Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 963

‘What’s the situation?’

‘What do you think? Who would come here?’

‘Watch your mouth. If that gets back to Knight LeBeau, there’ll be hell to pay.’

‘Those damn baguette-eating bastards.’

Kendrick sighed, watching Wilsher grind his teeth.

‘I can’t say I don’t understand how he feels, but…’

Discontent was rampant.

The root of the discontent stemmed from the excessive guard duty. The area surrounding the Round Table was designed to mimic a primeval forest, with dense woods.

Unless someone knew the Round Table was located here, they wouldn’t even suspect anything was here. It was more unlikely to think there was something in this dense forest.

First of all, visibility was non-existent.

The excessively dense forest completely blocked the line of sight. Unless you were on the paths deliberately laid out by the Round Table, it was impossible to move forward, even suspecting something might be there.

‘What are we supposed to be guarding in a place like this?’

Anyone with half a brain wouldn’t try to attack from this direction. And yet, we’re ordered to stand guard.

Well, fine.

Guarding is doable. Everyone knows this is a sensitive time.

But the order to fill this forest, where it’s hard for even a person to enter, with guards was completely incomprehensible. It’s a foolish idea to block it with people because you can’t see it.

And the one giving that order is….

‘Why do we have to listen to those French bastards?’

At Wilsher’s words, Kendrick almost nodded unconsciously. Even though he knew he shouldn’t.

Of course, the one who actually gave them the order was Knight Chadwick. But no one didn’t know where that order came from.

‘A French guy giving orders in England.’

Even though they belonged to the Round Table, their commander was not the Round Table but a Knight. A Knight was a position that was filled by someone they directly elected. The Round Table coordinated those Knights, and the Knights carried out the Round Table’s orders.

In other words, in principle, the Round Table could not directly order them.

Of course, this wasn’t the first time this had happened. There had been several times when the Round Table had ignored the chain of command and given direct orders. But there wasn’t the same backlash as there was now.

The reason was simple. The Master was also British. And wasn’t the previous Knight before Knight Wiggins the Master?

Before they even joined the Round Table, the Master was a Knight of England. It was only natural to receive orders from such a person. There was no reason to feel any resistance.

But this was a different case.

‘He’s not even the official Master.’

Kendrick frowned.

It was a thought he hated and found annoying, but if Knight LeBeau officially became the Master and gave orders, he could somehow understand it. The decisions of the council were also their decisions.

It’s not like a member of the EU can refuse a decision made by the EU just because they don’t like it. They have to follow it.

Of course, it’s not like England, which left the EU because they didn’t like the decision, has any right to say that, but at least while they’re a member, they have to follow the decision.

But Knight LeBeau hadn’t become the Master yet. Right now, he was just another Knight like the others. So why should they follow Knight LeBeau’s orders?

‘What the hell is Knight Chadwick thinking?’

‘…I told you to watch your mouth.’

‘But it’s the truth.’

Kendrick sighed.

Even though he was trying to dissuade him, he actually felt the same way.

‘Everyone knows the Master is in detention. But instead of trying to save the Master, they’re strengthening security in case someone tries to save him. Does that even make sense?’

‘He must have a plan.’

‘A plan? What plan? To lick that French guy’s boots?’

‘I told you to watch your mouth.’

‘…Damn it, if Knight Wiggins were here, this would never have happened. If he were here, the Master wouldn’t have been ousted either.’

Kendrick didn’t answer.

But he also thought Wilsher was right.

Knight Wiggins.

‘A traitor.’

Knight Wiggins was nothing more than a traitor who abandoned his country. If he had even a shred of patriotism left, he wouldn’t have committed the reckless act of abandoning the Round Table and England to throw himself into a small Eastern country.

But he couldn’t help but agree with this.

If the Knight of England was Knight Wiggins instead of Knight Chadwick, the current situation would never have happened. Even if he couldn’t have stopped the Master from being impeached, that Knight LeBeau wouldn’t have dared to move the English forces as if they were his own.

‘What the hell is Knight Chadwick thinking?’

Is he really planning to submit to that Knight LeBeau?

His lips tightened.

This wasn’t a matter of reason.

For the English, the French were always an uncomfortable presence. It might seem like petty emotionalism in an era where everyone is moving towards integration, but even if they understood it intellectually, they couldn’t accept it emotionally.

‘If Knight LeBeau becomes the Master, will we have to follow his orders?’

It was a terrible thought.

Kendrick leaned against a tree.

His head was too complicated to continue this meaningless guard duty.

‘Where did things go wrong?’

Even though he tried not to think about it, he kept thinking about Knight Wiggins, or rather, the former Knight Wiggins.

