The Knight Who Protects the Weak

Chapter 246 : Between Defying the Heavens and Embers (2)

Adeline's ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍complexion was quite dark as she came out after finishing the meeting. It seemed she didn't like the changed route very much.

"We ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍have decided to pass through Grimbalt Prison."

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Adeline's words, my expression couldn't help but stiffen slightly as well.

Grimbalt ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Prison.

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is a place that the Imperial Army utilized as a logistics base in my past life. True to its infamy that once you are locked up, you only leave as a soul after dying, its appearance from the outside is closer to a giant steel fortress than a prison.

"To ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍think Grimbalt Prison was a place that actually existed."

Henry, who was listening from the side, bit his nails as if nervous. From what I heard, that name wasn't simply a place of punishment among the Kingdom's civilians. It was a place like a synonym for hell, used when scaring disobedient children or mourning those who disappeared forever.

"Sir Bihen, Grimbalt is on a different level from a general detention facility. It's more famous as a political prison camp that buries alive not only vicious criminals from all over, but also political opponents of the Imperial Capital or high treason criminals."

To me, it was a place more familiar as a logistics base where the Imperial Army was stationed, but it seemed to them, Grimbalt was just a giant tomb.

Instead of going out of my way to pretend to know, I decided to quietly listen to Joel's explanation.

"Since it's adjacent to Tristan, which is called the Kingdom's greatest Demonic Realm, prison breaks are impossible to begin with. The evil mana flowing out from the Demonic Realm, the toxic gas of the underground sulfur caves, and the accumulated grudges of the prisoners are all mixed together, so it's supposedly incredibly difficult to pass through that place with a sane mind—"

"Stop it, Jo."

"Y-Yes."

Joel firmly closed his lips. Adeline pressed her forehead as if suffering from a headache. Her glabella was heavily wrinkled.

I asked.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. I should rest a bit."

Adeline left her seat first. The maid followed behind with quick, short steps.

Joel, who was watching the backs of those two, let out a deep sigh.

"It's no wonder Her Grace is agonizing like that. I heard that back when she lived in the Imperial Capital, the subordinates who assisted Her Grace and the people she formed ties with were all dragged to Grimbalt."

My eyes met Joel's. The guy lowered his voice.

"......I mean the retainers who swore loyalty to the late Princess Isabel."

***

WHOOOOOOSH—!

The streams of rain didn't die down even until the next morning. It was a heavy rain so fierce that it was difficult to distinguish things a short distance away.

"This is a Demonic Beast appearance zone! Everyone, keep your wits about you and do your utmost in escorting!"

"Yes—!"

The soldiers spat out a resounding answer to the mustached knight's command. They were already in a state of having reorganized their formation while fully wearing raincoats made of processed leather cloth, as if prepared for the rainy weather.

"Sir Bihen, will you really be alright? There is plenty of room inside, so please come in."

Adeline poked her head out through the small window in the carriage.

I was driving my horse while sticking close to the side of the carriage. The robe I roughly threw on was drenched in rainwater and heavy, but I didn't mind it much.

"I am alright. Please do not worry about me and finish tending to your governmental affairs."

A thick stack of documents was held in Adeline's hand. They were work tasks a messenger bird had brought from Conwell. Except for meal times and when sleeping, she was always like that. If it were me, I would have collapsed from overwork a long time ago.

'Hmm.'

Since it came to mind, I lifted my head. A black dot could be seen amidst the pouring streams of rain beneath the ashen dark clouds.

It was Vulture secretly following me.

"Sir Bihen, aren't you overdoing it?"

I turned my head at the voice mixed with the sound of rain. It was Knight Commander Ludsilla.

"I heard you suffered a lot with the Pretoria matter recently. How about getting some shut-eye for a moment, at least at a time like this?"

"Just hearing about it makes me more uncomfortable. Thank you for your concern."

I waved my hand and declined.

I don't know if it's just my feeling, but Ludsilla showed signs of having many unspoken words for me. However, she seemed unable to do anything about it because there were many eyes and ears watching and listening.

'Still, as someone with the title of Knight Commander, she isn't doing anything unsightly like holding up inside a carriage.'

The Imperial Capital party that stormed all the way to the front of Pretoria was only a very small fraction. Behind the key figures led by King Philinus II and Chancellor Zisair, there were far more personnel that I hadn't been able to see earlier.

It was a procession that included a large number of not only servants but also Imperial Capital ministers of noble descent, and even now, the carriages carrying them could be seen sparsely.

In the midst of that—

'......Gunt.'

Like Ludsilla, he was also directly holding his horse's reins while wearing a shabby raincoat. He was silently guarding the side of his carriage, which he had yielded to Adeline.

According to Adeline's words, Gunt was also an undeniable member of the Royal Family. Furthermore, since he was cousins with Philinus II, he was a noble personage who belonged to the absolute top if calculated purely by the hierarchy of bloodline.

'So that's why the Lust Demon bastard interfered.'

At first, Gunt had revealed hostility toward me under the pretext of taking revenge for his subordinate member, Raven, in other words, the Lust Demon.

However, after acknowledging his defeat, he didn't show any lingering grudges at all, true to his promise. Setting aside his ill-fated relationship with me or Adeline, he was a human whose nature itself belonged to the rather neat side.

'Well, something like this is common sense, but humans who possess common sense among the Royal Family are just that rare.'

Oops, Adeline is also royalty.

......I take back what I just said.

CLOP, CLOP.

I lightly pulled the reins and deliberately approached Gunt's side.

Gunt, who was conscious of me, threw an indifferent gaze.

"What is it?"

