According to the information obtained from the Village of Defectors, the White Wolves had headed to Koholrun. Even if it were a lie, there was no way for Kassel to return to the village of rogues, so he rode the horse borrowed from Falcon and continued south. Thanks to thoughtful Janie, who had placed a gold coin in his clothing, he did not lack travel expenses.
‘Wonderful Janie, how should I repay her?’
Koholrun was such a large city that it wasn’t hard to find.
Fearful of meeting bandits or wild animals, Kassel only traveled between villages. The aftermath of the war resulted in a similar state of destitution across all villages.
‘No matter how great a knight you are, it’s dangerous to travel alone.’
Litor, the Rose Knight, advised Kassel not to go alone as he left Falcon’s village. Even though he knew it was risky to be with them, Kassel rejected their escort. Now, he had to worry about whether every rabbit he encountered was a killer rabbit.
Fortunately, nothing happened on the way to Koholrun. Although he wanted to throw his sword away and give up many times, he couldn’t. Feelings of guilt and responsibility, along with what he had witnessed and felt in Falcon’s village, propelled him.
Unlike the other villages devastated by the war, Koholrun was bustling.
‘Could it be because it’s a war between nobles, they don’t touch villages ruled by lords of the same level? Or is it because the lord of Koholrun is affiliated with either the Rose or the Lion noble, it is safe?’
The city was surrounded by walls, and two silver coins had to be paid to enter. Kassel was taken aback by the extortionate price, but the others paid without a fuss. After Kassel paid with composure, he got back eight silver coins.
‘So, what now?’
The city was so large he didn’t know where or how to start looking. The city was overflowing with people and the market was bustling. For Kassel, who had only lived in the countryside, even the scale of this village was overwhelming. He later learned that Koholrun was the largest city in the Camort region, excluding Normant, and had the highest population.
‘Looking for three people I briefly met in such a wide place?’
Kassel could only laugh at the thought.
The main roads were bustling, but the back alleys were as dirty as the village of rogues. There were even more vagrants lying around in rags. There were rats as big as arms wandering the market, but no one seemed to care.
After aimlessly wandering with his horse for half a day, he realized how reckless he had been and decided to find an inn to stay in. He gave a silver coin to the stable boy, asking him to give his horse some extra good feed, but the boy’s grumpy response suggested he wouldn’t do so.
Inns in bustling cities, like elsewhere, invariably served alcohol as well. Upon opening the door, a strong musty odor assaulted the senses, a testament to their choice of establishment, which had seemed clean at first glance.
Everyone sitting in the lobby was universally grim and grubby. A few were seated at tables, consuming what looked like soup, but the watery concoction was more suited for swine. Having already entrusted their horses to the stable, turning back wasn’t a practical option.
‘Would other inns be any different? Hell, I don’t know.’
Kassel strode across the lobby towards the bar.
“Welcome.”
A young host greeted him.
“I need a room.”
“For how long?”
“Um, about three days?”
“It’s four silver coins per day. If you pay for three days all at once, it’s a gold coin.”
“Let’s settle the bill day by day.”
Kassel paid willingly, but his worries were immense. He had very little money left.
“Room number three on the second floor.”
The gazes of the patrons in the hall all followed Kassel as he ascended the stairs. One individual, seemingly high, approached him, his teeth clattering.
“Hey, buddy. You’re carrying a fine sword.”
Kassel ignored him and continued up the stairs.
“Better be careful. Carrying such a fine thing, you’ll become a target here.”
Kassel paused mid-step. Turning around, he saw that indeed all the patrons were watching him before quickly averting their gazes.
‘Becoming a target because of a good sword?’
He hadn’t anticipated that. A knight worrying about his sword being stolen was unheard of!
Kassel addressed the still-smiling man.
“What did you say?”
“Just giving you a heads-up. Better to keep it hidden. Strutting around with it on your hip is like inviting people to steal it.”
In hindsight, who knew how many had coveted his sword just today? He had spent the whole afternoon strolling in the market.
‘Maybe a warning would be beneficial.’
Resting his hand on the stair railing, Kassel briefly flashed his sword. He didn’t draw it fully, of course. The man, whose eyes were glassy as if from alcohol or drugs, laughed and raised his hands.
