Chapter 239: Advance (1)
Chapter 239: Advance (1)
A man as brilliant as he was arrogant.
That was the definition of Ian Chervil.
And it was his only weakness.
* * *
Duchess Daisy White.
To soothe her heavy heart, she had embarked on a long journey to visit someone she missed. In these turbulent times, bitter memories refused to stay buried.
The fall of her family.
Unbearable disgrace.
The people who had vanished into the void.
Throughout those dark moments, the one who had protected the young, fragile Daisy was a certain man. He wasn't a natural genius, nor was he a man of great power; he was just an ordinary knight. Though others had mocked him, to Daisy, he was a protagonist who shone brighter than anyone else. Yes, a hero more radiant than any other.
‘Petel.’
Mounted on her saddle, Daisy made her way through the now-familiar forest path.
‘If you were here, would my heart finally be at peace?’
The rhythmic clopping of hooves echoed steadily. Feeling the forest breeze against her skin, Daisy’s thoughts drifted.
Petel, the girl who feared horses is gone.
The girl who clung to your hand because the forest terrified her is gone, too.
I have become a woman, and before I knew it, I began to grow old.
And yet, I am still afraid of so many things.
Even when I play the part of a grand Duchess, I am still that same girl.
Even within the sturdiest fortress, I am afraid.
I am.
I am so afraid of this world.
Just like that moment when I lost everything.
I fear the world will strip everything away from me once again.
I am so terrified that sometimes, I tremble uncontrollably.
The truth is, I’m still a coward, Petel. Even though I’m all grown up.
“…….”
Daisy White raised her head, her eyes vacant. Trees of uniform height stretched toward the sky, with dazzling rays of sunlight piercing through the gaps in the leaves. Amidst the quiet scenery, Daisy closed her eyes and basked in the stillness. It was a ritual of hers whenever she passed through this place—a moment to enjoy a brief respite, as if she were the only person left in the world.
As Daisy tilted her head back, the horse carrying her slowed to a halt. It seemed to sense its master was savoring a moment of peace. In the silence of the forest heart, Daisy opened her eyes and gently stroked the animal’s mane.
However, something felt wrong.
“The others are late.”
Originally, Daisy had intended to travel alone, but Russell White would not hear of it. He had assigned several Watchers of the White Family to her. They were among the most skilled individuals in the Iron Kingdom. They followed from a distance so as not to disturb her, yet they were exceptional sentries capable of maintaining a thorough watch from afar.
“Has something happened?”
It was odd. Had they stopped because she had? That couldn't be it. If she had been stationary for this long, they would have approached cautiously to check on her, just as they had the last time she lingered. Perhaps they were being extra considerate today?
But the feeling persisted.
‘Something is wrong.’
An inexplicable sense of foreboding washed over her. Soon, a familiar scent wafted through the air—a gruesome, metallic smell that did not belong in the clean forest. Daisy knew exactly what it was.
“……!”
The scent of blood.
The moment the tang hit her, Daisy yanked the reins. The horse, previously still, bolted forward. It accelerated to a breakneck speed, making it difficult for Daisy to maintain her balance. The animal felt it too—the dread, and the approaching shadow of death.
‘What in the...’
Confusion swirled in her mind. This was the Verdi region, the outskirts of the Iron Kingdom. The only threats here should have been bandits or rogue knights, and the Watchers of the White Family were not the type to be defeated by such rabble. Startled, Daisy gripped the horse tightly, her breath coming in sharp gasps. The scenery blurred past as she squeezed her eyes shut.
Phut—!
A sharp sound cut through the air. Then, a heavy thud echoed from the ground.
“Ah!”
An arrow was embedded in the earth. Suddenly, the galloping horse’s legs flailed in the air. Seeing a spray of blood, Daisy felt her body lurch. Amidst the horse’s frantic scream, Daisy fell from the mount. The speed of the horse now became a weapon against her; if she hit the ground like this, she would die instantly.
Staring at the approaching earth, Daisy couldn't even manage a scream.
And then—
“Careful now.”
Daisy’s body did not hit the ground. When she came to her senses, she was cradled in a man’s arms. He had hair as fine and golden as silk and blue eyes that sparkled like jewels. His appearance was similar to Arhan Caravan, the Lord of the Caravan Estate, but his aura was entirely different. If Arhan Caravan was a beautiful but venomous predator, this man was...
“You almost got hurt.”
An idler. Yes, he seemed like a lazy wanderer.
Daisy recognized him. “Toma Rhapsody….”
“Oh, you know my name,” Toma said with a playful smirk.
His affable voice was quickly interrupted.
“Toma, set Lady White down and draw your sword.”
Beside him stood another Rhapsody. Edan Rhapsody—the swordsman who had vanished after the fall of the Free City.
“It seems there are those who prey on the weak.”
Clang. With a sharp ring, Edan Rhapsody drew his blade.
“What should I do, brother?” Toma asked.
“Protect Lady White. She is a guest of your friend.”
“Then I shall protect her so that not a single hair on her head is harmed.”
“Good.”
Upon Edan's blade... the sea dwelled.
“I shall handle the uninvited guests.”
The moment the sea took hold, Edan Rhapsody swung. Crash! With the sound of breaking waves, every tree in his line of sight was cleaved horizontally. As the obstacles were cleared, the hidden attackers were revealed. Edan took a deep breath and donned his armor. Transparent plate, shimmering like water, materialized around his body. He lowered his stance.
And then, it happened.
“Wh—”
The bodies of the approaching attackers split wide open. Even in death, they stared ahead with wide eyes, their legs still carrying them forward for a few steps before their entrails spilled out. Those who met Edan Rhapsody’s blade usually died that way. He possessed the swiftest blade on the continent.
