Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The Family Head's Ring
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Boom!
Another one's head exploded.
Bang—!
“What the hell?”
“There’s a mage?”
The enemies looked flustered.
Perry didn’t miss the chance and swung his sword at them.
Dark set down Poshe and charged at them as well, refusing to be outdone.
“You bastards!”
The enemies quickly blocked the attacks with their swords and counterattacked.
Swish!
“Argh!”
Perry screamed and collapsed.
Dark dodged their attacks but could barely withstand their fierce onslaught.
“Damn it!”
Dark wildly swung his dagger and shouted loudly.
“Captain!”
One of them said.
“I’ll handle this one, so you take him!”
“Got it!”
Two of the three rushed toward Arthur.
As they charged, Arthur gripped his kukri tightly.
“I’ll kill you all.”
He accelerated even faster toward them.
“Die!”
The enemies swung their swords.
Arthur parried their blades with his kukri and dove into the chest of one of them.
“You first.”
He slammed the kukri into the enemy’s armpit with all his strength.
Then he spun around quickly, blocking the other’s attack while thrusting hard.
“Gah!”
The kukri embedded in the enemy’s throat.
He spun back again and launched an elbow strike.
Thud!
The enemy’s face whipped to the side as he crumpled to the ground.
Arthur mercilessly plunged the kukri into the fallen enemy’s neck.
Having dispatched the two in an instant, he rushed toward the one attacking Dark.
Seeing Arthur coming, the enemy swiftly swung at him.
But the attack missed, and Arthur was already thrusting right in his face.
“What kind of...”
Thud!
It sank into the enemy’s face.
Arthur looked at Dark, who had been driven to the brink of unconsciousness, and asked,
“You okay?”
“Yes, huff, huff, huff.”
Dark answered, breathing raggedly, then ran to Perry.
“You hurt bad?”
“N-no... I can hold on.”
Perry stood with Dark’s support. Blood still poured from his side.
Arthur glanced at Perry before checking on Poshe and Ramni.
Both had severe bleeding from their severed ears and were unconscious.
He had to get them to Millerph quickly before their conditions worsened.
“Dark, take Perry.”
“What about the other two...!”
Dark’s eyes widened.
Arthur hoisted Poshe over his shoulder and Ramni under his arm, standing up.
He was injured all over himself and far from normal.
Where did that strength come from?
“A-are you sure you’re okay?”
“Don’t worry about me. Run at full speed.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Dark piggybacked Perry and sprinted with all his might. Arthur gritted his teeth and followed.
***
As the sun began to set.
Millerph and Skevin stood on the ramparts, gazing toward the Aslan border.
“Please let nothing have happened...”
“The Young Master will be fine.”
“You don’t seem worried, Millerph.”
Skevin gave him a puzzled look, and Millerph smiled enigmatically.
“Why wouldn’t I be worried? Of course I am.”
“Then why?”
“I trust him. That’s why you’re here with me too, isn’t it, Sir Skevin?”
“Yes, but...”
Skevin wasn’t entirely sure his decision had been right.
When Arthur said he was going after them, he should have stopped him somehow.
But because of everything he’d shown so far, he inexplicably felt compelled to follow his lead.
Moreover, with the knights starting to follow him, stepping in to block him now might have a negative impact.
So he’d followed the order to stand by in the castle, but as time passed, anxiety grew.
Ominous thoughts kept creeping in.
Millerph understood his feelings well.
“Don’t worry. The Young Master will return safely.”
“He must.”
As Skevin nodded heavily, figures appeared running from afar.
“What’s that?”
Skevin strained his eyes, but they were too distant.
Millerph quickly cast ‘Hawk Eye’. Skevin’s eyes widened.
“It’s the Young Master!”
“Let’s go.”
Millerph cast Feather Fall, descending the ramparts with Skevin.
The guards at the gate spotted someone running from afar.
“Who’s that?”
They peered intently, then gasped.
“It’s the Young Master!”
One blew the emergency horn.
At the same time, Millerph and Skevin descended from the sky and hurried toward Arthur.
***
“Just a bit more!”
“Huff huff, I can still hold on! Look over there...”
Dark spotted Skevin and Millerph running from the castle.
Tension released all at once.
“Oh no!”
His legs gave out, and he collapsed on the spot.
Arthur saw them too and stopped.
“Huff, huff, huff.”
His heart felt like it would burst.
Unknowingly, he flopped down too.
He’d run at full speed for about an hour carrying the two.
He was already injured from fighting Yakim, far from peak condition.
Yet this strength—it was astonishing.
“Young Master!”
Skevin ran up with a grave expression.
Millerph’s staff glowed brightly, ready to cast.
After a moment, they arrived and checked Arthur’s condition first.
“Are you alright?”
Arthur nodded and said to Millerph,
“Please.”
“Just a moment.”
