Chapter 81: Conversation (2)

It was a decisive moment.

I went to meet those whom I truly considered my own people.

Since there were so many, it was easier for me to go in person than to summon them all.

The place I arrived at was the lodging of the Third Knight Division.

It was a military camp lined with statues of all the past commanders in a neat, warm garden.

Among those statues was one of Gide in his middle years.

His neatly slicked-back hair and the way he held his spear looked quite impressive.

“Wow, wouldn’t you be proud to have something like that erected for you?”

I nudged Gide’s arm as we walked side by side.

Having my own statue was a dream of mine too, but maybe Gide didn’t think so.

He just let out a deep sigh as if burdened.

From yesterday onward, everything had changed.

My words—serve the new lord, cut ties with old loyalties—must have been quite shocking.

“Oh! You’re here now…”

One of the knights of the Third Knight Division greeted me.

Then he suddenly zipped his lips shut.

It was because he saw Gide’s gloomy expression.

“Haha, Sir Gide has also arrived! Please, follow me.”

With an awkward smile, he took the lead.

The place we stopped at was the training grounds where the knights were polishing their weapons.

“Everyone’s here early.”

Since I had sent a notice beforehand, not only the Third Knight Division but also Aaron, Huger, and Moritz were all gathered.

They were assembled under the matter of the company announcement.

How many of these men would truly be my people till the end?

I intended to find out from now on.

What could possibly be so urgent to call these busy men together?

“Chwiik, for someone so busy, you didn’t rush to the call of a great warrior first?”

“Chwiik.”

Moritz’s face, which hadn’t found his path, turned red.

Knowing he’d shout soon if left like this, I silenced him.

“Don’t make noise there.”

All eyes turned toward me.

I slowly scanned the crowd.

I saw men waiting for me to speak.

Some gave me sly smiles when our eyes met; others sent looks full of respect and trust.

What would they become in a moment?

Whatever choice they made, I respected it, but I hoped they would follow me.

“I have something to share with you.”

“Yes…! What did the lord say?”

I carefully chose my words.

A sound of swallowing echoed here and there.

“He said to leave the house. He has no intention of following the doctrines of the smaller faction called Bartenberg.”

“So I said I would leave. To someday make the knights here true believers. I don’t know how long it will take.”

The knights fell silent. Their glaring eyes seemed ready to pierce through.

“Is there anyone willing to remove the Crest of Bartenberg from themselves and spread the Doctrine of Hor across the continent alongside me?”

No one answered.

“I won’t force it. Staying here doesn’t mean the bond between you and me is broken.”

These knights had struck the door of Bartenberg with their hopes and dreams.

They must have spent much longer time here than the few months I had.

So I left the choice to them.

I didn’t want to suppress those who had wielded loyalty and faith as their weapons to follow me.

Bartenberg or Hor.

Two factions that could never be mixed now offer a binary choice.

They had to choose one path.

Even if in the end both paths converge again.

The quiet crowd.

Tension ran thick on the faces of the men.

At that moment, Aaron stepped forward.

Paladin Aaron. The man who had pledged his oath with me.

He struck his chest with a resolute look.

“Lord, I will follow you.”

I smiled at his words.

Then he moved behind me.

As always, meaning he would follow me.

“Damn! He beat me to it.”

Suddenly, someone shouted loudly.

It was Jack of the Third Knight Division.

“I’ll be second.”

“You’re out. You’re weaker than me.”

“Fine! Let’s go by rank.”

One by one, voices started to rise.

The faces that had been deep in thought now carried firm resolve.

“If not us, then who will serve the Saint?”

“I said I’d follow anywhere, so I’ll keep my word.”

“The aftershock of the Crest was expected, but this is somewhat shocking. Well, if it’s with you, Lord, I’ll go anywhere.”

I took a deep breath.

It almost felt like my nose would twitch.

Though knights were usually straightforward in thought, I hadn’t expected answers here.

“…Why second?”

Did their faith run so deep that they would leave their own house?

No, even so, was this a decision they could make so quickly?

“Well, because the Lord said he’s leaving.”

“They’re believers, but we can’t let the Lord go alone.”

“No matter what happens, we’ve received the command to follow. It was in a dream last night.”

My inquiry was answered in the simplest terms.

The men stared blankly.

Foolishly, they said they would follow me, not a god.

I couldn’t help but smile.

Though it was the same words, it felt completely different from when it was Gide.

These were my true people.

They were not just “Richard” but the noble swordsmen who truly followed me.

“Then, since you’re no longer Young master of Bartenberg, can I speak freely now?”

“It’s annoying. From now on, call me Saint.”

Polk, the commander of the Third Knight Division, chuckled and joked.

