Episode 436
“Face off against Duke Crevan?”
Zeke pondered the implications of the new mission Arthur Draker had assigned him, as relayed by Baron.
Duke Crevan di Panion, the Dark King.
A legendary figure, renowned as one of the five strongest knights across the continent and the mightiest in the Rom Empire.
To Zeke, there was only one reason Arthur Draker would send him to duel such a formidable opponent.
“He wants to see me lose to Duke Crevan.”
Though Zeke was Draker’s guardian knight and a Black Knight, he wasn’t on par with someone like Duke Crevan, the Dark King.
Assuming Arthur was unaware of Zeke’s true strength, the mission seemed designed for failure rather than victory.
Zeke’s reasoning was twofold.
“First, to quell discontent within the Rom Empire.”
Though Rom had been liberated from Siemens’ grasp, it was the Draker family, an external force, that had orchestrated the change.
At the heart of it all was Zeke Draker, celebrated as the Knight of Salvation.
While Rom’s citizens praised Zeke, not everyone in the empire shared the sentiment.
Some viewed the Draker family’s intervention as a disruption, leading to a split between Rom and Jupiter.
In this context, if Zeke were to face Duke Crevan, a symbol of the Rom Empire, and lose, it would restore some of the empire’s pride, albeit belatedly.
Moreover, it would naturally align Duke Crevan with Prince Leo, bolstering the legitimacy of his claim to the throne and encouraging other noble families to join.
The practical benefits of Zeke’s defeat were significant.
“Second, to adjust my standing within the family.”
Arthur Draker likely never anticipated Zeke would actually seize the Rom palace.
His original plan was probably to use Zeke’s failure as a pretext for the Draker family to intervene in the Rom Empire, citing the ensuing conflict and Siemens’ illegal activities.
However, Zeke succeeded in his mission, taking control of Rom and ousting Siemens. He even established Julius as the new ruler, elevating his status within the Draker family to unprecedented heights.
Given Zeke’s flawless record of extraordinary achievements, Arthur Draker had reason to be wary.
If Zeke’s reputation continued to soar, it might surpass Arthur’s own. A defeat at the hands of Duke Crevan could temper his rising fame.
Perhaps Arthur wanted to remind the continent that, despite his victories, the Knight of Salvation had yet to reach the pinnacle of power.
Understanding Arthur Draker’s intentions, Zeke looked up at Baron.
“Did the master mention any reward if I were to defeat Duke Crevan?”
Baron nodded at Zeke’s question.
“Yes, the master said this.”
After a brief pause, Baron spoke again, his expression meaningful.
“If Sir Zeke triumphs over Duke Crevan, the master will pass on the leadership of the family to you.”
Thundering hooves echoed as a group of knights galloped towards Rom, the capital of the Rom Empire.
Their horses bore several short imperial spears, distinct from regular lances.
Leading them was an old knight with a piercing gaze.
Dressed in simple imperial attire, the seasoned knight rode towards Rom.
He was none other than Duke Crevan di Panion, the empire’s foremost spear and the Dark King.
As Duke Crevan’s knights entered Rom, they headed straight for the imperial mausoleum.
The sacred site, once revered, was now reduced to charred ruins.
Duke Crevan dismounted with ease, surveying the devastation.
Imperial knights guarding the site approached to stop him.
“You cannot enter here, sir…”
Recognizing the Panion crest and Duke Crevan’s face, the knight paled and stepped back.
“Y-Your Grace.”
Ignoring the knight, Duke Crevan entered the burnt remains of the mausoleum.
He stood silently, taking in the sight of the empire’s sacred ground, now gone.
After a while, someone approached him from behind.
“Your Grace.”
It was Daria Calvi, captain of the Centaur Knights.
Even with Daria’s arrival, Duke Crevan remained silent, gazing at the vanished mausoleum.
Eventually, he knelt, paying his respects to the lost site, before rising to face Daria.
“It’s been a while.”
Daria had once learned the Panion spear technique, the Dark King’s Spear, from Duke Crevan.
She spoke to him.
“I was surprised to hear you were coming to Rom, Your Grace.”
Duke Crevan rarely left the Panion estate.
Even when the mad Emperor Nero summoned him, he remained unmoved.
That Duke Crevan had come to Rom with his knights was indeed surprising.
Looking at the ruins, Duke Crevan spoke.
“Before Nero’s reign, the late emperor brought me here when I first joined the palace guard.”
The previous emperor, unlike the mad Nero, had led the Rom Empire to prosperity.
Recalling the past, Duke Crevan continued.
“His Majesty showed me this sacred place when I was newly knighted, saying it held the empire’s spirit and soul.”
