Episode 35: Homecoming (1)
The celebration lasted all night.
Soldiers, heavily intoxicated, lay sprawled across the plains. Fortunately, the warm weather prevented any major issues.
As dawn broke, both families began preparing to depart.
“Brother, you must visit our family sometime.”
Mikhail Ryanbloom, reluctant to part, clung to Damian’s hand, imploring him repeatedly.
“You have to come, promise me. You will, right?”
“Alright, alright, I get it. Now let go…”
Only after Damian promised to visit was he finally released.
The procession heading back to the Duke’s estate set off.
As soon as Damian returned to the Duke’s estate, he expressed his intention to leave.
“Leaving already?”
The Duke asked, eyes wide with surprise. Damian bowed his head and replied.
“Leaving so suddenly… Can’t you stay until the festival we’re planning is over?”
The Duke had no intention of ending the celebrations with just the feast on the plains. He wanted to throw a grand festival to announce to the world that the Goldpixie Dukedom had triumphed over the Marquisate.
“I’ve been away for too long. My family must be worried, and I wish to return quickly.”
The Duke looked at Damian with a face full of regret.
“If you’re truly set on leaving, I suppose there’s no stopping you. But at least stay for today. I need to select knights to escort you.”
“An escort?”
Damian asked, his expression questioning the necessity of such a measure.
“I’m well aware of your skills. But things have become complicated. Sir Ernst Horwitz has disappeared.”
The Duke clicked his tongue briefly.
“Is that true?”
“Yes, though I don’t know why he’s vanished… As you know, Sir Ernst Horwitz was particularly close to Chelsea Goldpixie.”
As the Duke mentioned, Ernst Horwitz had been an ally of Chelsea Goldpixie. Although he wasn’t punished because he was unaware of her dealings with dark sorcerers, many within the family distrusted him.
“He might even attack the family. While Sir Gaul Heinrich is here to protect me, others aren’t as fortunate.”
A Middle-Class knight is powerful enough to be considered a strategic weapon. The thought of such a force targeting the family was indeed alarming.
“He might even target you. After all, Chelsea Goldpixie’s downfall began with you.”
“So, you’re assigning me an escort?”
“Exactly. It might not be to your liking, but you’ll have an escort until you reach home.”
In truth, Damian could handle Ernst Horwitz on his own. However, he was publicly known as a Low-Class knight and needed to keep his true abilities hidden.
“I appreciate your consideration, Your Grace.”
Damian decided to accept the Duke’s offer.
The next day, Damian arrived at the inner gate.
“Ah, there you are.”
The Duke was waiting with Gaul Heinrich.
“Let me introduce you to your escort.”
The Duke gestured to the waiting group.
Three knights and ten soldiers stood ready.
Damian scanned the faces of the knights and recognized one.
“Well, if it isn’t Sir Sebastian Vincenzo.”
Sebastian Vincenzo’s face twisted upon being recognized by Damian.
The two weren’t exactly on friendly terms. On the day of the duel, Sebastian had tried to undermine Damian by entering his own son into the competition, only for it to end in embarrassment.
“All the other Middle-Class knights are on missions. Sir Sebastian was the only one available.”
The Duke was surely aware of the tension between them. But given the urgency of the situation, he had entrusted the escort to Sebastian Vincenzo.
“Sir Sebastian, I entrust Damian to your care.”
“Yes, Your Grace. I will protect him with my life.”
Sebastian Vincenzo placed a fist over his heart.
“Thank you for your assistance.”
Damian extended his hand.
”…I’ll do my best.”
Sebastian Vincenzo reluctantly shook Damian’s hand, clearly displeased but resigned.
The Duke accompanied Damian to the outer gate to see him off.
“Your Grace, why are you letting Sir Damian go?”
Gaul Heinrich, standing beside him, asked.
“A knight like Sir Damian is irreplaceable. Wouldn’t it be better to keep him with the family?”
“I’ve thought about it. How to make Sir Damian a knight of our family.”
The Duke had realized an uncomfortable truth during the duel with the Marquisate.
The Goldpixie knights were far inferior to those of the Marquisate. They had only won because of Damian Haxen.
Given the circumstances, the Duke couldn’t help but desire someone like Damian Haxen.
“Sir Damian must have sensed my intentions. If he wanted to stay, he would have.”
But Damian Haxen had expressed his wish to return home, showing no attachment to the Duke’s estate.
“Moreover, Damian Haxen isn’t someone who belongs under another’s command.”
Unlike the Duke’s knights, Damian had never looked at the Duke with admiration. He had only shown formal respect and courtesy.
“I’ve only seen eyes like his once before.”
A Swordmaster.
A being who had transcended mortality and stepped into the realm of the immortal.
His gaze was similar.
“Could someone like that be held back? That’s why I let him go.”
The Duke spoke with a hint of regret.
“Let’s head back. There’s much to do.”
The journey back to the Haxen Viscounty was peaceful.
With three knights and ten armed soldiers, no bandits dared approach.
Moreover, traveling on horseback made the journey swift.
“We’ll camp here for the night.”
As dusk fell, Sebastian Vincenzo halted the group in a forest.
While the soldiers set up camp, the knights gathered around a fire to rest.
Damian Haxen sat on a nearby stump.
“Sir Damian.”
Suddenly, Sebastian Vincenzo called out to him.
“Thank you for winning the duel.”
The unexpected comment left Damian puzzled.
“You see… my son lost in the duel.”
Sebastian continued, looking somewhat sheepish.
“If we had lost completely, I wouldn’t have been able to face His Grace. But thanks to you and the knights you trained, we won.”