“Hey, I was just giving you some advice. No need to be so hostile. And nobody gets scared just because you show a sword in a place like this. Besides, there are a lot of guards here. Try anything funny and you’ll end up in the dungeon.”
“Thanks for the advice. I’ll repay you with a fitting piece of information. What do you think of this sword? Does it look expensive? Who do you think would be carrying around such a thing? Huh? How many stupid bandits do you think have died trying to steal this sword from someone who still carries it around here so nonchalantly? Don’t mess around.”
Kassel whispered in an almost inaudible voice.
The man backed away still chuckling.
“I was just trying to help. I have no interest in the sword.”
“I just gave a piece of advice out of gratitude. I’m not interested in you. I just warned in advance, fearing another bothersome event might spark while I’m trying to rest.”
His words were more for the other fellows in the tavern than for the man he was talking to. Though everyone pretended not to listen, it was clear that they were all ears.
‘It was a foolish act.’
Kassel sheathed his sword and ascended the stairs.
‘Didn’t I just show them that I’m nothing but a coward in a tough guise?’
As soon as Kassel went into his room and lay down, his worries were forgotten. After leaving Falcon’s village, there was nothing particularly hard, but traveling on horseback was laborious in its own right.
Lying down, Kassel considered his future plans. Even though the situation wasn’t easy to deal with, if Aranthia’s famous knights had entered the city, there should be some rumors. If they weren’t in this city, he would have to move on to the capital Normant next, but having such information would be useful.
The problem was money. In a situation where he didn’t even have enough for the inn fee tomorrow, it was useless to plan for a few days later.
‘What if I sell the horse?’
Though it was virtually a gift from Janie, he was now so hungry he could eat the horse.
‘If I sell it, how much can I get? I don’t even know the market price. Can I sell it like selling wheat? Ah, I should’ve followed when my father went to sell wheat in Koholrun.’
He thought it would be good to take a bath, but at some point, Kassel had fallen asleep on the bed. When he opened his eyes, it was already dusk.
‘I wasted the best time for searching people sleeping!’
Kassel hurriedly washed his face, prepared to go out, and grabbed his sheathed sword. His only weapon suddenly felt burdensome.
‘That guy was right. This sword with flashy gems is too conspicuous. But I can’t leave it here either.’
Kassel draped over an old cloak he wasn’t using and concealed the sword at his waist. The cloak smelled musty, but he had no other choice.
There were no noticeable stares as he slipped out of the tavern. Neither the drunkard who watched him in the daytime nor anyone else was in sight. In the marketplace, his shabby attire actually looked ordinary.
Because he left too late, it quickly got dark. The number of pedestrians in the city gradually decreased. As dusk fell, Kassel found another tavern.
‘In old tales, the protagonist always gets information from the tavern.’
Hoping for such luck, Kassel tried to sit sneakily in two different taverns for an hour each without paying for a drink. However, there was no talk of Aranthia’s knights.
Most of the talk was about war. Kassel was about to move on to the third tavern, but he was captivated by a particular conversation that caught his ear.
“…And that’s why when the captain stood alone, brandishing his sword, the knights of the Rose Brigade were rooted to the spot.”
“Good heavens, one man stopped an entire brigade of thirty knights?”
“No, I heard it was fifty. Fifty, I tell ya! And without even swinging his sword, just with his aura. I think that captain, whoever he is, has made Falcon his subordinate.”
Kassel was taken aback.
‘Isn’t that my story?’
Kassel sat back down and began to listen carefully.
“That’s plausible. Have you heard about the Knights’ Trial in Aranthia? You need to be able to kill a bear with your bare hands and scale a castle wall without any equipment, just to qualify for the preliminary exam.”
“What I heard was even more extreme. If you can’t withstand a blow from Quain, captain of the Wolf Knights and the queen’s guard, you’re supposed to just die. His strike is like a strike from the gods, cutting through shields and armor alike. If you can’t withstand it, you’re not passed.”
“Well, having that kind of ability, it’s no wonder he had the courage to stop the entire Rose Brigade on his own.”
“But why has he come to Camort? Did the king call for him?”
