Chapter 49: Living Corpses and Living Corpses (3)

I ordered the Third Knight Division to bring the carriages and assist with the aftermath of the battlefield.

The two carriages, loaded full of believers, were waiting in a corner of the forest near Riot Castle.

Just in case, I had Adele stay with them as well, so there shouldn’t be any problems.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes. Please follow me.”

I began walking after Leon.

“Wait! I’m coming too!”

Moritz chased after me.

“Why don’t you just help the other Knights? What are you coming along for?”

“Hmph, I’m a Bartenberg too. I’m more than qualified.”

Moritz, whether in Barten House or anywhere else, seemed determined to follow me wherever I went.

I decided to just ignore it.

***

Thus, we arrived inside Riot Castle.

Aside from the Duke of Bartenberg, the five commanders representing each Martial Union family and five middle-aged men radiating powerful auras were gathered.

Leon, Moritz, and I took our seats around the Round Table.

A heavy silence hung over the table.

I wondered why no one was speaking, and only after looking around did I realize.

The leaders were quietly watching me, as if giving me the right to speak first.

I suppose I should start by introducing myself.

I stood up from my seat.

“I am Richard von Bartenberg. By order of the Head of House, I have joined the Union with the Third Knight Division.”

Moritz immediately jumped up and opened his mouth.

“I—I’m Moritz Bartenberg!”

He seemed nervous to be here.

Perhaps embarrassed by his late outburst, Moritz’s face flushed red as he quickly sat back down.

“It is an honor to be in the presence of the scions of Great Bartenberg.”

“How reassuring to have such noble personages step forward themselves! We offer our boundless gratitude for the wisdom and mercy of Bartenberg.”

The commanders offered up their well-practiced flattery.

After a round of these obvious compliments, they finally introduced themselves.

The Linne Family and the Ord Family, with their mastery of spear and bow.

The Jackal Family, wielders of the greatsword.

The Saiyen Family, specializing in dual swordsmanship.

And finally, the Helga Family, famous for swinging their massive Great Axe.

I closed my eyes.

Barely suppressing a sigh, I spoke.

“That’s enough introductions.”

This wasn’t some social gathering—why all the lengthy greetings?

What’s more, the situation was extremely dire.

I decided to ask the most pressing question first.

“Why are we being pushed back even though the five Martial Union families have joined forces?”

I had suspected that something unusual had happened.

Still, it was hard to comprehend.

As far as I knew, the Martial Union had originally been made up of three families.

Only the Knights of Helga, Jackal, and Ord had cooperated.

At least, that was before the war with the Southern Region intensified.

But what about now?

Already two more families had joined the Union, and even their heads had stepped forward, yet they were still being pushed back by the Undead.

“No matter how low the Union’s morale, or how much worse the Magic has gotten, I just can’t understand it.”

I looked at the leaders.

They all kept their mouths shut, like cats who’d swallowed canaries.

Just as I was about to press them for an answer, Leon spoke up.

“…At first, the Union was formed from the Knight Orders of three families from the Baren Kingdom and us, the First Knight Division. That seemed sufficient. But as you know, young master, one day an abnormal event occurred.”

He was referring to the rift.

The Martial Union must have been unable to avoid the fear and chaos.

This much, I had expected.

“That day, Riot Castle was pushed to the brink of collapse, and only after great sacrifice did we manage to hold out. Young master, I am deeply sorry. All of this is due to my lack of qualification as Commander.”

“I’m not here to assign blame. I don’t even have the right to do so.”

I stopped him as he stood up and bowed his head.

Who could possibly be blamed for that day’s disaster?

No matter how skilled, there are calamities that simply cannot be avoided.

The body grows stiff with fear, the mind feels like it could shatter.

And in such a state, with Undead and Magic rampaging, it must have been utter chaos.

“Sir Leon, please continue.”

“After that, the situation grew increasingly dire. The heads of families, as well as the Linne and Saiyen Families, joined the Union, but by then, the Union’s morale had hit rock bottom, and we were in no state to mount a proper response. Moreover—”

Leon paused and glanced sideways at the leaders.

His furrowed brow suggested there was some issue.

Suddenly, someone slammed the table with a bang.

“Damn it! Every time the Knights of the Jackal Family hold back, our family ends up taking the losses!”

It was the head of the Helga Family.

He glared at the Jackal Family head, his bandit-like face twisted in anger.

The atmosphere instantly turned icy.

“That’s not something I can let slide. Your Knights suffered losses because they charged in recklessly!”

“Helga’s Knights are brave. Unlike the cowards of the Jackal Family, we don’t run from Magic with our tails between our legs!”

Sssss—

A sudden clash of wills erupted between the two family heads.

But it didn’t end there.

The Helga head suddenly turned his arrows elsewhere.

This time, at the Ord Family head.

“The archers’ family are just cowards too. Do you all think this crisis has nothing to do with you?”

“Head of Helga. I acknowledge that your family has suffered greatly, but please refrain from excessive language!”

