‘Dignity.’
Janie never claimed herself as a noble, nor did she reveal herself through her attire, yet Kassel saw her as one. Just her posture radiated nobility. Kassel had neither seen a knight nor lived amongst them. Without an opportunity to learn from observing them, it was impossible for him to behave like a knight.
Kassel lacked the knight’s dignity.
‘Now that my lie has been caught, am I going to die?’
Kassel looked back to when Falcon had started speaking. He had needlessly started talking about Janie’s husband and the history of the Excelon Empire. Falcon wanted to say something, and he was trying to see if Kassel could catch on.
‘If he wanted to kill me, he wouldn’t have told such stories.’
Meorix. King of Camort. Captain of the Royal Knights. Banditry for the country. The main issue of this conversation was not Kassel’s life but his identity. Why was Falcon so curious about his identity? Why did he easily believe and guide him to the village when he said he was a guest from Aranthia? Why did he specifically mention the King of Camort?
The answer wasn’t hard to find if we assumed that Falcon was genuinely worried about the country. And it was also clear why he brought Kassel in and tried to reveal his identity by talking about the past.
Falcon sincerely hoped that Kassel was a guest who could help the country. Fortunately, Kassel was someone who had experienced battle once and had sincerely wished for such wars to cease. There was no need for him to lie.
“You’ve been treating me like a captain all along, so I plan to continue acting as Captain Wolf, and I don’t feel particularly guilty about it, Falcon.”
Kassel spoke not in a strong, arrogant voice, but in his original one. Putting on airs in front of Falcon would have been counterproductive.
“I’m not sure what you want yet, but may I ask why you’re still keeping me alive?”
“You didn’t try to run from the village.”
“I have to escape with my sword, if I were to escape.”
“And you didn’t lay a hand on Janie.”
“Heavens, are you saying you used Meorix’s wife as bait?”
“There were three of the best rangers surrounding that house.”
‘If I had tried to escape from the village earlier, I would have been caught by those three right away.’
Kassel said, feeling relieved,
“I don’t feel too bad now. So, what will you do with me?”
“Do you plan not to make excuses?”
“I have nothing to prove myself with except that sword. No matter what you say, I need to take that sword and join my friends to go to Normant.”
“What will you do once you get there?”
“That’s a secret.”
“Are you trying to make me suspicious?”
“We had already been ambushed by assassins before we arrived at the Village of Defectors, and thanks to that, I lost my comrades in the ensuing chaos and found this sword. Until we uncover the reason for the assassins’ attack, I intend to keep everything a secret.”
“You encountered assassins?”
Falcon furrowed his brows. Kassel nodded.
Falcon asked again.
“Where did you plan to regroup with your companions?”
“Koholrun. I intended to follow immediately, but the carriage timings did not align.”
Kassel hoped that Falcon’s reaction to this much information would mirror his hopeful expectations.
A heart worried for the kingdom. Upon hearing that a guest from Aranthia was attacked by assassins, there would be no room to question the identity or doubt the guest.
More than anything, Kassel was currently spouting information that only the real White Wolves would know.
“Why would assassins attack the Wolf Knights?”
Falcon questioned.
Kassel sighed inwardly in relief. Then, he added with gravity.
“Not why, but how. How did they find out that we came to Camort in the utmost secrecy and attack?”
“Someone who is reluctant about a meeting between His Majesty the King and the ambassador of Aranthia must have bribed them.”
Falcon stroked his chin and handed the sword back to Kassel.
“It’s a complex issue, it might need a good night’s sleep and some thought. Feel free to rest or enjoy the village.”
“You would let a mysterious foreigner with a sword roam freely in the village?”
Kassel questioned.
“Why? Are you planning to sneakily ambush my men, hang children upside down after killing them, rape women, and then set the village on fire?”
“There’s no way I would do that!”
“If that’s the case, then it’s settled. If you have no more business with me, I wouldn’t mind you leaving the village. I’d appreciate it if you could keep the village secrets.”
Falcon stood up from his seat and laid down on the bed, unconcerned that Kassel still held the sword.
Either Falcon had truly discerned that Kassel couldn’t use the sword, or he had complete trust in Kassel. Seeing him snoring almost as soon as he lay down suggested that he might just be exhausted. Or perhaps his three men were still secretly keeping watch.
Kassel quietly stood from his seat, opened the door without making a sound. Outside, Janie was waiting.
