Chapter 60
The Magic Order led by Kiel Cornelia stayed in the Stone territory for one more day before returning to their family.
anwhile, Killian, in place of Demian who remained at Castle Stone, apprehended the lord and returned to the Eurasia main castle.
Thus, two days had passed since the eting with Kiel.
The two White Knights who were transporting Mainz Kimbel's body were found dead.
‘Was there another one?’
The Annihilation Squad was dispatched to investigate, but no significant clues were found.
“Well, I’ll have to leave that matter to Serena…….”
Killian looked at the silver ring on his index finger.
It was a gift from Sharle before he returned to his family.
“I didn't expect to receive a ring engraved with warp magic.”
She said it was a magical tool she had made herself, and that if he had enough mana, he could move to ‘sowhere’ on the western frontier.
She probably had so ulterior motive for giving such a gift to him instead of Demian.
‘Co to think of it, I have one more magical tool.’
He recalled the item he had received from Cali Eurasia right after the subjugation.
Most of the mages residing in Eurasia were 3-star or lower.
Their level was sowhat lacking to engrave magic onto a magical tool.
‘It might not be a bad idea to ask Sharle Cornelia instead. Should I try it now?’
It was while he was having such thoughts.
“Young Master, it's Haman. I'm coming in.”
Haman, who had entered, followed Killian's gaze to the ring.
His expression changed subtly.
“What's with the ring?”
“I received it.”
“Don't tell … it wasn't a woman, was it?”
“Then would I receive a ring from a man?”
“……!!”
After a mont of shocked reaction, a sense of betrayal appeared on Haman's face.
“……You said a knight should think of his sword as a woman.”
It was what Killian had said while training Haman.
“That ant you shouldn't stop thinking about your sword even in your daily life.”
“I knew that, but… you've changed again.”
“It's you who has changed.”
“What about ? I'm dedicating myself to the work of an apothecary, just as you wished.”
“You've been handling only dicinal preparations lately, and your body has gotten soft.”
Haman flinched under Killian's intense gaze.
“……I'll leave the recovery potions you requested from the Head Apothecary here.”
It was the mont he put down a few recovery potions and was about to hastily leave the reception room.
Fwoosh.
Blue mana filled the room.
Although it was a Carpe deployed with 1-star mana, it was enough to hold the Chamberlain in place.
“If you've put on so fat, you need to get rid of it quickly.”
“Please don't do this. I'm an apothecary!”
“An apothecary who belongs to the Annihilation Squad.”
“You don't do this to the Head Apothecary!”
“The Head Apothecary has forged a 7-star Mana Heart. And oh, you're a 1-star, aren't you?”
“……!!”
The corners of Killian's mouth went up as he looked at Haman, who was glaring at him.
“I happen to have so free ti today, so I'll teach you how to use Mana Skin.”
Enhancing the body with mana is called Mana Skin.
It was a skill that only a 2-star knight could perform, but Killian spoke of it nonchalantly and constricted Haman's body.
“Kugh…….”
Haman groaned but tried to wrap his body in mana.
It was truly a training thod for survival.
It was while Chamberlain Haman's gates of hell were opening.
“Commander Escardo of the Red Knight Order has arrived!”
The voice of a royal guard was heard from the entrance of the reception room.
‘The Commander of the Knights?’
Killian, who had confird Escardo's entry, released the Carpe.
“…….”
Escardo, who had stepped into the reception room, took in the panting Haman, Killian with an indifferent expression, and the lingering scent of mana in the room.
‘He said he entrusted the Chamberlain to the Head Apothecary for education, but was he teaching him about mana himself?’
A pleased smile appeared on Escardo's lips.
He was proud to see him taking care of his own people without losing his original intention, even though he had already entered the ranks of the Superhuman.
‘Why is he smiling……?’
For a mont, Haman tilted his head at his benevolent expression.
“Chamberlain, bring us so tea.”
“Yes!”
He bolted out of the reception room in the blink of an eye.
“Please, have a seat.”
Killian offered the reception chair and sat down.
“You seem surprised by my unannounced visit.”
“Not at all. I was planning to visit you once anyway.”
There were things to discuss about Coral Stone's punishnt and the utilization of the Black Cloud Knight Order.
“I've reviewed the report you submitted.”
“Then……?”
“The Head will decide on the punishnt for the lord and the Black Cloud Knight Order. More importantly, I heard that Mainz Kimbel's body has disappeared.”
“Yes. I've sent Serena.”
“Has she not returned yet?”
“She won't return until she finds an answer that satisfies her.”
He said it because he knew Serena well.
A man who had been dead had disappeared without a trace, so it would not be easy for her to accept.
Escardo nodded his head as if he understood, and then opened his mouth in a heavy tone.
“I plan to move the Red Knight Order, the White Knight Order, and the Blue Knight Order in the near future.”
“Are you planning to deal with the traitorous families?”
“Yes. It will be the final step for the Declaration of the Kingdom.”
“Does the Annihilation Squad need to move as well?”
“No. There is sothing the Annihilation Squad needs to handle secretly.”
“……?”
“I need you to go to the Arden Mine.”
It was a na he had heard while gathering information about the previous subjugation.
“The Arden Mine… isn't that where they distribute Arden Steel?”
“Yes. The dwarves who reside there recently inford us that they would be suspending their trade.”
“The timing is exquisite.”
Steel was one of the essential resources that had to be accumulated for the Declaration of the Kingdom.
It was not only necessary for making swords and shields for the knights and arrows for the rangers, but it was also useful in the lives of the territory's residents, making steel an indispensable resource for Eurasia.
