Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 14

4. The Demon King’s Rebirth

1

“Everyone, keep your spirits up!”

“We’re almost to the Neir River. Once we get there, soldiers will be waiting to escort us!”

After more than a day of marching, the refugee column began to falter. The refugees, who had lived in poverty for so long, were in much worse physical condition than Reina and the old retainers had anticipated.

They did their best to encourage and uplift them, but it wasn’t enough to restore their depleted strength.

“Princess, I think it would be best if we took a short rest,” Viktor said, his face grim after surveying the column.

However, Pavel objected.

“No! We only have another half-day’s journey!”

“I’m saying this because it seems they won’t be able to endure even that half-day.”

“What if the Count’s army catches up to us?”

“It seems they’ll collapse before they get caught.”

As the two retainers’ opinions clashed, Reina made a decision.

“Let’s rest for an hour. During that time, let them fill their empty stomachs and get some much-needed sleep.”

As her command was given, the marching column came to a halt. Those who were already exhausted from the arduous march collapsed and fell asleep in various places, while some who were hungry began to eat their portable rations.

“Princess, please have some of this.”

Reina hadn’t eaten anything since last night. She had been too busy encouraging and uplifting people, sacrificing even her meal times.

So, when she saw the bowl of warm soup that Pavel brought, she felt very hungry.

However…

“Please give it to the others first, rather than me.”

“Princess, you are the spiritual pillar of the people. While others are important, it would be a disaster if you were to collapse, so please eat and regain your strength.”

“Thank you.”

Finally, Reina received the bowl and was about to take a spoonful when suddenly, dust rose from the east, and the ground began to tremble.

Dududududu!

“Oh no! It seems the Count has sent his army!”

“Everyone, get up! We must leave immediately!”

The retainers, including a startled Viktor, shouted at the refugees.

The refugees, awakened from their sleep, began to run again with renewed effort. However, they didn’t have the strength left to outrun the cavalry.

In the end, they were surrounded by the Scorpion Cavalry before they could go far.

‘Damn it! If only we could go a little further, we would reach the river…’

‘If only we had the strength to stop them, ugh!’

Despair and anger flashed across the faces of the old retainers.

As the encirclement was completed, a man wearing a flamboyant helmet stepped forward.

It was Baron Viper, the leader of the Scorpion Cavalry.

“Princess Reina! How dare you betray the Count’s grace and run away! The title of Saintess is wasted on you!”

“The Count’s grace? What nonsense are you spouting? What has the Count ever done for us?” Viktor retorted, shouting instead of Reina.

“Isn’t it grace to take in the homeless refugees, feed them, and give them shelter?”

“Shut your mouth! Did our people stay there for free? We paid more taxes than the regular territory residents, and we were always dragged into forced labor whenever something happened.”

The refugees would have endured it if that was all.

However, from the nobles to the soldiers and citizens of the Monarch County, almost no one considered the Volga refugees as fellow territory residents.

They were always quick to criticize them as beggars or pickpockets, and they often withheld their wages after making them work. The way they looked at them was always cold.

As Viktor listed the discrimination and grievances they had suffered over the years, Baron Viper snorted.

“Hmph, that’s none of my concern. Princess Reina, listen to me. Choose whether you will follow us or not. If you come with us, the refugees will be allowed to go, but if you refuse, they will become food for wild beasts here.”

Viper had received orders from the Count to bring the princess back safely without harming a single hair on her head.

He could have dragged her out by force, but he decided to try to coax her first, as she might harm herself in the process.

At his gesture, the cavalrymen brandished their spears and swords, causing the refugees to shrink back in fear.

‘Is this Lord Elkasel’s will?’

Reina looked up at the sky with a calm expression.

If this was the will of the main god, she decided to accept it without further despair.

If she had any regrets, it was only one thing: that she would no longer be able to see the gallant and handsome figure of Lord Luke.

“No, Princess!”

“We would rather clear a path. So, please, at least you…”

The old retainers objected as Reina tried to step forward.

However, Reina was resolute.

“I am the last royal of the Volga Kingdom. How can I abandon my people and run away alone?”

The Volga royal family had abandoned their people once in the past.

Although she was young at the time, that mistake did not disappear.

Rather than abandoning her people once more, it was better to become the Count’s concubine to save them.

“Ugh, Princess! Please kill this incompetent retainer!”

“Your Highness! You must not go!”