“Do you want to explore the village?”
Kassel responded.
“Sounds good.”
Janie enthusiastically explained the various aspects of the village. Before Falcon had established a formidable army, he used to plunder from the travelers. However, later, she explained, he began to steal supplies from the two counts. She described how these were utilized and the way trade was conducted with other villages in a manner easy for Kassel to understand. She also shared about the village’s defensive forces — how the training was conducted and what kind of battles took place in emergencies. But Kassel responded dryly.
“You’re not listening to my stories.”
Janie complained a bit sullenly. It was a cute sight, uncharacteristic for her age.
“I apologize. I was thinking about your husband.”
“Did Falcon speak about Meorix?”
“Yes.”
“That man!”
Janie was instantly angered.
“I asked him to tell me. It’s not Falcon’s fault. But how did he…?”
“Did he tell you that he’s dead?”
“He isn’t?”
Janie sighed deeply and briskly walked ahead. Kassel figured she was mad and was about to apologize when Janie opened her mouth first.
“Two years ago, before this village was founded, we lived in another one. At that time, it was so dreadful that we could rightfully be called a bandit’s den, which led to us being discovered quickly. The Rose Knights, led by Count Enoa, stormed in. We weren’t ready to face a formal army back then. Meorix made everyone retreat and fought them alone. And he died.”
Janie tried her best to speak in a detached tone.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“He was always like that.”
Janie said, shaking her hands in the air as if her husband was standing there.
“Always! He was always neglecting himself, always worrying about others, always forgetting that I was there. He died well. Now, I don’t have to wait in suspense for someone who may or may not come back.”
Kassel only followed her silently.
Janie also kept her mouth shut, trying to calm her stirred-up emotions.
“Were you…”
“Enough with that story!”
“…familiar with him since his days as a knight in Camort?”
Kassel didn’t stop talking.
She responded with a slight annoyance.
“We were childhood friends. We got married when I was fifteen, and Meorix was eighteen. Right after the marriage, he plunged into the battlefield.”
“A married man, with a wife at home, was reckless enough to fight against the entire Excelon Knights.”
“Isn’t that pathetic?”
“I’m envious.”
Kassel received Janie’s blank stare and laughed bitterly.
“Why?”
“Meorix fought to protect you.”
“No, he fought for the king!”
“It seems Falcon didn’t tell you that, did he?”
“Falcon never mentioned Meorix in front of me… probably because I showed no interest.”
Kassel said with a faint smile.
“I’ve never staked my life to protect someone. I’ve never experienced such an intense love…”
The stories of the great knights weren’t confined to renowned battlefields. Kassel found himself picturing the moment when Meorix single-handedly faced the entire Excelon Knights. How had Meorix felt then? Did he think he would become famous if he died right then? Or did he hope that Falcon would consider him an extraordinary person? No, perhaps his only concern was his wife, who he would leave behind after his death.
And what about Falcon? Surely he wouldn’t have felt relief after surviving by abandoning Meorix, who had offered to sacrifice himself in Falcon’s stead.
Tears welled up. Kassel tried to look away, but he was quickly caught by Janie.
“You’re a truly honest person.”
Kassel rarely blushed out of embarrassment, but he was now inexplicably heating up.
“I’m not sure where my story struck an emotional chord with you. But seeing you cry makes me want to cry too, so please stop crying.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. Come with me. At this time, the village storyteller would be entertaining everyone.”
There were many children and apron-clad women sitting under a large tree in the village center. A few elderly people were seated as well, and in the middle of them all, a bearded man was gesturing wildly as he told his story.
“We have a lot of leisure time in this village. So, at this hour, someone would usually come out and tell stories. Among them, that man tells the most entertaining stories, so everyone likes him. He says he’s forgotten his real name, so we just call him ‘Dunky’.”
“That’s an interesting name.”
“His stories are even more interesting. Just listen.”
Dunky was an old man with one missing leg. He was vigorously regaling the wide-eyed children in front of him with exaggerated tales of his own experiences. His storytelling skills were extraordinary, and even Kassel, who had been distracted by other worries, soon found himself engrossed.
It was an adventure story about a dragon from the ‘Sky Mountains’ who descended to the ground and accidentally became a king. Kassel had already heard it as a folk tale from his father. But Dunky skillfully altered the story, making himself seem like the magician who confronted the dragon.
