but Jildora warned of the consequences of refusing the offer. The kingdom fell to ruin shortly after, and Gerard's wife Betty and daughter Connie passed away. Back in the present, Gerard vows to avenge the land of Alcarl, which keeps him duty bound to the realm of the living; however, Kelvin defeats him with the combined efforts of Clotho.

The next day, Kelvin turns in the quest for the Blackghost Knight and learns that Cashel's group was imprisoned and will likely be executed for their crimes. As Kelvin celebrates his accomplished quest, Ange informs him that he's to be promoted even further by the Guild Master. Atop the stairway, Kelvin runs into a finely dressed older man.

## Characters

* Ange
* Kelvin Celsius
* Melfina
* Cashel
* Carol
* Gimul
* Raj
* Gerard Fragarach
* Jildora
* Connie
* Betty