Whether it had become second nature to them, the mercenaries showed no particular reaction. The same was true of Hails—
though for a slightly different reason.
“My son……”
“Yes, Father.”
Hails’s words were brief and firm.
“Will you confess briefly? Or will you speak after being beaten?”
“……”
“Seeing you now, I keenly realize that you have been sorely lacking in beatings all this time. For your sake, your father has no choice but to raise the rod……”
Mitchell sat down before Hails as quick as a lightning bolt.
“I will tell you everything at once.”
One by one, the events that had taken place in Penslot flowed from Mitchell’s mouth. Hails’s languid expression
gradually turned grave. To him, it was truly astonishing news. His son,
Mitchell, had successfully taken revenge in splendid fashion against his old enemy, Riley Friezman, who had become vice-captain of the Royal Guard Knights, and had received a promise directly from Duke Karsus, captain of the Royal Guard, that Hails’s honor would be restored. And when he heard the circumstances by which Mitchell had received
the title of baron from the king of Penslot, shock was plainly etched across Hails’s face.
“To think such a thing had happened in the world…… I am truly surprised that Squad Leader Karsus believed in me.
And that he still remembers that matter even now.”
“He was truly a man of outstanding character. He could not even be compared to the likes of Riley.”
“Of course. From the time he was a squad leader, he was a model for the Royal Guard knights. In a word,
he was someone who could be called the very image of an honorable knight. In any case, thank you. To think you cared so much
for your father’s honor.”
Hails looked at Mitchell with deep, gentle eyes.
“But I am even prouder that you have grown into such a man. Your father does not cling to things like
honor at all. Do you understand?”
“Even so, I felt thoroughly satisfied. I do not yet have such intentions, but one day, when all the mercenary corps’ missions
are finished, I would like to serve as an honorable knight of Penslot. Just as you did,
Father.”
“You rascal.”
Hails’s eyes quietly reddened. He could not help but feel proud of the son who had, before he knew it,
grown so splendidly.
“Ah, and Duke Karsus said he very much wished to meet you, Father. He said he earnestly wished
to drink through the night and talk of old times.”
“I would like that as well. But the distance to Penslot is so very far……”
At that moment, Kasim cut in. He had remembered something he had briefly forgotten.
“As it happens, a good opportunity has arisen. Mitchell and I may have to go to Penslot as members of an envoy.
When that time comes, how would you like to accompany us, Father?”
“Eh? What do you mean by that?”
To Mitchell, who asked back with a puzzled expression, Kasim told him of Theodore’s proposal.
When Mitchell heard that they were to go to Penslot as part of the envoy and request military support,
he readily agreed.
“That is a good idea. While we are at it, we can pay our respects to His Majesty and Duke Karsus, and besides……”
Mitchell’s eyes suddenly turned gloomy.
“You must be very pleased, Brother. You will be able to stop by Arne and see my sister-in-law. As for me,
I am so lonely I’m about to go mad……”
Just then, Hails stepped in and sealed Mitchell’s mouth.
“Lonely, are you? That is perfect. As it happens, a marriage proposal came from the miller’s house……
Their eldest daughter, Elena, does have a fair number of freckles, but as you know, she is quite a beauty.
Excellent timing. They say one should strike while the iron is hot, so after your business is finished, how about going straight to Karsel
and holding the wedding?”
Mitchell, who had tried to tease him only to gain nothing from it, hurriedly tried to settle the situation.
“I was joking. How could someone like me get married? If I had time for that,
I would swing my sword one more time.”
Juliana, who had been watching the scene, burst into laughter.
“Mitchell fell into his own trap. Hohoho. How amusing.”
“Hahaha.”
Laughter suddenly rang out across the training ground. Among it was Hails’s hearty laugh as well.
“You look unwell. Has something bad happened?”
At Theodore’s worried question, Damon silently shook his head.
“It is because I have been thinking too much. I am fine, so do not worry.”
“Please do not overexert yourself.”
“I understand. But your face is just as haggard. You must be quite busy.”
Theodore quietly blushed. He was now meeting Damon in front of the Imperial Memorial Hall.
There was nothing to eat inside the Imperial Memorial Hall, so Damon came out to the entrance once a day
to receive food and a change of clothes from the guards. He slept inside the memorial hall, and the rest
of his time was devoted to drawing out dark mana and restoring Russellant.
Theodore had visited the memorial hall at that time and had finally met Damon.
Perhaps because his complexion looked so poor, Theodore asked again.
“How have you been? Is there anything inconveniencing you?”
“It is tolerable enough. Since there are no fellows pestering me, I can put my mind at ease and
restore the Bone Dragon. The restoration is progressing faster than I expected.”
“That is truly fortunate.”
Damon quietly looked at Theodore.
“But why have you come to see me? You must be so busy you hardly have time to breathe……
Surely you came to see me because there is some matter?”
Theodore’s face flushed red. His true thoughts had been completely seen through.
“In truth…… yes. There is one thing I wished to ask you.”
“Speak.”
Theodore soon told him of the conversation he had exchanged with Duke Fershtain. When Damon heard
that Mitchell and Kasim, who had earned the trust of the king of Penslot, were to be included in the envoy and sent,
he remained quietly silent. Theodore carefully watched Damon’s expression.
