Crackle, crackle.
Next to the large bonfire, there was a neatly made chair, as if crafted by a skilled artisan.
One of the two chairs was occupied by a middle-aged man, and behind him stood a young man dressed in thin leather armor, a middle-aged woman, another man who appeared a few years younger, and Frog.
It was the same Frog that Encrid had spared and sent away.
When Encrid made brief eye contact as a form of acknowledgment, Frog gave a slight nod.
The bonfire's light illuminated the middle-aged man sitting in the chair.
He was the King of Aspen.
As Encrid approached, he examined the man's entire body with his eyes.
Though his body had a bit of excess weight, it was clear that it had been well-trained. The veins on his hands bulged, and through the thin shirt, well-developed chest muscles could be seen.
His face didn’t give off a particularly harsh or difficult impression, though his cheeks were a bit hollow and lean.
Looking at the King, Encrid thought he had a similar feeling to when he had first met Count Molsen.
Of course, it wasn’t that he looked like someone who would commit crazy acts like that man, but his consistently trained physique gave that impression.
To conclude, there was no sign that he looked like a war-crazed madman. Maybe just a bit irritable?
Well, not every warmonger has a certain look, after all.
The King raised a leather flask and spoke.
"I have some wine. Would you care for a drink?"
His tone wasn't particularly gentle. It was like a solid stone, but without malice or hostility.
"Sure."
Krang didn’t hesitate, but he didn’t seem overly excited either. He walked over, with soft crunching steps, and sat down naturally in the chair, accepting the drink.
He extended one hand and supported the wrist of the other with his left hand, showing a sense of courtesy, and there was a relaxed ease in all of his movements.
Then he took a gulp.
Watching this, Encrid couldn’t help but wonder if drinking that was safe, but he couldn’t stop him.
Seeing that reminded him of a conversation they had in the carriage on the way here.
"Aren’t you curious why I go to such lengths?"
Krang had asked that on the way.
Encrid blinked slowly twice before answering like this.
"If I said I would stop an army, would you stop me?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because you would handle it yourself."
That’s what trust is.
"You would too, right?"
Encrid, by answering in that way, expressed his belief in the King and his close friend, and that was the end of it.
Jaxon didn’t seem curious, and Sinar wasn’t interested.
If Andrew had been in the carriage, he might have said, "All these people seem crazy." But he had probably been listening to the sound of horse hooves and the rolling of wheels while enjoying the night view, so he wouldn’t have heard the conversation in the carriage.
Even if he had, would he have chimed in?
After asking how the army had been stopped, Krang appeared, and when Andrew saw that, his eyes filled with shock and confusion, like those of a ghoul. Eyes that had stopped thinking altogether.
"I’m going to try to persuade the King of Aspen."
Krang had said that, but Encrid gave him a look of trust, leaving it to him.
"Is it a bother?"
Krang had then asked.
As expected of a King, even his sense of intuition had a regal touch to it.
"No."
Encrid denied it. It was a common technique of evasion.
"Alright, let's drop it."
And with that, they just shared some trivial conversation.
Dunbachel's march to the east, events that happened in the recent battle, the killing of enemy Knights, changes to the Royal Palace's training grounds, and more.
At some point, a combat story was told where Jaxon mentioned killing some Moonlight Fairies, but Sinar was indifferent.
If humans can divide themselves, why wouldn't Fairies?
They were no different.
And when it comes to battlefields where it’s kill or be killed, it’s not always the killers who are in the wrong. Sinar understood that well.
"Everyone lives by their own will. If what awaits at the end is peace, then it's not necessarily a bad thing."
Krang thought to respond to that but closed his mouth.
Encrid sensed that Sinar knew what Krang had intended to bring up, but also felt that Sinar didn’t want to go down that road, so he didn’t press further.
"Even the southern empire has been making noise, and it seems the Holy faction has been scheming as well, but in the end, they all seem to have sided with Aspen. So I thought, what should I do here? Should I just pick a fight? It didn’t seem like the right move."
Krang spoke while reflecting on his thoughts, throwing in some casual jokes.
Encrid nodded along, listening appropriately.
He wasn’t dull, but politics was another realm entirely.
And Encrid had no desire to step into that realm. Even before becoming a Knight, and even after, he was busy moving forward.
A sword, Knighthood, dreams, what does he aim for, and for what purpose do he wield his sword?
It was a path of pondering and progress. There was no room for politics or anything else to interfere along the way.
And so, when they arrived at the location, the King of Aspen looked at Krang with an expression that revealed no emotion.
It was as if he were saying,
"What’s the big deal about drinking a cup of wine so boldly?"
Amid all this, Encrid felt a piercing gaze and looked ahead to see a young man staring straight at him.
He wasn’t glaring, his eyes were clear, and his gaze was steady.
Jaxon, regardless of the nature of the gaze, didn’t seem to like it and muttered something in a low, calm voice.
"In our unit, there’s a panther that plucks out the eyes of anyone who looks too carelessly at others. And I agree with the panther’s actions."
Threatening to pluck out someone’s eyes for glaring or saying they’d strangle you with your own intestines could be effective, but speaking so calmly and matter-of-factly, without a hint of malice, often had an even greater impact than harsh words.