“There are supplies stockpiled in the Master Swordsmith's workshop, but at best, they won't last for three months.”
The Arden Mine is geographically connected to the Kurt Mountain Range.
Since their relationship with Bastoni had beco stronger through the subjugation, it wouldn't be a bad idea to ask for help.
“Ahem.”
Escardo cleared his throat and made eye contact with Killian.
“It's an important matter for the family, so I wanted to go myself, but… it seems it will be difficult for
to leave the family.”
‘You intended to make
do it from the beginning.’
Even though the Head had stabilized his 8-star, Escardo was still serving as the Acting Head.
‘Are the two of them plotting sothing?’
There was no need to voice his question.
“I understand. I will go and et the Master Swordsmith to hear his story.”
‘You've grown up so well.’
Escardo nodded his head with a pleased expression.
Contrary to Killian's thoughts, he had actually intended to solve this problem himself.
If only the Head had been in the family.
‘Head, where have you gone this ti?’
He recalled the Head who had disappeared with the words that he would take a look around the territory for a while.
A vein popped on Escardo's forehead.
***
The eastern frontier, a few hundred kiloters north of Castle Stone.
An old man with long white hair and Simon were sitting opposite each other in the Agnil Family’s Lord’s Castle.
Simon personally filled the two glasses with the Baekhapmyeongju he had brought from the family.
The old man, who had quietly emptied his glass, spoke first.
“I thought it would be Escardo if anyone ca to visit.”
“Is that so.”
“It’s late, but congratulations on reaching 8-star.”
Simon showed a calm reaction and refilled the lord’s glass.
Lawson Agnil, the Head of the Agnil Family, was an old man in his 70s.
But the reason Simon was respectful to him was not simply because of his age.
“It reminds
of the old days.”
Decades ago, Simon, who had just beco a Superhuman, had toured the territories in the area and received pledges of alliance.
At that ti, with the full support of Lawson Agnil, he was able to easily form alliances with the families.
“Thanks to the Head's support, it was easy to unite the lords of the area.”
“It was just a matter of order. Anyone who had seen the look in your eyes back then would have joined hands with Eurasia.”
Lawson Agnil was lost in reminiscence for a mont.
Decades.
A long ti if long, a short ti if short, in a human's life.
During that ti, Escardo, who was a 6-star, had reached the end of 7-star, and Simon had risen to 8-star and beco the strongest knight on the eastern frontier.
Compared to him, he himself…….
“I have no intention of belittling the lord’s accomplishnts.”
“Hehe. It’s no use lying in front of an 8-star.”
Lawson was a born knight.
His talent was not outstanding, but he loved to train his sword.
As a result of overcoming his lack of talent with effort, he mastered 6-star in his 50s.
And.
A few months ago, he made a deal with the Empire and reached 7-star.
With a bitter smile, he raised a gray mana.
Unstable 7-star. Although the power of the mana was not lacking for a 7-star, it was at a level where it had not yet achieved stability.
“Breaking the wall with a secret dicine was a shaful choice.”
“I heard you told Bastian yourself.”
“I didn't think that man would go before . Aren't you going to ask why I did it?”
At Lawson’s gaze, Simon, who had quietly emptied his glass, opened his mouth.
“The lord of the Agnil Family made a deal with the Empire on the condition of a secret dicine that could surpass 7-star.”
“…….”
“And as a side effect, he doesn't have much ti left to live. It seems that this is enough for
to know.”
“You haven't changed at all!”
Hahahaha.
Lawson laughed heartily.
As a warrior, he had taken a hand he should not have taken due to his desire to beco a Superhuman.
As a result, he had succeeded in reaching 7-star, but his life was rapidly dwindling even at this mont.
It was because his heart had been damaged from being unable to withstand the power of his Mana Heart.
“How much ti do you have left?”
“The priest said I wouldn't last more than a month.”
A bitter smile ford on Lawson’s lips.
“I’m just disappointed that I won't be able to see you beco king. I heard about what happened with the Stone Family.”
The Stone Family also bordered the western frontier, so it was an important family from Eurasia's perspective.
The news that such a family had joined hands with the Empire and that Eurasia had personally dispatched a knight order to punish them was already known by everyone on the frontier.
“You said the Fourth Young Master’s na was Killian? You've forged a great sword. I was completely fooled myself.”
“…….”
Simon silently emptied and refilled his glass repeatedly.
“He is just one of the family’s knights. As for the matter of the secret dicine deal, let’s leave it here.”
Simon made it clear that he would not punish the Agnil Family.
Lawson, the lord, had made a deal with the Empire, but he had only passed on false information, and he had told the Commander of the Annihilation Squad, Bastian, about it himself.
The reason Simon had co in person was out of respect for Lawson, who was on the verge of death and had supported Eurasia for a long ti.
“I should get going now.”
“The dream of leading Eurasia to a new empire.”
“…….”
“Be sure to achieve it.”
“It will be so.”
“…….”
A quiet nod was the last farewell.
Simon walked, guided by the head butler through a secret passage.
He was once again reminded of how difficult it was for a warrior to overco the wall.
At the sa ti, he thought of his youngest son, who had overco the wall all by himself.
‘Is her blood changing destiny?’
Simon, who had parted with the head butler, entered the village adjacent to the Lord’s Castle.
It was peaceful.
Once the kingdom was proclaid, there would not be many days when he could go out on such an excursion.
“How should I appease Escardo’s heart this ti?”
He thought of his sworn brother who was stuck in the family in his stead.
Simon quietly walked the night streets.
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