NOVEL WEB Chapter 239
Once ruled by the great Mage King, Faceulan was known as the central point dividing the East and North.
But how about the present reality?
The current situation is that it’s under the substantial eastern base of Irene’s Order and part of a province within the Berke Empire’s sphere of influence.
Back in the days of the Vera Empire, a governor might’ve been dispatched, but things are different now.
The nominal alliance, friendly nation, and so-called brother country…
The beautiful facade of an older brother looking after a younger one may seem noble,
but what’s the reality?
The only reason Faceulan could at least pretend to exchange pleasantries with the empire was thanks to their unique Magic Techniques.
“Hey, you useless cripple! There are two types of people in this Faceulan, know what they are?”
There’s a neatly dressed young noble and his seemingly agile escort,
and then there are the hulking masses in ragged clothes.
Cornered in an alley by these four was a dirty, disheveled youth who looked like he’d just been dragged out of a gutter.
His clothes were stained, salt-caked from dried sweat, and covered in dust—his state was far from good.
That’s how clean he is.
When the empire first entered Faceulan, their top priority was poverty relief.
The ruling class and power elite quickly bowed to the empire’s influence, but what did it matter to the common folk?
However, the aid programs from both the empire and Irene’s Order did indeed integrate into Faceulan society.
Of course, there were strings attached.
Moreover, no matter where you go, there will always be dark corners.
Pests and mold will inevitably grow anywhere.
“One’s a mage, the other’s incompetent. But why do you look like such a wreck when you used to be a noble kid capable of magic? Eh? Give me an answer, Young Master Reiman.”
Not too long ago, this noble didn’t have the clout to act so arrogantly.
They were wealthy but utterly powerless.
But ever since the empire got involved, many things changed—for better or worse.
“Do you even need that remaining arm? You’ve got nothing left to live for anyway, right?”
“…”
This pathetic youth clenched his teeth, glancing at the wall behind him.
He hadn’t been lucky lately—actually, bad luck was his constant companion—but this time was particularly awful.
After the power structure shifted, Raymond, who belonged to one of the main families, inherited everything in a panic after his elder brother, the head of the family, died.
Within months, he lost everything.
Everything crumbled overnight.
“Why are you glaring like that? Do you think we’ll kill you?”
Heh-heh-heh! The hulks grinned sadistically as they lunged toward Raymond, who cowered like a rat.
“Let go of me!”
“You’re the one stealing, aren’t you? You shouldn’t have coveted others’ belongings in the first place.”
Even if he had coveted them, what did it have to do with them?
Though he wanted to stand tall and protest,
his body felt limp, struggling even to breathe.
“Guh!”
“Hold the arm properly. Are you really that weak?”
As the youth tried to wrench free, instinctively jerking away, he gagged repeatedly.
“Take a bath, you moron! What is that smell?! A noble reduced to this—it’s truly baffling.”
“My Lord, please consider our plight too. We feel like vomiting ourselves.”
“Ah, maybe I overreacted.”
Perhaps tormenting and breaking someone down is as simple to them as plucking a fly’s wings or legs.
Despite enduring countless humiliations and crises before,
this time, it seems like it’s really over.
‘Why has it come to this?’
While flailing desperately to catch his breath, amidst despair and gloom, Raymond kept repeating the same thought.
Images flooded his mind like waves crashing against rocks,
but all that surfaced was a deep sense of injustice.
‘Ever since that day…’
“Hey! Break it already! How long are you going to hold it? You’re not some pervert, are you?! No! It’s just too disgusting, use your foot…”
Was it appropriate to say the air froze?
Rather, it felt like space itself had solidified.
Even though it was an alley, it was unnaturally dark, and suddenly, unbearably cold.
It was getting chilly anyway, but given the location, the sudden severity of the chill was well-known.
Still, this wasn’t normal.
It felt like the world had disconnected.
Clang!
