Chapter 114
“ARARARARA!”
The ones who appeared with a loud battle cry were none other than the Bird tribe warriors.
The Bird tribe warriors with their sturdy beaks, massive builds, and adorned with colorful feathers and ornaments came riding on horses.
WHOOSH!
The Bird tribe warriors threw their hand axes.
CRACK!
The axes thrown with great force split the skulls of the horses the knights were riding.
“Oh no!”
Knowing they were Draker’s knights, they strategically aimed for the horses, thinking they would be able to deflect the axes.
Simultaneously, the Bird tribe warriors in the back used throwing devices to launch magic bombs from afar.
WHOOSH!
The magic bombs landed precisely, combining the Bird tribe’s unique eye strength and delicate throwing technique.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The Red Lion knights, true to being Draker’s knights, quickly evaded and escaped the magic explosion range.
The appearing Bird tribe warriors, seemingly experienced in dealing with knights, threw weapons from afar without getting too close.
Among the Bird tribe warriors, those with larger builds and black feathers stepped forward.
WHOOSH!
They swung their iron clubs, the traditional weapons of the Bird tribe, while letting out war cries.
“KIYOOOOO!”
“KIYOOOOO!”
“ARARARARA!”
The knights hesitated and stepped back at the war cries echoing throughout the wasteland.
They were warriors from the Black Wing tribe, famous for being fierce and strong even among the Bird tribe.
Each warrior of the Black Wing tribe was as strong as the knights who used aura.
With the sudden appearance of the Bird tribe unit, the Red Lion Knights took their eyes off Zeke and became wary of them.
William, assessing the situation, shouted toward the Bird tribe warrior at the front.
“We are Draker’s knights! We’re on a mission, so withdraw immediately.”
Then, among the Black Wing tribe warriors, one with a relatively small build stepped forward.
Though small in build, their sharp gaze and aura were extraordinary.
They spoke in fluent common continental language.
“You have invaded our territory and destroyed the temple where our ancestors’ spirits dwell.”
It seemed the Bird tribe warriors had also come out to assess the situation after seeing the ruins collapse.
William spoke to the Bird tribe warrior.
“That has nothing to do with us.”
“Nothing to do with you, you say?.”
They stepped forward once more and said.
“Humans greedily crave the mysteries of our race. Eventually, that greed will eat away at humans and destroy your own race.”
Abel, who had been watching this, said.
“Bird tribe, if you continue to interfere with our mission, we will consider you enemies of Draker.”
At Abel’s words, the Red Lion knights who had been standing back drew their weapons.
However, being significantly outnumbered by the Bird tribe warriors, there was palpable tension in the air.
The Bird tribe warrior then nodded to the other warriors behind them.
The warriors lifted their clothes.
Under the Bird tribe warriors’ clothes were massive amounts of magic bombs.
Just one explosion would be enough to blow up the entire area.
Seeing this, Abel frowned.
It was common for Bird tribe warriors to charge in with magic bombs, willing to sacrifice even their lives.
The Red Lion knights’ morale weakened at such determination from the Bird tribe.
William approached Abel and whispered quietly.
“Abel, we don’t need to clash with the Bird tribe here. It’s a waste of power.”
With the collapse of the Bird tribe ruins, the excavated temple and experiment results were all gone.
There was no need to waste valuable knights here unnecessarily.
Understanding William’s words, Abel spoke to the Bird tribe warrior.
“Fine. We apologize for entering your territory. We don’t wish to stay here long either. However, that outlaw killed our knights. Once we capture him, we’ll leave immediately.”
Zeke was looking for an escape route while watching the standoff between Abel and the Bird tribe.
‘The Bird tribe.’
Something crossed Zeke’s mind then.
‘Black Wing tribe… and the charisma to unite warriors from other tribes.’
He remembered a famous Bird tribe warrior from his previous life.
The leader of the Beast-kin Revolutionary Army who rose up for the freedom of oppressed beast-kin in the Central Continent.
The one who led the Western Revolutionary Army at the time was a Bird tribe warrior with black feathers.
‘The name was Song of the Crouching Flame, wasn’t it.’
The warriors led by Song of the Crouching Flame, the revolutionary army leader, would certainly be formidable.
At that moment.
Morgan’s Hersion that had collapsed began to disassemble.
‘This is my chance.’
Zeke pulled the chain to lift up the fallen Morgan and quickly grabbed his throat.
Then he shouted in common language mixed with a northern accent.
“Draker bastards! If you keep following me, this one dies!”
Morgan, bound by the soul binding technique, was helplessly captured and could only pant without resistance.
Abel was already irritated with the Bird tribe threatening them with bombs, and now having the corps commander Morgan taken hostage made his anger surge.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
The ground began to shake around Abel.
His eyes had already turned red with rage.
William, watching Abel from the side, wore an anxious expression.
“A-Abel. C-calm down.”
If Abel were to lose control here and Morgan died, all their carefully built connections with the Empire could be severed.
Zeke carefully observed Abel’s unexpected reaction.
‘What is this? Abel’s power?’
A different kind of energy from aura could be felt from Abel.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
At William’s words, Abel barely managed to maintain his reason through patience.
Soon the ground’s shaking stopped.
‘Now!’
In that moment, Zeke threw Morgan, whose throat he was holding, toward the Bird tribe.
“Song of the Crouching Flame! That one is an Imperial garrison corps commander! Deal with him as you see fit!”
As Morgan fell toward the Bird tribe warriors, Song of the Crouching Flame was startled but gestured to the other warriors.
The Bird tribe warriors rushed to capture Morgan.
Taking advantage of that moment, Zeke began running in the opposite direction.
Seeing Zeke flee, Abel shouted at the knights.
“Damn it! Catch him!”
