After witnessing the fall of the Red Rose Count’s castle and Latilda rising from the dead through dark powers, Dunmel headed towards Blackfoot. He neither went to Leang to join with Loyal nor to Ambrue to save Kassel. Somehow, Dunmel had a hunch that Karlsten was behind the start of this incident and for the first time since he left, decided to seek out Blackfoot.
The person who came to meet him was not Heder but Balak, and Heder was by the side of Guild Master Gerard. Sitting quietly in the underground chamber, Gerard seemed so aged that the meeting brought more sorrow than joy. The pain was greater because Dunmel felt he was the one who had caused this.
Dunmel decided to propose a deal to Gerard.
First, he asked who had commissioned the assassination of the White Wolves.
Of course, the assassin’s guild couldn’t reveal the identity of their client. That’s why it could be a condition of the trade. Dunmel declared he would pay a corresponding price for this deal.
A price worth exchanging for the future of Blackfoot. It was the transmission of skills.
Gerard put forward Balak. Dunmel had known about him since the time he saw him in Normant. He knew that he was the successor of Blackfoot.
Gerard ordered Balak to kill Themar, thus Dunmel knew that Gerard had accepted the deal.
Dunmel taught Balak and returned to Gerard. As promised, Gerard revealed that the one who commissioned the assassination was the Black Lion Count.
As he was about to leave, Gerard asked about the outcome of the contract from eight years ago that led to the downfall of Blackfoot. At that moment, Dunmel realized. He had returned to Blackfoot to ask this!
Finding out that the Black Lion Count was the assassination client wasn’t important at all. Of course, it served as a precious opportunity for Kassel to press Count Lumerier during his execution three days later, but it didn’t help in uncovering the truth of the incident.
Gerard mentioned in the last moment that Dunmel’s fight was not yet over.
The man who commissioned the assassination of Queen Sanadiel eight years ago was still connected to Dunmel.
☆ ☆ ☆
On the day of the monsters’ attack, all available soldiers were mobilized to start rebuilding the defensive line around Larvitten Bridge. Every tree nearby that could be felled was cut down to build a wall, and stakes were erected along the river in case the Mozes tried to swim across.
One of the Masters was always guarding the bridge, ready to destroy it at any moment. However, the survivors they hoped for did not return through that bridge to Nonsearch.
While helping with the construction of the palisades, Dunmel looked back at the mountains behind Lutia. To the northwest of Lutia, against the backdrop of the river, stood steep, cliff-like mountains.
Dunmel asked Luder if there was a possibility of the Mozes coming over those mountains. He flatly said it was impossible, but then reconsidered and corrected his statement.
“It might be possible if they turn back. I had assumed those brutes had no brains. To surprise us, they might climb over the rocky mountains. But with a clever commander among them, it’s even less likely they will come over the mountains.”
— Why?
“Climbing over the mountains isn’t really a good option for them. It’s so rugged that only a small number can come over at a time. Such a move wouldn’t pose much of a threat to us. But let’s keep a guard there just in case. It’s uncertain whether they’ll choose to cross the river or come over the mountains.”
Dunmel kept watching over the bridge even while working on the palisades. There was no sign or feeling of the Mozes’ movements. Was it too greedy to hope that Flora was alive? He kept looking back with lingering thoughts.
Sometimes he closed his eyes, trying to sense Flora’s presence from Downsearch. But it was hard to find a woman’s faint aura amidst the strong life forces emitted by the Mozes.
After finishing the palisade work, Dunmel climbed the tower to find Dethain’s room. Climbing the incredibly high, spiraling staircase, Dunmel strangely found himself out of breath. He felt dizzy. Had it been like this the last time he climbed here?
Dethain was discussing something with Golbein, the principal of Kainswick. They were so engrossed that they didn’t notice Dunmel’s presence.
Dunmel knocked on the open door, and the two men turned around belatedly.