“From what I heard, it was an invitation from the Black Lion Count. He probably wants to join forces and devour this country.”
“Aranthia is waging a war of aggression? Wasn’t it a peaceful nation?”
“Is there a law against it? Good heavens, just because they have a small territory doesn’t mean they can’t conquer. If they put the Wolf Knights at the front, kingdoms like ours wouldn’t even be able to resist, let alone fight back.”
“Shush, don’t go around spreading such rumors.”
Soon their conversation moved onto previous wars between nobles. Kassel sat quietly, pretending to have made an order, watching the bartender while hoping they would start talking about Aranthia again.
Across the table, a man was sitting. Even when their eyes met, the man didn’t flinch, looking back at Kassel openly. Taken aback, Kassel quickly averted his gaze. His deeply set eyes under dark brows left a strong impression.
‘Where have I seen him before?’
He had a long spear next to him. His wide shoulders and the muscle on his tanned arm looked strong and flexible. His black curly hair fell to his shoulders.
‘I know that face. But who is he? There’s no way I’d forget such a strong face.’
Kassel tried hard to remember.
‘Is he a mercenary from my brigade?’
He wasn’t the only one staring. The bartender was also giving him a look. It seemed like he’d been caught sitting without paying for his drink.
At the back door of the tavern, a gang of ruffians gestured at Kassel and exchanged glances with another bunch.
“If you’re going to hog a seat without drinking…”
Just as the server was about to protest, Kassel stood up.
“Sorry, I’m leaving.”
Kassel left the tavern. The stranger who had been watching him vanished through the back door.
‘Was it just a coincidence? Was I overly sensitive?’
Out of caution, he looked back to find a man with a spear chasing after him. The long spear pointed towards the sky was impossible to miss.
‘Uh-oh, that’s not just tailing! He’s blatantly following me.’
The man was striding towards Kassel, his eyes fixed only on him. He was so focused that he didn’t notice the people he bumped into. Those who collided with him, however, were taken aback by his impressive physique and muscle mass, not saying a word.
Kassel was accustomed to big men among the mercenaries. But this man was different. He felt like a boulder the size of a house rolling after him.
Kassel ran. The man followed suit. His menacing look that could devour Kassel with just his gaze caused Kassel’s legs to freeze, like a frog that had spotted a snake.
‘A sword thief! Yes, he must have marked me during the day to steal my sword at night!’
Kassel seriously contemplated his chances of survival if he threw his sword and ran.
Just as he was about to turn the corner of an alley, someone grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back. Kassel was helplessly pulled along.
“Hey, rich man. Where are you off to in such a hurry? You’ve made us chase you.”
Looking at the thugs who had cornered him in the alley and now held a knife to his throat, Kassel found it ironic that he was almost glad to see them. But that wasn’t it.
‘What? Are they part of the same gang as the giant chasing me?’
Kassel was initially confused but soon figured out the situation. There were six men surrounding Kassel, three of which were the hooligans from the tavern. Another was the drunkard from the inn who had kindly advised him to be careful not to have his sword stolen. The other two were unfamiliar, but they certainly didn’t resemble the man chasing him in terms of their attire or demeanor.
“Do you have any idea how worried we were when you didn’t leave the inn? We’re truly grateful that you’ve willingly come to such a desolate place.”
The breath of the man holding Kassel by the collar reeked of rotten alcohol. Kassel detected a peculiar savagery in the man’s eyes.
‘This is different. Different from Tiger, the vagabond and entirely different from the knights!’
The man was smiling, not even bothering to demand a surrender of weapons. There would be no negotiations, and he would pay no heed to Kassel’s words. Likely, he was the type to first skewer his opponent’s throat and then pilfer everything they had. What’s more, there was no use pretending to be the captain of the Wolf Knights or anything else in the face of such fear.
Almost automatically, Kassel blurted out,
“Kill me, and you’ll regret it!”
The hand of the man with the knife rose halfway to Kassel’s throat, then paused.
“Huh, what the hell are you talking about?”
The man snickered, turning to his comrades standing behind him to ask,
“What do you think?”
One of the five thugs spoke to Kassel.
“It’s amusing! Ask how we’ll regret.”
