Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: The Horcamun Barony
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“ You were here.”
Alteon climbed up to the watchtower built on the cliff of the western mountain range.
Blizan silently gazed out at the vast expanse of forest.
Alteon stood beside him, looking at the same view, and asked,
“What are you looking at?”
“Just this and that.”
“How’s your body?”
“It only acts up during battle. No need to worry.”
Blizan replied calmly, as if it were nothing.
But Alteon’s face darkened as he looked at him.
After the incident with the Namshar Empire bastards.
Blizan was changing day by day.
His words grew fewer, his personality more taciturn, so he spent more time alone in quiet places than hanging out with his siblings.
And when facing enemies, he became so ferocious and cruel that even those around him felt fear.
It was like he had returned to being called the “man-eating beast” while restrained by Hazan.
Back then, it had only been a false rumor spread to intimidate foes, but now he truly seemed ready to devour people alive. It was chilling.
Every time Alteon saw Blizan like this, his heart tore apart.
Because Blizan had sacrificed himself to save his siblings.
Moreover, watching Sersei, who was closest to him, grow paler by the day made it all the more heartbreaking. It felt like they had committed an unforgivable sin against Blizan.
“You mustn’t forget that we’re by your side, brother.”
“What’s that all of a sudden?”
“Just saying.”
It was when Alteon scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
Shouts from his subordinates rose from below.
“Chief!”
“Come down quick!”
Blizan and Alteon looked down.
In the distance, Arthur mounted on Khan appeared, along with the commanders of each knight order riding Britannikers.
‘My lord!’
The moment Blizan spotted Arthur, he leaped down without hesitation.
“Chief!”
Alteon’s eyes widened as he hurriedly climbed down the ladder.
***
“Hmm.”
A look of bewilderment crossed Arthur’s face as he reined in Khan.
Blizan had jumped from what must have been at least fifteen meters high, without any safety gear.
Thud-.
Blizan landed right in front of Arthur.
He dropped to one knee and paid his respects.
“Your servant Blizan greets my lord.”
Arthur and the accompanying commanders couldn’t hide their shock.
‘No way.’
‘How...’
‘No magic was used...’
In contrast, Skevin and Helm looked at Blizan calmly, not surprised.
But outwardly only; inwardly, they were quite rattled.
It was ability bordering on Sword Master level.
Not long ago, he had just reached the pinnacle of Sword Expert, yet in this short time, he had advanced rapidly once more.
Exceptional talent could account for it.
Or, like Arthur, inheriting the legacy of a great hero could make it possible.
But Blizan was different.
Not genius-level talent, but instinctive ability like a wild beast and a sturdy body that stood out.
Until now, those with such instinctive prowess like Blizan had never surpassed upper Sword Expert.
That was their limit.
Yet Blizan had broken through it.
No intense aura unique to Sword Masters emanated from him, but a feral, murderous energy crushed the surroundings.
Something new they had never felt before pierced their hearts.
It couldn’t be blocked with mana.
It was instinctual fear.
‘What the hell is this feeling...?’
As doubt clouded Skevin’s face, an old tale surfaced in Helm’s mind.
“No way... Beastly Temperament...”
Helm’s gaze, fixed on Blizan, shifted to Arthur.
Arthur looked at Blizan with calm eyes. Then he turned to Helm and shook his head once.
“Ah...”
‘How could this happen.’
Helm’s face darkened rapidly, as if realizing something.
“Blizan.”
At Arthur’s call, Blizan responded politely.
“Speak, my lord.”
“As King of the Julius Kingdom, I’ve come to bestow a title upon you. Swear your knighthood.”
Blizan pulled two knuckles from his pocket and slipped them onto his hands. Then he slammed his right fist into the ground with all his might.
Boom-!
Everyone’s eyes flashed at the sudden event.
But no killing intent emanated from Blizan, and Arthur showed no surprise, simply sitting atop Khan in silence.
It seemed like another of his unique rituals, like with Jonathan.
Blizan looked at the cratered ground and said,
“I will smash anyone who blocks my lord’s path, just like this. I swear to live solely for my lord.”
For a moment, Arthur’s eyes wavered faintly.
The content was no different from others’ oaths of knighthood.
Yet somehow, his words burrowed deep into Arthur’s heart, stirring a poignant ache.
Perhaps because of the hidden bond between them.
Someday, he might have to point a gun at him.
Blizan, unaware, pledged his absolute loyalty...
Teheran was utterly loathsome.
Arthur looked up at the sky and gritted his teeth.
‘You bastard!’
He cursed inwardly for a bit.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he met Blizan’s eyes and spoke.
“I promise you this as well. Just as you pledge your life in loyalty to me, I too shall devote everything to protect you.”
“......?”
Blizan looked slightly puzzled.
The others wondered why Arthur was saying this so suddenly but decided to hear him out.
“I appoint you as captain of the Devil Squad.”
“......!”
Blizan’s eyes widened.
Devil Squad?
Was the Horcamun Tribe being absorbed into the existing Devil Squad?
A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind in an instant.