If he hadn’t left the Round Table, this would never have happened. Everyone thought that if the Master stepped down, Knight Wiggins would naturally take over as the new Master.

As a result of losing a solid successor, the Master lost control over the Round Table. And all of that had exploded at this moment.

‘Damn it, he’s definitely making people suffer on purpose.’

‘Just take it easy.’

‘Am I wrong? Seriously, who would attack here that we need to be guarding like this? Okay, fine. We can guard. But to throw everyone in without giving us time to sleep is not something you do to people.’

‘If we were British, we’d report this to the labor board.’

‘It’s only until tomorrow.’

‘That’s why we’re putting up with it. If they told us to do this for two more days, I would have gone home, orders or not.’

‘If only that were possible.’

Kendrick smiled bitterly.

There was no way that could happen. The Round Table didn’t operate in a modern way. The rules that applied to ordinary companies or organizations didn’t apply to the Round Table.

In an ordinary company, unauthorized absence was just a reason for dismissal, but in the world of the martial artists, unauthorized absence was a life-threatening matter.

The fact that they were saying that even though they knew all that meant that discontent was rampant.

Of course, it wasn’t just Wilsher who felt this way.

Those who had gathered for a break barely spoke. If they opened their mouths, complaints would come out, so they were restraining themselves. If they carelessly threw a spark, the complaints would explode, and the result would be far from good.

‘Our shift is almost over, so let’s just hold on a little longer.’

‘What’s the point? We’ll have to come back out after an hour’s rest. Damn it, I haven’t slept for three days now. Even if we’re martial artists, we should at least get some rest.’

‘…We can sleep well tomorrow.’

‘You’ve been siding with the higher-ups since earlier. Did you get some kind of heads-up?’

‘Just take it easy, take it easy.’

Wilsher shook his head and turned away.

Watching that scene, Kendrick also sighed quietly.

‘The situation can’t be good.’

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand Knight Chadwick’s choice. No matter how much Knight Chadwick sided with Knight LeBeau, the Master wouldn’t have been impeached without the support of the other Knights.

That meant that the tide had already turned.

At the point when the Master was impeached, it was already a set course for Knight LeBeau to take control of the Round Table. In that situation, there was no point in opposing Knight LeBeau.

Being swayed by pride and emotions was the last thing a leader of an organization should do.

He understood. He understood, but….

‘I guess I’m not an adult either.’

He understood it intellectually, but he couldn’t agree with it emotionally. He felt like it would be better if Knight Chadwick just openly rebelled.

It might be the worst outcome for England, but at least they wouldn’t have to suffer this sticky feeling of defeat.

‘Just one more day to hold on.’

Everything would be settled after one more day.

Then somehow….

It was at that moment.

Chiiiiik!

The radio emitted a sharp beep.

‘What is it?’

Most communications were done by cell phone. The radio was only to be used when a situation occurred.

They wouldn’t be playing pranks out of boredom.

[This is Falcon Seven.]

Where is that?

A map unfolded in Kendrick’s mind. Falcon Seven was at the far left edge.

[Something is approaching. We haven’t identified who is approaching yet.]

‘Approaching?’

Kendrick’s eyes widened.

The clock showed three in the morning. Even if it was the outer edge of the forest, it was impossible for ordinary people to approach at this time.

‘Lost hikers?’

It wasn’t impossible.

But even that possibility was cut off by the following transmission.

[It looks like a large group. The approach speed is fast. We will engage.]

Kendrick grabbed the radio.

‘Support the closest outposts! Support Falcon Seven right now! Other outposts, stand by!’

[Roger.]

Kendrick’s heart began to race.

‘Is it the enemy?’

Logically, that was the only conclusion. A large group approaching this deep forest at this time, and moving at a fast speed.

No matter how he racked his brain, it was a situation that could only occur if an enemy was approaching the Round Table.

But who? Who would dare attack the Round Table on English soil?

Since the Round Table had taken control of Europe, no one had dared to think of attacking the Round Table’s headquarters.

‘Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding.’

He had accurately grasped the situation, but his mind still couldn’t accept the possibility that someone could attack the Round Table on English soil.

But he soon had to accept it.

Chiiiiik!

The sharp beep pierced his ears again.

[This is Falcon Eleven! They’re coming! The enemy is coming!]

‘Eleven?’

No, wait a minute. Didn’t they say Seven earlier? Then why is it Eleven?

Falcon Eleven was an outpost far behind Seven. Then what about Seven? What about the others who went to support Seven? What the hell is going on….

[Oh, they’re coming! They’re coming! Aaaaaaaah!]

The terrible scream that came from the radio made Kendrick’s blood run cold.

Something terrible was happening here right now.