Chapter 21: Useless Moritz (1)

“Damn it.”

After the private meeting with the head of the house, I flopped down on my bed.

Gide—why does that man always go and make trouble for no reason, giving me a headache?

Back then, I did think of a way to both consume the dragon heart and save Gide’s life.

The problem is, the head of the house has no intention of helping me at all.

Before I could even bring up my idea, he shut me down with those final words:

‘It’s done. I have no intention of helping you. If you want to save him, do it yourself.’

I couldn’t read the emotions behind his cold gaze.

But one thing was clear—he planned to see what I would do from here on.

‘Him saying he won’t help means I can’t expect support from the family.’

If that’s the case, it’ll be extremely difficult to carry out the plan.

“Sigh…”

I thought we were having a decent conversation for once, but in the end, all knights are the same—stubborn and inflexible.

No give and take. None.

Anyway, doing this alone would be nearly impossible.

Since I can’t rely on Bartenberg’s help, I’ll have to find another way.

While I was lost in thought, someone knocked at the door.

“Young master, I heard you were looking for me.”

Ah, he’s already here.

When I opened the door, Aaron was standing there, stiff as always.

I called him, sure, but I wasn’t quite sure how to begin. Seeing his face, I hesitated.

“Young master?”

“Ah, come in.”

I snapped out of it and invited Aaron in.

I sat him in a chair and took a seat across from him.

“May I ask why you called for me?”

His voice interrupted my thoughts.

Aaron, the one who said he’d become my personal knight once he reached the upper tier.

How would he react when I told him this?

“Did you know?”

“Know what, sir?”

“That Gide and the 3rd Knight Order went out to slay a dragon.”

His expression didn’t change.

That dependable, stoic face.

So, he did know.

Soon, he spoke.

“Yes. I wanted to stand on the battlefield with Sir Gide, but he asked me to remain here.”

He spoke casually, as if it were nothing.

But that wasn’t the full story.

According to the head of the house, it had been a week since they got word that Gide had entered the ‘tempering’ process.

Meaning, the news arrived while we were out.

That means Aaron still doesn’t know.

Gide probably didn’t mention it before leaving.

He didn’t tell him that he was taking on all the burden himself to offer me the dragon heart.

“The reason I called you is because of Gide.”

“Ah, have you heard something? I’ve been worried since I’ve had no news lately.”

It’s hard to say, but I had to.

I swallowed bitterly and continued.

“Gide has begun the tempering process.”

Silence filled the room.

A suffocating, heavy silence.

“Sir… Gide?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded and went on.

“The reason he joined the 3rd Knight Order on this mission… is to give me the dragon heart.”

What would Aaron say?

Slaying a dragon is dangerous, yes—but it’s still possible to hope for his safe return.

But undergoing the tempering process? There’s no hope in that.

At best, you survive with your life, but live forever with a crippled body.

“So that’s why Sir Gide joined the mission… I had wondered.”

Aaron spoke in his usual calm tone.

But in his eyes, I saw sorrow and deep concern.

“If you’re feeling guilty, young master, please don’t. Everything was Sir Gide’s own choice.”

I stayed silent and listened.

“He is a true warrior, the strongest of the old guard of House Meyer.”

“To deny his choice is to trample on his pride as a warrior,” Aaron added.

You’re just like the rest of them.

“Respect a knight’s choice,” huh?

Sounds noble.

“But I can’t accept it.”

“Pardon?”

“Choice or whatever, I still don’t accept it.”

There is a way to save Gide.

And it’s in my head.

It’s risky, but it’s a sure method.

This isn’t just about saving Gide.

His life is just one of the many benefits I could gain.

“Aaron, I’m giving you two months. Learn to handle aura and become my personal knight.”

“Huh? All of a sudden…?”

The head told me not to expect the family’s help.

Fine. Then I’ll just take my own knight with me.

No—this might be even better.

“We’re leaving for the Elven Forest in two months.”

The World Tree exists in that forest.

Its fruit is said to grant immortality.

