Chapter 84: Count Corrode and the Eight Knights – 3

“To think the day would come when I’d see the Eight Knights with my own eyes.”

Wallace muttered beside me, wearing a thick leather helmet.

His voice carried both awe and fear.

“…Is it really that exciting?”

I finally asked after he fussed so much at my side.

For days, not only Wallace, but Valon, Martin, Yanes, Duran, and a number of new soldiers had been busy murmuring,

Eight Knights… Eight Knights….

Even seeing four dragons at once wouldn’t have stirred this much anticipation.

At my question, Wallace flinched like a holy knight encountering a witch.

“Do you even hear yourself? In my hometown, there was no one people admired more than the Eight Knights! And besides, how cool is the name Eight Knights itself!”

“What’s cool about it?”

“Typical northerner—you wouldn’t understand. Among southerners, even if they don’t know the name of the current Count Corrode, everyone knows who the Eight Knights are. That’s because the position belongs to the greatest swordsmen of the time! If you lose in skill, you’re kicked out, simple as that! The most recent addition is Sir Hilden, who’s been there for two years, and the longest-serving one is Sir Liard, who’s been there for ten…”

“…Don’t you realize as you grow older that such childish positions are more about politics than skill?”

I looked at Wallace with disdain.

The greatest swordsmen?

That’s something you can only determine by pitting everyone against each other.

It’s not a title someone can simply give you.

Seeing my gaze, Wallace realized he’d been making too much of a fuss and awkwardly cleared his throat.

“Well, I mean, I know that. To some extent, it’s just about the name… But still, having that name means something, right? Even if it’s vague, it’s a level of skill that people find convincing enough to call them the greatest. If they’re not good enough, they get replaced right away.”

“That’s true, I suppose.”

“See? You get it now, don’t you?”

At Wallace’s smugness, I couldn’t hold back a sarcastic retort.

“Yeah, sure, the great knights. Funny how they were nowhere to be seen during the war.”

“I only learned about the Corrode family after I came to this land. Eight Knights or whatever… It’s just like southerners. Obsessed with wordplay and hollow honor. That’s why they got crushed by us. My father never even bothered mentioning the Eight Knights.”

“…Maybe he tried to tell you but you gave out halfway through, like you do now?”

Wallce smirked mischievously, as if he’d caught me out.

Valon and Martin, listening nearby, smiled at the banter, both surprised and amused by the sharp jab.

Even I let out a helpless chuckle, knowing full well Wallace wasn’t really trying to insult me.

He was intentionally poking at an awkward topic, as if to defuse it.

—Thud!

I kicked Wallace in the leg, and he burst into laughter, hopping back from me.

I sighed and said,

“Anyway. Just keep your eyes on Vivian.”

Valon and Martin erased their smiles and nodded solemnly.

“The fact that Count Corrode is coming this time is also because of the ongoing dispute, so be ready not to lose to those Eight Knights or whatever.”

“Of course.”

As Vivian’s influence grew, those who followed her began to develop a deeper loyalty.

Valon, Martin, and Wallace were no exception.

It seemed they were starting to place a kind of hope in Vivian.

How high could she climb?

What benefits might trickle down to them when she did?

While such thoughts might have had selfish undertones, their loyalty stemmed partly from ambition—an eagerness to assist a promising figure like Vivian with all their might.

I was different.

My feelings for Vivian were always too ambiguous to call it loyalty.

So, while everyone else was being drawn deeper into her sphere, I alone stood a step back, observing these changes.

After a while, commotion began to stir in the distance.

Vivian had also approached the wall where we stood.

The trio bowed deeply to her, while I simply kept my eyes on the source of the commotion.

“They’re coming.”

Vivian muttered as she stood beside me.

I saw them too.

Count Corrode looked exactly as he had at the ballroom.

What stood out was that, unlike other nobles who arrived in carriages, he sat upright on a massive horse.

That simple choice to endure such discomfort seemed to speak volumes about his character.

Behind him were figures I’d never seen before.

Knights wearing blue cloaks and thick, heavy armor.

One, two… there were eight of them.

Dressed identically, they followed Count Corrode with perfect posture.

“…Wow.”

