As the hazy smoke thinned, the two figures appeared.
“As expected!”
“Hmph!”
The Knights and the Horcamun Tribe showed mixed reactions of joy and sorrow.
Blizan was holding his own against Skevin’s sword, standing firm without being pushed back.
A strange light flickered across Skevin’s face.
“So this is why the Young Master chose you.”
“Don’t make laugh! I’m the only one who can choose.”
Blizan swung his other fist.
Skevin rotated his body like lightning and parried the fist with his sword.
Boom!
He was pushed back with an explosive sound.
“Truly brutal. Shall I get brutal too?”
Skevin unleashed his full power.
Excalibur was enveloped in a deep blue Aura, and his montum surged.
Simultaneously, a blue Aura also emanated from him.
“This is!”
Blizan’s eyes widened.
The characteristics of a Sword Master, which he had only heard about, were manifesting in Skevin.
“Was he a Sword Master?”
“Hmph.”
Skevin let out a small laugh and took an offensive stance.
“You must not have seen it before.”
“What do you an?”
“A Sword Master, you see. They are so strong that I can’t even compare to them!”
Skevin kicked off the ground and charged.
“What?!”
Blizan quickly retreated, trying to follow his movents.
“Strong, yes, but a rookie in combat experience.”
Skevin deliberately swung his sword.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Blizan’s face contorted as the air was sliced.
‘Damn it! Why is he so fast!’
The blade grazed both of his shoulders and thighs.
At this rate, it would only be a matter of ti before he collapsed.
Blizan cald his racing heart and regained his composure. Then, he closed his eyes.
In such situations, he had no choice but to rely on his senses rather than his sight.
In the darkened space, he felt an approaching montum.
“Found you!”
Blizan dodged it and simultaneously threw a punch.
But his opponent was Skevin.
Having already anticipated his movents, Skevin easily dodged the attack and thrust himself into Blizan’s chest.
“This should be enough.”
Skevin reversed his grip on the sword and struck Blizan’s solar plexus with the hilt.
Thwack!
With a dull thud, Blizan’s face twisted horribly.
“With just this, I won’t fall…”
“I know.”
Skevin kicked his knee.
Thwack!
“Damn it!”
Blizan lost his balance, and his upper body tilted forward.
Not missing the chance, Skevin swung his sword like lightning.
The blade stopped precisely at Blizan’s neck.
“Move even a single finger, and your head will fly.”
“Damn it.”
Blizan withdrew his montum and ceased his resistance.
“Listen carefully. When capturing an enemy alive, you first knock them out. Like this.”
Skevin forcefully struck the back of his neck.
Thud!
Blizan collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Skevin pointed Excalibur at Blizan’s head and looked at the Horcamun Tribe.
“You all have sothing you need to do, don’t you?”
“Damn it.”
“What should we do?”
They exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.
At that mont, Bukas laboriously stood up and spoke.
“We keep our promises.”
“Then keep them.”
Alteon, whose consciousness had returned, vigorously shook his head and pushed his upper body up.
“Not yet… no.”
“Looks like it’s not over yet, huh?”
As Skevin began to move towards Alteon, Bukas spoke.
“That’s not what I an.”
“Then what?”
Bukas looked at Blizan and continued.
“If it’s alright, we’d like so ti until our Commander wakes up.”
“You an you’ll follow his will.”
Alteon nodded and said.
“For your information, we value trust as much as our lives. You don’t need to make any unnecessary assumptions.”
“Understood. In return, you will wait here until he wakes up. Rember that if even one of you causes a disturbance or deviates from this place, you will pay a harsh price.”
Skevin sheathed Excalibur and moved towards Arthur.
Standing before the platform, he bowed respectfully.
“Mission accomplished.”
“Well done. Wait until he wakes up. Millerf told they are a tribe that values honor and justice, so there shouldn’t be any unpleasant incidents.”
“With Drakan watching alongside the Knight Order, I don’t expect any problems.”
Arthur nodded and asked in a voice only Skevin could hear.
“How was it?”
“You an him?”
Skevin looked at Blizan.
“When he blocked your sword with his fist, you seed flustered, didn’t you?”
“I was a little surprised, yes. But it wasn’t a full-power attack, so it doesn’t an much.”
“Indeed.”
“If he’s refined properly, I think he could be of great help.”
“Do your best with him from now on.”
“I will certainly raise him well.”
A smile played on Skevin’s lips.
