Chapter 195 - Ronan (1)

Chapter 195 - Ronan (1)

"Uh... Sir Bilton?”

"What?”

“Was there any country in the empire that had a flag like that?”

“What flag? Let me see.”

Bilton, a senior soldier guarding the gates of Caliburn Fortress, snatched the binoculars from the deputy gunner and looked ahead. After adjusting his sight on it, he saw a flag that he had never seen before, just as the deputy gunner had mentioned. It was waving its way toward Caliburn.

"What’s that?"

Fortunately, there weren’t that many of them. However, the person standing in front of the flag, although a bit lacking in appearance, was dressed nobly.

“Go get the Chief of Guards.”

"Right on it!”

It was best to call someone of a higher rank in cases like this, so Bilton decided to bring in Herbant, the person in charge of guarding the castle gates.

"What? A flag you’ve never seen before?”

As soon as Herbant, who had been playing chess by himself in his room, received news of a strange, unfamiliar flag, he flipped the chessboard and slammed his face against the window.

"What’s that?"

“I’m not sure myself, sir. This is my first time seeing that flag...”

“Based on its rectangular shape, it doesn’t seem like the emblem of a family... It’d be triangular in that case... From my experience, only the official flag of a country has that shape.”

It was even more suspicious that it looked like the official flag of a country. As the flag got closer, everyone held their breath. The security forces prepared themselves under Herbant’s commands so that they could fight back at any moment.

Soon, the group of people holding the unfamiliar flag arrived in front of the castle gate. Then, Herbant shouted, his voice echoing throughout the area, “Stop! Where are you from and who sent you?”

“Ha, did he ask who sent us here?”

Hearing Herbant’s question, the mysterious man burst into laughter. He then raised his chin high and shouted at the top of his lungs, “My name is Hamilton Foram! I am the son of Kington Foram, the Knight King of the empire!”

“What? Kington’s son?”

Kington Foram.

He was the Knight King of the previous empire and one of the former Grand Masters. He was also the first to join the Imperial Ten Swords, the group that consisted of the ten most powerful Sword Masters in the empire. Hamilton Foram was his only biological son.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Quickly open the gates!”

At his demand, Herbant quickly opened the gates and welcomed Hamilton in.

* * *

“...And why should I believe you?”

"If you don’t trust me, you can check for yourself.”

It had only been two days since the Eurasian Empire had fallen. Because of that, the news had not reached Caliburn Fortress yet, making Hamilton the first one to tell them what had happened. Hearing the shocking news, the two leaders of Caliburn Fortress, the commander and the deputy commander, couldn’t help but frown. Iselan, the deputy commander, looked the most shocked.

“I... Wow... I... I mean, I did have a rather strange dream, but what...? The Eurasian Empire collapsed overnight? You’re not making any sense right now.”

“I can assure you that it’s true. Everything I’ve said so far has actually happened, and the wizards from the Magical Spire are suspected to be the ones behind the emperor’s death. It seems that they killed the emperor and disappeared right after burning the imperial palace to the ground.”

Hamilton kept on sharing unbelievable stories, some of them on the level of absurdity. Apart from the fact that the Eurasian Empire had fallen, he also stated that the wizards collectively rebelled and disappeared and that Arthus took over the emperor’s legacy and founded a new empire.

Hearing all of that, Iselan asked, "So? What brings you here, huh?”

“What do you mean by you, Sir Iselan?! I understand that the news I have delivered must be very shocking to you, but please watch your tone!”

Hamilton warned Iselan not to speak to him informally, but Iselan merely burst into laughter as if he found the whole situation hilarious.

“HAHAHA!”

“Why are you laughing?”

“What a fucking joke.”

“Excuse me?”

“You fucking bastard... You think you’re my boss? How dare you question the manners of a soldier who has just lost his empire?” nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.

“Excuse me? Sir Iselan, what on earth are you talking about...?”

“Sir my ass! Why do you keep on saying Sir?! What meaning does that word have to a soldier who has just lost the empire they’re supposed to protect? Sir this, sir that, damn it! Besides, I never said I wanted to serve Arthus. What makes you think you can tell me what to do?”

Iselan was going berserk, and it really seemed like he was about to murder Hamilton. Within Caliburn Fortress, Iselan was known to have the best military abilities. He was fundamentally different from his superior, who had climbed up the ranks just by being in the military for a long time.

The Eurasian Empire had collapsed.

Iselan had been suppressing his wild and rough personality because of his being a soldier of the Eurasian Empire. However, since the empire that had made him a soldier no longer existed, he no longer had to contain himself. In other words, it wouldn’t be surprising if he lost his sanity and wreaked havoc any moment from then.

