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280. Engagement Ep – Departure Ceremony

To summarize Lera’s tale, which was blowing steam from her nostrils in anger:

Somehow, Count Diego Brina had visited the mansion. He called for Noel and his grand request was, “As a knight, please testify that the conditions at Abrival Castle are terrible.” To cut to the chase.

Count Brina didn’t stop there; he also cast his line toward Dehorman, the Great Warrior of the Ainar Tribe.

He claimed that if Abrival Castle fell under his lordship, he’d reduce taxes and alleviate the labor required for castle maintenance, but his transparent desires were shattered by Noel’s few words.

“I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible. I’ve already informed the Prince about Abrival Castle. He wanted to know what it was like living there after I told him I had lived at Abrival Castle.”

“You… met the Prince? Wh-what did he say?”

“He asked about the state of the castle’s defenses, and I answered to the best of my knowledge. I mentioned that the walls are sturdy and the moat is deep. While supplies are somewhat insufficient and munitions like swords aren’t perfectly maintained, I assured him it’s within tolerable limits.”

That was when Count Brina’s face fell. He wiped the friendly smile off his pig-like face and initiated a confrontation.

“Why are you here?”

“They say you’re highly esteemed, yet from the rumors, it seems otherwise. The citizens of Barnau who lost their families are still in turmoil. Shouldn’t you publicly apologize?”

“You were granted the use of Dexter Castle by the King, weren’t you? Your brother has named the mercenary group I operate after Dexter, which is quite impertinent. I won’t let this slide.”

He left in a huff, causing a ruckus.

Shortly after, Elson returned struck by lightning.

The mercenary group’s signboard had been taken down by Count Brina’s soldiers.

Lera finished her story, fuming.

“Isn’t he completely insane? I should have punched him in the jaw when he was here… Uncle Noel, is this something we really have to tolerate?”

Noel shook his head as if nothing could be done. Elson, the victim of the situation, had no bright ideas either, and only Lera was boiling with rage.

It was her first encounter with the unfair practices of nobles against commoners.

“Ah— why? You met the Prince, didn’t you? If you tell the Prince…”

“Stop right there.”

It was Elson. He waved his hands as he continued.

“There’s no need to make a big fuss over something trivial like this. It’s not uncommon… In fact, it’s a blessing. I was tired of it. Let’s think about what to change the mercenary group’s name to. Yuan, quit standing around and sit down.”

“…Yes.”

Yuan, who had been pacing in the dining room, sat down. Lera prodded Ray in the side, saying, “Don’t just sit there, say something too!” but Ray was worried about something else.

As Elson said, changing the name of the mercenary group was trivial. Right now, with plans to catch Malpas, Count Brina wasn’t worth worrying about.

However, Yuan and Ray had their eyes on him like a thorn in their sides. Since the noble had a grudge against their father, they felt Ray would cause trouble eventually, prompting him to say,

“Dad, I have something to discuss.”

“What is it?”

Ray signaled for Noel to step out. Lera pouted, feeling sulky, “Ugh. Why is it always a secret with me?” She puffed her cheeks. Dehorman comforted her shoulder.

“Why are you acting like this?”

“There’s nothing I can’t say to my dad. Clearly, raising a daughter was pointless…”

“Quit changing the subject. You said you came to pay respects yet you aren’t even going… What is Dad doing running around?”

“I have a lot to do. Different from our stubborn daughter.”

“Who’s stubborn?!”

“You are. Now, now, don’t get too worked up. You’ll find out soon enough.”

Lera furrowed her brows. With her arms crossed, she looked up and asked.

“What is it? They say war is about to break out; are you going to join the fight?”

“Something like that. You focus on training and don’t worry your pretty head about it.”

“Wait, really? Are you truly going to join the fight? If that’s the case, you should have said so earlier. I’d love that! If I make a name for myself on the battlefield, I could become a knight in no time. But… why are you going?”

“Hmm? What do you mean by ‘going’? Why does that sound strange? Hahaha. You wouldn’t dare to disregard this father, would you?”

“Ah, come on! Don’t tell me I would disregard my father as a child!”

“Right?”

“Yes. I just hope you’d take it easy at home since you’re getting old. Honestly, you wouldn’t stand a chance against me anymore…”

“What did you just say?”

Dehorman growled, his eyes lit up.

“Did my daughter finally lose her mind? There’s no one stronger than this dad. I didn’t let you train because I was worried you might get hurt, and it appears you don’t realize how strong I am!”

“Ah, then how about we settle this? If I win, you won’t go to the battlefield. How does that sound?”

“If I win?”

“That won’t happen.”

“Daughter. Daughter! I feel like I’m going to be punished today, so you better speak clearly.”

When Dad starts using honorifics, it means he’s really angry. But since he’d never laid a hand on her, Lera wasn’t fazed.

“Well, what shall I do for you? Even if I wanted to buy something for you, my money is your money, so it’s meaningless… How about I give you a shoulder rub every day?”

“…and for Mom too.”

“Got it. Then we’ll do that…”

“Even after you’re married.”

“…That’s a bit much, don’t you think? Trying to profit just from a spar? Fine, I won’t lose anyway. Bring out the axe.”

Dehorman seemed to lighten up, grinning widely. He appeared quite fond of the cheerful back and forth. Soon, with a massive axe slung over his shoulder, Dehorman faced off against Lera, who wielded a slender sword.