According to Dunky, he had used his eloquence to convince the rampaging dragon, and then sent it back to the Sky Mountains. It was only after Dunky, the humble hero who had driven off a creature as powerful as a god, concluded his story that Kassel realized how lost he had become in the narrative.
“We have a new face among us today. Even Falcon has been charmed by this person. Let’s hear their story.”
Old Dunky pointed to Kassel. Everyone applauded, and the children cheered.
“Everyone is excited because they’ve heard that you’re a knight from Aranthia. Even if you have nothing to share, an introduction will still get everyone excited.”
Janie reassuringly guided Kassel to the center of the circular gathering. It was not easy to withstand the clear, sparkling eyes of the children. So far, all the lies he had told were unavoidable means to survive, but here, telling a lie felt sinful.
Seeing his speechless state, Janie gave a slight wave of her hand. Kassel smiled awkwardly and began to speak.
“I’m not much of a talker, so standing here is hard for me. As you may know, I am a knight from Aranthia.”
There were soft chuckles from the crowd.
“My tale is rather mundane, so I’ll share an old story instead. Since the Sky Mountain range was mentioned, I will also tell a story about it.”
The children looked at Dunky with wide eyes and exclaimed in wonder. The old storyteller looked slightly perplexed, but Kassel spread his hands out to him with a smile. He had no intention of dethroning the children’s hero.
The Sky Mountain range has been there since the world was born. It’s said to be home to mythical beings unknown to humans. No one has ventured to the southern land beyond the mountain range, making it an eternal source of inspiration for poets. There were rumors of an unfathomable abyss at the end of the earth, of forests ruled by dragons and winged fairies.
Many challenged the colossal mountain range that bordered ArcLand, but none succeeded. Many didn’t return at all.
“This is a story my grandfather experienced. He traveled a lot when he was young. I’ll tell you the tale of the winged fairies. That’s right. Winged fairies live beyond the Sky Mountain range. A fairy that accidentally descended to the base of the range lost her way and met an adventurer.”
Kassel, who had awkwardly started his tale, became engrossed in his own story. The children, their mouths wide open, couldn’t shut them.
The adventurer was named Kassel. Stirred by the stories of his grandfather’s adventures, he embarked on a distant journey, and those tales were passed on to Kassel through his father. The stories of his grandfather were enough to spark a sense of adventure in young Kassel’s heart, embedding an enduring fascination. “Is that true? Are there really winged fairies in the Sky Range? Have you met them?” Kassel would ask the same questions repeatedly, even after hearing the stories a hundred times.
Now an adult, his heart remained unchanged. Even thinking of those moments sparked a flame within Kassel.
‘Really, your name comes from that adventurer, Kassel.’
His father spoke as if it were inevitable that Kassel would embark on his own journey someday. He neither pushed nor held him back.
‘The soldier who died before me yesterday was younger than me.’
Kassel thought of the boy who had raised a spear towards him.
Terrified, Kassel had screamed and pointed his spear at the boy’s face in kind. But he could not strike.
‘No.’
Kassel lowered his spear.
‘I didn’t leave home for this.’
‘Charge! Follow me! For my glory, plunge your spear into the face of that child, younger than me!’
That wasn’t Kassel’s dream. In his imagination, he was always standing in a beautiful posture, draped in a white cape, not a single drop of blood staining him. War wasn’t like that, knights weren’t like that!
‘Maybe… I just wanted to play, father.’
Tears spilled as Kassel spoke of his adventures to the village children, the memory of his dream resurfacing.
Over the past month, he had seen his own ugliness, like the tantrums of an immature and foolish child.
‘I wanted an adventure. Like another Kassel in the adventures I speak of, like my grandfather, like my father. I needed an excuse to leave home for such an adventure.’
He simply wanted to be a grandfather like his own, to tell these stories to his grandchildren someday. The thought of killing someone had never crossed his mind.
‘Do you even have the right to speak of knighthood? You, who couldn’t even make a name in this village and don’t understand Meorix, who died without making one?’
Kassel finished his story, standing with tears in his eyes. The children, who had listened and laughed brightly, buzzed with incomprehension.
Even the adults, who had forgotten their own duties for a moment to listen to Kassel’s story, couldn’t say a word.
“I apologize. I got lost in my own sentiments for a moment.”
Kassel forced a smile and excused himself from the scene.
Janie tried to ask Kassel something but then decided to say something else.
“Dinner will be in an hour. You can rest at my house and come back to the place where we were talking.”
