Chapter 70
At the Alcantara headquarters, the knight commanders gathered and were engaged in a heated discussion regarding the report flown in from Boritz.
“We simply cannot understand why that man Karl is in Lunasel.”
“How about we make the first move instead?”
“We make the first move?”
“Let’s invite him. If he wants sothing, won’t he make a move?”
Owen Gallashaw, the Knight Commander of Alcantara, watched the commanders earnestly talking but rely rested his chin on his hand without any particular reaction.
He had a rather lean build, making it difficult to think of him as a knight at first glance.
If not for his sharp jawline and snake-like cold eyes, it would have been hard to perceive him as a threatening person.
“Invite him to the headquarters.”
Those who had been talking earnestly until now nodded at Owen’s single remark.
After that, there were no further differing opinions.
Once the conversation focused solely on inviting Karl, the opinions were settled swiftly.
“Then, we shall decide who will be sent to invite the Free Knight Karl to the headquarters. Whom shall we send?”
“Isn’t there a man nad Boritz in Lunasel? Tell him to do it.”
Their eting thus concluded.
***
“Why did you do that this morning?”
“I owed you one.”
“Weren’t we supposed to go our separate ways?”
“We were. But we t again by chance?”
“…It wasn’t chance. I believe I ntioned I was going to Lunasel.”
“I forgot.”
Karl sighed at her shaless way of deflecting the conversation.
Having returned to the tavern in the evening, Stella and Karl sat down and were sharing drinks.
“So, why did you co here?”
“A rcenary ca looking for work, what else would there be?”
The fact that soone of her skill level deliberately returned to Lunasel made Karl suspect her once more.
“Anyway, let’s see each other often while you’re staying here. You must have been lonely by yourself anyway.”
“I have no intention.”
Karl wasn’t usually very talkative, but being with her, who chattered away like a sparrow, led to a few words being exchanged back and forth.
“Well then, see you again.”
Stella was the first to get up from her seat.
Karl tilted his cup a little more, organizing his thoughts. With no new quest presented, where should he move next?
If quests are the process of solving certain problems in this world, wouldn’t they arise in connection with those who move this world?
Karl wondered if he should perhaps visit the headquarters of the Alcantara Knights.
Slightly drunk, Karl returned to his room.
The next morning, descending to the first floor, Karl confird that 20 uninvited guests had already occupied the dining area.
“Who is your business with?”
“We have business with you too, but… personally, I’m interested in the woman behind you.”
Boritz ignored Karl and gazed heatedly at Stella coming down from behind.
“In that case, attend to your business with her first. I will co later.”
Karl naturally walked out of the inn. And Stella tried to follow Karl out.
The knights and Boritz blocked her way.
“Red-haired Stella.”
Her steps, intending to go outside, ca to an abrupt halt.
“What is your purpose for approaching Sir Karl yer.”
“…How did you know?”
Her playful face until now turned icy cold.
“With overtly red hair, and even using your real na, how could we possibly not know?”
“Well, I didn't particularly intend to hide it. I’m not exactly a famous person.”
Her na wasn't famous in the open world.
Red-haired Stella was soone primarily hired as an assassin or fixer.
Recently, her employer was Tarantula, and Boritz seed to have co knowing that much.
“Sir Karl is a guest of our knight order, unless he himself refuses. If you try any funny business with Sir Karl, Alcantara will pursue you.”
“Suddenly?”
“As of this mont, I have made it clear.”
“Good grief.”
She frowned deeply at the suddenly complicated situation.
“Was assassination your objective?”
“Not yet, no.”
Boritz nodded at her words, paused for a mont, then spoke.
“However… it’s true that I am interested in you. My whole heart desires you.”
“Ugh.”
Stella shuddered and left the place.
***
The sa day, Karl received a formal invitation from the Alcantara Knights via Boritz.
“So, you intend to invite
to the Alcantara headquarters?”
“That is correct.”
At Boritz’s expression, which seed to imply he should consider it an honor, Karl was montarily dumbfounded before shaking his head.
‘It might be good to visit once.’
Thinking positively like that, Karl accepted the invitation.