Dehorman warned her in advance.

“Be careful. I can’t control my strength.”

“Don’t worry. It’s just an axe… Whoa! How sneaky!”

Dehorman’s axe swung slowly but carried a terrifying weight as it swept horizontally, and Lera jumped high to evade it.

She nimbly flipped and brought her sword down, but “Bwahaha! You underestimated me!” Dehorman effortlessly ducked back behind his door-sized axe. Lera was a bit surprised.

She thought he could catch monsters but never expected he couldn’t spar…

A giant figure loomed over her. Dehorman, all grins, chuckled with a shadow cast over Lera.

“Did you keep your promise? To rub my shoulders every day?”

At that moment, Lera felt a wave of panic, recognizing that losing would lead to dire consequences, and she spat into her palm.

*

“Father. I will be leaving.”

The day of the departure ceremony approached.

Prince Anolf de Klaus deeply bowed his head to his father who personally came to the south gate.

But is this how a King should behave?

Paolo de Klaus, the King of the Austin Kingdom, surveyed the crowd gathered for the departure ceremony with dry, emotionless eyes. Perhaps there was a moment he licked his lips, but that must have been a mirage.

The Prince, too, set aside personal feelings and started his report. Eight steps felt too long to hesitate; too many soldiers were waiting below the platform.

“The total number of soldiers conscripted from Barnau is three thousand seven hundred and thirty, along with four hundred and fifty from the 1st and 2nd Knights Orders. We are prepared to set out under the King’s orders. The army will march southward and join forces with the soldiers dispatched from various regions to head to the battlefield. Therefore, I seek your approval.”

“I grant my approval.”

As the prescribed procedure went, the Prince politely bowed and continued his report.

“I, Anolf de Klaus, shall be the one to lead. Until the main forces are delivered to the Commander-in-Chief, I will bear the authority of command on behalf of the King and assume responsibility for any unfortunate incidents that may arise during the movement. As the heir of the Klaus royal family and a devoted servant of the kingdom, I vow to use this army solely for the sake of the country and the royal family. Thus, I seek your approval.”

“I grant my approval.”

Only then did the Prince finally become the commander of this army. Anolf lowered himself further, saying,

“Pity your people heading into battle. I, Anolf de Klaus, dare to implore you. Please promise these soldiers ample provisions, the military supplies to face the enemy, and sufficient wages. Should the need arise, we will requisition resources at our discretion from your kingdom. Therefore, I seek your approval.”

Autonomous requisition rights. This also had to be approved for the army to become a complete independent entity. Likewise, since it was the prescribed procedure, the King nodded.

“I grant my approval.”

Anolf bowed his head one last time. After that, he didn’t bend anymore; it was the proper posture for someone leading an army.

He stepped down two steps from the platform that consisted of eight steps. The mild spring breeze rustled the countless flags of the Klaus royal family.

With the help of magic, Prince Anolf addressed the soldiers preparing to depart and the citizens of Barnau who had come to watch.

“We will prevail, and we shall vanquish that vile Belita Kingdom…”

Words that weren’t heartfelt.

Nonetheless, his true hope was that all these people would safely return to their families.

After the somewhat dull prince’s speech, a middle-aged knight mounted the fifth step of the platform.

The appearance of a knight gripping a sword meant he sought to rally morale with a passionate speech, so the citizens of Barnau were hopeful. But his opening remarks exceeded expectations.

– “Noel Dexter speaks.”

“…Noel? Did he just say Noel?”

“No, Noel Dexter?!”

“The noble slaughterer!”

Before the south gate, the wide square buzzed. Citizens and lined-up soldiers were no different.

The nightmare of Barnau.

This infamous knight, poetically revered, stood before them. Among the younger crowd were those who grew up hearing the saying, “If the flood doesn’t stop, Noel Dexter will take it away!”

Noel’s voice, magically amplified, continued.

He was capturing the crowd’s attention with his name, and now he just had to weave a speech about the righteousness of this war, patriotism, and instill confidence in victory, but the next words were not a rallying cry for the war.

– “Citizens of Barnau, my regretful neighbors. We have not forgotten the war from over ten years ago. Some lost parents, others lost children. I… lost my partner.”

The square fell silent.

– “Were we born in the wrong era? Was it our fate to lose our loved ones first in a land beset by war? No! We absolutely knew it was not so. So, what did you blame? Perhaps you blamed me for solace, but I couldn’t even do that. I cannot deny that I was part of that war.”

Noel pushed the sorcerer at his side away in surprise then turned, filled with responsibility, guilt, and finally rage.

– “So I will take responsibility. To that scoundrel who lurks in the shadows of history, who made us part with our parents, children, brothers, and loved ones! I will say it plainly. King! You instigated this war!”

“What kind of nonsense is that? The King signed a truce agreement!”

“Right! Our King…!!”

At that moment, the citizens roared with protest, and in a fit of shock, Noel hurled his sword. Nobody could intervene as it flew and struck the king directly, causing screams to erupt from all directions. Not because the king was dead…

But because of the three-foot-long steel wings. A red crow peeked its head between the eight wings covering the throne and murmured.

– How did he know?

Malpas’s gaze turned toward the thronging priests and holy knights below, and the young man standing before them.