The old retainers and the people wept and wailed as they heard her words.

They had lived with the sorrow of being stateless until now, but it seemed that they had never felt so wronged as they did now.

“If I surrender willingly, will you really let the people go?” Reina asked, glaring at Baron Viper as she stepped in front of her people.

Viper nodded in response.

“Of course. I promise not to lay a finger on them.”

Viper lied shamelessly.

Reina, unaware of his sinister intentions, became a hostage of the Scorpion Cavalry to save her people.

As soon as he secured the princess, Baron Viper revealed his true colors.

“Now that we have the princess, kill the rest! The Count has ordered that the trash is not needed!”

“Wh-what did you say?!”

“Oh no, we’ve been tricked!”

The Volga refugees, startled and terrified, cowered and screamed as the cavalrymen advanced with their spears and swords.

Reina shouted at Baron Viper as if screaming.

“You said you would let the people go if you took me!”

“Hehehe, you naive princess. Promises are made to be broken.”

Baron Viper gave a vile laugh.

‘Ah! God! Is this the end?’

As the distance between the cavalry and the Volga refugees narrowed, tears streamed down Reina’s face.

She had made a vow not to cry in front of her people, no matter how difficult or unfair things were, but she wasn’t even aware that she had broken it.

“Hahaha! It’s been a while since I’ve tasted blood!”

“Shall we bet on who kills more?”

The Scorpion Cavalry raised their spears and swords with cruel smiles.

And finally, their blades fell towards the refugees.

But, at that very moment.

Whoosh—!

A powerful flame erupted between the cavalry and the refugees.

It was a bright purple flame that no one had ever seen before.

2

“Huh! What is that!”

“Be careful!”

The cavalrymen, startled by the sudden flames, retreated. Some of them even fell off their horses as the animals panicked and bucked.

“Tsk tsk, I had a bad feeling, so I came out to check…!”

“Wh-who are you!”

Baron Viper glared in the direction from which the voice had come.

He had thought that someone with the ability to emit such powerful flames would at least be a middle-aged mage, but unexpectedly, the opponent was a young man who didn’t even look 20 years old.

And his attire was also unusual.

He was wearing the formal attire that nobles usually wore, not a mage’s robe.

‘Could there be another helper?’

Viper quickly looked around the young man, but there was no one else.

“Is this your doing?”

“Can’t you see? More than that, it seems that those with that bloodline treat promises like dog poop, just like they did 500 years ago.”

The young man’s identity was Luke.

At first, he had intended to watch the soldiers of the Rakan County bring the refugees as planned.

However, a few days ago, he had suddenly felt uneasy, his sleep had become restless, and he had even started having dreams he hadn’t had before.

‘It feels the same as when I lost Katarina.’

At that time, he had also been seized by an inexplicable sense of unease, and he had always had nightmares when he went to sleep.

As a mage who sought the truth, it wasn’t appropriate to be swayed by vague premonitions, but he couldn’t ignore past precedents.

Moreover, aren’t premonitions and prophetic dreams the result of the expression of feelings felt on an unconscious level?

‘Even if we make plans and prepare, there is no guarantee that everything will go smoothly. There are too many variables.’

Thinking that it would be better to go and see for himself, Luke left Rakan County early in the morning, leaving only a note saying that he was going out for some fresh air.

And by using Quick magic at full power, he was able to rush here and save the refugees.

“Lord Luke!” Reina exclaimed with delight as she spotted him.

Baron Viper looked dumbfounded at her exclamation.

“Lord Luke? The little brat from Rakan County who became a vegetable not long ago?”

“I don’t know who is a vegetable and who is a brat, but I am indeed the lord of Rakan County.”

‘So, this is the guy who incited Princess Reina!’

Before departing for this place, Baron Viper had heard the story from Baron Goth.

The series of events, including the Count pressuring the Volga refugees to take the princess as a concubine and the refugees suddenly fleeing in the middle of the night.

Goth had said that there must be a force supporting the princess behind this, and his judgment was indeed accurate.

“Lord Luke. Are you saying that you will interfere in the affairs of our territory?” Baron Viper asked with a strange look in his eyes.

“What if I am?”

“According to the Imperial Law, it is stated that the affairs within a territory should not be interfered with by others?”

“If you have ever thought of the Volga refugees as territory residents, I will step away from here.”

Of course, they had never thought of them that way.

However, Viper wasn’t so foolish as to say so here.