Martin couldn’t suppress a gasp of admiration.

Vivian briefly looked around at his reaction.

I did too.

Unlike Count Corrode’s knights, the soldiers on our side wore shabby clothes and leather armor.

The First Knights’ Division might have once looked impressive, but it had been a long time since they’d failed to guard Vivian.

The First Division had been tied up with hunting monsters on trade routes after Kelsie’s suggestion.

Vivian’s protectors were now always the Fourth Knights’ Division—boys from the punishment unit.

Try as they might, they couldn’t shake off the mannerisms of commoners.

I was already familiar with them, so I felt no discomfort, but… in the eyes of nobles, there would likely be no one who appeared shabbier.

“…That’s why I told you to fix the attire.”

I said to Vivian, who had just compared herself to Count Corrode.

Vivian bit her lip, then took a deep breath and replied.

“There were so many more pressing matters.”

“Still, a person needs to know how to dress to some extent.”

Vivian’s red eyes turned to the eight knights dressed in blue.

Seeing the admiration and envy that quickly filled her gaze, I felt a strange jealousy.

Ignoring that feeling, I also turned my head.

Now was not the time to act emotionally.

Vivian faced Count Corrode.

I faced the eight knights.

Our respective opponents were approaching.

“…Duchess.”

Count Corrode dismounted his horse with a swift leap and bowed to Vivian.

Taller than the average man, his rugged yet handsome features, broad shoulders, and solid arms made him look more like a knight than a count.

Seeing him reminded me of my father—a lord who had diligently trained with the sword.

Of course, ours was a traditional knightly family, but something about Count Corrode’s presence stirred nostalgia.

Behind him, eight knights stood in a neat row, shoulders aligned.

Their dignified posture exuded an undeniable authority, even to me.

Wallace, gazing at them like a lovesick girl, began reciting their names with awe.

“Wow… It’s really them. Sir Liard, Sir Chris, Sir Bariot, Sir Hiden…”

I discreetly stomped on Wallace’s foot as he mumbled.

Snapping back to his senses, Wallace clamped his mouth shut.

Vivian, maintaining a cold expression, responded to Count Corrode.

“I trust your journey here was not uncomfortable.”

“A man ought to be able to endure long rides on horseback.”

Some might have been surprised by Vivian’s composure.

She stood firm even when facing the elite soldiers alongside Count Corrode.

Yet I knew Vivian was trembling inside.

Her wandering, unfocused gaze made it obvious.

The Eight Knights must have been familiar to her.

It was rare to see Vivian so visibly tense.

Perhaps intending a bold frontal assault, Vivian took a deep breath and spoke.

“Seeing the Eight Knights in person, I can now truly feel their grandeur. No wonder they are so renowned in the Kingdom of Delrum.”

“I’m glad you can finally witness it. It’s a proud tradition of our family. By the way…”

Count Corrode’s gaze swept over us, ignoring retainers and maids as if they were insignificant, focusing solely on those he considered combatants.

One of the Eight Knights, whom Wallace had identified as Hiden, snorted softly.

My eyebrow twitched involuntarily.

Count Corrode became even more blunt.

“I didn’t notice it last time, but it seems the prestige of Rondor has fallen greatly. Are these boys the same ones who grew up from that punishment unit? With your position, Lady Vivian, isn’t it time to distance yourself from such lowly individuals? Perhaps you should consider recruiting talent from your vassal families. Wasn’t that friend, Baelor, quite competent?”

Was this his way of provoking us?

Unlike during the ball, his words were excessively rude.

Yet stepping forward here would undermine Vivian’s authority.

I simply trusted and waited.

Vivian maintained her gaze on Count Corrode without flinching, silently holding her ground.

Her unwavering silence made the atmosphere freeze in an instant.

Uncomfortable, Count Corrode stood awkwardly while the Eight Knights began sneaking glances at Vivian.

Finally, Vivian broke the silence.

“…It seems the Corrode family has a habit of meddling in Rondor’s affairs. First, you forced your merchant group onto my land, and now you’re concerned about my guards.”

“You seem surprisingly delicate for someone with such a rugged appearance.”

She added, raising her lips into a smile for the first time.

No one could react to her taunt; they all froze.

