Novel Full Chapter 168 : Chapter 168
Chapter 168. It’s Been a While (1)
A grim silence flowed.
Count Spike’s death was that shocking.
One of the nine 7-Star knights of the Kaisar Kingdom was dead.
Could there be anyone who didn’t know what this meant?
At that moment….
“Surround him!”
Someone shouted loudly.
It was the order of the knight commander leading the Count Spike family’s knightly order.
At that command, the knights and soldiers surrounding the training ground moved in unison.
The soldiers turned around and aimed their sharp spear tips at Patrick.
The knights all drew their weapons and took a step forward.
“He is the enemy of our lord.”
“Prepare yourself, Double Dragon.”
“Don’t even think about returning alive.”
Their words, filled with killing intent, created no change in Patrick’s expression.
Patrick simply looked at them indifferently and said.
“Is that your choice?”
It was a simple phrase, but those who heard it felt their hearts sink.
Even when surrounded by hundreds of soldiers and knights, that man was not intimidated in the slightest.
Some, without realizing it, took a step back to create distance.
And some were frozen stiff, unable to even do that.
Patrick looked at them with indifferent eyes and said.
“If you have chosen….”
Patrick continued, as if sentencing a sinner with a chilling voice.
“You must take responsibility.”
Was he saying this to himself?
Or was he saying it to them?
It was clear that the words applied to both sides.
And just as Patrick’s knees bent slightly and he was about to leap forward….
“This duel was just!”
Someone shouted.
That voice, shouted by an unknown person from the spectator seats, echoed in everyone’s ears.
And….
“That’s right! This duel was just!”
“It is the result of a just duel!”
“Knights, uphold your honor!”
The shout spread among the people.
This duel was just.
Count Spike’s death was merely the choice of the victor, Patrick.
The voices of the people demanding true justice echoed.
“Commander. What should we do?”
“Ummm….”
A troubled groan escaped the mouth of the knight commander who had ordered Patrick’s encirclement.
How could he not know?
This duel was just.
No, strictly speaking, Count Spike was the coward.
He had ambushed Patrick from behind after the duel had ended.
And he did so knowing full well that the people of the fief he ruled would die.
There was no room for excuses.
But if he accepted Count Spike’s death as it was and let Patrick Schneider go, what would he report to the kingdom?
They had lost one of the only nine 7-Star knights.
Accept this meekly?
Absolutely impossible.
What was at stake here was not right or wrong, but the prestige of the nation itself.
The kingdom would surely hold Patrick accountable.
But….
‘It’s impossible right here, right now.’
If they surrounded and attacked Patrick Schneider here, the citizens might start a rebellion.
No, they definitely would.
If a citizens’ rebellion were to overlap with facing that monster, Patrick Schneider….
“Keuk….”
The thought alone was horrifying.
It was a major incident far beyond what he, a mere knight commander, could handle.
“Huuuu….”
It couldn’t be helped.
In the end, he had to swallow his anger and give the order.
“Open the way.”
“Yes, sir!”
At his words, the knights and soldiers quickly cleared a path.
As if they had been waiting for it.
And Patrick walked out through that open path.
As he passed by the knight commander, he smiled and said.
“You saved my life.”
“Don’t think you’ll be this lucky forever.”
“I’m not talking about myself right now.”
“……”
The knight commander’s face crumpled.
What was that brat daring to say?
Even if he was a 7-Star knight.
Even if he had overwhelmingly defeated Count Calvin Spike.
Did that make sense?
A single person against a city’s military force….
‘Could it be?’
His thoughts couldn’t connect.
No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t make sense common-sensically.
But… perhaps….
‘If it’s that monster…?’
Thinking rationally, it was an impossible thing.
But his senses, not his thoughts, were warning him.
About who was the strong one and who was the weak one.
‘No, no matter what, that’s not it. It’s impossible.’
He shook his head as if to shake off the absurd thought swirling in his mind.
And he said to Patrick.
“This is not the end. The kingdom will demand a price from you, Double Dragon.”
“I’m sure they will.”
“If you regret it now….”
“Go ahead and try.”
“……”
“We’ll see who regrets it when the time comes.”
In that instant, a chill ran down the knight commander’s spine.
