Chapter 520
"Teacher, is this the village?"
"Yes, if the information is accurate, there should be traces of those who annihilated the knight order here."
"On the surface, it just looks like an ordinary territory..."
"I can't forgive them..." Shayir Renda murmured bitterly.
"Shayir Renda, it's not your place to comment on the matters of the knight order."
"They're villains who killed even the children! Teacher!"
"Lower your voice. The birds hear daytime chatter, and goblins listen at night." Boris's voice turned stern, causing Shayir to clench her teeth.
The decimated knight order included not only knights but also many children. Often, the way to fill the ranks was to take talented children who had been abandoned, orphaned, or left on the streets and train them. Of course, if the children did not want this, their memories would be erased, and they would be returned. But usually, these destitute children joined the knight order just to survive. There were several secret knight orders on the continent, and the rapid annihilation of one such order was no ordinary issue. That's why even members of the steadfast Anchor Knights had come in response.
"Any survivors...?"
"It's not impossible, but given that there's been no contact with other knight orders, we should prepare for the worst."
Then, from one end of the table, Lucia Shelman, a Daphne fanatic who had been silently staring at Boris's cup, clutched her cross and murmured. "But how did this happen? I can't comprehend it, no matter how much I think about it."
"You can't understand?"
"Fildyr, isn't that so? Even if there was a traitor..."
"Lucia Shelman, stop. You think the teacher looks easy to you?"
At this grinning comment, Lucia avoided his gaze and clicked her tongue, "Tch." She carefully let go of Boris's beer mug, which she had tried to take.
"Aren't you practicing abstinence? Alcohol is forbidden." Realizing this a moment later, Fildyr pulled her cheek sharply.
"Anyway! The important thing is, even if there was a traitor, how could an elite knight order, concentrated in one place, collapse so quickly without even sending a distress signal?"
Boris' expression hardened at this. If Davey's use of the Spirit King's power to extract memories was accurate, the culprits who had destroyed the knight order were caught in the act. However, nowhere was there a scene of the high-ranking members, the real powerhouses, dying.
"According to Davey, that was the limit of what could be restored with the Spirit King's power."
How could one find something entirely erased?
"Mm, this is delicious. Fildyr, try this."
"I've been eating it since earlier."
"Hey, you two, focus." Fildyr, the Paladin, reprimanded them with a tap on the table, causing Shayir to puff her cheeks and look away.
"Fine, I got it."
"Shayir Renda!"
"Why are you so annoying?"
As Shayir and Fildyr bickered, Fildyr and Lucia quickly intervened.
"Fildyr! Miss Shayir! Why are you acting so unlike yourselves?"
"Why only scold me?! You've been eating non-stop too!"
As the two continued their squabble, Boris gave a light clap.
Boom…
Instantly, all four of them stiffened.
"Enough. I understand that everyone is on edge because of the distressing events and the long march. Especially member Shayir, she's... ahem, not feeling her best. So, Fildyr, please understand. As for the knight order, reinforcements have been requested and will arrive soon."
"But Teacher Boris, what if those damned individuals disappear before they arrive?"
"I doubt it. As you reported, they were trying to find something in the underground mountains and were thwarted by Davey. I may not know much, but they won't give up easily."
Those with a goal wouldn't leave before accomplishing it. Especially after causing a huge incident like decimating a knight order, it would be the height of folly to run without taking anything.
"They might think they'll get caught if they stick around."
"Well, I believe they'll probably sever ties and make a hasty move." At his words, the knight members nodded.
Seeing Shayir Renda's teary eyes, Fildyr anxiously took another bite, prompting Lucia to instinctively reach for a drink before refraining and then tugging at Fildyr's ear.
"Follow me. When someone isn't considerate... It means they can't manage to have a proper relationship in their entire life."
"Huh, what a joke! I serve the goddess Freia as a holy knight..."
"These days, even holy knights get married, you know? I've heard that even the first Saint Daphne has a spouse."
"Hey, hey! Wait! Let go!"
Just as he was about to be pulled from his seat...
Bang!
While the two were squabbling and looking elsewhere, a man hurriedly entered the building and collided with Lucia.
"Ah!"
Clatter!
The box that the man had tightly held onto fell, but due to its secure lock, its contents remained concealed.
"Ouch... I'm sorry. Are you hurt…?"
"What are you doing?! Do you even know who she is?!"
At that moment, one of the two attendants wearing robes behind the man drew his sword and pointed it at Lucia's neck. In response, Fildyr quickly unsheathed his own sword, aiming it at the throat of the one threatening Lucia. Like a chain reaction, the other attendant thrust his blade toward Fildyr's throat.
Seeing the tense situation unfolding, the twin sisters, Shayir and Fildyr, who were seated, issued a warning. "If you don't put your swords away, we'll pierce your hearts right now."
The cold threat caused the men to flinch as lower wind and water spirits suddenly manifested, taking the form of sharp blades aimed at the hearts of the two robed men. Everyone around was shocked by the sudden standoff.
"How dare... lowly mercenaries point their swords at him?"
In a cold voice, the masked man spoke, to which Shayir retorted irritably,
"What a joke. Who pointed their sword first? And it was that man who bumped into Lucia."
"You wretch..."
