Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Valtre's Summengers
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“Spirit's power...”
Arthur recalled the pressure bearing down on him inside the tent and fell deep into thought for a moment.
Skevin, waiting outside the tent, also hardened his expression at the overwhelming presence.
‘If they’ve regained their power...’
He wondered just how strong Keda and his knights had become.
It would greatly bolster their forces, but they were knights of the Nanshar Empire, hostile to the Oscar Empire.
The stronger they grew, the more tense the standoff between the knights might become.
‘It’s not all good.’
It was then, as Skevin entered the castle with a face full of worry.
“Young Master, someone’s approaching.”
At the guard’s shout, Arthur turned around.
A group was charging in on horseback.
They wore silver armor emblazoned with diamond-shaped shield emblems.
‘Who are they?’
Arthur tilted his head and glanced at Skevin.
Skevin’s face stiffened as he confirmed their banner.
“Knights from the Valtre Marquis’s house.”
“So it’s finally come.”
Arthur nodded and addressed the guard.
“Sound the emergency horn.”
“Yes, sir!”
The guard immediately blew the emergency horn at the command.
Bwoooong-.
The heavy horn blast echoed out.
The knights on the training grounds quickly gathered, Adran led the archers up to the walls.
Hellot appeared at the head of the cavalry, ready to sortie at any moment.
Seeing everyone prepared to meet the enemy in an instant, Arthur looked at Skevin with satisfaction.
“The training has paid off.”
Skevin glanced at the Horcamun tribesmen who had arrived late, then replied.
“There’s still much to improve.”
“It’ll get better in time.”
“We’ll show a better performance next time.”
“Blyzan’s going to drop dead.”
Arthur grinned and peered outside the castle.
Through the half-open gates, he could see the Valtre Marquis’s knights.
They halted about twenty meters from the castle. Then the lead knight shouted loudly.
“We are the envoys sent by Marquis Valtre! Julius Count, come out to greet us!”
“Open the gates wide.”
At Arthur’s order, the guards began fully opening the gates.
Creeeeak-.
As the gates swung wide, the knights waiting at the entrance came into view.
The faces of the Valtre Marquis’s knights twisted sharply upon seeing them.
“Wh-what...”
“No way, they’re going to...”
As they tensed and reached for their sword hilts.
Pang! An arrow slammed into the ground right in front of them.
Hiiiing!
The horses reared up in fright, lifting their front legs.
The knight quickly calmed his mount and looked up at the walls.
Dozens of archers stood with bows drawn, awaiting the order to fire.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
“Someone’s coming out!”
A young man in red attire strode confidently out of the gates.
Boyish face, black hair.
Golden dragon ornaments adorned both shoulders.
It was immediately clear he was Arthur Julius, the youngest son of the Julius family.
Before anyone could speak, they dismounted and walked toward Arthur.
Adran drew her bowstring taut again toward them and said firmly.
“If they show any sign of making a rash move, shoot without mercy!”
The eyes of the Del Knight Order sharpened as they watched the intruders.
Arthur and the Valtre Marquis’s envoy group stopped about three meters apart.
One of them spoke first.
“Are you Arthur Julius?”
“What’s the reason you’ve come looking for me?”
“We’ve come to deliver Marquis Valtre’s message, so show some respect.”
“Respect in wartime? Be grateful we haven’t killed you yet.”
“Urgh.”
Anger boiled up inside them.
But from what they’d just witnessed, one wrong move and dozens of arrows would pierce their bodies.
Better to deliver the message quickly and get out.
The man held out a scroll inscribed with Marquis Valtre’s message to Arthur.
“Check it.”
“Too much hassle. Read it for me.”
“You! How rude...!”
Arthur closed the distance in an instant and pressed a dagger to the man’s nape.
It happened so fast there was no time to dodge.
Arthur said coldly.
“Did you just call me ‘you’?”
“G-get this away...”
The dagger dug into his skin, drawing blood.
“Ugh...”
The man’s face paled.
His comrades nearby fidgeted anxiously, knowing arrows would fly if they intervened.
“Read it. Loud and clear, syllable by syllable.”
As Arthur ordered, the man unrolled the scroll and read the contents.
“Julius Count... hear this! I have urgent business, so come alone with your Knight Commander to the place I designate... If you do not, I shall... exact vengeance for Yarve Count.”
“Hmm.”
Arthur’s face hardened.
Asking him to come with the Knight Commander meant they’d confirmed the informant’s report.
This was a chance to gauge Skevin’s power directly.
“Where’s the location?”
“It’s sealed with magic, so I can’t check.”
“Magic, huh...”
Arthur snatched the scroll from the man and examined it.
Beneath Marquis Valtre’s writing, it was sealed with magic.
Likely extra security for a secret meeting.
“Go back and tell him I’ll think about it.”
As Arthur withdrew the dagger, they turned without regret, mounted hastily, and galloped back the way they came.
Once they were out of sight, Millerph approached Arthur.
“It’s proceeding as His Highness the Crown Prince said.”
“Probably. It’s sealed with magic, so check it out.”
Arthur handed the scroll to Millerph.
Millerph inspected the seal and frowned.
“Hmm...”
“What’s wrong?”
Arthur’s face hardened at his ominous reaction.
“I’ll have to rethink Marquis Valtre. The seal here can only be broken by a 5th Class or higher.”
“Hmm.”
Arthur’s eyes deepened.
Unlike Yarve Count, he was clearly a very thorough man.
Going to his designated meeting spot would naturally reveal Millerph’s power.
But refusing meant they’d carry out vengeance for Yarve, so he couldn’t avoid it.
