Episode 194
Clang!
Squeak!
The training ground where the knights' drills had ceased.
The battle began with the rage-filled offensive of Lakmos. It
was not a mere sparring match, but a movement imbued with the resolve to kill the man before him.
However, the battle did not unfold as easily as he had hoped.
Clang!
Crash!
The sword he swung with all his might was repeatedly blocked by the adventurer's simple defense.
What was annoying was that the commoner in front of him hadn't moved a single step.
On top of that.
Pow!
Smack!
That crazy adventurer launched a counterattack mixed with blows every time he defended.
It was a speed that made it difficult for any fist, foot, or sword hilt to react.
He could tell, whether he liked it or not, that his entire body was covered in bruises.
"-Hahaha
–
You're getting beaten to a pulp. -So you came here to get a punching bag?
-The impact feels insane. Haha."
Hanbit, who had been calmly blocking the attacks, picked out only the most painful spots to strike.
Since he was hitting the same spot over and over again, Lakmos's reaction was extraordinary.
It was all the more effective because he was a human unaccustomed to pain to begin with.
Bang—!
Smack—!
“Cough!”
Once again, Lakmos’s attack was blocked, and an elbow slammed into his eyelid.
The pain was excruciating enough to bring tears to his eyes.
As this repeated, he began to hesitate in his attacks.
Nevertheless, Lakmos could not back down.
A member of the founding hero family being defeated by a mere commoner adventurer.
It was a situation that absolutely could not happen.
“Damn it!”
Snap—!
A reddish mark was engraved on the blade of Lakmos’s sword as he hardened his resolve.
It was a unique technique, etched in blood by the first head of the Artua family.
To overwhelm and kill the enemy.
It was a primal technique with that sole purpose.
“Gasp!”
Lakmos, who had taken a step back, kicked off again and charged forward.
If that adventurer were to take this technique, he would surely die.
It was a predictable level regardless of a commoner’s weapon.
He absolutely could not withstand it.
He was certain of that.
Whoosh—!
The sword, brought down with all its might, sliced through the air and headed toward the enemy's head.
Even though Hanbit had read the trajectory, he did not dodge.
Bang!
The two blades clashed with a dull thud.
However, the result was completely different from what Lakmos had expected.
“……?”
The weapon was nowhere to be seen.
His own sword, which had delivered the attack, had vanished.
It had flown over his head and landed behind him.
Meanwhile, the adventurer still held a sword of a mysterious glow in his hand.
“Ugh!”
Lakmos lowered his gaze at the sudden pain.
Both hands that had gripped the hilt.
His wrists were swollen as if broken.
They had snapped violently, unable to withstand the force of the blades’ collision.
“Aaaargh!”
Lakmos screamed at the pain he had never experienced before.
He slumped to the ground and rolled around.
“You really are a weakling.”
Hanbit looked down at him and said with a look of disdain.
Lakmos, writhing in pain, glared menacingly with bloodshot eyes.
*Crunch*—the
sound of molars being crushed at Hanbit's taunt could be heard.
It was loud enough to make one wonder if they were shattering.
“You pathetic… bastard! Here in Raven! You don’t even know the meaning of messing with Artua!”
Lakmos squirmed, his voice filled with malice.
His gaze fell upon Leon, who stood on guard to one side.
“Hey, Vice-Commander! Kill this bastard!” It was
an absurd command delivered with a finger pointing.
It was an act of self-indulgence that defied common sense.
“You have no right to issue such orders.”
“Kill him! Have you forgotten that the Commander-in-Chief is our Lord?” “
My direct subordinates are His Majesty the King and the Knight Commander. In a non-wartime situation, the Commander-in-Chief’s orders are meaningless. Even so, I have no intention of obeying them.”
“You crazy…! You [despite] me [despite] the Lord…!”
“There is an uninvited guest.”
Just then, a voice was heard from behind.
As he turned his head, a burly middle-aged man dressed in platinum was approaching.
He took a potion from his waist and sprinkled it onto Lakmos's wrist.
"Haa."
A sigh escaped him involuntarily as the pain subsided.
Perhaps it wasn't a very good sign, as the broken bone hadn't healed.
However, he had no choice but to be satisfied with just the reduction in pain.
“…Commander, I heard it’s a holiday.”
“I’m feeling a bit pressured by our Vice-Commander.”
[Kylo, Commander of the Royal Guard]
-Oh.
-The Commander enters.
-So cool
-'Do it for me.'
Commander Kylo spoke while looking at Leon.
After glancing at Hanbit and Riventia, he asked Lakmos again.
“By the way, why are you at headquarters?”
“As an operations staff officer… I’ve come for an inspection.”
“The Royal Guard is an independent organization under the direct command of His Majesty the King. If you are finished with your unauthorized sightseeing, I would appreciate it if you would leave.”
The words, spat out with a smile, were laced with bitterness.
The head of this headquarters.
Only a Commander could say such things.
“Tsk.”
Lakmos frowned in dissatisfaction.
Examining his wrist, he glared at the Commander and Vice-Commander and said,
“Just wait. I’ll tear this place up before long.” With
a whoosh,
Lakmos turned and walked out of headquarters.
Hanbit asked Riventia, who was standing beside him, in a low voice,
"Are you okay?"
"Huh?"
The girl, who had been watching the incompetent sword's retreating figure, turned her head away.
There was no emotion on her face.
"I thought you would at least stop me and argue."
"Ah… He was such a pathetic person that I didn't even think of that. Besides, you beat him up to your heart's content."
Lakmos's wrongdoing and his father's execution.
Given the depth of their hatred and rage, it wouldn't be surprising if an unexpected situation arose at any moment.
However, it felt as though even such emotions were a waste.
