Ch.65Escape Under the Moonlight (6)

Wolfhild, Knight of the Marquis Trebache.

As always, he sat perched atop the castle wall, gazing down at the estate. It was one of his few hobbies. The estate looked as peaceful as ever, with no apparent problems. As he sat there deep in thought, feeling the breeze against his face.

Someone was approaching the gate.

It was an unexpected visitor, a girl with a peculiar appearance. She was limping toward the gate. She looked as if she were being chased by something. The soldiers guarding the gate had also spotted the girl.

They too seemed to sense something unusual, approached the girl to support her, and asked why she had come to the marquis’s estate.

Wolfhild silently observed the scene, narrowing his eyes when the girl took something out from her bosom. What she produced was a letter. Though the distance between Wolfhild and the girl was considerable, his eyesight had already transcended human limits.

He saw the emblem engraved on the letter.

It was the emblem of Marquis Trebache, a mark that only the lord of this estate could imprint. The moment he confirmed this, Wolfhild leaped from the castle wall. Despite jumping from such a high wall, no loud sound accompanied his landing.

Just a light tap.

Wolfhild nodded to the soldiers who recognized him and saluted, then approached the girl. He lowered himself and showed her respect. That letter was something the marquis sent only to his most valued guests. That alone was reason enough to show respect.

“Are you the marquis’s guest? I shall escort you to the mansion. The letter, please…”

“It’s not me.”

The girl interrupted him. Wolfhild looked at her with narrowed eyes. Taking a deep breath, the girl pronounced clearly with emphasis.

“Ivan, an adventurer from Cambria.”

That name was in Wolfhild’s memory too.

Because he was an adventurer the marquis had noted, saying, “I’m surprised such a person still exists.” Also, because he was the one who had been with his comrade at the end.

“He is the owner of this letter.”

“Where is he?”

To Wolfhild’s question, the girl answered.

Despite her urgent appearance, the girl’s explanation was concise and sufficient to understand the situation. Wolfhild summarized her words with a furrowed brow.

“The captain of the knights of Duke Albania attacked you and that adventurer while you were visiting the marquis. Is that what you’re saying?”

It was a summarized and abbreviated story.

The girl hadn’t told everything. She had only summarized the situation without detailed explanation. But even so, it wasn’t something that could be easily overlooked.

A guest of the marquis being threatened near the marquis’s estate by a knight from another domain?

This was disrespecting the name of Marquis Trebache. Even if the opponent was the captain of a duke’s knights, that fact remained unchanged. Wolfhild felt displeasure at this situation. But he knew this wasn’t a situation where he could act on displeasure alone.

He should inform his lord of this fact.

After discussing the situation, he should move carefully.

That would be the normal and conventional response. If the person before him had committed a major crime in the duke’s domain, the justification would lie with the duke. But the situation was too urgent to deliberate.

“Tell me the location.”

So Wolfhild chose.

“I’ll hear the details as we go. Guard, bring the horses. Gather the nearby knights. Then inform the marquis of this matter.”

He chose to act before asking his lord’s opinion. He held enough authority to act first, and he was confident that even if his lord were here, he would have made the same judgment.

Understand without being told.

Understand the intent and move first.

Always advise the right path to your lord.

That was Wolfhild’s definition of loyalty. He was the captain of the marquis’s knights, a knight granted autonomy by Marquis Eldelmar. Marquis Eldelmar respected and trusted Wolfhild’s judgment.

Whisk, clack.

He firmly secured the great bow on his back.

At his waist, instead of a sword, hung a quiver containing about a dozen arrows, each as long as a decent longsword. Upon seeing this belatedly, the girl… Dieta, realized who stood before her.

The captain of Marquis Trebache’s knights.

The knight who wielded the great bow, Wolfhild.

It was fortunate for Dieta that he had been sitting on the castle wall’s gate.

2.

Mounting Dieta on a warhorse and moving with the knights, Wolfhild’s eyes widened at her story.

“…So you are Lady Dieta?”

As he recognized the identity of the girl speaking to him.

The lady of Duke Albania.

Though called an abandoned child, she was clearly a member of the ducal family. Of course, to Wolfhild, the name “merchant magnate of Cambria” was more familiar.

