Chapter 119 : Bianca’s Return (2)
Chapter 119: Bianca’s Return (2)
“How did this happen? There aren’t many who could reduce Bianca to this state.”
Seeing Bianca lying there in a complete mess, Acacia ground his teeth.
The healers revealed their wariness when a man they had never seen before suddenly entered the treatment center, but the moment Count Apaelo came in behind him, he revealed the man’s identity.
“This is Sir Acacia, the instructor of the Ragnar Knight Order.”
Looking down at her collapsed figure, unconscious, Acacia shut his eyes tightly.
Third in rank within the Special Operations Unit.
He could not understand how a woman second only to Acacia in strength had barely managed to escape to the border in such a condition.
“Haah……. Just what happened to you, Bianca.”
“I did not hear the details either. She only told us her name and then fainted.”
At Count Apaelo’s explanation, Acacia nodded heavily.
Then he turned his gaze toward the healer who was leading Bianca’s treatment.
“How is her condition?”
“Her aura depletion is severe. Her internal and external injuries are also beyond the level we can treat immediately.”
“Tch…….”
Grinding his teeth once more, Acacia stared fixedly at Bianca’s haggard face.
“Do your best. If you need anything, request it. We must save her somehow.”
“…Understood.”
But it seemed hopeless.
There were multiple fatal wounds, and on top of that, her aura had completely bottomed out.
The excessively used aura was even gnawing away at Bianca’s lifespan.
Right then, a soldier who had come to the treatment center panted heavily while searching for Count Apaelo.
“C-Commander! Duke Ragnar has personally made contact!”
Count Apaelo nodded with a heavy expression at the soldier’s report.
Not only the King but even Kyle—the greatest authority in the kingdom—had made contact, making it clear that Bianca was no ordinary figure.
Letting out a sigh, he was about to move with heavy steps, but Acacia blocked his path.
“I will take my lord’s communication.”
“Understood. I will guide you.”
The two quickly exited the treatment center.
After arriving at the room with the Communication Device under Count Apaelo’s guidance, Acacia spoke without even taking time to catch his breath.
“My lord, this is Acacia.”
— …Why has Bianca appeared at the border?
“The reason has not yet been revealed, but Bianca’s condition is very poor. It seems the border’s healers cannot treat her injuries.”
— Acacia.
“Yes, my lord.”
— Wait one day. I will come.
At Kyle’s firm words, Acacia nodded.
“I will remain here and wait.”
— See if there are those who pursued Bianca. Do not get carried away.
“Understood.”
As the communication ended with Kyle’s warning, Acacia’s eyes sharpened.
“Count Apaelo.”
“Yes, Sir Acacia.”
“Could you assign just two knights stationed at the border to me? I believe I need to go on reconnaissance.”
“Understood. I will attach two knights who know the terrain well immediately.”
“And my lord will arrive tomorrow. Strengthen the defenses of the border garrison. Some of the Ragnar Knight Order will also come here, so prepare lodging for them.”
After delivering his request to Count Apaelo, Acacia pulled out the two Short Spears he had prepared behind his back.
It was obvious without even seeing who had done this to Bianca.
From the start, Bianca had departed to obtain information about the Followers of Darkness.
‘Those damned bastards.’
He was furious, but at times like this he had to become even colder.
Moreover, he could not ignore Kyle’s warning not to get carried away.
“Whew…….”
When Acacia drew his weapons and exhaled with murderous eyes, Count Apaelo swallowed dryly.
The strongest military organization of the Ragnar Family.
The position of training instructor of the Ragnar Knight Order was by no means low.
Just like Bianca, if he wished, he was someone who possessed enough power to obtain a count’s title.
As Count Apaelo was once again realizing the military strength of the Ragnar Kingdom, two fully armed knights who knew the terrain well ran up before Acacia.
“Salute! I am Jerry of the Border Defense Unit.”
“Salute! I am Senz of the Border Defense Unit.”
“We will skip introductions. From now on, you two will patrol the border with me. His Grace the Duke will visit the border tomorrow, so before that we will confirm whether any dangers exist. Stay sharp.”
The two knights bowed their heads at Acacia’s words.
Meanwhile, Acacia mounted the horse they had brought and grabbed the reins.
“I don’t know which bastards dared to touch Bianca, but I’ll make sure they regret it. Hyah!”
Acacia left the border defense unit, leading the two knights for reconnaissance.
After rushing straight to the place where Bianca had been discovered, he immediately dismounted.
‘No matter how much you try to hide it, that distinctive rotten stench cannot be erased.’
A place where the smell of rot vibrated.
He turned his gaze toward the place where a sticky, irritating aura could be felt.
Then he encountered those who had chased the fleeing Bianca all the way to the border of the Ragnar Kingdom.
“…Who are you?”
The moment they saw Acacia, they entered a defensive stance.
In a sense, he was a man on a completely different level from Bianca whom they had faced earlier.
“What kind of place do you think this is, bringing those filthy faces here? You bastards must be crazy to die.”
The appearance of the butcher who had slaughtered the Followers of Darkness alongside Grand Duke Ian Kailers.
The playful look usually on Acacia’s face had disappeared as he held two Short Spears.
As Acacia released a menacing aura, the two knights standing behind him also drew their swords toward the Followers of Darkness.
“These are not opponents you can handle. Do not step forward.”
Without even waiting for an answer, Acacia stepped toward the knights clad in black armor.
Then the Dark Knights each drew their weapons.
Shrrrng—
“Hand over the woman who escaped from the laboratory.”
“Like hell I will. Why should I?”
Acacia sneered at the Dark Knight’s shameless demand for Bianca’s whereabouts.
As green aura manifested on his Short Spear, the Dark Knights also began gathering their power.
“Attack! Kill that man and secure the prisoner who escaped the laboratory!”
At that instant, Acacia’s eyebrow twitched.
At the Dark Knight calling Bianca a prisoner, Acacia’s presence intensified even further.
“Know this—you will never leave this place.”
The aura manifested on his Short Spear compressed.
Clang—!
Acacia began facing the Dark Knights with ghostlike skill, wielding two Short Spears with swift movements.
From the moment they spoke the word prisoner, their fate had already been decided.
Several exchanges followed, but the Dark Knights were overwhelmingly pushed back by Acacia.
Thrust—
Even though blood splashed onto his face and likely obstructed his vision, he did not care at all.
Acacia fought without retreat even against ten Dark Knights.
It was a short battle lasting thirty minutes, but already nine of the ten Dark Knights had collapsed dead.
The last remaining Dark Knight widened his eyes in disbelief.
“…Who are you?”
“Acacia. Ah, you probably know me by a nickname.”
“Are you mocking me right now?”
“Perhaps you’ll recognize ‘Butcher of the Plains.’”
After revealing his epithet, Acacia drove the Short Spear into the man’s heart.
“Ghk!”
“You damned bastards, from now on—it’s war.”
Shhk!
Pulling the Short Spear out with force, Acacia turned his face, splattered with blood.
The knights who had only been watching him stood with tense expressions.
“Collect their corpses. I will make sure they cannot even rest peacefully in death.”
Exactly a day later, a bright light erupted from the Gate installed at the border defense unit.
The entire border defense unit had gathered.
When the light of the Gate disappeared, Kyle and the members of the Special Operations Unit led by Seros stood there.
Count Apaelo stepped forward and greeted him on behalf of the defense unit.
“Salute! The Border Defense Unit greets His Grace Duke Kyle Ragnar!”
“A pleasure, Count Apaelo.”
“It is an honor to meet you like this, Your Grace.”
“Where is Acacia now?”
“He is currently standing guard personally at the treatment center with the Ragnar Knight Order, where Sir Bianca is.”
At those words, Kyle nodded and called Seros behind him.
“Seros.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“We must bring Bianca back to the Territory as quickly as possible. I must confirm her condition, but judging from what Acacia said, we do not have time to spare.”
“Understood.”
Kyle quickly headed toward the treatment center with Seros while being escorted by the border defense unit.
Taro, who was currently guarding the treatment center, bowed his head when Kyle appeared.
“I greet Your Grace the Duke.”
“Greetings later.”
As Kyle passed him and entered the treatment center, he saw Acacia staring at Bianca.
“Acacia.”
“…You have arrived, my lord.”
“Step aside.”
Passing Acacia, Kyle grabbed Bianca’s wrist as she lay there and slowly closed his eyes.
Her condition was worse than he had expected.
At this rate, she might suffer lifelong aftereffects and even lose the ability to use aura.
Opening his eyes again, Kyle turned his gaze toward Acacia, who stood there with anxious eyes.
“Acacia, take Bianca and enter the Mountain Range. The leader of the Elves will examine her.”
“Then where will you go, my lord?”
“They touched one of my people. They must pay the price.”
“I will follow you as well.”
Kyle shook his head as if he could not stop him when he saw the killing intent in Acacia’s eyes.
“Lucas.”
One of the Special Operations Unit members, a man with gray hair, bowed his head at Kyle’s call.
“Yes, my lord.”
“You must take Bianca safely into the Mountain Range. Can you do it?”
At Kyle’s request, Lucas bit his lip.
If it were up to him, he would follow Kyle, but Bianca’s safety was more important.
“I can.”
“Depart immediately. Do not delay.”
“Yes, my lord. We will depart at once.”
“Then I entrust it to you.”
At that moment, Seros, who was also responsible for Bianca’s transport, was unfolding a stretcher.
Kyle carefully lifted Bianca’s limp body and placed her onto it.
Kneeling on one knee, Kyle gently brushed her hair and muttered softly.
“I will never spare those who did this to you. So endure, Bianca.”
At Kyle’s voice, Bianca reacted slightly and opened her eyes just a little.
“My… lord…”
“Bianca, you do not need to speak.”
“Cough! In… my… arms…”
Bianca lost consciousness again before finishing her words.
Understanding what she meant, Kyle placed his hand inside Bianca’s clothes.
A single crumpled piece of paper.
Holding the paper she had protected with her life, Kyle ground his teeth.
“Seros, depart immediately.”
“Understood. Acacia, do not act rashly. Focus on serving my lord.”
“Understood, Castellan.”
Holding the stretcher from both sides, Seros immediately departed for the Ragnar Territory.
Watching that, Acacia—whose fist had been clenched so tightly it might break—soon lowered his head deeply.
“Acacia, there must have been those who pursued Bianca?”
“…Yes. I discovered ten Dark Knights and eliminated them.”
“We will move as well. From this moment, it is war again.”
“I will follow.”
When Kyle unfolded the paper from Bianca’s clothes, a drawing resembling a map appeared.
After confirming the three locations marked with circles, Kyle immediately rose.
“Count Apaelo.”
Count Apaelo, who had been waiting outside, entered at Kyle’s call.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Send word to the Capital City. Inform them that we are moving toward the Kingdom of Seil.”
“Your Grace, that is dangerous.”
“I will be fine. However, if I cause trouble in the Kingdom of Seil, it may create diplomatic problems. Inform His Majesty the King to prepare.”
“A war may break out.”
“Do not worry. If war begins, the North will step forward and bear it.”
At Kyle’s strong will to risk even war, Count Apaelo bowed his head.
To be honest, rather than being shocked, Kyle simply seemed remarkable.
Not only had he instantly organized the kingdom’s chaotic state administration, but now he was even preparing to wage war with another nation.
If someone else had spoken of risking war, he would have laughed.
But Kyle was different.
He was a man who kept the words he spoke.
“…I will deliver your message to His Majesty the King.”
“I ask that you do. And strengthen the border defenses further. Once you deliver my words to the Capital City, they will send support to the border.”