“What brings you here, Knight Dunmel?”
Dunmel approached and wrote Flora’s name on the table. Dethain seemed slightly surprised that he specifically mentioned one person’s name among the many who had died or gone missing in the recent battle.
“I’ve already looked into that matter.”
The issue that the two Masters were discussing turned out to be exactly this. Dethain unfolded a parchment named ‘Ettley’s Map’.
“We thought that using the power of the map, we could distinguish between humans and Mozes. If there were captives, they would appear on the map. If we could locate them, we could go to rescue them. That’s why we moved the map here, under this tower where magic is strongest. Justin might also be captured…”
Many had witnessed Justin being stabbed by a Mozes’ spear. Yet, Dethain held a faint hope.
“Anyway, take a look at this.”
Dunmel checked the dots floating on the parchment. About a hundred red dots were floating around various villages occupied by the enemy.
There were many dots around the tower representing civilians and sorcerers, but no dots in the villages occupied by the Mozes.
Dunmel felt dizzy. Had the hostages not been kept alive? Or had they been moved outside Lutia?
“Look over here, not there.”
Dethain pointed to another part of the map with sparkling dots. The area he pointed to was the field hospital in Nonsearch. There were about fifty floating dots. But Dunmel remembered that the number of soldiers injured just before he climbed the tower, plus the villagers caring for them, had been over a hundred. Before he could ask why only fifty were shown, Dethain explained first.
“Under the protection of White Mystery, this map becomes powerful enough to display each individual person. However, those with weak life forces, like the injured, are not properly displayed. Therefore, only the villagers treating the injured appear as dots on the map. It means if our captured sorcerers or soldiers are still alive but injured, we can’t detect them with this map.”
Dethain did not assume that Justin or Flora were dead until the end. Dunmel appreciated his small consideration.
Dunmel decided to hold on to hope too.
‘Ah!’
Just before folding the map, Dunmel spotted a very faint white dot in Downsearch. But then the dot faded away. Dunmel folded his raised finger.
“What’s wrong?”
Dunmel shook his head as if to say it was nothing.
“You look tired. Leave the work to us for a while and go rest.”
Dunmel intended to return to where the soldiers were, but feeling too drained to go far, he instead went to the room Bedford had initially shown him. The fatigue might be due to the Mozes’ poison, he thought, so before sleeping, he applied the herbs Dethain had given him to the injured part of his forearm. The pungent smell of the herbs stung his nose. Then, as soon as his head hit the pillow, he fell asleep.
In his dream, Dunmel met a young Heder.
Heder was like a daughter to him. Just as a daughter playfully claims she’ll marry her dad, Heder harbored similar feelings towards Dunmel. The memory of her trying to hide these feelings when they met again came to his mind.
‘You should have a place to settle down, and so should I.’
Dunmel said this to himself, not to Heder.
☆ ☆ ☆
The only person to see him off when he left Blackfoot was Heder. He wanted to talk more with Gerard, but he had to hurry back to Normant with the information about the Black Lion Count.
‘You haven’t completely returned, have you.’
Heder said in sign language as she followed the hurriedly walking Dunmel.
‘Didn’t you know? I am no longer an agent of Blackfoot.’
Dunmel replied in sign language as he walked.
Heder, too, adeptly used sign language with one hand while walking. The one-handed sign language unique to Dunmel was something only Sheyden among the White Wolves could do. That she could do it meant she had been practicing it all these years, even during their time apart. In Normant, when she was about to kidnap the king, Heder had immediately abandoned the mission upon realizing that Dunmel was Themar, and expressed hope that Themar would return to Blackfoot. Seeing her use the one-handed signs, Dunmel felt the sincerity in her wish.