“They are the Count’s people no matter what anyone says, and you, Lord, are interfering in the internal affairs of another’s territory. If you do not extinguish the flames and retreat immediately, do not cry that my hand is merciless.”

In fact, Baron Viper wanted Luke not to retreat.

Because he also knew that his lord, Count Monarch, was plotting something to swallow Rakan County.

‘Hehehe, don’t retreat. I can’t miss this golden opportunity to kill him legally!’

Luke, seeing Baron Viper’s eyes moving slyly, made a look of disdain.

‘I can see what you’re thinking.’

In the past, he had fought wars against greedy and cunning nobles centered around Duke Baroque.

Naturally, he was well aware of their habits and thoughts.

“You’re going to kill me? Then you’ll need the power to kill me, won’t you?”

Flustered!

Viper flinched as his thoughts were exposed.

However, he soon pointed to the cavalry with an arrogant expression.

“Can’t you see them, Lord? If you’re relying on that magic flame, it’s laughable.”

He never thought that the descendant of the Holy Knight, the warrior Rakan, would use magic.

But even so, he was alone. And they were a 2,000-strong elite cavalry unit.

There were no experts among his subordinates, but there were more than 100 who had reached the Sword User level, just below that.

And yet, he was going to face them alone?

Unless he was a War Mage of the 6th Circle or higher who could cast large-scale area-of-effect magic, there was no way they would lose.

They could take a few magic attacks.

Instead, the moment that magic attack ended, the Lord of Rakan would be crushed under their horses’ hooves.

“When did I say I would fight you alone?”

Luke, who had already brought his subspace bracelet forward, made a hand seal with a chant.

Then, no less than 40 giants appeared, cutting through the air.

“Wh-what is that?!”

“Is that a Gigant [a large, powerful magical construct]?”

“It’s not a Gigant! They’re smaller, and their bodies are made of stone or wood. It’s definitely a Golem [an animated being made of inanimate material]!”

In fact, the Scorpion Cavalry wasn’t greatly surprised by the appearance of the Golems.

However, the horses they were riding were different. The horses were greatly startled and bucked as the giants appeared in the air.

Ihihihing! Ihihihihing!

“C-calm down!”

“Damn it, stay still!”

Horses were agile and strong animals that could be used for combat, but they were also surprisingly sensitive and easily frightened.

That was why they were so startled and agitated by the sudden appearance of the Golems.

It seemed like a coincidence, but it was actually part of Luke’s plan.

Luke gave the Golems an order.

“Attack!”

3

Luke used Marionette magic to command the Golems to attack.

Then, the Golems picked up large and small rocks from their surroundings and threw them at the cavalrymen all at once.

Swoosh! Bang! Thud—!

“Kuaaak!”

“Keok!”

Hehehehing—!

The stones and rocks that flew like cannonballs crushed the soldiers and horses at once.

The Golems, who had thrown the cavalry into chaos with their simultaneous attack, approached with heavy footsteps and began to attack by swinging their large arms.

“D-damn it! Attack!”

“Don’t retreat! The opponent is not a Gigant! They’re just crude Golems!”

The Gigant, the darling of modern magical engineering and an absolute combat weapon, cannot be dealt with by ordinary soldiers.

However, Golems are different.

First of all, their size is about half that of a Gigant, and their material is wood or stone, which cannot be compared to iron plates. Moreover, their movements are slower than those of a Gigant, so if they are dealt with properly, they can be defeated.

‘But that is only possible if the one controlling the Golems is clumsy.’

Weapons basically vary in power depending on the skill of the user.

No matter how famous a sword is, it is useless if a child wields it, and even a chipped kitchen knife can become a dangerous assassination tool if an assassin wields it.

