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Chapter 196:

“Do you see that? There’s smoke all over his body like he’s burning.”

“How is that even possible?”

“I heard…” The knight, Tor, who had carried the Patriarch for most of the day before passing him to Cain, lowered his voice furtively. “I heard that the Black Knight is a member of the Sanders family. The second knight of Baron Sanders.”

The other two knights staggered like they’d been struck by lightning.

Cain, strolling alongside Charles and Icarus, gave them a confused look. “What’s the problem?”

“Uh… Nothing, Sir.” Tor smiled awkwardly and gestured for the other knights to come closer.

“Is that true?”

“If it is true, it’s going to turn the entire Empire on its head,” the knight whispered excitedly. “See, no matter where you go, there are very few people who can claim to lead two of the most exceptional knights on the continent. Two A-Class Knights! Under a fifteen-year-old lord, to boot!”

“Right… and even Icarus, the genius of the century! What a household it is!”

“I don’t know.” A knight shook his head. “Maybe there’s something going on behind the scenes that we don’t know of…”

The three knights were suddenly silent.

“Maybe I should go to the Sanders family?”

The other two knights pinned Tor with a withering glare.

“Are you serious? Have you forgotten the good graces the Duke has given you?”

“Not funny.”

“True.” Tor smiled and scratched his head. “However, there’s a good chance that the Empire’s going to be rattled when Baron Joshua returns. As far as rewards and punishments are concerned, nobody tops the Emperor.”

“Is he going to jump two ranks now?”

“From the lowest noble to the highest noble in one go? That’s a bit much, even for him.”

“That Count Sten also became a Master a long time ago, but changing his title hasn’t come up yet. I have no idea what the Imperial Palace is going to do.”

“Look at the situation this way: even in the Twelve Families, it’s not about the skills. It’s always about the rank—maybe that’s why Marquis Crombell fusses over being a duke so much.”

The knights shared an unhappy look. Despite the immense power of their reinforcements, the Pontiers’ situation was still dire.

“…Baron Sanders,” Tor murmured.

“Hmm?”

“His deeds have been absolutely incredible. Almost unbelievable. Don’t you think he could turn the tide?”

The knights pondered in hushed silence. Joshua Sanders’s name alone had become a beacon of hope for the Pontiers.

Cain’s ear pricked up. “Master’s popularity increases day by day. A lot of people are cheering for him right now.” His chest swelled with vicarious pride.

“Hohoho. Imagine the popularity he’s gained from the opposite sex.”

“That’s totally unrelated!” Cain flushed. “Stop that!”

Icarus left Cain to fret to himself.

“Young Lady.”

“Yes?” Charles looked up, startled from deep thought.

“I apologize.” Icarus bowed.

“What’s this now?” The Young Lady looked perplexed.

“I should have pushed forward with my work, despite the confusion. I knew there would be more traitors.”

“Don’t say that.” Charles chuckled. “Our family would have vanished off the face of the earth without Icarus and Sir Cain. Perhaps I would have lived and died as the Marquis of Crombell’s plaything.”

Charles’s blunt words made Icarus’s expression stiffen. Terrible things had happened to Charles for such things to pass from her lips.

“Young Lady.” Icarus frowned sternly at her. “Don’t worry. You may be my superior, but I will save you from this hell.¹ And him…” Icarus watched Cain’s energetic march for a moment. “He’s my master’s friend, and even if he doesn’t realize it, he’s a very good man.”

Cain chuckled to himself, unaware of Icarus’s gaze.

“You can trust him. He really is a good man.”

Charles smiled at Icarus, but it meant something much different now. “He is trusted… and loved.”

“What?” Icarus’s eyes widened. “No, I mean—He’s reliable! Yeah, he can get the job done.”

“Hmm…”

Icarus saw Charles’s contemplative expression and quickly collected herself.

“Shouldn’t you worry about your plans after we’ve escaped?”

Charles immediately shook her head. “The danger is nothing. But if Baron Ashval brought it up, there must be something more to it.”

