Episode 256
“I’m planning to go on a journey with Lize.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
Dale’s father, Alan, asked calmly in response to Dale’s announcement.
“With me by her side, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“That’s true.”
Dale replied nonchalantly, and Alan chuckled quietly.
“But aside from Lize’s journey, don’t you have your own reasons for going?”
“As the Watcher of Kings, I intend to test the qualifications of the king of Valaina.”
“Are you taking Lize with you for that?”
“Even if I were to erase Valaina from the map, they wouldn’t dare lay a finger on Lize.”
“A Watcher of Kings…”
Alan fell silent at Dale’s words.
“I won’t stop you from observing the actions of kings and deciding what’s right or wrong. You played a crucial role in toppling the empire, and you have every right to do so.”
After a pause, Alan continued, imparting his wisdom as a father.
“But remember, no one can watch the watcher.”
“I don’t assume no one is watching me.”
Dale shook his head gently.
“I know you’re watching over me, Father, and that Lize will be watching me on this journey.”
”…I see.”
“I promise never to act in a way that would bring shame in front of Lize.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Alan, the Duke of Saxon, smiled, standing in the sunlight that cast long shadows behind him.
“Lize, won’t it be dangerous?”
“Of course not! My brother will be with me!”
Lize shook her head with a carefree smile in response to her mother Elena’s concerned question. As a young lady of the Saxon family, she was more excited than ever.
“The world outside is still full of dangers, so be cautious.”
“Trust me!”
Her quick reply seemed far from cautious, yet Elena nodded, trusting her son more than her worries.
“Indeed, who in this world could harm your brother?”
“You’re exaggerating, Mother.”
Dale smiled wryly at his mother’s words.
“But I can assure you that Lize will be safer than anyone else in the world by my side.”
“What more could I ask for? The blood of the Saxon family doesn’t lie, and Lize is no exception.”
The Saxon family was known for their endless curiosity and pursuit of truth. Even if their pursuits were no longer as dreadful as in the past, their curiosity remained.
“I just hope Lize can see a broader world and follow her own path.”
“Please take good care of Lize.”
“Trust me, Mother.”
Dale bowed his head.
Seeking parental approval before embarking on a journey with his sister was a scene familiar in any world.
Lize wasn’t yet skilled at riding a horse. Her riding skills weren’t suited for traversing the continent’s rugged terrain.
But there was no need for Lize and Dale to share a horse.
“Thank you, Lady Sepia.”
“Think nothing of it. It’s for my beloved students.”
Sepia, who was guiding the horse Lize rode, spoke, and Dale smiled quietly.
Their teacher, Sepia, was accompanying her two students across the northern tundra.
“I was surprised when Lize said she wanted to see a wider world. It seems the blood doesn’t lie.”
Sepia spoke cheerfully, and Dale nodded in agreement.
Since the fear of the end had faded, Sepia had changed. The cold that once gripped her heart was gone, and the mysterious chill that always surrounded her had vanished.
“Thank you for coming with us, Teacher!”
“One must never neglect their magical training, no matter where they are.”
“I’ll work even harder!”
Sepia spoke kindly, and Lize nodded vigorously in agreement.
The empire had fallen, the war had ended, and peace had come. Maintaining that peace was Dale’s responsibility.
A world for Lize, those he must protect.
For that, he willingly took on the role of the Watcher of Kings.
With the power to topple a nation single-handedly, he held unworthy rulers accountable.
Even if the imperial council spoke of it, not everyone feared Dale. And they wouldn’t hesitate to disrupt the continent’s peace for their own greed, believing his words to be mere threats.
Thus, it was necessary to show them.
No ruler on this continent could escape the web of blue, and the consequences of their foolish actions would be inevitable.
The danger Lize’s parents feared came sooner than expected.
As they crossed the central region beyond the Saxon duchy, they found themselves in a narrow mountain pass.
“Hand over everything you have!”
An arrow landed in front of Dale’s group as a warning, and Lize’s expression froze.
Soon, bandits began to appear on the slopes of the pass.
