SSS Unknown: Dark Knight's Legacy

"Phew, finally done."

Unknown wiped t3he sweat from his brow and sank onto the cold stone floor, his body was tired from the battle and demanded rest. His chest heaved, and his mind was a whirlwind of exhaustion. For a brief moment, there was peace.

"You did well, Master. I'm sorry I couldn't assist more." Eclipse's voice echoed in his mind, a subtle mix of regret and empathy.

"It's fine..." he replied, though the words felt hollow. It wasn't fine.

The effectiveness of Eclipse, his trusted weapon, had fallen far below his expectations. Sure, her transformation ability was remarkable, but the power she wielded otherwise barely exceeded that of Dark Blade. How could such a weapon be the key to granting its owner a wish?

"Master, are you disappointed?" Eclipse's voice was quiet now, hesitant.

"No, I'm not disappointed. I'm just accepting the reality." Unknown's tone was firm, but beneath it, there was something softer—a quiet resignation. "Besides, disappointment won't solve anything."

For a long moment, there was only silence between them. Then, her voice returned, heavy with an unfamiliar sadness.

"...Thank you. I didn't expect to be this weak."

The words carried more weight than Unknown could bear. A spirit, an entity with a mind of its own, expressing such despair—it was a reminder of just how much responsibility he carried. Eclipse, despite her nature as a weapon, had feelings. And he had allowed all of his negativity, his frustration, to infect her.

Realizing his mistake, Unknown's expression softened. "Don't think too much about it. I only need you like this."

In the darkness of the cave, hearing her gentle voice comforted him more than he cared to admit. Her presence stilled the storm of bloodlust that had been threatening to consume him. For now, it was enough.

"Is that all you need?" Eclipse asked, her voice distant, almost mournful.

If Unknown was content with things as they were, then maybe it was fine—but Eclipse wasn't. She didn't want to remain this way. She wanted to be stronger, to be truly useful to her master. But for now, that wasn't possible. Not in her current form.

The silence stretched between them until a sudden sound broke it—a loud growl.

Gurgle… gurgle…

Unknown's stomach growled loudly, and for a moment, the tension in the air shifted.

"Oh, Master, you're hungry, aren't you?" Eclipse asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Obviously," Unknown muttered, but the last thing on his mind was food.

He had no desire to eat, especially after the chaos of the battle. The skewered rat meat he had once found delicious now seemed like a distant memory—bland, repetitive, and unappealing. Yet, due to his own laziness, he had grilled an entire batch, storing it in his magic bag for times like these when he had to sustain himself.

Eclipse's tone was playful, though there was an underlying concern. "Hey, could you... eat something else?"

"Why though? I think it tastes good." 

Unknown took another bite of the rat meat, chewing slowly. His stomach grumbled, but the taste—well, it was just enough to keep him going.

"But… haven't you been eating it continuously for several days now?" Eclipse asked, her voice laced with concern.

"So?" Unknown replied, unbothered. It was sustenance, after all.

A pause hung in the air before Eclipse added, somewhat hesitantly, "Everything you feel, I also have to experience. So could you please eat something else?"

"Huh!?" Unknown's eyes widened in shock. He suddenly shuddered, his stomach twisting in unease. "Wait… you mean to say that every pain I feel, every personal feeling I have… you also have to experience it?"

Eclipse's silence answered him more than words ever could. The thought left him unsettled, his mind spinning. Every injury, every fatigue… all of it?

He remembered the strange warmth he'd felt recently when hugging his sword. It used to be Dark Blade, but lately, it had been Eclipse, transformed into a greatsword. He had adjusted it so that it felt soft, almost like a body pillow—flexible, comforting… No wonder it felt so warm.

"Hey, Master, I can hear what you're thinking!" Eclipse's voice cut through his thoughts, and Unknown's eyes snapped open.

"Oh… I forgot you could do that."

"Yes, I'm still listening, Master."

'Oh no… my privacy... it's gone!!' Unknown's face flushed, embarrassed. He'd never really considered how much Eclipse might pick up on his random, sometimes silly, thoughts.

"I know already. If I don't have permission, I won't read your inner thoughts from now on. Is that better?"

"Thanks," Unknown muttered, still feeling exposed. "You should know I really hate being read like that."

Eclipse's voice softened, though there was a playful edge. "I'm sorry, but I can't turn off the ability to share feelings. So just make something delicious to eat!"

Unknown sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. 'How did it come to this?'

In that moment, he couldn't help but smile. With Eclipse by his side, it almost felt like having a cute little sister to look after. Their relationship had grown more complicated than he'd ever imagined, but there was something undeniably comforting about it.

"Alright, alright," he grumbled, standing up. "I'll cook something delicious for today. Happy now?"

"Very!" Eclipse responded, her tone full of cheer. It almost made Unknown forget the endless battles and turmoil outside the cave.

But for now, a simple, peaceful moment like this was exactly what they both needed.

So, he prepared a delicious dish for today—Emperor Centipede Meat with Tomato Sauce. The recipe was simple but surprisingly tasty, consisting of Elder Centipede meat, a few cloves of garlic, some spring onions, wild tomatoes found at the dungeon's edge, and a touch of rat fat.

He set up a makeshift stove by arranging scattered stones around him, mixing Slime fluid with spider silk and sawdust to create a steady fire. As the fire crackled, he found a plate from an old door in the labyrinth to use as a frying pan. It wasn't much, but it worked.

The first step was to fry the Elder Centipede meat in the rat fat until it turned golden and crispy. At this stage, it looked strangely like fried lobster meat, glistening with a sheen of fat that made it incredibly appetizing.

Next, he lowered the heat and added the garlic and spring onions, watching as they slowly caramelized. The fragrance filled the air, mingling with the smoky scent of the Centipede meat. Once golden and fragrant, he threw in the wild tomatoes, followed by a splash of water.

He let it all simmer for about six minutes, waiting for the excess water to evaporate. Then, he added a pinch of salt and poured the sauce over the meat—but—he made sure to pour the sauce onto the plate, not directly over the Centipede meat, to keep the crispiness intact.

"Bon appétit," he muttered, suddenly realizing that he was wishing this to… Eclipse.

With a chuckle at his own oddity, he stuck his fork into the dish and took a bite. The explosion of flavor hit him instantly—juicy, yet crispy Centipede meat, perfectly balanced with the tangy tomato sauce. It was beyond his expectations.

"Yum ~~ this is so good," Eclipse said with genuine satisfaction. "The juiciness and crispiness of the Emperor Centipede meat, combined with the tomato sauce, makes the flavor absolutely amazing."

"I'm glad you like it," Unknown replied, his voice warm with pride.

"Master, you're good at cooking, but why don't you cook yourself some delicious meals?" Eclipse asked, her tone a little teasing.

"I'm lazy," Unknown muttered, not looking up from the dish as he took another bite. He wasn't one for unnecessary effort when it came to food. Eating was just a means of survival, not a pleasure—at least, it used to be.

"Master, you're admitting you're lazy right now," Eclipse quipped, amusement in her voice.

Unknown gave a shrug, nonchalant. "What of it? As long as it's not poisonous and keeps me alive, that's all that matters."

"But… you cook so well," Eclipse said softly. "It makes me happy to see you enjoying something you made."

Her words struck a chord in him. Unknown paused mid-bite, his fork hovering in the air. He glanced at the plate of food, then back at the voice in his head. For Eclipse... maybe I can spend a little more time on this.

He gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Maybe I will cook more often. Just for you."

***