Arthur turned his head towards the Knights.
Behind the already aligned Phoenix Knights, the Defen Knights and the Del Knights had also gathered.
“Take a short break. Commanders of each Knight Order, gather at the command tent.”
Arthur looked sowhere, and Skevin looked in the sa direction, asking.
“What’s wrong, sir?”
“Nothing.”
Arthur gave a aningful smile and moved to the tent with Skevin.
After the two disappeared, a man in black attire and a mask appeared there.
It was Jackal, Count Yarve’s personal Knight.
He had infiltrated the prison to rescue Yarve but was discovered by Arthur and barely managed to escape.
He had considered escaping as he was, but he couldn’t leave his lord, Yarve, in prison.
Thus, he had been constantly looking for an opportunity.
However, because of Arthur, he couldn't make a rash move.
Having faced him once, he knew Arthur was no ordinary person.
He had been confident in his stealth skills, but not only had he been discovered by Arthur, the movents he showed in that instant were extraordinary.
Above all, Arthur’s senses were incredibly keen, beyond imagination.
Just a mont ago, when he subtly revealed his presence to check, Arthur imdiately looked in this direction.
It was a situation where he had to rescue Count Yarve while avoiding Arthur.
Seeing that Count Yarve was imprisoned rather than killed, Arthur likely had no intention of killing him easily.
Moreover, there was ‘that person’ behind him.
If Count Yarve ntioned ‘that person’, Arthur wouldn’t be able to kill him rashly.
For now, no one other than Arthur had detected his presence.
He decided to wait a little longer before taking action.
Jackal looked towards the underground prison where Yarve was confined.
‘Please bear with it a little longer.’
***
“You’re being thorough with patrols these days, aren’t you?”
Arthur asked Skevin as he entered the command tent.
“Of course, sir. We are paying special attention to the underground prison. I also inspect the surroundings whenever I have ti.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Curiosity flickered across Arthur’s face.
If even Skevin couldn’t detect him, it ant his stealth skills had reached a considerable level.
Above all, he had infiltrated enemy territory to save Yarve.
Although he was an enemy, he was worthy of respect.
Arthur grew increasingly curious about what kind of person he was.
‘I should cast a bait.’
Arthur’s lips curved into a smile.
A short while later.
The Commanders of each Knight Order gathered in the command tent.
Arthur looked at the heirs of the noble families—Hectro of Baron Hexa’s family, Adlan of Count Kandara’s family, and Drakan of Baron Lannister’s family—as well as Skevin, the Commander of the Phoenix Knights, then began to speak.
“The castle is currently in disarray. I plan to begin reorganizing the Knight Orders starting today. Before that, I gathered you here because there’s sothing I need to confirm with you.”
Everyone’s faces turned serious. They anticipated what he was about to ask.
Arthur looked between Hectro and Adlan and asked.
“What are your plans going forward? Decide whether you will stay here and join us, or if you will leave. I will provide as much support as I can.”
As soon as he spoke, Hectro replied.
“We will stay with the Count.”
“For your family’s revenge, I presu?”
“That’s right.”
“Then you must know what joining us entails.”
Hectro nodded heavily and knelt on one knee before Arthur.
“I, Hectro Hexa, swear to serve Arthur Julius as my liege.”
“The Julius family will stand with the Hexa family.”
“Thank you!”
Arthur shifted his gaze to Adlan.
Adlan t his eyes and stated what she had considered.
“I haven’t yet confird my father’s fate. So, I would like to ask for so ti.”
“To return to your territory and confirm?”
“No. I intend to wait for Sir Helm Del.”
“...?”
Arthur tilted his head.
Skevin, on the other hand, showed a surprised expression when she ntioned him.
“He’s alive?”
“Before leaving the territory, he escorted my father to the ergency fortress. If they succeeded in escaping, he will surely appear here.”
Arthur nodded, seemingly understanding what she ant.
“One week. No more than that.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Adlan bowed politely.
Arthur then looked at Drakan and Skevin once each before speaking.
“From now on, I will integrate all Knight Orders into one, excluding the Del Knights. Skevin will serve as the interim Commander until the system is established.”
“Yes, sir!”
Everyone replied vigorously.
Arthur sent everyone back to the training grounds, leaving only Skevin in the tent.
He sat in a chair facing Skevin.
“I plan to reorganize the Knight Orders.”
“Do you have anything in mind, sir?”
