Chapter 79: Triumphant Return (3)

“Grandfather!”

Aaron cried out, overwhelmed with emotion.

But it was an outburst he couldn’t hold back.

“Young Master!”

Gide, the one he called out to, was looking straight at me.

Ah, such a fate, crossing paths yet missing each other.

I understood his concern for me, but I wished he could at least spare a glance for the face bruised by his own grandson’s blow.

“What on earth is that?!”

He pointed at the banner hanging sloppily in the corner of the room.

It was the Holy Banner of the Hor Church, proudly displayed before the Lord.

Gide, that old man, had dragged me into the room without hesitation and wouldn’t stop nagging.

‘Even when Richard was causing all that trouble, he just let it slide. What a guy, really.’

“Why such a fuss? By the way, is the aftereffect completely gone?”

I flicked through the medicine prescriptions as I examined Gide’s body.

Seeing Gide after so long, he had changed a lot.

No, perhaps I was only now able to truly feel his presence and strength.

“Master level… and that too, a mid-high rank.”

They said he was the former Knight Commander of the Third Knight Division, and his level was no joke.

At that level, he seemed even stronger than some Lords of the Warrior Houses.

Even Polk, the current Knight Commander, hadn’t reached Master level.

“Maybe it’s the effect of the tempering… The aftereffects are so minimal that his body is stronger than ever.”

Somehow, I nodded at his words.

Tempering had forged his body to its peak, then the Fruit of the World Tree healed him.

It was nothing short of a miracle.

No wonder his level had skyrocketed.

Perhaps he was on the verge of some new realization.

“More importantly,”

Gide’s expression hardened.

I thought he’d calmed down, but apparently not.

“What kind of thinking is that? I thought you’d finally matured…”

“Grandfather, please calm down just a little…”

The grandson tried to hold back the old man’s anger.

But it was useless.

The anger just flared toward that side instead.

“Aaron! What were you doing not stopping Young Master? Was trusting you a mistake?”

“Polk, Jack! You two are the same. I didn’t leave my post!”

Aaron, Polk, and Jack all looked like sheep who’d swallowed honey—they were speechless.

Seeing them scolded because of me was quite unpleasant.

“Calm down. Calm down.”

“Hah. Like I can calm down right now.”

What could possibly be this big a deal?

Raising the Holy Banner of the Hor Church had caused such a commotion?

A world that began with religion and carried history through religion now had no room left for freedom of faith. Such a sad thing.

“The Lord will be furious. I dare not imagine what punishment awaits.”

Gide’s words were echoed by Huger, who had been silent until now.

“That guy’s expression was downright scary. It looked like he was ready to draw his sword immediately.”

If an orc with a sixth sense says that, it’s no exaggeration.

“Haha! I nearly got myself killed right after returning.”

“Is that supposed to be funny?”

“Gide, you must have recovered your body. You look so lively; it’s good to see.”

Aaron laughed again at the rejuvenated old man.

Aaron also smiled thankfully at his grandfather’s healthy appearance.

I looked around the room.

Gide, Aaron, Huger, Polk, Jack…

Quite a gathering.

I didn’t know why they were all here in my room.

Just as I was about to open my mouth—

“Ri, Richard… Are we really okay?”

Moritz had come looking for me.

His face was pale and scared, his pupils trembling without reason.

He looked just as desperate to escape his old self as ever.

***

The tension at Bartenberg’s manor was thick.

Knights, servants, and attendants were all on edge.

The reason was obvious.

Richard von Bartenberg, whom everyone thought was returning in triumph, had made a shocking blunder.

As a candidate for Heir Apparent, Moritz’s rival Zeke Bartenberg, who had long been considered his greatest threat, was even more shaken.

What did everyone think when they saw the banner he raised?

This was not something to be dismissed like Richard’s past madness.

Raising a banner other than Bartenberg’s before the Lord was akin to raising a foreign nation’s flag before the king.

And this was after completing his duty and returning.

Even the bright power of Faith was overshadowed by such a blunder.

Countless rumors quietly leaked.

From mouth to mouth, repeated again and again until the tale grew large.

[The group symbolized by the Cruciform Banner will face destruction at the blade of Bartenberg.]

[The heirship between Richard and Moritz is over.]

[The two bloodlines are preparing rebellion.]

At first, it was just hushed whispers among servants and attendants, but soon even the upright knights began to prick up their ears, stimulated by the rumors.

“What on earth happened in the Baren Kingdom? And what’s with that banner?”

One knight, unable to bear it, went to ask directly.

No satisfactory answer came.

“We only follow orders.”

The Third Knight Division repeated the same words like parrots.

“The fun was short-lived, though. We just wait for the right opportunity.”

The First Knight Order merely responded with unclear grumbles.

