Chapter 78: Triumphant Return (2)

In front of the Bartenberg estate, the knights stood in formation.

They were there to welcome back the First Knight Order, the Third Knight Division, and Richard’s party, returning from a major campaign.

“Huh… You said it was a war, but to think you’d be back already.”

Gide muttered half-heartedly.

He wanted to recover quickly and be by Richard’s side, but in truth, his body had already healed long ago.

There were no more aftereffects; in fact, he had regained as much strength as before the battle.

Yet, a faint hint of elusive enlightenment held Gide’s feet in place.

Just a little more, he thought, but the feeling kept slipping away like a mirage.

He sighed deeply and shook his head.

‘There’s no use regretting it when our lord returns safely.’

He had missed his lord terribly over the past few months.

His master’s face came to mind just as clearly as that of his own grandson, Aaron.

Thanks to his transformation, Richard had taken on the form of a young man.

The master he once thought of as forever youthful had truly grown up.

He longed to see him soon.

Gide shifted restlessly.

“Hmm..”

Looking around, however, Gide noticed that all the knights gathered by the main gate looked somewhat tense.

It wasn’t just them.

The servants and attendants working at Bartenberg also wandered nearby, uneasy.

“He’s finally coming.”

“Just seeing him clears the air.”

“I had nightmares until yesterday. I wish he had returned sooner.”

Listening with his newly sharpened hearing, Gide caught the servants’ idle chatter.

“That man…”

Gide’s lips twitched involuntarily.

There was no need to say who “that man” was.

“Indeed… of course. Richard is someone who leads the Light.”

Though it sounded like boastful praise, it was the truth at this point.

A faint haze of light, whether born of holy bloodline or faith, naturally radiated from Richard.

The people of Bartenberg could never forget the light he shone.

That light eased their hearts.

Even the dark skies over the continent no longer felt so ominous.

Just like now.

“Hmm.”

Gide snapped his head around.

The knights who had been tense, the servants and attendants wandering as if to hide, all suddenly changed.

“Oh! Oh!”

An excited servant shouted.

No one scolded him.

Everyone was too stunned to close their mouths.

Up ahead, a light that pierced the darkness approached.

It was brighter and more radiant than anyone remembered.

***

The knights quickened their pace ahead of Richard.

Successfully completing a mission and returning home always swelled their hearts with pride.

Because fulfilling their duty as knights was a matter of honor, a way to uphold the spirit of their lord.

Many knights had gathered to welcome him back.

And, as always, the commanding presence of their lord cast a satisfied gaze.

All of it was the highest reward and praise for the First Knight Order and the Third Knight Division.

But this time, they had to temper their expectations.

“Reporting! We have returned after completing our mission.”

Leon stepped forward as a representative and bowed to Ludwig.

“Well done. You deserve our gratitude.”

The head of the family’s response came a beat slow.

There was no cheer from the knights as expected.

‘As I thought….’

Leon swallowed his sigh and looked around.

Everyone stared blankly at Richard without hesitation.

First, because the light emanating from him was incredibly brilliant.

Second, because his aura was approaching that of a Grand Master.

Third—

“What is that insignia?”

It was the Hor Church’s flag raised by the commander of the Third Knight Division.

An emblem engraved with the Cross Insignia.

“We greet the head of the family.”

“We greet the head of the family!”

Richard and Moritz dismounted and saluted.

Their expressions were calm as if it was nothing special.

At least Richard showed no sign of concern.

Raising a banner other than that of one’s own group was no trivial matter.

Ludwig and the knights’ faces stiffened.

***

“It was chaos at first.”

Leon began.

Ludwig, sitting before him, quietly watched.

“The Martial Union of the Baren Kingdom was terrified of the Demonic Energy and couldn’t respond properly. Even battles they could have won caused severe losses.”

This harsh assessment of their allied units was truly biting.

“Against the Demon’s Energy, neither tactics nor poison worked. Unless you reach a certain level, ordinary soldiers are no different from cowards.”

“Hmm…”

Thump, tap—

A hand knocked on the table.

“Of the knights and soldiers who died in three major battles, the total reaches around 800. The Martial Union likely has about a thousand left. In effect, the Baren Kingdom can no longer perform its former duties.”

“That many died…”

“Well… but we expect the situation to stabilize for now.”

Ludwig wore a stern expression.

After delivering a cutting assessment, he now said things were fine.

“Thanks to Lord Richard, they overcame the Demonic Energy.”

“It was only after his arrival that the Union regained its morale.”

Leon gave a more detailed account.

Starting with Richard’s sudden appearance shining with light in the darkest moment, to how he quickly captivated the knights, and even the religious aspect.