“I’m thinking of dividing them into Knight Orders responsible for siege warfare, defense, and reconnaissance. What do you think?”
“I agree. There will be many days when the castle is empty in the future, and it will be defenseless. If an enemy attacks then, we’ll be caught completely off guard.”
“We will start everything anew.”
“What should I do, sir?”
Skevin’s face was filled with loyalty.
Arthur looked beyond the tent entrance towards the training grounds, a aningful smile on his face.
“Just make sure to establish proper discipline. I’ll take care of the rest.”
***
“Ugh…”
Blizan regained consciousness.
“Commander!”
Alteon looked at him with a worried expression.
Blizan frowned and opened his eyes.
A bright blue sky ca into view, but his solar plexus, where he had been struck, ached.
He grimaced and pushed his upper body up.
“What happened?”
“They said they would wait until the Commander woke up.”
“Where is he?”
As Blizan looked around, he saw Arthur and Skevin in the distance.
“Help up.”
“Here.”
Alteon quickly put Blizan’s arm over his shoulder and slowly stood up.
Blizan slowly straightened his hunched back and puffed out his chest.
A dull pain surged for a mont, then faded.
‘How long has it been since I felt this?’
It felt like the first ti he had experienced such pain since childhood.
Moreover, his opponent had been overflowing with composure until the very end.
‘A complete defeat.’
He looked at Skevin and chuckled lightheartedly. Then he turned his head to his tribesn.
“I admit defeat.”
“If the Commander thinks so, then we will also accept it.”
“Understood.”
Blizan waited until the two n approached.
“Go. It seems he’s waiting for you.”
“Yes, sir.”
Skevin walked towards Blizan with a calm expression.
As Blizan knelt on one knee, his tribesn followed suit.
Skevin stood before him and asked.
“Do you admit defeat?”
“Yes.”
“Then you must keep your promise.”
“The Horcamun Tribe swears to pledge its utmost loyalty to you.”
“I, Skevin Maximus, also swear! I will never command you to do anything against justice, and I promise to sacrifice my life for your sake.”
“...!”
For a mont, Blizan wore a surprised expression.
He had thought Skevin was just an ordinary soldier, but that wasn’t the case. Without realizing it, a passionate emotion welled up from deep within his chest.
He held it in, then shouted loudly as if in response.
“We will pledge our lives in loyalty!”
As he bowed his head deeply, his tribesn also bowed their heads and shouted.
Loyalty—!
A resounding cry echoed.
Their spirit, contained within the sound, was conveyed to everyone.
A thrill ran through the Knights’ bodies.
Arthur also felt that their reply was sincere.
Things were proceeding as planned, and he was satisfied.
Skevin brought Blizan over.
“This is the head of the Julius family. Show your respect.”
Blizan knelt on one knee before Arthur, bowed his head, and respectfully said.
“I swear to protect you with my life.”
“I will also strive to treat you as my brothers and ensure you can be proud to be with the Julius family. Furthermore, as long as you follow , no one will dare to disrespect you, and I promise to cherish the trust between us.”
Arthur shifted his gaze to the Horcamun Tribe and continued.
“I will resolve your suffering. Skevin!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Find the location of their families taken by slave traders and rescue them imdiately!”
“I will obey your command!”
Skevin bowed respectfully.
At the sa ti, Blizan stared intently at Arthur and said.
“I, Blizan, swear to Rumakas, the progenitor of the Horcamun Tribe. I will dedicate everything to Arthur Julius.”
“What did you say?”
Arthur’s eyes suddenly widened.
“Did you just say Rumakas?”
“Yes, sir. He is the progenitor who founded our tribe.”
“Millerf’s words were right.”
He had already intended to ask how Blizan had gained control over the power of lightning.
If it was a tribe founded by Rumakas, he would naturally have imbued them with his power.
And now he also understood why they could absorb Mana.
Suddenly, a question arose: could there be another place in the empire where Rumakas’s power was sealed?
Although there had been no ntion of it to him, it was highly probable that Rumakas had made arrangents in various places, anticipating the Demon King’s resurrection.
“Does this an I have to go on a treasure hunt?”
Arthur recalled Rumakas, a deep smile playing on his lips.
Why had he made such complex and difficult arrangents?
He suddenly rembered one of the common characteristics of dragons and the countless treasures stored in the subspace within the helt.
‘Well, they were creatures obsessed with treasure, so they wouldn’t have wanted to give it away easily.’
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