Another thug spoke with annoyance,
“We don’t have time. Let’s just kill him and leave.”
The man turned his head back to Kassel and said,
“Alright, friend. Give me three reasons why we would regret.”
The man’s blade touched Kassel’s throat. Kassel, pressed against the wall, opened his mouth. Luckily, he only had one thing to say, and he didn’t stutter.
“I have a bodyguard.”
“What?”
Kassel closed one eye tightly. Whether the man was persuaded or not, he didn’t stab. That was a success, for now.
‘What’s next?’
Kassel quickly thought, gritting his teeth so hard that his expression contorted.
“You seem to like the idea of a bodyguard. I’ve noticed you’re alone.”
The man frowned and asked.
“My bodyguard follows unseen! So skilled that none of you would notice! If you don’t let me go, you’ll die by his hand.”
Kassel, turning to a patron standing in the inn behind him, continued speaking,
“Hey, you! Remember what I said during the day? If I, carrying such a high-end sword, still managed to guard my life and hold this sword safely, can you imagine how many would-be thieves died aiming for this blade?”
The man who had drawn his sword looked at the patron.
“Did you hear that?”
“I can’t remember.”
The patron shrugged.
Kassel continued to speak.
“It doesn’t matter whether that fool remembers or not! Just listen well. Those who aimed for my sword all ended up dead. Why do you think that is? Because I always have a bodyguard trailing me. If you don’t let me go, you’ll meet the same end.”
“Stop lying, you bastard. If that’s true, call him out in three counts.”
He lifted the hand holding Kassel’s collar, pushing him further against the wall.
“One! Two!”
Kassel, unable to find words to stall time against the man’s fierce shouting, closed his eyes.
‘Damn it, at least count to five.’
The man couldn’t count up to three. Gradually, he released his grip on the collar. Upon Kassel opening his eyes, a man wielding a massive spear was watching from the alley entrance.
The man with the spear cocked his head as if he was having a hard time grasping the situation. Naturally, just from the current state of things, there was no way he could understand how everything had spiraled.
Kassel quickly spoke to the towering man as if he were a familiar face.
“The sword remains safe, but these rascals intend to steal it.”
He didn’t expect a response. After all, if the man holding the spear also aimed to steal the sword, he would be a competitor with the ruffians surrounding and threatening Kassel. Kassel had initially taken into consideration the man’s potential pursuit. Now, if these two thugs could just start a fight, the operation would be a success. However, an unexpected reply came.
“Who are these guys?”
For some reason, the man with the spear spoke as if he knew Kassel.
Without hesitation, Kassel replied with a cool tone.
“Can’t you see? They’re sword thieves.”
After the man swiftly scanned the bandits, he spoke with a robust voice.
“Step back. The sword you intend to carry will bring nothing but disaster.”
The bandits hesitated momentarily, taken aback by the man’s physique, voice, and fierce countenance, but they soon regained their confidence.
“Oh dear, he’s talking nonsense. Who are you?”
There was no reason for them to step back. Their gang outnumbered him six to one.
“The only things untouchable in Koholrun is anything owned by Count Godimer. Are you, by any chance, a bodyguard of the count?”
“I will warn you just this once.”
The towering man extended his spear. At that, all six men brandished their swords.
“We won’t warn you either!”
One of them charged out screaming.
“That’s enough. Kill him.”
Except for the one guarding Kassel, the bandits rushed forward in unison. Almost simultaneously, a sword flew toward the man with the spear, followed by a clamorous clash of metal. The bandits’ swords clattered to the ground.
The man managed to deflect all of the attacks with his nearly motionless spear, then he slowly retreated.
“He’s running! Catch him. Kill him.”
The man holding Kassel’s collar shouted in excitement. It wasn’t that the man was running away; he was merely stepping out of the narrow alley to properly wield his spear. But in their excitement, they failed to recognize this. The bandits picked up their fallen swords and rushed out of the alley, surrounding him.
The one guarding Kassel momentarily lowered his guard, distracted by the spectacle. All the reckless bluffs Kassel had spat out to escape the blade at his throat were intended to create such an opening. With all his might, Kassel struck his opponent’s face.
“Argh!”
“Argh!”
The man had screamed, clutching his nose, and Kassel had screamed, gripping his fist.
