Chapter 586

Chapter 586

Hi, please check out this patreon link 21 chapters per week and up to 40 additional chapters!!

Chapter 586

Within the vast territory that nearly encompassed half of the 7th Wall District of the capital, lay the Imperial Knights' compound.

Cautiously scanning his surroundings, Kiolle Diarca descended from the carriage that had entered the compound. Though his position had shifted to that of the Crown Prince's escort knight, his fundamental affiliation was still with the Imperial Knights. Despite having no need to act so cautiously, his shoulders remained tense, filled with an uneasy energy.

"Ah? Is that you, Sir Diarca?"

"Wha!"

Suddenly, someone called out to Kiolle from behind. For a brief moment, he tensed up as if he had been struck by lightning. Quickly composing himself, he creakingly turned his head towards the source of the voice.

Two members of the Imperial Knights, whose names he couldn't even recall, offered him a casual salute.

"Indeed, it is you, Sir Diarca. What brings you here?"

"You haven't been here in a while. If you have any business, would you like us to assist you?"

Their faces were filled with warm smiles. However, Kiolle's expression had long since turned sour, as if crumpled paper.

"...Are you implying that I have no reason to be here unless I have some business?"

"Huh?"

The knights who had initiated the conversation blinked in surprise at his irritable reaction.

"No, no, not at all. We were just happy to see you after such a long time!"

"Yes, exactly. We can assist you with your duties and perhaps catch up a little"

"Do I look like someone who can't handle my own affairs without help? Also, this isn't a place where common knights should be idly wandering during duty hours. Who said you could be so blatantly lazy here?"

"..."

Of course, that was the official protocol. But how many in the Imperial Knights actually followed it? Especially coming from Kiolle Diarca, who barely managed to enlist thanks to his family name and was rumored to be inferior even to the lowest-ranked knights in skill!

"Associating with lazy people like you is an insult to me. I have no conversation to share with people whose names I don't even remember. Leave."

Truth be told, the knights had approached Kiolle not out of genuine kindness but because they thought it amusing to engage with the scorned youngest son of the Diarca Ducal House. They felt chills run down their spines, as if he had read their minds.

"So Diarca is still Diarca, huh"

"I've heard rumors that a lot of people have underestimated him lately. Seems they were true."

They reluctantly retreated, unable to utter another word.

Left alone, Kiolle didn't let down his guard until they had completely disappeared. Then he finally relaxed his tense back and gritted his teeth.

"That damn Cavalry bastard Not only can I not crawl up to him, but he dares to summon me here?!" ViiSiit novelbi/n(.)c/(o)m for latest novels

The reason for his visit was a hastily-written note he had received secretly during the imperial family meal. Scrawled in it were a few numbers and a word. After some thought, Kiolle had deduced that these indicated a date, time, and the name of the Imperial Knights' training ground. This particular training ground was shared by both the Cavalry and the Imperial Knights. It was also the place where Yuder had previously given the Imperial Knights a sound thrashing. As soon as he had realized this, the sender's identity and intentions became crystal clear in his mind.

Since the Cavalry was located within the grounds of the Imperial Knights, visiting under the pretext of some task was simple. The Crown Prince would naturally not suspect him. However, the fact that he had to comply with Yuder's instructions, even while aware of all this, was irksome.

Damn it! What was up with those guys just now? I thought I had been found out, scared me for a second.

The knights had been more irritable than usual when they spoke, making him anxious that his motives might be revealed. What he didn't realize, however, was that the knights had read their own base intentions in his irritation, thinking he was appropriately expressing aristocratic disdain.

Thus, the reputation of Kiolle Diarca rose once more that day.

"Youre here."

"That's all you have to say after calling me all the way here?"

What else was he supposed to say? Yuder silently observed Kiolle, who stood awkwardly in a corner of the empty training ground. Precisely three seconds after their eyes met, the air seemed to deflate from Kiolles puffed-up liver, and his previous fears returned.

Avoiding Yuder's scrutinizing gaze, Kiolle turned his head and spoke.

"... I said to His Highness the Crown Prince that I had some business to attend to at the Imperial Knights. I don't think hed suspect me, but just in case, I'll return as soon as possible."

"Hmm, alright. No need to drag this out."

Yuder extended his hand towards Kishiar, unambiguously.

Ever since their arrival, the number of rats in the Bright Palace had increased, and rumors about ghosts had started circulating. Kiolle had even heard soldiers, who were on night duty, say that they couldn't move forward on paths they knew well, as if a wall had suddenly appeared.

In the past, he hadn't believed it, but after hearing from Yuder that they were Awakeners, he couldn't just dismiss it lightly. He volunteered for several night shifts. Other soldiers and knights were shocked, but he insisted. As a result, he discovered that the rumors were, to some extent, true.

"It was dawn. I was going to the bathroom when I found four rats gathered in a circle, their tails intertwined as they spun around."

"And then?"

"I drew my sword and shouted, and they vanished."

The next day, Kiolle hounded the healers, interrogating them if they knew anything about the incident. Complaints about filthy rats appearing because of those unfortunate newcomers were just a bonus. The healers dispersed, avoiding Kiolle's gaze without uttering a word.

After that, all the tales of rat sightings around Bright Palace ceased entirely. So did the soldiers' eerie stories. People guessed that Kiolle must have been dreaming, but Kiolle believed it was no mere coincidence.

"And you know... this is a bit of a different topic, but I think it's certain that my father was unaware of their true nature."

"Why do you think that?"

"After they visited our home, Father asked a lot of questions about them. In my opinion"

"Hold on."

Yuder raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Did the healers meet your father? The Duke of Diarca?"

"Yes."

"When did they go to see him? For what reason?"

"Well, it was not too long ago. I think Father wanted to hear directly from the healers about the Crown Prince's treatment. Is that important?"

"..."

'Of course it's important. What could be more important?'

The Duke of Diarca, who had only dealt with the healers indirectly up until now, had for the first time personally met them. How could such an event not be significant? Yuder clenched his fist for a moment before loosening it again.

"Tell me again. Properly. The exact timing and everything you saw that day."

Read up to chapter 679 for just 5$ or up to chapter 972 for just 10$ on /al_squad

[Select the $10/month plan or the Foundation Establishment tier to access the chapters]

Hi, if you like the story, please rate and review this novel on novelupdates. Thanks!

Check out the latest chapter 1002 in /al_squad [Patreon members can access ad-free chapters, up to 21 chapters per week and up to 40 additional chapters!!]

Support us on Patreon to enjoy ad-free content, with up to 21 chapters released weekly and access to an additional 40 chapters!

For those who find it difficult to subscribe via Patreon, PayPal is also an available option.

Please ensure you have read the tier information on Patreon before proceeding with a subscription through PayPal.

Once you have subscribed, please send your Gmail address and PayPal ID to . I will then verify your account on PayPal and share with you the Google Doc containing the chapters that correspond to your subscription tier.

Please use the Patreon subscription first. Only if that route is hard then use the PayPal subscription.

Select your tier Qi Cultivating Stage $5.00 USD - month(s) Foundation Establishment $10.00 USD - month(s) Xudan $20.00 USD - month(s) Jindan $50.00 USD - month(s) Yuanying $100.00 USD - month(s)

Check out the new project:

Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Graduate student Yi-han finds himself reborn in another world as the youngest child of a mage family.

Im never attending school, ever again!

What do you wish to achieve in life?

I wish to play around and live comforta-

You must be aware of your talent. Now go attend Einroguard!

Patriarch!

My future would be guaranteed once I graduate. For my future!