Chapter 113: Listen to , Don't Rush
The Knights trembled as they escorted Viktor and Kavra back to the Delin Family's Territory.
The endless stretch of ice and snow along the way finally gave way to the enormous iron fortress looming before them.
Its impenetrable defenses were enough to drive any enemy who attempted to breach it to despair.
Inside the city, newly recruited Knights could be seen everywhere, enduring all manner of grueling training.
This was the Delin Family's Territory—the Empire's largest front line along its northern frontier.
Though the Empire's interior remained peaceful, there were no small number of lurking crises beyond its borders.
To the south, a permanent Magical Creature Rift had taken root; to the north, a tribe of Savage Beasts possessed of extraordinary power continued their raids; and to the west lay the Kant Kingdom.
However, due to Auréliane's existence, the Empire and the Kingdom maintained a relationship in which neither encroached upon the other, existing in relative peace.
Of course, each region had its own corresponding family standing guard.
The northern front line was garrisoned by the Delin Family.
This was Count Angus's domain.
Within this enormous fortress, it was celebrated as a land that produced Knights in abundance.
The Delin Family was thus imnsely powerful, and their standing within the Empire was reflected in this very place.
The iron beast's great jaws slowly parted, and before the enormous fortress, the 2 figures appeared as nothing more than a pair of black insects.
They rode on horseback, slowly passing through a long, dark passage.
Only after fully entering the interior of the fortress did Kavra turn and wave a hand toward the Knights who had escorted them.
"You may leave."
Upon receiving the order, the Knights scattered like subjects pardoned by an emperor, fleeing with palpable relief, not wishing to remain in Viktor's vicinity for even a second longer.
The lead Knight watched his subordinates disperse in an instant, montarily stunned. He looked at Kavra and hastily added:
"Th—then... Miss Kavra, I—I'll go notify the Master!"
With that, he fell in right behind those who had already bolted ahead, vanishing from sight entirely.
Once everyone had gone, Kavra looked at her still-cold-faced brother-in-law with a smile dancing in her eyes and teased:
"What's wrong—did you think my father was going to swap your fiancée from Gwen to ? Are you upset?"
Upset? That wasn't quite the emotion.
On the train, Viktor had rely felt sowhat frustrated.
He had clearly been trying to handle everything already.
All it would have taken was a little more ti, and he could have helped Gwen shed that future persona of absolute justice.
A little more ti, and he could have put his mind at ease—could have stopped fearing the day that Justice Valkyrie would erge, and claid the power of that deity for himself.
Perhaps it was because, in the future, Viktor would die at the tip of Gwen's lance.
Viktor had been maintaining close contact with Gwen all along, quietly and steadily reshaping the dynamic between them.
Yet a single sentence from Kavra had thrown Viktor's plans into complete disarray.
If Viktor and Gwen dissolved the Engagent, he would lose any legitimate reason to keep watch over her.
He wouldn't know when Gwen would grow stronger, or when she would beco that utterly cold-blooded avatar of absolute justice.
Whatever the case, this engagent had to be preserved.
"Didn't expect it—you're actually quite devoted, aren't you."
"Ahh, your big sister here wasn't chosen. I'm so heartbroken."
Viktor cast a cool sidelong glance at her, his voice carrying a note of indifference.
"You weren't like this on the train."
He had struck a deal with Kavra.
Whatever Angus intended to do, Kavra would do her best to keep Gwen's engagent intact.
Though Kavra was only guessing.
Demon Hunting was rely her side occupation. As a politician, Kavra needed only to turn things over in her mind to get a rough sense of what her father was thinking.
Viktor's current standing was not worth pairing him with a daughter the family had cast aside.
That's right—cast aside.
Kavra knew perfectly well that the family had never really regarded Gwen as anything significant.
From childhood, Gwen had only ever received the basic training of an ordinary Knight. Everything she had beco was built entirely through her own effort and talent.
Even after Gwen beca the Grand Knight Commander of the Royal Knight Company, even with the Emperor himself showing her favor—
She had never been granted access to the family's inner circles of power. She would always remain the family's discarded piece.
Besides, the engagent was still in place. In her father's eyes, Viktor and Gwen shared no real feelings for each other.
So even if the Engagent were reassigned, it wouldn't matter.
As long as it secured a deeper tie between the Delin Family and the Clavena Family.
And who would be the new sacrifice?
Unless Angus had lost his mind and wanted to send his most prized heir to duel swords with Viktor.
Which ant there was only one candidate.
Kavra Delin.
Even so, the mont she let herself relax, she still couldn't rein in that mouth of hers. She smirked and teased Viktor again:
"Hmm? Do you like Gwen more, or do you like —your big sister—more?"
"After all, I'm getting on in years. Even if I wanted to get married, there's nobody who'd want ."
Kavra asked with a grin:
"Why not just marry while you're at it."
Viktor lowered his eyes and swept a cool, uninhibited gaze over her figure.
Then—
"Heh."
A single, flat sound—yet it seed to carry boundless mockery within it.
Viktor rode on ahead without a word, paying no mind to the Kavra left standing behind him.
Kavra wore a thoroughly baffled expression, but for no discernible reason, a surge of irritation welled up inside her.