Duke Crevan remembered the late emperor’s voice.
Daria saw the longing in his eyes, despite his stoic demeanor.
For Duke Crevan, the sacred site was a cherished memory of the late emperor.
Though now the empire’s foremost spear, once he had been a novice knight.
The late emperor had supported him, encouraging him to rise again when he wanted to give up.
Seeing the sacred site, filled with such memories, now destroyed, left Duke Crevan feeling empty.
After a moment, he turned to Daria.
“Zeke Draker has summoned me.”
Daria flinched at the mention of Zeke Draker’s name.
Duke Crevan asked her sharply.
“Daria, what do you think of Zeke Draker?”
Daria hesitated, unable to answer immediately.
After some thought, she finally spoke.
“Zeke Draker is… beyond my judgment.”
Though it seemed evasive, Daria couldn’t find a better answer.
Duke Crevan regarded her silently.
His stern gaze made Daria tense.
Slowly, Duke Crevan spoke.
“Daria, it’s surprising you judge an enemy knight like that.”
His words puzzled Daria.
“Y-Your Grace, I…”
“If you had made a judgment, I would have returned to the estate. That was my plan. But your words intrigued me.”
Duke Crevan mounted his horse again.
“Lead the way, Daria. I will meet the Knight of Salvation myself.”
Daria, surprised that her indecision had piqued Duke Crevan’s interest, mounted her horse with a complex expression. She couldn’t defy his command.
Thus, Daria Calvi and Duke Crevan headed for the palace.
“Duke Crevan is in Rom?”
Carlito, busy with paperwork in the regent’s office, gaped at Prince Leo’s words.
Carlito was currently acting as regent in Julius’s stead.
After nearly dying due to the Abyssal Curse, Julius had aged rapidly and lost much of his health.
With his talent for administration and diplomacy, Carlito had stepped in as his successor.
Though Carlito, former vice-captain of the Celestial Bow Knights, had never met Duke Crevan, he knew of his unyielding nature.
Even when summoned by the emperor, Duke Crevan never budged, preferring to stay in the Panion estate.
He hadn’t reacted when Siemens occupied Rom.
That such a man had come to Rom unannounced was shocking.
Preparing for his coronation, Prince Leo asked Carlito with a troubled expression.
“Acting Regent, do you have any idea why Duke Crevan has come to the palace?”
Carlito shook his head at Leo’s question.
“Hmm, the Duke of Crevan is truly an unpredictable man. It’s hard to make any assumptions about him,” someone remarked.
Karus, who had been lounging on the office sofa with his legs stretched out, shook his head and chimed in, “I don’t understand why you and the acting regent are overthinking this.”
As all eyes turned to him, Karus took a bite of the fruit on the table and continued, “Isn’t it obvious?”
Leo, now more familiar with Karus than before, tilted his head in curiosity. “Obvious? What exactly do you mean by that, Karus?”
Karus sat up from the sofa and replied, “He’s probably just here to gauge the situation.”
Leo shook his head at this. “Karus, you must not know the Duke of Crevan well. He’s not the type to care about others’ opinions.”
Karus chuckled softly. “Even the strongest knight is still human. No matter how formidable the Duke is, he can’t ignore the fact that the Savior Knight, Zeke Draker, is here in Rom.”
Leo turned to Kalito, the acting regent, and asked, “What do you think the Duke of Crevan makes of Zeke Draker?”
Kalito’s expression grew complicated. “If it’s the Duke… he probably doesn’t like it. With Abel, there were various justifications, so the Duke’s side didn’t react much. But now, it seems like Draker is directly involved.”
It was Julius who had helped Abel secure his claim to the throne. Perhaps it irked the Duke that Julius was now shifting his support to Prince Leo. And behind them stood Zeke Draker, the guardian knight of the Draker family. The strict and meticulous Duke of Crevan was unlikely to view this favorably.
Kalito rubbed his temples and said, “If he’s here because of Sir Zeke, there’s a high chance he’ll intervene and raise issues about the succession. If not, then there must be something else…”
Watching Kalito’s troubled expression, Karus shook his head again. “It seems you don’t know the Duke well either. He doesn’t strike me as someone who’d be bothered by such things. As long as the government runs smoothly, he wouldn’t care if a monkey were in charge.”
Kalito, though somewhat agreeing internally, couldn’t shake his unease and wore a worried look.
Just then, an aide rushed in urgently. “Acting Regent! The Duke of Crevan has arrived at the palace!”
Kalito jumped up in surprise. “The Duke? What brings him here?”
The aide, looking a bit bewildered, replied, “He’s here to meet Sir Zeke Draker, the Savior Knight.”