Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Territory Development
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“Young Master!”
Skevin came rushing over the moment he heard Arthur had arrived.
But at the sight of the massive horses lined up at the castle entrance, his jaw dropped.
“What the hell are those...?”
“They’re Britannicans.”
Helot approached with a bewildered expression.
“What in the world happened?”
“I don’t really know myself.”
Helot was flustered, yet utterly amazed to see dozens of Britannicans standing there as docile as lambs.
Above all, the one carrying Arthur looked exceptionally striking no matter how many times he saw it.
Gazing at the beast with its pitch-black coat and crimson mane, he could sense a powerful aura coupled with noble dignity.
After dismounting from Khan, Arthur asked Skevin,
“Is there room in the stables?”
“What do you...?”
“These guys need a place to rest.”
“If we put them in the stables, our horses will get spooked and throw fits.”
“Then how about leaving them in the training grounds until we build a proper space?”
“Could you at least explain what’s going on first?”
“Take care of them for now so they can rest. Get them water and feed. Once that’s sorted, come find me. We need to talk.”
“Understood.”
Skevin instructed Helot and the knights to set up a temporary stable in the training grounds.
When Arthur parted from him and entered the castle, Medlin appeared alongside Rusanna.
“Arthur.”
“I’m back.”
“Thank goodness...”
Medlin grasped Arthur’s hand tightly, her eyes brimming with tears.
Seeing how haggard she looked, it was clear she had stayed up all night worrying about him.
Rusanna glanced at Medlin before speaking.
“The Madam waited up for you without sleeping a wink...”
“Rusanna!”
Medlin furrowed her brow, and Rusanna quickly shut her mouth.
Arthur squeezed Medlin’s hand firmly.
“Didn’t I tell you? Nothing would happen.”
“You did...”
Ever since losing Wesley, she couldn’t shake off even the slightest ominous feeling.
Arthur wasn’t oblivious to her pain.
Time was the only cure. Still, he wanted to help ease her anxiety.
“Trust me.”
Medlin nodded silently, gazing at Arthur.
She thought the golden armor—a heirloom of the Julius Count family—and the helmet they’d recently found suited him perfectly.
Malcolm Count had looked good in armor too, but it often felt somehow off.
Like he was wearing someone else’s clothes, perhaps?
Arthur carried none of that awkwardness.
It was as if the golden armor was finally revealing its true worth.
She’d heard it held magic that inspired courage in those around the wearer.
Standing beside Arthur, a surge of strong confidence welled up in her—something she’d never felt near Malcolm.
“It’s like it’s finally found its master.”
“You think so?”
“Rest up, and come see me later. We need to talk.”
“Yes, you rest too, Mother.”
Arthur watched Medlin until she was out of sight, then headed to his room.
As soon as he entered, Andrew hurried over.
“I’ve prepared your bath.”
“Thanks. Help me get this off.”
Arthur removed his armor with Andrew’s help. Then he slipped into the bathing area to soak his weary body.
Exhaustion hit him hard, and his eyes drifted shut.
Seeing Arthur fall asleep, Andrew quietly slipped out.
***
One hour later.
Fresh from his bath, Arthur sat in a chair, mapping out his next steps.
He had a few ideas, but they weren’t decisions he could make alone.
They required the cooperation of Skevin, Millerph, and Ban, so he planned to discuss them and hear their input.
“Start with Skevin, I suppose.”
Arthur reached for his water when
knock knock.
Skevin entered at the knock, followed by Millerph and Ban.
Dumbfounded to see all the key people arrive at once, Arthur asked,
“What’s going on?”
“We came to consult with you, Young Master.”
“Sit down first.”
Arthur gestured to the chairs and looked at Millerph.
His complexion had clearly improved.
“How’s your health?”
“I’ve fully recovered. Thanks to you, Young Master, I survived. I’ll never forget this grace and repay it someday.”
Before sitting, Millerph bowed deeply to Arthur in sincere gratitude.
Skevin had heard from Aild that Millerph had been on the brink of death.
That made Millerph’s words just now hit home all the more.
From what Skevin had observed, Millerph would now throw away his life for Arthur without hesitation.
He would dedicate his remaining years to Arthur.
Skevin envied having such a lord worth dying for.
He’d also heard from Aild that Arthur had taken Millerph in before departing for the western mountains.
Now it was his turn to be chosen.
He vowed to grow as strong as Arthur desired and serve him alongside Millerph.
‘Just wait a little longer!’
Skevin’s eyes burned with resolve.
Once Millerph sat, Arthur turned to Skevin.
“Are the beasts behaving?”
“They followed without a fuss. What are those things, anyway?”
“Before that, I have a question.”
Arthur alternated glances between Skevin and Millerph before continuing.
“Do you know who Adam Julius is?”
“How do you know of him, Young Master?”
Millerph’s eyes widened.
“Is he really Lord Teheran Julius’s older brother?”
“Yes.”
“And it’s true he vanished one day?”
