074. Obedience 1
Around Plentel Castle, to the east near the Harpy Cave, knights clad in black armor moved with urgent purpose.
Whoosh.
Above their heads fluttered a black flag emblazoned with a white wolf's snarling head. In the bottom right corner gleamed the number '7'. It marked the Black Wolf Unit's 7th Company, loyal to Centurion Bin.
Before them swarmed countless harpies in the sky. Monstrous hybrids with women's heads atop eagle bodies—but these were no ordinary harpies. Massive talons gripped the air, and each bore two heads. They were one of the chimeras that had recently appeared near Bascon lands.
The 7th Company's captain raised his voice at the sight.
"They used to be pretty enough to pity. Now they're no different from any other monster."
Another knight chimed in. "Good thing, too. No guilt holding us back."
"Come at us, then! We'll show you the might of the 7th Company!"
The 7th Company knights bellowed, raising swords, spears, maces, and more toward the harpies.
But for all their bravado, the harpies merely snorted in disdain.
"Heh."
Weapons or no, these knights were grounded. The harpies, floating high, knew they were untouchable.
Exchanging glances, the harpies nodded—the signal to attack.
Swoosh. Swoosh.
The airborne flock dove at the 7th Company. Soon, the clash of steel and talons rang out.
Clang! Clang! Clang...!
Sweat beaded on the knights' foreheads as they shouted.
"These bastards...!"
"How's a harpy got this kind of power?"
The captain frowned in confusion. Normal harpies would've been skewered by their weapons. But swings of sword, spear, and mace did nothing—their massive talons blocked every blow. Worse, those talons shoved the knights back.
Scraaaape. Boots dragged across the dirt as the company struggled.
Then—
Clatch!
One harpy snatched a knight mid-air, like a seagull snagging a fish.
"You little—!"
The captured knight glared up, wriggling futilely. Those enormous talons clamped his torso tight.
Clatch! Clatch!
More knights were airborne in seconds. The harpies soared higher and released.
"Urgh...!"
"Damn it...!"
Ten meters up. One glance down was dizzying. A fall like that meant death.
The grounded knights winced, helpless.
"N-no...!"
As expected, the harpies loosened their grip. The knights plummeted.
They flailed in mid-air, but it changed nothing. Heads tucked, they hit the ground with meaty thuds.
Thud! Thud!
Limbs twisted unnaturally, blood pooling from battered bodies. The survivors glared at the harpies, eyes burning at their fallen comrades.
"You monsters...!"
But the harpies cackled at the knights' fury.
"Kekekeke..."
Cruel by nature, this was mere sport to them.
Emboldened, the harpies pressed harder. Talons seized more knights.
Clatch! Clatch!
"Aaaargh!"
"To think... harpies...!"
The battlefield filled with screams. The entire 7th Company suffered—
until—
Shwaaaa!
A sleek, arrow-shaped sword wind sliced toward the harpies. It shredded one's wing on impact.
Riiip!
Wingless, the harpy could only plummet.
Thud!
A spearman stepped forward. "You're safe now—I've arrived."
Ponytail swaying, eyes fierce with valor. A long, crimson spear gleamed in his grip. Young as he was, his voice rang steady, laced with quiet confidence.
The 7th Company grinned at the sight.
"Captain Hite!"
One shout ignited the rest. Morale surged.
"With the 50th Captain here, these harpies are nothing!"
"Alright, everyone—back in the fight!"
One man's arrival flipped the battlefield's mood in an instant.
Hite, 50th Captain of the company—son of 2nd Division Captain Hipo and 3rd Division Captain Chosi. In his late teens, he was a spear prodigy like his father.
Hite whirled his red spear into the fray. From upper right to lower left, then lower right to upper left—in a blink. Sword winds streaked skyward in rapid succession.
They tore into harpy wings.
Shwick! Shwick!
"Hah! Come on, you harpies—all of you!"
His shout echoed as another massive wind blasted forth.
Shwaaaa!
It shredded wings mid-air. Harpies rained down like hail.
Thud! Thud! Thud...!
Yes—Hite targeted only their wings. A wingless harpy was a tiger without teeth.
Terror gripped the flock.
"Hiiiik!"
"Hiiiik!"
They scattered, flapping wildly. In moments, Hite had claimed the field.
The 7th Company gaped.
"That skill... at his age."
"Like watching Master Hipo himself!"
Hite shrugged at the praise, pleased they equated him to his idol father.
Amid the awe, one knight spoke up. "He'll make a fine successor to the Centurion."
Mention of Bin soured Hite's face. A chill fell over the field.
"...!"
The knights glanced nervously. They'd seen the subtle rivalry between Centurion and 50th Captain before. Those words wouldn't sit well.
Thud. Thud. Thud...
Hite's brows furrowed as he stalked toward the knight.
He stared him down. "Is my skill only good enough to chase the Centurion's heels?"
"...!"
The knight's eyes quivered under Hite's glare. Terror sealed his lips.
Hite's pride in his talent ran deep.
The knight froze, trapped.
Hite pressed. "Hey. If I had a top-grade weapon, I could do that too! Got it?"
Desperate to live, the knight nodded shakily. "Y-yes! Of course...!"
"Honestly, the Centurion's only there because of his top-grade weapon. Right? If I had one, I'd be the 7th Company's Centurion right now."
Hite's voice rose. The knights went mute as mimes.
"..."
The sudden silence drew Hite's gaze. But their eyes weren't on him—they stared behind him.
Sensing it, Hite turned—and froze.
"...!"
Bin stood there, greatsword strapped to his back.
Hite stammered. "C-C-Centurion!!"
Bin's gaze was ice. "What was that?"
"I-I... uh..."
"Say it again. What you just said."
Gulp.
Hite's throat bobbed under that frigid stare. Bin had heard everything—his aggressive posture screamed it. Even the 7th Company held their breath.
"...!"
Bin's voice dropped low. "Then let's settle it."
"...!"
Hite scanned the crowd warily, unsure if Bin meant it.
But Bin pressed. "What, no confidence? Then..."
Thud. Thud.
Bin rummaged through the scattered gear on the ground and lifted a sword.
"We'll use this. If you win, the Centurion spot's yours. On the Bascon name."
The 7th Company gasped.
"...!"
Not just the bold words—the sword itself. Half the blade gone, edge dulled to nothing. One good hit would snap it.
He's facing Captain Hite... with that?
What could he be thinking against a spear genius?
Doubts swirled, but Bin's eyes burned resolute.
Ahead lay missions for the company and the house. Success demanded trust from his men. One disloyal subordinate could doom any plan—like now. He'd sent Hite on recon, but the captain disobeyed, sparking this fight and needless deaths.
Time to etch hierarchy and faith into them.
The knights fidgeted awkwardly. Hite ground his teeth—humiliated before his men.
Serious? With that trash sword?
Son of spear legend Hipo, undefeated against peers. Yet Bin mocked him with a broken blade.
Hite's face brightened. No. He's just posturing. Our rank gap's only 1st or 2nd class. Pure Bascon blood or not, he can't win with that.
His eyes gleamed with certainty. This could be my chance...
"Understood, Centurion. I accept your command."
Gripping his red spear, Hite met Bin's gaze.
The 7th Company's minds reeled. They're really doing it...? With that sword?!
50th Captain versus Centurion...
Hite glared, eyes bulging. I'll make you regret insulting me with that.
Bin matched it coldly. Disobeying orders has a price.
No quarter given, the two locked eyes. The knights could only watch in stunned silence.
"...!"