Especially, he talked extensively about Richard’s heroic deeds.

“He acted as if he knew everything. It felt like he received divine revelation. Oh, he also noticed I was evaluating the Union. Haha!”

Thud.

The hand that knocked on the table stopped.

“You seem happy.”

The sharp gaze from the lord made Leon smile awkwardly.

It was a predictable reaction.

As someone who knew the stubborn lord well, Leon understood just how reluctant Ludwig was to accept the youngest master’s triumphant announcement.

“Did you say the Hor Church?”

A voice cold as ice slipped out.

Just as Ludwig was about to speak again, the door flung open.

“Young blood is great. Getting so worked up over trivial matters.”

It was Vallach.

Vallach waved his hand at Leon, who sat stiffly.

“Kid. You can go now.”

“I’m still—”

“Still not done watching? Fine, I’ll take over.”

With a sharp click of his tongue, Vallach sat down.

For an uninvited guest, he carried himself with surprising confidence.

“Whether Union or not, cowards won. But that guy wagered the lord’s life and now faces those monsters again.”

His explanation of the situation was blunt and omitted many details.

Leon sighed.

Judging by Vallach’s attitude, it seemed unlikely he would yield his seat easily.

“Kid. Let the adults talk and get lost.”

***

“Well, now that the uninvited guest has left.”

“You’re all uninvited guests.”

Vallach chuckled to himself as he sized up Ludwig.

Teasing an old enemy was one of his few pleasures.

“You really look like a man who’s just lost his son.”

“Shut up.”

“Is it because of the insignia?”

The Cross Insignia banner raised by Richard and the Third Knight Division.

Ludwig had no idea what it meant at first, but after Leon explained its significance, emotions surged within him like never before.

He knew very well what it meant for a knight to raise the flag of another group.

“Damn… I think there really is a god.”

“….”

It was a spark of will to serve a god.

Right in front of the head of the Bartenberg family.

How dare they.

“Don’t get so angry. Not all the news is bad for you.”

Vallach seemed to have a plan.

He used the old enemy’s brief smile as his drink and leaned toward the lord.

“Ugh… Richard pulled out the second star. Heh heh! Have you ever seen a star burning white-hot? It’s beautiful. Even the legendary Sword Saints would be pleased.”

“You’d probably say ‘shut up’.”

Despite hearing Vallach’s teasing, Ludwig’s mood didn’t improve.

If anything, it only made his heart ache more.

“You really do look like a man who lost his son.”

Vallach was right.

Ludwig now felt as if he had lost Richard.

“Vallach, so you also bowed your knee to that god you neither heard of nor saw?”

“Hah! Whether there’s a god or not, what’s it to me?”

“Exactly.”

Ludwig nodded in silent agreement.

That was the answer he wanted.

“I wish my son had thought the same way.”

Vallach’s smile abruptly disappeared.

Now that Ludwig had truly seen him, his eyes were filled with despair.

“You thought the boy had a purpose with the sword. But now you realize he didn’t. The sword was merely a tool.”

The reckless Richard, who abandoned the sword because he lacked the ability to sense mana.

To Ludwig, he was both a painful wound and a lingering thorn in his eye.

“It would have been fine if he couldn’t sense mana. No, it would have been better if he lacked talent altogether. I only wished he’d put his heart into the sword and show a demeanor befitting our bloodline.”

“Only now do I think he’s finally becoming the son I wanted.”

The unfamiliar banner fluttered.

The challenging look directed toward his son.

A bold ambition saying, “Try if you dare.”

“That boy seems to have prepared his heart.”

The voice was tinged with sadness.

“Fool. All you want is your own greed.”

Vallach said casually.

“You’re saying that even after searching for decades and learning your son had no purpose for the sword?”

Ludwig wanted to slam the table.

How could this old man be so calm?

“Damn… Did you like fighting so much?”

“There’s nothing more pointless than unnecessary fights.”

“But you fought countless battles to get where you are. Surely many were needless.”

Vallach, leaning on the lord, continued.

“The same goes for him. To get what he wants, he will ultimately need power. A purpose with the sword? Nonsense, but fine.”

“Listen, Ludwig. Richard is destined for greatness beyond us. Soon, the world will revolve around him.”

Vallach saying such things shocked Ludwig.

“Richard’s vision goes far beyond the peak of the sword. You’ve raised a fine son, Ludwig.”

Vallach poured the lord a drink.

Then, as if urging him to drink quickly, he lifted his wrist.

“You damn old man… leaving just one sip.”

“Ha, the last sip is the best.”

“I’m starting to recognize the familiar aura.”

“It should taste quite good.”

Vallach smiled again at his old enemy.