Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: The Count Bends the Knee
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“……!”
Antar’s eyes widened in shock.
Gorrba’s eyes nearly popped out, his mouth hanging open.
When Arthur entered the study.
No one could have imagined he was the head of the Julius Count Family.
Distance and time-wise, traveling there and back in three days was impossible.
But knowing Britannica’s capabilities made it less surprising.
“H-How…….”
Amid his bewilderment, a overwhelming aura crushed down on him.
He tried to resist by drawing up his mana, but it was futile against such an opponent.
The sheer pressure alone outmatched even the beastly foes he had faced.
Arthur set his helmet on the desk and perched on its edge.
“You’re Count Antar?”
“Mm…….”
Antar’s face hardened.
There was no trace of surprise left; instead, he frowned and spoke.
“Young man, you lack manners.”
“I was never taught manners for dealing with the defeated.”
“Arrogant bastard.”
Contrary to his words, a smile tugged at Antar’s lips.
Arthur grinned and asked.
“Why did you want to see me?”
“Blizan, was it? He said the Julius Count Family had been framed by the emperor’s schemes.”
“What do you think? Do we look like devil worshippers?”
“Hm.”
Antar couldn’t answer easily.
Common sense dictated that a family blessed by the gold dragon wouldn’t ally with devils.
Yet the Julius Count Family clung to past glory, barely maintaining its line—it was possible they had succumbed to temptation.
“Have you seen them?”
“The ones supposedly sent by the Namsar Empire?”
“Those are the real devil worshippers, not us.”
“Hm…….”
Antar let out a low groan.
From what he had witnessed, those monster-like men did seem like devil followers.
But he couldn’t judge based on that alone. After all, it was an imperial decree.
If their claims were true, why would the emperor do such a thing?
The Julius family was no threat, merely hanging on.
A bolt of realization flashed through his mind.
On second thought, their state didn’t match a fading house.
They had won the territorial war against the Yarve Count Family and crushed the Sten Knight Order in an instant.
They must have hidden their true strength all along.
But why?
Perhaps the emperor, fearing for his throne, framed them to check their power.
Yet with Marquis Tano’s forces facing the enemy across the Namsar Empire border, any provocation could spark war.
There was no reason for the Oscar Empire to weaken its own forces.
‘What’s the motive?’
As Antar’s gaze deepened.
Arthur spoke as if piercing his thoughts.
“If the Oscar Empire’s forces weaken, who benefits most?”
“The Namsar Empire, of course……!”
Light dawned in Antar’s eyes.
“Now it makes sense, right?”
“I don’t get it. That would mean one of the emperor’s closest aides was turned by the Namsar Empire—but none of them fit.”
“What if there is?”
“……!”
Antar’s eyes rounded.
Arthur met his gaze firmly and asked.
“Will you join me then?”
Antar nodded without hesitation.
“Of course. But I won’t follow you on mere speculation.”
“If you won’t follow, that’s your choice.”
Arthur raised his palm to chest height and drew up mana. A golden aura formed in his hand, shaping something.
Antar and Gorrba’s eyes bulged at the sight.
“Th-This is…….”
“A magic swordsman?”
Arthur aimed the summoned Sig Sauer at Antar.
“I’ll ask again. Join me, or die here?”
“You bastard…….”
Rage surged on Antar’s face.
“How dare you!”
As Gorrba moved to draw his sword, the barrel swung toward him.
Bang!
A thunderous crack rang out, and Gorrba screamed.
“Argh!”
Aura pierced the hand gripping his sword hilt, blood streaming down.
Arthur kept the gun trained on Antar while glancing at Gorrba.
“Next time, his head explodes, and the count dies too.”
“Ugh…….”
Gorrba groaned, staring fixedly at the Sig Sauer.
Arthur turned back to Antar.
“I trust you’ll choose wisely.”
Antar looked at him gravely and said.
“I’ll do as you ask. But don’t expect my loyalty.”
“Was loyalty ever forced?”
“Then why do you need us? Cannon fodder?”
“Cannon fodder…….”
Arthur muttered as if to himself, his expression hardening.
Antar stared him down without flinching.
“Deny it.”
“Judge for yourself. You wouldn’t believe me anyway.”
“Bold, aren’t you.”
“No reason not to be.”
Arthur chuckled and called loudly toward the door.
“Come in.”
Thud.
Alteon entered, bowed deeply, glared once each at Gorrba and Antar, then approached.
“Preparations are complete. Awaiting your orders.”
His voice brimmed with confidence.
“How many?”
“Fifty of the 150 are ready to deploy.”
Arthur nodded and shifted his gaze to Count Antar.
“Your first mission.”
“……?”
Antar looked stunned for a moment.
Alteon frowned at him.
“What are you waiting for? The young master gave you an order.”
“How dare you speak to the count like that!”
Gorrba glared furiously at Alteon, who shot back just as fiercely.
As their standoff intensified, Antar stepped forward and knelt on one knee before Arthur.
