Chapter 120
Chapter 120
News of death reached me the moment I opened my eyes.
“……What do you mean, Cecil? Who died?”
“Four knights from the Helios Family and five knights from the Imperial side have died.”
The moment I heard the sudden news, my head spun. I had barely woken up from a dream, and to hear something like this…
‘What is this? How did they end up dying? Did they die within the Winterbell territory?’
There was a mountain of things I wanted to ask.
Perhaps having read my expression, Cecil spoke first.
“Please ask one by one, slowly.”
First, I instinctively looked at both of my arms.
Twitch. Twitch.
They were perfectly intact. The nerves seemed to be properly connected as well—there was no problem even when I moved my fingers. I felt no pain either. It seemed the treatment had been completed while I was asleep.
‘As expected, a top-tier healer is on a different level. Well, Nia possessed divine power to the extent that she was said to be capable of reviving even the dead…….’
“How long was I asleep?”
“You were asleep for two days.”
“Two days? That’s quite a lot of sleep. How did those people end up dying? Don’t tell me they killed each other while fighting?”
“……That is not the case.”
“Then?”
“Before that, I will first inform you that the friendly match has been temporarily suspended.”
I nodded.
The friendly match was important, but since an incident had occurred where guests who had come from afar had died, there was no way to push forward with it recklessly.
It was only natural.
“My brother……. No, how is Ryan Winterbell?”
“He is safe. He never lost consciousness to begin with, and his recovery has already been completed.”
Just as I expected, he had clearly gone easy on me.
I had continuously felt that he was hiding his strength, along with a strong sense of incongruity.
“I thought so. Then why did the Helios Family’s knights and the Imperial knights die?”
“That is…….”
Cecil trailed off.
Just what had happened for her to make such a serious expression?
“It seems to be the doing of the demon race.”
My face hardened coldly.
“The demon race?”
Just hearing the word made my teeth grind.
Those damned bastards showed up here?
“Yes.”
Cecil’s expression was dark as well. Our previous life had been filled with battles against the demon race. That was why Cecil also harbored an extreme hatred toward them.
“It seems there was an argument between the knights of the Helios Family and the knights of the Imperial side. As you know, both are considered among the greatest knights on the continent, so their pride and self-esteem must be immense. In that process, it seems a dispute arose, and they went outside the family grounds to determine who was superior.”
It was understandable.
This wasn’t just any families—it was the Helios Family and the Imperial House. What more needed to be said? They were the undisputed greatest knights on the continent. Incidents like this, where they couldn’t restrain their overflowing vigor, happened from time to time.
However, what mattered was that those knights had died.
And that too, within Winterbell’s territory.
It was true that Winterbell was close to the demon race’s territory.
However, the cold of the North was so intense that even the demon race could not endure it, and the authority of Winterbell was something they feared as well.
Even before the Hero’s Party, the Winterbell Ducal Family had existed, to the point that there was even a widespread belief that the North was safe from the demon race because of them.
Occasionally, there were demon race members who crossed into the North out of curiosity, but they were soon subjugated.
That was why, in the North, while people might die due to magical beasts or bandits, news of someone being killed by the demon race was unheard of.
And yet, not ordinary people.
But guests of the family.
And not just anyone—but elite knights of the Imperial House and elite knights of the Helios Family had died.
I couldn’t believe it at all.
To kill warriors of their level, at the very least…….
“I couldn’t believe it at all.
To kill warriors of their level, at the very least…….”
“Did a high-ranking demon cross over?”
Cecil nodded.
“That seems to be the case.”
“Damn it. Those cursed demons are running rampant.”
If this was true, something like a friendly match wasn’t important.
The fact that they were stirring again meant……
That they were prepared for it.
“What’s the current situation?”
“The Patriarch has personally issued an order to Izumi Winterbell, the leader of the Black Sword Corps, to investigate the truth and carry out subjugation. Accordingly, the Black Sword Corps, along with Lord Ron Winterbell and Lord Lux Winterbell, have departed.”
The situation was more serious than I expected.
Even the Black Sword Corps, which could be considered the strongest military force of Winterbell, along with two direct members of the Patriarch’s line, had gone out.
“Has the flag been raised?”
“They have raised the purple flag.”
“The purple flag…….”
The purple flag meant that all knights belonging to the Winterbell Ducal Family were to be ready to enter combat at any time.
“And a mission has also been assigned to you, Young Master.”
“To me as well?”
“Yes. It is an order personally issued by the Patriarch.”
Arkan Winterbell had personally given me an order?
…Damn, things were escalating seriously.
“Tell me.”
“The order is that once you regain consciousness, you are to immediately prepare with your knight order and search the North for demons.”
“A search?”
“Yes.”
Even though they had already dispatched a force like the Black Sword Corps, why would he give me such an order?
What exactly was Father thinking?
No matter how much I thought about it, nothing came to mind.
‘Can I interpret this as him having expectations of me?’
It was likely closer to good news.
