Chapter 35: Return (1)

The feast continued throughout the night.

The soldiers, thoroughly drunk, were sprawled out all over the plain. Fortunately, the weather was warm, so no major issues arose.

As dawn broke, both families began to prepare to return.

"Brother, please visit our family sometime."

Mihail Ryanbloom, seemingly reluctant to part, held onto Damian’s hand and repeatedly urged him.

"You must visit. Do you understand? You must."

"Alright, let go now…."

Only after Damian promised to visit did he manage to free himself.

The procession to return to the duchy set off.

* * *

As soon as he returned to the duchy, Damian expressed his intention to leave to the duke.

"Leaving already?"

The duke asked, his eyes wide open. Damian bowed his head and replied.

"Leaving so suddenly… We are preparing a festival. Can’t you wait until then?"

The duke had no intention of ending the celebration with just the feast on the plain.

He planned to hold a grand festival to announce to the world that the Goldfics duchy had defeated the viscount’s family.

"Too long has passed since I left. My family must be worried, so I wish to return quickly."

The duke looked at Damian with a regretful expression.

"If that is your wish, there’s nothing I can do. However, please wait just one day. I need to select a knight to escort you."

"Escort?"

Damian asked, his face showing that he found such preparations unnecessary.

"I know you are highly skilled. But the situation is getting complicated. Sir Ernst Howitz has disappeared."

The duke clicked his tongue and said.

"Is that true?"

"Yes, I don’t know why he disappeared… As you know, Sir Ernst Howitz was particularly close to Chelsea Goldfics."

As the duke said, Ernst Howitz was on Chelsea Goldfics’ side.

He was not punished because he was unaware of Chelsea Goldfics’ collaboration with a dark mage, but many within the family did not trust him.

"Ernst Howitz might attack the family. I am safe with Sir Gaol Heimrich guarding me, but others are not."

A mid-class is so powerful that they are classified as a strategic weapon.

If such a being targeted the family, it would be a state of emergency.

"He might even attack you. Chelsea Goldfics’ downfall began with you."

"So you want to assign an escort to me?"

"Yes. It might be unpleasant, but you will have an escort until you reach your hometown."

In fact, an escort was unnecessary. Ernst Howitz was no match for him alone.

However, Damian was known publicly as a low-class. He needed to keep his true abilities hidden.

"I appreciate your consideration."

Damian decided to accept the duke’s offer.

* * *

The next day, Damian came to the inner gate.

"Oh, you’re here."

At the inner gate, the duke and Gaol Heimrich were waiting for Damian.

"Introduce yourself. These are the ones who will escort you."

The duke pointed to the people waiting.

Three knights and ten armed soldiers were ready.

Damian carefully examined the knights’ faces. He recognized one of them.

"Hmm? Who is this? Isn’t that Sir Sebastian Vincenzo?"

When Damian recognized him, Sebastian Vincenzo’s face crumpled.

The two were not on friendly terms.

On the day of the duel, Sebastian Vincenzo had tried to keep an eye on Damian by having his son participate in the duel, only to be humiliated.

"All other mid-classes are on missions. Sir Sebastian was the only one available."

The duke was aware of the tension between them.

But given the urgent situation, he had entrusted the escort to Sebastian Vincenzo.

"Sir Sebastian, please take good care of Sir Damian."

"Yes, Your Excellency. I will protect him with my life."

Sebastian Vincenzo placed his fist on his chest.

"Please take good care of him on the journey."

Damian extended his hand.

"…I’ll do my best."

Sebastian Vincenzo reluctantly shook Damian’s hand, clearly not happy but resigned.

* * *

The duke accompanied Damian Hassen to the outer gate of the castle.

"Your Excellency, why are you letting Sir Damian go?"

Gaol Heimrich, standing beside him, asked.

"Such a knight as Sir Damian is hard to find anywhere. It would be better to keep him in the family…"

"I’ve thought about it. I’ve considered making Sir Damian a knight of the family."

During the duel with the viscount’s family, the duke realized an unpleasant fact.

The duchy’s knights were far inferior to those of the viscount’s family.

Although they won the duel, it was only possible because of Damian Hassen.

Given this situation, he couldn’t help but be desperate for Damian Hassen.

"Damian Hassen must have known my thoughts. If he had intended to work under me, he would have stayed."

But Damian Hassen expressed his intention to return home.

It meant he had no lingering attachment to the duchy.

"Most importantly, Damian Hassen is not the type to work under someone else."

Unlike the duchy’s knights, Damian Hassen had never shown the duke any sign of respect.

He only used formal language and maintained etiquette out of formality.

"There was only one time I saw a similar look in Sir Damian Hassen’s eyes."

A Swordmaster.

An absolute being who had broken free from the shackles of mortality and taken a step into the realm of immortality.

His eyes were similar.

"Can you really capture such a man? That’s why I let him go."

The duke said, looking regretful.

"Let’s go in now. I have a lot to do."

* * *

The journey back to the Hassen viscount’s family was peaceful.

Three knights and ten armed soldiers. Thieves didn’t dare come near.

Moreover, everyone was on horseback, so the speed was very fast.

"We’ll have to camp here for the night."

The sun was setting.

Sebastian Vincenzo stopped the group in the forest.

While the soldiers prepared the camp, the knights gathered a short distance away and made a campfire to rest.

Damian Hassen sat on a stump near the campfire.

"Sir Damian."

Suddenly, Sebastian Vincenzo called out to Damian Hassen.

"Thank you for winning the duel."

Damian Hassen was puzzled by the unexpected words.

"You see… my son lost the duel, didn’t he?"

Sebastian Vincenzo continued, looking embarrassed.