"Because I have something I'm curious about."

"Something you're curious about? You to me?"

"Is there a reason why the mages of the Imperial Magic Corps shouldn't use their true names?"

Gunt furrowed his brow. He looked as if to say what kind of random nonsense is this when he's already annoyed because of the rain.

"It's just a tradition. It's like the rules of an old organization, there's no special meaning to it."

"Mmm, I see."

Come to think of it, when Zisair briefly showed his original appearance, he had this guy's face.

What kind of use was Gunt to those Eight Demons bastards?

"Is that guy named Raven in the Imperial Capital right now?"

"Well, probably. I was in the outer regions and only heard through the news that he was defeated by you."

"......Are you saying you attacked me without even knowing the whole context? That's absurd."

"It wasn't recklessly like that. I heard that Raven coincidentally passed near the battlefield and helped the wounded soldiers, but you, mistaking him for an accomplice, cut him down without a single question. Since there are so many various ominous rumors widely spread in the Imperial Capital about the Sword Fiend, I couldn't even think to grasp the detailed circumstances. I just flipped my lid at the fact that my member suffered unjustly."

I clicked my tongue inwardly. It seemed he fell for some kind of trick in the middle. How foolish.

"I don't particularly have the thought to explain myself, nor do I have the reason or desire to do so, but I want to make this one thing clear. You are making a very huge misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?"

"I'm a person who absolutely hates blabbering in detail. It hurts the mouth and it's pathetic. Anyway, if you are a bright and awakened human as rumors say, you will understand the meaning of my words before long. Just how flimsy the things you firmly believe in actually are."

Gunt's impression crumpled once again. I lightly kicked the horse's belly and went ahead of him.

WHOOOOOOSH—!

The heavy rain showed no signs of stopping. The procession advanced as if engaged in a desperate struggle between the slippery mire and the strong streams of rain. All directions were entirely hazy with an ashen curtain of water.

RUUUMBLE—!

A flash of lightning flickered along with a thunderclap that seemed to tear the sky apart. In the white light that swallowed the world for a moment, a chilling and gloomy full view was finally revealed briefly.

Although its outline was blurry as it was encroached upon by the rainstorm and fog, its overwhelming scale and the silhouette of its sharply soaring steel spire were enough to drag out the memories of my past life.

'Grimbalt Prison.'

It was said to originally be an outpost to block the invasion of the Demonic Realm, Tristan. Before being a prison locking up prisoners, it was an iron-blooded fortress built to defend the mainland to the death. It even famously boasted the reputation of being impregnable.

'......Even so, it was easily captured by the Imperial Army.'

I narrowed my eyes. A human figure could be seen far ahead.

Someone wearing a long raincoat and riding a horse was alone in the rain, as if greeting the party.

"Your Excellency! The Warden is on standby ahead to welcome us!"

The mustached knight taking charge of the procession's forefront reported toward the carriage where Philinus II and Zisair were riding.

I pricked up my ears. Through the sound of the rain, Zisair's low voice was soon heard.

"Heh heh, he's truly a loyal man. That's enough. There's no need to go out of our way to exhaust ourselves outside in this bad weather. Tell him we'll see him inside."

"Yes!"

The mustached knight immediately drove his horse and darted out like an arrow first.

This time, I heightened my eyesight. The Warden, having received Zisair's instruction from the mustached knight, nodded his head roughly and immediately turned his horse's head around.

'His face can't be seen because of the raincoat.'

It's bothering me for no reason. The gaze that was unconsciously stolen slipped to my side.

Adeline could be seen through the small window on the carriage.

Her complexion was terribly dark.

***

The inside of Grimbalt Prison was incomparably gloomy, just like the outside.

Moisture-laden shadows were cast all over the crudely carved stone walls and floor. Even the sparsely hung torches couldn't completely drive away the darkness.

It was certainly closer to a Demonic Beast's lair touched by human hands rather than some kind of facility.

'So the inside looked like this.'

I had never entered the inside even in my past life. Seeing only the outside a few times for escort missions was all.

The guards guarding their posts like statues were all wearing scrap metal helmets that completely covered their faces.

RUUUMBLE—

The fierce sound of rain and thunderclaps crashed against the high ceiling, creating a bizarre resonance. Screams resembling moans could also be heard intermittently.

At that chilling reverberation, Adeline flinched and trembled her shoulders. I carefully placed my hand on her back like that.

'It's alright.'

I spoke only with my eyes. Adeline gave a small nod, as if relying on my touch.

Inside the stone chamber prepared like a reception room, in addition to the five key figures who had entered Pretoria, the mustached knight and several unknown Imperial Capital ministers were filling the seats.

Adeline and I stood behind them and kept a close eye on the situation.

SCREEECH—

The massive iron door opened with a sharp frictional sound. In the thickly laid darkness, someone finally revealed their figure.

The moment I saw him, my eyes widened.

No matter who looked, no, he was blatantly wearing the attire of an Imperial martial artist. Beneath the black hair tied up tightly in one go, tattoos were densely packed all over the bare skin exposed between his collars, not to mention his face.

"Warden, Batz von Bargrech—"

He stood in front of Philinus II and spoke.

At the same time, an empty breath mixed with astonishment flowed out of my mouth. There's no hiding this.

Batz von Bargrech.

In my childhood, he was one of the greatest martial artists of his time whose prestigious name was known by everyone in the Empire. He was a legendary man who was a member of the Imperial Guard, but plotted treason alone after having his lover stolen by the Emperor.

"I greet His Majesty the King and Your Excellency."

Alias.

The Martial Artist of Defying the Heavens.