Chapter 82.2 - Playing Chess (2)

Chop. Chop.

When a soft thing touched his face, Ruel opened only one eye and opened his mouth.

“…what’s wrong, Leo?”

It was still nighttime.

—The ring shines.

Ruel blew mana in a drowsy state.

“Why…?”

-I’m sorry it’s the middle of the night.

-Apologize more politely. 

He heard Sien’s voice whispering quietly from the side.

-I’m sorry I woke you up in the middle of the night. But I thought I should inform you right away.

“…What is it? Has there already been an attack?”

-Oh! As expected, you have good instincts. Yeah, they’re here.

Ganien’s voice was as excited as if he got the right answer on the quiz.

Ruel woke up completely.

He had just contacted them about the attack during the day yesterday.

It seems that the fact that he hid himself was a bigger blow to the Red Ash than he thought.

– This afternoon… well, actually you called yesterday. This is certainly something that my teacher and I didn’t expect to come this quickly.

“So?”

-Of course, we got them. You’ll soon find out which noble attacked you. I contacted you wondering if you would be alright to return as soon as possible

Ruel fiddled with a thick bandage.

‘Can I move?’

—No, if you touch it, it will bleed!

Leo purred, pulling Ruel’s hand.

-…blood? What does that mean?

—Ruel is hurt…

Ruel caught Leo’s mouth a little late because of his stomach.

There was a moment of silence.

“Nothing. I’ll be leaving soon.”

-Now, hold on a second! Leo just said you’re hurt.

Pop.

Ruel turned off the communication device.

“Leo.”

—Th-This body is busy sleeping right now.

Leo went straight into the blanket and wriggled.

“Come here.”

He asked, sticking his ears out of the blanket.

—Are you angry?

“I’m not.”

Anyway, Ganien is a dog like Cassion, if he gets near, he will notice the problem and nag.

Leo, who was slowly sticking out his face, smiled and rubbed his face into Ruel’s hands.

“But your mouth is too light.”

—…!

Leo looked at Ruel, still stiff.

—This…this body’s mouth is loose. Wh-what just happened, it’s just, it-it was a mistake! Please don’t stop this body from eating snacks. How sad this body was at that time, Ruel doesn’t know! 

Leo urgently hung on Ruel’s arm and cried.

Ruel just laughed and called Cassion.

Cassion appeared with a candle.

“I’ll cut off Ganien’s head.”

“You can’t.”

“Isn’t it weird to leave him alone when he keeps getting on my nerves?”

“We’ll slowly get ready to leave.”

“Ruel-nim, the wound hasn’t healed yet, so you have to avoid moving now.”

“It looks like Noah will find something soon, and the Ganien side has been sorted out sooner than expected, so now we have to get ready to go back to Setiria.”

While time was running out, Ruel thought about who was working with Cyronian’s nobility in Leponia.

It was, in his opinion, the second prince.

Since the Kuhn family was a noble family charged with protecting the royal family, making it difficult to touch them without any evidence, but no one else came to mind.

‘For now, let’s listen and think about what the guy Ganien caught will say.’

“You can’t.”

Cassion spoke emphatically.

“I think you should stay another week.”

“I’ll take a good rest when I get back to Setiria.”

Ruel was lying so much that it made Cassion sigh.

‘You’re going to rest when you go back to Setiria?’

Isn’t it strange to believe his word as it is? Sadly, due to the Mana’s oath, it was impossible for him to beat sense into Ruel.

“Did you hear what Ganien said?”

“I heard. I know why Ruel-nim wants to move.”

As long as Huswen’s side has the evidence, the nobles will be immediately searched and transported.

At that time, what card would the nobles put forward?

It was the whereabouts of the missing Ruel.

When Ruel is there, Huswen will gain more strength and they won’t have a scapegoat to blame.

“I know, but it’s still strange to prevent their scheming.”

—Cassion is saying this out of concern for Ruel. (Leo)

Ruel snorted at Leo’s words.

He must be worried about himself, not Ruel.

If he dies, Cassion dies.

“I won’t die.”

“I know, but what worries me is the next thing.” (Cassion)

Ruel played with Breath, a little surprised at the sight of real concern.

‘It’s been a while since I gave you a new sword.’

“If they expand their search range, they will come close to here. Even if you manage to get out of the siege after that, you will have no choice but to run into them at least once. I don’t know what will happen at that time, so I’m insisting you go after the wound heals.” 

A black-blooded man could appear again.

Ruel was wounded and Cassion could not predict what the consequences would be if he attempted another purification.