Sebastian Vincenzo had brought the first defeat to the Duke’s family due to his poor judgment.
Had they lost entirely, he would have faced severe criticism.
“No need to apologize. I didn’t intend to help you.”
”…You have a way with words.”
Sebastian Vincenzo trembled slightly.
Just then, he abruptly stood up.
The Duke’s knights looked at him in surprise.
“Hiding won’t help. Show yourself!”
Sebastian shouted. Moments later, a figure emerged from the shadows.
A man of average build, cloaked in black.
Upon seeing the man’s face, Sebastian Vincenzo’s expression turned blank.
”…Ernst Horwitz.”
Ernst Horwitz twisted his lips into a smile.
“Long time no see, Sir Sebastian.”
“Why are you here?”
The knight, who had vanished after Chelsea Goldpixie’s death, had reappeared.
Sebastian Vincenzo asked, his face full of suspicion.
“No special reason. There’s someone I need to tear apart.”
With that, Ernst Horwitz fixed his gaze on Damian Haxen.
“That damned Damian Haxen.”
”…Sir Damian is a guest of His Grace.”
“And he caused the death of Lady Chelsea.”
Murderous intent gleamed in Ernst Horwitz’s eyes.
“Sir Sebastian, I won’t let anyone involved in Lady Chelsea’s death live.”
“Chelsea Goldpixie took her own life. It wasn’t Sir Damian’s fault…”
“Don’t give me that nonsense!”
Ernst Horwitz shouted.
“Lady Chelsea was strong! She would endure anything! She would never take her own life!”
Ernst Horwitz took a deep breath.
”…The Duke must have killed her. She must have died under harsh interrogation.”
Ernst Horwitz’s face was filled with deadly intent.
“I won’t let Lady Chelsea’s death go unavenged. I’ll kill Damian Haxen, those who interrogated her, and finally, the Duke.”
Sebastian Vincenzo looked at Ernst Horwitz in disbelief.
“You plan to kill His Grace? You’re out of your mind.”
“Yes, I’m not in my right mind. Ever since Lady Chelsea was brutally murdered, I’ve lost my sanity.”
Ernst Horwitz let out a low, bitter laugh.
“Sir Sebastian, I won’t waste words. Leave Damian Haxen, and I’ll spare you.”
“You dare speak so arrogantly? Who do you think you are, claiming you can save anyone?”
Sebastian Vincenzo summoned his magic.
An immense force radiated outward, silencing the cries of beasts and insects in the forest in an instant.
“Arrogant, you say… You’re right. Sir Sebastian, you are indeed stronger than I am. That’s why I came prepared.”
Ernst Horowitz removed his cloak, revealing a disturbing sight.
His entire body was covered in black magic circles, with jet-black magic stones embedded at various points.
But that wasn’t all. Hidden beneath the tattoos were numerous scars, evidence of surgeries performed all over his body.
Sebastian Vincenzo, aghast, exclaimed, “Have you dabbled in dark magic?”
“Yes, I needed a little help to handle the Duke’s family on my own.”
A twisted smile played on Ernst Horowitz’s lips.
“I underwent the same procedure as Guillaume Blackwing. In exchange for my life force, I gained immense magical power and physical abilities.”
Ernst Horowitz unleashed his magic.
Like a geyser erupting, black energy shot skyward.
The sheer volume of magic caused the surrounding trees to tremble violently.
“Watch closely. See the power I’ve acquired!”
Ernst Horowitz launched himself off the ground, thrusting his spear forward.
Sebastian Vincenzo quickly raised his sword to block the attack.
The moment spear met sword, Sebastian was pushed back.
“Ugh?”
Sebastian Vincenzo braced himself, digging his heels into the ground to stop his backward slide.
He looked at his hand in disbelief.
From just one clash, his palm was torn.
The speed and strength were astonishing.
“Surprised? Does something feel off?”
Ernst Horowitz shouted, his face alight with exhilaration.
“I warned you! I said I wouldn’t kill you if you left Damian Haxen behind!”
Ernst Horowitz bellowed, thrusting his spear again.
A crimson aura, like fresh blood, erupted from the spear’s blade, transforming into a storm that engulfed Sebastian Vincenzo.
Sebastian quickly dodged, but the trees and rocks behind him were obliterated.
He stared at the swath of destruction left in the aura’s wake.
A part of the forest had been turned into a barren plain.
Sebastian’s face hardened at the sight.
“What are you standing around for? Run, all of you!”
At Sebastian’s command, the Duke’s knights hesitated, unsure whether to follow orders or stay and help him.
“You fools! You won’t be of any help here! Go to the Duke’s estate and call for reinforcements!”
Sebastian Vincenzo shouted, but the knights still wavered.
“Understood! I’ll bring help, just hold on a little longer!”
At that moment, Damian Haxen shouted.
He turned and fled, prompting the other knights to follow suit.
As Damian and the knights disappeared into the distance, Ernst Horowitz sneered.
“Do you really think you can stop me?”
Sebastian Vincenzo smirked.
“Who said anything about stopping you? I’m planning to kill you right here.”
“Oh, such confidence. Whether that’s possible remains to be seen… But did you really think I came here alone?”
Sebastian’s eyes widened.
“You… don’t tell me…”
“Dark mages are lying in wait nearby. Damian Haxen won’t get far.”
Rage flared on Sebastian Vincenzo’s face.
“You scoundrel!”
Sebastian charged at Ernst Horowitz.
In the forest, now shrouded in darkness, the two formidable forces clashed.