Chapter 301
Chapter 301
Chapter 301
In response to Zeke's question, the mage of the Abyss trembled as he opened his mouth.
"H-how did you know about that...?"
The fact that the orcs came from the Forest of the Forgotten was top secret even within the Abyss.
As the wizard hesitated while rolling his eyes, Zeke decided to search through his memories directly, taking into account the potential loss of information.
TSTSTSTS!
A blood eye appeared on Zeke's forehead.
Right after, Zeke began searching through the wizard's memories using his shadow dominion ability and dragon senses.
He calmly examined the wizard'sy memories as they flowed in pieces.
At the outskirts of the forest, a wizard wearing a black robe held up his staff, chanted a spell, and a black portal appeared before him.
'Is this... the Forest of the Forgotten?'
Soon, orcs began emerging from the portal in lines.
'They're doing this right in front of the forest, and Master just let them?'
Knowing Nigel's temperament well, Zeke knew it was impossible for such things to happen in the Forest of the Forgotten.
If any strange energy was detected, Nigel would immediately come out and sweep everything away.
Sure enough, something began flying from the other side of the forest.
The wizard who created the black portal moved busily and spread his palm toward the humans kept in cages.
The humans whose life force was drained by the wizard all collapsed as mummies, and the wizard immediately created a red portal.
The memory ended with the wizards and orcs entering that portal.
Zeke understood what had happened.
'They fled before Master arrived at the scene. A wizard who can create portals. Black magic? Or... it could be power gained from contracting with a high-ranking demon?.'
Zeke asked the wizard of the Abyss.
"Who was the one who created the portal in the forest?"
"T-that is..."
Just as the mage was about to speak, a strange reaction occurred in his body.
"KUGH!"
Something like hives appeared on his body, and then he bled pus before collapsing and dying.
There were various ways to die from a curse.
Zeke clicked his tongue with a frown, and after obtaining the necessary information, he created flames where the Abyss people had been to burn away all traces.
Then he summoned Bucephalus and immediately left the Ogre Mountains.
* * *
A few days later, Zeke arrived at Agamemnon Castle.
Surprisingly, Zeros had already completed his procedures in Nirvana and arrived at Agamemnon Castle.
Next to Zeros was a very tired-looking Jason.
"Were you two acquainted?"
Then Zeros smiled brightly and said,
“Yes, Jason was my junior at the magic tower. We even took some sorcerer classes together.”
Zeros held the titles of both sorcerer and warlock.
In contrast, Jason had only learned earth magic, so he had not yet received the sorcerer title.
Jason said to Zeke in an almost dying voice,
“Ugh… my lord, where did you pick up this monster?”
Zeros looked hurt and said,
“Jason, what do you mean monster? I’m just an ordinary mage.”
At that, Jason gritted his teeth.
“If you’re an ordinary mage, then I’m just a dirt-playing earthworm.”
Although Jason was considered somewhat of a prodigy at the magic tower, Zeros was a genius wizard of a different caliber.
Zeke said, looking at Jason,
“He’s a talented person brought in to supplement the magical personnel of the knight order. Soon we’ll also be recruiting for the magic battalion, so there will be a lot of work to do.”
Jason nodded weakly at his words.
Arina had officially disbanded the Rose Knights and transferred them to the Black Sword Knights.
She was also set to take on the role of teaching magic at Agamemnon Castle as a magic battalion advisor.
With the Rose Knights’ personnel joining, the Black Sword Knights now had over two hundred personnel, equivalent to a medium-sized knight order.
Zeke had hurried to Agamemnon Castle because a formal knight appointment ceremony was scheduled for today.
Decker, holding the knight title of Draker, would serve as the commander, while Farrell, holding the Thebea knight title, would be the vice-commander. Once Clonne received her knight title, She would take the vice-commander position and lead the former Rose Knights personnel.
As Zeke hurriedly entered the great hall of Agamemnon Castle, the preparations for the title ceremony were already complete.
‘Good, I’m not late.’
Before entering the hall, Zeke activated Hersion.
SWISH!
Instantly, full plate armor was equipped on his body.
The Theia goddess's Hersion made of Orichalcon emitted an exquisite radiance that could not be seen in ordinary armor.
Wearing the Hersion and draped with Jerome's cloak, Zeke looked exactly like a hero from legends.
Inside the hall, not only the elders of the Agamemnon family but also prominent figures from the central region had gathered.
As Zeke entered, everyone bowed their heads with respect towards him.
He slowly climbed up to the podium.
Zeke, who reached the highest seat, hugged and greeted Rufus, the head of the Agamemnon family and his maternal grandfather, who was sitting there.
Once Zeke sat in the chair next to Rufus, the investiture ceremony began.
Those receiving knighthood slowly entered the hall.
THUMP!
Clonne, Felix, Liam, Diego, Aster, and Jeffrik confidently entered wearing custom-made armor crafted by Gellion.
Surprisingly, the armor they wore was all Hersion.
Hades' improved mechanical system had been applied to modern armor by Feinan and Gelion to create Hersion specifically for the Black Sword Knights.
The sturdy and dignified black Hersion vividly demonstrated the Black Sword Knights' elegance.
As they knelt before the podium, Rufus Agamemnon, the family head, stood up and spoke.
"I extend my gratitude to the distinguished guests attending the Agamemnon family's knighthood ceremony!"
Rufus's voice echoed throughout the wide hall.
He addressed the audience, "After 65 years, we are bestowing knighthood in the name of the Agamemnon family! I have no doubt that these knights will demonstrate the integrity and unwavering resolve of knighthood for the peace and well-being of Mycenae and the central continent!"