“Hmph, what the Union needs is brave Knights. If you’re just here to make up the numbers, then do us a favor and get out. Your troops only drag down morale further.”

It was utter chaos.

That was my honest impression.

‘I get it now.’

What Leon had been trying to say.

These damned fools had ruined the Union Army.

The families who had joined the Union all had territories between Riot Castle and the capital of Baren Kingdom.

It was obvious why these heavy-bottomed family heads had joined the Union.

If Riot Castle fell, their lands would become graveyards too.

Yet instead of joining forces, they bickered and blamed each other.

At that moment, Leon stepped forward.

“Silence, all of you.”

His quiet murmur was laced with deep anger.

The usual sly, easygoing look was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a chilling coldness.

The family heads looked displeased at Leon’s overbearing attitude.

Especially Helga.

‘Ughh’

This was getting more and more ridiculous.

“With two scions of Bartenberg present, show some dignity befitting the time and place.”

“Commander Leon! As a Knight who serves another, you should also show proper respect to the heads of other families!”

“…Head of Helga. I am speaking now as Commander.”

Rumble—

The clash of these two giants made the entire Riot Castle shake.

I quietly looked around.

The commanders stared at the Round Table, as if they wanted no part of this mess, and Moritz shrank back like a shrimp caught between fighting whales.

So this was the true nature of the Martial Union—a rabble of misfits.

“This is absurd.”

At first, I was just dumbfounded, but the more I watched, the more I was left speechless.

To be honest… yeah, I was boiling with anger.

The Union’s Knights had to drive their swords into comrades who had become Undead, shedding tears of blood.

Fighting so desperately, so fiercely, only to die and become hideous monsters, suffering once again.

“…How wretched.”

And yet, the family heads only tore each other down and pushed blame.

Some even openly defied the Commander of the Union.

Their own homes were about to be wiped out, and still—

No matter what, as Knights, as warriors, they shouldn’t forget their duty.

“Enough!”

Only after I shouted did all eyes turn to me.

Too many captains will steer the ship into the mountains, they say.

But this was far worse than that.

The cancer of the Union was right here.

“I apologize, young master. Please forgive our disgraceful behavior.”

“Sir Leon. Aren’t you the Commander leading the Union Army?”

“That’s right.”

I pointed my chin at Helga and asked again.

“Then why are you letting such a troublemaker run wild?”

“…It’s my mistake. I’m sorry.”

Leon bowed his head.

It was a different attitude than when we’d trained together in Barten House.

Just then, Helga interrupted.

“Did you just call me a troublemaker? That’s going too far. If it weren’t for us family heads, the Union Army would have collapsed long ago.”

He was completely out of line now.

He showed utter disrespect to me, a scion of Bartenberg, and openly insulted the Union led by Leon, Bartenberg’s greatest Knight.

I had no reason to hold back anymore.

No, I shouldn’t hold back.

“Head of Helga. The Commander of the Union ordered you to be silent just now. And I told you to stop as well.”

“No matter if he’s Commander, he can’t treat the head of a family so rudely. And no matter if you’re a young master of Bartenberg, you can’t treat me like a servant.”

His confident words made me laugh.

“So that’s why, instead of Knights on the battlefield, we have politicians crawling in and ruining everything.”

I clicked my tongue and muttered.

Ah, ridiculous.

Wiping away the tear that leaked out, I spoke.

Helga’s face turned red, then blue with rage.

But only for a moment.

“How’s your emigration plan going?”

At my words, his eyes widened.

The others in the meeting room blinked, not understanding what I meant.

Poland Helga.

After the war between Richard and the Union, the worm who abandoned his family and duty to cling to the Magic House.

“If you’re going to emigrate, do it quietly. Why make a scene in the place you’ve lived your whole life? Do you think you’ll get a grand welcome if you do?”

“Wh-what nonsense is that!”

The future I once knew had changed several times, and it almost never turned out for the better.

Likewise, the Poland Helga before me had become even more vile.

Originally, he would have just sold out his family and run, but now he was set to plunge the entire Northern Continent into chaos.

Still, I had hoped otherwise, but his words and reckless behavior could only be explained if he had something up his sleeve.

And the massive axe strapped to his back—that was proof of his betrayal.

“Since I’m all the way here in Baren Kingdom, I planned to deal with you too. That’s why I even got this from the Head of House.”

I took something out from my coat.

The Sun-Emblazoned Sword—a signet intricately engraved with that symbol.

It was the mark of the Deputy of Bartenberg, signifying the Head’s full authority.

“……”

Those who recognized the signet gasped.

Then, all at once, they bent their knees and bowed their heads.

“We greet the Deputy of Bartenberg!”

I had been entrusted with full authority from the Head of House.

That alone allowed me to do almost anything.

For example—

“Leon.”

“Yes! At your command!”

“Seize that man, subdue him as necessary, and bring him before me.”

Burying a man without asking questions was the most basic of basics.

Especially for a fool who still couldn’t grasp the situation and just stood there.

“I obey your command!”

Leon answered without a hint of hesitation.

The upright Knight Leon vanished from sight.