Chapter 101: When everything is over – 4

Nerumport had been at the center of an intense siege for four months after the spark of war was ignited.

The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Knight Divisions made relentless efforts to break through the sturdy walls, while Robert’s soldiers resisted with unyielding determination.

One side cried out for justice for Vivian Rondor, while the other endured with the desperate knowledge that retreat meant certain death.

When Nestor revealed that the assassin who targeted Vivian Rondor had been acting under Robert Rondor’s orders, the justification for war was already more than sufficient.

Nerumport became a desperate battlefield, standing at the crossroads of life and death.

However, the tide of battle gradually, yet unmistakably, began to turn.

A small city like Nerumport could not withstand the wrath of Loctana.

Endless armies, resupply born from wealth, and the soldiers’ morale soaring with their loyalty to Vivian, who flourished amid such growth.

In contrast, Nerumport’s situation was the opposite.

They survived by scavenging what little remained.

The truth that their lord had succumbed to greed and attempted to kill his niece.

There was nothing in their favor.

In the end, the walls slowly cracked, and the defenders’ food supplies dwindled.

To make matters worse, the weather was growing unnaturally cold.

For me, it was the kind of chill that made me deeply long for home.

The Southerners, especially Robert’s soldiers defending the fortress, struggled even more with this biting cold.

“…Today is the day.”

I spoke to the commander of the 4th Knight Division,

Vergor.

I could feel it.

Today, Robert’s army would collapse.

There were a few signs.

Robert’s soldiers fighting among themselves, those sneaking over at night to raise surrender flags…

Robert’s forces had held out, teetering on the edge of collapse, but it was clear they had reached their limit.

“…I feel the same.”

Vergor murmured.

This was truly the final stage.

Once we killed this man and crushed his forces, Vivian’s safety would be assured.

Rondor would move forward with Vivian’s strength behind it, and neither Vivian nor I would have to fear the elders any longer.

It was the moment to put an end to the long darkness that had hung over us.

Vivian had even promised to have a child with me.

Well, to be precise, she said to ask her again once everything was over… but isn’t that the same thing?

Perhaps I should prepare a letter to send to Kayla.

Or maybe I should visit my hometown once, explain the situation to my father, and settle here.

The thought of returning home was becoming increasingly faint.

I found it difficult to pinpoint a reason.

It had been only eight months since I became an adult in this land.

It had been six or seven years since I first set foot in Loctana.

To be honest, I barely thought of home anymore.

Maybe it was because I had experienced so much more here.

Unlike my uneventful growth back home, here, I had to handle everything with my own hands.

From the menial tasks I was forced to do when I first joined the penal unit to the kiss I shared with Vivian.

At some point, I began to think of this place as my home.

Though a faint sense of longing remained…

I wasn’t sure.

Could I even adapt if I returned home?

Even the chilly air blowing awkwardly felt unfamiliar.

Perhaps these are just excuses made by my weak heart.

I don’t want to leave Vivian’s side, so I attach all sorts of reasons to justify it.

Or maybe the curse within me is squeezing out its last strength, trying to drag me into despair?

At that absurd thought, I let out a hollow laugh.

Right.

What curse?

It’s just my weak thoughts.

Yet, no matter how much I ridiculed myself and tried to shake off the thought, the lingering unease always stayed in the corner of my heart.

“The west gate is open!!”

A deep, resonant horn echoed across the battlefield.

In that moment, it was as if time, which had stood still, began to flow again.

The entire siege army erupted.

Victory cries pierced the sky, and the shouts of soldiers surged like the crumbling walls.

Standing atop the castle gate, I wiped the blood from my sword and watched the scene unfold.

As the western castle gate opened, hundreds of armored soldiers poured inside like a tidal wave.

“Charge!! Charge!!”

“Kill them all!!”

“For Lady Vivian!!”

Victory, achieved after four months.

With a long sigh, I pulled out the banner I had prepared.

Snap!

The banner, emblazoned with the symbol of a red sun, was planted high above the castle gate.

“The banner is raised!!”

“We’ve won!!”

Our soldiers, seeing this, were invigorated, while the soldiers of Robert’s forces crumbled.

“Kailo!”

My comrades, who had brought this moment to fruition alongside me, called out to me.

Though we had breached the high castle gate, the battle was not yet over.

