Duchy Capital (3)
“Something happen?”
Yanes picked up on Valerius's sour expression the moment he returned and asked as much. Valerius hesitated for a beat before laying out the whole story.
“The Blue Wolf Knights, huh.”
“Famous?”
“……Aren't you from the North?”
At Valerius's retort, Yanes tilted her head but still explained. The North's forces—excluding the private soldiers of individual domains—were mostly concentrated in the Duchy Capital. It was the North's most critical military stronghold, a hub teeming with every kind of soldier imaginable.
“The Serpia ducal house boasts three knight orders.”
“Most places struggle to maintain even one.”
“The imperial family recognizes them officially and provides support.”
The Blue Wolves handled external operations. The White Wolves formed the core command structure at the North's foremost frontline. And the Golden Wolves guarded the ducal house itself. These three wolf knight orders were renowned fighting forces even within the North.
The North did have such famous combat units, but their names were definitely different.
“Raven. Ain't this the Three Knight Orders?”
“Spot on. In our tongue, it's Sini Volk, Beli Volk, and Zolotoi Volk.”
“Ah.”
They were ancient terms he'd memorized as proper nouns without grasping the meanings. Who knew they were so straightforward?
“Thought the names sounded cool. Turns out the translations are pretty meh.”
“That's continental common tongue for you. In ancient speak, bro, they'd call you Chorny Liev.”
“Ooh. That's got some flair.”
Ultimate skill name material right there.
“Hold up. Down south, everyone thinks it's continental common. Didn't the Northerners know?”
Valerius and Raven tilted their heads at Yanes's suddenly grave expression.
“Nah, they knew. The Three Knight Orders have always been called by their ancient names as tradition.”
“Right. We know the ancient names, but the others feel off.”
“Means Northerners don't use those words. But the vice commander of one of those elite orders did use it.”
“……Huh?”
Valerius's face twisted at Yanes's words. Raven was still cocking his head in confusion, but Valerius—with his modern mindset—caught the implication right away.
“More comfortable with central lingo than Northern words. And in one of the North's prized Three Knight Orders.”
“Means a central noble's planted someone there, right? Just to check—are the Three Knight Orders exclusive to Northerners?”
“……No such rule that I know of. But they wouldn't hand it to outsiders. No way they'd entrust the North's pride to non-Northern blood.”
Valerius stroked his chin thoughtfully. Yanes's point was simple: maybe central noble factions like that noisy Bloodthorn Assembly were reaching into the North.
Of course, speculating this far on mere suspicion without hard evidence bordered on paranoia.
'She talks a good game.'
But somehow, her words rang true. She was so bold and sharp that you just trusted her baseline judgment.
“Putting it on hold for now. Nothing solid yet. Need more proof, one way or another.”
“Yeah…… you're right. Can't move around, so my mind's racing a bit.”
Yanes conceded she might be overthinking it. Valerius gave her a strange look.
Taking feedback so casually—could this really be the same scheming villainess from the original story?
“Feels that way. And Sophia, covering for you, looks wiped—probably can't even think straight. How rough is it that she's not complaining?”
“Huh? Me?”
“Whoops! L-Lady Sophia. Ahem. I'm light, so it shouldn't be too bad.”
“……You're not wrong, milady.”
Sophia smiled awkwardly. Even for an Aura knight, lugging what had to be fifty kilos was no joke—especially handling a delicate noble lady like fragile cargo.
“Tsk tsk. Whatever.”
Valerius clicked his tongue, shook his head, and signaled Raven with hand signs. Time to tighten the schedule and push to the Duchy Capital. He needed to see or confirm things himself to clear his head.
The trip from Rozanica to the Duchy Capital normally took about two and a half months. But with Valerius's brute strength, Raven's driving and navigation skills, it shrank to one. After a brutal week of nonstop travel, they arrived a hair faster than that.
“……So this is the Duchy Capital.”
Yanes, peeking out from the luggage compartment for inspection, got her first look from atop Sophia's back. The massive walls encircling the domain dwarfed even the imperial ones in size and sturdiness. They exuded an majesty that no monster could breach.
“This used to be the frontline back in the day.”
“For real?”
