Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The Revealed Secret
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"Hmm."
Arthur sorted through his thoughts while soaking in the warm water to wash away the fatigue built up in his body.
The gains from this battle had been substantial.
The power he'd obtained from Lumacas was truly extraordinary.
He had summoned the K1 Rifle and shotgun, and if certain conditions were met, he felt he could even call forth a CheyTac.
Those conditions were likely tied to his own strength.
If he grew stronger, he could summon even more powerful weapons...
He might stand a chance against Kadrajin.
'To get stronger...'
A burning desire to grow welled up within him.
Arthur calmed his mind and considered what lay ahead.
The emperor would surely be informed of Yarve's defeat.
There was no doubt stronger forces would be sent to press the attack.
On top of that, with the absurd charge of being a "follower of the devil," he might even have to fight the entire empire.
'Why on earth...'
Arthur's gaze deepened intensely.
Knock knock.
The door opened with a knock.
Millerph entered and bowed politely.
"I'm sorry to disturb you."
"No, I was just about to get out."
Arthur stepped out of the tub, wrapped a towel around his lower body, and asked,
"What's going on?"
"I've come about the Horcamun Tribe."
Arthur sat in a chair and gestured to the one opposite.
Millerph sat facing him and continued.
"Do you plan to absorb them?"
"What would you do?"
"The Horcamun Tribe values honor and justice, and they're skilled in battle. If you can bring them under your wing, my lord, they'll be a great asset."
"That's true, but I'm worried about potential internal conflicts."
"You mean friction with the knight orders?"
Arthur nodded.
The Phoenix Knight Order and Lannister Knight Order hadn't even fully organized their structures yet. Adding the Horcamun Tribe on top could lead to chaos.
To integrate them, the knight orders needed reorganization first and foremost—and above all, Skevin and the Phoenix Knight Order's approval.
"I'll speak with Sir Skevin about it."
"Do that. And I have something to ask."
When Arthur explained how he'd absorbed mana while fighting Blijan, Millerph's eyes widened.
"Was there anything special about him?"
"Special..."
Arthur recalled his battle with Blijan.
There had been some formless energy around his fist, like a magnetic field.
"He used an aura-like energy. And it looked like lightning was coiling around his fist."
"......!"
Millerph's eyes bulged in an instant.
"Did you just say lightning?"
"What's wrong?"
"If that's true... I need to check it myself."
Millerph bolted out like a man possessed.
Arthur tilted his head, staring at the door he'd exited through.
It was quite startling to see the usually calm and composed man react that way.
'What on earth?'
Arthur's curiosity deepened as well.
He decided to quickly dress and go see Blijan.
He was in the middle of getting dressed.
"Young Master!"
Skevin burst in hurriedly.
"You need to come outside right away. Unidentified ships have appeared off the eastern coast."
"What?"
Arthur's face twisted.
Unidentified ships?
For a moment, he thought the emperor might have sent another force besides Yarve's.
It felt too soon to bask in victory.
"Prepare! I'll go see Yarve."
"Yes."
Skevin bowed deeply and rushed out.
***
A short time later.
The emergency horn blared across the grounds.
Knights who had been toasting to victory in their quarters jumped in alarm and rushed outside.
"What's that!"
"More enemies?"
"Hurry!"
Assembling in the training grounds, they stared piercingly at Skevin.
Drakan led his knights into the training grounds as well.
They quickly formed up beside the Phoenix Knight Order.
Drakan approached Skevin.
"What's going on?"
"Unidentified ships off the eastern coast."
"Hmm."
Drakan frowned and asked,
"Shouldn't we get precise information from Yarve before mobilizing?"
"The Young Master went himself. We stand by here until he returns."
"Yes."
Drakan obeyed Skevin's orders without hesitation.
He'd had no intention of blindly submitting just because they served the same house from the start.
But after fighting alongside Skevin on the battlefield, he'd come to acknowledge him naturally.
Above all, he was inwardly surprised by the Phoenix Knight Order's staunch loyalty to the Julius family.
They saw pledging loyalty to the Julius family as a matter of course.
The house's existence enabled their own.
In contrast, the Lannister Knight Order pledged loyalty to their house while feeling, deep down, that they were sacrificing themselves.
Drakan felt the same.
But seeing Skevin and the Phoenix Knight Order made him realize his thinking had been wrong.
It wasn't just him—the Lannister Knight Order felt it too and blamed themselves.
That naturally led them to follow Skevin and the Phoenix Knight Order.
"We deploy soon! Check your weapons!"
At Drakan's command, the Lannister Knight Order moved busily.
At that moment.
Arthur donned his armor and headed to the underground cell where Yarve was imprisoned.
Arriving at the prison entrance, Yarve rushed up like a madman, gripped the bars, and ranted.