Like when meeting for a secret negotiation after overwhelmingly winning a war?
"I mean no harm."
Before the Kings could even begin their conversation, the young man spoke first.
Despite Jaxon's threat, his voice remained clear and unwavering. Was it the determination to say what he needed to, even if it meant dying? Or youthful recklessness?
They wouldn’t have brought a young, reckless swordsman to such an important meeting, so it must be the former.
The middle-aged woman frowned, clearly displeased with the young man speaking up.
Frog showed no emotion, and the last man, with a clean appearance, simply smiled with his eyes.
"It’s best to hold back."
"I just want to talk."
The young man said, his gaze still locked on Encrid.
"Are you the Iron Wall Knight?"
He asked before anyone could say anything.
Encrid stared back at him. He didn’t recognize the face. It wasn’t like he resembled anyone familiar either.
Iron Wall Knight? Wasn’t it the Sword of Iron Wall? It seemed his name had spread in Aspen as the Iron Wall Knight.
"When I was a child, my cousin was the one who first taught me the sword. His name was Mitch Hurrier."
The name was still vivid in Encrid’s memory.
Mitch Hurrier, a man he had clashed with twice.
"I was fortunate enough to surpass my cousin’s skill quickly, and I gained a godfather."
"A godfather?"
"I am the godson of Varna Hurrier, Ilrod Hurrier."
His godfather had died at Ragna's hands, and the cousin who first taught him the sword had died at Encrid’s hands.
Encrid was like an enemy to this young man, Ilrod. Yet, there was no hint of resentment or anger in his eyes.
Still, he bowed his head and said.
"First, I would like to thank you."
Despite his potential grudge, Ilrod thought of the bigger picture.
He understood that the man before him had saved countless soldiers from senseless slaughter. Whether through Avnair’s words or his own investigation, he knew.
Encrid, who had stopped the army, deserved respect, regardless of personal grievances.
That’s why he wanted to express his gratitude. Standing here, thanks to the King’s consideration, would cause him difficulties later, but he had to say what needed to be said.
The man before him had killed his cousin and godfather, but he had saved thousands of soldiers.
Although he was called Varna’s godson, Varna had over a hundred fake sons, and Mitch Hurrier had often tormented him as a child, which might explain why Ilrod didn’t harbor a personal grudge.
In truth, Ilrod was simply doing what he thought was right.
"When I become stronger, I will come and challenge you to a duel."
Ilrod finished what he had to say.
He was a man who needed to live according to what was right and wrong, a stubborn human being.
Because of this, he was unlikely to fall into corruption or be swayed by other influences.
"Do as you wish."
Encrid nodded.
He couldn’t read all of Ilrod’s thoughts, but he could tell that this young man wasn’t speaking out of malice.
More than anything, Ilrod’s words were filled with sincerity.
To add to that, he was a man Encrid found likable.
A man with strong will, who acted according to his convictions, a way of living not too different from Encrid’s own.
Though, Ilrod didn’t seem as perceptive as Encrid.
"Are you insane?"
The middle-aged woman glared at Ilrod, snapping at him as if the action had not been preplanned.
As she spoke, she glanced nervously at Encrid.
If things went wrong and the other side started swinging their swords, she knew she wouldn’t stand a chance, so it made sense that she was nervous.
Ilrod, however, remained unfazed by her words.
This seemed to irritate the woman even more, as wrinkles formed on her brow.
Regardless, the conversation between the two ended there.
Ilrod straightened his gaze, and Jaxon let go of the dagger he had been quietly fiddling with.
Among the two Kings, Krang found the exchange interesting, while the King of Aspen remained expressionless.
"An amusing fellow."
Krang said.
"A man who doesn’t know how to hide his thoughts."
They exchanged brief remarks and shared a sip of wine from the leather flask.
For a meeting between two Kings, the setting was quite humble. There were no luxurious glassware or fancy foods, but the fact that a King had come all this way was already madness.
In the current continent, the idea of two Kings meeting for a discussion was an extraordinary event.
Without cities and walls, they were exposed to the threats of beasts and monsters. Additionally, a large force was needed to protect farmlands.
In such a world, for a King to cross borders and have a discussion with another King was a daring endeavor.
Let alone two Kings meeting like this.
There was no concept of neutral territory, so meetings like these were often canceled due to mutual suspicion.
Even if they did meet, they would bring Knights and make various preparations for protection, consuming time and manpower, often for no real reason.
And yet, Krang had gone through the unnecessary trouble of organizing this meeting.
Afterward, Encrid stood quietly, serving as both an observer and a guard.
There was no sense of danger or ominous energy around them.
Krais had mentioned that there was no need for the King to come personally, but he also said there wouldn’t be any significant threats either.
Though, in typical Krais fashion, he had still questioned why Krang was taking on this risk.
Frustrated, Krais seemed to be asking, "Why court danger?"
Krang had simply smiled gently and brushed it off with a "Because it’s fun."
In all honesty, even if the King of Aspen had pulled some trick, it wouldn’t have been a problem.
That’s why Jaxon and Sinar were both here.