“Yeah. The North's current borders were pushed out by the Serpia founding duke.”
An hour of idle chatter later during inspection, the group finally entered the domain.
The North's premier city, Serpia, buzzed with life as expected.
“Thought Rozanica was thriving.”
“Nothing compared to this.”
The cityscape, blending seamlessly with the North's rugged vibe, brought a smile to Yanes's face.
“Bro. Inn?”
“Got the seal, but…… nah. Book us one. Don't wanna bunk inside and bump into that picky chick.”
“Heh. Fair point.”
Valerius opted for an inn to avoid tangling with Isolde at the Serpia estate. Yanes was a tricky gray-area villainess, but Isolde was the real deal.
'In the story, she massacred civilians without batting an eye.'
That mindset was straight-up alien. Cold as ice, through and through.
“Chick? What chick?”
Yanes had overheard the guys and piped up. Sophia and Raven eyed Valerius with keen interest.
“Someone at the Serpia estate I wanna steer clear of.”
“……Who?”
Valerius cocked his head at Yanes's follow-up. Why was she even curious?
“Why's it matter? You're not my wife or anything.”
“W-Wife?! What kinda talk is that! Seriously!”
“Why're you flipping out?”
Valerius sighed at Yanes's tomato-red face and shrill outburst. No clue what set her off like that.
“Tut tut. Fine, scratch that. Better?”
“……S-So who is it? W-We sailed here together, so I don't wanna get dragged in either.”
“Hm. Fair.”
Thinking about Yanes's future, yeah—steering clear of Isolde was probably smart. Valerius nodded, glanced around, and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
“Lady Serpia. Personality's a nightmare—stay away. Especially you. Don't even talk to her.”
“You met the lady? She hardly ever goes out.”
“Yeah, well. Happened.”
He recalled their first encounter. Something about an undercover outing for business, right?
“Anyway, avoid if possible. It'll darken your future.”
“Hmph. Not darkening over that.”
“……Doubt it.”
Leaving the suddenly snippy Yanes behind, Valerius nodded at Raven, who led them on. The inn was off the main drag, a bit secluded—perfect to avoid estate drama. Valerius approved.
“Around here.”
“Good eyes?”
“Ah! There! Bro, this way!”
Raven's pick was a rundown joint. Yanes wrinkled her nose at the shabby exterior but quickly schooled her face. No need to offend if it was an acquaintance's place.
“Old man! Old man!”
“Eh?”
Thick beer stench hit them as they entered. A wrinkled old dwarf popped up from behind the counter at Raven's cheerful call.
“What the—Raven?”
“Old man. Still spry as ever. Say hi—bro's here too.”
“Eh? Balri's back?”
The old dwarf squinted with cloudy eyes, then gawked at the massive Valerius towering beside him.
“Holy shit! Balri! How many years?!”
“Old timer still kicking, huh.”
“Hah! Damn straight! You punk!”
The dwarf doted on Valerius fiercely, like a son. He hopped up for a rough bear hug, yapping nonstop in delight.
“……Who's that? Friend?”
Yanes whispered to Raven, who'd slipped aside.
“Yeah. Topsol Kill Gang started as mercs. That was our old captain. Retired, runs this inn now.”
“Ah. Name?”
“Stal Trborda.”
“W-Wait, the Golden Mercenary Corps Trborda?!”
“Oho, you know Trborda Mercs? Lady's got knowledge.”
Who wouldn't? One of the North's top-three powerhouse merc groups. Still thriving as monster hunters, especially ogres—practically synonymous with the name.
“Old man's plugged into everything, y'know? Got the dirt on central nobles too.”
“……Yeah.”
Stal Trborda was infamous. A dwarf who'd clawed for a noble title, diving headfirst into politics. Failed in the end, but that know-how lingered—prime contact if shit went down in the capital.
“Topsol Kill was part of Trborda Mercs?”
“More like a splinter group from 'em.”
Yanes gulped as Valerius boomed with laughter. How'd this rough-mannered commoner brute rack up heavyweights like Grant and Stal?
'Golden lifeline for sure. Good eye, Yanes. Taste confirmed.'
Connections were power. She patted herself on the back once more for latching onto Valerius.