Perhaps…. perhaps it was really possible.
‘If it’s that monster, that is.’
***
Patrick and his companions safely escaped Andemion.
On their way out, the citizens of Andemion came out in droves to see Patrick and his companions off.
“Farewell, Double Dragon.”
“Please come again next time.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Because of the citizens’ send-off, it was not easy for the knights to send pursuers after Patrick.
There were too many watchful eyes.
Thus, the party left Andemion safely.
And after riding their horses for half a day without rest, and having gone quite a distance, they came to a fork in the road, and Patrick stopped his horse.
“Whoa….”
“What? What’s wrong?”
As Patrick stopped his horse while they were riding well, Matthew asked for the reason.
Patrick then pointed his finger towards the road leading east and said.
“Go.”
“…Huh?”
“……?”
“I said, go.”
Matthew and Isabella stood there blankly for a moment, then soon understood Patrick’s words.
“You’re telling us to go back to the Atronia Kingdom.”
“Yeah. You catch on quick.”
“Does that even make sense!?”
“Do you think we’ll go if you say so?”
Matthew and Isabella vehemently protested.
Patrick then said indifferently.
“Do you even know what’s going to happen from now on?”
“What is going to happen?”
“Pursuers organized to avenge Count Spike will follow us.”
At Patrick’s words, Matthew shouted loudly.
“The duel was just, wasn’t it? So what kind of frozen-to-death revenge is this?”
“You naive Stew bastard.”
“It’s Matthew.”
“If the world worked according to set rules, why would there be wars and crimes?”
“……”
He was speechless.
In fact, Matthew knew it too.
Patrick had done the right thing for the powerless and weak, and Count Spike had committed the mistake of throwing away the honor of a knight with his vile tyranny.
But….
‘There’s no way the Kaisar Kingdom will admit that.’
How could they admit it when both their national interest and honor were sure to fall to the ground?
They would surely try to settle this incident by killing Patrick.
So….
“They’ll probably organize a pursuit team at the national level to catch me.”
Patrick’s judgment was correct.
“So if you don’t want to see a nasty sight, get out.”
“……”
“You’ll be in the way.”
Patrick’s words were sincere.
From here on, it would be a real battle that went beyond a comfortable knight’s training journey.
Although Matthew and Isabella had become stronger, it was still too early for them.
War.
That miserable and harsh hell on earth.
Even those who live by the sword mostly don’t know what it is.
And it was better to live without knowing it if one could avoid it.
So if these two were to back out, now was the time.
But….
“I refuse.”
“I don’t want to either.”
The two were stubborn.
Patrick frowned and said.
“I told you. You’ll be in the way.”
“Then abandon me midway.”
“But I won’t run away on my own.”
Patrick sighed and said.
“Your persistence is good, but….”
Killing intent surged from Patrick’s body.
“This is not a child’s game. You naive brats.”
“Keuk….”
“Ugh….”
At the killing intent that felt like being stabbed by a blade, cold sweat trickled down Matthew’s and Isabella’s bodies.
And Patrick bared his teeth and said.
“Get lost when I’m being nice. Otherwise, I’ll send you back by force.”
Patrick’s killing intent was on a different level.
It was so intense that an ordinary person could faint just by facing it up close.
Matthew and Isabella, who were facing it head-on, were sweating profusely, and their bodies were trembling slightly.
But….
“No.”
“Screw you!”
The two refused Patrick’s instructions to the very end.
‘They’ve gotten unnecessarily persistent….’
Patrick smirked.
After personally training these brats for three years, they were withstanding the killing intent of this Radiant Dragon Great Master.
Although their legs were trembling, they were still gritting their teeth and asserting their will.
It was admirable, but it was troublesome here.
“If you won’t go back when I ask nicely, then there’s no choice.”
Patrick took a step to subdue the two.
But….
“Young Master.”
April blocked Patrick’s path.
“What are you doing?”
“If you subdue those two, how will you send them to the border afterward?”
“That’s obviously, you….”
As he spoke, Patrick realized.
He had intended to send April with them to protect them in case of an emergency.
But….
‘Will she go obediently?’
No way.
April said firmly.
“My mission is to protect you, Young Master.”