In that regard, Luke was an expert. In the past, he had led a golem army and inflicted great damage on two countries and one duchy. He had fought against various opponents, including several cavalry units that each country boasted about. ‘Heh heh heh, today I’ll show the Count’s men exactly what the black magician Seymon’s combat is like!’ Although he couldn’t shout it out loud, he was determined to show the Count’s men how he had crushed his enemies in the past. Luke spread his arms and began to swing them fiercely, like a conductor of an orchestra. He first divided the golems into four units. Then, he pushed the cavalry that were surrounding the Volga refugees out of the way. Although the refugees were protected by magical flames, he was worried that they might be hit by a stray sword or spear during the battle. “Keep your distance!” “Regroup and charge in unit formations!” The cavalry, who had barely managed to recover from the chaos, tried to charge at the golems with their lances and cavalry swords. However, Luke cleverly used their comrades as shields. He induced a melee, causing the enemy and allies to become mixed up. Cavalry are not very threatening once their strongest asset, the mounted charge, is blocked. The horses become cumbersome, making them worse than ordinary infantry, and in some cases, they just become large targets. Luke gradually pushed the cavalry into a corner with tactics that maximized their disadvantages and blocked their advantages. “D-damn it! If you don’t stop attacking right now, I’ll kill the princess!” Viper, the Baron, shouted, his reason snapping as his men’s losses snowballed. Upon hearing his shout, his adjutant quickly held his sword to Reina’s neck. However, Luke had not taken his eyes off her from the beginning. “Blink!” As he recited the activation word of the spell he had memorized in advance, Luke’s body flashed and disappeared from the spot. Then, he appeared in front of the princess. “Whoa!” As the adjutant hesitated in surprise, Luke shot a Dark Bullet with his finger. “Kuh-ack!” The adjutant screamed and fell as the purple bullet pierced his heart. Startled, Baron Viper drew his sword and tried to rush at Luke. However, as if to mock him, Luke leisurely picked up the princess and used Blink magic again to return to his original position. Blink magic was a 6th circle short-range teleportation magic, and it was included in one of the magic books he had stolen from the Veritas Magic Tower branch. To activate this magic, 6th circle mana is generally required, but Luke had magical energy. The essence of magical energy was not different from mana. However, unlike mana, it had a powerful and chaotic characteristic that could transform living things or objects. Therefore, it was dangerous to control, but if handled well, it was possible to implement high-circle magic with a small amount of magical energy. That was why Luke was able to easily activate the 5th circle Fire Wall he had deployed earlier to protect the Volga refugees, in addition to the 6th circle Blink. “T-thank you.” Reina quickly expressed her gratitude to her savior. Her face was flushed. She wondered how many times she had received help from him, and why this person was so devoted to her. “The greetings can wait. I’ll deal with those bad guys, so please evacuate with the people, Princess.” Luke, after putting Reina down, opened one side of the Fire Wall. Then, the old retainers led the people out, joined the princess, and hurriedly ran towards the Neir River. “Damn it, don’t let them get away!” At Viper’s urging, some cavalry tried to chase after the refugees. However, they were often killed by Luke’s Dark Bullets. At this, Baron Viper went into a frenzy. “Kuh-ack! Luke, Young Lord!” Whether Viper screamed or not, Luke, after confirming that the refugees had safely escaped the battle area, glared at Viper and the Scorpion cavalry with his eyes flashing. “Heh heh heh, shall we start fighting in earnest now?” Having removed all the obstacles that were hindering the battle, Luke focused on controlling the golems. Then, the golems began to rampage even more wildly. The cavalry tried to attack the golems’ weaknesses to bring them down, but each time, Luke skillfully controlled them to thwart their intentions. It was not easy for even a great mage to control 40 golems so precisely at once. However, Luke was beyond comparison to those great mages. He was a 9th circle black magician called the Black Sage in the past, and golem creation and control were his specialties. Of course, he did not have the same magical power as he did then, so he could not keep 40 golems under control continuously. However, because of his past combat experience, he efficiently carried out the battle by issuing commands with marionette magic only at necessary moments. And he filled the gaps that arose in this process by using black magic appropriately. “Die, Luke, Young Lord!” The cavalry, who had desperately dodged the golems’ attacks, charged at Luke. However, they too were hit by Luke’s Dark Bullets and fell from their horses along the way. Swoosh! Swish! Swish! “Cough!” “Kuh-aaack!” Every time the purple bullets flew, cutting through the air sharply, the horses and cavalrymen rolled on the ground, spitting blood. “Ugh! What the hell is that magic?” “He’s a demon! That guy is definitely a demon!” Fire Arrow or Ice Lance, which are similar long-range attack magic to Dark Bullet, can only be fired one at a time. However, Dark Bullet could be charged with five bullets in one hand, and up to 10 bullets could be fired at the same time. If he alternated attacks with his left and right hands, using a time difference, it was easy to wipe out dozens of people. “Re-retreat! Everyone retreat!” Baron Viper, judging that it was meaningless to hold out any longer, issued a retreat order. However, Luke was not going to allow it. ‘The fact that I appeared here must not be known to the Count.’ He was prepared for a territorial war with the Count, but he needed to buy time until the Rakan County was ready for war. To do so, it was necessary to hide the fact that the Young Lord of Rakan County had intervened in today’s events. And it was also problematic for the fact that he used magic and operated golems to be known to the world. This was because Luke, the Young Lord, had not learned magic for long, and historically, the only person who had collectively operated golems as combat weapons was the black magician Seymon. If this fact became known, the vassals of Rakan County would be the first to suspect him. “Block their retreat! Don’t let them escape!” Luke ordered the golems to pursue them, while spreading a wide Fire Wall in their rear. Neigh! “Damn it! We can’t break through!” In the end, the Scorpion cavalry were like rats in a trap. The front was blocked by magical flames, and the rear was being chased by golems. “Damn it, it’s all or nothing!” “Surrender! Please, spare us!” Some cavalrymen jumped into the Fire Wall or rushed towards the golems, while others threw away their weapons and surrendered. However, Luke did not accept the surrenders. “We don’t need prisoners. Kill them all!” Even if he took prisoners, he couldn’t spare them anyway. And they were the Scorpion cavalry, notorious for their atrocities in the Monarch County. It was clear that they would only harass innocent people if they were spared. At his command, the golems launched another attack, and in the end, the Scorpion cavalry, with their paths blocked from the front and back, were completely annihilated. 4 “Good heavens!” “I had no idea that Young Lord Luke was such a terrifying person!” On a hill a little away from the battlefield. Princess Reina and some old retainers, who had sent the refugees to the Neir River first, watched the Scorpion cavalry being annihilated from there, and trembled. They were descendants of heroes, but they had never imagined that Luke, who was known to be ordinary, would use such powerful magic and be able to control golems. And that he was a possessor of a cruel heart, who mercilessly dealt with even those who surrendered. Wasn’t this just like the Demon King Seymon from 500 years ago! “Rakan County may be a very scary place, unlike what we know.” “That’s what I’m saying.” “Maybe they’re going to kill us to silence us…” Reina cut off the words that an old retainer had uttered in fear. “Stop it. Either way, he is our savior.” Not only that. He was the one who saved them from the Monarch Count’s conspiracy, and he was the one who reached out to the Volga refugees, whom no one else would help. And if they were even kicked out of Rakan County, they would really have nowhere to go. “There may be many questions about him, but don’t forget that he is our last hope.” At Reina’s sharp words, the retainers shut their mouths. At that time, Luke, who had ordered the golems to clean up the battlefield, used Fly magic and approached them. Reina, representing the people and retainers, once again expressed her gratitude. “Young Lord Luke. I will never forget the grace of saving me and my people until the day I die.” Luke, receiving her gratitude, inwardly wore a troubled expression. In his haste to save the princess and the refugees, he had shown his golems and magic. The problem was that while he had killed all the enemies, he couldn’t do that to the princess and the Volga refugees. Even during his time as the black magician Seymon, Luke was never a murderer. He was rather a merciful person to the weak. ‘What should I do with them? How can I make sure they don’t tell others what they saw today?’ Luke pondered, trying to find a good way. Then, he came up with a suitable way to persuade them. ‘Yes, that’s how I should say it.’ He opened his mouth to Princess Reina and the old retainers, who were looking at him with a mixture of doubt and anxiety. “You must have been very surprised to see me today. It’s a side of me that is completely unknown to the world.” Everyone nodded and listened to Luke’s words. “I wanted to save you all at all costs. So, I used my hidden power, so please keep this a secret.” “Understood, Young Lord. But what is that power… ?” “You’re asking where I got it, right? Before that, I’ll say one thing for sure. What I’m about to tell you is not a lie.” Although there were some lies mixed in, the truth was greater. Anyway, seeing Luke’s serious demeanor, Princess Reina and the old retainers listened to his words with somewhat tense expressions. “I was weak since I was young. I learned the family’s swordsmanship, but my progress was slow. So, whenever I felt frustrated and wanted to run away, I often played in the Demon King’s Castle, where our ancestor’s achievements are enshrined.” He had played in the Demon King’s Castle so often that there was no place he hadn’t been, and then, nine years ago, he had