He stared straight at Arthur and said.
“Speak.”
His tone made it clear: he would obey reluctantly, but loyalty was off the table.
Arthur ignored the attitude and issued orders calmly.
“Count Antar, lead the Sten Knight Order to Shangrni Territory and link up with Blizan.”
“And then?”
“Follow his lead.”
“Hm…….”
Antar’s face twisted.
The one who fought Gorrba wasn’t nobility.
A defeated count taking orders from a commoner was unthinkable.
But having pledged formal obedience, he had no choice.
“……Understood.”
Arthur turned to Gorrba.
Caught in a staring contest with Alteon, Gorrba quickly ducked his head at Arthur’s gaze.
“What’s your name?”
Gorrba hurried behind Antar, knelt on one knee, and replied.
“Gorrba Ata……sir.”
“One order for you: protect Count Antar.”
“……?”
“Your foes will be Alteon’s to handle.”
“You’re not sending us to subdue enemies?”
Antar asked, face full of doubt.
“You’ll see when you get there.”
“You want me to witness something and decide?”
“Come back and report.”
Arthur stood and donned his helmet.
Its fierce visage sent chills down spines.
As Arthur left the study, he asked Alteon.
“Where’s Bukas?”
“Controlling the Sten Knight Order.”
“Unnecessary meddling. Isn’t it?”
Arthur glanced once more at Antar and exited.
***
At that moment.
Blizan was combing Shangrni Territory inch by inch.
“Where the hell are they hiding!”
Fuming, he slammed his fist into a tree.
Boom!
A hole punched through the trunk.
Crack.
The five-meter tree toppled limply.
Crash!
Horcamun tribesmen searching the woods rushed over.
“Boss, found them?”
“What happened?”
“Damn it!”
Blizan scowled in anger.
“Found what? Nothing.”
“This is driving me mad.”
Worry etched everyone’s faces.
Sunset would bring the enemy out again.
Last night’s raid had cost five lives.
They had scoured the territory like rats since, but found no escape traces.
“What now?”
“Hm…….”
Blizan eyed the red sunset beyond the foothills, then turned resolutely.
“Enough wasting time. Head back.”
***
Gorrba spurred his horse beside Antar.
“My lord, are you planning something else?”
Antar glanced at Alteon ahead and countered.
“Why?”
“How long have I served you? You won’t just take this lying down.”
“Hm…….”
Arthur dominated Antar’s thoughts.
He wasn’t sending them to Shangrni to fight monsters with the Sten Knights.
Nor to kneel Marquis Mokteor.
‘What will we learn?’
Antar’s gaze deepened.
Gorrba clamped his mouth shut at the reaction.
Normally, orders would follow instantly.
This silence meant no countermeasures yet.
Even so, Sten Knights alone against them was suicide.
Above all, Arthur Julius’s displayed power!
Unconfirmed, but like the legendary ‘magic swordsman.’
If a magic swordsman had revived, only top-tier sword masters could face him.
Plus, unknown Julius forces.
Enough for war with the emperor? Their hidden strength must be vast.
No contest.
Gorrba sighed, gazing ahead.
Alteon’s broad back atop the massive Britannica came into view.
A giant mace slung over his shoulder, two axes at his waist.
No armor—just a beast-hide cloak.
More bandit than knight.
Could he even subdue that one?
If so, flee to nearby territories for aid……
But exposing his unguarded back suggested he didn’t care.
“Hm…….”
Gorrba’s face hardened.
At that moment.
Horcamun tribesmen lurking near Shangrni Territory were ambushed again by the Namsar Empire’s extermination squad.
“Boss, Munkaro and Yasa from the watch are dead!”
“You bastards!”
Killing intent poured from Blizan’s eyes.
He mounted Britannica amid his murderous aura and charged to the site.
“I’ll catch you…….”
Gritting his teeth, he gripped the mane tight.
Then he sensed swift movement.
‘It’s them!’
Blizan yanked the mane left, veering sharply.
Bursting through brush like an arrow, he spotted a black-clad figure fleeing ahead.
“Got you!”
Blizan hauled the mane hard.
Neigh!
Britannica roared, kicking off the ground in a leap.
Thud!
Blocking the foe’s path.
“Where to!”
The enemy thrust at Britannica.
It snorted furiously, parrying with hind legs.
Boom!
“Wh-What?!”
As the foe faltered, Blizan vaulted from the saddle, smashing down with his fist.
Splat!
The enemy cratered into the dirt.
Blizan seized his throat, hoisted him high, and slammed him back down.
“Gah!”
Blood sprayed from the foe’s mouth like a fountain.
“Boss!”
Seeing his men arrive, Blizan rifled the enemy’s pockets, finding a gray vial of Awakening Agent.
He pocketed it and mounted Britannica.
“Tie this bastard up.”
Then he charged toward where the foe had fled from.
After a long pursuit.
Killing intent surrounded him from all sides.
Maintaining distance while emanating hostility—they were luring him.
“Fine, let’s play dirty.”