“Are you saying you won’t follow my orders?”
April flinched for a moment but quickly continued calmly.
“For the Young Master’s safety, I have no choice.”
“……”
“To me, the Young Master’s safety is more important than anything else.”
“Don’t talk back and just do as you’re told.”
“I refuse.”
“It’s an order.”
“Then you might as well kill me.”
April said resolutely, holding out her sword to Patrick.
Seeing her eyes, Patrick sighed.
‘Damn it, she’s serious.’
There were people in the world who just talked, and there were people who always put their words into action.
April was thoroughly the latter.
Especially when it came to Patrick.
“Anyway, you brats are so disobedient.”
“What did you say?”
“You’re the youngest. You are!”
“This is a fact, Young Master.”
“Ah, whatever….”
Patrick scratched his head and sighed.
If they were going to be this uncooperative, he had no choice but to change his plan.
If he couldn’t send them back to the kingdom, then individual action was not good either.
It would be safest to keep them where he could see them.
In that case….
‘Now, at this moment, I need to move as quickly as possible.’
Patrick, who had experienced similar situations countless times in his past life, knew.
The survival rate increased the farther they moved before the encirclement was fully formed.
Having made his decision, Patrick said seriously.
“Our course is north. Don’t fall behind.”
“Got it.”
“Let’s go.”
And so, the party all rode their horses down the same path.
***
Georgia Birkin Kaisar.
The name of the current king of Kaisar.
Still in his late 30s, he was a young king.
The previous king had him at a late age, and as a result, he ascended to the throne in his early 30s.
And his reign had only been five years.
Although he was at an age where he could be vigorously active, he also lacked political experience and wisdom.
He had always run the state with a sense of tension, as he could be eaten alive by the old and cunning vassals.
To him, a thunderbolt-like news was delivered.
“Count Spike is dead? What kind of nonsense is that?”
“It is said that he had a duel with the Double Dragon. As a result….”
Thump!
King Georgia struck the throne hard and shouted.
“Does that make sense? A knight from a minor country dared to kill my vassal in a duel? Am I supposed to believe that?”
“I am sorry, Your Majesty.”
“Eek….”
An unconcealable anger blazed in King Georgia’s eyes.
And the vassals were the same.
“Your Majesty, this must not be overlooked.”
“That’s right. We must hold the Double Dragon and the Atronia Kingdom strictly accountable.”
“At the very least, the Double Dragon must be punished according to the laws of our kingdom.”
The Kaisar Kingdom had always looked down on and despised the four eastern kingdoms, calling them minor countries.
In fact, compared to the Empire or the Holy Theocracy in the west, the Kaisar Kingdom was also a weak nation.
To make up for that difference, they actively favored and embraced the Tower of Truth within the kingdom, but the difference in national power was still quite clear.
It had become a habit to vent that inferiority complex on countries weaker than themselves.
That is, the four eastern kingdoms.
To them, Patrick Schneider was just a brat from the minor kingdom of Atronia.
Although he had made a name for himself at Arcana, they had deliberately suppressed his evaluation to that of a person from a minor country.
But in the midst of that, Patrick had killed Count Calvin Spike, the pride of the Kaisar Kingdom.
And it was in a just duel.
This was absolutely unacceptable.
“Your Majesty, considering Count Spike’s skill, there is no way he would lose to the Double Dragon.”
“That’s right. There must have been some foul play in the duel.”
“The Double Dragon must be arrested immediately, the truth must be thoroughly investigated, and he must be punished accordingly.”
Most of the vassals in the great hall said that Patrick should be captured, investigated, and punished.
They were beating around the bush, but they meant to frame him and kill him.
‘Even so, it was the result of a just duel, and they want to retaliate?’
‘How can they be sure of foul play without even seeing it?’
‘They are all thinking too simply.’
A few vassals thought this was not right.
But the current atmosphere was such that if they said so, they would be branded as traitors and buried, so they kept their mouths shut.
King Georgia rose from his throne, raised his scepter, and said.
“As the king of the Kaisar Kingdom, I command you. Arrest the Double Dragon. If he resists, he may be killed. Never let him leave my country alive and well.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
And so, an unjust order was given.
No one yet knew what consequences this would bring.