The metallic sound shattered the silence, drawing everyone’s attention except for Raymond, whose face was pressed into the ground.
“Hm.”
A heavy sigh.
Even the breathing sounded oppressive.
“What, what is it? Sir Knight, this doesn’t concern you…so….”
The noble youth tried to assert himself, but his hands trembled uncontrollably.
Then his companion, a close friend and retainer, stepped forward.
“Do you know who this person is? If you don’t want trouble, mind your own business and go on your way…”
Huuuum.
Another layer of icy coldness joined the heavy breathing.
“Silence.”
An order without permission.
“…”
The hulks instinctively sensed danger, dropping Raymond and standing up.
Surprisingly, despite being fully armored, the knight didn’t appear to carry a sword.
Had he left it somewhere? Or abandoned it near his mount?
Whatever the case, it wasn’t proper conduct for a true knight.
So, what was this man?
‘A novice knight obsessed with chivalry?’
In the eastern continent, the empire’s ideals of knighthood had seeped into various aspects of life.
Faceulan, as a magical kingdom, resisted this trend, but with the influx of imperial culture, even its citizens began yearning for the chivalric lifestyle.
Yet, knighthood was never accessible to the lowborn.
Even those without blemishes in status found it challenging to afford the necessary equipment, often costing as much as running a castle.
Besides, this armor was clearly extraordinary.
Most importantly, its pitch-black appearance seemed ominous.
“This is our business, so don’t interfere too much. This guy is a corrupt noble brat, and we’re educating him properly.”
“That’s right! Exactly!”
…
Regardless.
Clang! Clang!
Ignoring them, the knight passed the youths and the hulks alike.
As Raymond struggled to lift himself off the ground, watching for an escape opportunity,
“Circling around, you’ve finally reached this point. Have you reflected on anything yet?”
“…?”
At first, Raymond didn’t understand, but the overwhelmingly heavy and intimidating voice made comprehension difficult.
Suddenly, his left shoulder tingled.
The phantom pain came from where his missing left arm should’ve been.
“Who… are you?”
“Or are you still lacking something?”
The voice was different.
The atmosphere and aura were different too.
But instinct screamed: It’s him! It’s definitely him!
Without evidence, Raymond’s bloodshot eyes confirmed it with unwavering certainty.
“Is there some grudge between you and this fellow?”
“Oh, if only you’d said that earlier!”
“Unnecessary commotion!”
Smiling cruelly to some, familiarly to others, the knight turned his head.
“…”
For some inexplicable reason,
the previously arrogant group of four fell silent instantly.
“Don’t you think both your current selves and these guys are equally despicable and pitiful?”
“…”
Why was this person here?
“H-Hey, listen, why are you causing trouble again…”
Barking like stray dogs, the hulk tried to retaliate, relying on the presence of his supposedly powerful master.
“All of you share a regrettable trait: none of you have learned anything, neither in the past nor now. And so, you’ll keep repeating this nonsense forever.”
What a lamentable situation.
“So, why are you here?”
“…”
From beneath the black helmet, a sinister breathing sound emerged.
“Baylante.”
Mentioned was the name of Raymond’s elder brother, once a pillar among the 13 Great Magical Nobles.
“It’s not a final message. Rather, it’s the regret he felt immediately after falling to a demon’s hand, which I aim to convey.”
“What…?”
A demon? Death?
“When will you stop?”
With a casual glance backward, the black knight startled the four back into awareness.
“This little mutt thinks he can put on airs just because he wrapped himself in iron!”
“Hey! You’re insane—!”
Unable to contain himself, one of the hulks charged.
KABOOM!
Before anyone realized, the massive figure lay sprawled helplessly on the ground.
‘What is this?’
What just happened?
Everyone stared blankly, as if bewitched by magic, while the fallen hulk lost consciousness.
“Che,” the noble youth muttered, trying to salvage his dignity as he led his group away.
“We won’t overlook this humiliation.”
“By all means.”
