Chapter 68
The Grada Territory began extensive renovations.
Defensive walls were planned along all borders, and the villages within the territory were also reorganized.
Buildings were either newly constructed or demolished to allow for safe and swift evacuation in case of enemy invasion.
Thus, the territory residents, including Van, who were assigned to the construction, were busy day and night.
Millerf also stayed on-site all day, assisting them with magic.
Thanks to him, the progress was unbelievably fast.
“Come on, come on! Just a little more effort!”
“Van, once this part is done, we can rest today, right?”
“What are you talking about! You know there’s a mountain of work to do, and you’re saying that?”
Van flared up in anger.
“Wow! That’s truly wicked,” the man shook his head vigorously, shuddering.
Arthur, who had been on a territory patrol since morning, finally stopped by here.
Van quickly approached him as soon as he saw him.
“You’ve arrived!”
“It’s already risen this much?” Arthur was surprised to see the defensive wall, which had risen at least five meters.
“Thanks to Sir Millerf’s help, it’s progressing faster than expected.”
“What’s the completion rate?”
“Approximately 60 percent.”
“If it’s this much in ten days, it’ll be finished in a month, not half a year, won’t it?”
“But there’s one problem.”
“A problem?”
“The workload has increased beyond the original plan, and it seems we’ll run short on construction materials. Especially iron, our main material, will soon run out.”
“Iron, huh…” Arthur’s face hardened.
He had gold, jewels, and even Orichalcum in the sub-space of his helmet, but no iron.
It made sense, as it wasn’t a precious mineral worth storing in Rumakas’s lair.
In any case, a variable had arisen, so he had to find a solution.
“Is there anywhere we can acquire it?”
“Not within the territory. We’d have to bring it from another territory, but no one will want to trade with us due to the false accusation of being ‘Devil Worshippers’.”
“I’ll figure something out, so just tell me which territories possess iron.”
“Hmm, there’s the Balkan Territory, famous for its steel, but it’s sided with Count Yarve!”
Van suddenly widened his eyes mid-sentence.
“The Nibon Territory!”
“Why there?”
“I heard from an acquaintance before that a significant amount of iron is buried in the Nibon Territory.”
“Is that so?”
Arthur’s eyes gleamed.
If he could use Count Yarve well, he felt he could easily resolve the iron supply issue.
“I’ll find a way to resolve it.”
“If the iron supply is properly secured, the construction of the defensive walls will proceed as planned.”
Confidence overflowed on Van’s face.
Arthur nodded, looking at the defensive wall.
Up high, Millerf was flying in the sky, assisting with the work using magic.
He moved as skillfully as any expert.
“He might as well change professions at this rate.”
Van replied with a grin.
“Indeed. Thanks to Sir Millerf’s complete understanding of the blueprints, the work is progressing smoothly. I never knew he had such a talent for architecture.”
“Anyway, I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, sir! You can trust me!”
Van thumped his chest with a fist, answering spiritedly.
Anyone else might have thought it was a bluff, but he was a craftsman who inherited the legacy of the dwarves.
Therefore, seeing him like that made one feel secure.
After surveying the site, Arthur returned directly to the castle.
The castle was just as bustling as the territory.
As soon as Arthur received all authority as head of the family from Madeline, he began organizational restructuring.
Skevin, who took on the temporary Commander position, reminded the Knights that they were in a state of war and ordered them to maintain emergency readiness.
Thus, they lived fully armed 24 hours a day, and an atmosphere of tension always prevailed.
Hup!
The training ground echoed with shouts of exertion.
The halted training for the Self-Defense Force members and Apprentice Knights was resumed.
Arthur ordered Hectro that the Defen Knight Order also participate in the training.
Thus, every day, the training ground constantly resounded with the enraged voices of hundreds of people.
Hup!
Every time he heard those enraged shouts, Arthur wore a satisfied expression.
Because it was the sound of them growing stronger.
