The Kingdom of Demisia.
A kingdom located in the Sahara Desert, a nation solely for knights.
It has been insulted in various ways, called ignorant or corpses without swords.
In reality, its scale isn’t that large either.
But those who disregard it miss one point.
Demisia is a kingdom.
The word kingdom means it functions as a country, and it also means it hasn’t been absorbed by the empire yet.
Why hasn’t it been swallowed by the empire?
If its scale is small and its power weak, the empire could just devour it.
The reason is only one.
The king who rules the Kingdom of Demisia.
Innocence.
A powerhouse who can turn the world white with a single swing of his sword.
A transcendent who has already reached the pinnacle even among Sword Masters. The place he personally governs is none other than the Kingdom of Demisia.
The great white sword that protects without collapsing even in the harsh environment of the Sahara Desert. The empire respects him, and even if they could win, the gains compared to him are meager.
Though there are rumors lately that it’s slowly rotting, as long as Innocence lives, the kingdom will not fall.
This was a fact no one denied.
It’s just a joke made by third-rate storytellers who only know how to wag their tongues.
Such rumors began circulating in the Kingdom of Demisia.
A small rumor that would only reach the ears of those who have money, honor, and positions.
The extermination of black mages.
They completely erased them all, leaving not a single seed behind.
They found and eradicated all the black mages that even the empire couldn’t easily handle.
As proof, sporadic eyewitness accounts were heard.
Accounts of seeing a white pillar connecting heaven and earth.
They weren’t weak black mages either.
Those who had been secretly active since strange rumors about Innocence began circulating.
There were even black mages skilled enough to summon demons.
All of them were subjugated.
However, the information Leo heard was a bit higher up.
The body of the black mage (presumed) who summoned the demon was found.
The cause of death was not sword wounds.
The entire body was shredded by something thin like thread.
There were no traces of blood or anything, so the culprit couldn’t be found.
But he, who had developed a slight PTSD about threads, immediately recognized it.
‘Threads…… if it’s threads, could it be?’
Leo remembered that day.
While secretly looking down at Evan.
The incident where he was suddenly silenced by a little kid named Lapis.
Even now, those red eyes looking at him felt terrifying.
He had the pride and greed as a noble to endure and overcome it, but an ordinary person would have broken long ago.
“And, Young Master Evan…… is said to be receiving special treatment. That carriage was also personally given by Innocence.”
Various circumstances pointed to Evan as the culprit.
The extermination of black mages in Demisia.
That he was involved in it.
If done well, not just involved, but perhaps even led it.
Could it be that this knight was brought for that reason too?
To show off his connection with Innocence?
All sorts of imaginations swirled in his head.
Anyone seeing it might call it delusion.
So, has anything been proven here?
No.
But that’s precisely why it’s more frightening.
There is no information that has been revealed.
To a chilling degree.
What if all of it is false?
But how to explain Innocence’s attitude captured in the Kingdom of Demisia?
Not long after Evan arrived in the Kingdom of Demisia, the strange rumors about Innocence completely disappeared.
Secretly, there were even rumors that Evan had treated his illness.
Whether true or not doesn’t matter.
What’s important is the result.
Evan received a gift from Innocence and dragged it all the way here.
Even if the black mage extermination was a coincidence, for someone of Evan’s level, even that becomes a great achievement.
‘……Is he really becoming a competitor?’
The emotion sprouting for the first time in Leo’s heart.
It was fear.
Fear toward a brother far superior to himself.
“Madam Duchess.”
“You’re back.”
It was when Leo was frozen in place.
A woman who appeared from behind, reminiscent of a black panther.
Natalia.
Those eyes carrying a different kind of intimidation from the Duke turned toward Evan.
Evan did not avoid that gaze.
‘……Wait, even the Duchess came out?’
To be precise, he couldn’t avoid it.
If he averted his eyes?
She would interrogate why he was avoiding them.
It’s better to meet them head-on.
……Though thanks to that, his palms were drenched in sweat!
That can’t be helped.
He has to bear with it.
Rather than being nagged, it’s much better to sweat coldly a bit now!
“Any injuries?”
“I’m fine, Madam Duchess.”
As Evan politely bowed his head, the lady looked down at him with a subtle gaze.
No.
Why again.
He was perfectly polite this time.
“……It seems the title ‘Mother’ still doesn’t roll off your tongue easily.”
Ah.
The Duchess…… is a bit scary, but surprisingly not a bad person.
She takes decent care of her children.
It’s just that those children are twisted.
They say if the upper stream is clear, the lower stream is clear too, but they are not water.
They’re just born with rotten personalities.
They call it living nobly, but why do they keep trying to devour their siblings.
In the first place, Evan had clearly stated he has no interest in the ducal title.
‘I, a broad-minded real man, should understand……’
If they keep provoking, well, that’s another story.
Huh!
What to do about it?
Evan, meeting Leo’s eyes, slyly averted his gaze.
Why are your eyes wide open to the point of bloodshot.
It’s absolutely not because he’s scared, but out of consideration so that if they keep meeting eyes, the other person’s eyes might hurt.
Yes.
Definitely not because he’s frightened.
