Chapter 106 : The Knights (7)

Not long after I returned to Winter Castle, Edric came looking for the barracks.

“Ah, you really were here. I thought you would be back soon.”

“Is something the matter?”

“Am I the kind of person who only looks for you all when something is wrong? That’s disappointing.”

“Something is wrong.”

“That is true.”

Edric laughed heartily, as if trying hard to hide his embarrassment.

This old man, still as shameless as ever.

“So, what is it?”

“Don’t make such a face, it’s actually good news, in its own way.”

“It doesn’t seem like very good news.”

“Have you lived only by being deceived? I have never failed to give you my trust, this is disappointing.”

“Just get to the point.”

“Hmph.”

Edric, clicking his tongue tsk tsk, took a parchment out from his bosom.

It was not the parchment we usually used, but a parchment that looked much more luxurious than that.

“The Lord of the castle, Margrave, has personally praised your contributions regarding the recent mission. Normally, you would meet Margrave in person for the recognition of merit and rewards, but as you all know, the situation is not favorable, so please understand that I am acting as the representative.”

It seemed that the recognition of merit and rewards for this mission would not be held separately.

Given Winter Castle’s nature, it was always distant from such formalities, so it was not a particularly special occurrence.

Should I say that the harsh environment of the North makes people extremely practical?

“Ahem, then I will convey Margrave’s words.”

“Didn’t you say there was no separate recognition of merit and rewards?”

“I meant we are not holding a separate event, not that Winter Castle will ignore your efforts. Now, I will begin.”

Edric unfolded the parchment.

“Listen well, O valiant warriors of Winter Castle! You who have returned after defeating the King of the Demonic Realm in the valley of severe cold where cold and blizzards rage, you are the true heroes of this Winter Castle!”

“Thanks to your courage and fighting spirit, we were able to protect Winter Castle from the threat of the Demonic Realm. O valiant warriors who broke through the harsh wall of nature and achieved victory in a fight that seemed impossible! Your names will remain long in history.”

“O guardians of the frosty hills, O conquerors of the rugged snow mountains! As the Lord of the castle, I will never forget your loyalty and dedication. Winter Castle will forever remember the immortal achievements you have accomplished with your blood and sweat! Now, let us raise a toast together. To the great warriors of Winter Castle!”

It was such grandiose praise that anyone hearing it would think we had actually killed the King of the Demonic Realm and returned.

After finishing the lengthy speech, Edric cleared his throat.

“Ahem, that is all.”

“……Did you really have to do that?”

Conlan, Albino, and Alicia, who were listening beside me, also had dumbfounded faces.

“What can I do? A soldier does what he’s told from above.”

“Since when were you such a true soldier……”

“What a misleading thing to say. I have always been loyal to the Empire.”

He didn’t even bother to wet his lips before saying that.

“Well, this isn’t the important part. Wouldn’t Margrave lose face if the praise was only verbal? So, I will tell you about the rewards that will be given to you.”

When the story of rewards came out, Conlan’s, Albino’s, and Alicia’s eyes lit up.

“You should have said that from the start.”

“Hmph, the introduction was long for a captain.”

“It was boring.”

“……”

Edric glared at us one by one, then shook his head as if giving up.

“First, Vell and Albino, who made the greatest contributions in this mission, will each be given a reward of 50 gold coins and two months of vacation.”

The vacation aside, for Winter Castle, which was always suffering from financial difficulties, this was a fairly unconventional reward.

Well, given that the mission to eliminate the King of the Demonic Realm was just that ridiculous, in a way, it was expected.

“And there will also be promotions for your performance.”

“Promotions?”

“That’s right. First, Vell, you will be specially promoted two ranks to Corporal, signifying the expectations for your performance so far and in the future, and you will officially take the position of Squad Leader for the 4th Special Task Force.”

The two-rank promotion was one thing, but suddenly the position of Squad Leader…….

“Then what about you, Captain?”

“I am still the captain. Isn’t it too soon to be aiming for my position already?”

“No, well…… It’s not like that.”

Since they were suddenly entrusting me with the Squad Leader position, I thought Edric, the existing captain, was leaving the 4th Special Task Force, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“It means that if I am absent for some reason, you, Vell, will take command of the 4th Special Task Force as the next in command.”

“I understand.”

Hearing it, it wasn’t a bad deal for me either.

Until now, I had commanded the 4th Special Task Force most of the time when Edric was absent, but now it meant that it had changed to an official right of command.

‘Now I can legally work them hard.’

I still couldn’t explain exactly what the 4th Special Task Force was to me, but at least I was sure they wouldn’t betray me.

In this damn world where you can’t easily trust anyone, having definite allies on my side was a pretty good thing.

“You heard? I’m your Squad Leader now. Listen to me well.”

As I spoke haughtily, Conlan nodded.

“Hmph, if it’s you, Vell, I can trust you. I approve.”

“Idiot. Margrave already decided it, so what does it matter if the likes of you approve or not?”

“Then do you disapprove, white-hair.”

“……I’m saying it has no bearing whether we approve or not.”

Conlan and Albino bickered as always, and Alicia spoke.

“Congratulations, Vell.”

“It’s not a big deal, no need for congratulations.”

“Still.”

Edric let out a dry cough.

“Ahem, may I continue?”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“Albino, Conlan, and Alicia will also be promoted one rank and become Privates First Class. Naturally, their pay according to rank will also increase.”