I eagerly await it.
The noble youth felt the unspoken resolve clearly, even though no words were spoken.
Is this guy crazy?
Or blinded by misplaced chivalry?
Does he have powerful backing?
Or is he high-ranking imperial nobility?
Thinking about it made him anxious and caused stomach pains.
As they hastily fled the alley,
“What do you plan to do with him?”
Back then, you… no, you removed his arm?
Somehow, regardless of the method, this person had turned Raymond into a one-armed disabled individual. Yet, inexplicably, he had also saved him.
“I’ll give you a chance.”
A chance? What kind of chance?
While Raymond remained wary, swallowing nervously,
“Will you rot here miserably or make an attempt to escape this pit?”
“…”
“Heaven hasn’t abandoned you yet. Neither has your family’s wealth disappeared entirely. Be grateful for that.”
With those words, the Black Knight turned away.
Staring dumbly at his retreating back, Raymond suddenly stood up frantically.
Taking a deep breath, he followed the knight with pale eyes, finally stepping forward.
====
“…I wondered why you were here.”
Delica, holding the reins of her warhorse, glared demonically at the awkward-looking youth trailing behind Carriel.
“Why? Feeling guilty about cutting off someone’s arm?”
“…”
Carriel said nothing.
“Let’s go.”
“…Where to?”
She merely stated the destination.
“The Royal Palace.”
“…Why there?”
Even Delica paused mid-sentence, narrowing her eyes curiously.
“There’s business with the young king.”
====
When the nearby tavern door slammed open with a thunderous noise,
a bearded man, presumably the owner, roared furiously.
“Hey, you dirty kid! What’s wrong with your manners?!”
Despite the roar that could overshadow any tavern commotion,
“Hey you kids! Did you hear? There’s a fight in front of the Royal Palace, and you’re sitting here drinking?!”
What? The Royal Palace? Who’s involved?
“…?”
A man slumped over a rickety table lifted his head groggily from his drunken nap.
“A black-armored knight tried to enter the palace but was blocked, so he started smashing everything to get through!”
What nonsense! Is that guy drunk on daytime liquor? Or exaggerating wildly? Tell us something believable…
Amidst the uproar, some became intrigued by the topic and stood up from their seats.
“Is that true?”
“Would I lie to you?”
“But isn’t the palace far away? Even on horseback, it takes ages to get there.”
“Eh…you would.”
“What’s with this guy?”
“Alright, enough talk. Tell us what happened.”
Eventually, the storyteller, eager to grab attention, grinned smugly as everyone gathered around.
“Listen up, you fools! What I’m about to tell you will shock you! Your hearts will leap out of your chests!”
“Cut the drama! So what is it?!”
And thus, the tale of the black knight flowed from his lips.
Passing by casually, he noticed this mysterious knight exuding an eerie aura heading toward the palace.
Initially thinking he’d be stopped, surprisingly, when he attempted to force his way through and got surrounded, guess what—he obliterated them all…
“What? Is he imitating Grandeous?”
“Does he think he’s some Great Warrior?”
“You guys wouldn’t know! I fought during the Demon King invasion back in the day!”
Others seized the moment, riding the buzz of alcohol to recount their past achievements.
“A Great Warrior? They operate on a whole different level! We swing our swords and can’t even break a chair, but when they swing theirs, the earth flips and the sky splits!”
“Are you bullshitting, you lunatic? That’s impossible!”
“Is that real?! Do you even know what war is? Have you fought demons?!”
“Anyway, what’s this about Grandessomething?”
Even as the chaos escalated, the intoxicating drink somehow unified everyone’s opinions, creating an unspoken connection among them.
Just one thing:
“Wait, where did that guy go?”
The bartender, carrying coins for drinks, scratched his bearded chin with his hairy hand upon noticing the empty seat.
“Hey, what’s this Grandemus thing?!”
The tavern door opened and closed quietly, but no one turned to look—at least not at that moment.