"If he had lost, I wouldn’t have been able to face Your Excellency. But thanks to the knight you trained and you, we won the duel."

Sebastian Vincenzo’s misguided judgment had brought the duchy its first defeat.

If they had lost the duel completely, Sebastian Vincenzo would have faced all kinds of criticism.

"You don’t need to apologize. I didn’t intend to help you, Sir Sebastian."

"…You have a talent for saying things so nicely."

Sebastian Vincenzo shivered as he spoke.

At that moment,

Sebastian Vincenzo suddenly jumped up.

The duchy’s knights were startled and looked at Sebastian Vincenzo.

"Hiding won’t do you any good. Show yourself!"

Sebastian Vincenzo shouted. After a moment, someone walked out of the darkness.

A man of average build, wearing a black cloak.

The moment Sebastian Vincenzo saw the man’s face, his expression froze.

"…Ernst Howitz."

Ernst Howitz twisted his lips and said,

"It’s been a while, Sir Sebastian."

* * *

"…Why are you here?"

The knight who had disappeared after Chelsea Goldfics’ death had appeared.

Sebastian Vincenzo said, his face full of suspicion.

"There’s no special reason. I have someone I need to tear to pieces."

As he said this, Ernst Howitz looked at Damian Hassen.

"Damian Hassen, that’s the bastard I’m talking about."

"…Sir Damian is a guest of His Excellency."

"And he was the cause of Lady Chelsea’s death."

Ernst Howitz’s eyes were filled with murderous intent.

"Sir Sebastian, I have no intention of letting anyone involved in Lady Chelsea’s death live."

"Chelsea Goldfics took her own life. It wasn’t Sir Damian’s fault…"

"Shut up!"

Ernst Howitz roared.

"How strong was Lady Chelsea! No matter how difficult it was, she would have endured it! She would never have committed suicide!"

Ernst Howitz took a deep breath.

"…Lady Chelsea was definitely killed by the duke. She must have died during a harsh interrogation."

Ernst Howitz said, his face dripping with malice.

"I will not let Lady Chelsea’s death go unpunished. I will kill Damian Hassen, those who interrogated Lady Chelsea, and finally, the duke."

Sebastian Vincenzo looked at Ernst Howitz with disbelief.

"Planning to kill His Excellency? You’re not in your right mind."

"Yes, I’m not in my right mind. I stopped being in my right mind the day Lady Chelsea was cruelly murdered."

Ernst Howitz let out a low laugh.

"Sir Sebastian, I won’t say more. Let Damian Hassen go, and I’ll spare your life."

"Arrogant words. Who do you think you are to spare lives?"

Sebastian Vincenzo summoned his mana.

An overwhelming aura spread in all directions. The sounds of animals and insects in the forest stopped instantly.

"Arrogant words… Yes, you are stronger than me. That’s why I prepared."

Ernst Howitz took off his cloak, revealing a bizarre sight.

His entire body was covered in black magic runes. Black mana stones were embedded in various parts of the runes.

That wasn’t all. Though hidden by the tattoos, there were numerous surgical scars all over his body.

Sebastian Vincenzo was shocked.

"Did you dabble in dark magic?"

"Yes, I couldn’t handle the duchy alone, so I sought some help."

Ernst Howitz’s lips twisted.

"Guillaume Blackwing. I received the same procedure he did. In exchange for my life force, I gained vast mana and physical abilities."

Ernst Howitz summoned his mana.

Black mana shot up into the sky like a geyser.

The trees around them swayed violently from the immense amount of mana.

"Watch closely. See the power I have acquired!"

Ernst Howitz kicked the ground and thrust his spear.

Sebastian Vincenzo quickly raised his sword to block the spear.

The moment the spear and sword clashed, Sebastian’s body was pushed back.

"Ugh?"

Sebastian Vincenzo braced his legs. His body, which was being pushed back, finally stopped.

Sebastian Vincenzo looked at his hand in disbelief.

His palm was torn from a single collision.

It was an astonishing speed and strength.

"Why? Surprised? Does something seem wrong?"

Ernst Howitz shouted, his face filled with excitement.

"You should have listened to my warning! I said I wouldn’t kill you if you let Damian Hassen go!"

Ernst Howitz shouted loudly and thrust his spear.

A crimson aura, like fresh blood, was released from the spear. The aura turned into a storm and engulfed Sebastian Vincenzo.

Sebastian Vincenzo hastily dodged. The trees and rocks behind him were completely sliced.

Sebastian Vincenzo looked at the path the aura had taken.

A part of the forest had turned into a plain.

Sebastian Vincenzo’s face hardened at the sight.

"What are you looking at! Everyone, run!"

The duchy’s knights hesitated at Sebastian’s words. They were unsure whether to follow his orders or help Sebastian.

"Idiots! You won’t be of any help! Go to the duchy and ask for help!"

Sebastian Vincenzo roared. The knights were still hesitant.

"I understand! I’ll bring help, so please hold on a little longer!"

At that moment, Damian Hassen shouted.

Damian Hassen turned and ran. The other knights followed, leaving the scene.

As Damian Hassen and the knights moved away, Ernst Howitz sneered.

"Do you really think you can stop me?"

Sebastian Vincenzo smirked.

"Who said I would stop you? I plan to kill you right here."

"Wow, what confidence. We’ll see if that’s possible… Do you really think I came here alone?"

Sebastian Vincenzo’s eyes widened.

"You… You can’t be…"

"Dark mages are waiting nearby. Damian Hassen won’t get far."

Sebastian Vincenzo’s face turned red with anger.

"You bastard!"

Sebastian Vincenzo charged at Ernst Howitz.

In the forest, now shrouded in darkness, the two mid-classes clashed.