Volume 3 Chapter 68 A Knight Among Knights
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Priscilla’s carriage moved to outside the Châtillon fortress, and once they were out of the range of the teleportation-blocking barrier, they flew to the Izerland fortress.
Having grown accustomed to the sea breeze of Châtillon over the past 2 weeks, the fresh scent of the cool wind and grass of the hilly terrain that rushed in after a moment of floating felt invigorating.
The green hills undulated like waves across the Izerland landscape──.
The Izerland fortress still proudly displayed its grandeur, floating atop the hills like a gigantic ship.
”That’s the Izerland fortress…”
Sarah, along with Natra, stepped down from behind Kian and, as if beckoned by the white great wall, took a tentative step forward.
She seemed speechless at the scale of the fortress, simply standing there in awe.
”Come to think of it, Lady Sarah, this is your first time, isn’t it? I was amazed the first time I saw it too. That great wall is impenetrable by any siege weapon or group magic. It’s truly an outer wall of iron.”
”But just because it’s big doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of places to sneak in. Especially now, with a shortage of hands, the finer details of the barrier are starting to unravel. During the battle at Izerland fortress, didn’t someone infiltrate through the moat to the sewers?”
”Huh, you crossed that moat?”
Priscilla, who was the last to emerge through the gate, spoke with admiration as she deciphered the teleportation spell.
”With dangerous creatures like Kelpies and Great Alligators in the moat, that’s impressive. Weren’t you worried about being pulled into the water while crossing?”
”I did worry a bit. It was night when we infiltrated, and on the dark surface of the water, there was a single eye that floated, glowing an eerie yellow. At first, I didn’t know what it was, but then the water splashed and I realized, ‘Oh, it’s a Kelpie.’ Looking back, I’m glad I wasn’t pulled in.”
”Anyone with thalassophobia would faint hearing that.”
The white-haired witch let out a wry smile, stepped forward, and turned to face everyone.
”Everyone, of course, we’re not going to cross the water moat or sneak into the city through the sewer now. We’ll just march across the bridge straight into the castle. Lord Kian and I will first go to the old Oswald estate to greet Her Excellency, then head to the prisoner facility where Oswald is. The other 3, you’ve already decided what you’re doing in the meantime, right?”
”Lady Sarah and I will go register at the Adventurer’s Guild. It’s crowded and the procedures are complicated, so it’ll probably take some time. Once we’re done, we’ll get a place to stay and wait.”
”Thanks, Natra.”
”Yes, leave it to me, my Lord.”
”Master, do I need escorts to see Oswald?”
”No, just me and Ms. Priscilla are enough.”
When Kian replied, Rufna placed her hands on her hips.
”In that case, I’ll go buy the adventuring gear, like blast powder and other things. Just like at Châtillon, the guild shop here sells stuff more expensive than the market price, so buying all the blast powder and everything ends up costing a lot. They don’t sell things like earthbug acid or the warrior monk’s elixir ingredients needed for potions. After I finish, I’ll meet up with the ladies and wait at the inn.”
”Got it. Then the payment──”
”Oh no, I’ll cover it. I don’t know how much it’ll be. I’ll get a receipt, then later I’ll be reimbursed from the party’s funds.”
”Understood.”
”Rufna, thanks.”
”Yeah, yeah, you’re welcome.”
Rufna waved her hand lightly and answered casually.
Seeing that, Sarah gave a soft smile.
Just as the conversation eased, Priscilla spoke up again.
”Is it okay? Once we cross the bridge, it’ll be noisy and we won’t be able to talk properly.”
”It’s fine.”
Kian nodded, and Priscilla lifted the brim of her black witch hat, smiling happily.
”Alright, then let’s go. Her Excellency Maribel and the others from Izerland are probably waiting eagerly for our arrival.”
* * *
Sarah and the others parted ways at the main gate checkpoint, and Priscilla was taken with her to the captain Liam’s station at the back of the stable.
Then they rode horses while chatting, crossing the town streets, and were guided all the way to the old Oswald mansion.
After seeing the familiar merchant district and Châtillon’s main street, the buildings all looked the same──shape and color──so they felt pretty bland.
Not many people were around, just enough space for horses to pass.
The 3 of them walked their horses through the street together.
Their chat turned to how Maribel had been lately.
According to Liam, Maribel seemed to have recovered her old cheerfulness.
The curse mark of Owl probably hadn’t disappeared yet, but Kian’s vampire genes had replaced her cells, reinforcing her muscles and bones physically and magically, making her much more resistant to curses.
Recently, she’d been busy arguing in the salon or working on documents in the study during the day, then studying and training swordsmanship at night.
Kian turned to Liam, who was walking alongside the horse.
”Her Excellency is training swordsmanship?”
”Yes. The princess has always been lively, preferring to run around the mountains outside the castle rather than sit at a desk. But if she really runs around now, it’d turn into a big hunting festival for all the nobles, so she’s practicing with Lady Eleonora instead, as a compromise.”
”Come to think of it, she followed me smoothly in the guild’s first dungeon, without getting out of breath.”
Considering how exhausted Christy was, it’s easy to see the difference in their natural physical ability and the environments they’ve been in.
Even during a quest where Azrael’s pursuers chased us, Christy was clumsy the whole time, while Maribel skillfully moved her limbs and dodged obstacles.
That was simply because Maribel had excellent athletic reflexes, precise limb control, and good spatial awareness.