Even if temporary, it was no different from him acknowledging the Harlan Mercenaries—my knight order.
Father must have also seen my spar during this friendly match, so perhaps he had acknowledged me to some extent.
‘My original goal was to have the Harlan Mercenaries recognized as an official knight order. I’m almost there.’
If I earned merit this time, I would have the justification to push it through. Moreover, hunting demons was something Cecil and I excelled at—our specialty, in fact.
“Did you say the objective was a search?”
“Yes. Since the Black Sword Corps has already been dispatched, they will likely handle the military aspect, while you are meant to root out any remnants hiding within.”
“Hm…….”
Of course, I had no intention of merely searching.
Now that demons had appeared before my eyes, I would kill them no matter what.
Cecil carefully observed my expression, as if she understood my thoughts. A meaningful look appeared on her face.
“Young Master. You’re not planning to just search, are you?”
“Was it that obvious?”
Cecil smiled softly.
“Of course. Did you think I wouldn’t know?”
Looking at me with a captivating face, Cecil moved only her lips without making a sound.
I have always.
Only been looking at you, Young Master.
At all times, no matter where.
“…….”
“What is it? Are you scared?”
In my previous life, she had been quiet, so I hadn’t realized she had this kind of personality—but now that she was Cecil, it felt like she had become quite sly.
If I had to compare, Lin in my previous life was closer to a bear, while Cecil in this life felt more like a fox.
But I didn’t dislike it.
This too was her.
Knowing how much she had devoted herself to me, I could never hate her.
Ah, that didn’t mean I was looking at her out of sympathy.
The feelings I had……
Were for her herself.
‘I never thought I’d feel this way about Ryeong in my previous life. Back then, Ryeong was closer to a complete comrade.’
A comrade I could trust and rely on.
A comrade I could entrust my back to at any time.
Even though she spoke little, there had never been a single moment when being with her felt uncomfortable.
Even though she spoke little, there had never been a single moment when being with her felt uncomfortable.
‘It’s a shame I couldn’t produce a definitive result in this friendly match, but the situation isn’t favorable right now. Now that the demon race has revealed itself, I have to move with top priority.’
“Cecil.”
“Yes.”
“Call Camille.”
“Understood.”
---
Annex training ground.
Led by Camille, the captain of the Harlan Mercenaries, all members stood in formation in neat rows. I appeared, dressed in the white armor provided by the family.
“Everyone’s here.”
“…….”
“My knights, listen.”
“!”
At the title of knights, the mercenaries’ eyes widened.
They had already sensed that the situation was unusual, but precisely because of that, they must have also been anxious that they might not be officially recognized as knights.
“K-knights, you say?”
“That’s right.”
Gulp.
I could hear the members swallowing.
I raised my voice further, infusing it with mana so it would carry far and wide.
“Winterbell has not yet officially acknowledged you. That means you have not yet become an official knight order.”
The faces of the members, which had been filled with anticipation, stiffened. They thought it was good news, only to be met with a different conclusion.
But that wasn’t the end.
“However, I, Ran Winterbell, am different. As the youngest of the Winterbell Family, the one who will become the greatest wolf of Winterbell, I acknowledge you. From this day forward, you will become my loyal knights.”
“……!”
“……!?”
A surge of emotion appeared on their now serious faces.
Tension.
Elations.
Perhaps even fear.
Various emotions were mixed together.
“You are no longer a mercenary group. Cast aside the name Harlan Mercenaries, and from now on, you will belong to my knight order, ‘White Wolf.’ If you successfully complete this mission, I am certain that the great Patriarch of Winterbell will also recognize you as official knights. I ask you this.”
A heavy silence fell.
All of them stared at me with resolute eyes.
“White Wolf. Are you prepared to serve me, Ran Winterbell, as your lord, and become the greatest sword of Winterbell?”
The mercenaries—
No, White Wolf……
Led by their captain, Camille, they shouted in unison.
“We pledge our loyalty!”
“Do you have the confidence to proudly uphold the name of Winterbell without yielding to any external pressure?”
“Yes!”
“Are you prepared to bite down on my enemies, the enemies of the family, without fearing even death?”
“We will give our lives!”
I raised the corner of my lips and lifted Behemoth high into the air. The bright sunlight reflected off the blade and scattered in all directions.
“From this moment on, you are no longer the Harlan Mercenaries, but the knight order White Wolf of me, Ran Winterbell.”
My knights all knelt at once.
Thud.
I approached Camille at the very front, placed the sword on her shoulder, and spoke.
“Camille.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“You are the captain of White Wolf.”
“It is an honor, my lord.”
With a lofty gaze, I looked over the one hundred wolves kneeling before me. They now possessed an aura incomparably stronger than before.
They were the result of enduring bone-grinding pain and training both body and mind to become my knights.
“Listen. My wolves. From this moment, we will head out to root out the demons that have infiltrated the North.”
“…….”
“This will be our first mission—and the mission that will firmly engrave who we are, and who you are.”
“…….”
“Now, advance!”