Chapter 24 : Haken Knight Order
-Fortress Haken. Commonly known as Wolf's Den.
There was a certain reason why the stone fortress Haken, located in the outskirts of the Reichart territory, was called the Wolf's Den.
100 years ago from now, the territory at the ti was suffering from a chronic shortage of troops due to monster attacks repeated every single day.
And the asure promoted to overco that crisis was the human modification experint, commonly known as ‘Sunset Wolves.’
This experint was conducted thoroughly through the use of drugs, and its ultimate purpose lay in strengthening the bodies of ordinary soldiers who could not use Blade Aura.
When finally only the final clinical trial was ahead.
A village near the research institute was attacked by a large scale of monsters.
It was self-evident that the village would be reduced to ruins by the monsters’ attack while support troops arrived.
Eventually, the soldiers of Haken, who were nothing more than ordinary soldiers, took a gamble to save the village from the hands of nurous monsters.
Even though there were warnings from researchers that it had not been verified yet, they swallowed the reagents without hesitation, and imdiately ran to stop the monsters’ attacks.
And as ti passed, the soldiers of the Inner Castle who arrived at the village were astonished.
The soldiers, who corresponded to rely about 1,000 n, had slaughtered all of the monsters that numbered well over 10,000.
In front of the miracle brought by this surprising result, the soldiers and researchers jumped with joy.
However, it did not take that long for that joy to turn into sorrow.
From the very next day, the side effects of the reagent began to appear.
The soldiers who fought the battle after injecting the reagent suffered from severe anxiety and showed extrely violent tendencies.
One week.
The incidents caused by them during rely one week reached hundreds of cases.
Tens of cases where they took each other’s lives after getting into argunts over trivial matters, and hundreds of cases where they exercised violence against villagers.
Eventually, the Family Head at the ti gathered them in one place, and soon fell into deep contemplation regarding their disposal.
Although they committed many wrongs, anyway, they were veterans who risked danger and saved nurous villages.
Eventually, the Family Head created a fortress to accommodate them in the northwest of the territory, and bestowed the title of ‘Haken Knight Order’ upon them to honor their glory which was only scars.
Now that 100 years have passed since then.
The world ca to call the fortress where they stayed the ‘Resting Place for Abandoned Wolves,’ or the ‘Wolf's Den.’
***
‘It is not unreasonable for them to be surprised like that.’
Watching the people engulfed in shock, Bolpar smiled secretly.
If he had not heard my inner thoughts in advance, he would have been making the sa expression as them.
‘Second Young Master, I have felt this since before, but you have a talent for surprising people.’
Suddenly, the conversation he had with yesterday ca to Bolpar’s mind.
“Young Master, I told you to relieve the Family Head’s duty, I did not tell you to beco the captain of madn. How could you ntion such words even as a joke?”
“Madn? Although they have committed faults, they are those who made a desperate resolution to protect the territory and the people, so you should not denounce them like that.”
“Of course, I also know that they made a noble choice once. But it is not a matter to choose so simply. Most of them are lunatics who have caused criminal records of violence and injury.”
Unlike Bolpar who was quite excited, I spoke with a calm voice.
“It is true that they are lunatics. But at the sa ti, they are warriors who slaughtered ten thousand monsters with only one thousand n. If we excise their madness and forge their valor, where else could we find a sword as sharp as them?”
“Isn't the reason we isolated them for a hundred years because there is no way to excise that madness? Even the ti of a hundred years could not calm the madness they harbored.”
Among the various effects of the reagent administered by the Haken Knight Order, extrely suppressing aging was also included.
To the people inside the fortress, 10 years of ti for people outside the fortress was rely 1 year of ti.
Thanks to that, the Haken Knight Order survived tenaciously even after over a hundred years and was guarding the fortress.
“By what ans are you saying you will excise that madness, Young Master?”
“I have my own thoughts.”
“Could you tell what that thought is?”
“I apologize. It seems it is not the ti to tell you yet. When everything becos certain, I will tell you then.”