He’d fallen into the scheme from the start.
“Do as he wants.”
“Yes.”
Millerph placed his palm on the seal and murmured runes softly.
The seal vanished, revealing the time and place.
“My lord.”
“Speak.”
Millerph replied with a stiff face.
“In two days... but the location...”
“Where?”
“Well... it’s Yarve Count’s office.”
“...!”
Arthur’s eyes flashed.
It wasn’t a distance reachable in two days, and worst of all, the meeting spot was the office in the count’s house where the territory war had been fought.
This too was likely to judge his capabilities.
“What will you do? If you’re meeting the marquis, you need to hurry.”
“I don’t like it.”
Arthur turned and continued.
“I have to see what kind of bastard he is.”
***
At that moment.
Chief Mage Hoan entered Marquis Valtre’s office.
“Your Excellency.”
Valtre set down the book he was reading on the desk and looked at him.
“What is it?”
“The seal on the message to Julius Count has been broken.”
“Is that so?”
Valtre curled his lips.
He knew the Julius family had a mage who’d been with them for a long time, but no one knew his exact power.
Rumors swirled: a 4th Class mage, or one whose mana hall was destroyed studying dark magic, and various guesses.
But now it was certain.
“They have a 5th Class mage and a Sword Master.”
“That’s considerable for a count’s forces.”
“Indeed. But for the Julius family, it might be expected.”
“Do you believe the Gold Dragon is with them?”
Hoan’s face grew serious.
Valtre chuckled and shook his head.
“A dragon? They vanished with the Demon King. But they likely left provisions for the Julius family. Arthur Julius probably found it.”
“Ah...”
A plausible guess—no, it made perfect sense.
A crumbling count’s house suddenly surging couldn’t happen without something extraordinary.
A 5th Class mage might be hidden, but a Sword Master was a realm not just anyone could reach.
Only those chosen by the gods could attain it.
Thus, even among knights as numerous as grains of sand, only a tiny few became Sword Masters.
“Shouldn’t we be more wary than even the Emperor?”
“Perhaps.”
“...?”
Hoan tilted his head at the meaningful words.
Valtre smiled oddly and gazed out the window.
“Will he show at the meeting spot?”
“He’ll have to, to survive.”
“Of course. But he’s mad enough to wage war on the Emperor. He might appear with intentions different from what we expect.”
“Even so, to Your Excellency, he’s small fry. Use him right, and he’ll be a great help.”
“That’s why I’m meeting him.”
Valtre stood and continued.
“Kamel, prepare to go out.”
-Yes.
A heavy voice echoed from empty air; the door opened and closed, but no figure appeared.
Hoan bowed his head and said.
“I’ll prepare as well.”
“No, Kamel alone is enough.”
“He might bring his mage. Even Kamel would struggle alone against a Sword Master and mage.”
“What?”
As Valtre’s eyes sharpened, Hoan quickly knelt and bowed his head.
“I apologize.”
“It’s not because I lack power that I use him. It’s to keep dirty blood off my hands.”
“I misspoke. Forgive me.”
“I have no need for those who bare their fangs at me.”
A deep crimson aura rose from Valtre as his presence exploded.
‘This!’
Hoan sensed his power had grown even stronger than a month ago.
‘As expected, blessed by the gods.’
He firmly believed the great undertaking His Excellency had long planned would soon come to pass.
Strong confidence showed on Valtre’s face as he looked out the window.
“I will achieve it no matter what.”
***
“It’s no different from ruins.”
Skevin entered Nibon Territory alongside Arthur.
It was a distance impossible in two days, but thanks to Britanniker, they made it on time.
Arthur slowly walked through the territory, looking around.
Most villages were burned to ashes, and the desolate streets had not even a single rat.
Jackal had burned the castle and some villages in rage, but the damage seemed excessive.
“It’s like a territory war was fought here.”
“Likely bandits passed through after learning Yarve Count was defeated.”
“Bandits?”
Arthur’s eyes flashed at the unexpected answer as he looked at Skevin.
Skevin glanced at the corpses scattered about and replied.
“There are bands that roam the Empire plundering. They raid defeated territories, taking not just wealth but equipment they need, kidnapping young women and children to sell to slave traders.”
“Hmm...”
Arthur’s face hardened.
“That’s why only men and elderly corpses remain, and no people.”
“Why tell me this now?”
“You said you never lose, Young Master. I judged it unnecessary.”
“I see. From now on, tell me everything I need to know, without omission.”
“Yes.”
It was then, as Skevin bowed his head deeply.
He sensed presences.
He quickly looked ahead.
Someone was riding toward them from afar.
A knight of Marquis Valtre.
“They must know you’ve arrived, Young Master.”
“Seems so.”
Arthur scanned the surroundings, but felt no other presences.
‘In that case...’
Wary of a possible mage, he turned toward the castle.
He maximized his vision to examine the blackened castle tower.
A middle-aged man with brown hair stood at the window.
Judging by his attire, that was Marquis Valtre.
Sturdy build, sharp eyes—he was no easy opponent.
As Arthur’s eyes deepened.
Their gazes met.
Suddenly, the man smiled.
“...!”
Arthur’s face seemed to twist for a moment, then he curled his lips.
“Getting more interesting by the minute.”
Then, a warm wind blew from behind, as if urging him to hurry, pushing at his back.
Since leaving Keda’s tent, a warm breeze had lingered around him.
She was probably following.
As the successor carrying on Tehran’s line? Or because he piqued her interest.
Either way, her showing favor wasn’t bad.
Arthur grinned.
“She’s more curious than I am.”