Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Wood and Iron
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"But don't worry. Killing you lot wouldn't do me any favors either, so fine. I'll prove it."
The young man let out a small sigh, slipped his hand into his coat pocket, and revealed a pendant of unknown origin. The pendant exuded an unsettling aura. But it wasn't anything he recognized. He stared at the pendant swinging back and forth in front of his eyes, ticking away.
"That do it?"
"...This isn't the emblem of the Steel Knight Order."
"Figured as much."
At that moment, the young man leaned in close. Even with the helmet's visor down, their eyes met precisely. A chill crawled up his spine. An inexplicable magic seeped into his body. He nearly screamed. Only his pride as a knight sealed his lips.
"I'm not with the Steel Knight Order. I'm one of the Radiance."
If anything, not screaming had been a mistake.
In an instant, his mind went blank. He couldn't think at all.
That's when a faint purple glow began to flicker from somewhere.
"If you've confirmed I'm under Duke Iyes, then back off. Report to the castellan that I'm with the Steel Knight Order. If he doesn't buy it, come chase me down again. Just know you won't walk away with all your limbs intact next time."
The young man's words drilled into his brain like a lie that rang true. And just like that, the oppressive pressure from him vanished.
"Remember that."
With those parting words, the young man slowly turned and walked deeper into the forest. Once he'd put some distance between them, he bolted away. The soldiers watched him kick off the ground and vanish in a blur before lowering their crossbows and gathering around Conrad.
"Knight, what now? Should we pursue?"
Pursue?
...No, he was telling the truth. He was under Duke Iyes.
He'd confirmed the pendant's emblem. It was unmistakable. A beat late, Conrad shook his head at the soldier's question.
"No. We've confirmed it. Let's head back. Treat the injured horse's wounds and help Zephian along."
For reasons he couldn't quite grasp, Conrad let out a small sigh as he got the fallen horse back on its feet. Upon returning to the castle, he reported to the castellan that they'd verified the men were under Duke Iyes and were bypassing the castle due to a secret mission. Whether the castellan trusted Conrad or simply didn't want to stir trouble with Duke Iyes, he said nothing more.
+ + +
Duke Aquila Iyes.
Those who'd seen him in person all said he embodied the textbook definition of nobility. Dignity flowed from every gesture, and his deep, resonant voice had a captivating charm that ensnared hearts. Countless people longed for even a single conversation with him, and those who had one left with profound admiration.
Not just nobles—even commoners revered him without exception. Sylan Kingdom might tolerate nobles, but it was a hellhole for the average folk. They were little more than livestock a notch above slaves. That's why so many dreamed of becoming adventurers or mercenaries, though most lacked the skill to make it.
For even the commoners to hold him in such esteem was indirect proof of his extraordinary talents. It earned him the title of the greatest among the three dukes—and he truly was.
He was a dangerous man.
Those who knew more about Duke Iyes than most avoided solitary meetings with him. Even the kingdom's most authoritative king tread carefully in his presence, and sometimes a single word from him decided matters of state. Infuriated, the other two dukes and the king once banded together to eliminate him, only to face mortal threats themselves and back down. The tale was infamous among the nobility.
The Steel Knight Order under his command was the kingdom's finest, assembled from its top talents and vast in scale. Fewer knew of the secret knight order called Radiance, made up of that order's captains alongside exceptional mercenaries and adventurers sworn to him personally.
On top of that, Duke Iyes himself was a master swordsman rivaling the owner of a famed blade. With wealth, ambition, power, and prowess in both pen and sword, his ranks overflowed with talent. Far more hoped to serve under him than the king. In truth, though titled duke, he was the real king of Sylan.
"Hmm."
Duke Iyes opened the door to his study, stepped inside, hung his outer coat on a rack in the corner, and loosened his constricting collar. His breathing eased a bit. With a light exhale, he pulled out his usual chair at the desk and sat, as always.
