Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: The Tasl Family's Surrender
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***
The Lannister Knight Order, mounted on Giant Wolves, appeared before the castle gates with overwhelming momentum.
Drakan, his breastplate emblazoned with a golden dragon emblem, rode Ron toward the wide-open gates.
As he did, he glanced at the corpses strewn about, presumed to be knights of the Tasl Family.
Ron bared his fierce fangs and growled at the Tasl knights visible beyond the gates.
At that moment, the knight order parted to either side, revealing the Devil Squad.
Kasan approached Drakan and saluted crisply with his sword.
Clack!
"Any casualties on our side?"
"None, sir."
"Looks like we avoided all-out war. Good."
"Yes. But what happened? Was there a new order?"
As Drakan nodded, Dark approached with someone in tow.
Dark also offered a polite sword salute before turning to the middle-aged man following behind.
"This is Count Hatori."
Terrified, Hatori trembled from head to toe as he stepped forward.
Grrrrr.
Ron exuded a savage aura, radiating intense hostility.
"Eek!"
Hatori flinched in shock and collapsed to his knees. He bowed his head low, clasping his hands together in desperate plea.
"I'll do anything! Please, just spare my life!"
Drakan asked in a voice devoid of any emotion.
"You've heard the Count's message, I presume?"
"Y-Yes, I have."
"I was going to give you until the end of the week to decide, but the Count has changed his mind. That's why we're here."
"……!"
Dark's eyes flashed in an instant.
There must have been a development on the way here.
But he couldn't fathom why such a large knight order had mobilized just to relay that message.
'What on earth happened?'
Dark stared at Drakan, lost in thought.
Drakan fixed Hatori with a cold glare.
"Decide now. Will you follow the Count, or choose death?"
"The Tasl Family will follow the Julius Count Family!"
Hatori answered without the slightest hesitation.
Having secured the surrender, Drakan shifted his gaze to Dark.
"Who's the knight commander?"
Dark turned and signaled the Devil Squad. Mullan brought Mentu forward.
Disarmed, Mentu approached with his head bowed low and stood before Drakan.
"Kneel."
Mentu dropped to his knees without resistance.
He had already withdrawn in the face of mere envoys; confronting the current forces would be suicide.
"Raise your head and state your position."
Mentu lifted his head weakly to meet Drakan's gaze.
Through the gaps in his skull helmet, bulging eyes radiated immense power.
'He's even stronger.'
Despair and defeat washed over him.
"Mentu Bakura, knight commander of the Tasl Family."
Drakan leveled his black spear at Mentu's head and asked.
"Will you choose death to save your knights?"
"……!"
Mentu's eyes shook violently.
The sudden question left him visibly perplexed.
"Answer me."
Mentu swallowed hard and stared straight into Drakan's eyes.
After a moment.
He straightened his shoulders and replied with dignity.
"If it means saving my men, what do I have to fear from death?"
"So you'll die?"
"I don't seek a glorious end, but allow me to uphold the spirit of chivalry."
"I promise."
Drakan withdrew his black spear and turned to Hatori.
He was still prostrated on the ground, shaking uncontrollably.
"Count Hatori, raise your head and look at me."
"Y-Yes."
No trace of dignity remained on Hatori's face, smeared with tears and snot.
"Do you want to save your knight commander?"
"P-Pardon?"
"Offer one of your arms. Then I won't kill him."
"What do you mean?"
Hatori's dazed expression turned to wide-eyed shock.
"Decide."
"……"
As Hatori swallowed nervously and fidgeted, Mentu bellowed.
"What kind of farce is this? Take my life instead!"
The black spear shot forward like lightning, halting before his eyes.
"I didn't ask you."
Drakan's icy words unleashed a razor-sharp aura.
"Guh!"
Mentu's face twisted under the immense pressure.
Even then, he worried for Count Hatori.
"Are you alright, my lord?"
Pale-faced, Hatori slammed his forehead into the ground and cried out.
"Can't you take my arm instead of his life?"
"Very well."
"Thank you!"
As Hatori joyfully lifted his head, the black spear struck.
Boom!
A hole pierced his skull.
"My lord!"
Mentu's eyes bulged in rage as he erupted in fury.
"You dare!"
As he sprang up to charge at Drakan, Ron swiftly headbutted him.
Thud!
Mentu flew backward, crashing to the ground.
The Tasl knights, who had watched everything, seethed with anger.
"To dare strike down our lord..."
"Commander..."
"Death is nothing..."
As the knights gripped their sword hilts, snarling and ready to charge.
Drakan slammed his black spear into the ground with force.
Boom!
The Lannister Knight Order followed suit, thrusting theirs down as well.
Rumble!
The earth shook as if in an earthquake, thick dust clouds billowing up.
At the same time, the Giant Wolves unleashed their ferocious auras.
The overwhelming pressure crashed over the Tasl knights like a tidal wave, quelling their boiling rage.
A heavy silence blanketed the tense atmosphere.
Mentu, struck by Ron, staggered to his feet.
Drakan met the eyes of the man glaring at him with murderous intent.
"Mentu Bakura, as promised, I'll spare your knight order. And you as well."
"W-What?"
"A man who only saves himself has no place alongside Count Arthur."
"……!"
Mentu's eyes wavered.
He realized the questions Drakan had posed to him and Hatori carried profound meaning.
"Was that your intent?"