As they stood and watched, the conversation between the two Kings finally began.
And their dialogue took a direction that no one had anticipated.
***
The King of Aspen waited for Krang to start questioning him.
He thought Krang might demand compensation for breaking the non-aggression pact, or perhaps demand unconditional surrender.
Or maybe he wanted a vassal state?
Whatever it was, he was prepared to endure it.
To be frank, the fact that Krang had even requested this meeting was already strange enough.
‘Does he want to kill me?’
Had he set all this up just to kill him?
If so, wouldn’t he have employed a more sophisticated method?
No, it couldn’t be that. What Krang wanted was submission. He wanted to humiliate him.
"Hey, come out."
That's essentially what Krang was saying, to make him acknowledge his defeat.
The King of Aspen couldn’t bear to watch his soldiers and citizens suffer because of his pride.
Though he wasn’t particularly clever, he knew how to protect what mattered.
Of course, that didn’t mean he would simply yield to everything the King of Naurillia said, so he spoke first.
"What would you do if I brought out hidden forces to target you after you requested this meeting?"
It was a declaration of intent that, while he would endure the demand for surrender, he wouldn’t give in easily.
Krang smiled softly in response and asked,
"Do you have hidden forces?"
Was that his way of saying, "I know your Knights are all dead, so what’s the point?"
The King of Aspen, in his gaze, saw Krang’s face as that of a devil.
How much must this devil have laughed at him before coming to this meeting? Was that smirk hiding a sense of victory?
-Fine, do as you please. Relish in your vulgar victory.
-Yes, go ahead. I’ll kneel, I’ll bow my head.
-But it won’t last forever.
-Ten years, twenty years, thirty years, eventually, Aspen will rise again.
-After I die, my son, and the Knights he leads, and those with renewed purpose will rise again.
The King, though he wanted to glare at Krang with a heart full of fury, held back. This was a time for patience and composure.
Although it seemed Aspen had initiated the conflict, in truth, the war between the two nations had stemmed from disputes over Green Pearl.
Aspen had dreamed of stockpiling food based on Green Pearl’s potential, while Naurillia was wary of a neighboring country strengthening its military power.
Stockpiling food was practically the same as increasing military might.
Not only would they have more to eat, but selling the surplus food would also generate funds for the military.
Green Pearl had the potential for such prosperity.
Now that they were facing the possibility of becoming a vassal state, their borders would likely be pushed back as well.
The King of Aspen, though prepared to lose, still didn’t want to give everything up so easily.
And Krang—
"If that is my fate, then I will accept it."
He casually let the words slip.
The King of Aspen was taken aback and paused for a moment.
It was Krang's response to the question of what he would do if hidden forces were brought against him, a response to the implied threat.
While he was momentarily lost in thought, Krang spoke again, his voice clear and bright.
"Though I may struggle to stay alive in matters of life and death, simply surviving doesn’t fully satisfy me. But if the heavens or the Gods decide that they’ve had enough of me and say, ‘You’ve become boring, it’s time for you to die’, then what can I do? Powerless as I am, I would just have to die."
As he spoke, Krang raised his right index finger toward the sky.
Under the dark canvas of the night, with two moons and stars scattered across it, it felt as though Krang’s fingertip was touching the heavens.
The King of Aspen understood that Krang’s words were calculated. He knew this too well.
He knew that Krang had come with Knights, and that Aspen lacked the power to stop these Knights. He knew that a clumsy assassination attempt or ambush would only backfire.
He also knew that the aftermath of such an action would be disastrous. It would be like playing with a severed head, kicking it around.
And yet, it was hard to take his eyes off Krang as he spoke.
"Are you mocking me?"
The King of Aspen asked.
"If I were mocking you, I wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of sneaking here while feigning injury. Do you have dreams? I have a small, but meaningful one."
Krang rose from his seat, just as slowly and smoothly as when he had sat down.
Of the four standing behind the King of Aspen, three of them, excluding Frog, flinched. Meanwhile, those on Naurillia’s side showed no signs of concern.
They simply watched Krang with their eyes.
Under the night sky, lit only by the moons and the bonfire, Krang stood alone, shining.
"To erase the Demon Realm from the world, to wipe out the cultists, and then to hang those who do absurd things, all while telling everyone to stop fighting."
What kind of nonsense was this?
Monsters could be stopped, but the Demon Realm was unstoppable.
And what? To tell everyone to stop fighting?
It was all ridiculous nonsense.
Yet there was a strange power in Krang’s words and gestures.
As he spread his hand, Krang said,
"We, all races including humans, have never once united. Isn’t that so? The same applies to Naurillia and Aspen."
His words and gestures captured everyone’s attention.
Against the backdrop of the quiet night, Krang passionately delivered his speech.
"That’s ridiculous!"
The King of Aspen, his face flushed, shouted.
From that, Encrid concluded that the King was already halfway convinced.
Because such a reaction would only come from someone who had taken it seriously.
Thanks for the Chapter Bro!!! :DD
Thanks for the Chapter.
Is it updated regularly? Also what is release schedule
Creo que he leído el manhwa, talvez lo esté confundiendo.. 🤔