Though he couldn’t be certain, if this girl truly was Lady Dieta… the situation was more complex than he had thought. Wolfhild furrowed his brow as he rode the warhorse.

“Why would the captain of the duke’s knights target you, my lady?”

“It’s complicated. But once we reach our destination, the justification will be on my side. If we can just rescue Ivan first…”

Listening to her words, Wolfhild could only wear a bitter expression. As sorry as he was to tell the lady, it was already too late.

The captain of Duke Albania’s knights.

The Red Thorn, Griffin.

Wolfhild knew him well too. Griffin, who had reached the level of Sword Seeker and even mastered the swordsmanship of the war hero “Arta Trigadian,” was a formidable opponent even from Wolfhild’s perspective.

‘That adventurer Ivan is a Sword Expert. Though his skills are exceptional…’

He couldn’t possibly hold out long against a knight captain-level opponent. He would probably be a corpse by now, or in a state where he could no longer wield a sword. Wolfhild felt regret at this fact.

He had consoled the spirit of his comrade.

A young man who retained a rare “knightly” quality in this age.

Seeing such a young man broken in a place like this wouldn’t be a pleasant sight. Wolfhild swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth and rode on. As he galloped along the forest path, he suddenly narrowed his eyes.

Thud, boom, thud…

The ground was trembling. He could hear sounds.

The aftermath of battle. Wolfhild dismounted. After sending the following knights ahead, he climbed up a tree to a high position.

With his feet secured on a thick branch, he strained his eyes. His field of vision instantly widened. What came into view was the forest landscape and an artificially created clearing in the middle of the forest. In the center of that clearing grew a red thorn bush.

‘…The battle is still ongoing?’

The thorn bush had grown to about 5 meters.

It meant that Knight Captain Griffin was seriously engaged in battle. Yet even as Wolfhild was surprised that the battle hadn’t been decided…

Flash.

The light created by the young man’s sword facing Griffin entered his vision. A pure white light blooming. A snow-white sword energy resembling a star. Just as Wolfhild’s gaze was captivated by that sword energy.

The pure white sword energy.

Cut through the red branches.

Wolfhild’s eyes widened. Cutting through even part of a Sword Seeker’s sword energy. He knew what that meant. With a chuckle, Wolfhild reached for his back.

Gripping his great bow and firmly securing his combat boots on the thick branch, he drew the bowstring. The bowstring taut to its limit.

Watching the fight, Wolfhild released the bowstring at the optimal moment. Until the moment he released it, he couldn’t take his eyes off the momentum the young man was showing.

“What a fellow.”

Wolfhild laughed.

The reputation of having slain a Fallen Knight was not exaggerated at all, perhaps… it might even have been understated. He confirmed this clearly with his own eyes.

3.

“Stop.”

Knights lined up.

Sharp blades pointed at him. Griffin sighed and raised both arms above his head.

“This is the domain of Marquis Trebache.”

“To be precise, it’s near the domain, not within it. I know this area is not within the domain’s boundaries.”

“That’s not what matters. Even if it’s near the domain, this is clearly a place where Trebache’s influence reaches.”

Griffin looked at the lined-up knights.

The knights of Marquis Trebache were strong. The lord of the marquisate, Marquis Eldelmar, was a person who put his heart and soul into training knights.

Facing all of them would be overwhelming.

Moreover, he shouldn’t face them. That would truly mean war with the marquisate.

“This far…”

Just as Griffin was choosing his words, a voice came from deep within the forest. Knight Wolfhild, who had arrived late on horseback, spoke.

“What brings you here, Sir Griffin?”

Griffin’s expression hardened.

Dieta was riding behind Wolfhild on his horse. Feeling that the situation had completely turned against him, Griffin exhaled deeply.

“Duke Ottoman ordered me. To punish the criminal who broke into the Albania family’s villa and kidnapped Lady Dieta, and to bring her back.”

“Is that so? The story I heard is a bit different.”

Wolfhild narrowed his eyes.

With his help, Dieta dismounted from the horse.

“It’s the opposite, Sir Griffin.”

Dieta, who had dismounted, spoke.