Through the ranks of soldiers awaiting orders, Valon, his head wrapped in bandages, approached.

He sheathed his sword and spoke to me.

“Well done. It’s over now.”

“It’s not over yet.”

I told them.

“Bring Robert to me. Let’s finish this.”

My unit, the Kailo Unit, advanced toward the inner castle where Robert was likely hiding, alongside other soldiers.

The residents of Nerumport had shut themselves inside their homes, and we did not harm them.

When we reached the castle, many soldiers who had arrived before us were already locked in another fierce battle.

The opponents were few, but every face was familiar.

Once the former First Knights—

There stood Baelor and his lieutenants.

“Defend!! Protect the castle!!”

Baelor, bleeding, guarded the main gate of the inner castle.

As I tried to approach him, Martin stepped in front of me.

“Kailo, hold on a moment.”

“…What is it, suddenly?”

Wallace and Valon did the same.

They exchanged glances before speaking.

“…Kailo, you need to stay back.”

“Why?”

“Lady Vivian’s orders. She told us to stop you if a moment like this came.”

“This moment?”

“It’s hard to explain. Just stay back.”

I stood frozen for a while, trying to process their words.

Why had Vivian ordered them to stop me?

Was she worried I might get hurt in this fight?

I stared at the three of them for a long time before I spoke.

“…And do you think you can stop me?”

Valon clicked his tongue in frustration.

“See? This guy doesn’t listen. How are we supposed to stop him?”

Martin quickly stepped aside, saying,

“How are you so predictable? Honestly, we didn’t think we could stop you either.”

Their easy retreat made me feel the need to justify myself.

“I’ll back off if it makes sense. Baelor is standing right there.”

“Exactly. Got it. We’ll just say we tried.”

Without hesitation, I pushed through our soldiers and stepped in front of Baelor.

When Baelor and his lieutenants saw me, they froze for a moment.

“…Kailo Alan.”

Baelor’s cold smile betrayed the fury he couldn’t hide.

But that anger quickly gave way to resignation, fading without resistance.

He was already defeated in his gaze.

“…You were right.”

He whispered.

At his words, his lieutenants looked at him in disbelief, slowly losing their resolve.

One by one, their swords were lowered.

“You once said that loyalty isn’t shown with words but with actions. Had someone like me acted that way in your family… they would have had their head chopped off and hung on the castle wall.”

“That’s right.”

“Yeah. My loyalty was lacking. I should have trusted Lady Vivian and upheld the will of Rondor. But I was so fixated on the future of my family that I wondered if Robert leading the house might actually be the right choice. I thought the fragile Lady Vivian lacked the strength to rule over vast territories.”

Baelor gripped his sword tighter.

“Perhaps the moment I entertained that thought, my head should’ve been cut off. My loyalty may have already died on the battlefield alongside the late Duke of Rondor.”

“I didn’t want to believe it, Kailo Alan. That Lord Robert would target Lady Vivian’s life.”

“The Robert I fought alongside on the battlefield wasn’t that kind of man. He was someone I thought worthy of dedicating my life and loyalty to. That’s why, until recently, I still believed in Lord Robert. I thought Lady Vivian was being unreasonable.”

“You were wrong.”

He nodded with a smile.

“Didn’t I say it? That I was wrong. I just didn’t want to admit it. But… now I have to accept it. I was mistaken about Robert Rondor… hmm.”

He couldn’t finish his sentence, as if he couldn’t bring himself to speak ill of his lord.

However, there was still something I couldn’t understand.

“Even after realizing all that, do you still lay down your life for Robert?”

Baelor gave a look of disbelief.

“Why, I thought you, of all people, would understand my actions best.”

“What?”

“Wasn’t it you who stayed by Vivian’s side when she had nothing? Honestly, I find your decision back then even harder to understand. What did you see in Lady Vivian?”

“…It’s none of your business.”

Baelor slowly raised his sword.

His subordinates, who had already abandoned hope, also raised their swords.

As if preparing for the final battle, he readied his stance.

“…I chose the wrong lord.”

“…But I realized it too late. In the end… I won’t repeat the same mistake twice. A knight should have no thoughts—he should act as the sword itself. This time, I’ll mimic that.”

I raised my sword as well.

My comrades followed suit.

“Any last words?”

When I asked, Baelor let out a fierce cry and charged toward us.