”It’s thanks to you that the princess has become so lively again, Master Kian.”
”Master… Kian? What do you mean?”
”Huh?”
”Oh dear, Lord Kian hasn’t heard anything yet. Well, you probably aren’t supposed to. You’ve been busy with quests in Châtillon for the past 2 weeks.”
”What do you mean, Ms. Priscilla? Liam?”
”Haha. Well, if you meet Her Excellency, you’ll understand.”
Liam sighed with a grimace and got off his horse at the corner of the merchant district.
He pulled on Priscilla’s reins to help her down from her horse.
Kian made a weird face but also dismounted, following them.
(Come to think of it, Guy seemed to be hiding something too.)
’Master Kian. Maybe another title has been added without you knowing. But titles and honors don’t pay the bills. No matter what you’re called, a name’s just a thing.’
(You’re really not interested in things you don’t care about, huh.)
’Because I just don’t care about those things.’
”The princess is currently discussing with the nobles in the salon. It might take some time for the audience. There have been some… disagreements lately.”
”She has been quite reluctant about visitors, hasn’t she? It seemed like she didn’t want to invite more trouble.”
Liam looked confused at Priscilla’s comment, unsure how to respond.
It seemed he was hesitating.
In the end, he didn’t answer and simply pointed with his arm toward the winding road leading to the old Oswald estate, saying, “This way, please.”
The direction he pointed──
In front of the black iron gate of the old Oswald estate, a dozen guards in heavy armor stood alert, prepared for anything.
Some of them looked familiar, but from this distance, it was clear their core strength had been greatly improved.
The soldiers seemed much more skilled than before.
(After seeing the regular troops of Châtillon, I can’t help but give a mixed review.)
’Lady Eleonora seems to be doing a fine job. Perhaps it was good that you didn’t become the Defense Minister?’
(Maybe so.)
”Huh? There’s an unfamiliar face. Who’s that young Beastman tiger?”
Priscilla asked as she walked toward the gate.
She was talking about the young man standing in the center of the guard line, who was in a ‘resting’ pose, facing the iron fence.
They could tell he was in his late teens by his face, but his body was as big as a tiger.
It seemed he was actively activating the Beastmen cells to prepare for battle.
He directed a sharp glare at Priscilla and Kian, as if ready to shoot them.
His red eyes, like cat’s eyes, were mysterious yet sparked a primal fear.
”I am Gao. I am the best warrior of the Beastmen Combat Guild (Prev: Beastmen Martial Guild), absorbed by Her Excellency’s army. Last week, Lady Eleonora appointed me as the Sergeant of the Skyclaw Squad.”
”Skyclaw Squad?”
”Yes. The Skyclaw, White Swallow, and Gray Bear are elite units of Izerland’s regular army. They were named using strong magical beast names to become as elite as the Châtillon Knights or the former Ramsey Knights.”
When Liam guided them in front of Gao, the tiger Beastmen youth spread his arms wide, blocking their path.
”Stop right there!”
”Gao. This is Lady Priscilla and Lord Kian. You should have heard that they are here to meet Her Excellency today.”
”Yeah, I heard. But they’re from Châtillon and are Azraelian. I can’t let my guard down. Two months ago, that princess was in danger when surrounded by Azraelian!”
”Lord Kian is a hero of the nation and an example for all Knights. It’s disrespectful to compare him to some bandits.”
”Hmph. I can’t trust anyone hunting monsters just for petty cash, no matter how great their title is… Wait, you don’t mean…”
Gao stepped closer to Kian in the middle of his sentence.
Gao’s subordinates in the back tightened their grips on their spears, sensing the tension.
The tiger Beastmen showed sharp fangs from his black lips, looking down at Kian with his red eyes.
”Ugh…”
”…What is it?”
He returned his gaze to the Beastmen boy, who was growling with a dangerous aura.
He had seen him before at this training grounds.
He knew he had extraordinary physical ability, and he was confident that he could perfectly deflect any attack from this distance.
Gao took a while to groan as he finally squeezed words from his throat.
”You, you were with that old man Renaud when he came, right? Azraelian?”
”Hey, Gao!”
”Liam, it’s okay. Yes, I’m Kian. I believe Lord Renaud introduced me back then?”
”Ha! Like I remember that!”
”I see. To someone as powerful as you, I must seem like a weak nothing.”
”Yeah. But now it’s different! I can’t believe I didn’t notice before, my body hair is standing up! You’re seriously strong!”
”……”
”But!”
A beastly huff escaped his nose.
The Beastmen boy flexed his muscular arms with a creak.
”I’m stronger. My muscles are bigger!”
”──Huh, really?”
Priscilla’s voice sounded genuinely surprised.
It was an oddly silly tone for such a tense moment.
Gao glared at the white-haired witch, but he seemed to be a gentleman who wouldn’t intimidate a woman.
He quietly stepped back from Kian without saying anything.
”Tch, that magic power is really creepy… Mr. Liam, that might be the monster. Don’t let your guard down. Call me if anything happens. I won’t let that princess get touched.”
”So how many times do I have to say Lord Kian is a hero who saves the nation?”
Liam frowned, but Gao only snorted and didn’t ease his watchfulness toward Kian.
Beastmen were often sensitive to these kinds of reactions, so Kian had no intention to escalate things unnecessarily.
He decided to wait silently for Liam to lead the way.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply