Chapter 5: The Collar Touches 1

* * *

“Cough, cough. This is really something, my body isn’t what it used to be.”

His haggard eyes and emaciated frame, like kindling, combined with a nervous expression to exude an aura that no one could approach. His chapped lips and pale skin added to the appearance, making him look like a murderer.

Kain, who had risen from his seat, swallowed the exclamation that was about to burst out.

‘It’s him.’

Even though he himself was famous, he couldn’t help but know the man he had trained, who was even more famous.

The man’s name was ‘Raphman Schwalzebein,’ the mentor and adoptive father of the White Knight Apheng.

‘To meet him here.’

The rumors that he had traveled across the continent before meeting Apheng seemed to be true.

Shaking his head to steady his mind, Kain walked forward.

What mattered was not his history. The important thing was that Raphman had reached the Ten Seats.

‘Sword Saint.’

One of the ten greatest warriors on the continent. The weight of that title was indescribable.

“Thank you.”

He bowed his head at the unexpected good fortune, but Raphman, showing no interest, brushed past Kain and looked down at the dead man.

“Did you kill him?”

It was a matter-of-fact question.

Should he lie? Or should he reveal the truth?

Weighing the options of deceit and manipulation, Kain quickly made a decision.

He was the mentor of Apheng, the White Knight. At the very least, he could make a rational judgment.

“Yes.”

Therefore, he chose the truth.

Raphman was surprised by the straightforward answer. Murder. It was a heavy topic, especially for a child.

“Why did you kill him?”

“Because he tried to kill me.”

Cause and effect. A truly simple answer that made him smile.

“Tsk, what kind of world is this, to produce such a kid?”

Turning his head at the bold words, Raphman looked at the fallen old man again. His face was contorted in a terrifying way, and his fists were clenched with veins bulging, as if he had resisted until the end.

But something was odd.

He didn’t seem to have anything on him, not even a common cart.

There must be some complicated circumstances. It wasn’t his business to meddle, so Raphman turned away.

He had no intention of becoming a judge for matters he didn’t know.

“What’s your name?”

“Kain. My name is Kain.”

“Lacking a surname means you’re a commoner, I suppose.”

Indeed, if he had a surname, he wouldn’t be wandering in such a place. He would be in a decent place, receiving decent protection.

“How old are you?”

“I’m 11 years old.”

“Eleven, huh. Eleven.”

He kept repeating it, as if something was bothering him.

While Raphman was lost in thought, Kain’s mind was racing.

To achieve his goal, he needed power. Not just any power, but true power.

To cultivate power, he needed the right environment and support. Something he couldn’t achieve alone.

‘I don’t have overwhelming talent, nor do I know the secrets of the world.’

In that sense, Raphman was the best match. Not only was he a member of the Ten Seats, but he was also a genius recognized across the continent.

He was the one who had elevated the Schwalzebein family to a higher level.

Although his end was not good, the reputation and skills he had built were not lost.

‘How did Apheng become his disciple?’

The life story of the White Knight Apheng was famous. No one didn’t admire the path of a hero. However, there were many gaps in his story, especially his childhood.

It was only known that he had learned swordsmanship from Raphman and became the head of the Schwalzebein family.

He had heard the story secondhand, so he didn’t know the exact facts, but there was no mention of Raphman being impressed by Apheng’s talent and accepting him as a disciple.

‘He doesn’t seem like someone who would be that proactive.’

Raphman, whom he had seen in person, was a man of no emotion. He neither went too far nor retreated too much, just lingering around.

He had simply acknowledged the death of the man and moved on. He was the type who would remain unmoved even if a city exploded in front of him.

The first impression was not bad, and it seemed there was room to maneuver.

In his mind, there was no clearer plan than this. Even if he knew the future and could read the trends, there were still variables.

But if he became Raphman’s disciple?

There was no question. Everything would be solved.

The teachings of the Ten Seats. There was no better plan than this.

The thought that taking Apheng’s place could alter the future flashed through his mind, but he couldn’t stop his steps.

Perhaps this was the first and last opportunity.

Kain’s eyes widened.

Raphman also nodded his head.

At the moment their thoughts intersected, Raphman spoke first.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Raphman. As you can see, I’m a wandering knight.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll call you Sir Raphman.”

It was a name he already knew. There was nothing new about it, so Kain answered reflexively.

What he had hoped to hear was something different, like being the head of the Schwalzebein family or a baron of the Lesser Kingdom.

But unfortunately, Raphman’s introduction ended there.

“Where is your home?”

“I’m an orphan.”

“Do you have an orphanage or a guardian?”

“I was born in the alley. You can see, can’t you?”

