[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Chapter 306: The Enemy from Across the Sea

“Karzan, I was a slave.”

To Ivan’s sudden confession, I replied.

“I know.”

“My father, my mother, my grandfather, my grandmother. It was the same for the generations before them.”

“…”

Ivan looked at me as I was rendered momentarily speechless.

“I am a descendant of a certain noble who was defeated by the Exiles, the heirs of the old kingdom, when they left the Empire to swallow up Litvaleur.”

“…Really?”

That was something I had never considered.

“A life in shackles from the moment I was born. Since I did not carry their bloodline, I could never escape the station of a vassal and a slave.”

Regret clouded Ivan’s face.

“Pledging loyalty to one’s lord is the virtue of a soldier. Whether I liked it or not, I was born a vassal and pledged my loyalty, and it is true that I was able to come this far thanks to their support.”

As I listened quietly to his story, I asked.

“…You never talked about this in our past life, did you?”

Ivan let out a smirk.

“There was no reason to.”

“And now there is?”

“Yes. Because the possibility has arisen that you might one day surpass the Dark King.”

Ivan affirmed it.

“In short, you’re saying you want to place a bet on my potential?”

“Karzan.”

Ivan said with serious eyes.

“After you died, I actually suffered from quite a few inner demons.”

“Was our relationship that special?”

“I wonder. Your death was regrettable, but…”

Ivan looked up at the sky.

“The years I spent atoning for failing a mission I never wanted were not exactly pleasant.”

“And a bastard like you tried to persuade me to learn demonic arts?”

“Because I knew full well that the Dark King would kill you otherwise.”

Ivan’s premonition became reality.

“When you put it like that, I don’t have much to say.”

“Karzan.”

“Speak.”

“I cannot directly help you yet. But I have given you a warning and an opportunity.”

“Right. This is certainly a favor from you.”

“…Become strong. Defeat the Dark King. If you do, then at least in my children’s generation, we might be able to obtain freedom.”

“…”

I thought for a moment, then asked in surprise.

“You have kids?”

“I do not.”

“Then what’s with all the talk about kids? You planning on getting married late in life?”

Ivan retorted. The source of thɪs content is NovєlFіre.net

“Is there a law that says I can’t?”

“This bastard has no conscience.”

“Why are you swearing at me?”

“Shut up, you crazy bastard. Are you planning on meeting someone young enough to be your daughter?”

Ivan then cleared his throat.

“A widow with children would be fine. You raise them with your heart.”

“This bastard must be really lonely.”

“…It’s just a figure of speech.”

Only then did I finally manage to get up.

The muscle pain throughout my body was no joke.

“Your comrades are just now arriving.”

It was a testament to how fast my speed was with my wings spread, and how fast Ivan’s speed was.

Of course, that alone could not explain this much of a time difference.

“They are probably rushing over after an argument.”

Ivan said, as if he understood.

“I should take my leave. Karzan, when we meet in the capital, I will not be holding back.”

“Right.”

I said in parting.

“But since you held back for me today, I’ll hold back for you once. That’s fair.”

“Hahahaha!”

Ivan laughed heartily.

“Arrogant fellow. But your judgment is still as sharp as ever.”

Ivan took something from his bosom and threw it.

“Hmm?”

In the brief moment my gaze went upwards, he was already gone.

“See you again, Karzan.”

“…To think I’d fall for something like this.”

What had been thrown was just a plain-looking coin.

As I was picking it up, Ulbhild, Siena, and Knut had already come close.

“Allen!”

“Young Master!”

“Allen, are you alright?”

I mulled over how to explain, then decided to say this for the time being.

“I chased him off.”

What?

If you have a problem with it, come back and refute it.

* * *

“Ivan fought Allen one-on-one and then retreated?”

Georg’s ears perked up in disbelief upon hearing Venion’s report.

“Is such a thing possible? Ivan is clearly an 8th tier transcendent.”

“I do not know myself. I hear an incredible battle took place, but in any case, the Young Master was left in a battered state, and Ivan was gone.”

Georg looked at Allenvert’s chess piece, located on the upper reaches of the Lindella River on the map.

“…Repelled him? That is difficult to believe.”

Georg himself knew better than anyone.

It was a common occurrence for a strong warrior who had reached the late 6th tier to use their wits to defeat a 7th tier opponent, but such a thing did not happen against an 8th tier.

The 8th tier was a realm beyond the heavens.

“Even if Allen is an amazing genius and had a lot of luck on his side… that is not a complete explanation.”

Georg looked at Venion.

“It would be a different story if they had at least attacked him together.”

“Yes. That did not happen. To be precise, I am told it was a duel that occurred after Ivan single-handedly defeated the combined attack of Lady Ulbhild, the Sixth Batallion Head Rudgarda, Knut Eisenach, Ghir Svaltalfar, and even Zamuel, and then singled out the Young Master.”

Georg stroked his chin.

“How bizarre. Then again, Ivan’s behavior has been strange in the past.”

He recalled the story of how Allenvert had admired a certain swordsman from the underworld during his seven years of seclusion.

