The gate captain tilted his head slightly. The other soldiers lined up did the sa. It wasn't because they didn't believe it, but because they were confused.
"I-I greet the Great Warrior!"
The kneeling soldier shouted regardless. He kept his hands on the ground, and his head bowed low.
Nasser curled his lip and looked at Ian. But Ian wasn’t looking at him or at the soldier.
To think I'd get caught this quickly.
Clicking his tongue, he scanned the ramparts and the main wall beyond.
The guards on the ramparts, along with the soldiers stationed atop the towering wall, were all looking down at them. The only difference was that those higher up didn’t seem to have caught the shout clearly, as the wall had muffled the sound.
Then the kneeling soldier cried out again, "I-I fought alongside you at the Karlingion—"
"That's enough," said Ian.
The soldier held his breath and stiffened.
Looking down at him, Ian added, "This is enough commotion."
"Oh, my... Karha...."
Before Ian’s breath had even dispersed, another guard let out a startled sound and dropped his crossbow. He, too, sank to his knees a mont later, though unlike the first soldier, he said nothing.
Only then did the gate captain turn fully toward Ian, his face still a little dazed beneath the helt.
"Are you really the Superhuman of the North, Sir Ian Hope?"
His voice trembled, each word careful and unsure.
Blowing a long sigh through his nose, Ian answered, "Yes, I am the Margrave of the Snowfields."
"Lu Solar, have rcy." A gasp slipped from the captain’s lips. Before he could steady himself, the soldiers behind him buckled.
"Eternal battle...."
"S-Superhuman of the North...."
Their voices were low—suppressed, likely because of Ian’s warning.
Ian’s brow tightened further when he saw the guards atop the wall also collapsing to their knees. Only the soldiers on the high wall, too far to hear clearly, rely tilted their heads in confusion.
"G-Glory to the Radiant Light."
At last, the gate captain fell to one knee. His face was still marked with bewildernt, but he seed to have regained at least so of his composure.
"Stop it and get up," said Ian.
They were in full view of the inner gatehouse. There weren’t many people passing through, fortunately, but if this kept up, the entire fortress would be in chaos within monts.
The gate captain and the soldiers awkwardly stood up. In the anti, Ian jumped down from his saddle. His cloak flared as he landed, and without hesitation, he strode toward the line of soldiers.
As the gate captain swallowed hard with his head bowed, Ian walked past him and stopped in front of the soldiers. It was in front of the soldier who had first recognized him.
"What is your na?"
"P-Polly. Superhuman... no, Your Excellency!" Polly answered imdiately, still bowing his head slightly.
Looking at his tension-filled face, Ian said, "Yes, Polly. So we fought together on the Northern front?"
"Yes. I was on the ramparts, so I couldn't be with you until the end, but it was the honor of a lifeti!"
At a low clear of the throat from beside him, Polly glanced sideways and added, "Keta, standing over there, was also there at that ti."
The soldier who was second to kneel nodded vigorously as if his head might fall off. Unlike Polly, he was staring at Ian with overwhelmingly sparkling eyes.
Glancing at him, Ian added, "Is the entire Karlingion garrison here?"
"No, Your Excellency. After the erosion, the legion was reorganized and scattered."
"I see," answered Ian with a click of his tongue.
The thought crossed his mind that he wouldn't have been able to hide his identity no matter which gate he passed through. It wasn’t hard to guess why the Archduke had broken up the legion. He likely didn't want those who revered Ian to be grouped together.
"Thanks for letting know. And I’m glad you both survived," Ian added soon after.
Polly and Keta bowed their heads again, visibly moved.
"It’s all thanks to you, Your Excellency. We always believed you would return safely!"
"We intend to pass through the gate quietly without causing a scene. Can you help with that?"
"Yes, of course!" Polly widened his eyes and nodded firmly as if he had received an important order.
"I think my identity has been sufficiently proven by now," Ian added, looking to the side.
"Yes, of course!"
Answering imdiately, the gate captain bowed slightly and continued, "I am ashad I did not recognize you sooner. When I heard that the Saintess of the White Fla had co, I should have guessed that Your Excellency would be accompanying her."
