Chapter 114
Joshua was walking down the road away from the Imperial Knights Order’s building when he suddenly came to a halt. It was all because a towering man above two meters was standing in the middle of the road.
Joshua identified the man and muttered, “Viper…”
“I heard you're leaving, Battalion Commander, sir.”
Joshua smiled faintly at the approaching Viper.
“I didn’t expect the news to travel that fast. Anyway, I’ve always said this, but Viper, that look doesn’t suit your size.”
“Let’s not divert the topic.” Viper came close to Joshua and blocked the sunlight with his large frame.
Joshua's smile widened when he realized what Viper was trying to do. “I don’t need shade.”
“Why do you want to leave?” said Viper with a stiff look.
“...” Joshua shut his mouth.
After a long silence, Viper slowly said, “You can’t even… answer?”
“Not now…” said Joshua.
Viper bit his lips and asked, “Can I ask you something?”
At that, Joshua seemed puzzled, so he continued. “Have you ever considered us your subordinates? By us, I mean me and the 11th and 12th battalions. I want to know what you think of us, Battalion Commander, sir.”
“...” Joshua didn’t say anything.
Viper's expression distorted when he didn’t hear Joshua’s answer after waiting for quite a while.
‘You’re definitely lying if you say that you don’t feel anything for us…’?Viper firmly believed.
Viper had always admired Joshua and considered him their battalion commander despite the age gap in the past five years. But today, he was going to leave just like that and without even saying farewell to them?
Had the bonds they had built over the years been for nothing?
“I…” Joshua started.
“...!” Viper hurriedly raised his head upon hearing that.
Joshua continued. “I have never considered you or the 11th and 12th battalions as my subordinates.”
“Ah…” Viper became filled with anguish. He felt as if the sky itself was falling down on him.
However, Joshua added, “Yes, not subordinates. Maybe comrades or colleagues… I have never really thought about it. The position I had was only made to improve the survivability of the knights on battlefields, right?”
“Battalion Commander, sir…” Viper’s eyes widened. Those words sounded familiar as Viper’s eyelashes trembled, looking like he was about to cry.
Upon seeing that, Joshua smiled and said, “If you ask me whether you guys are one of my people, then I would say yes without hesitation. Yes, you guys are one of my people, as well as my precious friends.”
Thud!
Viper’s knees fell to the ground, and he muttered, “This is solely my own opinion, but the battalion commander I know wouldn’t leave without any reason, so the reason why the battalion commander is leaving has to remain confidential, or it would end up harming us.”
“That’s an interesting guess, but it’s more of a personal thing,” said Joshua.
Viper smiled faintly. “I see. Battalion Commander, sir. If we say that we would like to follow you to help you with your personal matter, you won’t allow us to do so, right?”
“...” Joshua kept his mouth shut.
Viper's smile widened. “Battalion Commander, sir. You accomplished your promise and turned us into the strongest battalion. I could still remember how you said that we would never have to bow to anyone else. Since you became our battalion commander, no one dared to challenge us, at least, no one wanted to do so voluntarily because everyone admires you.”
“I think it’s because—” Joshua started.
However, Joshua was interrupted by Viper suddenly standing up and saluting with his fist over his heart. “I am extremely grateful for the past five years. I'm not sure about what the others think, but you will always be my battalion commander, sir.”
“...” Joshua didn’t know what to say.
Viper continued. “I will be waiting for you, Battalion Commander, sir, so please… come back.”
“Viper…” muttered Joshua.
All of a sudden, two men appeared from behind Viper.
“This cow is acting like he’s cool again.”
“C-Cazes?” Viper turned his head, perplexed, at the familiar voice.
“Right. Third Seat, don't act cool on your own.”
“Ranger…”
Cazes had purple hair, while Ranger’s long white hair resembled a lion’s mane.
Of course, Cazes was here as well, and they stood on both of Viper’s sides as if they were Viper’s own knights. Cazes and Ranger had become the Second Seat and Vice Battalion Commander of the 11th and 12th battalions, respectively.
“You guys…”
“We heard everything, Battalion Commander, sir. We also heard how this guy was trying to act cool on his own just now, so we thought about jumping into the fray as well,” Cazes said playfully.
In contrast, Ranger had a serious expression as he said, “The 11th and 12th battalion agree with Viper. We stand by you, Battalion Commander, sir. Not as your subordinates, but as one of your people.”
Joshua had been staring blankly at them, but he finally smiled. “Thank you.”
“This won’t be the last time, but…”
Chaeng!