“Wait, that’s something only Malcolm Count and I knew...”
Doubt clouded Millerph’s face.
“I see.”
Arthur nodded meaningfully, deciding to share what Adam Julius had left behind.
“I found his grave there.”
“What?”
“What I say from now on must never be leaked.”
“Then...”
Millerph glanced at Ban, and Arthur nodded as if understanding.
“There’s a lot ahead involving the territory. He needs to know too.”
“Understood.”
“What exactly happened?”
At Skevin’s question, Arthur recounted everything that had occurred in the forbidden zone.
He omitted the Demon King’s identity, however. He judged it wasn’t time to reveal that yet.
Skevin, Millerph, and Ban hung on his every word.
About an hour later, Arthur finished.
“Ending the territory war matters, but we urgently need countermeasures against those who could strike anytime.”
Millerph asked grimly,
“How many completed ones did you say there were?”
“Over twenty at least, from what I saw. Kadrajin was among them.”
“Damn it!”
Millerph’s face twisted.
He’d seen a completed ogre back when his master was alive.
He’d felt bone-deep then that it was the strongest monster on land.
Immensely huge, with overwhelming power.
It fell to his 6th Class master’s attack magic, but countless mages and knights had died to it first.
Everyone was shocked to learn even such mighty beasts deferred to a higher monster.
The one called the Demon King’s guardian deity.
Kadrajin.
As the ogres’ chieftain, it was far smarter and stronger than the rest.
Five knight orders and three 6th Class mages had challenged it, only to perish alongside Kadrajin.
And now that monster had returned.
“Do you have a plan?”
Arthur replied with a serious expression.
“We’ve confirmed them now, so we’ll do everything we can.”
“I’ll support you with all I have.”
Determination etched Millerph’s face.
Arthur nodded and shifted his gaze to Skevin.
“Seeing Ban with you, looks like you’ve got answers to my orders.”
“Before your story, I wondered why build a wall on the cliff. I planned to hear the reason before deciding, but now I think we absolutely must.”
“And the method?”
Arthur looked at Ban, who cleared his throat carefully before calmly outlining his prepared plan.
“So, one month for the wall?”
“If it’s just piling up the wall, yes. With defensive mechanisms added, about two months.”
“I thought it’d take months, but that’s quick.”
“Assuming we get Dwarf tech, alchemy, and Millerph’s help.”
“Hm.”
Arthur’s eyes deepened as he pondered.
What ways were there to safely protect the territory from those things?
After a moment.
He asked with a meaningful look.
“What if we walled off the entire western mountain range?”
“The entire thing?”
Ban’s eyes bulged.
“For the territory folk’s safety, wouldn’t this be best?”
He recalled China’s Great Wall, built to repel northern nomad invasions.
It wouldn’t match its length, but far safer than just walling the cliffs.
“Setting aside time, the workload multiplies several times. We can’t do it with current materials and manpower.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll make it happen somehow.”
“Let me calculate.”
He pulled a notebook from his pocket and jotted notes with the pencil tucked behind his ear.
Skevin and Millerph were stunned that even with the project scaling beyond imagination, Ban didn’t say no.
A moment later.
Ban finished and looked at Arthur.
“If you provide the materials and manpower listed here, I’ll complete it in half a year.”
“What?”
Skevin and Millerph stared at Ban in shock.
Ban met Arthur’s eyes and continued.
“The book you gave me yesterday compiles Dwarf techniques. I had the upper volume; you gave me the lower one.”
“Then...”
“I can fully master their tech now. That’s why I said half a year.”
Ban’s face brimmed with confidence.
Arthur’s trust in him deepened.
“Good. Proceed immediately.”
“I’ll head to the forge and plan with the crew.”
“Do that. I’ll gather what’s listed as fast as possible.”
“Yes, sir!”
Ban bowed to Arthur and left.
“The monster issue’s settled for now. Time to finish off Yarve Count, right?”
“Planning to attack?”
“This time, we go to them.”
Skevin nodded and said,
“Word from the informant we planted in Nibon territory yesterday. Yarve Count’s recruiting mercenaries—three times the previous scale.”
“Three times... He’s gearing up hard. How are we?”
“150 including the wounded.”
“Any Sword Masters among their mercenaries this time?”
“Yakim’s the only one among ours, so probably not. One more thing. Yarve Count sent an envoy to Vulcan territory.”
“...?”
Arthur tilted his head, and Skevin continued gravely.
“The informant doesn’t know why. My guess: requesting troop support. With Rose Knight Order wiped out, he needs protection.”
“Bringing in another territory’s knights? That violates imperial law.”
“Yarve knows that. So he’ll likely ask for just one, not a full order.”
“One?”
Arthur’s eyes gleamed coldly.
“Who?”
“Capo Mars.”
Skevin’s expression was graver than ever.
“Captain of the Steel Knight Order and living legend of Vulcan territory.”
“A Sword Master, then.”
Skevin nodded.
“Ranks 10th among imperial knights.”