His fist felt like it was collapsing, but Kassel had run away anyway.
“Stop right there!”
The man with the spear had yelled, but Kassel had recklessly ran down the dark alleyway. Behind him, the screams of others mingled with the metallic clangs.
Only when he was too winded to take another step did Kassel slow down. He still felt as if someone was following him, his nape prickled, but he was too scared to look back.
‘Those thugs were merely sword thieves. But that man with the spear, I don’t think so. Who was he? Why do I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere?’
He seemed knowledgeable about swords.
‘No. That just means he could be a more cunning sword thief. If he knows the secret of the sword, he would have many uses for it. He could offer it to Aranthia and receive a reward, or he could sell it for a higher price in the black market. Considering his spear skills, he could probably impersonate the Wolf Knights of Aranthia more convincingly than I could.’
While thinking, Kassel strained his memory.
‘Wait a minute, was he one of those White Wolves I saw in the Village of Defectors?’
There had been three Wolf Knights he’d seen at that time. The strong impression of the braided-haired woman had made the presence of the other two huskier ones blur out.
‘If he was one of the White Wolves, I might’ve lost a good opportunity to return the sword.’
Kassel had returned to the inn. He didn’t want to come back as someone knew he was staying there, but he had no choice since his belongings were there. With the nightfall, the place had become as lively as the pub in the Village of Defectors, filled with people enjoying their food and drink.
He was hungry but having no money and being afraid to make eye contact with others, Kassel hurriedly went upstairs. There were men shoulder to shoulder, drunk and singing in the corridor, and others slumped against the wall in their stupor. A man who looked like a shopkeeper was grabbing a drunk man by his collar and yelling, “How many times, you little brat?”
Dodging them, Kassel hurriedly entered his room across the narrow corridor.
The unlit room, shrouded in darkness, brought him comfort. Kassel went to the table, lit the candle, and took off his cloak.
“!”
There was a dark shadow sitting on the bed. Thankfully, Kassel was able to stifle his scream.
‘I’ve had too many surprises today.’
Kassel inwardly screamed at the top of his lungs while he slowly hung his cloak on a chair.
“I’d like to ask first, who you are to be carrying that sword.”
The voice was authoritative yet polite.
‘Again with the sword!’
Kassel cursed his own stupidity of parading the sword around all day.
‘Citizens of Koholrun! I have an exceedingly expensive sword with me, which I believe to be the treasury sword of the Aranthia Wolf Knights. Whoever wishes to have it can take it from me.’
Kassel responded in a courteous tone, matching the mockery in the voice of his opponent who had thoroughly ridiculed him.
“May I ask first who you are that you know about this sword?”
The person revealed by the candlelight wasn’t particularly large in stature, nor was he carrying a huge spear. From his speech, he didn’t seem to be a bandit either. He was an entirely new character.
“As far as I know, only Master Quain, the captain of the Wolf Knights and Aranthia Queen’s guardian knight, can possess that sword. And although it was five years ago, I briefly saw Master Quain’s face and treasury sword during the Queen of Aranthia’s official visit. You are not Quain.”
“Correct. My name is Kassel, and…”
Kassel appeared to take a long pause for thought and reflection before continuing his sentence, though in reality, he spoke almost without interruption.
“…I am from Aranthia.”
Kassel dragged a chair over and sat down, folding his legs into his arms. It was a posture he thought would look leisurely, but it felt a bit awkward once he sat down. But he remained in the same position, thinking that any adjustment might look more foolish.
Clearing his throat, Kassel asked,
“And who are you?”
“I am Count Godimer, the ruler of Koholrun.”
“I am the captain of the White Wolves.”
For the first time since leaving Falcon’s village, Kassel felt a thump in his heart at his own words. He really didn’t want to tell such a lie.
Count Godimer spoke as if what he’d just heard was expected.
“There have been rumors that the captain of the White Wolves destroyed the Rose Knight Order, recruited the leader of a bandit group called Falcon, and even made the Black Lion Knight Order surrender with just one word.”
‘My goodness, how far have these rumors spread?’
Kassel remained silent.
