Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 223

Phile once again placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.

Space transfer was unfolding before her eyes.

‘If they were enemies…’

*Swoosh.*

The moment the space transfer was complete.

That moment was the perfect opportunity.

Of course, the opponent would also be prepared for it, but it was undeniable that it was an opportunity to gain the upper hand, at least for a moment.

Phile drew her thin rapier halfway and looked at Rowen.

Her actions would depend on his.

And then.

*Thud.*

Phile pushed her sword back into its scabbard.

Rowen, who had slaughtered the Knights, was standing still with his greatsword hanging down.

*Zzzzzing.*

Finally, the space distorted and sparks flew.

The figures that emerged from within were…

*Clang! Clang!*

Heavily armed knights.

A knight order wearing blood-red armor and red helmets.

-The most powerful force of Count Petus….

The strongest among the knights led by Count Blando Petus.

They were.

-The Red Bat Knights.

The Red Bats.

If you didn’t think of them when seeing that blood-red armor, that would be a mistake.

*Clang!*

The knights who appeared through the transfer took a step back and paid their respects.

‘Not yet….’

Phile thought as she watched the scene.

The mage who cast the space transfer had not yet appeared.

*Pajit!*

Sparks flew once more.

Along with that, the mana generated by the transfer began to subside.

“To the Count….”

A knight wearing a red helmet spoke in a serious, low voice.

“Pay your respects.”

*Clang!*

The Red Bat Knights instantly drew their swords and placed the blades against their chests.

The sight of thirty knights acting in unison was a spectacle that sent shivers down one’s spine.

Even Phile, who had grown up watching the Seven Great Knight Orders of the Church, felt a different, subtle sensation from the Red Bat Knights.

It was as if.

“…….”

A group of fanatics worshiping an absolute being.

It was an action that felt like the sublime will that only a few of the Seven Great Knight Orders possessed.

*Flap.*

A long robe fluttered in the wind created by the dissipating mana.

Standing there was a middle-aged man.

With long, black hair and a somewhat decadent appearance.

“I came because there was a commotion.”

He looked around at the fallen mercenaries and knights.

*Gulp.*

Phile unconsciously swallowed at the strange pressure.

‘How can such a person….’

Phile thought she knew all the information about the strong figures of the Empire, given the relationship between the Empire and the Church.

But the being before her eyes.

“I am Count Petus.”

Count Petus, who had revealed himself, was a strong figure Phile did not know.

8th Circle magic.

In terms of silver [a reference to a magical power system], it was the realm of the Mystic Realm.

But what was even more noticeable was.

‘A sword.’

There was a sword hanging at his waist.

Phile, being a knight and a swordswoman, could tell.

The aura and energy that Count Petus was emitting.

‘He’s not carrying that sword as an ornament or for self-defense.’

He was someone who actually knew how to wield a sword.

In magic, he was an 8th Circle mage, and in swordsmanship, at least….

‘Swordmaster.’

The magic swordsman, Blando Petus.

“It seems there was a misunderstanding.”

He said.

“You said you were a wandering knight?”

Although he had just appeared, he seemed to know the whole situation.

Also, he didn’t even seem to want to hide the fact that he had been watching.

“You came with the Imperial Inspection Department’s badge.”

Once again, Phile’s hand went to the hilt of her sword.

‘This is dangerous.’

Even if Rowen didn’t want to fight, there was no way if they targeted him.

She knew Rowen was strong, but the strange feeling that Count Petus gave off made her sense danger.

Just then.

“Then, I apologize.”

Count Petus took a step back.

“Please forgive the discourtesy of my knights, wandering knight.”

He said, extending his hand gracefully.

“If it’s not too much trouble, I would like to invite you to my castle.”

* * *

The world of silver opens its door, and one enters the world beyond the door.

But Ainhart was similar yet different.

The door opens.

And.

-It slowly merges with that world.

Soon.

“Welcome. This is my castle, Count Petus’s castle.”

The boundary of space collapses.

It was a special experience.

Instead of entering another world by crossing a door, the world was divided and merged based on a certain boundary.

The old castle located in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, was Count Petus’s castle.

In the past, when the world was divided, the gate of Count Petus’s territory was moved here and merged with the world.

Passing through the outer gate of the massive castle.

*Whoosh.*

The space rippled, and the scent of mana began to intensify.

*Whoooosh!*

Soon, the world changed.

“Haha!”

“It’s the Count!”

“Ooh!”

Those who were not visible appeared, and buildings that were not visible began to appear one by one.

It could be said to be a kind of synchronization.

It was similar to how the blurry world in an open-world game would reveal itself as you approached it because it wasn’t rendered.

Passing by them, Rowen, Phile, and Count Petus arrived at Count Petus’s castle.

They were in the reception room.