“Is it okay if I go with you? I want to visit the Alcantara Knights once too.”
“…Promise you won’t try any funny business. Departure is tomorrow.”
After thinking for a mont about Stella’s words, Boritz nodded. His statent about liking Stella seed to be genuine after all.
The journey to the headquarters with 20 Alcantara knights was uneventful.
There wasn't even anyone who stared straight at the group for more than a few seconds.
In this northern region, the armor and surcoats bearing the Alcantara symbol carried that much weight.
“We have almost arrived.”
The headquarters of the Alcantara Knights was located in a free city called Humming City.
Owen Gallashaw, the Knight Commander of Alcantara, could be said to be the de facto ruler of Humming City.
There were 11 famous knight orders on the West Continent.
Knights like the Holy Knights, the Esprit Knights, and the Malta Knights, who pursued justice, at least superficially, regardless of their internal affairs.
Knights like the Calatrava Knights, the Alcantara Knights, the Gato Knights, the Stefano Knights, and the Nautilus Knights, who prioritized profit and practical gain above all else.
Lastly, knights like the Golden Knights and the Ravonia Knights, who maintained a neutral stance.
When Karl first heard about the Holy Knights and the Alcantara Knights, he understood them as the righteous and unorthodox factions from martial arts novels, and this was roughly correct.
Entering Humming City, it was more dynamic than expected, and people's expressions were bright.
In fact, compared to the areas under the influence of the Holy Knights, there was a greater sense of liveliness among the people.
“You seem surprised.”
“A little.”
“We know how the Holy Knights or the Vatican view us. But it is also true that at least within our sphere of influence, no one starves to death.”
It ant that while it might be different for outsiders, they definitely took care of those affiliated with them.
So, there must be people who follow them.
The main building of the Alcantara Knights' headquarters was a castle as large as that of a considerably wealthy noble.
“Originally, this place was the castle of Marquis Kanto, but Sir Owen purchased it, renovated, and modified it to its current form.”
Boritz spoke with a voice full of pride, even though it wasn't his own property.
The mont he passed through the entrance of the Alcantara Knights headquarters, a system window popped up before Karl’s eyes.
[Quest: Snakes and Snakes]
Boritz led Karl and Stella straight to the office where the commander was.
Entering the office, a figure who looked more like a typical born noble than a knight was sitting there.
‘This man is the commander of the Alcantara Knights?’
Karl was the most surprised he had been today since arriving here.
“Surprised?”
“I am surprised.”
Owen, the commander of the Alcantara Knights, was a Superior-level knight.
While Superior-level was indeed strong by absolute standards, he was the head of Alcantara, one of the continent's renowned knight orders.
Compared to that position, the personal level of Superior felt sowhat low.
“Your reaction is interesting.”
“I’ve reconfird that the ability to swing a sword and the ability to lead an organization are separate things.”
“….”
Owen’s eyes showed interest.
“You are definitely not affiliated with the Holy Knights, are you?”
“We once ate from the sa pot on the battlefields of the East Continent, but I am not affiliated with the Holy Knights.”
“A Free Knight… yes. It’s been a long ti since I’ve seen a proper Free Knight.”
Owen appeared to be roughly in his late 40s to early 50s.
“When I first created the Alcantara Knights. I never even thought about being the best on the continent. I just ran forward, looking only at what to eat today and the near future. Exactly 30 years have passed like that. Those 30 years made us stronger than expected. That’s the Alcantara of today.”
There were 2 Master-level knights in the Alcantara Knights; the number of Superior and Expert-level knights was much higher.
“So… what is the reason you wanted to see ?”
“Initially, I called you because I was curious about your purpose for coming to Lunasel.”
“I’ve said countless tis it was just travel.”
“That’s why I was more suspicious. Lunasel isn’t exactly a place one would choose as a travel destination.”
“Why does everyone dislike Lunasel so much anyway?”
“Because before you, probably no one ever went to that rural village with nothing in it for travel. Anyway, it seems you really did go there for travel. It’s unfortunate it turned out this way.”
He chuckled.
“Since you’ve co this far, I will treat you well while you are here.”
“That sounds good.”
When Karl smiled, Owen looked at him as if he were a delicious al.
