It wasn't until late at night that the Knights who had sortied during the day returned.
Wesley imdiately reported the situation to Madeline.
“It was Goblins again this ti. But their numbers have more than doubled since the last ti.”
“Any casualties in the Knight Order?”
“Only a few with minor injuries. Everyone is fine.”
“Thank goodness. But I wonder, why are monsters appearing now when it's been quiet for so long?”
Madeline wore a serious expression.
Wesley observed her reaction and carefully began to speak.
“I think we need to investigate the West Mountain Range. I will lead an investigation team and go myself.”
“Absolutely not. I can't send you to a place where we don't know what dangers might be lurking. If we're sending an investigation team, send Sir Skevin.”
“As the Commander of the Knight Order, he must protect the Count's family. Besides, I must investigate this incident myself to formulate a proper plan for the future.”
“But…”
Wesley approached Madeline and took her hands firmly in his.
“I am not so weak as to be defeated by Goblins. Please, trust .”
“What if there are other monsters?”
“The Knight Order will be with , so it will be fine.”
“Haaah…”
Madeline let out a deep sigh.
How could this boy, who looked so much like Count Malcolm, have a personality that was just as identical?
Who could ever win against that stubbornness?
“If you must do it, then leave only a minimal force in the castle and take everyone else with you.”
“I can't do that.”
“Skevin and Millerf will be by my side, and it's not like anyone will invade the territory. Don't worry about things here and just co back as quickly as possible. That is the best way to serve the Count's family and .”
Faced with Madeline's firm stance, Wesley had no choice but to nod.
“Understood. Then I will depart as soon as preparations are complete.”
Wesley left the office at once and ordered the Knights to form an investigation team.
anwhile, the people of the territory trembled in fear at the news of the monster appearance, but they soon regained their vitality when word spread that the Knight Order had wiped them out.
But Arthur was different.
He couldn't shake the grotesque sound he had heard during the day from his mind.
Why did he think of ‘them’?
It was then, as he sat perched on the windowsill, deep in thought.
Knock, knock.
‘Who is it?’
Glancing toward the door, he saw Wesley entering the room.
“What's up? You even ca all the way to my room.”
“Hmph.”
Wesley let out a small laugh.
If it were the old Arthur, the boy who had been so terribly afraid of him, he wouldn't have been able to make a peep.
But now, not only was there no trace of that fear, he even seed rather insolent.
However, since he could no longer see any trace of the foolish, childish boy he used to be, he didn't feel bad about it.
“Tomorrow, I'm leading an investigation team to the West Mountain Range.”
“And?”
Arthur looked out the window as if uninterested.
Wesley paid his reaction no mind and continued.
“If, by any chance, sothing happens to , I'm entrusting Mother to you.”
Only then did Arthur look at him.
“Why are you telling that? There's Aild, too.”
Aild was Arthur's second older brother.
If sothing were to happen to Wesley, it was only natural that Aild, the second son, would take his place.
Wesley gave a aningful smile.
“Of course, I've told Aild as well. But looking at you these days, I feel a strange sense of reassurance. I wonder why that is.”
“How would I know?”
“True.”
Wesley chuckled and turned around.
Then, before leaving the room, he added one more thing.
“If, and this is a big if, sothing unfortunate happens to and you need soone's help, go find the village blacksmith, Van. He will be a great help to you.”
“With so many worries, will you even be able to do your job properly?”
“You've got a point.”
Wesley left with a bitter smile.
Left alone, Arthur looked up at the moon, which seed three tis larger than Earth's, and shook his head.
“Tsk, tsk, a man about to go to the battlefield…”
* * *
The next day.
Wesley led the Knight Order and headed for the West Mountain Range early in the morning.
Arthur decided the monstrous cry he'd heard yesterday was a pointless worry and shook it from his mind.
He then went up to the castle wall and looked at the surrounding scenery.
“How long do you think this peace will last?”
Andrew was flustered by the sudden question.
“Young Master, what do you an by that…?”
“I was just curious.”
“My wish is that it continues forever.”
“I hope so, too.”
Arthur gave a aningful smile.
“It is now ti for you to go see Her Ladyship.”
“Hmph.”
Arthur wore a displeased expression but went down without another word.
Andrew watched the greatly changed boy and smiled faintly.
***
Madeline was having a busy day, reviewing various administrative docunts.
Knock, knock.
With a knock, Arthur entered.
Madeline stopped what she was doing and welcod him.
“Welco!”
As always, she patted the seat next to her.
Just as Arthur routinely took the seat beside Madeline, she stroked his head and asked.
“How are you today?”
“I'm fine.”
“You always say that.”
Madeline looked disappointed.
Arthur found her reaction too burdenso.
For him, mories of a mother consisted only of being berated and abused.
The being he hated most in the world.
Because of that, at first, Madeline's concern and affection had felt disgusting.
It had gotten a little better as ti went on, but he couldn't help but feel burdened.
If this kept piling up, he was bound to explode soday.
Arthur pondered for a mont, then spoke firmly, as if he had made up his mind.
“I'm all better now.”
“But your mories haven't all returned.”
“They'll co back when the ti is right. Starting tomorrow, I'll co when I want to.”
“Arthur…”
“Well then, I'll be going back.”
It was then, as Arthur stood up from his seat.
Madeline grabbed his hand.
“No matter what anyone says, you are my beloved son. Always rember that.”
‘Beloved son?’
The words sparked a strong sense of rejection within him.
But from Arthur's mories and from what he had seen of Madeline so far, he could feel just how dearly she thought of her son and how proud she was of him.
