Chapter 21

“Nice to meet you!”

Entering the neatly organized room, Ian blinked as he looked up towards his opponent who suddenly stood up.

When their gaze met, he saw that the man who reached out and asked for a handshake was tall enough to be far superior to the people here, who seemed to have a good physique, regardless of age or gender.

Would it* be well over 2m?

[*T/N: talking about that man’s height.]

Ian wasn’t that short either, but somehow he had to move his head up just to look at the man.

Thinking that he had a voice that matched his size, Ian held that man’s outstretched hand and loud laughter followed.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

The hand he held shook violently to the point that Ian thought that his arm was going to fall out.

Instead of applying force, Ian let go as soon as it was already caught, and soon, the man let go of his hand slowly.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

It was a rare benevolent glance among those who covered up and treated others with hostility. No form of malice could be found on the face of the man. Who was looking down at Ian with a clear smile.

Short hair swept across his wide shoulders. Tight muscles that stood out over the dark skin was daunting enough, but there was something else that stood out even more.

It was as if a large beast had drawn on his entire face with its claws.

Fumbling his gaze carefully over the face of the man who had the black eyepatch above his right eye, Ian tilted his head slightly.

Was it a bear? To have a wound so big, it must have been.*

[*T/N: He is saying that he thinks the wound must have been done by a bear.]

Although it seemed like it was an old wound and looked like just a scar, it was certain that his face made a scary first impression, especially for young children who would burst into tears at the sight.

“I hurt my arm a little during the last expedition. The wound didn’t heal even after treatment. That’s why I’ve been away from the Knights for quite a while. Claude worked hard but…, there must have been some parts I didn’t pay attention to.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No. You even took over my work. It was my fault that I let my guard down.”

Claude, who was behind Ian, replied as if he was waiting, the man waved his hand and shook his head.

There could have been additional infections, so he couldn’t meet anyone other than the doctor or the Archduke for weeks. He shook his head because he knew that Claude, the deputy leader, had even taken over his job, and then looked at Ian with an apologetic expression.

“We have a guest. Let’s sit down first.”

When Ian approached the chair that looked like a reception desk, someone was already sitting on the other side. He didn’t see her face earlier since he was focused on the man who had such a clear presence. As he sat down, he glanced up.

Ian could see the neat fingertips lifting the teacup.

Unlike last time, it was Ailee, who was wearing a neat outfit and sipping the tea.

“……”

Didn’t they say she was a maid?

She glanced over there, feeling Ian’s gaze, confirming that the brown hair at the tip of his chin was not as bloody as it was last time.

It was a very subtle and complex expression.

“Nice to see you again.”

Ian didn’t know, but it was Ailee, who bet her salary of three months that he wouldn’t be able to last a week. It was a shame that she ended up thinking on her own and nearly lost all the money that she earned with her blood, sweat, and tears. If Ailee had to state the most important things in her life, the first, second, and thirty-fifth would be money, so her heart pounded.

Ailee had to get rid of her habit of getting carried away with betting, but she wouldn’t have thought about it if she had gotten rid of it easily.

Who knew that the royal family could do laundry at the fountain for a week in such conditions?

Ailee, who unknowingly sweated, recalling her foolishness, which she had judged only by Ian’s soft appearance. She raised the corners of her mouth but Ian did not respond much to the neat business-like smile.

“But Kyle, I don’t think I’ve ever called you.”

The man, who confirmed that Ian was seated, was suddenly asked a question as he sat in the upper seat. It was because it was fun for Kyle, who quietly followed Ian since earlier, to take his place as if he was a lifeguard.

Kyle stood behind Ian’s chair like a shadow, and opened his mouth without panicking at the sudden attack.

“When Claude came back, he told me to report it first.”

“Haha. Since when have you been so obedient? Go, I’m glad you look healthy.”

“I’m nothing without my health, leader.”

Winks provide information that you don’t want to know.

All four people except Kyle acted as if they had seen nothing, and the conversation continued.

“Are you surprised that I called you all of a sudden?”

I wasn’t, but I nodded.

“You joined the team without even realizing it. It is very interesting that no other than Prince of Rox entered the Shertian Knights. If the people of royal road , who like to make a fuss, find out, they will spend three days and three nights here.”

They may already be doing so. The Grand Duchy was surrounded by woods and was not free to enter and exit, but the rumor was that he was not particular about such things. The nobles were always thirsty for gossip, and it is no exaggeration to say that all their eyes were on the center of the empire for Logan Hyer’s story.