"What did he an by that?"
She couldn't make heads or tails of it, so she simply stopped trying to think about it and hurried to catch up.
At the Delin Manor, a massive black-timber residence rose before them.
A Family Knight gave a slow bow toward Kavra, then gently pushed open the great black-timber doors and gestured for the two of them to enter.
The family had already been inford through the escorting Knights that Kavra would be returning alongside Viktor.
Stepping inside, Viktor took in the interior.
The enormous residence was furnished throughout with pieces crafted from fine black walnut wood. The pervasive dark tones gave off a striking blend of rugged simplicity and understated refinent.
Several enormous animal hides were nailed to the timber walls, and a warm fire crackled and popped in the hearth.
Plain as it was, there was sothing genuinely warm about it.
The Delin Family was tasked with raising Knights for the Empire at all tis, making the family's expenses enormous.
Angus had not wasted a single coin on interior decor—yet everything was exactly as it needed to be.
Before long, a white-haired Steward appeared before the 2 of them.
"Mr. Viktor, please wait a mont."
"The Master will return shortly."
He turned to Kavra and said calmly:
"Young Mistress."
"The Master says there are certain matters he wishes to discuss with Mr. Viktor in person."
Her father was deliberately keeping her out of this conversation.
Kavra clearly sensed the signal.
But why?
If her father intended to replace the fiancée with her, she ought to be present for that discussion.
Had she guessed wrong?
Kavra glanced at Viktor with a trace of concern, only to see him give a slight nod and follow the Maidservant, stepping forward ahead of her toward the eting Room.
Kavra had just opened her mouth to say sothing when the Steward continued:
"Young Mistress, perhaps you should go see your younger brother."
"Young Master Jaxiu has been looking forward to your return very much, and he has been missing Miss Gwen—his little sister."
Her father was displeased that Gwen hadn't co back.
So he was using her brother as a pretext to question her, while simultaneously keeping her out of this matter entirely.
Hah. A flawless maneuver.
Kavra watched Viktor's figure, following the Maidservant, until it disappeared completely from view. Then she gave a quiet nod.
"Lead the way."
"Let see what progress Jaxiu has made these past few years."
The Steward bowed respectfully and gave Kavra another slow bow.
"Of course."
***
Led by the Maidservant, Viktor was brought to a hall that was sowhat more ornate by comparison.
The touch of the sofa beneath him was enough to put Viktor at considerable ease, and the black walnut table before him carried a natural, earthy scent.
A Maidservant set tea quietly in front of Viktor and withdrew.
Just as the Steward had said, the Master would return shortly.
The great doors were slowly pushed open, and a man of imposing middle age walked in.
He wore a plain white cloth undershirt, marked with what appeared to be faint traces of sweat—evidently he had only just removed his armor.
Angus's build was not particularly muscular, but his silver hair was disheveled, roughened no doubt by years of constant training. His face, likewise, bore a scattering of white stubble that hadn't been fully shaved clean.
Yet Viktor knew—this man and his deceased father were of the sa generation.
So he rose first.
"Uncle Angus."
Whatever ca next, basic courtesy was not sothing to be dispensed with.
"It seems that the years since we last t have not caused you to lose your proper manners, my nephew."
Angus's expression gave little away. He simply looked at Viktor with calm steadiness and settled into the leather chair.
Viktor sat back down as well, his eyes carrying no particular fluctuation.
At last, Angus was the first to speak.
"I'm very curious about how the son my late brother left behind ca to be this exceptional."
"So exceptional that my daughter is no longer worthy of him. So exceptional that my own family doesn't know how to approach him."
Viktor simply listened in silence, offering no unnecessary response—only the courtesy of an attentive listener.
Finally, Angus stirred again.
He tucked both hands into his sleeves—years of harsh northern winters had apparently made this a habit.
Then he stood and began to pace slowly about the room.
"I imagine you're quite intelligent, Viktor."
"Perhaps the mont that letter arrived at your ho, you already knew why I'd invited you here."
Viktor's gaze never left him, maintaining an expression of composed silence throughout.
"But then..."
He stopped where he stood, eyes fixed directly on Viktor.
"There is one thing that has puzzled most—sothing I cannot reason my way to an answer on."
"If this matter goes unanswered, I will never be able to entrust Gwen to you in good conscience."
"So I need you to tell ..."
Shing!
Before the words were even finished—a flash of icy light erupted in an instant, tearing the surrounding air into a perfect vacuum on either side with a speed that left no room for reaction.
Clang!
A Round Shield materialized from nowhere. Viktor tilted his head slightly, his left arm holding the Round Shield up to effortlessly block that razor-sharp blade.
In the span of a dazed mont, a Health Bar and a Level appeared before Viktor's eyes.
Lv45
Angus's expression shifted to one that said exactly as I expected, and his voice carried a trace of cold edge.
"Who exactly are you?"
The Crow let out a hoarse, sharp cry. Within Viktor's eyes, a slow tide of Azure-Blue began to stir.
"Easy."
A faint smile played at Viktor's lips—radiating confidence, unhurried and unruffled.
"Very soon, the one getting hit."
"Will be you."
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