That was such a childish remark that I rejected it immediately.

“Chwiik! In our tribe, we celebrate those who leave on a journey. There’s no such thing here?”

“Stuffed yourself full at Riot Castle and still want to have a banquet?”

“Let them be pigs,” Huger said, inviting everyone to the feast.

Thanks to that, the heavy atmosphere lightened considerably.

Until Moritz suddenly shouted.

“This is wrong!”

His face full of dissatisfaction glared at me.

His outstretched finger pointed directly at me.

“Richard!”

“…Hmph.”

Moritz kept gritting his teeth but couldn’t continue speaking.

He looked quite shocked.

It was understandable.

This place must hold an especially deep meaning for Moritz.

“You know exactly what Bartenberg means to me…”

“Of course I do. But what else can we do with the situation like this?”

“Ugh…”

His two hands trembled violently.

He must be having a hard time.

Every time he spoke, it was about becoming a man fit for Bartenberg, about respecting his father and older brother.

Moritz had treated this house like his whole life.

But I said I wouldn’t force anyone.

If you don’t want to, then stay.

I understood his feelings fully.

He believed in God to become Bartenberg, but now he had to leave Bartenberg for God.

It was more surprising that he wasn’t utterly shocked.

“You should choose what’s more important to you. It’s your life.”

So I harbored no resentment.

Whatever choice Moritz made, I would respect it.

“…Damn it.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Moritz suddenly kicked his seat and stood up.

No one tried to stop him.

Only Huger twitched his body.

“Chwiik, are you alright?”

“Don’t ask.”

It wasn’t a refusal.

He would decide after deep contemplation.

I looked at the empty seat Moritz left and spoke again.

“We’ll leave Bartenberg in a week. The Baren Kingdom will be our base.”

I briefly relayed the plan.

At the mention of Baren, the knights’ eyes sparkled.

“The Baren Kingdom?”

“Yes. More precisely, Riot Castle.”

Whether the lord accepted the religion or not, I planned to return to Riot Castle.

Riot Castle and the Baren Kingdom were ideal as bases for the Hor Church.

Since things turned out like this, we’d make a fresh start completely in the Baren Kingdom.

The future unfolded in my mind.

“The glory of Bartenberg will not follow you.”

The knights made stubborn faces.

“But the light of Hor will shine with you.”

I said with a smile.

Then the knights loudly chanted “Hor.”

This was what you called a sworn alliance.

I turned my head to Gide, who had quietly listened to the entire conversation.

He still seemed unable to compose himself.

Sudden religious change and my altered demeanor must have been difficult to accept.

Tap-tap.

Without a word, I patted Gide’s shoulder and left.

***

“Did you really plan to chase him out?”

Vallach clicked his tongue and handed a glass.

Sitting before him, Ludwig quietly closed his eyes.

Behind those closed lids appeared a rebellious face.

“I merely broke the boy’s chains.”

Hadn’t he himself declared to spread faith across the continent?

The name Bartenberg would only hold him back.

In the southern continent, the power here was almost synonymous with notoriety.

“You may have broken the chains, but the bird doesn’t fly away.”

It was a relief that he wasn’t kept caged—

Vallach smirked and chuckled.

“Vallach, will you follow Richard?”

“I’ve already told him everything I can with two stars.”

How skilled Richard was at mastering the power of the Sword Saint mattered most.

Of course, Vallach had no intention of trailing behind Richard and doing menial tasks.

“When he become four stars, we’ll meet again.”

“You searched so hard for your place, and now you abandon it?”

“It’s not abandonment, it’s maturation.”

The holy wine in the bottle clinked.

“Aren’t you excited? To see how far he can go.”

“Hmm, if he was going halfway, he wouldn’t have even started.”

“Krkrkr… such faith. It’s a different story from a few days ago.”

Only after Vallach emptied the bottle did he leave.

Ludwig, left alone, raised the bottle of holy wine before him.

Breaking chains but not setting birds free.

It wasn’t a wrong statement, nor was it entirely right.

What Ludwig wanted to see was the great Saint Richard himself, not a whining boy.

Besides, Moritz would surely join Richard’s path.

Ludwig’s gaze toward Moritz held immense respect.

Like a loyal retainer devoted to his lord.

How did Richard manage to save Moritz?

Their relationship certainly hadn’t been good.

“Sigh…”

Whatever the circumstances, as a father sending off his two sons, he didn’t want to send them empty-handed.

At least in the end, he would do his part as a father.

His eyes rested on three wooden boxes in a corner of the office.

Clink—

Ludwig opened two of them and nodded.

The unopened box was disregarded, but the other two held fairly decent gifts.