Without a word, Kassel nodded and headed towards Janie’s house.
“It’s the knights!”
A man galloping into the village entrance hollered. The gathered villagers exchanged bewildered glances, then realizing the gravity of the situation, began to panic. Children let out screams.
“Calm down. All of you, do as we have trained.”
Janie’s voice resonated through the crowd.
Kassel, for a moment, stood dazed, surveying the village. The women ceased their tasks, gathered their children, and made haste toward the hills, while the men rushed into their homes, soon emerging armored with weapons. It was then that Kassel understood the gravity of what had happened.
The village had been exposed.
“The numbers?”
Falcon, who was evidently asleep a while ago, appeared as if he had been on standby, ready in no time.
“The mounted knights are about fifteen, the soldiers, around fifty.”
“They are sure of our presence then. This will be tough.”
“Isn’t it worth a fight? We have had our share of training.”
The subordinates, now armed with swords and armor, looked at Falcon with determination in their eyes.
“Have we ever faced off against the knights head-on? Once, when Meorix sacrificed himself… This is not a surprise attack. Only knights with equal strength can face knights prepared for a full-on assault. No matter how prepared we are, we must brace for major casualties this time.”
A bandit, wielding a spear twice his height, reacted angrily to Falcon’s words.
“Why talk of defeat before even starting to fight?”
“We’re not alone here. There are people who need to survive even if we don’t. We proceed as always planned. Evacuating the villagers through the secured routes comes first. Volunteers to evacuate the villagers, step forward.”
Despite Falcon’s call, no one came forward. Falcon handpicked the volunteers.
“Day, Block, Laru. You three.”
All three reacted in protest. Laru, the man, was visibly furious.
“I’m more proficient in swordsmanship than anyone here. It makes no sense for me to leave.”
“That’s an order.”
Falcon spoke with cold finality.
“What was the purpose of all the training for a time like this?”
Day, the young man, cried out. He looked sturdier than Kassel, even though he was younger. Kassel, who had been watching the situation from the corner, clenched his teeth in rising fury.
Falcon spoke again.
“I don’t have time to convince. The three of you can’t. Wasn’t this already decided in the meeting? You’re too young and have too many people to support, especially Laru. You have a pregnant wife, you’ll only disrupt the team’s cohesion. Leave. End of discussion. The rest will proceed as planned.”
“That can’t happen, Falcon.”
Laru resisted, but Falcon did not listen and mounted his horse. The others also left the trio behind and joined Falcon.
An older man chided the three who were just standing there.
“What are you doing? They’re not going to die; they’re going on a mission!”
Left with no choice, the three dashed towards the mountain. After confirming their departure, Falcon urged his horse forward. However, Kassel on his horse blocked Falcon’s path.
“I wanted more time to talk with you, but luck is not on our side. You may leave now, Kassel.”
“There’s one thing I want to ask you, Falcon.”
“Step aside. I don’t have time.”
The one most flustered by Kassel’s sudden action was Janie, standing behind him.
“Kassel?”
Janie brought out a horse for Kassel to possibly escape separately, but that very horse was now being used by Kassel to obstruct Falcon’s operation.
The guard at the entrance was shouting about the imminent arrival of the knights, and the villagers were in a panic, fleeing towards the back mountain. Despite the chaos, all villagers were heading in the same direction, indicating they had indeed practiced evacuation drills.
“Please answer. It has to be now.”
Kassel asked.
“Why did you abandon the name of a knight and act as the head of a bandit group? What did Meorix die for?”
Looking into Kassel’s eyes, reddened from the tears he had shed earlier, Falcon briefly replied.
“One can only do one of two things when they pick up a sword. Exploit or protect. I just wanted to stand on the side that protects. Meorix discarded the title of knight and died because that title no longer represented protection.”
“Thank you.”
Kassel faintly smiled and was the first to spot the flags of the knights, raising dust as they rushed from afar, bearing the emblem of a red rose.
“You asked who I was earlier, didn’t you, Falcon? I’m nothing. Nothing… It was all a lie. I am not Kassel Wolf but Kassel Noi.”
After determinedly changing his horse’s direction, Kassel addressed Falcon.
“Please tell me your real name, Falcon.”
Caught off guard, Falcon responded with surprise.
“Derick Hughspel.”
“I’m sorry for lying.”