The chair, carved from fine wood, had no cushion—hard as a rock. He straightened his back and scanned the reports on the desk. These had come in that morning, but the audience with the king had kept him from reviewing them. Quite the pile now. His eye twitched instinctively at the volume. Two finger-widths' worth. A lot, even if he hadn't checked since morning. Still, he could finish in an hour if he hurried.
Time to get to work.
He'd just turned the first page when he spotted a letter tucked inside. The wax-sealed envelope had an antique feel. Fitting—most letters to him came from nobles. But this one wasn't. The seal on the wax belonged to his most loyal and trusted subordinates, the Radiance.
As he moved to open it, the wax parted smoothly, already sliced by a knife—as if someone had peeked. It meant someone had checked it already, but he didn't mind. All his incoming mail was screened by his men first. Only the important ones got flagged like this. Tucking one between reports, though? That was rare.
"......"
He pulled out the letter and read. His face hardened. Flowery praise for him aside, the content was the issue.
"Someone's impersonating the Radiance?"
Heh, what nonsense.
The duke let out a hollow chuckle. Absurd enough not to anger him. Only the other two dukes and a handful of nobles knew of Radiance's existence—yet here was an impostor.
Funnier still: word had come from some tavern soldier. A tavern, of all places. Radiance rumors in a backwater bar? Laughable.
"Hah."
Annoying.
And of all names to drop.
He couldn't ignore it.
The duke reread the letter, eyes narrowing in thought.
It had arrived within a day, and the impostor sighting was less than two days old. Assuming they'd skirted Cheska Fortress and headed north at top speed, the likely spots were...
"Northbound puts it at Gregory Fortress. Otherwise, Roland Fortress."
Sending Radiance to hunt them down wouldn't work—the land was too vast, their numbers too few.
'Of all times, right before the forest assault. This distraction...'
Face twisting, the duke glared at the letter for a long while before opening a drawer. He pulled out two sheets of matching stationery, wrote swiftly, sealed them with wax, stood, opened the door to the hall, and summoned a subordinate.
"Deliver these letters: one to 'Owen' at Gregory Fortress, the other to 'Miloca' at Roland Fortress."
The subordinate took them without a word and departed. Any Radiance member receiving it via magic would mobilize at once. Talented bunch—if luck held, they'd find the culprit. The duke sighed softly and turned to his backlog.
'Not long now.'
Everything was falling into place, one by one. Soon.
Deals sealed with the battle clan at Langritsa Magic Tower in Calypso. Supplies secured, soldiers, adventurers, and mercenaries recruited. Ample funds and backing from nobles craving elven slaves from each nation.
'Sylan will rise as an empire. Surpassing past failures to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Byron and Baekje! I'll make it happen. In place of that incompetent king, I will...!'
As he read the reports, Duke Iyes's eyes sharpened to blades.
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#Setting 9. "Secret Knight Order - Radiance"
The secret knight order of House Iyes, which holds Sylan Kingdom in its grip.
Founded on the orders of former head Arman Iyes, who commanded then-young heir 'Duke Aquila Iyes' to assemble top talents.
Its inaugural members began with the captains of the kingdom's mightiest Steel Knight Order, filled out by standout adventurers and mercenaries from Sylan. He then secured their loyalty through genius management and generous treatment.
Radiance first revealed itself when the king and two dukes allied to assassinate Duke Iyes. The order, stationed at his estate, slaughtered the intruders and turned the tables—threatening the lives of the two dukes and king to force their surrender. A major contribution. Individuals vary wildly in skill and swordsmanship, but their teamwork is exceptional.
Shadow Kingdom intel rates Radiance on par with Byron Empire's Blue Spear Knights and Baekje Empire's Straw Warriors... though without real combat data, no one knows how a clash would end.
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========== Afterword ==========
Just one left! One on Wednesday!
Fighting to everyone like me who hasn't finished finals yet!