“It was the Albania ducal family who kidnapped me, and this man is my hired guard. This incident occurred to rescue me. The crime of damaging the duke’s villa is not light, but… there’s something else we should discuss first.”

She pronounced each word clearly. Wolfhild, who had heard the situation, continued her words.

“This man is a guest of the noble Marquis Eldelmar. The marquis ordered that whenever he visits the domain, he should be welcomed. Isn’t the matter of damaging the villa something we can discuss later?”

The claim of kidnapping the duke’s daughter is false.

All that remains against Najin is the crime of “damaging the villa while performing escort duties.” Griffin realized he had lost the moral high ground.

“That’s…”

“Sir Griffin.”

Wolfhild said.

“I have a duty to escort the marquis’s guest. I have justification. Of course, Sir Griffin couldn’t have known this, so I can overlook the commotion so far.”

But, Wolfhild fingered the arrows in his quiver.

“If you continue to commit the rudeness of trying to snatch the marquis’s guest in front of Trebache’s knights, we’ll have no choice but to act. We all have our positions to maintain.”

“Is that Marquis Eldelmar’s will?”

“It’s my judgment.”

Griffin narrowed his eyes.

“I am the captain of Duke Albania’s knights.”

“I’m aware.”

“This is a matter directly ordered by the duke, and he emphasized that it must be carried out. So I ask you. Can you handle it? What would Marquis Eldelmar think of this…”

Clang!

Trebache’s knights roughly drew their swords. Their atmosphere changed in an instant. It was not much different for Wolfhild. Wolfhild, with bulging eyes, gripped his great bow firmly.

“Do not dare to presume his will.”

Presuming the marquis’s will.

That is not your job, but ours who serve him. Wolfhild warned that it was not a matter for a knight from another domain to interfere with.

“…I’ve been rude. I apologize.”

Griffin sighed and stepped back.

“I merely advised that this incident could develop into a complicated matter between families.”

“I appreciate the advice, but my thoughts remain unchanged.”

Wolfhild said briefly.

“I request that you leave this place.”

Griffin, rubbing his face, began to move. There seemed no point in continuing the confrontation here. As he walked away, Griffin briefly looked back.

There stood Najin, looking at him.

A young man who never bent his will until the end, and finally achieved victory in his own way. Looking at that young man, Griffin couldn’t help but think.

That they would meet again soon.

And that by then, that young man would be a knight, not an adventurer. That’s what Griffin thought. He was a desirable talent, but not one he could acquire. Griffin smiled bitterly.

“Lady Dieta.”

Griffin looked at Dieta.

“You have a good escort.”

He had to acknowledge defeat.

Leaving those words, Griffin walked away, leaving Trebache’s knights behind.

* * *

“Huff, haaah…”

Najin exhaled roughly.

His insides, churned by excess mana, were a mess, and his vision was blurry from using mana to its limit. It was the first time since facing Ivan in the underground city that he felt such exhaustion.

A feeling like he would collapse if he relaxed even a little.

That’s why Najin didn’t let go of the tension until the situation ended. Only when Griffin turned his back and left did Najin collapse in place.

‘I feel like I’m going to die from exhaustion.’

-Of course. You swung your sword wildly, infusing it with mental imagery without proper preparation. How could your body survive?

‘You said earlier that I had already reached the threshold.’

-That’s that, and this is this.

Merlin snickered.

-It’s strange not to fall when you try to run right after barely learning to walk. Well, still…

She whispered to Najin.

-Quite cool… no, not bad.

Was she trying to say he looked cool?

Anyway, she’s still not honest. Najin smiled bitterly and lowered his head. His consciousness was becoming hazy. He would probably need to rest for a while.

But the knights of Trebache had intervened, and Dieta’s safety was assured, so he could probably close his eyes for a bit.

Through his blurring vision, Najin saw someone running toward him. It was Dieta, limping as she ran.

“Are you… alright…”

Dieta’s sobbing voice reached him intermittently. Through the incoming voice, Najin closed his eyes. He could no longer resist the exhaustion.

“…! Oh, what should I do!”

The sobbing voice in his ear seemed to grow a little louder, Najin thought before losing consciousness.