CHAPTER 133

The sun shining down was warm and the breeze blowing was refreshing.

Suddenly, as the summer season came along, Deomar's white snake decided to go down the tree for the first time in a long time.

There couldn't be a better day to enjoy sunbathing.

Atop the quiet hill, as lonely as it was silent.

The white snake closed its eyes quietly, looking at the silent gravestones.

Its tail swayed along with the blowing wind.

----?

In a moment, now finally settled in its spot, the white snake raised its head quietly as if sensing something.

A distinct sensation approaching from afar.

It was a sensation it hadn't felt in a long time, so the white snake sniffed cautiously, almost doubting.

----!

The eyes of the white snake, recognizing the scent, widened.

The scent of flowers wafted from afar.

The fragrance of very young flowers.

The white snake had forgotten about it for a while because it had not felt it for a long time, it was a scent that stimulated the nostalgia buried deep within its soul.

The white snake stood tall as if in disbelief and looked further into the distance.

Beyond the mansion of Hainal, beyond the territory.

Through the widened gaze of the white snake, the familiar figure of a man from afar began to appear.

There was a blond knight approaching straight from far beyond the territory.

Carrying the breath of young children heavily on his finely crafted sword.

Children who had ridden on the knight's sword were whispering something.

The possibility of the World Tree is not yet dead.

The tail of the white snake, recognizing the children, began to tremble violently.

※※※※

"...I knew it would come to this."

Hainal Manor, though small and old, was meticulously maintained.

A weak voice was coming from the office located at the highest point there.

"I knew it would come to this."

Rich, aqua-colored hair was flowing over the desk as if sea water had spilled over it.

Alicia Hainal.

She was currently collapsed onto the desk, overwhelmed by an unbearable fatigue.

It was a contrast to the white snake that was shaking its head in excitement outside the window.

"Didn't we prepare according to our intelligence?"

Though she didn't look like the typical noble lady, Duncan, sensing her inner turmoil, could only offer quiet reassurance.

"Prepared?"

Alicia raised her head quietly in response to Duncan's words.

Her face, partially obscured by her lush hair, looked somewhat grim.

"You know very well that this level of preparation is insufficient."

"······."

Duncan was at a loss for words due to Alicia's self-deprecation rather than criticism.

"Ha."

Alicia sighed as she swept her hair back slowly, staring at Duncan who remained speechless.

Beside her, there lay a piece of paper filled with densely packed writing.

It was a report summarizing the military composition of the Hainal family.

"······We can't fight Gaidar with just 700 men."

Although it was a force gathered with a sense of resignation, it amounted to only 700 men.

If it were an ordinary territorial skirmish, it might suffice. However, their opponent was the conqueror of the west, Gaidar, and it was a well-known fact even among the local children that such numbers wouldn't be enough to oppose him.

"What about the mercenaries? I've heard their prices have risen significantly lately."

"Yes, Lady Alicia."

Alicia's words trailed off with a heavy sigh.

Duncan, well aware of the overwhelming burden Alicia was facing, couldn't find the words to offer her encouragement today.

"Not only us, but signs of war are looming everywhere. That's why the prices of mercenaries have gone up significantly..."

Gaidar's intentions were clear, and now there was no avoiding it.

A battle that would determine not only the territory but also the fate of the family was approaching, and Alicia planned to do her best to fight him.

"I've met with some renowned mercenary leaders, but it seems they all hesitate to side with us."

"······I guess so."

However, despite Alicia's resolve, the world wasn't offering her a helping hand easily.

A poor ruler.

And a formidable enemy.

Even if they were mercenaries seeking opportunities, they wouldn't want to board a sinking ship.

"In the end, it seems we won't even be able to muster a thousand troops on our side."

"That's correct."

Alicia's shadow deepened with Duncan's response.

According to the information sent by Josef, Gaidar was moving north with the allied families, amassing a force of around 5,000 troops in total.

With only 700 soldiers at her disposal, her own forces would be grossly inadequate.

"But they won't just come at us all at once, will they? Because they don't have a reason to attack us."

"That's right. Not only will we not sit still in the center, but we also have an ally called Bayezid."

Unlike the western territories, which were intertwined with various justifications, Deomar belonged to an entirely different sphere of influence.

If they were to invade Deomar without just cause, not only the imperial family and the center but also numerous families would criticize them.

"Lady Alicia, guests have arrived."

"Guests?"

With a polite knock, the butler entered.

Alicia's office had been filled with a heavy atmosphere, but fresh air was now flowing in through the door he opened.

"They're from Bayezid."

"Bayezid!"

Alicia sprang up from her seat, momentarily forgetting her composure at the butler's words.

Despite the sudden movement causing her knee to hit the desk, her joy outweighed any pain.

"Please, bring them in here."

"Understood."

Alicia, without hesitation, invited the people who had just arrived at the mansion into her office.

At a time when everyone was turning away from the Hainal family, they were the only ones extending a helping hand.

"It seems Lord Josef is also keeping an eye on the situation."

"That's fortunate."

Alicia leaned back in her chair as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

"Do you feel a bit relieved now?"

Even if they were Gaidar, they couldn't ignore Bayezid.

As one of the pillars in the north, Bayezid was undoubtedly a powerful family.