‘……Does this mean I’m not even worth meeting eyes with anymore?’
Leo ground his teeth inwardly.
Whether she knew or not, Natalia was just staring blankly at Evan.
Natalia was also a knight who had reached a high realm.
Unlike others, she mainly wielded a spear and rapier based on a flexible body.
Her strength was quickly grasping the opponent’s weaknesses.
‘Truly, thankfully, no injuries.’
Thanks to that, grasping Evan’s physical condition was quite fast.
He seemed to have been wandering around lately.
Perhaps because of that, there was a slight flush on his cheeks.
Originally pale, which had been worrying.
From Natalia’s perspective, Evan was a complicated person in many ways.
Not her own son.
However, the son of a ‘friend’ who was too friendly and still missed even now.
When that friend died, Evan collapsed once, and unable to see beyond the wall of composure that Duke Cabaro desperately showed, he collapsed again.
So she was happy when he said he started learning alchemy.
Whatever the intention, whether hobby or profession, having something to focus on is good.
When she heard he was attempting to resurrect the dead, her heart was a bit shaken.
When she heard it wasn’t true, she was greatly relieved.
Attempting to resurrect the dead is fine.
Even if the whole continent becomes hostile, the Cabaro ducal family has the power to protect him.
She’s just worried.
About the price he has to pay for attempting a taboo.
If she had cared a bit more, would things have been different.
If she had tried to act as a mother from earlier…….
When Evan collapsed, when the child vehemently refused, if she hadn’t stopped approaching for fear of hurting more…….
‘……It’s because I’m still clumsy.’
Yes.
Because Evan is gradually overcoming it.
Even now, let’s approach.
Starting with the title Mother.
If not that, then Madam first.
Natalia firmly resolved in her heart.
Though she raised two children, parenting was never easy.
Especially the youngest these days just stays holed up in his room…….
Leo is the eldest.
He’s past puberty too.
Seeing him try to leap as the successor makes her a bit proud.
Though the problem is that Evan is overwhelmingly superior.
“Come inside now.”
Natalia smiled.
To others, it was an extremely stiff smile.
“Let’s relieve the fatigue.”
……Yes, Madam.”
Evan slightly bowed his head in agreement.
After entering the house, he unpacked.
“Young Masterrrr! This loyal Dolph! Has returned from leave!”
“Good work.”
“But who might this person be?”
“Nice to meet you. I am Felix. The young master’s escort knight.”
“Escort knight? I’m seeing him for the first time?”
“It’s a long story.”
It was when he was catching up with Dolph after a long time.
The Duke sent a message.
Evan Alkart, come to my study. I have questions about what happened in the Knight Kingdom and the underworld.
……Ah..
Duke Cabaro fidgeted with the crystal ball.
It was an uncommon occurrence.
He didn’t allow even miscellaneous habits because they were neither dignified nor noble.
But even he couldn’t help feeling a bit complicated at today’s news.
He said he’d just stop by the Kingdom of Demisia briefly.
Innocence personally sent a letter.
As expected of the strongest knight, the content was extremely short.
I hope we maintain a good relationship in the future.
Just why?
Duke Cabaro knew all too well that his family was great.
It was a family built by ancestors and continued by himself.
If judged by history alone, they had been together since the empire’s beginning.
They wouldn’t yield even compared to the imperial family.
But did that mean they had exchanges with the Kingdom of Demisia?
No.
There was no point of contact.
It also didn’t match Duke Cabaro’s style, who preferred nurturing what he had better rather than recklessly expanding the market.
‘……Just what did he do there?’
Continuing to read Innocence’s letter, it was like this.
I am on intimate terms with Evan Alkart.
I desire deeper exchanges centered around Evan Alkart.
Evan, Evan, Evan.
Wherever he looked, only Evan’s name.
As a father and duke, he was proud, but the question was separate.
Just…… what did he do?
‘He even stopped by the underworld briefly!’
This too was contact that flew in today.
The Godfather.
He knew he was on friendly terms with Evan.
It was also why Duke Cabaro valued Evan highly.
The Godfather was a person with many flaws.
He made a fortune with business acumen outstanding enough to overcome them.
But innate defects or aging that comes with time couldn’t be overcome.
Until he met Evan.
How surprised he was the moment he saw his thickening hair, slightly straighter back, and him exercising properly when he usually couldn’t sit upright for long.
It was surprising that he gave all that out of goodwill.
It was also astonishing that through him, he drew out the Godfather’s true trust and support.
‘Yes. Finally, something is sticking to your feet.’
A smile formed on Duke Cabaro’s lips.
Yes.
He doesn’t know how he did it,
But he understands why he acted like this.
Wasn’t this a kind of rebellion?
Asking why they still don’t properly recognize his ability.
Why they don’t know that preparations for the trial were long ready.
It’s time to start.
Time to begin the second successor trial.
‘Yes. Evan. If that’s what you want…’
A smile formed on Duke Cabaro’s expressionless face.
‘I’ll let you start the second trial that even Leo hasn’t taken yet.’
Knock knock.
Then, someone knocked on the door.
Evan Alkart.
He was standing in front of the study.
Cale Henituse 🤝 Evan Alkart