Abel couldn’t leave his position as he needed to get Morgan back from the Bird tribe’s hands.
Now that the enraged Bird tribe knew Morgan’s identity as the garrison corps commander, they might flay him alive.
Zeke ran through the wasteland with the will of speed.
A few Red Lion knights followed close behind.
‘Perfect.’
He immediately turned around and randomly threw chains at the Red Lion knights.
“KUK!”
A knight bound by chains fell straight from his horse.
Zeke jumped into the air and mounted the horse the knight had dropped.
Then he drew his sword and cut down the other knights.
“ARGH!”
Using a healing buff on the horse, Zeke outran the Red Lion knights and dashed toward the border region.
* * *
“Master!”
Liam and Felix greeted Zeke as he returned to the border region headquarters after barely shaking off his pursuers.
Zeke showed clear signs of exhaustion.
Liam asked with a worried expression.
“My lord, are you alright?”
“…Can’t say I’m fine. Liam, bring me some tea.”
Liam quickly brewed tea and served it to Zeke.
Zeke had spent days going back and forth through the wasteland erasing his traces to shake off the pursuers and knight Killers.
His body relaxed as he drank the warm tea. Only then did he feel like he had completely finished his mission.
At that moment, Felix approached Zeke.
“Master, where have you been these past few days? The princess was looking for you for quite a while.”
“The princess? What for?”
“Well, what was it. They say the Imperial garrison forces are withdrawing.”
“Oh?”
It seemed Song of the Crouching Flame had successfully negotiated with the Imperial forces using Morgan as a hostage, just as Zeke had planned.
From the Empire’s perspective, there was no reason to target an ineffective Bird-tribe ghetto when the ruins had already collapsed.
Zeke nodded.
“That’s good.”
Just then, Princess Melissa entered the room, having heard the news.
“Sir Zeke!”
She ran and embraced him.
Seeing Princess Melissa like this, Felix and Liam exchanged glances before leaving the room.
Princess Melissa, realizing her actions, jumped back from Zeke in surprise.
“I-I’m sorry. I was just so worried that something might have happened to you…”
“It’s fine. More importantly, I heard the Imperial garrison forces are withdrawing.”
Melissa quickly changed her expression and reported the situation.
“Yes. For some reason, Corps Commander Morgan suddenly ordered a withdrawal. I don’t think it was because of our confrontation. There seems to be something else.”
Zeke didn’t bring up the ruins story to Melissa.
Although they were currently allies, there was no obligation to share all information.
‘I should keep the information about experiments creating monsters using beast blood to myself for now.’
Then Melissa said to Zeke.
“Ah, Sir Zeke. There’s one more piece of good news.”
“What news would that be?”
“The supply of medicine for the Hong hwa disease has become stable. Thanks to that, the speed at which the disease is spreading in the border region has significantly decreased.”
It seemed the Hong hwa disease experiments had also ended when the laboratory collapsed.
‘Though it could be continuing somewhere else.’
Without mentioning such circumstances, Zeke smiled at Melissa.
“That’s great. The Hong hwa disease in the border region might be eradicated soon.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Sir Zeke. On behalf of Allensia, I truly thank you.”
Zeke bowed his head in response to Melissa’s gratitude.
Then he slowly stood up.
“Then I shall rest a bit and take my leave.”
Melissa was flustered by Zeke’s sudden words.
“L-leave? Where to?”
Zeke tilted his head and said.
“I need to return to Atlas. Shouldn’t you return to Allensia as well, Princess? You must be busy.”
Melissa, having developed deep feelings for Zeke who had willingly come all this way and their previous conversations, had assumed he would accompany her to Allensia.
She had been excited about the thought of showing Zeke famous places in Allensia and having pleasant discussions about future business together.
Melissa, now twenty-nine, had been so consumed by work that she’d never properly dated and didn’t know how to express her feelings.
Zeke, too, lived thinking romance was a luxury, going beyond mere indifference to such emotions.
Since the border issues were resolved, he saw no reason to stay in Allensia longer and simply stated he would return.
Melissa pondered how to make him stay, reluctant to let him leave.
Just then, someone entered the room.
“M-Master.”
It was Felix, looking embarrassed as if he had ruined the atmosphere.
Zeke addressed him with an indifferent expression.
“What is it, Felix?”
“I-I’m really sorry for interrupting. But there’s an urgent message…”
“Skip the unnecessary words and state your business.”
“Well, there’s a summons from the Four Seasons Castle to enter the city.”
“From the Four Seasons Castle? For what?”
“There’s an official knighting ceremony soon, and your attendance is mandatory.”
Draker knights undergo a probationary period of training for several years after receiving their knighthood.
After enduring the probation and qualifying for full membership, they participate in an official induction ceremony and get to choose which knight order to join.
The official knighting ceremony, crucial for becoming a true Draker knight, was among the most important events of Draker.
Zeke turned to Melissa and said.
“No time to spare. I must leave immediately. Until next time, Princess.”
Princess Melissa forced a smile and bid Zeke farewell.
“I-I see. But next time, I’d love to show you Allensia together.”
“Looking forward to it, Princess.”
Melissa’s face brightened despite Zeke’s formal response.
Zeke left the border region headquarters for Atlas as swiftly as he had arrived with Felix and Liam.
* * *
Days later, at Autumnfel in the Four Seasons Castle where Draker’s official knighting ceremony was held, the family head, elders, guardian knights, and all Draker knights gathered.
The massive Autumnfel hall was filled with Draker knights.
However, something seemed off about the knights’ expressions.
Arthur Draker, the family head, broke the long silence and asked Zeke.
“I’ll ask again. Zeke Draker, which knight order do you choose?”
Zeke replied in a clear voice.
“My answer remains unchanged. I choose none.”
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