Chapter – 96
‘Is this for real?’
Carlyle was indignant.
After going through ten battles as a private and proving his worth, to be told he was passed over for promotion? What kind of nonsense was that?
And slay three Champions?
Champion.
That is, [Barbarian Champions] referred to barbarian warriors of 5-stars or higher.
Barbarians called their ranks from the lowest soldiers up to 4-stars [Warriors], and from 5-stars onward, they were called [Champions].
Meaning, he had to slay three 5-star or higher Barbarian Champions.
It was by no means an easy mission for the current Carlyle.
Of course, thanks to sharing Frey and various elixirs from the Sigurd family’s secret vault, Carlyle had already grown to the 4.5-star level.
“Is it true?”
“What is?”
“Being passed over for promotion, is it real?”
“Do you think I’m joking?”
Grand Duke Guntram raised his eyebrows.
“Isn’t that too much? It’s not like I actually killed him.”
“Christian’s military rank is Major. The fact that a private pointed his sword at the neck of a commissioned officer, a Major, is enough for the death penalty. In principle, if you had been court-martialed according to military law, a death sentence wouldn’t be strange at all for such a serious crime.”
“Then, I’ll stand trial.”
“Wha, what?”
“I said I’ll stand court-martial. I’ll die, whatever.”
Carlyle said with an expressionless face.
“Young Master!”
“Good heavens!”
“That madman!”
“That lunatic bastard!”
The members and retainers of the Sigurd family were shocked by Carlyle’s statement.
Considering they were being let off lightly, he should be grateful, but instead, he was provoking Grand Duke Guntram and irritating him.
“Do you really mean that?”
“You, you idiot!”
“Hey!”
So much so that even Selena and Frey were scolding Carlyle.
“A lowly private dares to commit insubordination against Major Christian. I should face the consequences. I’ll accept the court-martial.”
*Tremble…!*
Grand Duke Guntram’s eyelids twitched.
‘Are you going to be like this?’
‘Like what?’
Carlyle answered Grand Duke Guntram’s gaze with his own.
‘I’m trying to let it slide, but you have to kick it away.’
‘You don’t have to do that.’
‘……’
‘Fine, I’ll get the death penalty, whatever.’
*Grr.*
Grand Duke Guntram suppressed the urge to go crazy from his rising blood pressure, barely holding onto his sanity.
“Just accept it.”
“I said I don’t want to.”
“It’s an order.”
“Tch.”
Finally, Carlyle stopped resisting only after Guntram forcibly gave the order.
“Carlyle van Sigurd’s promotion is canceled. However, as an act of atonement, if he slays three Barbarian Champions, measures will be taken to restore his officer status. That is all.”
Grand Duke Guntram rose from his seat.
“Carlyle.”
“Yes?”
“Follow me.”
And so, Carlyle’s promotion came to nothing, and a one-on-one meeting with his father, Grand Duke Guntram, was arranged.
“Ha.”
While following Grand Duke Guntram, Carlyle locked eyes with Christian.
“You, there.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Christian answered Carlyle’s whisper.
His expression was still impassive, and his tone was as stiff as could be.
“I’ll make you a promise.”
“……?”
“You’ll die by my hand within a year.”
“……”
“So, enjoy yourself until then. It won’t be long.”
“Do you have the capability for that?”
Christian looked back at Carlyle with a cold smile.
“There are plenty of ways.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
Christian said as if telling him to try if he dared.
“Can’t you come quickly?”
“Ah, I’m coming.”
Urged by Grand Duke Guntram, Carlyle hurriedly moved his steps and passed by Christian.
“I guess I’ll have to do my best to live up to those expectations. Yeah, look forward to it a lot.”
Carlyle gave Christian a meaningful smile and followed Grand Duke Guntram.
* * *
After moving to another location.
“Can’t you just behave yourself?”
“I did behave.”
“Someone who behaves points a sword at a superior’s neck?”
“The situation called for it.”
“Even so, is it acceptable for a private to point a sword at a knight with the rank of Major in front of so many eyes?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
*Grit*, Grand Duke Guntram clenched his fist at Carlyle’s retort.
He was clearly resisting the urge to give him a knuckle sandwich with superhuman patience.
“Other things aside, insubordination against a superior cannot be overlooked.”
“Yes.”
Carlyle understood Grand Duke Guntram’s words.
Decaron was a territory where military power took precedence over everything else. If military discipline became lax in such a place, the very foundation of governance could be shaken.
“Three Champions shouldn’t be too difficult a mission, so don’t be too cocky.”
“Champions are on a completely different level from Warriors. You know that.”
“Haven’t you grown stronger by that much as well?”
“Huh?”
“Seeing how much stronger you’ve become in just a few days, it seems like you got your hands on something good somewhere. Didn’t you?”
“How did you know?”
“Do you think I wouldn’t know that much?”
Grand Duke Guntram looked at Carlyle as if it were ridiculous.
“Your brother Frey also suddenly became much stronger overnight. Did the two of you share something good together last night?”
“……”
Carlyle inwardly clicked his tongue at Grand Duke Guntram’s discernment.
‘He’s like a ghost.’
It seemed Grand Duke Guntram wasn’t called the strongest in the United Kingdom for no reason.
“You seem to want to hide it, so I won’t ask for details. But seeing you look after your younger brother is commendable.”
“……”
“Please, don’t cause any trouble and serve quietly. Once you slay the three Champions and get promoted to officer, I will teach you the Yeon-Gongbeop.”
“Can’t you tell me now?”
“It’s still too early.”
Grand Duke Guntram shook his head.
“At your current level, you can’t handle the Yeon-Gongbeop. You’ll be consumed by it.”
“Is that so…?”
“Before reaching a certain level of skill, the Yeon-Gongbeop is impossible.”