"It's the Count's will to select those worthy of joining us."
At Drakan's firm response, Mentu dropped to his knees.
Truth be told, when Drakan had demanded an arm to spare him, Mentu had assumed Hatori would comply.
He had devoted everything to his lord, who had always claimed he'd give his life for him.
Yet Hatori had faltered over a mere arm and ultimately abandoned him.
Rather than anger, disappointment flooded him at the realization he'd served such a man.
Conversely, deep questions arose about Count Arthur.
He began to think the rumors of him being a wastrel might not be true.
'Why?'
His mind reeled, unsure how to process it all.
Drakan, who had been watching Mentu, turned away.
"Wrap this up quickly."
At his command, the Lannister Knight Order sprang into action like arrows.
The Devil Squad waited until they had all entered the castle before approaching Drakan.
Dark spoke for the group.
"What happened?"
"Shortly after you set out, an envoy from Marquis Valtre arrived with war supplies."
"……?"
Everyone tilted their heads in confusion.
"The envoys, claiming the marquis's orders, demanded to assess the Julius Count Family's forces."
"As expected."
The variable had indeed occurred.
"So the young master dismissed all but the Phoenix Knight Order, Defen Knight Order, and Del Knight Order, sending the rest outside. Everyone knows the families branded as devil worshippers have gathered here."
"Where are the rest?"
"They're moving to each territory, awaiting you."
"Why us...?"
"The young master declared his intent to expand the Count Family's power."
"Power meaning...?"
"He's chosen absorption over mere cooperation from neighboring territories."
"Gasp!"
The entire Devil Squad's jaws dropped.
"We were shocked too."
Dark calmed his pounding heart and asked.
"Were there no objections?"
"I thought Mage Millerph and Sir Skevin would oppose, but they supported it and asked for details."
"Ah..."
"They must have grasped the young master's intentions."
"Hmm."
Dark nodded, envisioning the current and future situations.
It seemed they were to wait in each territory until the envoys departed, fully securing control.
With restrictions on their actions, they had to hide their full strength from Marquis Valtre.
This timely opportunity allowed them to achieve two goals at once.
"Then we'll head to the next territory."
"The young master said to report on each one's status."
"Understood."
Dark ended his talk with Drakan and gathered the Devil Squad close.
"Who's going?"
"I'll go."
Poshe raised his hand.
"Variables might arise en route, so pairs would be best, right?"
"How about pairing with the new recruits, Hrupa and Bakun? We need to keep the envoy group's strength intact as much as possible."
"Sounds good."
Mullan snapped his fist into his palm in agreement at Kasan's words.
The others nodded too.
"Alright!"
Dark assigned Poshe and Hrupa to report on the Aslan territory matter, then moved to the next.
***
"He says he'll inspect even the underground today."
"Let him do as he pleases."
Arthur replied curtly, eyes fixed on his documents.
He showed no interest in them.
"Young master, shouldn't we at least block access to that place?"
"Hmm."
Arthur looked up at Skevin.
"Go tell them I forbid entry there."
"They might not listen to me."
"If they ignore you after three warnings, use force."
"That could provoke Marquis Valtre's wrath."
"As long as you don't kill them, it'll be fine. They're getting valuable intel anyway."
"Pardon?"
"We need to let them know a Sword Master has emerged in the Julius Count Family. I'd love to have him debut as a battlefield hero, but I understand why we can't. And we can't hide it from our men forever."
"I understand, young master."
As Skevin smiled faintly.
Bang!
The office door flew open as Rsanna rushed in.
Arthur's smile vanished at her grave expression.
"Young master, you need to see Madam."
"Why Mother?"
Arthur stood.
"She heard the envoys are searching every corner of the castle and went to confront them."
"Hmm..."
As Arthur let out a low groan, Andrew burst into the office.
"Young master!"
"What's your emergency?"
"Some knights with the envoys tried to assault Horcamun tribe women and got caught by Cersei. They're fighting now."
"Where are Adlan and Hector?"
"Sir Helm took them for training in the western mountains early this morning."
"Perfect timing."
Arthur left the office with Skevin, continuing.
"First, to Mother."
"What about Cersei?"
"Don't worry. No ordinary fighter can handle her."
Arthur headed to Medlin's location with a cold expression, accompanied by Rsanna.
***
Medlin, flanked by her guards, was confronting the envoys sent by Marquis Valtre at the passage to the tombs of past family heads.
"You absolutely cannot enter here!"
"Step aside!"
Irritation laced the envoy's voice.
They had scoured the castle interior for two days with nothing to show. Returning empty-handed would bring the marquis's fury.
They needed any discovery, but the countess had suddenly blocked the path.
He wanted to cut her down and proceed, but as the countess, he couldn't.
Marquis Valtre had instructed them not to provoke the Julius Count Family into rage.
One of the three envoys snapped irritably.
"Your insistence only piques our curiosity more, madam. We must go down and check."
"This is the resting place of our past family heads! Outsiders are strictly forbidden!"
"We're envoys under the marquis's orders. If you won't cooperate, we'll have no choice but to use force."
As they drew their swords.
"Halt!"
A heavy voice thundered like lightning, piercing their minds.
"……!"
They whipped around.
Skevin approached with terrifying momentum, a deep blue aura blazing around him like flames.
"S-Sword Master!"
As their jaws dropped, Arthur, arriving with him, spat coldly.
"Draw. I'll kill you."