Just as Arthur was about to turn towards the underground prison, Skevin and Adellan approached. Behind the two, the Del Knight Order followed.
“Count.”
Adellan approached and bowed respectfully.
“What is it?”
“Today is the day I promised you, Count.”
“Indeed.”
As Arthur nodded, she knelt on one knee and bowed her head.
Then, all the Knights followed her lead.
“I will dedicate the rest of my life to you, Count. In return, please allow me to kill Altaros, who falsely accused us of being ‘Devil Worshippers’, with my own hands.”
“He is an Archmage. You know he’s not someone you can contend with, don’t you?”
“I will become stronger.”
Adellan had her head bowed, so her face couldn’t be seen, but her voice was filled with resolve.
It was palpable that she harbored a deep grudge.
“To become stronger, you will have to endure and overcome bone-grinding pain. Even then, it might not be enough.”
Adellan stared piercingly at Arthur with eyes full of fury.
“I will definitely become stronger.”
A controlled fury could also be felt from the Knights.
“Very well. I’ll leave that fellow to you.”
As Arthur’s assent fell, Adellan bowed her head respectfully.
“I, Adellan Kandara, pledge to serve Arthur Julius as my liege lord.”
Arthur placed a hand on her shoulder and replied.
“The Julius family will stand with the Kandara family.”
“Thank you.”
“Have the Del Knight Order also participate in training with the Defen Knight Order.”
“Loyalty!”
As Adellan answered respectfully and stood up, Arthur added a remark.
“From now on, all responses will be unified as ‘Ack’”
“Ack!”
Adellan responded sharply and moved to the training ground with the Del Knight Order.
Arthur watched their receding figures and spoke to Skevin.
“Investigate the situation of the Kandara Count’s family.”
“Understood. And just now, I received word from an informant that Hazan’s base has been located.”
“How long will it take?”
“If nothing unusual happens, five days should be sufficient.”
“Then depart today.”
Skevin cautiously asked.
“I was thinking of taking the Horcamun tribe with us. What are your thoughts?”
“We don’t know what situation might unfold there. What if they lose their reason? If you can control them, then take them.”
“My apologies, I hadn’t considered that far.”
“Since family verification will be necessary, taking just a few of them should be fine.”
“Yes, I will report to you as soon as preparations are complete.”
Just as Skevin bowed and was about to turn around, Arthur looked at the underground prison and spoke.
“There’s something I need to do before that.”
***
Swish.
Someone entered the underground prison. It was Jakal.
Based on his observations of Arthur so far, Arthur would be in his office handling affairs, and Skevin would be in the training ground at this time.
Furthermore, as if fate was helping him, the Knight guarding the entrance to the underground prison had been frequently going to the restroom since morning.
Taking advantage of the absence of a guard, he infiltrated the underground prison and descended without hesitation.
Upon entering, he found Yarve lying spread-eagled beyond the iron bars.
“Count.”
“Who’s there?”
Yarve’s eyes flashed open, and he abruptly sat up.
From the darkness beyond the iron bars, Jakal removed the mask he was wearing and bowed his head.
As soon as Yarve spotted him, he rushed towards the iron bars.
“What in the world have you been doing, only appearing now!”
“My apologies.”
“Open it quickly.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jakal inserted the special key he possessed into the lock mechanism and turned it.
Click.
The door opened very simply. At the same time, the entrance door to the underground prison slammed shut with a resounding
Thud!
“...!”
Jakal’s eyes flashed, and he looked towards the entrance.
There stood Skevin, his face grim.
‘What?’
Jakal was inwardly flustered by the fact that he hadn’t sensed the man’s presence at all until he closed the door, and he hid Yarve behind him.
“Please wait a moment.”
“Hurry.”
“Understood.”
Jakal lunged at Skevin, swinging both arms.
Sharp, awl-like daggers sprang out from both of his wrists.
‘...!’ Skevin’s face flushed slightly at the unexpectedly fast attack.