As Rufus continued his speech, he suddenly turned to look at Zeke.
"And here today, I, Rufus Agamemnon, will transfer the authority of bestowing knighthood to my heir, Zeke Draker."
Not only Zeke but also the entire audience was shocked by this statement.
Transferring the authority to bestow knighthood essentially meant that Zeke was now the practical owner of the Agamemnon family.
Zeke looked at Rufus with a stunned expression. Rufus grabbed Zeke's shoulder and said,
"Zeke, everything bearing the name of Agamemnon is now yours."
It meant that Rufus would step back, retaining only the title of family head, and entrust everything to Zeke.
Zeke accepted his maternal grandfather's intention to pass everything to him and nodded.
SWOOOSH!
He drew Roland from his waist.
The audience was filled with reverence at the sight of Zeke holding the brilliantly shining jeweled sword Roland.
Combined with his dragon body and charisma, everyone in the hall was gradually being drawn to him.
The six people kneeling before him were no exception.
Zeke raised his sword and slowly touched Clonne's shoulder.
"Clonne Ironheart. Do you promise to be a knight of the Black Sword Knights and devote your loyalty?"
Clonne bowed her head solemnly and replied,
"I promise to be loyal to my lord."
Zeke asked the same question to the other five knights and received the same answer.
"I bestow upon you the knighthood in the name of Agamemnon."
As he finished speaking and raised Roland, a bright light burst from the sword.
He had used the light barrier through the holy light technique.
Bright clusters of light spread throughout the hall.
The nobles from the prestigious central region families trembled and exclaimed upon seeing the radiance.
"T-this is a sacred light!"
"The Saint King...! The Saint King's return!"
They shuddered, feeling as if they had glimpsed the appearance of Geo Lubern, the first Saint King known as the messenger of light.
Zeke inwardly smiled with satisfaction while looking at the shocked central nobles.
'The effect of the holy light technique is excellent.'
He had staged this performance to prevent any potential gossip among the noble families due to the sudden transfer of Agamemnon's knighthood authority.
Most central region nobles were devout believers, so he had anticipated they would appreciate the light magic - and his expectation was exactly right.
The knighthood ceremony of Agamemnon, held after 65 years, was a tremendous success.
* * *
"Huh, me being an official knight. It's unbelievable."
After the knighthood ceremony, those who received knighthood gathered in the Round Table Room, the conference chamber of Agamemnon Castle.
Clonne casually put her leg up on the round table and pulled out a rolled-up telegram from her chest, chewing it with a crunch.
Felix, sitting next to him, shook his head and said,
"Now if the Vice-Commander causes trouble, it'll tarnish the Agamemnon family...!
Kheuk!
He was sent flying and embedded in the wall after getting punched by Clonne for his unnecessary comment.
At that moment, Zeke and Decker entered the conference room.
Clonne, with a more disciplined voice than usual, stood up and shouted,
"Everyone, salute to the Lord!"
Clonne had always been a knight with strong loyalty.
Now that his loyalty target had shifted from Arina to Zeke, he was showing appropriate loyalty.
Following Clonne's command, the others quickly straightened their postures.
Seeing these knights, Zeke waved his hand.
"Why are you being so burdensome all of a sudden? Everyone, at ease."
"At ease."
It was a typical Clonne-like response, given her role as the discipline officer in the Rose Knights.
Zeke spoke to the knights, "First, congratulations to everyone on becoming knights. I'm sure you'll all handle things well, but I have one request."
Looking at them, he said,
"Absolutely do not die. Your lives come first in any situation."
While the most important virtue of a knight was to dedicate one's life to their lord, Zeke did not say that. Instead, he emphasized protecting their own lives first.
After saying this, Zeke immediately stood up.
Felix asked, confused,
"Huh? My Lord, is that all?"
Zeke nodded,
"Yes, that's it. Is there anything else needed?"
"No, not exactly, but..."
As Felix hesitated, Zeke spoke again.
"Come to think of it, I missed one thing."
He looked at the knights and said,
"War is coming soon."
At the mention of war, Farrell asked seriously,
"My Lord, war with whom?"
Zeke thought for a moment before slowly speaking,
"The Rome Empire."
Hearing this, Clonne took out his mace, tapped it on his palm, and muttered, "Rome Empire. It doesn't matter where. Just smash their heads in."
The other knights shuddered at his words.
Clonne was indeed the type to smash first and ask questions later.
Zeke said to the knights,
"The movements of Abel and the Empire are not ordinary lately. Everyone should be prepared."
The continental war Zeke fought in his previous life occurred three years from now.
Originally, Kali would be killed by the Pirate King in a year, and Arthur Draker would die of illness, leading Abel to become the head of the Draker family and start an invasion war with the Empire.
In that war, many cities, including Atlas, would be reduced to ruins, and innocent citizens would be brutally massacred.
Having lost precious people in the midst of that horrific war, Zeke had been living with the sole hope of preventing such events from happening again.
'Events are progressing faster than in my previous life. Perhaps because of my interventions, things have been slightly altered.'
He looked at the knights and said,
"As Clonne said, it doesn't matter who the opponent is. The Black Sword Knights just need to cut down and smash the enemies that come. The only thing you must not forget in that process is: do not die."
The knights nodded with resolute eyes.
All six of them now possessed the gaze of true knights.
The immortal Black Sword Knights.
Zeke intended to create the strongest knight order that could swallow not only the imperial army but the Draker family, the most powerful military group.
'In this life, I will live solely according to my own will, without being manipulated by anyone else.'