“What do you think? In my opinion, that seems the better course……”
Unexpectedly, Damon readily nodded.
“That is not a bad method either. If the two of them agree, proceed with it. And……”
A look of delight flashed across Theodore’s face.
“Please speak.”
“Whom have you decided to send to Tezeros?”
Theodore answered without hesitation.
“Krovitz, the commander of the Duke Knights, has decided to go. Because Marquis Williams was assigned
to Rosimus I of Terbia……”
“May I ask one favor?”
Theodore asked back with a bewildered expression.
“Please tell me.”
“Among my companions, there is a boy named Gerald. He is young, but his swordsmanship is quite excellent.
Could you perhaps include him in the envoy going to Tezeros?”
“It is possible, but why…… may I ask the reason?”
Damon waved his hand as if it were nothing important.
“It is nothing serious. That fellow owes a debt to someone in Tezeros. Tell the boy
this: it seems the time has come to collect the debt, so does he not feel like trying to resolve it
on his own?”
Theodore nodded with a dazed expression.
“I-I will tell him that.”
“And what is Shrekheimer doing these days?”
“Master is extremely busy helping the division commanders of every level devise strategies.”
“Tell him to come see me once he has some free time.”
“Understood.”
Though he answered, Theodore could not erase the doubtful look from his face. Watching him, Damon slowly
rose to his feet.
“I will be going back in now. I have much to do, so understand.”
“P-please take care.”
Theodore watched Damon’s back with eyes that could not understand.
“What happened inside the memorial hall to make his expression so dark?”
But there was no way for Theodore to know the reason.
Krovitz, the commander of the Duke Knights, was spending another busy day. Because Duke Fershtain
was moving busily due to the invasion of Truvenia, Krovitz, who was in charge of the duke’s guard,
had no choice but to be busy as well. For Krovitz, that was quite a hardship.
That was because he was a training fanatic famous even within the Duke Knights.
“Not being able to swing my sword is making me itch to death.”
Perhaps Krovitz’s wish reached the heavens, for a little time was granted to him. Duke Fershtain,
fatigued by repeated hard work, had decided to rest for about half a day.
Krovitz was able to have some rare time off. But from the very beginning, he had no intention of resting.
“It has been a while. I should swing my sword to my heart’s content.”
He was now heading to the training hall with sword in hand. In his impatience, he had not even changed clothes
and was making his way to the training ground. Until now, aside from the time he spent eating, sleeping, and carrying out duties,
Krovitz had lived solely in the training ground. Because he had devoted himself to sword training, Krovitz was still
unmarried, despite being nearly fifty.
But when Krovitz arrived at the training ground, something strange was happening. The knights, who should have been absorbed
in training, were not swinging their swords but sitting huddled together. Every one of them
had dispirited faces, looking exactly like defeated soldiers. Such a thing had never once happened
until now.
‘These bastards?’
Krovitz’s eyebrows bent into a deep scowl. Slacking off during training time was something that could never
be tolerated. As the commander of the Duke Knights, it was not something he could allow.
In terms of quality, the Duke Knights still could not keep up with the members of the Krosen Order of Knights.
That was precisely because of the difference in the level of their mana cultivation methods. The legendary
mana cultivation method mastered by Emperor Krosen was passed down only to the Krosen Order of Knights.
No matter how outstanding Duke Fershtain’s abilities were, even he could not obtain that cultivation method.
Therefore, there was only one way for the Duke Knights to catch up to the level of the Krosen Order of Knights.
Only thorough training was their one and only breakthrough. Was that not why the officers, from squad leaders
and below, had even given up noble titles to devote themselves to training?
Because of that, Krovitz was furious to the tips of his hair. Seeing Krovitz approach,
the Duke Knights hurriedly rose to their feet.
“We greet the commander.”
Bursting with anger, Krovitz shouted without preamble.
“What on earth are you doing?”
“……”
“Neglecting training because I was away? Has the discipline of the Duke Knights
grown that lax?”
Among the knights, the squad leader of highest status replied haltingly, looking troubled.
“T-that is not……”
“What do you mean, it is not? I most certainly will not let this matter pass.”
As Krovitz’s voice grew even louder, the deputy commander cautiously began to explain the situation.
“There is no knight who would neglect training simply because you were absent, Commander. It is only that a troublesome
matter has occurred, so we have gathered here to discuss countermeasures.”
“A troublesome matter, you say……”
“In truth……”
After hearing the squad leader’s explanation, Krovitz’s eyes widened.
“Squad Leader Albert lost in a friendly match against a member of the Kasim Mercenary Corps?”
“T-that is correct.”
Krovitz sank into thought. Albert was a Sword Master who possessed considerable skill even among the knights
belonging to the Duke Knights. His refined techniques and bold attacks were things
Krovitz had long acknowledged. And yet he had lost to a member of the Kasim Mercenary Corps……
Though their fighting spirit was remarkable, Krovitz did not rate the skills of the Kasim Mercenary Corps very
highly. Among them, there was only one Master-class individual, and the rest of the members still
remained at the level of paladins.