“Then, I have no choice.”
“A letter has arrived from the Royal Family.”
“Ah.”
Carlyle smiled a cold smile as if he knew it.
“How is it? Was my prediction correct?”
“Yes, without a single error.”
“Heh.”
“Of course, even that could be a scheme of the Royal Family, but regardless, it happened.”
“What scheme.”
Carlyle scoffed.
“It’s just insight and manipulation stemming from overwhelming information power.”
“Can you be sure?”
“No.”
Carlyle said firmly.
“It’s certain. This guy said so too.”
Carlyle briefly showed the baby dragon sleeping in his pocket.
“Of course, dragons are wise beings, so it can’t be wrong, but isn’t it still young?”
“Do you need more convincing proof?”
“Wouldn’t it be better if there was?”
“Sigh.”
Carlyle let out a deep sigh.
“What will it take for you to believe? Should I go find a dragon?”
“Go find a dragon?”
“Yaya.”
Carlyle woke the soundly sleeping baby dragon.
“Why are you waking me up? Nyaa nyaa.”
“Father. Say hello.”
“Hello, Dad Butler.”
The baby dragon rubbed its sleepy eyes and greeted Grand Duke Guntram.
“……”
Grand Duke Guntram was slightly taken aback.
He never thought he would meet a dragon in his life, and to be called [Dad Butler] by a baby dragon in the process.
“I have a question.”
“Huh?”
“Can we meet a dragon?”
“That’s not hard.”
The baby dragon said as if it were nothing.
“If humans dare to approach a dragon, they’ll become a quick meal, but if I’m there, it’s a different story. Yep, absolutely.”
“Can we meet the dragon that supposedly made a contract with the Royal Family?”
“I need to know who it is to meet them. And where they live too.”
“Hmm.”
Carlyle thought for a moment and then asked Grand Duke Guntram.
“What was the Royal Family’s legend?”
“You know it well, don’t you? The story of the first king, the Blind King, making a contract with an ancient dragon with golden scales to gain the power of foresight. You must know that much.”
Then the baby dragon cut in.
“Golden scales? That’s the Clan of Wisdom.”
“What’s the Clan of Wisdom?”
“Literally, the wise clan. They’re the smartest among dragons, so they’re called that.”
“Ah.”
“If it’s the Clan of Wisdom… there probably aren’t many. Less than ten, I bet.”
“Really? Hmm.”
Carlyle thought for a moment and then looked back at Grand Duke Guntram.
“Do you have any materials on the Royal Family’s legend?”
“There should be quite a lot if you look for them.”
“Then let’s start there. Let’s identify the dragon that made a contract with the Royal Family, then go meet it and ask directly.”
“That could be dangerous.”
“I’ll handle that, so don’t worry. And if you start investigating openly, the rats will notice and report it to the Royal Family.”
Carlyle smiled a cold smile.
“You can probably guess, but there are eyes and ears of the Royal Family everywhere. It’s like a rat’s nest.”
“I suppose so.”
“I’ll have Maranello and Evangelin investigate that separately and quietly, so act as if you know nothing, like usual. Absolutely don’t tell anyone.”
“I was planning to do just that.”
“Then it’s settled.”
Carlyle got up from his seat.
“I’ll be going. I’m a bit busy.”
“You have something to be busy with?”
“Normally, no.”
Carlyle said with a blank expression.
“But it’s not like I have nothing to do at all.”
“Please, just don’t cause trouble.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Sigh.”
Grand Duke Guntram held the back of his neck as his blood pressure rose again because of Carlyle.
* * *
A few days later.
Carlyle left home and headed back to the blood-soaked land, Kuberin.
“Please take care and come back safely, Young Master.”
“You must stay safe. I’ll send more letters, Young Master.”
Bid farewell by Maranello and Evangelin, Carlyle left Decaron at dawn.
Carlyle returning to his unit was not alone.
Ten knights and about fifty soldiers were with Carlyle, but the reason was not for escort.
Carlyle did not return to his unit empty-handed.
*Clatter, clatter.*
Carlyle and his group moved while pulling several large carts, which were loaded with various weapons made by dwarves and tools for mining magic stones.
In other words, thanks to Carlyle, the soldiers of Bowden Fortress would now be able to use weapons and tools crafted by dwarves.
“…What the.”
Carlyle frowned upon seeing that the Bowden Fortress he had returned to was completely different from before.
The Bowden Fortress he remembered was more like a mountain stronghold surrounded by a wooden fence.
But the Bowden Fortress he returned to after just a month was now surrounded by proper walls, looking much more like a real fortress.
Moreover, seeing that its scale had grown about five times larger than before, it seemed there had been fortification work to strengthen the fortress over the past month.
Just as Carlyle was almost at the fortress, scouts swarmed out as if they had been waiting for him.
“Second Lieutenant Carlyle has arrive……”
Scout Captain Begman tried to salute Carlyle but became confused when he saw the rank insignia on his collar was still that of a private.
“But, why is your rank still private?”
“Promotion was denied.”
“Excuse me……?”
“They said they wouldn’t promote me because I committed a little insubordination.”
“What, what do you mean?”
“That’s just how it is.”
Carlyle retorted sullenly.
“Was it because of that incident back then?”
“Well. A private pointing a sword at an officer’s neck, it’s understandable.”
“Being passed over for promotion is getting off easy, really. Originally, it’s the death penalty.”
The scouts each chimed in, saying it was only natural.
“But why did the fortress suddenly get so big?”
“We merged with another unit.”
Begman answered.
“We’ve been reorganized into a battalion-level unit now. There are four companies in total, and we are the 3rd Company. Sir Helen became our company commander.”
“Ah?”
“It’s not really a good thing. The battalion commander… *sigh*.”
Begman let out a deep sigh as if frustrated just thinking about it.