As they were parting, Heder struggled to continue her words. Seeing her tearful eyes, Dunmel also found it hard to say anything. He remembered the moment eight years ago when he left for the assassination of the Queen of Aranthia commissioned by an unknown man. Master Karlsten scolded Dunmel, who showed tears while parting with Heder, telling him to abandon any thoughts of returning…
Heder signed:
‘There’s growing dissatisfaction within the organization about not having a successor. Most of the higher members, including myself, are supporting Gerard, barely suppressing the complaints. Honestly, we’ve been anxious about a possible rebellion. Now, those higher members all died in Normant, at the hands of your friend. Some agents are starting to show signs of rebellion.’
There were still several assassins around Dunmel and Heder, watching them.
‘If you hadn’t come today and passed on his skills to Balak, things could have been really dangerous. Now, we can reorganize Blackfoot around Balak.’
Dunmel shook his head.
‘It’s your responsibility, Heder. Balak may become a master of assassination, but you are still the leader of Blackfoot. Don’t forget that.’
Dunmel hugged Heder. He wanted to whisper softly in her ear, embracing her like others would with their loved ones, but it pained him that he couldn’t.
Heder hugged him tightly and didn’t let go for a long time.
“I’ll always be waiting.â€
After releasing the hug, Heder said with a tearful smile.
“Please let me know if there’s anything I can help with.â€
Dunmel wanted to say a cold goodbye here to leave no lingering feelings. But seeing Heder’s smile, holding back tears, he couldn’t hide his true feelings.
‘This isn’t a final goodbye. I hope to see you grown even more someday.’
“Of course. If Balak is Gerard’s son, then I am Themar’s daughter.â€
Dunmel faintly smiled and stroked her hair. Then, slowly, he stepped back.
“Please take care of yourself.”
With that, Dunmel left. But until the last moment he was out of sight, Heder did not turn away but kept watching him.
Heder’s last image appeared in Dunmel’s dreams, even when he collapsed in Lutia.
‘Maybe that was the last time. I should have turned away more coldly. It’s because I couldn’t that I am still suffering like this.’
☆ ☆ ☆
A drizzle had been falling since morning. By lunchtime, Lutiano had reopened. All the Masters, except Philip guarding Larvitten Bridge, the missing Justin, and the deceased Ettley, gathered in one place. Loyal and Dunmel also participated.
“We can’t delay any longer. We need reinforcements.”
Luder spoke to Grand Master Ruskin. The old master looked tired, as if drained of vitality. Ruskin had been absent since the major battle, busy with some matter, and appeared to have not slept for days, evident from the dark circles under his eyes.
Dethain spoke in place of the weary Ruskin.
“I intended to do so earlier, but who could leave their post? The gap only widened with the loss of Ettley and then Justin.”
“That’s why we need to hurry in calling for reinforcements, isn’t it?”
Philip interjected.
Dethain looked frustrated and said,
“To be honest, seeing the two Wolf Knights performing so well recently makes me feel embarrassed about my initial skepticism.”
Dethain turned his head specifically to apologize. Loyal just stood there stoically, not accepting the apology.
“That’s why I’m saying this. Actually, Master Quain said this. I don’t know what danger is in Lutia, but if five White Wolves can’t solve it, even if the entire Wolf Knights came, they wouldn’t solve it either… I doubted those words, but now I think I can believe them a bit. If I hadn’t lost those two on the way here, this disaster might have been different.”
Dethain naturally shifted all the responsibility onto himself. The Masters who had witnessed the achievements of Dunmel and Loyal largely agreed with Dethain’s words. Continuing with an apologetic expression, Dethain said,
“However, even after Grand Master Ruskin exhausted his strength, he couldn’t find those two. Honestly, I don’t know how to solve this situation.”
Ruskin, who had been quiet, spoke up. Dunmel slightly missed the timing to look at his lips as Ruskin started speaking so quietly.
“…is not to blame. It’s nobody’s responsibility, so let’s not talk about one’s own responsibility anymore. Instead, I suggest we once again inform the Queen of Aranthia of this matter and request reinforcements. What do you think?”