Kassel spurred his horse and charged towards the Rose Knights. Behind him, he could hear Falcon’s subordinate.
“W-what should we do, Falcon?”
Next, Falcon’s voice could be heard.
“Prepare for battle first! Why are you still here, Janie? Follow the villagers! The rest…”
Falcon’s voice faded. Kassel didn’t stop as he raced towards the charging knights.
‘Ah, that’s right.’
As the distance between him and the knights narrowed, Kassel’s excited heart began to calm down. Only then did he realize his mistake.
Kassel had thought of a way to stop them, but on reflection, it could only be used if the enemy had stopped. It was a tactic that could not be used against a knightly order that raised their spears as soon as they discovered Kassel’s horse. But the chance to back out had already been missed.
‘I have no choice.’
Kassel pulled out his black blade and held it aloft. As he pulled on the reins, the horse abruptly slowed down, even raising its front legs as it turned sideways.
Kassel shouted with all his might.
“I am Kassel, Captain of Aranthia’s Wolf Knights! Halt.”
The spear-tip, flashing as it reflected the sunlight, approached at a terrifying speed. Kassel, trying to calm his terrified horse, stood his ground holding his sword.
The knights didn’t seem to slow down at all. The urge to flee was desperate. But it was too late to escape; he had cornered himself at a point of no return. Kassel deliberately closed his eyes slowly, then opened them. When he opened them again, the spear-tip looked so close that it seemed it might pierce his forehead.
The knights stopped their horses just five steps from reaching him. A cloud of dust rose up, engulfing them. Kassel swallowed. He was out of breath even though he hadn’t done anything.
“I am Kassel Wolf, Captain of the Wolf Knights. Who is the commander of this knight order?”
“I’m Litor of the Rose Knights, Captain Kassel.”
Litor said, raising his spear.
“We almost attacked you. We came to rescue you.”
“So, Knights Pavi, Millen, and Nischel must be alive.”
“They informed us of your location and asked us to rescue you. It’s fortunate we’re not late.”
It was Kassel who wanted to say it was fortunate. If the situation was such, he could have proceeded with the plan he had in mind.
“What is so fortunate?”
Kassel snapped. Litor recoiled. The other knights also looked at each other’s faces. They probably thought Kassel would say something thankful for having been saved. He took advantage of their confusion and launched into a tirade.
“They treated me exceedingly well. Those three from the Rose Knights treated me like some criminal, even tried to kill me. They suspected me and wanted me to prove that I’m Captain Wolf. I almost felt like I was being arrested by them.”
“There’s no way that could be!”
“Yesterday, assassins threatened my life, and this morning, it’s the Rose Knights. How should I report this to the king of Camort, I wonder? Ah! Isn’t the Red Rose Count a power that even the king fears? Then I have nothing more to say. But Falcon here is different. This is the first time I’ve been treated as a guest since I came to Camort. And now they’re practically throwing themselves at you to save me. How fortunate is that?”
The initially friendly look on Litor’s face turned furious.
“What are you talking about? If it’s that sort of talk, let’s postpone it.”
“Why? Will you officially kill me now?”
“When did I say I would do such a thing? That’s outrageous…”
Kassel deliberately placed his horse in the direction the knights were leaving and spoke in the most annoying and unpleasant way possible. It was quite simple if it was that. All he had to do was impersonate Luchi.
‘Keep getting angry, Litor! You’ll be so furious that you’ll end up killing this young, impudent brat!’
“This is interesting. It seems like you guys are planning to annihilate the innocent village people, accusing them of being a bandit’s lair. What to do now? I have already spread the word that I am a knight from Aranthia, and I’ve even sent letters. In the letter I said that I was staying in this village in Camort and I would leave for Normant soon… But what would happen if there’s no news from Captain Wolf, who said he was going to Normant, and the last letter arrived in a completely ruined village? There are already a few witnesses who have escaped, so it will be very simple to reveal that the Rose Knights are the ones who killed me.”
“No one said we’re going to kill you! Our mission is to save you and capture the bandits. Why would we kill you?”
Kassel pointed at one of the Rose Knights who still had their sword pointed at him. The knight, caught off guard, moved his weapon away.
Litor stared at him hard.
Kassel spoke with feigned solemnity.
“I will say it again, there is no bandits here.”
“We’ve confirmed that you were captured and brought here. If you don’t move now, we’ll forcibly pull you down from the horse!”
Litor threatened.
“You’ll pull me down?”
