WeTried Translations
Translator: Hydrogen B
Editor: Hydrogen B
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 185: The Road Home (6)
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The old noble's eyes, demanding an answer, were far too sharp for his age. By then, everyone in the hall was staring intently at Rudolf.
This is dangerous. Their eyes have changed.
Rudolf restrained the hand that had unconsciously moved toward their sword hilt. Rudolf was in the heart of enemy territory. Among those gathered in the banquet hall were not only ordinary vassals, but several knights as well. Regardless of Rudolf's individual strength, breaking through this crowd and escaping Falken Fortress would not be easy.
In short, Rudolf was trapped. Rudolf had not expected them to reveal their true intentions so openly. Rudolf clenched their teeth and looked at the old man at the head of the table. Baron Falken still gazed down at Rudolf expressionlessly. Then, the corners of his stiff mouth slowly curled upward.
“Ho ho, it seems things have grown too heated. Why not calm down, Rudolf Alten?”
The old noble's light joke gradually eased the atmosphere that had seemed ready to explode at any moment. Yet Rudolf did not let down their guard as Rudolf's eyes swept across the room.
“As I said before, I only find it regrettable. I do not doubt your loyalty.”
Baron Falken added. Rudolf frowned.
“You know that, yet you make such a proposal?”
“Such a proposal? Surely this would not be bad for you or Count Haska. They are promising you the finest treatment, so what is there to be dissatisfied about?”
“Because this is undeniable treason and usurpation! Was occupying the capital without authorization after crawling beneath the Emperor not enough? Now you intend to covet the vacant throne as well? Ehrenfeld, a man with not a shred of legitimacy, dares to...!”
“Legitimacy?”
Baron Falken's frost-cold voice suddenly rang out, reverberating through the banquet hall.
“Do you truly believe that?”
He tilted his head slightly and looked at Rudolf. More than a hundred hostile stares cut into Rudolf from every direction.
“Duke Ehrenfeld's maternal grandmother came from the Baldrick royal family. If you trace his family tree further back, there are several more women of royal blood. Strictly speaking, though faint, royal blood does run through his veins.”
“That only applies when the royal line has been completely severed! There is still...!”
“Ah, the final Commander of the Knights of Ash?”
Baron Falken cut Rudolf off with a bored expression.
“I know. I know that the Commander of the Knights of Ash is granted the Baldrick royal surname in every generation.”
“...”
“Asherad Royal Swordsmanship is the swordsmanship of the founding king, passed down through Hailen for generations. The one who reaches the pinnacle of that swordsmanship becomes the Commander of the Knights of Ash. Even if they are not related by blood, they are the one who most strongly inherits the will of Asherad, the Northern King. That is why they are granted the royal surname.”
“Then why...?”
“But that does not apply to the final Commander of the Knights of Ash, does it?”
Rudolf was momentarily at a loss for words at Baron Falken's questioning.
“That man is an outsider of unknown origin.”
The Baron continued coldly as he looked down at Rudolf.
“He has no northern blood. If Duke Rowen, the previous Commander, were still alive, I would not have gone this far. He was among the three strongest Commanders of the Knights of Ash in history. Hailen would not have fallen so miserably.”
“...”
“And what of his background? House Ragnel may be weaker in influence than House Ehrenfeld, but no other house can compare to its history. Now that the royal bloodline is gone, there would be no grounds to oppose their claim to the vacant throne. But...”
Unconcealed contempt flickered in Baron Falken's eyes.
“Kyle Baldrick?”
The old noble twisted his lips in mockery.
“Is he not merely a commoner of unknown origin, not even a noble?”
“Lord Kyle is...!”
“I know that too. They say that in terms of talent alone, he was the greatest among all the Ash Knights in history. Duke Rowen's first and only squire. But what was the result?”
The north had lost to the Empire. Worse still, Hailen, with its history of more than a thousand years, had been completely erased from the map. Countless houses that had fought beside the Knights of Ash had not escaped destruction.
“Even the process by which he was raised to become the final Commander of the Knights of Ash is suspicious. I hear he was never formally appointed because it was during the war.”
Baron Falken clicked his tongue.