“My judgment was good.”

“…?”

At the sudden sound, Cassion waited for the next word.

“What they expect is an unhealthy, very sick man who can’t even walk without a cane.”

Ruel raised the corners of his mouth.

“Who would think that such a lord would be an adventurer? It’s the same reason why they can’t find this place.”

Cassion closed his mouth tight.

The method was good. However, it meant that he would push himself to the end.

“It’s just a matter of time. We’ll start when the sun rises.”

It was fortunate that he would see what the ice castle looked like before leaving.

“Oh, can I put a warp device here?”

“Do as you please…”

The sound of gnashing of teeth followed.

***

“It’s a race against time. Leave before they know the assassination failed.”

“Ganien, with the oath of the blue knight, you must bring them down before me.”

Ganien stopped talking as he recalled Huswen’s words.

The group that attacked Huswen was second-rate at best.

The confession was also quick.

But that alone lacked evidence.

At best, all he knew was the names of some of the nobles.

It was just the beginning.

“Whoa, whoa.”

Among allied opponents, only ten families were speculated to have orchestrated the assassination.

They lost two.

It was too hasty.

Also, he was unaware of the history of the royal knights.

This was also why he asked the three commanders not to leak any mentions of power outside when Huswen ascended the throne.

Ganien looked at the snow-covered mansion.

Ganien was catching the traitorous aristocrats in the West.

Sien was in charge of catching the nobles in charge of the East and some that were scattered farther away.

Ruel put Hina next to Huswen, worried that there was only one Knight left to guard the royal family.

“Sigh.”

When Ganien exhaled, white steam leaked out.

Winters in Cyronian were always harsh.

But never as fierce as now.

As soon as he stepped down, Ganien expressed his frustration.

“We came to catch the traitor under His Majesty’s command. If he disobeys, kill him.”

“Alright!”

Among the nobles in charge of the West, the presumed nobleman who ordered the attack on Ruel was Count Iria Promien, the center of the noblemen of the West.

The men were divided into five groups and scattered to catch the rest of the Western nobles, and Ganien came himself to catch Iria.

As Ganien and the blue knight approached the main gate, the guard panicked and stopped them.

Ganien showed the king’s seal and said, “Get out of the way.”

“Wh, what’s going on…”

As soon as Ganien pulled out his sword of the sheath, their neck fell.

“Open it.”

The rest of the guard shuddered before opening the door.

Whisper.

When the Blue Knights, who were supposed to be guarding the royal family came, the servants watched their faces carefully, terrified.

Chak.

As soon as Ganien stopped, the following knights stopped at the same time.

Ganien looked at the attendant with infinitely cold eyes.

“Show me where your master is.”

“Fo, follow me.”

At the irresistible order, the servant wept and walked forward.

As the Blue Knights walked down the hallway, Iria, the owner of this place, was seen coming down the stairs.

“What are you doing?”

Iria angrily pointed a finger at Ganien with no real anger in his voice.

When the king passed away, it was customary for the royal knights to come and announce the news.

Therefore, it was rather difficult to hide his joy.

“No matter how much the Blue Knight protects His Majesty, this is my house! At least …”

Iria shut up in an instant.

It was because he was overwhelmed by Ganien’s momentum.

“Your Majesty ordered me to arrest the traitor, Iria Promien!”

Along with Ganien’s loud words, an order was shown bearing the king’s seal.

The attendants immediately lowered their heads, and only then did Iria come to his senses.

Tremble.

He fell down with shaking legs, perhaps because it had been him who had just shook his finger at Ganien not long ago.

This wasn’t the news he was waiting for.

He failed.

It’s a failure.

All the dreams he had until yesterday were disappearing into fantasy.

“Take him.”

There was no cry for help against Ganien’s momentum.

It was too scary.

Ganien quietly pulled out his feathered earrings, walking towards Iria.

“Do you know this?”

Iria’s face turned white.

He couldn’t even ask how he got it.

“It is the feather of the Meru bird.”

Chk.

At the sound of teeth clashing, Ganien looked at Iria and paused.

“I asked you if you recognized this.”

“I, I, I know.”

“You’ll be telling me everything about who instigated it.”

Living a life that ordinary people can’t stand, Iria finally bit the bitter fruit.

“You stay and guard this place. From now on, anyone who crosses the gates of this mansion will be killed.”

Sssaa.

The bloody momentum swept through the entire mansion.

“Yes, sir!”

Some of the blue knights remained behind to guard the door of the mansion.

“Giddy Up!”

The horses they charged forward.