Dunmel shivered, perhaps catching a cold. His vision was blurry, making it difficult to understand people’s words.
“Honestly, I don’t have the face to see her again,”
Dethain said with a lack of confidence.
“Diplomacy has been left to Dethain, and I would like him to ask Aranthia once again for the military support we need. What do you two knights think?”
Luder asked, looking at Loyal and Dunmel.
Dunmel actually couldn’t agree with the statement that ‘if all the White Wolves had come, this disaster could have been prevented.’ With such a huge difference in forces, whether two or four came, it wouldn’t have made much difference.
“I agree with requesting reinforcements from Aranthia. Those reinforcements should be…”
Loyal continued slowly.
“…just one more White Wolf who hasn’t arrived yet and our Captain.”
Everyone was surprised. Dunmel cautiously asked in sign language.
‘Just Kassel and Sheyden?’
Loyal nodded and then spoke not just to Dunmel but to everyone in Lutiano.
“Captain Wolf performed a miracle in Camort, something not even the combined strength of all five White Wolves could have achieved, and Sheyden Wolf is like a brother to all in the Wolf Knights, skilled in strategy and tactics. With just those two, we can somehow endure this.”
“Does that mean… with just two more people, we can repel this massive horde of Mozes?”
“Perhaps.”
“How?”
“If I knew how, I would have done it myself. That’s why we’re calling for people who can.”
Loyal stubbornly insisted on his point.
Ruskin intervened.
“Then, Dethain, please ask the Queen of Aranthia for reinforcements centered around those two.”
It was a roundabout way of saying to ask for at least those two as reinforcements, but Dethain, not particularly keen on diplomacy, eventually agreed.
Afterward, Luder discussed the defense strategy for the rear mountains Dunmel had mentioned and the future vigilance. Golbein talked at length about the protection of the Kainswick students and the issue of the teachers’ deaths, but no conclusion was reached.
Finally, Golbein proposed several ways to repel the monsters with magic. A few of them were practical enough to be used in actual combat, so Luder paid close attention.
Dunmel couldn’t concentrate on the meeting. His mind was preoccupied with Flora’s situation and the issue of Aranthia’s reinforcements Loyal had mentioned.
After the meeting, as they were leaving the conference room, Dunmel spoke in sign language.
‘Why did you mention Kassel? Kassel’s arrival won’t dramatically resolve the situation we’re in now. It would be better if as many of the Wolf Knights as possible came.’
“I don’t know why I said that suddenly either. But I think something will change if Kassel comes.”
Loyal looked down at his palm.
“The feeling when Kassel handed me the sword of Aranthia in front of the Lord of the Black Knights is indescribable. I’ve never felt such a strong sense of trust from anyone else. I wanted to show Kassel the strength of a White Wolf’s fangs. I wanted to show him that I was giving my all without holding back. That was a miracle for me. I believe in that miracle.”
Dunmel remembered that Loyal was the first to kneel before Kassel. Though they had spent a short time together, the trust between Kassel and Loyal was stronger than with anyone else.
‘Giving your all?’
“It’s a bit complicated to explain.”
‘I understand.’
“If Dethain could relay my opinion to Nadium, the rest would be up to Her Majesty. If Her Majesty thinks it necessary, even if I oppose, she might dispatch the entire Wolf Knights.”
‘Given Her Majesty’s occasionally fiery temperament, might she not question the loss of the two White Wolves instead?’
Loyal gave a weak smile.
“Possibly. But you’ve been looking sick since yesterday. Are you infected with poison?”
‘I applied the medicine.’
“Probably too much worry.”
‘Maybe.’
After parting with Loyal and intending to return to his room, Dunmel found himself at Kainswick when he came to his senses.
“Knight Dunmel.”
Bedford, who he bumped into in the hallway, acknowledged him first.
“Is there anything I can help with?”
Why was he here?