The Vice Battalion Commander of the 11th Battalion, Ranger, unsheathed and thrust his sword toward the skies while looking at Joshua.
“To our eternal Battalion Commander Joshua Sanders! He shall return one day while shining more brilliantly than anyone else! Loyalty!”
Chaeng!
Cazes and Viper also unsheathed and thrust their swords toward the skies.
“Loyalty!”
***
The Imperial Palace’s throne room had a seemingly endless red carpet. Beautiful chandeliers illuminated the massive hall, and there was a magnificent throne at the end of the hall.
Of course, only one person had the privilege to sit on that throne.
He was none other than the Avalon Empire’s worst tyrant and the first Master of the imperial family. He was a man with a confident smile on his lips at all times.
Emperor Marcus ben Britten…
“...”
For the first time in a long time, the throne room was filled with people. Every noble was in front of him right now, and no one was an exception, not the Twelve Marquises of the Twelve Families nor the Five Dukes. Every single noble was here to bless the Imperial Palace’s throne room with their presence.
While looking at the middle-aged man with deep blue hair in the front row on the right side, Emperor Marcus finally spoke, “Our Avalon has always been known as the Empire of Knights, but I don’t even know what to say. We don’t have a representative for the upcoming Reinhardt Masters’ Battle, we have no one to represent us.”
“...” The nobles already knew what His Majesty would say, so they didn’t say anything in response when they heard the words they had been expecting to hear from his Majesty. As a result, a deafening silence descended on the hall.
A nobleman opened his man and stuttered, “Y-Your Majesty, I have heard some rumors that the Reserve Battalion Commander of the Imperial Knights Order will take part…”
"I purposely spread that story to the other kingdoms, and the man himself hasn’t decided to participate yet."
“Well…” The nobleman was dumbfounded to hear the truth.
Emperor Marcus smiled as he swept his gaze across the crowd and asked, “Did you people seriously think that this period of peace will last forever?”
“...”
"The only reason we’re enjoying peace is that the three great powers of the continent are in a balance of power. However, what do you think will happen once one side becomes stronger than the others and that delicate balance is broken?” asked Emperor Marcus.
After a momentary pause, he continued in a low voice. “It pains me to say this, but rivers of blood will run through the continent. The strong will devour the weak, and it’s only natural because the world had always been like that. However, at this rate…”
“We will surely be underestimated. After all, how could the people of the continent evaluate our strength without war?”
Once Emperor Marcus was done speaking, his gaze landed on a middle-aged man with a mustache and a beard. The middle-aged man’s long hair was neatly tied with a string, and he emitted an intimidating aura that screamed that he was a true knight of Avalon.
Duke Jegar tun Reye was his name, and he took a step forward.
“The brave men of Avalon will have to wave our flag throughout the continent. I think that has to be done, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Marcus smiled, seemingly satisfied by Duke Reye’s words.
“Right. We have to remind everyone of Avalon’s strength and intimidate them once again. It doesn’t matter which side has more Masters because there will be many Masters participating in the Reinhardt Masters’ Battle. Even if the other side has ten Masters while we only have five, it won’t matter as long as we can show a strong enough deterrent to the other nations. And there is no better place to intimidate the other nations than in Reinhardt.”
Emperor Marcus leaned back on his throne and continued. “But not a single person wants to participate. Duke Reye, how will we ensure that there wouldn’t be any more wars in the future?”
Duke Reye seemed like he knew exactly what His Majesty wanted to hear, so he spoke, “I believe that war always comes unannounced, Your Majesty.”
“Right. What are your thoughts, Aden?”
Emperor Marcus turned to look at the middle-aged man with deep blue hair once again.
The nobles shuffled nervously.
If Emperor Marcus was a hard-liner, Duke Agnus, the strongest of the nobles, could be considered somewhere in between. In fact, Duke Agnus was a ‘breakwater’ for Emperor Marcus, who always seemed like he was prepared to wage war on everyone at any time.
Duke Agnus started, “I—”
However, he was interrupted by a voice coming from the open door.
“I will take part in the Reinhardt Masters’ Battle.”
Everyone’s eyes widened at the interruption, and Emperor Marcus stared at the young man slowly entering the hall amidst the nobles’ confusion.
The young man exuded an astonishingly similar aura to Duke Agnus.
“Joshua?” asked Duke Agnus.
1. a catchphrase used in the army, the behavior isn’t usually enforced, but as you can see, they’re being loyal here, so it kinda fits in
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