News of the 4th Special Task Force members’ promotion.

The one who welcomed it the most was, as expected, Conlan.

“Ooh! Even the pay? This is great! Isn’t it, white-hair?”

“……Stop fidgeting with that huge body, it makes me feel embarrassed too. No, in the first place, it makes no sense that I’m the same rank as this moron, isn’t something wrong here?”

“You’re happy too, but you’re pretending not to be.”

“I give up talking to you.”

Regardless of Conlan and Albino, Edric continued to speak.

“And lastly, there will soon be a group funeral for the fallen soldiers, including Baronet Eldran. You all must attend as well.”

“Understood.”

If it were up to me, I wouldn’t want to attend something troublesome like a funeral, but it’s common courtesy that even if you miss celebrations, you must not miss condolences.

“Well, that’s all I have to relay.”

There was one last thing I needed to confirm directly with Edric.

“Captain, can we consider my service term to be somewhat reduced because of this?”

“That, you ask……. Well, for now, we can see it that way. Perhaps if you achieve merits like this a few more times, it might not be impossible to be discharged as you wish.”

“I see. Understood.”

That was a sufficient answer to hear from Edric right now.

The rest was something I had to overcome myself.

‘For now, it’s probably better to think about the Griffin Knights.’

The rampage of Demonic energy that occurred in the process of taking the Ascension Stone Fragment this time was unexpected even for me, so I couldn’t know what kind of effect it would cause.

For example, what if the Griffin Knights’ Commander Yuliana or another Player had witnessed it?

Naturally, they would suspect me first, as I was already suspected of being a Player, and if that happened, I too would inevitably be in trouble.

‘The possibility of them doing something foolish inside Winter Castle is low, but I can’t say it’s absolute.’

Should I leave Winter Castle soon?

No, if I tried to hide myself half-heartedly now, it was obvious I’d be caught by the Griffin Knights’ pursuit before long.

In the first place, the act of running away itself would only give them the conviction that I was a Player.

‘Then what should I do…….’

Just as I was gauging the things to come in my head.

Knock knock-

Someone came to the barracks.

“Come in.”

With Edric’s words, the barracks door opened, and a man in a full-dress uniform entered.

A face I already knew.

He was a member of the Griffin Knights.

“Is there a soldier named Vell Blackwood here?”

“What is it?”

“Ah, Sir Edric. It’s just that the Griffin Knights have a few things to ask the soldier named Vell Blackwood.”

“Wasn’t the investigation already finished?”

“It seems there are still a few more things to investigate. That should be fine, right?”

Edric’s gaze shifted to me, as if seeking my consent.

The answer was already decided from the start.

Not only did I have no justification to refuse in this situation, but even if I did refuse, it was obvious they would use all sorts of external pressure or use force to drag me away.

“I understand. I will go immediately.”

“Hmm, if you say so. Go on.”

“Yes.”

I cannot avoid all trials.

That’s why sometimes, if a trial is unavoidable, it is more helpful to face it head-on.

Now was probably such a time.

“Follow me.”

I followed the Griffin Knight member.

***

When I followed the Griffin Knight member and arrived at the Griffin Knights’ office in the main castle, the Griffin Knights’ Commander Yuliana was waiting.

To be honest, if they had tried to drag me outside Winter Castle or to some other secluded place instead of here, I was planning to refuse, but since the destination was here, I was relieved for the time being.

No matter how great the Griffin Knights were, it wouldn’t be easy to kill a Winter Castle soldier inside Winter Castle, especially inside the main castle where the Lord resides.

“You’ve come.”

Yuliana subtly gestured with her eyes toward the person who had come with me.

However, no matter how much Yuliana gestured, the man remained motionless, and only then did Yuliana open her mouth.

“……What are you doing?”

“What.”

“Did you not understand just now?”

“Understand what.”

Yuliana let out a deep sigh.

“Hey, we’re going to talk, just the two of us, so could you leave now?”

“Why? It’s better to listen together.”

“Just get out. Do you want to taste a pay cut for the first time in a while?”

“Aish. Understood.”

It was just a simple conversation, but in a place with strict discipline like a knight order, for a commander and a mere member to talk so informally sounded to me like they were not the original inhabitants of this world.

And the fact that they casually showed me a side they normally should have hidden…….

“There’s no need to talk for long. We called for you, Vell Blackwood-nim, because there is one thing we’d like to ask. Is that alright?”

“Yes. It is fine. Please speak.”

“Good.”

The moment Yuliana’s golden eyes met my gaze, I could feel it.

Eyes that seemed to pierce through everything about the opponent.

What those burning golden eyes signified.

‘Is it Insight?’

This was not the first time I had met Yuliana.

And yet, the fact that the presence of Insight was radiating so strongly that I could notice it, unlike the first time, meant that Yuliana strongly suspected me.

‘Hmm.’

Therefore, being seen through to my essence by those eyes right now was not a very good thing.

However, there was no need to worry.

I didn’t know what level of Insight Yuliana possessed, but it was meaningless to me anyway.

[‘Insight’ is observing you.]

[The Power of the Postponer of Ruin blocks the mental interference!]

Tzzt, tzt!

With the spark that occurred momentarily, Yuliana hurriedly pulled her body back.

“What is this……!”

Yuliana’s expression as she looked at me slowly filled with shock.

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