Even the tree itself holds divine power.

It’s a fundamental force of this world.

Healing one human? That’s nothing for it.

“Did you say… the Elven Forest?”

“Yeah.”

“Why are you going there? The location’s never even been discovered…”

“I know where it is. And there’s a treasure there that can cure the aftereffects of tempering.”

At my words, Aaron’s body flinched.

“Is this… related to the barrier in Snowfall? Or what you mentioned earlier?”

“Yeah. You want to save Gide too, right?”

“Even if that’s true, elves wouldn’t help a human…”

I have my reasons to believe they will.

What Aaron needs to do is simple: reach a higher tier and become my knight.

“So what, you’re giving up? Keep saying you respect his choice, while doing nothing?”

The mask Aaron had been holding up started to crack.

Confusion and inner conflict slowly appeared on his face.

He finally spoke after a long silence.

“If I can… I want to save my grandfather.”

The way he clenched his fists showed how serious he was.

You should’ve said that from the start.

I looked out the window.

It had been dark for some time now.

“Starting tomorrow, we’re training hard. Can you learn aura in two months?”

He looked down at his hand and replied,

“After my mana root changed, handling mana has become much easier.”

“So you can do it?”

“I’ll make it happen. No matter what.”

Good.

I wasn’t planning to slack off either.

I remembered the Death Knight that attacked Snowfall.

Getting helplessly beaten by that monster… never again.

I cleared my throat and turned to Aaron.

“By the way, Aaron.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever thought about believing in God?”

***

Moritz adjusted his clothes in front of the mirror.

Even now, he still got nervous before breakfast with the head of the house.

He soon walked down the hall with his escort, Hendrick.

“Enjoy your meal, young master Moritz.”

“Yeah.”

He brushed off Hendrick’s greeting and took a deep breath before entering the dining room.

“Moritz Bartenberg greets the head of the house.”

A full formal greeting.

He forced himself to act calm, but his voice trembled slightly.

“Sit.”

He heard the head’s voice past his bowed head.

Only then did Moritz straighten up—and notice an unexpected figure.

‘Richard?’

That useless younger brother he was embarrassed to even call family.

The idiot was sitting beside the head of the house.

‘So he’s back from his outing… but why would the head summon him?’

Moritz glared as he took his seat.

Richard didn’t even look at him, let alone greet him.

The disrespect burned inside.

But he swallowed it. This was no place to cause a scene.

“Eat.”

At the head’s words, the meal began.

Richard picked up his knife and fork and began devouring the meat.

To Moritz, even that was annoying.

‘What, did he starve the whole time he was out?’

Pathetic.

He was silently mocking his brother when—

“Father.”

Richard spoke.

One word. But the meaning was shocking.

“F-Father?!”

Moritz stood up without thinking.

Calling the head “Father”? Had this guy gone insane?

There was an unspoken rule in the family—you don’t casually refer to the patriarch as “Father.”

“Richard, you insolent—!”

“Why does it bother you?”

The head cut him off.

His tone was calm, as if it didn’t matter at all.

Moritz was stunned.

“Please permit me to use the private training ground in the Western Wing.”

Richard calmly made his request.

A place he’d once been banned from using. He spoke as if he expected it to be granted.

“Hmm.”

The head looked at Richard.

‘Hah. Feeling bold these days, aren’t you?’

Moritz snorted.

He expected the head to scold Richard.

But instead—

“Permission granted.”

The head’s reply made Moritz freeze, his knife halting in mid-cut.

Was it just his imagination, or was the head’s tone… slightly softer than usual?

And that wasn’t all.

“So, do you think your method will work?”

The head asked Richard directly, eyes filled with curiosity.

Moritz couldn’t recall ever seeing that expression on the man.

“With support, it’ll be much easier.”

There was weight behind Richard’s words.

Was this really the same fool he remembered?

The one who used to tremble before the head?

“Handle it as best you can.”

That was the end of the conversation.

As Moritz sat there dumbfounded, the meal continued.