The atmosphere grew tense. At that moment, Boris, who had been drinking barley beer, and the man who had been knocked to the ground shouted simultaneously, "Enough of this!"
Boris, gulping down his barley beer, managed to defuse the tense atmosphere. An intimidating aura emanated from him, making the attendants wary.
"It seems there were misunderstandings on both sides. However, your reaction was a bit excessive."
"You fool, do you know who he is? He's Viscount Lucknis!"
Hearing the attendant's shout, the man on the ground, looking irritated, stood up while clutching the box. His appearance was far from pleasant — a skinny body, with dark circles under his eyes that looked like he hadn't slept for days. Lucia was shocked by his appearance.
"I will apologize on behalf of my side. But it was an unintended mishap..."
"Then bow your head properly to apologize!" Viscount Lucknis's shout echoed loudly. One of the attendants suddenly kicked Lucia in the stomach, making her fall.
"Put your swords away, filthy mercenaries."
"You bastard!"
"Enough!" Just as Fildyr was about to erupt in anger, Boris's stern voice quelled the rising tension.
"These are just inexperienced youngsters. Did I hear correctly that he is Viscount Lucknis?"
As Boris rose to his feet, his imposing presence caused Viscount Lucknis to instinctively step back. Boris's authority was undeniable.
"I apologize."
Fildyr and the Renda sisters couldn't believe their eyes. "What are you doing?!"
"Master! Why are you bowing to them when they were the ones at fault?" Lucia, who had fallen earlier, watched in confusion, struggling to grasp the situation.
"I have failed to instruct them properly. Please extend your mercy."
"Hmph! Your apology doesn't sound sincere!" Viscount Lucknis arrogantly stroked his beard, clutching the box tightly. He turned to Boris and continued, "You arrogant man! Is this how you apologize? At my command, I could have your head on a platter!"
"What would you have me do, then?"
With a hint of amusement, Viscount Lucknis's gaze shifted to Lucia and the Renda sisters. "Well, for mercenaries, they do seem rather appealing."
"..."
The knights clenched their teeth in anger, but Boris, head still lowered, spoke. "They are still young. Please show them some leniency."
"Hmm! Very well, if you offer a proper apology by kneeling and bowing your head..."
"What?!"
"You scoundrel!!"
The atmosphere turned icy once again, but Boris, holding back the two infuriated knights, slowly began to kneel. His discipline was thorough. Among the 268 knights, including Lucia, watching Boris, who possessed the skills of a swordmaster, kneel and cower before a mere lower-ranked nobleman was a sickening sight. Yet, they understood the necessity of his actions. Regardless of who was at fault, they were members of a secretive knight order. Any exposure due to an incident involving nobility could lead to dire consequences. Moreover, being Anchor Knights rather than Roaming Knights, they had to be exceptionally discreet.
"Kneel swiftly. I am Viscount Lucknis, the chief trade officer of the Pallan Empire. Even Archduke Artium himself, the pinnacle of the Pallan Empire, regards me highly. Do you comprehend the gravity of this?"
As Viscount Lucknis mentioned the Pallan Empire and his association with the influential Archduke Artium, the faces of those inside the shop turned pale.
"As the chief trade officer, I oversee matters between the Pallan Empire and the Heins territory of the Rowane Kingdom. Crossing me means inviting trouble not only from the Empire but also from Prince Davey, revered as the saint of the continent."
"..."
"Have you realized the magnitude of your transgression?"
"I humbly beg for your mercy, Lord."
"Hmm! What are you waiting for? Kneel and bow your head."
"Is this sufficient for your forgiveness?"
"Hmm... I shall grant you my pardon. However, these wretches are a different matter. Punishment is inevitable for them, as they dared to brandish weapons at my attendants and collide with me."
Upon hearing Viscount Lucknis's declaration, Boris clenched his fists. For a brief moment, the 268 knights glimpsed the internal struggle he wrestled with and gritted their teeth. They could not risk discovery, nor could they become entangled in this situation, especially while on such a crucial and covert mission.
Then, an unexpected voice chimed in. "Oh, really? You claim to be close to Davey, the first prince of the Rowane Kingdom?"
"Yes, of course. While establishing trade with the Heins territory, our relationship was so amicable..."
"I have never seen you before. When did I become your acquaintance?" A firm rejection of any connection.
Suddenly, everyone's attention turned to the source of the voice, their eyes widening in disbelief. "Huh?!"
"A noble from the Pallan Empire?"
"Step aside."
Before anyone could react, a young woman appeared behind the man, gracefully flipping her golden hair that peeked out from her hood. Viscount Lucknis, clearly irritated, attempted to say something to the masked girl, Illyna. However, in the blink of an eye, her silver greatsword, Calderias, pierced Viscount Lucknis's shoulder.
"Arghh?!" With an agonized scream, he collapsed, and his guards swiftly pointed their swords at the girl's throat. However, their blades shattered instantly, as if they were made of brittle glass.
The one who effortlessly dismantled their swords was Davey, nonchalantly brushing his hands. These unknown individuals had audaciously claimed a connection with him.
"You should be thankful. I spared your lineage from annihilation due to treason."
"What in the..."
Before the stunned guards could finish their retorts, Illyna, with an icy countenance, stepped onto Viscount Lucknis's chest. Her eyes mirrored the frigid determination they had seen when they first met her.
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