“By the way…”

It was Ailee who carefully cut off the conversation with a smile on her face. She put down the cup on the table after seeing the cup of tea was already empty.

“I didn’t want to intervene, but shouldn’t we introduce ourselves first?”

“Oh, look at my mind.”

Only then did he realize that he didn’t even tell Ian his name. As if he was truly apologetic, the man with his lowered eyebrows hurriedly opened his mouth to Ian.

“I’m Schwartz Homer, the head of the Northern Knights. It’s great to meet you again.”

“Ian-nim, Schwartz is the most elite member of the team, he has been in the general’s position for 10 years. In other words, it’s already been dozens of times that he went on an expedition and returned without dying.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Of course.”

Expedition?

No wonder it seemed like an important word. Emphasizing that he didn’t die seems to mean that he went to war, or maybe it was related to Rox.

“So speaking of which, it’s about the expedition.”

Schwartz, who lowered his voice, changing the moderately relaxed atmosphere. Reading signs of hesitation from even Kyle, who was standing behind him, Ian was convinced that this was the reason he was called here.

“You know that, too. The conditions that Rox suggested.”

There was no way to know.

However, it was a situation where Ian could not shake his head, so he affirmed silently.

“Actually, I saw something weird on the last expedition.”

Schwartz, who sighed as if he was recalling the incident, stroked his chin. He frowned as he didn’t know what exactly he saw.

“It was so fleeting that I’m not sure. One knight was missing, so I went a little further north to find him and then I saw it. But…”

“That’s what they said.”

….I couldn’t understand at all.

It was also ambiguous what he saw in the first place. Unlike Ian, who tilted his head at Schwartz’s words that did not specify the subject precisely, others did not particularly complain. However, everyone seemed to understand except him.

“I was attacked from behind while I was trying to get closer. My arm almost got cut off. By the time the prince arrived, there was already nothing.”

The long scar over Schwartz’s sleeve barely healed. If Seongsu* had not been used, it might have rotted up to the shoulder area now.

[*T/N: Seongsu- holy water]

Schwartz, who patted his forearm once, muttered to himself, perhaps the big was stinging.

“Something is changing.”

He felt the same way when he first witnessed it.

He couldn’t forget the goosebumps that came up on his flesh.

Perhaps they all remembered the same thing, but for a moment they were silent, and Ian, the only one who was alienated by himself, swept his eyes with his fingertips. He didn’t have any clue, so he pretended to know, but it was almost like a quiz show.

Schwartz, who had been lost in other thoughts for a while, said, untying his stiff face.

“Well, I might have heard it wrong. As I am getting older, my hearing isn’t the same as before. But it’s a problem that cannot be overlooked. This is why I called you.”

Until now, all I heard was unknown sounds, but I couldn’t understand why they came to that conclusion.

Schwartz burst into laughter and immediately brought up the subject.

“I heard about what happened during the parade. I heard that you killed three assassins in an instant, the Grand Duke doesn’t want to spoil your talent.”

It was only then that I remembered what happened a week ago.

Was it three?

I remember killing them, but I couldn’t think of exactly how many it was. Mostly because it was not very important.

“So, I hope you’ll join us in the next expedition as well.”

“……”

“When he* put you in the Knights Templar, it was because he needed an excuse for that.”

[*T/N: This “he” is the Grand Duke.]

In principle, only Northern Knights could enter the black forest. Ailee, who was sitting next to him, realized the dubious intentions of the Grand Duke only after hearing those words. She was wondering why he was suddenly putting Ian in the Knight.

“You may refuse but…”

Schwartz scratched his chin, and added in a way that he was reluctant to say.

As if they already know the answer to come out.

“You should think one more time because it’s for Rox.”

It sounded like an invitation, but it was more of a threat. Since he was caught as a hostage, it was a sentence that might have worked if he had been the real “Ian” from Rox. If there really was a country or family to protect.

“…… ”

But there was a completely different human being in this body.

I abandoned that* a long time ago and killed it*.

[*T/N: Most probably he is talking about his family.]

With the truth hidden in his heart, Ian slowly opened his mouth to the ones who were looking his way.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

T/N: I AM SO SORRY FOR THIS LATE UPDATE. But I got really busy to even do a last update before going completely on hiatus. But I dragged myself to do a last chapter before completely going on hiatus, so here it is. Now, I will be back after 2 months with hopefully more updates. Pray for me so that I can come back alive.(╥﹏╥) [And sorry for leaving you guys on a cliffhanger.(´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)]