“The remaining members simply approved it among themselves, and Crown Prince Yurian, who was also an Ash Knight, held a simple appointment ceremony in place of His Majesty, who was bedridden with illness. Even then, they lost the war. Were there only one or two who lost not only their lives, but their entire houses as well?”
“...”
“House Ragnel of Duke Rowen, House Hagenwald of Sir Hermann, the Deputy Commander, and, forgive me for saying this, even House Haska, which Rudolf has served for generations.”
Veins bulged across the back of Rudolf's clenched hand. Baron Falken paid no mind.
“Most of the Ash Knights' houses were destroyed. House Haska is one of the few whose line has not died out. That is why we are giving you this opportunity.”
“Shut your mouth. If you say another word...”
“Was it not enough that the previous Count died on the battlefield? His only precious daughter also died before she could marry, all to protect that lowborn final Commander.”
“Silence, you vile traitor!”
Clang!
Unable to endure any longer, Rudolf drew the sword at their waist. The servants who had been watching cautiously jumped back into the corners. The knights who had been keeping a close eye on Rudolf drew their swords all at once, as if by prior arrangement.
The banquet hall, where the mood had been growing lively over drinks, had turned into a battlefield on the verge of combat. Dozens of blades were pointed at Rudolf from all around. Rudolf did not so much as twitch an eyebrow. Rudolf's steady eyes remained fixed on the old noble at the head of the table. Baron Falken maintained his relaxed demeanor.
“Hmm...”
The Baron leisurely looked around. Raising his glass to his lips, he neatly drained what remained.
“May I take this as confirmation of what I think it means?”
The Baron snickered and gestured at Rudolf with his chin. The middle-aged knight did not answer, merely tightening their grip on their sword and waiting as though they might cut off the old noble's head at any moment.
“What a shame. A true shame. What good is honor that you would throw away your life for it? It was the same four years ago. If you had simply bent the knee, so many northern houses would not have been wiped out.”
“Shut that mouth of yours, Baron Falken. I was a fool to expect even a shred of conscience from you. You, Baron Ehrenfeld, and every dog that tucked its tail before the Empire. You are all nothing but traitors.”
“Traitors? Ho ho. You remain just as stubborn and incapable of understanding as ever. Still, I will show mercy this one time.”
The Baron slowly rose from his seat. Every eye in the hall, including Rudolf's, turned toward him.
“This is your final chance, Rudolf Alten.”
The old noble threw away the empty wineglass in his hand.
“Accept His Majesty the Emperor's grace, and swear loyalty to the new king who will soon come.”
The eerie shriek of the wineglass rolling across the banquet hall floor sounded especially bleak.
“Or do you still believe that the final Commander of the Knights of Ash is alive? Even if you must stake your only life on it?”
* * *
After subduing the three knights who had come to Arenbach, Kyle did not leave the village right away. He waited for the right time.
He did not kill the knights either. Instead, he gave basic treatment to the shoulder of the knight whose arm had been severed. They looked bewildered, but did not dare ask why. They knew all three of their lives were in Kyle's hands.
Kyle spent another day in the village, waiting for the right moment. The reason was simple.
Baron Falken's fortress, which blocked Falken Bridge, was a naturally fortified stronghold. House Falken had suffered little damage in the war against the Empire not only because of its geographical advantage, but also because of the fortress's sturdy defenses. Most wyvern knights had been concentrated on the southwestern front. Ordinary infantry could never scale Falken Fortress's towering walls.
There is no need to force our way through the front.
There were nine Ash Knights, including Kyle, so they could have captured the fortress by force. But Kyle did not intend to do that. His goal was to take it as secretly and swiftly as possible.
At the very least, he could not allow Baron Falken to escape through some secret passage he did not know about. The Baron's fortress was that closed off. Unlike the other knights, Kyle was highly skilled with magic. This was especially true of illusion magic, the type he was most confident in. The same went for his personal magic.
“Is everything ready?”
“Yes. We can leave whenever you wish. Thanks to resting well for another day, we're in good condition too.”
“I see.”
“If we leave now, we should reach Falken Bridge around noon.”
The following morning, after Kyle had waited one more day, Hermann, Walter, and the other members prepared to leave the village once it was fully light outside.