He couldn't bring himself to deny it.
He silently bowed his head and went outside.
As Andrew approached his side, he could faintly hear her sobbing from beyond the door.
‘Damn it!’
She was a complete stranger to him.
So why did he feel so damn rotten?
And why did his chest ache so much?
Was it because of her love and concern, sothing he had never received in his life?
As all sorts of thoughts, speculations, and subtle emotions flooded in, he felt like his head was about to burst.
“Prepare a horse.”
Arthur's brow furrowed as he walked away.
* * *
“Huh? He looks perfectly fine, doesn't he?”
“It's obvious Sir Millerf must have healed him.”
“Using a noble mage to heal that scoundrel, it really feels like shit.”
“What can you do? The noble blood of the House of Count Julius flows in that bastard's body.”
“Noble blood my ass. Tell everyone to be careful, the scoundrel is out.”
“Got it.”
The group that had been watching Arthur scattered.
As he toured the territory on horseback, Arthur glanced toward the alley where they had been hiding.
Even when he was Kang Tae-soo, his senses were so exceptional they were second to none.
Thanks to that, he had returned alive from the brink of death more tis than he could count.
While it couldn't be compared to his past life, Arthur's senses were still decent enough.
“Hmph.”
Arthur laughed as if finding it pathetic.
At the sa ti, one person ca to mind.
He had been planning to et him soday, and it seed today was that day.
He pulled the horse's reins and moved toward a certain location.
Seeing the direction he was heading, Andrew's face darkened rapidly.
“D-don't tell his mory has…”
***
A mont later.
The place Arthur arrived at was a tavern mainly used by the violent thugs of the territory.
The boisterous place fell silent the mont Arthur entered.
After a few seconds had passed.
From the farthest corner, soone ca trudging over.
“Well, look who it is.”
A man with the build of a bear and the look of a bandit—Kenlak, the ruler of Grada's back alleys.
He was such a vicious character with a large following that even the Knights wouldn't touch him unless he caused a major problem.
It wasn't that they feared him, but that they considered dealing with him a stain on a Knight's honor.
On the other hand, Arthur, being a noble, had been on familiar terms with him, as Kenlak provided whatever he needed as long as he paid.
Kenlak looked Arthur up and down with a sneering gaze.
“You're lucky to be alive.”
“Did you want dead?”
“If you had died, there probably would have been a festival in the village.”
Kenlak flashed a foul smile.
Arthur had high hopes for this man, who had been an interesting character in his mories, but seeing him in person was a disappointnt.
“A scoundrel and a punk…”
“What are you talking about?”
“You're not very quick on the uptake.”
At Arthur's words, which sounded like a provocation, Kenlak snorted as if it was pathetic.
“Hey, had a near-death experience and lost all your fear, huh?”
“Maybe.”
Arthur nodded and approached the tavern owner.
“Give a glass of the usual.”
“Ah, yes.”
The owner quickly poured a glass of White Shagger.
After downing the White Shagger, which was no different from vodka, Arthur turned his head to Kenlak.
“That pill you gave back then.”
“How was your trip to hell?”
Kenlak sneered.
“Did you give it to hoping I'd drop dead?”
“You just figured that out? I'm pretty sure I warned you. Don't ever think of ripping off. If you don't want to die, give the money you promised.”
“Is that so.”
Arthur's lips curled up as he grabbed a nearby bottle and brought it down on Kenlak's head.
CRACK!
The bottle shattered.
Blood trickled down from Kenlak's head.
But as if he felt no impact at all, his lips curled up into an eerie smile.
“Are you begging to kill you?”
“This is the price for ssing with .”
Arthur rcilessly kicked Kenlak in the groin.
THWACK!
“Keuk.”
This ti, as if he felt the impact, Kenlak's face contorted grotesquely, and he dropped to his knees with a thud.
“Krrgh…”
Kenlak ground his teeth and glared at Arthur.
“Now we're finally at eye level.”
“You scoundrel bastard…”
“That look in your eyes, I don't like it.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he jabbed his fingers into one of Kenlak's eyes.
“Aaargh!”
Kenlak scread and rolled on the floor.
His violent thrashing sent tables and chairs flying, turning the hall into a complete ss.
The n with him only growled, unable to rush forward, crushed by Arthur's terrifying aura.
‘What the hell is that bastard?’
‘Are those the eyes of a human? That's a killer's gaze.’
‘Did he go completely insane after almost dying?’
Arthur leisurely wiped the blood from his fingers with a handkerchief.
“Next ti, it won't be your eye, but your neck.”
He was about to turn away when a thought seed to strike him, and he tossed a gold coin to the owner.
The owner caught the gold coin and tilted his head.
“W-what is this?”
“For the drink. The rest is for my outstanding tab.”
“What?”
The unimaginable had happened.
The man who had never once paid for a drink was now paying for his drink and even his tab.
The shock was brief.
‘What do I do with this? Could he have so other ulterior motive? Should I just give it back? What if he throws a fit, saying I ignored his goodwill? This is driving crazy.’
Worry piled up on the owner's face.
Arthur received the heated gazes of everyone, but he calmly walked outside as if nothing had happened.
As soon as the door closed, everyone's jaw dropped.
“What the hell just happened?”
“Shit! I thought my heart was going to explode.”
“Is that really the sa bastard we knew?”
It felt as if they were dreaming.
But seeing Kenlak collapsed on the floor, groaning in pain, they had no choice but to accept the situation.
“Ugh, my eye…”
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