He quickly retreated and dodged the attack, but another attack immediately followed.
“Hm.”
He drew his sword and defended.
Clang!
Jakal thrust and swung his arms without pause.
Clang, clang, clang!
Skevin was hard-pressed to defend.
‘Where did this guy come from?’
Just a moment ago, Arthur had said there would be a guest in the underground prison.
At first, he was bewildered, not understanding what he meant, but as he descended the stairs, he felt an unsettling presence.
Only then did he realize what Arthur had said.
But this was no ordinary foe.
His movements were so fast that even Skevin, who had reached the highest level of Sword Expert, found them difficult to handle.
He couldn’t block all the attacks the man unleashed.
‘What the...’
He wasn’t even given a chance to draw forth his Mana.
From Jakal, who was pouring out attacks, an ominous energy flowed, and a black Aura emanated.
‘That’s!’ Skevin’s face contorted. An assassin! And one with at least the highest level of Sword Expert skill.
He felt that if he made even one mistake, he could be defeated by this man.
Skevin swung Excalibur with all his might.
Clang!
The man was pushed back, his shoulder jolting.
Simultaneously, Skevin drew forth his Mana.
A blue Aura surged from him, wrapping around Excalibur.
“...!”
The man in front of him vanished.
Skevin looked around, trying to sense his presence, but couldn’t feel anything at all.
‘Could he have run away?’
Just as he frowned.
Thud!
“Gah!”
Skevin grimaced and swung his sword sideways.
Clang!
Jakal blocked it by raising his dagger and retreated.
“What are you dawdling for! Finish him quickly!”
As Yarve urged him from behind, Jakal’s eyes shone even colder.
“You’ve lasted a long time.”
He vanished.
Skevin focused all his senses, eyes and ears, to detect Jakal’s presence.
But he couldn’t feel anything.
“No choice, then.”
He decided to take a hit to deliver a blow.
That is, to show an opening to provoke an attack, then launch a counterattack.
Jakal’s goal was to rescue Yarve, not to kill Skevin.
Therefore, to prevent Skevin from pursuing, he plunged a dagger into his thigh.
Thud!
It was when the dagger was embedded.
“Ugh!”
Skevin gritted his teeth and swung Excalibur.
It flew like lightning. But Jakal lightly dodged even that and shouted to Yarve.
“Now!”
“Come quickly!”
Yarve ran towards the entrance, shouting.
The moment he grabbed the doorknob!
Bang!
The door burst open violently, sending him sprawling backward.
“Ugh…”
Yarve clutched his waist, tumbling.
Jakal, who was about to deliver a final blow to Skevin, saw Arthur appear at the door, and his face twisted horribly.
“H-how…”
Arthur looked at Skevin, who was cornered against the wall, and asked.
“Were you careless?”
Skevin shook his head, his face stiff.
“...No, sir.”
“I see.”
Arthur gave a meaningful smile and shifted his gaze to Jakal.
“I was curious about what kind of fellow you were.”
Upon seeing Arthur’s smile, Jakal realized that this entire situation was his ploy.
“Damn it! You lured me in, didn’t you? How long have you known?”
“For a week now.”
“Then you could have caught me right away?”
“There was something I needed to confirm.”
“Ugh…”
Jakal groaned.
He felt completely played by Arthur.
But it wasn’t over.
“I’ll make you regret this.”
Having faced him once, he lunged with full force from the start, thrusting his daggers.
Swish!
They cut through the air, flying like lightning.
But Arthur, far from being flustered, merely grinned without batting an eye.
“Not bad.”
“Die!”
As the daggers flew before his eyes, Arthur dodged sideways and snatched the wrist holding the dagger.
Then, twisting the wrist, he slammed Jakal onto the floor.
Thud!
Arthur twisted his arm, disarmed the dagger, and then pressed it against Jakal’s throat.
“Unfortunately, that won’t be happening.”