The sight of him getting beaten by the Black Dragon was so pathetic it was absurd.
"The
uninvited guest is gone." The Captain nodded and walked toward Hanbit and Riventia.
Then, extending his hand, he said,
"I am Captain Kylo. It is the first time I have seen both of you like this." "
I am the Black Dragon."
"Hello."
They exchanged light greetings.
Hanbit skillfully concealed his wariness.
So that the Captain wouldn't sense anything suspicious.
'Their objectives are indeed different.'
Nobles were gathering, led by the incompetent sword Lakmos.
They were the forces of the House of Artua.
However, Captain Kylo stood on the side of the exiled Crown Prince Emeter.
The two factions were closer to enemies than allies.
It was a fact known only to Hanbit that a civil war would break out again whenever the royal power changed.
“His Majesty ordered an investigation into the existence of an ally of the Holy Kingdom. Black Dragon, I heard you have some opinions.”
The details of what had happened near Temosha had not been conveyed.
Naturally, the exiled Crown Prince and the anti-state forces were also non-existent at that time.
There was one convenient reason to use here:
the existence of the Holy Kingdom forces that had surfaced through Edlen and Ifrit.
“I intend to proceed with the investigation by utilizing the cases I have experienced. Given that nobles are involved, I think it would be wise to refer to the cases of Brook and Vares, whom we apprehended in Edlen. It is also difficult to rule out high-ranking nobles like Artois from the list of suspects.”
“Hmm, an investigation without exceptions is necessary.”
The Commander nodded in agreement.
In his mind, he had organized every single anti-state force and the Artois family’s collaborators without exception.
Conducting an investigation secretly is bound to invite unnecessary suspicion.
Hiding one true intention among several truths—
it was a commonly used strategic choice.
“Since there are no clues, let’s start by investigating the movements of influential nobles. The sun will set soon, so there will be movement. It would be best to keep an eye on the noble mansions within the royal capital.”
“We will need to use troops capable of moving unnoticed. Let’s meet on the first floor in thirty minutes.”
The Commander nodded and left.
He would ensure that the preparations for the investigation were properly made.
“Wouldn’t it have been better to share the truth with you as well, Commander?”
Leon brought up the lingering concern he had been harboring.
It was the information regarding anti-state forces that had not been shared, in accordance with Hanbit's opinion.
It must have been frustrating for those who trusted the Commander.
“It is best to minimize variables as much as possible. Let’s focus on the investigation first.”
Hanbit offered a plausible reason.
Fortunately, Leon accepted the decision without any objection.
“Let’s go down now.”
Thirty minutes later, the three moved to the first floor.
The Commander and dozens of knights were waiting there.
“Let the investigation begin.”
***
It was a night in the royal capital, shrouded in darkness.
The scattered troops monitored the nobles' mansions in their respective zones.
Hanbit, Liventia, and Leon were assigned to handle several members of the Artua family, including Lakmos.
“Uncle Henry is truly amazing.” Liventia let out a remark bordering on a sigh
while the investigation continued for several hours. It was because the relationship map of the aristocratic landscape drawn by Henry had matched the situation perfectly. “The pace has certainly quickened.” Leon asked from a distance, watching Lakmos hurry along. The incompetent sword who had suffered various humiliations at the Royal Guard headquarters. Believing his family's status to be his own worth, his pride was sky-high. His deepening rage made his actions more excessive and abrupt. “Let me check this out for a moment.” *Swoosh* —Using Shadow Concealment, Hanbit approached the mansion first. Although security was layered upon layer, he had a clear vision of where and what kind of gaps might exist. Leon and Liventia followed the path he had cleared. Reaching the location where the nobles were holding their secret rendezvous was quick. *Bang!* “Preparation? What preparation! How hard could it possibly be to devour a king like this!” Lakmos slammed his fist on the table in anger. The other nobles seated there spoke as if to appease him. “I agree. It is a kingdom already in decline, isn’t it? Once the invasion begins, they won’t even be able to properly respond.” “Artois’s powerful knights and soldiers, along with the armies of factional nobles gathering from all over the country, will be more than enough to sweep through the entire capital. Neither the exiled Crown Prince nor the forces of the Holy Kingdom will have a chance to intervene. All the credit will go to the great Artois.” “Still, there was a report that it is in the final stages. Preparations will be finished by tomorrow, so you just need to wait a little longer.” Since it was a secret meeting, there was no need to beat around the bush. An invasion would begin across the kingdom. At the same time, the capital would be dominated by the forces of Artois. “Is that so? Then never mind.” Lakmos felt a little better at the news that it would be over soon. Holding the bottle of liquor on the table, he looked at his wrist and spoke. Even though the treatment was finished, it still felt throbbing. “I will see with my own eyes the Guard Knights and that adventurer bastard die. I’m especially curious about what Leon’s expression will be before he dies.” The three left the mansion, leaving behind the guy who had started drinking. That conversation alone was enough context. “It appears that the rebellion has been steadily prepared. It is also unacceptable.” Even though he heard the declaration that he was going to kill him, Leon showed a calm demeanor. Punish sin and establish justice. There was no room to shake my mind. “Let’s go back now.” Hanbit moved to the Knights headquarters with the two people. All troops who had left to investigate had returned. “Fortunately, there was no secret meeting with the Shinseongguk believer. How was it?” The leader who was waiting asked Hanbit’s group. Leon brought out the promised answer. “It was the same for us. I think we need to redirect our investigation.” “I see. I will discuss this matter further. Black Dragon, Riventia. I will have the progress reported to the two of you through Leon…” “Captain!” Just then, a knight burst in, interrupting the conversation. With a frantic expression, he shouted as if spitting out words without even catching his breath. “Reports of unidentified attacks are coming in simultaneously from all over the Kingdom!”