“……Young Master, I decided to et the Family Head a little later. At that seat, I intended to convey the story I shared with you today to the Family Head and receive a definite answer. But if you co out like this, Young Master…….”
Listening to my calm yet most firm answer, Bolpar ended up letting out a sigh without realizing it.
“What should I tell the Family Head?”
“You just have to convey the words I told you exactly as they are.”
“Look here, Young Master.”
“Hearing the Tower Master’s words, I am also becoming very curious.”
I buried my body in the chair with one eye closed. And spoke in a low voice.
“Just how far my father will trust my will.”
***
“As everyone heard, Hein requested to take charge of Haken Fortress. Everyone must know well that the position of Commander of the Haken Knight Order has been vacant for quite a long ti.”
“…….”
“What are your thoughts, Lords?”
For Redin to dare emphasize that Haken’s Commander position had been vacant for a long ti while revealing my proposal, it was a very blatant remark.
“…….”
The figures of the Vispon side, who were troubled to answer carelessly at the unexpected developnt of the situation, could not answer rashly.
Just then.
“What opinion could we possibly have? We are only admiring this Young Master’s decisive decision to dare walk a difficult path.”
Lexton answered Redin’s question.
“Sir Lexton, didn't you say a mont ago that there was a need to reconsider Hein’s proposal?”
“I am apologetic, Family Head, but the foolish could not fathom this Young Master’s great will and ended up speaking rash words. I only ask that the Family Head please fathom the Young Master’s broad will.”
‘Stupid guy. Eventually, you cannot suppress your foolish vigor and are walking into your grave on your own feet.’
Of course, Lexton’s inner thoughts were not the sa as his words.
There was only one reason Lexton did not oppose my proposal. Because he was certain of my failure.
‘I do not know what you thought you said you would take charge of Haken, but you will co to regret it.’
Lexton was certain that I would eventually be unable to handle Haken and return to the main house as if running away, or end up stuck in the frontier while being held back by them.
“Family Head, we also do not doubt this Young Master’s capability. However, since this seems to be a sowhat hasty decision, we request ti for reconsideration.”
Rather, only the figures of the Family Head’s side who did not know the inside story requested reconsideration.
However, despite the requests of the Family Head’s side figures, my thought seed unchanged.
“Hein Reichart, I will ask for the last ti. Is it a decision made after thinking carefully?”
“Of course. Family Head.”
“……Good. Then from this mont, I shall appoint Hein Reichart to the Haken Knight Order which is currently vacant.”
Eventually, my going to Haken was confird at this seat.
“This is really…… how things are turning out.”
“I agree. I am utterly dumbfounded…….”
After the eting ended, people left the eting Hall harboring questions in their hearts respectively.
***
“Hein, may I trust you?”
The two people left in the eting Hall after everyone had left, Redin and I stood facing each other.
“Of course. Father. I will do my best so that I do not disappoint Father’s expectations.”
Long words were not needed between the two people.
I had no more words after the answer, and Redin looked at and spoke in a low voice.
“Understood. Go well.”
***
“You said the Second Young Master ca to take charge of Haken?”
“That is correct. Sister.”
That night, Lexton, who finished the eting, visited Rishu and reported the progress of today.
“Already the Second Young Master’s behavior was making your mood uncomfortable these days, Sister, so isn't it truly a fortunate thing that he says he will walk toward a deadly place on his own?”
Perhaps worried that Rishu might reprimand him for giving up the Trade Rights, Lexton dared to emphasize that I headed toward a ‘deadly place.’
“During the past hundred years, extrely seasoned knights headed there countless tis saying they would try to lead Haken, but not only did they all fail, but they also suffered fatal damage to their reputation. Even if it is this Young Master, there will be no other way, so it seems you may also let go of so worry, Sister.”
“…….”
“And since we obtained the Family Head’s approval regarding the Grand Young Master succeeding Harm, if possible, the Grand Young Master’s return…….”
“Understood.”
“……Sister?”
“I said I understood, so you may leave now.”
“I understand. Then please rest comfortably.”
