Chapter 166 : Chapter 166
Chapter 166. Black Lion (2)
To think Albrecht came to support the 3rd Corps front.
It was unbelievable.
But it was reality, and Roden immediately went with Michael to meet Albrecht.
He didn't bring the Main Battalion and the New Recruit Unit with him.
Because he wasn't going to fight.
In times like this, moving a large force was a waste.
“Why didn't he go to the Yugum Mountains or the Plumen River?”
Michael threw a question from atop his horse.
Roden answered.
“I also do not know the exact reason yet.”
“Not exact? That means you have a guess.”
“Yes. I do have a guess.”
“What is it?”
“Aiming for the Emperor's neck via the shortest route.”
Hearing Roden's answer, Michael's eyes widened roundly.
Because it was an answer he hadn't thought of at all.
But soon he nodded.
“Right. If it's our amazing Family Head, that's plausible.”
Originally, the fastest way to end a war was to strike the enemy's head.
And viewed from this perspective, the Aequor Plains were closest to the Empire's capital.
Because after occupying the Aequor Plains, one could arrive at the capital by passing through just two more regions.
On the other hand, the Yugum Mountains or the Plumen River required passing through more regions to arrive at the capital.
Although those regions were lucrative lands, if one didn't have greed for land and aimed solely at ending the war, advancing towards the Aequor Plains was correct.
“He was secretly a pacifist, is that what you're saying?”
“Do pacifists kill people these days?”
“It's a joke, a joke. Because trying to end the war is unexpected.”
“Surely that's not his only goal. I intend to find that out now.”
Actually, Roden also wanted to meet Albrecht in person.
Because he was a figure he had never met since possessing the body.
‘I was feeling the limit of judging the situation relying on Ernst's memories anyway.’
So at this opportunity, he wanted to make a judgment about Albrecht personally.
Whether he was an opponent worth fighting, or an opponent to avoid at all costs.
While thinking like that.
Before he knew it, Velia Castle was right in front of him.
***
As they entered Velia Castle, Günter and Antonio welcomed Roden.
“We greet the Battalion Commander.”
Roden nodded and examined the condition of the Archery Company and the New Recruit Infantry standing behind the two.
Their complexions weren't bad, as if they had rested well after achieving victory against Deniz.
Their nutritional status also looked decent.
“It's fortunate that everyone is safe.”
“Velia Castle is a very sturdy place after all.”
“Let's discuss the details again after I return.”
Günter and Antonio nodded and stepped back, and Roden moved towards the building where Albrecht was.
As he moved his steps, he felt unfamiliar gazes.
They were persistently scanning Roden.
They were the gazes of the knights led by Albrecht.
The force called the ‘Main Body’ of Glockner.
‘Strong. More than I thought.’
Although he seemed to be moving while looking straight ahead, in fact, Roden was reading the flow of aura and gauging their overall skill.
And the skill of the Glockner knights confirmed like this was beyond imagination.
Because the weakest one was at the realm of 3-star.
To think two whole battalions were at this level.
He felt ridiculous for even momentarily thinking of fighting Albrecht.
And this thought grew even bigger after facing Albrecht in person.
Kuung.
Simultaneously with facing Albrecht, a pressure like facing a huge mountain was felt, and his heart sinking like this was the very proof.
Albrecht's presence was so huge that the figures of Glockner retainers standing next to him didn't even enter his eyes.
“…….”
When Roden was feeling dizzy at the depth he couldn't possibly gauge.
Albrecht slowly opened his closed eyes and stared at Roden.
His heart sank once again at that gaze, but Roden naturally knelt on one knee and placed his right hand on his chest.
“Ernst Glockner. I greet the Family Head.”
And following Roden, Michael greeted Albrecht in the same manner.
“Michael Glockner. I greet the Family Head.”
But Albrecht's gaze did not head towards Michael.
He stared solely at Roden.
And finally, Albrecht opened his mouth.
“…You really reached the realm of 8-star. How does it feel? Now most people would be beneath your feet.”
As expected of Albrecht.
Even the first question wasn't easy.
Because this seemingly trivial question contained the intention to check how arrogant a human he was.
Roden, who saw through this intention at once, answered without hesitation.