Arthur continued, looking at the bewildered Blizan.
“The mission you and the Horcamun Tribe will undertake from now on is this.”
In emergencies, infiltrate deep into enemy lines via various land and sea routes to conduct guerrilla warfare, reconnaissance, assassinations, and the like. That was the main duty.
In short, they were being assigned extremely dangerous missions that risked their lives.
Even Blizan, who seemed ready to follow any order without complaint, hesitated to reply.
If it were just him, fine. But considering the entire Horcamun Tribe, he absolutely couldn’t accept.
Who would agree to send their family into the jaws of death?
Yet, given the mission’s nature, the Horcamun Tribe was more suited than any knight order.
Blizan met Arthur’s eyes.
“I have a question.”
Arthur nodded.
“If expanding the Devil Squad, aren’t there other ways?”
“I’ve tried expanding the Devil Squad several times. But couldn’t find suitable personnel. And as you know, small numbers make proper missions impossible. That’s why I chose you, unbound by rigid structures, free to execute tasks.”
“I don’t defy my lord’s command, but I can’t endanger my family.”
“I understand. Refuse if you wish. It changes nothing about accepting you.”
“I’m sorry. I...”
“Chief!”
Someone shouted from behind.
Blizan frowned and turned.
Alteon stepped forward and yelled,
“What are you doing? His Lordship offers us a new life—accept it!”
“You little...”
“How have we lived? In forest caves without homes? Want our young to live like that? This is our chance for proper homes, to live like people. Don’t you think so?”
At Alteon’s question, the Horcamun men shouted energetically, chiming in.
“Chief, let’s live properly for once!”
“We can die like this, but not the kids!”
“Right! How long do we live like savages?”
“And His Lordship said he’d protect us with everything he has!”
“I trust His Lordship as much as you, Chief! So let’s join together!”
The Horcamun men unanimously demanded acceptance.
‘Yeah, we can’t let the children follow our footsteps.’
Blizan’s expression hardened with resolve as he looked at Arthur.
“Your servant Blizan shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”
“Thank you.”
Arthur held back the moisture in his eyes and addressed the Horcamun tribesmen.
“From now on, you are members of the Horcamun Barony. Make the family shine gloriously.”
“......?”
Alteon and the rest tilted their heads.
But Blizan, head bowed, had eyes shaking violently.
Horcamun Barony?
Bestowing a title wasn’t just recognizing them as a military force.
Blizan swallowed hard and asked cautiously.
“Wh-what... what does that mean...?”
His voice trembled.
He tried to calm his excitement, but failed.
He had lived like a wild beast, become a slave soldier steeped in blood, facing a dog’s death.
He and his tribesmen wanted little.
A home to settle in.
Children living normally, humanely.
That was all.
And just now, through Arthur, they achieved it.
A barony?
Something unimaginable left his mind blank.
Arthur dismounted Khan and placed a hand on Blizan’s shoulder.
“Reborn as a vassal house of Julius. I’ll help you realize your dreams fully.”
“M-my lord...”
Thick tears fell from Blizan’s eyes.
“Your Lordship...”
“Your Majesty...”
The Horcamun Tribe knelt before Arthur, heads bowed low.
Blizan pressed his forehead to the ground.
“My king... thank you truly...”
For them, it was the moment he became their king.
But Arthur’s face didn’t show pure joy.
No, he couldn’t rejoice.
Because of Teheran, they were reclaiming what they had lost.
Arthur had pondered what he could do for Blizan.
And chose one.
Restore their lives to what they should have been.
He believed it would untangle the threads of fate binding him and Blizan, preventing the grudge from passing to the children.
“Enjoy what you’re entitled to. Don’t thank me.”
***
To celebrate Blizan and the Horcamun Tribe, Skevin and the captains stayed in the western mountains. Arthur and Helm were returning to the castle.
Helm had originally planned to stay and mingle, but couldn’t.
After much deliberation, he cautiously spoke.
“Your Majesty.”
“You want to ask about Blizan?”
Arthur replied calmly, eyes fixed ahead.
“Yes.”
“I learned from Sir Millerph.”
“If Blizan learns the past, he might not follow Your Majesty.”
“No matter. Even if he leaves, I won’t resent him.”
“But considering their suffering, they won’t just leave. They’ll turn blades on Your Majesty.”
“Probably. I would too, if my family’s enemy stood before me.”
“What then?”
Arthur halted Khan abruptly and looked at Helm.
“I’ll ensure it never happens.”
“But no secrets last forever. Someday he’ll know.”
“True, no eternal secrets.”
Arthur gazed at the sky with a troubled expression and continued.
“Until that day, I’ll do all I can. Though I inherited Teheran’s legacy, I have no intention of following his path.”
“If they lose reason to rage...”
Worry and concern piled on Helm’s face.
Arthur met his eyes firmly.
“I’ll never draw steel on them. Teheran did because it was his way. And I’ll ensure they never draw on me—I’ll make it so.”
“I’ll remember.”
Emotion gleamed in Helm’s solemn expression.
Arthur spurred Khan onward, adding,
“That is my path.”