Twenty-six of the twenty-eight attackers died in 0.2 seconds.
The remaining two were left sprawling on the ground, their limbs severed. Desperate screams erupted as they rolled in the dirt. Edan Rhapsody grabbed the survivors by their hair and yanked them up. Their faces were masks of agony, smeared with tears and sweat.
“H-How... why is a Rhapsody... in a backwater place like this...?”
“Why... why are you... helping... Daisy?”
“When many conspire to kill the weak, is it not natural to help?” Edan replied coldly.
“The blood of a... lazy idler... shouldn't care about duty.”
“It may not be in my blood. But it is a duty I carry as one who holds a sword.”
“F-Foolish chivalry.”
Edan Rhapsody furrowed his brows. Thwack. He plunged his sword into the man’s thigh. An unsightly scream burst out.
“You will come to envy your friends who have already departed. I intend to hand you over to the Winter Fortress personally. You know how much Duke Russell White treasures his wife, don't you?”
However, a boisterous, mocking laugh erupted from the attacker.
“Pfft... hehe... Pwahahaha!”
“What’s so funny?”
“Russell White... is dead! You descendant of an idler, you're behind on the news!”
“...What did you say?”
“D-Do you think we... chased Lady White for no reason?”
The news hit like a physical blow. While Edan’s expression crumpled, Daisy spoke in a trembling voice.
“You... you are of the White family.”
“Hehe, you finally... recognize me, My Lady!”
“Why... why would you plot such a thing? Of all people, you—”
“Yes, I am of a collateral branch! Not of the pure bloodline!” the attacker shouted, his eyes bloodshot. “Lady Daisy White! Every place you have to return to has been burned to ash! The Winter Fortress has fallen, and Russell White has been beheaded. Hehe... I heard His Highness intends to have Russell White’s corpse stuffed! Pwahahaha!”
“…….”
“W-We all came here... to kill you. Our m-merciful Highness said that if we simply end your life, h-he would recognize us as the official House White! As one of the Five Families!”
The attacker’s eyes were stained a deep crimson. His pupils trembled violently, and saliva dripped from his lips as he shook. He looked like a man who had been utterly broken.
“S-Stuffed. Stuffed. S-Serves him right. W-When we become the Family Head, I-I’ll stuff you too. Y-You lowly wench. You don't d-deserve to be called My Lady, you b-bitc—”
Edan Rhapsody swung his sword and severed the man's head. The distorted face rolled away, and from the neck, murky grey blood poured out.
It was not human blood.
“Brother, what is this?” Toma asked, his voice shaking.
“A human... corrupted by a demon. A Noble of the Night.”
Grey blood was proof of demonic corruption. But it was strange. Demons respected the ‘White’ name. The demons of the Northern Continent and the White family shared a mutual duty as Guardians of Order. Why would a Noble of the Night corrupt someone of White blood? And why were demons in the Western Continent at all?
Edan Rhapsody felt a strange sense of familiarity. He had experienced this before—when he had led the Legion of Freedom and lost everything to a scheme.
He realized who the culprit was. There was only one person capable of such diabolical orchestration.
‘Ian Chervil.’
The Master of the Iron Kingdom.
“You must be careful,” Daisy whispered. “They are strong, but they aren't powerful enough to have dealt with the Watchers so quickly. There must be more of them—”
Her words were proven true a moment later.
With the trees cleared away, a figure walked leisurely toward them from the distance. Even without a weapon drawn, the man filled the forest with an overwhelming, suffocating presence. A terrible sense of helplessness set in. Toma Rhapsody screamed and scrambled backward, collapsing as a horrific memory resurfaced—the memory of his soul being butchered.
“You must be erased.”
The Foremost Sword of the Continent.
Carlos was there.
* * *
“We must strike at his arrogance.”
A being who is both brilliant and arrogant—that was Ian Chervil. I don't want to admit it, but objectively speaking, he possesses a superior intellect. His rise from the Iron Prince to his current position proves his cunning. However, as meticulous as he is, he is equally conceited.
He considers himself the protagonist of the world—a hero who cannot die until the story ends.
But reality is different from a book. Whether you’re the protagonist or a god, you can die at any time. No one is free from death.
‘If Ian Chervil is the King, Carlos is the Queen.’
In chess, the Queen is the most powerful and active piece. When Ian Chervil moves to create a whirlwind, he will inevitably separate Carlos from himself to utilize him aggressively. Just as he did when he erased the Caravan Estate.
Therefore, the greatest crisis will soon become the greatest opportunity. No matter how many powerful pieces he has, the game is decided by the King. A dog that has lost its master—I wonder what expression his executioner will wear when Ian Chervil is dead. I won't be satisfied until I see that face.
“But there will be others protecting Ian Chervil,” someone noted.
“I suppose so.”
“How are you going to defeat them?”
It was a reasonable question.
“Unless it’s a Swordmaster, there is no being who can hold me back,” I answered. “The only ones who can stop me now are Swordmasters.”
It wasn't an exaggeration. I was at that level now.
With Ian Chervil as our primary target, we intended to refine our plan at the mansion. I had prepared thoroughly, but the perspectives of others were necessary. It is vital not to have absolute, blind faith in oneself….
『Young Master—』
Then, a voice echoed from within. A familiar voice.
Twilight, my neighbor. No, at this moment, he was not just a neighbor.
『Young Master Arhan.』
The knight who still looked only upon one woman. The loyal Petel was speaking.
『Daisy is... in danger.』