accidentally discovered a secret passage leading underground. “At the end of that secret passage was Seymon’s laboratory. And in that laboratory, I discovered the magic books and golems that Seymon had left behind.” “T-that can’t be!” “The Demon King’s legacy was left behind!” The old retainers murmured in surprise. It was known that Rakan had defeated the Demon King Seymon, but the Continental Allied Forces had never been able to find his secret black magic books and golems. So, some speculated that his subordinates or followers had taken them. But in fact, they were hidden in the basement of the Demon King’s Castle! Luke glanced at the old retainers and continued to speak. “But what caught my eye even more was Seymon’s diary.” “A diary?” “Yes, it contained his entire life.” The actual diary was kept in a safe in the laboratory. The truth of the story he was telling the princess’s party was that diary. “In that diary, Seymon’s true self, which the world did not know, was written. After seeing it, I realized that it was very unfair that he was called the Demon King.” Having said that, Luke told the story of how Seymon was actually a mage of the Veritas Magic Tower, how he had held a grudge due to the death of his lover and turned to forbidden magic, and how he had ended up fighting against the nations of the entire continent in an attempt to defeat his enemies. Princess Reina and the old retainers were shocked. Seymon’s appearance was completely different from what was known to the world. “I can’t believe it!” “If that’s true, then the history of the Baroque Empire, no, the continent, must be rewritten.” “I think there is a basis for it. Looking at the actions of the first emperor of Baroque, Carnot de Baroque, who was recorded in history, he was quite a sinister person.” “Besides, the Veritas Magic Tower is not a place with a good reputation…” Luke, after briefly observing the reactions of the skeptical old retainers, continued his story. “After learning about Seymon’s circumstances and obtaining his magic books and golems, I secretly began to learn magic from that time. I thought that if I used the Demon King’s legacy well, I could revive my family and territory. And now I have come to this point.” Reina, who had been listening quietly, asked a question. “Do the vassals of the County know about this?” “They don’t know. They are the kind of people who hate the Demon King so much that I had no choice but to keep it hidden.” From his attitude of replying with a bitter expression, Reina seemed to feel the hardships he had gone through. Having to live with a secret that he could not even confide in his closest vassals was a series of loneliness. As she seemed to feel a terrible loneliness from him, Reina unknowingly grabbed his hands tightly. “Princess Reina…” “I believe in you, Young Lord. What does it matter if you obtained the Demon King’s legacy? How you use it is more important.” In her beautiful and mysterious blue eyes, which were tightly holding his hands, a strong sincerity could be felt. Her remarks just now were so unconventional that the Elcasel Order or the Baroque Imperial Family would have jumped up in shock if they had heard them. To them, black magic was an evil power that should disappear from this world, and the Demon King Seymon was the root of all evil who had plunged the continent into chaos with that evil power. Some of the old retainers standing behind her were surprised and tried to warn her, but they were blocked by Pavel and Viktor. “Do you really think so?” “Yes, I think so. I also think that the Demon King, no, Seymon, was a very pitiful person.” At her words, Luke was about to burst into tears. Since being resurrected in the body of a descendant of a hero, he had only heard criticism of his past self, and this was the first time he had met someone who understood him like this. “So, Young Lord, please be brave and firm in your will. Even poison can kill or save people depending on who prescribes it.” ‘Ah, who is this woman…?’ How could she be so similar to the past Katarina, from her appearance to her personality and even the way she spoke? The example of poison she had just mentioned was also what Katarina had said in the past when she had discovered an ancient black magic book and was discussing whether to get rid of it or not. ‘I’m glad I saved this woman.’ Luke felt very happy, as if he had gained a companion who would believe in him until the end. “Hearing your words, Princess, makes me feel much lighter. Then, I hope you will keep my secret for the time being.” “Don’t worry. There is no one here who would disobey my words. And we will somehow silence the people.” With Reina’s sociability, the Volga refugees would willingly keep silent about what they had seen today. Thinking so, Luke put the golems, who had finished cleaning up the battlefield, into his subspace bracelet and said goodbye. “Then, I’ll see you again in the territory.” Since he had come secretly from his vassals, Luke headed back to Rakan County alone. As Reina watched Luke disappear into the distance, Pavel approached and opened his mouth. “He is a truly remarkable person. And seeing him get rid of the prisoners, he also has a cruel heart.” “Is that so?” “Yes, the Rakan County may be awakened from its long slumber because of the Young Lord.” Having made that assessment of Luke, they turned their steps towards the place where the refugees were.