Millerph chanted in Runes and cast ‘Group Heal’.
The recovery magic enveloped everyone there except Skevin.
Arthur and the others glowed brightly.
The light lingered for a while, then starting with Arthur, Dark and Perry recovered, and Poshe and Ramni regained consciousness.
“Ugh...”
“Ugh...”
Perry looked back and forth at Poshe and Ramni.
“Brother! You okay?”
“Ugh, where...?”
Poshe grimaced and looked around.
Spotting Arthur, realization dawned, and his eyes reddened.
Ramni stared at Arthur in bewilderment, then tears flowed.
“Y-Young Master...”
As they tried to rise and kneel on one knee, Arthur approached and embraced them. In a subdued voice, he said,
“I’m sorry. I should have been more careful.”
“Young Master...”
Hearing those unexpected words, something hot surged from deep in their chests.
Hot tears streamed down. They buried their faces in Arthur’s chest and sobbed.
“Sob, sob.”
“Sob, I’m sorry.”
Guilt over failing their mission and surviving while losing comrades overwhelmed them.
Arthur understood their feelings better than anyone.
It was the same emotion he felt every time he survived the battlefield alone.
All he could do now was gently pat their backs in silence.
Watching them, Skevin’s rage toward the enemy boiled over.
Millerph felt the same, but was once more astonished by Arthur’s actions.
He’d met countless lords, but none treated soldiers like Arthur did.
If anyone was similar, it was that one person.
Ruan Barotas, current ruler of the Oscar Empire.
Unknowingly, he compared Arthur to the emperor.
‘As expected, his vessel is different.’
***
“Really!”
Medlin shot to her feet upon hearing Arthur had returned safely.
Hours ago, hearing he’d charged off in anger, she thought the sky was falling.
Even more shocking: Millerph and Skevin, who should have stopped him, followed his orders.
When Millerph came to reassure her to trust him, she couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
But knowing he’d inherited Teheran’s teachings offered some comfort.
She believed that immense power would protect him.
“Alright, where’s Arthur now?”
“In the knight order barracks, holding a meeting with the officers.”
“Tell him to come see me when it’s over.”
“Yes.”
As Rusanna left, Medlin sat at her desk.
She opened a drawer and took out a palm-sized box, worn by age.
Gazing at it, she thought of Count Malcolm.
‘I suppose it’s time to give it since he inherited his teachings? But I’m not sure if this is the right choice.’
Worry clouded Medlin’s face.
Someone else cared for Arthur just as much.
Aild.
Aild hurried to him upon hearing he’d rescued even the captured soldiers.
The castle buzzed with the news. Everyone, including himself, held him in awe.
Arthur, who’d not only subjugated the orcs but slain an ogre alone, had grown immensely strong.
Even the knights followed and respected him now.
The Julius Count Family would revolve around him henceforth.
Yet he, who was to lead it, could do nothing.
Wesley had passed him the family head’s ring before dying, but no matter how he thought, Arthur deserved it more.
After agonizing, he’d finally decided today.
At the knight order command barracks, a knight bowed deeply.
“He’s inside?”
“Yes.”
Aild nodded and entered.
Inside, Arthur, Millerph, Skevin, and the knight order officers were in a meeting.
Arthur tilted his head at Aild’s appearance.
“What brings you here?”
“I heard you were back.”
Aild approached with a smile.
His unusual behavior puzzled Arthur.
Aild addressed everyone.
“Sorry to interrupt your important meeting. It’ll be quick, so bear with me.”
“It’s fine. Please speak freely.”
Millerph smiled kindly.
Aild stood before Arthur, pulled something from his pocket, and offered it.
‘That’s...!’
Skevin’s eyes widened at the family head’s ring.
Millerph guessed why Aild was here and watched.
Arthur knew what the ring meant.
Staring at Aild, he asked,
“Why?”
“You suit it better than me.”
“That’s all?”
“If I add more, it’s because I think you can make Grada Territory prosperous.”
“Heh.”
Arthur smirked, and Aild grinned back.
“Take it.”
“But I won’t take it for nothing.”
“What?”
Aild’s face twisted.
Arthur thought for a moment, then met the eyes of Aild, Millerph, Skevin, and everyone in the tent with a resolute expression.
In a firm voice, he declared,
“I swear. I’ll make it a place no one can trifle with. My people, those who follow me, will never be oppressed by anyone and will enjoy happiness and peace. That’s my condition for accepting the ring.”
“You...”
Aild’s eyes shook fiercely.
Not just him—everyone’s hearts swelled with emotion.
Their beating hearts.
Dormant aspirations rose.
A firm faith in Arthur took root deep within.
As if by promise, they knelt before Arthur and bowed as one.
Millerph bowed in the most respectful posture he could muster.
Arthur slipped the ring on his finger and clenched his fist.
“I won’t betray that faith.”