Saintess of the White Fla?
The corner of his mouth lifted as he extended a hand to the captain. "No need to bla yourself. I was the one trying to hide my identity. Now, will you open the gate?"
"Yes. Of course I will, but...." Even as he readily returned the certificate, the gate captain trailed off.
Receiving Ian's gaze, he swallowed dryly before adding, "May I invite you inside first? Since Your Excellency has visited, I can’t avoid reporting to the commander."
It was a soldierly thing to say. Ian looked at him for a mont, then nodded.
"We’ll wait here. Handle it quietly, if you can."
"I’ll do my best. Then, please wait a mont!" The gate captain turned sharply and pushed through the soldiers. He broke into a full sprint toward the gate the very next second.
I feel like a division commander on an inspection tour.
Clicking his tongue as he watched the man's retreating figure, Ian looked back at the soldiers.
"We’ll block the view so no one inside sees you, Your Excellency," said Polly, suddenly raising his head.
"Please do not mind us. We will not be a hindrance." He clasped his hands behind his back and puffed out his chest.
The soldiers beside him straightened in unison, adjusting their stances to match.
A faint smile touched Ian’s lips. "I appreciate it."
Polly tipped his chin upward instead of answering. It seed to an he wouldn’t look at Ian directly. Keta and the other soldiers followed suit, heads lifting as they froze into statue-like poses.
This is why the North is....
Swallowing a laugh, Ian turned around and held out the parchnt to Nasser, who was looking at him aningfully.
"I doubt we'll need to use this again," Nasser said, gently shaking the certificate he accepted. His tone had a subtly smug edge to it, as if he’d known things would turn out this way.
"Tell about it," replied Ian. He then looked toward v, who stood beside the carriage. Having dismounted from Selim, she was looking at him with her visor raised.
When their eyes t, she offered a subtle, pleased smile. To Ian, she looked almost proud.
Great. Looks like I’m the only one who’s not enjoying this.
Smacking his lips, Ian walked over to Moro. Even the beast was holding its head up stiffly as if putting on airs.
The carriage window slid open just as Ian nudged Moro’s side to make it sidestep.
"I guess the usual way doesn't work here after all." Thesaya's laughter-filled voice followed along with cigarette smoke.
Lucia, sticking her head slightly out the window, added with a smile, "I didn't know there would be soldiers who fought with you on the front lines mixed in. I should have lent you my mask."
"Well, this works out better, actually."
Smacking his lips, Ian leaned against Moro and looked back at the two.
"Lucy, your na is just as well known. If it's going to reach the Archduke's ears anyway, it's better if my na is included."
"By the looks of it, the commander will soon co running in a hurry," said Thesaya.
"I'd say so too," Nasser chid in from atop the driver’s seat, grinning as if he found this whole situation very amusing.
Ian shrugged one shoulder. "Then I might as well use it."
"To silence them?"
At Thesaya's question, he shook his head. "That kind of thing doesn’t work in the North. I’ll use them for sothing else."
"Sothing else? ... Don't tell ."
Thesaya's eyes narrowed.
"You aren't planning to use him as a ssenger to send word to the Archduke, are you?"
"I am."
"Hmm...." Thesaya pressed her lips together in a troubled hum.
"I agree with Ian's decision," said v.
"Taking sides, Redhead?" Thesaya said, looking behind her.
Stepping up behind Ian, v added, "It’s a decision that will save countless lives. Other Northerners will know that Ian reached out his hand for sothing more important than power."
v, stopping behind Ian, looked at him and smiled. "And surely, it will be returned with even greater support."
"I didn’t think that far ahead," Ian said with a chuckle.
Looking back and forth between Ian and v, Thesaya wore a mischievous smile.
"Honestly, one little opening and you two get unbearably—"
She stopped mid-sentence, ears twitching as she looked forward.
Ian turned as well, toward the living wall of soldiers lined up ahead.
"They’re coming much faster than I expected."
Footsteps approached from a distance, one belonging to the gate captain, the other two no doubt the commander and his adjutant.