“I am being careful. Because originally, what's beneath your feet is the hardest to see.”
“Not being impatient? Afraid someone might overtake you?”
As if he expected Roden's answer, Albrecht immediately threw the next question.
And this question contained the intention to check how solid a mind Roden's strength originated from.
At the same time, the intention to grasp Roden's disposition.
“I just don't want to lose my footing before stepping up to a higher place.”
“Solidifying the foundation, you say. Right. Originally that was the best way to climb to the summit stably. Do you think you can reach the summit?”
The intention of the third question was relatively easy to read.
Because it was to grasp whether Roden set his goal at the summit, and whether he could gauge the distance to the summit.
“I thought I might have gotten closer, but I was surprised that it was farther than expected.”
“Still, it seems you aren't completely unable to see ahead. But why did you pretend to be blind?”
Albrecht's finger, throwing the fourth question, momentarily twitched, 'ttak'.
It was a point where one could know how much interest he was paying to this question.
Certainly, for Albrecht, it was worth wondering.
Because Roden, who was treated as a useless moron due to not only lacking talent the most among his children but also having a personality full of inferiority complex, had reached the tremendous realm of 8-star.
Like this, Roden recognized Albrecht's interest and chose his words carefully to answer.
“Because I was actually blind.”
“But you opened your eyes? How?”
“Because I learned that I just had to lift my eyelids.”
Roden answered honestly within the range of hiding the fact of possession.
Ernst before dying from excessive drinking was indeed blind (metaphorically), and Roden, who possessed Ernst, knew that he could open his eyes just by lifting his eyelids.
However, to Albrecht who didn't know the fact of possession, Roden's answer seemed to feel different.
It felt as if a child who was lost in delusion gained a foothold called enlightenment and obtained extraordinary strength.
“So what did you see at the summit?”
Now it was almost the end of the interview.
Because Albrecht, whose finger was twitching faster than before, was asking Roden what his goal was.
Roden was about to answer plainly but changed his mind.
“I see a person. But that is not the Family Head.”
Then the twitching finger stopped, and surprise appeared on Albrecht's expression for the first time.
***
‘He doesn't set me as a goal?’
For Albrecht, he couldn't help but be surprised hearing Roden's answer.
Because for Albrecht, becoming someone's goal was like fate.
Of course, Albrecht also had a goal in the past.
But those days passed by in an instant like a midsummer night's dream.
Because Albrecht reached the peak too quickly to set someone else as a goal.
And now, what remained for Albrecht was only a life of becoming someone's goal.
But to think one of his children closest to the next head of the Glockner family said he didn't aim for him.
For Albrecht, this answer inevitably was surprising.
It was that fresh.
‘Is it just to attract attention?’
Albrecht thought like this for a moment but soon shook his head.
Because he felt from the moment of their first encounter that Roden's gaze was subtly deviated from him.
‘But why? As long as he is born with Glockner blood, he won't be able to obtain anything without surpassing me.’
Eventually, Albrecht couldn't stand the curiosity and asked Roden.
“Are you saying you will give up being a Glockner? But you will also have to prove that you are not a Glockner.”
“I am also not unaware of that fact. However, if I live for proof, where on earth do I obtain the life after that. I do not want to die.”
If one lives for proof, it is no different from dying the moment one proves it.
Roden was telling Albrecht this.
And this answer gave an unexpected resonance to Albrecht.
Actually, Albrecht was feeling boredom akin to death after reaching the summit.
Like that, a smile bloomed on the lips of Albrecht, who started twitching his finger again without realizing it.
Michael and the Glockner retainers, seeing Albrecht's smile from the side, were astonished.
It was understandable since it was the first time in decades they saw Albrecht's smile.
While everyone was astonished like that, Albrecht opened his mouth.
“You tell quite an interesting story. Although we'll have to wait and see if it comes true.”
“…….”
Instead of answering that he would prove it, Roden chose silence.
Because he thought that was the way to show more confidence.
Albrecht nodded watching Roden making the right choice until the end.
“Then you may leave.”
Roden and Michael got up from their seats, gave a short silent bow, and left Velia Castle.
Albrecht kept that image in his eyes for a long time.
Without hiding his expectation.