'······I guess we will meet again.'

But Alicia was expecting something other than the good news they would bring.

She was waiting for someone who could give her a moment to breathe in the current situation where everything seems to be blocked.

A small smile formed on Alicia's lips as she thought of him.

"We are here."

"Come in."

Reacting promptly to the butler's report, Alicia quickly brushed her hair back and returned to greeting the guests with the air of a confident noble.

Her eyes, now filled with anticipation, sparkled as she awaited the opening of the door.

"It's been a while, Baroness."

The door opened with Alicia's expectations.

A man entered, bowing respectfully.

He was the knight sent by Josef, often scolded by him but always delivering results.

"I am Vordan of the Bayezid family."

"Ah..."

Alicia greeted him, observing the older knight who wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief as he greeted her.

Looking at him, Alicia couldn't help but purse her lips.

Outside the window, the white snake still moves its head around, observing its surroundings calmly.

※※※※

Men wearing black hoods.

Vlad and the Thornwood Mercenaries were on their way to Deomar with them.

"Did you come all the way down here because of me?"

".....Don't ask me that."

The man covered in scars does not give clear answers to Vlad's questions.

Vlad could tell that besides taking him, the man had another mission.

Perhaps, just like with Endre Hainal, he might be targeting someone else's life.

"But what should I call you? Senior?"

Vlad doesn't know his identity and he doesn't know his intentions.

Vlad's actions of continuing to seek information from such a man full of doubts could be said to be a natural attitude stemming from his survival instinct.

"There seems to be an issue with titles."

The man in the black hood pondered for a moment upon hearing Vlad's words.

"It's a bit complicated for you to call me senior. It's better if you pretend not to know me."

"Why is that?"

"Because there's nothing good for either of us if we know each other."

The scars on his face distort along with the man's smile.

A silent warning to Vlad not to delve deeper, conveyed through nonverbal cues.

Vlad understood the warning and nodded quietly.

"Just call me by my name."

"What's your name then?"

The man, who was silent for a moment in response to Vlad's question, eventually opened his mouth as if he had thought of something.

"Let's go with Marcus. From now on, just call me Marcus."

".....Until just now, you seemed to imply that you're not Marcus."

"The most difficult thing is to come up with a name. This one turned out quite well."

The man in the black hood does not bother to hide the fact that he just came up with the name.

Now, the man who should be called Marcus turned his head to look at where Stefan was.

"We were short-handed, so you did a good job bringing them along. Are they hired?"

"No, not yet."

"Give them the funds. Let them be hired."

It may not have been his intention, but Marcus smiled happily as he saw Vlad leading a group of mercenaries.

Even though it was an ugly smile that made those who saw it feel intimidated.

"The Thornwood Mercenaries are not a bad choice. They have the skills, and above all, they have a good completion rate on their missions."

"Is that so?"

Vlad nodded as he listened to Marcus's words.

Knights have honor, mercenaries have trust.

These were the primary virtues proving their worth in their respective fields, and Stefan was proving his trust through his high mission completion rate.

"No wonder they don't flee easily."

"Is that so?"

Having been in the mercenary business for a while, Vlad knew.

Mercenaries were notorious for fleeing at the slightest sign of trouble.

But the Thornwood Mercenaries had not fled even during their encounter with Auguste.

He had appreciated their attitude, which is why, despite sensing their ulterior motives, he had brought them along until now.

"If you plan to continue bringing them along, you should be careful about their relationships with women."

"What?"

Marcus shrugged in response to Vlad's question.

"There must be a reason why even someone with their skills still wanders around."

"....I see."

Having fully understood Marcus's words, Vlad, a former street kid with a quick wit, turned his head to look at Stefan, who was following behind him.

Stefan, who happened to be looking at him, quickly smiled and winked as their eyes met.

It wasn't the first time he had seen such skillful acting with one eye smiling while the other remained neutral.

"Hmm?"

As Vlad and Stefan engaged in a meaningless eye battle, a crow began circling above Vlad's head.

"It seems something urgent is happening."

The crow, which had been circling in the sky, landed on Marcus's forearm as he extended it, a familiar sight.

'It's neither a dove nor a raven,'

Even the letterbox tied to its ankle was painted pitch black, as if nobody would recognize that this crow was delivering a message.

"Hmm..."

Vlad looked at the crow with curiosity, but Marcus, who received the news brought by the crow, had an increasingly hardened expression.

"Let's part ways here."

"What?"

It was Marcus and his group who said they would go to Deomar together.

But now, as if they were in a hurry to drop off something, they were turning their heads to leave.

"What's going on?"

"······I said you shouldn't ask me that."

Marcus clicked his tongue as he watched Vlad ask another question in a natural way.

This guy is a smart guy.

Because by pretending to be innocent, pretending not to know, Vlad once again crossed the line that Marcus warned him about.

He should have asked Peter for this guy.

"Understood."

Vlad nodded, seeing the heavy gaze Marcus was sending him.

The warning in Marcus's eyes wasn't directed at him.

"Hurry to Deomar, Lady Alicia's knight."

Go quickly, knight of the lady.

Because she is desperately calling for you.

"It must not be too late."

"..."

So go quickly and fulfill your duty.

Before the collapsing sky of the empire fell upon her.