“I thought for sure you would have to pass through Koholrun given the timeline, so we had recently strengthened the security. Then, one of the guards discovered you and reported that you were staying at this inn.”
“You came here just because of this sword, without any confirmation?”
“What other way could there be? If you had hidden the sword and entered the city, we wouldn’t have known.”
“Am I the only one you found? So…”
Kassel hesitated before asking,
“What about my comrades?”
“Shouldn’t you know that? Why would…”
Kassel waved it off as if it were nothing.
“We had to split up due to some circumstances. But why were you hiding in my room in such a frightening manner? Do you have something to discuss?”
“I have to tell you something in advance. You’re in danger, threatened by assassins hired by one of the ‘two Counts’. The news of your arrival in this village wasn’t exclusive to me. The ones wanting you dead would’ve heard as well. I had no choice but to be rude due to time constraints. I’m here to protect you.”
Kassel recalled the man who had approached him with a spear earlier.
‘Could he be an assassin?’
Kassel shook his head.
‘Would an assassin chase me so openly?’
Kassel cleared his throat once more and asked,
“So who are you exactly? You’ve disclosed your identity, but it’s not so simple for me to take it at face value. And did you think I, the captain of the Wolf Knights, would entrust my safety to someone else?”
Unintentionally, Kassel began to doubt him first. Not because he truly suspected him, but because he felt that the doubt would better conceal his own identity.
“If I were an assassin, I would have hidden behind the door and struck you with a blade the moment you entered. Even though it’s an inn, you walked in rather carelessly.”
Kassel just shrugged his shoulders.
“So, what should I do?”
“Let’s go to my castle first. I serve the king. I know the proper courtesy when dealing with the king’s guests.”
“Alright.”
Kassel responded enthusiastically and then regretted it.
‘What am I going to do when I get there?’
☆ ☆ ☆
One difference between Koholrun and the Village of Defectors was not only the scale but also the peacefulness of the night. In contrast to the small village filled with drunkards, it was quiet here once you stepped away from the taverns. Many places were without lights, so it was dark enough that one had to rely on moonlight to walk.
Count Godimer guided Kassel to an even darker place. He would occasionally stop and vigilantly look around. He was so cautious that Kassel wondered if it was necessary, considering there didn’t seem to be anyone following them.
While they were walking down a main road leading towards a mansion, Godimer led them into an alley, claiming it was a shortcut. The alleys of Koholrun branched out in all directions, making it difficult for Kassel, a newcomer, to figure out which way was which. If his sense of direction had not been sharp, Kassel would have been hopelessly lost.
Though they might not have been on the exact same path, they were at least circling the same area.
‘Now that I think about it, isn’t it strange? A man of the Count’s stature personally, and alone, coming to find me?’
Suddenly, Kassel found himself comparing the man who readily believed he was a captain to himself, who readily believed the man was Count Godimer.
Falcon recognized Kassel’s identity at a glance, simply by his posture and aura. Kassel didn’t have such aesthetic insight. However, he couldn’t help but think that the man who declared himself as Count Godimer was more akin to a knight or a swordsman than a noble. It was natural for a noble to have some proficiency in swordsmanship, but if he were to rely on his intuition, the man was no noble. If anything, he gave off a similar vibe as Falcon.
Suddenly, Count Godimer entered a narrow alley and drew his sword, staying alert to his surroundings.
“There’s someone tailing us.”
Kassel turned around but found no one.
“Where?”
“I am not sure. But from a while back, the same presence has been following us. Didn’t you feel it?”
Kassel nodded.
‘I can’t sense any presence, but I can tell you’re lying.’
Perhaps because he often lied his way out of crises, the clumsy lie of the opponent was immediately apparent to him. He continued to glance around in confusion, saying,
“There are a few. We might be in trouble. Hurry, if we go a little further, my men are waiting.”
Count Godimer extended his hand to guide him through the darkness.
“I don’t understand. Why are you hiding like this in your own domain?”
Kassel refused his hand.
“Doubting me? We have no time.”
“You are not Count Godimer.”
The man showed the typical bewilderment common to those caught lying.
Kassel asked, “Who are you?”
“What are you talking about?”
The count belatedly controlled his facial expression and looked away. From the direction of the alley he was leading towards, another shadowy figure approached. They each held a weapon in their hand.