“Do you know this? You shouldn't have t .”
“What does that an?”
“Because I have never failed to obtain sothing I desired.”
“I refuse.”
Once again, Owen looked at Karl with peculiar eyes.
“That woman is an assassin hired by Tarantula. She doesn't belong to Tarantula, but it's clear her current employer is Tarantula.”
“So it seed.”
Owen laughed loudly once more at Karl’s reaction.
“I’m really laughing my fill today.”
His snake-like cold impression overlaid with laughter was indeed strange.
“Anyway, if both of you wish to join , tell
anyti. I will give you the best treatnt.”
“I still have no intention, but who knows if I co to like this place. If you feel like it, send soone with good liquor.”
Karl left the office.
***
“I thought you’d leave for sowhere else imdiately?”
“It was a trip I started for travel anyway; since they offered hospitality, there’s no reason I can’t stay for a while.”
“…I really don’t understand.”
“It’s the sa that I don’t understand you.”
“Aren’t you going to ask?”
“If you ca to kill ?”
Stella laughed loudly when Karl retorted.
“Yes.”
“Did you co to kill ?”
“Uh, yes, I did.”
“Then why didn’t you? You must have had many chances?”
“Chances? Is that a joke? Not for a single mont did I see an opening. I gave up several tis because I had a gut feeling my neck would snap the instant I picked up a weapon or poison.”
Karl showed a surprised expression at her words. Because he had truly slept soundly without worry.
‘Has sothing changed?’
Co to think of it, even if he slept deeply, the Qi and Aura circulating through his body would naturally surround Karl.
Is it the effect of Aura Armor?
‘Soti, I should ask Hans to swing a sword at
while I’m sleeping.’
His thoughts continued, turning to the quest Karl had received a short while ago.
Snakes and Snakes.
Coincidentally, he seed to know one snake of Alcantara.
Then, what is the reason this quest occurred at the Alcantara Knights' headquarters?
Looking back slowly, Karl had been eliminating the cancerous cells growing naturally in the West Continent.
“….”
As his thoughts reached that point, he started to get a grasp of the situation.
***
About another week passed.
The Alcantara Knights, which he learned about during that ti, had a very impressive organizational structure.
Composed of squads of 20 and companies of 100, 10 knight companies gathered to form the Knight Order.
Each commander had voting and speaking rights on important matters, and if 8 out of 10 agreed, even the commander could be replaced.
Of course, it was said that no one had challenged the authority of Owen, who had been the commander for 25 years.
As Karl's stay lengthened, the Alcantara knights also began to show interest in Karl.
Curious about the Knight of the Lighthouse who walked a completely different path from them, several knights always observed whenever Karl ca out to the training grounds.
“Sir Karl, renowned Knight of the Lighthouse, might I ask for a lesson?”
Thus, starting a few days ago, one or two knights began coming to Karl to request a spar.
Karl accepted spars from everyone who ca, refusing none.
“That movent doesn’t seem to need to be so bound by form.”
Sotis, challengers who doubted Karl’s skills also appeared.
“Let’s see those skills of yours.”
Whether the opponent was provoking or seeking guidance, Karl gave advice without distinction, and thanks to this, after so ti passed, the Alcantara knights began to feel favorable towards Karl.
“I doubted you were a Master at that age, but it was true.”
As several Superior-level knights issued challenges and similarly received guidance before withdrawing, Karl beca an even hotter topic within the knight order.
Thus, when approximately two weeks had passed, one of the two individuals who could truly be called the face of Alcantara finally appeared before Karl.
“I would like to cross swords with you, Sir.”
It was the 1st Knight Commander Maximov, with a long white beard.
“How about a duel without Aura?”
“That would be excellent.”
Maximov, approximately in his late 50s, and Karl, in his mid-20s, raised their weapons towards each other.
Maximov, a spearman, rare for a knight, stood with the spear in his right hand tucked under his armpit.
Karl, standing opposite him, held his longsword lowered as usual.
Gulp.
As the two stood facing each other in the training grounds, the sound of swallowing could be heard from the crowd watching them.
And using that sound as a cue, the two kicked off the ground.
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