*Tap, tap, tap.*

A large table was being filled endlessly.

“Where are you from?”

Count Petus asked Rowen.

As a Count, he had recognized at a glance that Rowen was the leader of the group.

“…….”

However, Rowen just sat there without answering.

Count Petus could have frowned at his behavior, but he simply nodded.

“I have committed the discourtesy of asking a wandering knight about their origins.”

Wandering knights.

They were wandering beings.

They had either lost their master, were looking for a master, or were wandering aimlessly for some purpose.

They sometimes revealed their origins themselves, but they often hid them.

Especially if they were wandering knights with a concept of the past, they would not easily reveal their origins.

“If you are a wandering knight with the Imperial Inspection Department’s badge, does that mean there is a problem in my territory?”

Count Petus asked.

“…….”

Phile quietly closed her mouth.

“I suppose so.”

Rowen answered.

*Twitch.*

For the first time, Count Petus’s eyes twitched.

It was unclear whether it was because of Rowen’s arrogant tone or because he was being inspected due to a problem in his territory.

“Then, I must actively cooperate.”

Count Petus said again, as if putting on a mask.

“Feel free to see and experience as much as you want….”

*Screech.*

The Count cut the meat with a knife.

“You are welcome to stay in my territory.”

* * *

Blando Petus was looking out the window.

The sounds of children chattering, people peacefully enjoying the sunlight.

The scenery here was definitely very different from the outside.

In modern society, people had become individualistic, and the same was true for the people of Ainhart.

There were cases where people from the same world would unite as the world was invaded, but even then, it was only out of necessity, and it could not be said that they were truly close.

In that regard, Count Petus’s territory was a strange place.

“……….”

Due to the closed nature and tendencies of the territory, the old ways still remained.

Even if the whole of Romania was not like this, the places that had merged with Count Petus’s territory retained this appearance.

But.

‘All of this is just fleeting.’

Things that would eventually disappear.

*Clench.*

He needed the power to protect it.

*Knock knock.*

A knock on the door.

“Come in.”

As soon as Count Petus finished speaking, a figure appeared.

Hamaye, the leader of the Red Bat Knights, had taken off his helmet.

“What is the wandering knight doing?”

At Count Petus’s question.

“He is just idly passing the time. He is not looking around the castle, nor is he contacting anyone.”

Wandering knight.

“His intentions are suspicious.”

To Count Petus, the wandering knight was a very concerning presence.

Especially in the current situation, a wandering knight who had come to visit.

His meaning was also a concept of the past, not a modern one.

“…….”

Count Petus seemed lost in thought.

“His skills are real.”

Regardless of the wandering knight’s identity, his skills were real.

Not only had he annihilated the Black Bat Knights, but the traces of his fight against the mercenaries were also unbelievable.

‘Is he just here for something?’

With such skills, he was a wandering knight.

Also, he was doing nothing.

Then, perhaps he had approached the Count with some purpose.

Perhaps for money or status.

Such things were not common, but they did happen occasionally.

But his skills kept bothering him.

“Or….”

Count Petus said.

“Did he know?”

Perhaps the answer was.

“The latter, probably.”

He had come with the Inspection Department’s badge.

They had been extremely careful, but the crows’ eyes were everywhere.

If they had noticed, the wandering knight would be the signal.

‘Will I kneel?’

Or.

“Is it time?”

Will I confront them?

“We are not fully prepared yet.”

Hamaye said worriedly.

“Right now….”

What they had been preparing had not yet come to fruition.

They were just a few steps away, but if they moved hastily, there was a chance that everything would be ruined.

“It’s too early.”

That was Hamaye’s opinion.

“I suppose so.”

Petus had no room to argue with that.

However.

“That’s not a problem we can decide.”

*Whoosh!*

The open curtains closed at Petus’s gesture.

*Ripple.*

The space around Count Petus distorted.

“The fact that they have already noticed means that the story may have reached ‘him’.”

Petus’s target, Petus’s true enemy.

-The Duke of Carnage.

Petus had lost everything to him.

-Honey.

His most beloved wife.

-Father!

His most beloved daughter.

-Lord.

His knights.

-Blando.

His friends.

The Duke of Carnage was the one who had taken everything.

Petus was living for revenge for him.

This was not a rebellion to take the Duke’s place.

It was just a personal revenge.

“The wandering knight….”

First, they had to solve the immediate problem.

“He won’t be able to leave the territory.”

Regardless of his intentions.

And also.

“The completion is near.”

The completion that Hamaye was worried about could be finished faster than expected.

They had been worried about the recent shortage of materials, but the most delicious material had appeared on its own.

‘Wandering knight.’

He was a great prey with great skills.

He would complete this power through him.

“Give him time.”

Petus said.

The last time before death.

And then.

“I don’t need that.”

A languid voice echoed in the room.