The Count drew his sword, pointed it towards the opponents, and shouted.
“Do you know who I am?”
The figures silently came closer.
Kassel hastily scanned his surroundings and bolted towards the empty alley.
“Wait! Damn!”
Despite his shout, Kassel didn’t stop. Subsequently, the loud noise of swords clashing echoed through the air.
He could hear the sound of others approaching from a different direction. Kassel kept changing his direction while running through the alleyways. Although he couldn’t quite figure out where he was going, it felt better than running in one direction.
The night amplified the sounds of footsteps. In the middle of his escape, Kassel slipped on some fruit peels but thankfully didn’t fall. However, the loud noise gave away his location.
Kassel briefly hid behind a trash can filled with fruit peels, confirmed the direction of the chasing shadows, and ran off in the opposite direction.
‘Was he really trying to fool me? If he planned to kill me from the beginning, he would’ve done it as soon as I entered the room. Damn, how many groups are after me now?’
Kassel slowed his pace, taking care to tread quietly.
He heard no footsteps in pursuit. He scanned his surroundings; almost no lights, and distant murmurs of people could barely be discerned. Kassel walked towards the side lit by fire.
‘Now, let’s think. Would the lord who rules over all of Koholrun need to covertly invite the captain of the knights? Welcoming the king’s guest is a proud occasion. Then, there should have been a grand welcome ceremony…’
“Ugh!”
Kassel halted his steps.
A group of swordsmen blocked the alley ahead. When he turned around, his escape route was already cut off. An older man amongst them approached, panting heavily.
“Hold, Captain Kassel.”
He was a stranger. Kassel pondered if he should unsheathe his sword against the six swordsmen or show them he had no intention of drawing his blade.
“Who are you?”
“Count Godimer.”
Kassel scrutinized his face again. However, he was entirely different from the man earlier; in face, age, and attire.
“Just hear me out first. We have no intention of hurting or attacking you.”
“So, this is not a threat, then?”
“You weren’t willing to listen to me. The one who earlier introduced himself as Count Godimer was actually my bodyguard, Knight Ike Anfler. I sent him to meet you in my stead. As you can see, I’m such a coward that I can’t go anywhere without this number of bodyguards.”
“So, why didn’t you come to me directly with your entourage of bodyguards? Why did you have your bodyguard lie?”
Kassel voiced his question with evident irritation.
“There was a need to handle things covertly.”
“Covertly? In a city where you’re the lord?”
“We can’t talk about it here. Moreover, assassins are after your life. We don’t have time to explain, so let’s talk more at my castle.”
Kassel bit his lip, unsure of what to decide.
“Trust me. I’m in danger, too. If you’re not Captain Wolf… I mean, if you’re lying right now, then my life is also on the line.”
Count Godimer swallowed nervously.
“So, just as I’m trusting you, I’d like for you to trust me.”
Kassel was at a loss for words in the face of the situation, which had escalated due to excessive lies.
‘What the hell? If my lie gets exposed, the lord of Koholrun dies?’
Count Godimer anxiously looked around as he spoke.
“If the fact that I contacted you becomes public, it might inadvertently ignite another war. You know this, don’t you?”
“I’m not sure.”
Kassel responded, shaking his head in confusion.
“Ah, you’re from abroad, it makes sense that you wouldn’t know. I am currently opposing the war between the two counts, siding solely with the royal family. My neutrality could be perceived as defiance if I were to get involved in such a matter.”
“You’re saying that meeting me is a big deal?”
“The position of the captain of the Wolf Knights isn’t taken lightly within Aranthia, is it?”
Count Godimer retorted with a smile.
“Let’s not waste time. Where is Ike? I mean the friend who lied to you about being Count Godimer.”
“Ah, he was back in that alley dealing with some unidentified…”
Kassel pointed behind Count Godimer’s guards. Suddenly, a dark shadow emerged from behind two of the guards. Two in the front, two at the back, and one upside-down like a spider on the top of the alley. They wore black clothes that covered even their faces. Quietly, they drew their swords.
“Ah, wha, what’s…”
The count began to speak in surprise, when suddenly the voice of the former count, or rather the knight named Ike, could be heard.