Dunmel blankly stood there, then remembering Flora, he wrote on the paper Bedford offered. Bedford guided him to Flora’s office with a sad smile. The fact that students were still cleaning her room, even amid these circumstances, showed how precious Flora had been in Kainswick.
As Bedford appeared, they greeted him and left.
“I’ll leave you to it.”
Bedford left Dunmel alone in the room and departed.
In the room filled with the smell of old paper, various odds and ends of unknown purpose were scattered about. The walls were lined with an enormous number of books, each showing signs of frequent handling. Considering that the students had just cleaned it, Dunmel could imagine how untidy it usually was.
Books that couldn’t fit on the shelves were piled high on every desk, and several layers of clothes hung on the coat hanger. Among them was the outfit Flora had worn the first time they met for a meal. Despite his poor physical condition and muddled mind, his memories of her were strangely vivid.
Hearing a noise from behind, Dunmel turned to see a young boy standing at the door, panting heavily. Anger filled his eyes, and hot steam came out of his mouth, having obviously run there quickly.
“So it’s you. I heard you can’t hear but understand, right?”
Dunmel nodded.
“Then listen carefully. The teacher died because of you.”
The boy pointed a finger accusatorily and was visibly upset. Dunmel just looked at his face.
“The teacher was more afraid of Mozes than anyone. She would hide in this room and tremble at any sign of Mozes’ attack. Do you know why? Because her boyfriend died right before her eyes. He was the first to die when the Mozes first attacked Outsearch.”
The boy burst into tears.
“Do you understand? You understand what I’m saying, right?”
Dunmel nodded again.
“Then keep listening! After that, the teacher always avoided Mozes. When you showed up, she thought she couldn’t just hide while an outsider was fighting so hard for Lutia. She went to the battlefield despite everyone trying to stop her. I know it! You pushed her into battle, didn’t you? You egged her on to fight?”
The boy lunged and grabbed Dunmel’s clothes. Dunmel didn’t resist.
“Do you know? I wish the teacher had just died! Not captured, but died painlessly before being taken. If she is still alive… I can’t bear to imagine her conscious among those monsters. Do you even know how scared she was of Mozes? Have you ever seen her clutching me and crying whenever Mozes appeared?”
Dunmel couldn’t tell how loud the boy’s voice was, but considering the number of students rushing in to pull him away, it must have been echoing throughout the corridor.
Dunmel just kept looking at the boy’s face.
“Go and rescue her. If you can’t, shoot her from afar with an arrow. You’re good with a bow, right? What’s this about reinforcements from Aranthia? Go back to your own country right now!”
Bedford appeared and pulled the boy away from Dunmel. The boy struggled, trying to make sure Dunmel could see his lips till the end. Dunmel didn’t avert his gaze.
“If we were going to be overrun by monsters with you here, you shouldn’t have come… Then the teacher would have…”
The boy was finally subdued by the students and hung his head in tears, while Dunmel remained motionless. Other teachers from Kainswick came to console the boy and took him away, and soon the students dispersed.
Only Bedford remained to comfort Dunmel.
“The boy’s name is Cesar. He lost his magical parents and saw Flora as a mother. The shock must be enormous for him. Please, overlook the words of a child. Everyone knows that without you, we wouldn’t have been able to hold Larvitten Bridge.”
After offering his consolation, Bedford left, but Dunmel shook with anger and guilt.
On the wall was a drawing of the ‘Magic-Enhanced Bow’ that Flora had been researching until the end. There were several arrows stuck in the wall, indicating the number of times she had experimented here. He pulled one out and threw it at the opposite wall. The arrow flew sharply as if shot from a bow and embedded itself in a wooden pillar. The tip of the arrow trembled faintly.
Suddenly, his breathing became labored. Dunmel leaned against the wall and then fell to the floor headfirst. There was no impact. Everything just seemed a bit blurry. He saw someone’s feet hurrying towards him. Then, his consciousness faded away.
–TL Notes–
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