“Karzan, Karzan. For that man’s name to unwittingly draw in big shots like Zamuel and Ivan, it is truly a bizarre coincidence.”

Count Aiden said.

“Yes. I never imagined the Young Master would have such feelings and change as a result.”

“I agree.”

Georg asked his Head Butler.

“At this point, I am becoming curious. What kind of man was this Karzan to cause all this?”

“I met with Ludan and received the relevant data just in case.”

The Duke smiled with satisfaction at Count Aiden’s efficiency.

“As expected.”

The Count humbly bowed his head.

It was the duty of a Head Butler to anticipate his master’s thoughts and prepare in advance.

“…Hmm.”

Georg nodded after reading the anecdotes about Karzan that Ludan had recorded.

“This is less admiration and more like his soul was overlaid onto him.”

…It was a surprisingly accurate insight.

“Ah, and there is news from the Second Young Master’s side.”

Venion gave another report.

“The strategy was a success. The Devas Fortress has been retaken, and he is pursuing Duke Montera’s army, which is in a hurry to head south, after cutting off their supplies.”

“It is proceeding smoothly.”

Georg was once again reminded of how deep Verdzig’s strategic mind and military planning were.

“If these two support the future of Grunewald, it will surely achieve a prosperity far greater than in my generation.”

“Haha. Do you think it would be that easy?”

Venion, after lightly stroking his master’s ego, hardened his expression before giving his final report.

“We have grasped the movements of the Black Society.”

At that, the faces of Georg and Aiden also became serious.

“What is it?”

“We must immediately convene the council of elders and issue a full military mobilization order.”

Venion said.

“The Dark King is aiming for the gap created by the war at the royal capital. He will try to retrieve the Ebony Oath sleeping in Valkenhain, and the Dragonheart sleeping in our Grunewald’s repository.”

“…So it is as I thought.”

Georg murmured, as if he was not surprised.

“I knew that man would surely have another motive.”

The reason the Duke had sent the two brothers to the war of succession and kept his own forces almost entirely intact was not simply to decide on a successor.

‘It was to prepare for the pincer strategies that the Dark King is so fond of using.’

Georg commanded.

“Mobilize all standing and reserve forces. And close the ports.”

Because…

“Soon, they will cross the sea.”

Venion joked.

“This will result in a huge loss. The cost of closing the ports for just one day, phew.”

“It cannot be helped. The survival of the duchy is at stake.”

Georg rose from his seat and added a command.

“Contact the Red Mist Alliance as well. We will need the cooperation of the underworld.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Inform Valkenhain as well. In fact, the Valkenhain side may be in more danger.”

Venion gave a military salute with a solemn face.

“I will carry out your orders.”

The battle from over twenty years ago, when they fought against the schemes of the Black Society to protect Grunewald.

The time to begin it again was approaching.

* * *

[Ivan.]

The face of Gulbark that appeared on the crystal ball was endlessly stern and extremely intimidating.

[What in the world are you doing? Do you call that an explanation?]

Ivan replied calmly to the threat.

“I do not know what you are talking about. Are you suspecting me?”

[Ivan. Do not be insolent.]

Gulbark did not hide his anger.

[I understand that you are captivated by the curse of that bastard, Karzan. But for a sinner who has not even brought back the Ereshkigal to now pull this kind of absurd stunt?]

Just how much did Gulbark know?

Ivan was not particularly curious about it.

After all, the Dark King and Gulbark were beings who could know anything if they wanted to.

‘But you are not omniscient and omnipotent beings either.’

Ivan thought to himself.

‘You still have not realized that Karzan is alive.’

And if they were truly omnipotent, they would not have failed in Georg’s generation in the first place.

“…I only stepped forward because the Third Prince was being so insistent. I have confirmed that Allenvert has crushed Grimnar and learned several strange martial arts, so when we next meet on the battlefield, I can kill him easily.”

[If you had led your subordinates in a surprise attack, or at the very least, targeted the ships, there would have been a disruption to their strategy. Was it truly the best course of action to calmly walk into the heart of the enemy camp, draw out their leader, fight him separately, and then retreat?]

Gulbark’s point was indeed valid.

“It was not the best course of action.”

Ivan coolly admitted to the point.

[What?]

“But with this fight, I have cast away the lingering attachments that remained within me. Allenvert Grunewald is not Karzan, but merely a childish brat who admired a long-dead ghost and tried to imitate him.”

The path Ivan chose was a frontal breakthrough.

“I have confirmed that, but it is also true that in the process, my heart weakened, and I was not ruthless enough.”

By admitting the truth while mixing in a lie, his logic held a strange persuasiveness.

“There will not be a second time that I show that boy mercy.”

At that, it became difficult for even Gulbark to say more.

[Ivan.]

The man who would become the Dark King’s number two, second to one and above all others, spoke.

[Keep your word.]

Ivan replied with sincerity.

“Of course.”

…Next time, even if he used his full power, he would probably not be able to surpass Karzan.

Ivan could only cling to that one possibility.

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]