Kassel grinned and brandished Aranthia’s Black Blade in front of him.
“Do you feel confident facing the White Wolf?”
Each of the Wolf Knights could handle ten people on their own, and among them, the elite White Wolf was rumored to be the best of all the Wolf Knights. There was no way a knight like Litor wouldn’t know about that reputation. And there was no way he would want to verify that reputation with a sword fight. It would spell disaster.
Litor persisted.
“Even if you are a guest from Aranthia, we are on a mission, and you are obstructing it.”
“Your mission was to save me, and that mission is over.”
“My mission was twofold. To rescue you and to put an end to the band of bandits that kidnapped you.”
“You said so yourself. As far as I can see, they weren’t bandits.”
“You’re wrong. Falcon is the most famous bandit in this region, and that village is their very stronghold.”
“Aren’t bandits villains who kill innocent people, rob their possessions, and fulfill their desires with those possessions?”
Kassel explained slowly.
“From what I’ve heard, Falcon steals from other bandits, so what kind of crime is it to steal from thieves?”
Litor realized that the ‘other bandits’ Kassel mentioned included his lord and the two counts. He narrowed his eyes.
‘Did I go too far?’
Kassel regretted his words, but his objective had been to stall for time.
“You’re committing an irreversible mistake, Captain Wolf. Taking the side of a bandit will bring disgrace to the honor of Aranthia knights.”
“Nice to know. Now you’ll go around badmouthing me outright?”
Kassel kept arguing. No matter how you looked at it, it was a pitiable situation. He had intended to insult and drive away the knight who had come to rescue him on purpose.
Litor opened his palm. The Rose Knights once again pointed their spears forward.
‘What?’
Kassel was taken aback.
“I may not know what legendary swordsmanship is, but I have no idea how many people you can face at once on a horse. If you truly are Captain Wolf, prove yourself not with your clever tongue but with your sword.”
By his calculations, Litor should have held back his anger and promised to deal with this later as he left. However, people respond differently depending on their character, and Litor was the type to act first and think later when angered.
‘I should have stopped talking back there.’
Kassel swallowed. But just before Litor lowered his raised hand, he stopped. The other knights were surprised and their formation scattered. The spears that had been pointed at Kassel were now aimed in all directions.
While Kassel blocked the path of the knights, Falcon’s men had already surrounded the Rose Knights. The infantry unit that hadn’t reached here yet was held back by Falcon’s archers, unable to advance. Although it was a slow and calculated operation, to the Rose Knights including Litor, it seemed like a sudden ambush.
Litor distorted his face and trembled his lips. Kassel didn’t think of this as his victory after seeing his expression. He was sure that Litor would fight to the death, even if he died at this moment. Pavi, Millen and Nischel would have done the same.
“Let’s call it quits here.”
Kassel sheathed his sword and spoke.
“No one needs to die, and no one needs to surrender. You came to save me? Then save me.”
“How am I supposed to believe that?”
Instead of responding, Kassel calmly urged his horse forward, stopping just short of the tip of Litor’s extended spear. It was a hair’s breadth away, close enough to pierce his throat with a slight miscalculation.
“I’ll blend in with your troops. They won’t shoot at me, and I don’t intend to sacrifice myself either. Save me.”
Litor slowly lowered his spear, but a hint of resistance remained in his eyes.
Approaching closer, Kassel spoke in a low voice.
“Do you need a full-scale battle? Let’s leave the village together. Then they’ll retreat as well. But if they fight, they will join the fray fiercely. Wouldn’t the damages just escalate if you fight such an enemy? If we leave now, they will also leave. They can then move on to the next village, cause havoc, or start a fire, right? What you need are traces and evidence.”
Litor took a deep breath and ordered his subordinates.
“We are retreating.”
Kassel followed directly behind Litor.
“Your actions are directly challenging the Kingdom of Camort, Captain Wolf. Who knows how this incident will be judged in the future.”
“I’ll prepare plenty of excuses.”
Just before leaving, Kassel took a quick look back. He could see the figure of Falcon in the distance, atop his horse. Kassel, afraid of the direct gaze of the Rose Knights, couldn’t muster up the courage to wave at him.
Falcon would now abandon the exposed village and move on to another place.
‘Will we never meet again?’
Kassel deeply regretted not being able to have more conversations with him.
Without looking back any further, Kassel drove his horse to follow the knights.
–TL Notes–
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