“Protect the Count and the Captain.”
Ike took charge of the beginning of the fight. The other guards also drew their swords to battle. The Count hastily grabbed Kassel’s hand.
“This way.”
While Ike and the guards were fighting against the bandits, Kassel was pulled by the Count through a narrow alley. Ike withdrew, protecting the Count. Two of the guards fell, and the bandits rushed towards Kassel and the Count.
Ike Anfler did not back down and swung his sword against two of the bandits. However, the other guards couldn’t hold off the bandits in black, and they quickly fell to their blades.
“Over here, over here.”
The count ran to another alley. But there were already more bandits in black, their faces concealed, waiting for them. They drew their swords and charged at the count and Kassel.
“We need to split up. Ike, protect the Count!”
Kassel pushed the Count towards the right fork and ran left himself. Ike, who had taken down two bandits, glanced between Kassel and the Count before running towards the Count.
He couldn’t very well ask for protection now, could he?
‘If I’m not the real Captain Wolf, would this cause a war?’
Kassel discarded his complex thoughts, relying only on his two legs that had carried him through the day, and ran forward. Fortunately, not far away, he saw a path leading to a bigger road. But before he could escape, Kassel stopped. Another dark figure was standing tall at the entrance of the alleyway.
Was it a guard from the Count’s side or from the side of the assassins dressed in black? But it was neither. The large man blocking the exit was the same man who had inadvertently saved Kassel’s life from the thieves, the man with the spear.
He placed the lantern he was holding on the ground, and drew the spear he was carrying on his back. Kassel abruptly stopped and turned around. Two men in black, brandishing their swords, were chasing him from behind.
The two assassins, with their robes flapping like wings, rushed forward with their daggers extended.
Kassel had never seen a human run so fast. One of them started running on the wall instead of the ground, and the one running on the ground lowered his stance even more. They looked just like two bulls charging with their horns up.
Kassel, surrounded on all sides, was frozen, unable to move.
“Move.”
The man with the spear spoke in a blunt voice, grabbing Kassel by the throat and flinging him back. When Kassel’s nose hit the ground, he thought he was going to die without moving a muscle. But the target of the spear-wielding man was not Kassel, but the onrushing assassins.
The assassins lunged forward, swinging their swords at the large man. What happened then, Kassel could not see. The enormous spear seemed to bend like a reed in the wind, and then two flying swords and two men were deflected and thrown away.
The corpses fell next to Kassel, blood and flesh splattering everywhere. The pale, wide-eyed gaze of the dead met Kassel’s terrified gaze.
Kassel was startled but he clenched his mouth shut to prevent screaming. The spear-wielding man looked down at the dead assassins and muttered in a low voice.
“Those bastards again.”
He spun around, coming toward Kassel, and then suddenly stepped back. He noticed the sword on Kassel’s waist and without hesitation, pulled it out.
“First, you dumped the bandits on me, and now you bring assassins. Tell me, boy. How did you get this sword?”
His eyes were already ablaze, as if he knew everything. Kassel had never experienced such an intense gaze. It was not from the Black Lion Knight, nor from the Rose Knight, not even from Falcon. Despite all of them being warriors who had survived on the battlefield, none had such an intense gaze.
“Who are you?”
Kassel asked nervously,
“I asked first.”
His confident demeanor, his astounding skills with the spear, his speech indicating an intimate knowledge of the Aranthian sword.
Now, Kassel was certain of his identity. That’s why he wanted to hear it from the man’s own mouth. It felt like it would be worth it, even if it cost him his life right here and now.
Kassel addressed the stern-faced man,
“Regardless, you should answer first. If you know what this sword is!”
The spear-wielding man burst out in a hollow laugh.
“Bold, aren’t ya? But then again, you’d need that level of guts to impersonate the captain of the Wolf Knights.”
Only then did Kassel fully remember.
‘The man casually explaining things next to that woman with braided hair in the village of the damned had this voice!
Kassel stammered out,
“You’re… a White Wolf of the Aranthian Wolf Knights.”
The man grabbed Kassel by the collar, lifting him up, and said,
“Do you only recognize your subordinate now, captain?”
–TL Notes–
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