Lexton, who confird from Rishu’s tone that her mood was not comfortable, withdrew from her room quietly.
‘Hein…… volunteered to take charge of Haken?’
Left alone, she chewed over Lexton’s report once again.
The loss of Trade Rights and my going to Haken, if comparing the two, naturally the loss of Trade Rights was a bigger damage. However…….
‘I am anxious…… sohow the feeling is not good.’
For so reason, Rishu’s intuition was sending a much clearer warning regarding my going to Haken.
‘A gathering place for madn. Wolves are busy biting and tearing without even recognizing their owner.’
Rishu tried to suppress her anxiety by ruminating on the information about Haken known to the public.
Right, clearly, if thinking only rationally, my going to Haken should be a happy thing, not sothing to be anxious about.
‘If Hein succeeds in leading them?’
Rishu bit her lip without realizing it.
If I break through the Wolf's Den filled with crazy wolves and co out, then I would no longer be a puppy.
“Mmm…….”
Suddenly feeling a headache, Rishu wrapped her hands around her fine forehead.
The image of becoming a lion leading a pack of wolves and letting out a roar did not leave her head at all.
***
“Hiyah!”
“Neigh!”
Two days later, the gate of the Inner Castle was full of busy noise created by those leaving for the road.
One carriage and three or four horses.
It was an appearance too simple for a legitimate son of the family leaving for a long journey, but still, the vitality created only by those setting out on the road was not lacking at all.
“You there, check sufficiently that the amount of hay for the horses to eat is sufficient. And since the Anon Canyon area is a place where it rains often, you will have to load the luggage paying special care so that the hay does not get wet.”
The person leading this vitality was a young knight with sharp eyes.
‘Ismael,’ who worked as a Centurion of the Fortress Guard Unit until not long ago and was selected by to leave for Haken, was busy preparing to leave for a long journey escorting his liege.
“I am a little late.”
Behind Ismael's back, I, the leader who would lead this journey, revealed my appearance.
“Fortress, I apologize. Ismael Belianov of Haken greets the Commander.”
“Seeing this, it seems there has been much progress during that ti. I congratulate you.”
Ismael’s stage when I t him again seed to have passed the early 4th Star and reached the late stage before long.
Considering that the ti given to Ismael from the first eting with until the decision to go to Haken was rely 3 months, it was a developnt speed worthy of being called surprising.
“Looking at the speed of developnt, it seems you took and ate the items I sent during that ti well without missing any. The friend who made them will also be happy.”
“It is thanks to you paying attention, Young Master. I also convey my gratitude to the benefactor who made the Elixirs.”
In this surprising developnt of Ismael, the special Mana Stimulant made by Gabriel contributed significantly.
Unlike knights of noble origin who lived attached to Enhancers and stimulants that improved the accumulation speed of Aura, Ismael, who was of commoner origin, had lived a life unrelated to Elixirs until now.
However, thanks to sending many good dicines of this and that recently, Ismael’s developnt could truly grow wings.
“Since you will et him in person sooner or later, if you want to give a greeting of gratitude, you can do it then. Ismael, is the preparation all finished?”
“All preparations to depart are finished, so if you just give the order, we can depart anyti. Commander.”
Seeing Ismael’s strict appearance as always, the event of eting him imdiately after the eting ended two days ago ca to mind.
“Are you prepared to follow ?”
I demanded Ismael follow without telling him the destination or the itinerary.
“Of course. Young Master.”
But that much was enough for Ismael.
In fact, he had always been ready since that day he t three months ago.
From that ti, Ismael was appointed as the Vice-Commander who would assist the Commander of Haken at close range.
“Then, shall we slowly depart?”
After mounting the horse, I looked around briefly and shouted.
“Everyone is ready, right?”
“Of course. Commander!”
“We can depart anyti, Young Master.”
“Neiiigh!”
At my shout, the answers of Ismael and the knights accompanying burst out.
A short while later, I tightened the reins of the horse and shouted.
“We depart. We will go to the land of wolves!”
User Comments
0 comments from readers