As a result, the rumors only intensified.

The Third Knight Division sided with Richard and Moritz.

The First Knight Order kept its loyalty intact and refused to yield to their entreaties.

The Cruciform is a rebel symbol.

Soon, swords would be drawn throughout the entire house…

“Damn it?”

Richard covered his ears.

There were so many whispering rumors that his ears itched constantly.

Just seeing another faction’s banner caused this much chaos.

How much worse would it be if they knew it was a religious faction’s banner?

He tapped the table lightly.

Today marked the fifth day since his return, yet the atmosphere showed no sign of easing—if anything, the tension thickened.

“I expected this, though.”

I was tired of it all.

The stares following me all day annoyed me.

And Gide’s nagging about whether it was really necessary was something I hated even more.

I wanted to finish this quickly, but the Lord’s summons had yet to come.

“Young Master.”

Then Leon came to find me.

“Are we bothering you?”

I stared blankly at him, then smiled.

“I’m very bothered. Stick close. You should raise a banner too.”

“That’s a bit…”

“Oh, come on.”

The two looked at each other and chuckled.

Despite being refused, I could still smile because I knew the choice now was different from the choice of the future.

“How is Father?”

“Well… I haven’t had the chance to see or report to him yet. It seems he’s very angry.”

“Anger is a good thing. I’ve heard rumors that swords might be drawn.”

Leon sighed.

“Knights handle their mouths better than their swords.”

“Sounds like he’s excited by my return to madness after all this time.”

Suddenly, his eyes grew serious.

“There were plenty of better options. You tend to be too extreme, Young Master.”

Leon asked if it was really necessary to raise the banner right there.

I shook my head and laughed.

“What’s wrong with being extreme?”

“Yes, yes.”

“I had some talks with Sir Leon over time. We wondered if the Lord would easily accept religion.”

“Indeed.”

“So what was the answer?”

“… The Lord will never tolerate religion.”

There it was.

Richard’s gaze pierced him.

“I have no intention of giving up on religion.”

If it were something to be gained through negotiation, I would have tried.

But the Lord was not someone who’d back down after a few words.

In a world that did not believe in God, the one who ruled would never believe in God.

I realized this through Leon and confirmed it while looking at Balak.

If the Lord denied God, how could those beneath him be expected to believe?

Could knights, known for their integrity and honesty, betray their lord’s faith?

The answer was right before me.

Leon and the First Knight Order.

The moment he left Riot Castle, he forgot God.

Intentionally turning a blind eye.

‘It was unavoidable since the promise was made from the start.’

Even those who had once stepped in would not want to die over idle gossip.

That was why an extreme method was chosen.

Raising the banner openly was an act of declaration.

In this battle, Richard wanted only one thing: freedom of religion.

He did not care how others thought of God, just that he and his followers be granted freedom of faith.

That was all.

If even after this the disagreements did not narrow, I would have to break away from Bartenberg.

But why…

Leon had a look of frustration.

I could not understand that.

***

Shortly after Leon left, Gide came in panting.

At last, the awaited summons from the Lord had arrived.

“Young Master, please admit you were wrong. Say it was a mistake to raise the wrong banner…”

“Do you think that’s reasonable?”

I turned my back on the pleading Gide and headed to the Lord.

Apparently, they hoped I would keep my candidacy for Heir Apparent…

Well then, I was sorry.

When I left the study, I might no longer be Bartenberg.

Born with good bloodline and enjoying everything to the fullest, I might have to give it all up.

‘Honestly, the chances are pretty high. That stubborn noble, after all.’

Still, I didn’t care.

I was already prepared mentally.

None of what was here had truly belonged to me, and even if I lost it now, I had grown forces and power that made it no loss.

Rather than nervously watching my step within Bartenberg’s walls, it was more worthwhile for me to roam the continent, destroying debts.

“I’m here to see the Lord.”

I assumed a firm battle stance as I faced him.

I was ready to shout immediately.

I might even lose my life.

It was all calculated, yet there was nothing to lose.

All my nerves were focused on the head of the family.

“Have you come?”

But his voice was calmer than I had expected.

“I’ve heard the stories. You caused quite a stir at Riot Castle.”

Beneath the expressionless face was…

Resignation or expectation.

I couldn’t tell which. Maybe both.

“I also heard you now hold both stars of the Two Hands. Well done.”

That was an unexpected response.

I closed my eyes.

Unconsciously, I found it hard to meet the Lord’s gaze.

“Will you drop your guard? Are you not my enemy?”

“Until now, you were my enemy.”

Then he smiled.

It wasn’t a very pleasant smile.

“I want to talk.”

“Isn’t that why you called me?”

A breath escaped.

Though my body was tense as if facing a death god, the Lord treated me kindly.

Strangely, it felt uncomfortable.