"I'll stay quiet for now," Thesaya whispered with a playful smile, sliding the window shut.
v, pulling down her visor, also took a step back. She had likely co over here to appear as Ian's knight.
Soon after, the soldiers opened a slight gap to the left and right, revealing the commander and adjutant striding toward them.
The commander wore a thick ash-gray fur cloak over plate armor, his brown hair and beard grown down toward his jaw. However, what made Ian’s brow twitch wasn’t the man’s imposing appearance.
Is this why the High Priestess sent us this way?
It was because, although his hair and beard had grown, it was a face Ian knew well.
"Oh, Lu Solar!"
As the soldiers gathered again, the commander burst out in exclamation. His expression was flooded with shock and joy as he t Ian’s eyes.
Ian’s lips curved faintly. "It’s been a while, Sir Lucas."
Lucas Lamfield—the commanding officer he had encountered all over the North. And one who had fought alongside him on the Northern Front. Now that he was a commanding general, his face had gained dignity in many ways compared to back then.
"Your Excellency, you have returned!"
With his adjutant and the gate captain at his sides, Lucas hurried forward, his voice trembling with emotion as great as the relief on his face
Keeping a smile on his lips, Ian nodded. "I didn't expect to see you again here like this."
"Neither did I! Good heavens! Thank the Heavens!"
Glancing at the sky and letting out a sigh, Lucas stopped in front of Ian and continued, "You really haven't changed a bit. I always believed you were alive, but seeing you standing before , well and strong, is beyond moving."
"You have beco even more impressive. You look like a Northerner now, not an Imperial."
At Ian’s response, Lucas’s smile deepened.
Just then, a knocking sound ca from the carriage door.
Creak.
The door opened slowly. Ian stepped aside as Lucia and Thesaya erged one after the other.
"Forgive the interruption. I just couldn’t hold back my excitent."
Stepping onto the ground, Lucia looked back at Lucas and smiled. "Long ti no see, Commander. It is good to et you again."
"Saintess!" Lucas's eyes curved into a smile. "I heard you returned together. But seeing you face-to-face makes even happier. Just like His Excellency, I am glad you seem safe."
"It is thanks to His Excellency."
"Glad as I am, I can’t help feeling a bit left out, you know?"
The complaint ca from Thesaya, standing just behind Lucia.
Receiving Lucas's gaze, she coolly curled up the corners of her lips. "I think I'm the one you haven't seen for the longest ti here."
"Lady Thesaya?" Lucas, who had paused while looking at her, asked back. His tone lacked confidence.
Thesaya tilted her head to the side. "Erenos. It's Thesaya Erenos now."
"My goodness." Relief softened Lucas’s expression at last. "I apologize for not recognizing you at once. Your complexion is much better, and your eyes have healed."
"It's thanks to being reborn as an Elder. Anyway, good to see you again."
"Thank you, Elder. And I am also glad to et you again." Lucas, placing a hand on his breastplate, answered, then suddenly turned his gaze behind Thesaya.
"Let introduce her," Ian said, stepping aside.
Gesturing with his palm, he presented v, who stood quietly at attention. "Sir v Riurel, Apostle of the Stern Goddess and the Red Knight of the frontiers."
Lucas’s eyes widened. "I am Lucas Lamfield. I did not expect to et the famous Red Knight like this. It is an honor."
"Pleasure to et you, Commander. The honor is mine," v replied, her voice a touch awkward. Whether it was because Ian had introduced her himself or because Lucas already knew who she was, it was hard to tell. Knowing her, it could easily have been both.
Lucas, ever smooth, added cheerfully, "Today must be the day Heaven blesses the North. It’s already cause for celebration that the Northern superhuman and the White Fla Saint have returned—yet now the Elder and the Red Knight stand with them."
"Demigod," v murmured abruptly.
As Ian's eyes twitched, Lucas tilted his head and asked back, "I’m sorry, what was that?"
"It seems word hasn’t reached the North yet." v’s voice deepened beneath her helt. "His Excellency is now hailed as a demigod, Commander. You would do well to rember it."
A long, soundless sigh flowed from Ian as he looked at her.
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