Nearby stood Baron Falken's three knights, stripped of everything. Nothing remained of the imposing appearance they had shown yesterday. Their breastplates had been confiscated, as had the swords at their waists. They were completely unarmed, worse off than ordinary mercenaries. In effect, they were prisoners who could be killed at any time.
Clinging to even the slightest hope that they might live.
I was not much different from them once.
Kyle was lost in that pointless thought as he watched them from a short distance away.
“Sir Knight.”
“Are you leaving?”
Jan and his father, the village chief, suddenly appeared behind him. Kyle glanced at them and silently nodded. The village chief and Jan stopped beside Kyle, their eyes turning toward the eight members and the three unarmed knights.
Several villagers had gathered in the center of the village. There were also more than a few watchful gazes from inside the houses. Their wariness had faded, replaced by relief that they would no longer have to pay tribute payments, alongside anxiety about the future. The village chief and his son were no exception.
“You won't need to worry about tribute payments anymore. Not only Arenbach, but the other villages as well. Many things will change, not just Baron Falken.”
Kyle spoke without looking back at them. The village chief and Jan did not fully understand what he meant. Yet they could feel the firm resolve and sincerity in his words.
“And I am not a knight.”
“But...”
“I abandoned my duty long ago. At least until everything is over, I cannot be called by that name.”
The village chief moved his lips several times before closing his mouth. His son Jan merely watched the situation and could not bring himself to speak carelessly.
“You can deal with those men's swords and armor yourselves, right? If you sell them as stolen goods, they should fetch a fair amount. You will not have to resort to banditry anymore.”
After looking up at the sky for a while, Kyle murmured as though it were an afterthought. The village chief and his son nodded at the same time. Yesterday, Kyle had returned the tribute payment, disarmed Baron Falken's three knights, and handed their armor and swords to the village chief. The items were not even worth the space in their already-full Inventory Pouches.
“I should go.”
Kyle pushed himself away from the wall around the village chief's house and headed toward the members, who had finished their preparations and were looking in his direction. He had taken only a few steps when someone's voice called out.
“Sir Knight!”
It was Jan. Kyle slowly turned around. The village chief and his son were staring at him.
“If it is not too rude, may I ask your name?”
“My name?”
“Yes. It does not seem proper to receive such kindness without even knowing your name...”
“Kyle.”
Kyle spoke quietly.
“Kyle Baldrick.”
The father and son's eyes widened. Kyle gave them one final glance before turning away. Before long, twelve horses rode out of the village. There were nine Ash Knights, including Kyle, and three of Baron Falken's knights as prisoners.
“It feels colder than yesterday.”
Walter grumbled, rubbing his arms. Kyle, Walter, and Hermann were currently at the front, watching Baron Falken's three knights as they led the way.
“We should have asked for blankets. Honestly, compared to the tribute payment, that would have been nothing, right?”
“Have you still not adjusted to the weather?”
“I doubt I'm the only one. Look at those bastards behind us, shivering away. The Deputy Commander too.”
“Sorry, but I have already adjusted completely.”
“Don't lie. It is obvious the Federation has not left your system yet. More importantly, are you certain we can reach Falken Bridge from Arenbach in half a day on horseback? Their original plan was to collect the tribute payment and return by noon today. I will be very disappointed if you are lying.”
Walter lifted his star iron sword, still in its sheath, and poked the backs of Baron Falken's unarmed knights. The knights, shivering in the cold, squirmed.
“...I am certain. So please stop poking us.”
“Oh? Talking back now?”
“N-No, that is not what I meant!”
Walter snorted and clicked his tongue.
“Well, it does not matter if you are lying. We can just kill you all if it comes to that.”
“...”
“Still, using a ruse. Magic certainly is convenient. Is this all thanks to Cecilia giving you an early education, Kyle?”
“There is no need to approach from the front. Before that, there are things I need to say directly to Baron Falken.”
“Bait, then. Not a bad idea.”
Hermann murmured softly. The group of nine Ash Knights and three of Baron Falken's knights continued northward. Their destination was Falken Bridge and Falken Fortress.
As time passed, the sun gradually rose toward the center of the sky. Their shadows stretched at an angle beneath their feet. The unchanging scenery began to shift. In the distance, they could see a vast river and the great bridge that crossed it.
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