He lied without even moistening his lips, but Raphman had no way of knowing. Tsking his tongue as if he didn’t like it, he reluctantly spoke.

“Huff, I’ll take you to the nearest village.”

Even in a quiet forest, wild animals often appeared. It was too dangerous to leave him here.

Kain spoke up then.

“Do you need a squire by any chance?”

“What?”

At the bold question, a surprised sound escaped Raphman’s lips.

“Even a wandering knight needs a squire, doesn’t he?”

Looking up at him, Kain repeated his words as if to make sure he was heard.

* * *

Over the past six years, Raphman had wandered aimlessly across the continent, experiencing countless events and accidents. He had encountered the unknown and even experienced legends that he had previously dismissed.

But even for him, unexpected meetings were always bewildering.

The child Kain, whom he met on his way back home, was one such case.

From start to finish, everything was a coincidence.

It was just a habit from his innocent days that made him act on impulse. It wasn’t out of altruism, so he had no emotional attachment.

“Stop following me.”

Hearing the irritable voice, his steps halted. Looking back, Raphman saw a small child, shorter than his peers, but with eyes that were no longer those of a child.

“Cough, I told you to go…”

This was the situation so far.

He had indeed taken him to a nearby village, but the result was far from ideal. The child had followed him persistently, like a lost dog, driven by some desperate need.

To shake him off, he had deliberately hidden and changed his route, but to no avail. Whenever he regained his senses, the child was still there.

“Do you need a squire?”

That voice again. Raphman shook his head in exasperation and clicked his tongue.

“I’m just a wandering knight with no lord to serve. Cough, cough.”

His answer was as uniform as his question.

“You might think my techniques are advanced because you’re young. But they’re just parlor tricks. You can only learn so much from me. I don’t know what you’re imagining, but it’s better to give up.”

He explained methodically in a cold tone. Raphman himself couldn’t understand what he was doing.

If the child were a bit older, he would have cut him off coldly and moved on. But that damned sympathy.

Despite Raphman’s repeated rejections, Kain’s resolve did not waver.

‘The Ten Seats.’

He had seen firsthand what Apheng had learned from Raphman and what he had achieved. No matter how much Raphman tried to justify himself, his thoughts did not change. Instead, his determination grew.

If the shortcut was right in front of him, taking the long way would be a waste of time.

“Your words make me trust you even more. If it were someone else, they would have tried to deceive me. They would have just treated me like a useful squire.”

Kain answered sincerely. Despite his intimidating appearance, Raphman was principled. It was no wonder he was called Apheng’s mentor.

When his long explanation to clarify things turned against him, Raphman groaned in a way that was uncharacteristic of him.

If left alone, the child would follow him to the end. He couldn’t just ignore a child. It was time to cut ties.

“Follow me.”

Raphman grabbed Kain’s arm and led him into a nearby restaurant.

Sitting in a corner, he spoke quietly.

“Why are you following me?”

“I told you. I want to be your squire.”

“But I said no, didn’t I?”

Coughing, Raphman answered irritably.

He didn’t want to waste time on pointless wordplay. Every second counted. As Raphman’s eyes narrowed, Kain scratched his head and continued.

“But no one else will take me in except you.”

“Stop with the obvious lies. I don’t want to hear any more.”

Raphman’s haggard eyes stared at the cunning boy.

“You must have seen something special in me. But forget it. It’s something you can’t gain and I can’t give.”

“I don’t understand what you mean. I really believe you are trustworthy, which is why I made this decision.”

So that’s how it is. Raphman sneered inwardly and changed the subject.

“So, what have you learned?”

“Huh?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Kain shrank back.

But Raphman didn’t let it go.

Sensing that it was time to have a serious conversation, he brought up the topic he had been avoiding.

“I saw the old man you killed. You targeted his meridians and arteries precisely. It was so skilled that I had to look again to make sure. It’s hard to believe you’re a child.”

It was a position that couldn’t be targeted by chance.

Meridians were organs formed through training, and their shape and size varied by school.

It wasn’t a spot that a child could pierce by accident.

“You must have been highly trained. Whatever group it is, it must be significant to invest so much in a child. Why did you leave?”

Caught off guard by the direct question, Kain couldn’t say anything. There was nothing he could tell Raphman. Everything was in the distant future, and there was no evidence.

“I don’t see any signs of deliberate approach, so I’m just observing. Don’t cross the line. I won’t take a disciple anyway.”

But you did take Apheng as a disciple. Kain closed his mouth, realizing the future was already changing.

Whether he would meet Apheng or not was uncertain. Of course, that wasn’t the important part.

He needed to keep talking. Kain’s lips trembled, sensing that the opportunity would slip away if he didn’t. But before he could speak, Raphman waved his hand to stop him.