“You mean—?”

“My uncle is the lord of Peril Castle.” Charles smiled wanly.

“We lost the Young Lady.”

“You fool!”

A foot slammed into Baron Ashval’s stomach, sending an acute spike of pain through his body.

The kicker had no experience in martial arts. The Baron could have avoided it, but he didn’t. He knew that it would have guaranteed him more tickets to the hell that is Gehor.

“You scumbag! Stupid bastard! You can’t even do things right when they’re handed to you on a silver platter!” Marquis Gehor flung anything within arm’s reach alongside his cusses. From heavy wooden crates to metal candlesticks, Baron Ashval took it all without a groan. He simply bit his lips and bore it.

“I hope you will give me a chance to—”

“To what?” Gehor glared at him.

“The Princess must be in Peril Castle by now. She’ll assume that they’re safe, but it’s a trap ready to be sprung. Give me one more chance, please, and I’ll bring you the Princess and the Patriarch.” Ashval’s words were laced with desperation.

“Disgusting! You want to give them the initiative,” Marquis Gehor fumed. “Gehog already went there! You’ve already failed. You’re useless! Moron!”

Baron Ashval’s fingernails dug into his palms. When was the last time he’d been treated like this? Never, not even in the Pontier’s, one of the Five Dukes. He was an A-Class Knight, a force to be reckoned with.

Damn it all.

“Keep it in mind. But I’ll give you another chance.”

Marquis Gehor and Baron Ashval’s heads snapped around. The Mercenary King, casually sprawled over a chair, met their looks with a calm expression.

“The guild has received the summons, but it will take some time for our mercenaries to arrive.”

“Gehog and my knights are sufficient for Peril Castle.”

“You don’t think I’ve forgotten who’s there, do you?”

Gehor flinched.

“The Pontier’s refugees have two A-Class Knights with them… and one of them is the Black Knight.” The Mercenary King’s eyes sunk. He saw the Black Knight once, but briefly. He managed to cut off one of his arms, but Barbarian had a sinking feeling deep down that it wasn’t going to slow him down. Above all else, his skill with the sword was a serious issue.

“If that’s the person I know…” The Mercenary King grinned to himself. Exciting things were happening. It was a fresh breath of life in his monotonous existence.

“Anyhow, even the dumbest A-Class Knights are useful. Just use them for brute force if they can’t think.”

“What?” Marquis Gehor’s head whipped around to look at Baron Ashval. “They have A-Class Knights?”

Ashval shivered. Not because the Mercenary King insulted him, but because he was terrified of the way Barbarian’s eyes seemed to peer into his heart and mind.

The Mercenary King chuckled as he stood up. “It would be wise to be prepared for anything. With enough manpower, I could take him down in less than a day.”

Marquis Gehor swallowed nervously as he listened. That meant enough force to contend with an entire kingdom.

“Escort him directly to Peril Castle. And… I’ll go there as well. I’m hungry.”

He flashed a vicious, predatory smile.

“There’s no issue if they’re your knights.”

The Wilhelm Knights’ faces sagged with relief.

“Baron Joshua Sanders,” Count Castar said. “Did you take the throne of Reinhardt?”

Joshua’s silence was answer enough.

“Very good. I can identify them with certainty now.”

“I will take care of matters with His Majesty if there are any issues.”

“No—rather, I should be the one in your position.”

“Pardon?”

“I am proud to be your fellow countryman.”

Joshua’s eyes widened.

“May I ask you another question, if you don’t mind?”

“Go ahead…”

“Do you seek to recover your former position? You are the king, after all.”

The Agnus family history was a well-studied topic. Count Castar’s question touched upon many things. Did he want to restore the status he lost because of his poor background? He had the skills now. Does he wish to free himself of that humiliation?

Joshua, of course, had no interest.

“No.”

“Really?”

Joshua nodded. “Do you really think the Agnus name will satisfy me now?”

1. Ykw, I never actually thought about Charles x Icarus ship… well i guess i do now ️