"Let me out! This isn't a place for me!"
"You're doing fine."
Arthur had worried Yarve might be mentally broken and weakened.
But seeing this vigor, it seemed his concern was unfounded.
"If there's anything you haven't told me truthfully, now's the time."
"What more do you want!"
"If it turns out you're hiding something or feeding me false info, I'll kill you without mercy."
"With everything smashed to bits, what would I hide? What gain do I get from deceiving you!"
Yarve bellowed at the top of his lungs.
"Noisy."
Arthur extended his hand toward him.
"Gah!"
Yarve, clinging to the bars, was suddenly grabbed by the throat by Arthur.
Arthur glared at him coldly.
"Don't you grasp your situation?"
"H-Hand... please..."
"Shut your mouth if you want to live."
Arthur shoved him back hard.
"Ugh."
Yarve fell backward, landing on his rear. He clutched his throat, coughing and gasping.
As Arthur stared at him intently.
"......!"
He sensed a presence from behind.
It was faint, detectable only by Arthur's super senses.
'A rat after all.'
With a sinister smile, he asked Yarve,
"Unidentified ships have appeared. Speak if you know anything."
"Ships?"
Yarve's eyes widened.
His reaction showed he was clueless.
"Nothing, then."
As Arthur's face fell in disappointment, Yarve suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! The emperor must have sent reinforcements!"
"He must've known you'd lose. How else could forces arrive this fast?"
"Shut up!"
"You idiot, you're the same."
Arthur turned around.
A masked man appeared abruptly in front of him, thrusting a dagger.
He struck like lightning.
Having anticipated a sneak attack, Arthur didn't panic—instead, he smirked derisively.
The attacker faltered at Arthur's reaction.
'What?'
The strike missed.
As the man twisted to attack again, Arthur's fist flew.
"Damn it!"
He threw himself sideways.
As if expecting it, Arthur followed with a kick.
Thwack!
The man took a hit to the shoulder and collapsed.
As Arthur rushed to subdue him and yank off the mask, the man hurled something at the floor.
Boom!
A thick fog billowed instantly.
But Arthur didn't flinch. He chuckled softly, staring silently at the door visible through the mist.
The fog cleared, and the man was gone.
Yarve, who had been dazed, snapped to and shouted.
"See! That was a knight the emperor sent to rescue me!"
His face filled with expectation, he continued.
"Now Grada Territory will turn into a sea of flames! Uhahaha!"
"You really think so?"
"What do you mean?"
Yarve stopped laughing and stared at Arthur.
"Would they come to save you? Why, after losing the territory battle? Because you're an indispensable vassal?"
"......!"
Yarve's eyes widened, and he yelled furiously.
"Shut your trap! What do you know!"
"Your outburst means you're starting to get it. So you know your fate too—keep quiet."
Arthur shook his head pityingly and left.
Exiting the underground prison, before heading to the training grounds, he glanced toward 11 o'clock.
Even after confirming Arthur was stronger, it hadn't fled—that meant it was biding for another chance.
Either here to kill him or rescue Yarve. If the latter, it didn't suit the man.
'Getting interesting.'
Arthur grinned and departed.
Entering the training grounds, he found the knights ready to deploy.
Behind them stood Britanniker and the Giant Wolves.
But the Devil Squad was missing.
'Where are they?'
As Arthur tilted his head.
Bwoooong-.
The emergency horn sounded.
'Already?'
Arthur dashed to the gates.
At the gate, a sentry quickly pointed east toward the mountains.
"Look over there!"
Arthur looked.
It was the Devil Squad.
They rode Britanniker, pursued by a group.
Over a hundred, at least.
"What?"
As confusion crossed Arthur's face.
Hektro, who had been standing guard on the walls with the knights, ran up.
"My lord, it's the Kandara Count Family!"
"What?"
"Look at the banner."
Amid the group, a banner with a crossbow and arrows fluttered.
Dark, leading them, fired arrows skyward.
Bang! Bang!
Signal flares burst.
Indicating an emergency.
The sentry blew the horn vigorously, and countermeasures began.
The knight orders waiting in the training grounds charged out.
Moments later.
An unidentified group emerged from the eastern mountains.
They pursued the Kandara Count Family's knights, raining arrows.
No doubt another force deployed against the Kandara Count Family.
The situation clicked in Arthur's mind.
Like the Hexa family, they'd been attacked and fled here.
The problem: they'd brought the enemy with them.
"Damn it!"
Arthur whistled and charged out of the castle.
Neighhh-!
Kan charged from somewhere, whinnying powerfully.
Arthur mounted swiftly, summoned the K1 Rifle, aimed forward, and bellowed.
"Dark!"
Spotting Arthur and the weapon in his right hand, Dark shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Everyone, scatter!"