Only I laughed along with her.

Vivian glanced up at me, and our eyes met.

We understood each other without words.

At my laughter, Count Corrode’s gaze shifted to me.

“…Kailo Alan.”

The moment he saw me, he extended his large hand for a handshake.

I grasped his hand, responding to his offer.

He said.

“I owe much to your father. Do you know how his health has been lately?”

No one in the south was unaware of my father’s condition.

Like Vivian, I responded to provocation with provocation.

Negotiations didn’t begin only at the table; even this battle of wills was part of the process.

“…Funny, my father said you never owed him anything. He’s healthy, so don’t worry.”

Despite my retort, Count Corrode’s expression remained inscrutable.

“…Is that so? We shall see.”

“By the way, I heard about the ball. They say you’re protecting the Duchess out of guilt? I don’t quite understand, but it’s impressive. The son atoning for the sins of his father.”

He asked, wearing a mocking smile and wrinkling his face in disdain.

“Let me ask you one thing, Kailo Alan. What do you get out of this?”

“Do you feel proud for keeping your conscience? Does it help you sleep at night, easing your guilt? You might feel fortunate protecting the Duchess, but suffering like this out of guilt doesn’t quite add up to me.”

It was a question similar to what Robert Rondor had asked.

I snorted.

It wasn’t directed at Count Corrode.

It was sarcasm aimed at myself.

Everyone else had realized it sooner.

I was the fool who realized too late, and my choices had been delayed.

Count Corrode was right about one thing.

There’s nothing left to gain.

If anything, it’s the burns on my upper body and the scars left on my heart.

Now that I’ve realized this belatedly, I was preparing to leave, little by little.

To do so, I first had to pin down Count Corrode, ensuring he wasn’t a threat to Vivian.

But given the current circumstances, that possibility didn’t seem likely.

“Are you going to keep standing here?”

As I was being questioned, Vivian addressed Count Corrode with an undisguised look of displeasure.

Count Corrode, who had been locked in an unbroken stare-off with me, finally looked away at Vivian’s words.

“…Well, from the Delrum Kingdom’s perspective, there’s no loss in this. I hope you keep trying.”

Then, guided by his retainers standing behind Vivian, he walked toward Rondor Castle.

—Thud.

After Count Corrode left, I placed a hand on the shoulder of one of the eight knights who followed him like shadows.

It was a man who seemed to represent the group, his eyes wrinkled beneath his helmet.

Wallace had probably called him Liard.

The one who had served the longest as one of the eight knights.

All eight knights turned to face me simultaneously.

Having eight people glare at me like that made my face feel strangely ticklish.

“…Sword.”

I said simply.

Liard replied in a deep voice.

“…We only follow the Count’s orders.”

“Then tell that Count to give the order quickly.”

“You brat!”

—Clack!

At his shout, I immediately grabbed the greatsword strapped to my back.

“…Are you trying to fight?”

Count Corrode, who had retreated to the inner part of the castle, asked in disbelief.

I answered.

“Isn’t refusing to hand over your swords before entering the castle already an act of provocation?”

“This is just… You remind me of Jade Alan. That fool was hot-blooded like you, too.”

Count Corrode took a deep breath and then spoke to Vivian.

“…If we’re talking about danger, isn’t walking into Rondor Castle without a sword the most dangerous act?”

“You’ve been acting strangely for a while now. Are you visiting this land as an enemy? I’m trying to welcome you as a guest, but you keep spoiling the mood. What kind of danger are you talking about? Did I perhaps do something wrong at the ball?”

Unable to find a retort, Count Corrode turned around and nodded.

With a groan, one of the knights reluctantly handed me their sword.

Hiden, who looked the youngest among them—perhaps in his mid to late twenties—whispered in my ear.

“…There will come a moment when you’ll regret acting so recklessly, kid.”

I didn’t reply.

Instead, I tapped my greatsword, still in my possession, making my point clear to him.

“…I’ll be taking this.”

Count Corrode looked at the sword at his waist and said.

“At least this much, I’ll hold on to.”

Vivian looked at me, and I nodded at her.

One person wouldn’t be an issue.

“Come in.”

Vivian finally said.

We entered the castle.