But the armor of these so-called bandits bore the golden double-headed dragon emblem of the fallen empire. It could only mean one thing.
They were remnants of the imperial army, who had turned to banditry after the Third Empire’s collapse.
Dale glanced at the emaciated figures of the former soldiers-turned-bandits.
Even through their helmets, their gauntness was evident, their skulls nearly visible.
War always leaves scars, and the greater the war, the more profound the scars. Some profited immensely, while others lost everything overnight and were cast out onto the streets.
Like those who had been loyal to the empire, only to become outcasts when it fell.
“I don’t wish to fight you.”
Dale spoke.
“I happen to have three gold coins, enough to feed all of you.”
“Brother…!”
Lize gasped as Dale offered to give up some of their possessions. But Sepia whispered to her calmly.
“Watch closely, Lize. See how your brother handles this.”
”…Very well. We’ll accept your offer.”
As Dale produced the three gold coins, one of the bandits stepped forward.
No sooner had Dale handed over the coins than the bandit drew a stiletto from his cloak, pressing it against Dale’s neck.
“It’s suspicious that you’d hand over three gold coins so easily. You must have more.”
“I do. But I can’t give you any more.”
Dale replied calmly.
“I don’t wish to fight you. And I know of a land in need of workers. Take my coins, feed yourselves, and head there to settle.”
“You want us to bow our heads to the Saxon traitors?!”
One of the bandits gripped his stiletto menacingly. Dale remained unfazed.
“The empire has fallen. And your banditry doesn’t seem very successful.”
“You bastard…!”
“W-wait!”
Just as one bandit raised his voice, another stepped in to stop him.
“Brother!”
It was a knight clad in full plate armor. To possess such armor, he must have been a cut above the rest.
“This man is beyond our ability to handle. Abandon any foolish thoughts.”
A knight capable of wielding aura. He could sense the power Dale possessed, even if only faintly.
Even a knight of his caliber had resorted to banditry to survive, a testament to the fate of the empire’s remnants.
There are those who have and those who lose. And those loyal to the empire lost much.
It wasn’t their fault. It was the fault of the rulers they served.
”…I’ll give you five gold coins.”
Dale said.
“Take these coins and head to the Valmar Viscounty in the northern Saxon duchy. Present this letter and request work. With a knight capable of wielding aura among you, Viscount Valmar will gladly accept you.”
The northern regions, including the Saxon duchy, were thriving as victors of the war.
Though they hadn’t declared themselves a nation, it was undeniable that they were the most powerful force on the continent.
Dale produced a letter from his cloak.
It bore the magical seal of the Saxon family’s night raven, a mark of authenticity.
The bandits didn’t understand its significance, but the knight did, and he couldn’t hide his shock.
“S-surely not…!”
He stammered, collapsing to his knees.
Finally understanding who they had been confronting.
“The Black Duke himself…!”
How could they not know the name?
The one who brought down the empire and led the Saxon family to victory.
The most powerful and enigmatic force on the continent.
“A promise is a promise.”
Without hesitation, Dale pulled out a gold coin and held it out.
“This is enough to feed you and your men until you’re bursting, and still have plenty left to buy whatever you need. Use this to end your life of banditry and come serve under our duchy’s barony. If you do, I won’t hold any of your past actions against you.”
He wasn’t lying. While he didn’t condone their thievery, he knew the world didn’t always operate on what’s right. Most of the time, people did what they had to.
“Th-thank you…!”
The unexpected offer of salvation made the bandits, including their leader, bow their heads in gratitude.
“I trust you. Please, prove that my trust is not misplaced.”
Dale’s voice, for the first time, carried a cold edge devoid of emotion. The bandits bowed their heads again, and Dale turned away.
“It was scary, wasn’t it, Lize?”
Dale asked with a gentle smile. Lize nodded quietly.
“Still…”
She hesitated, nodding as she spoke.
“I want to see more of the things I don’t know yet.”
“You will.”
Dale nodded quietly at her words about the world she had yet to discover. Their journey was only just beginning.