Soon, Iselan felt his head throbbing, veins bulging. He brought his hand to his forehead, and after a while, he asked in an irritated tone, "So? Why did you come all the way out here? Are you really asking me to go under this Aenia or whatever the hell it’s called?”

“We-well... That too... But actually...”

“I-is this all true..?”

"Yeah. At first, I also thought it was bullshit. Most of the nobles of the Eurasian Empire decided to go under the Aenian Empire, and the Foram family is among the ones that did so. So, since you’re part of the Foram family, from now on, you’re also part of the Aenian Empire.”

“...!”

Ronan’s nationality had changed without him even knowing. Soon, his pupils dilated at all the shocking news he had received.

Seeing Ronan dazed like that, Hamilton took the opportunity to rally him.

“Listen, Ronan! His Majesty is giving you a chance to let the world know who you are!” said Hamilton proudly.

However, in stark contrast to Hamilton’s enthusiasm, Ronan seemed aloof as he replied, “Letting the world know who I am...?”

“Exactly! There are many vacant slots in the newly established Imperial Ten Swords, and Father has recommended you for one of those positions. Ronan, come join me as one of the Imperial Ten Swords and let the world know who we are! Bring honor to the Foram name!”

“The Imperial Ten Swords...!” murmured Ronan, still somewhat in disbelief.

Only the ten most powerful swordsmen in the entire empire could be part of the Imperial Ten Swords, and Ronan had been recommended for one of those honorable positions.

At that moment, Ronan met Iselan’s eyes. The latter held an unyielding gaze, his countenance expressionless.

“I don’t want to,” replied Ronan as he maintained eye contact with the deputy commander.

“There we go, I knew that you would definitely say ‘yes’... Wait, what?”

“I’d rather be here to help my superior, Deputy Commander Iselan, keep the continent safe than be part of the Imperial Ten Swords.”

“You bastard! Are you going to disobey Father’s orders now?!

“Gahahaha!”

Iselan couldn’t hold in his laughter after he heard Ronan’s answer. He eventually wiped his tears and continued, “Haha, I knew it! I sure got one hell of an assistant! I knew it! I knew it!”

“...”

Hamilton had been certain that Ronan would obediently follow his father’s orders because he knew that there would be no way for Ronan, an adopted son, to secure his spot within the family for the rest of his life unless he took this opportunity.

Iselan twitched his eyebrows and asked in a cheerful tone, “Okay, kid, Ronan said what he wanted. What are you going to do now?”

Hearing that, Hamilton flushed with anger, his whole body trembling.

"Tsch...! This can’t be happening! Ronan is part of the Foram family! And you! Even though you’re incapable of repaying the noble blessings Father has given you, you dare turn this opportunity down and dishonor the family like this?”

“I didn’t dishonor anything.”

"Huh? What did you say?”

“I’m just not interested in being part of the Imperial Ten Swords. To be part of something like that as an adopted son... That’s too much for me.”

“If you think that, then that’s double the reason why you should be thankful for such an opportunity!”

Bang!

At that moment, Iselan slammed the desk and intervened.

"Enough!"

Even though there was nothing more entertaining than to see others fight, too much of anything was troublesome.

“Ronan.”

“Yes, Deputy Commander Iselan.”

“I am more than proud of your answer, but as the Foram family was naturalized into the Aenian Empire, you, too, are undoubtedly an Aenian. So, whether you like it or not, it’s right for you to follow Aenian law from now.”

"But..!”

“Yes, I know. Of course, you won’t like hearing what I’m saying. There's an old saying that if you don't want to be the Grand Earl, you can refuse it. You think you wouldn’t be able to do the same with something like the position of the Imperial Ten Swords?”

“...”

Ronan remained silent. He then lowered his eyes and bowed. Iselan laughed as he saw the way he acted.

“Ronan.”

“Yes, Deputy Commander.”

“With the Eurasian Empire gone, I lost the country I’m supposed to protect and the emperor I’m supposed to serve.”

“Deputy Commander...”

“And because of this, there’s a suggestion I want to make for you.”

"Suggestion as in...?”

“Ronan, abandon Foram name.”

“What?”

“Sir Iselan! What nonsense are you talking about!”

“Like I said, Ronan, abandon the Foram name and become like me.”

This was the method Iselan had come up with to prevent Ronan from returning to the empire. It was simple, really. Ronan just had to forfeit his surname, Foram. Simple as it was, it was, in fact, his only chance to get out of this situation.