Chapter 16
Baron Nopak stood facing Karl, his expression marked with fatigue.
"I heard you're off to handle something important with Inquisitor Isabel." "Well, it ended up that way." "Looks like you need something." "I was just about to make a request." "I already gave Joseph a heads-up. Go with him and take what you need." "I'll gratefully accept."
Karl nodded. As he stepped outside, Joseph, who had been waiting, guided him.
"This way, please."
Nopak had been moderately corrupt, but in return, he'd made a considerable amount of money. As they entered his warehouse, many high-quality items came into view.
"Impressive." "Lord Nopak said you could take whatever you need, so feel free to choose."
Joseph didn’t ask about the past shared between Karl and Baron Nopak. That alone showed how competent he was. Tact was a talent valuable in any organization.
Karl slowly examined the contents of Nopak’s warehouse. After a while, one item in particular caught his eye.
"Interesting piece." "I heard it's a throwing weapon. Said to have been used by an old assassin. It even has a name—Moonshadow."
He liked the name. The item held ten throwing daggers shaped like miniature blades, which could be strapped around the waist and shoulders like a bandolier, remaining hidden beneath a surcoat.
It was designed for concealment, yet the daggers could be drawn with ease. Unlike traditional Eastern throwing knives, these looked more like tiny swords.
"I’ll take this."
Karl strapped the throwing knives onto himself, a satisfied expression spreading across his face. He had, in fact, practiced throwing and dagger techniques for quite a while since arriving here. Especially during the East Continent war, throwing techniques proved invaluable.
Back then, he often used weapons taken from slain enemies. Carrying multiple daggers had always been cumbersome, so he never bothered preparing special gear.
On the West Continent, large-scale battles were rare, making retrieving throwing knives easier. More than the knives themselves, he was impressed by the uniquely designed belt.
The belt, made to hold ten throwing knives, was crafted from a type of leather Karl had never seen before. It was built to protect the heart and abdomen under the surcoat. When he tested it by slashing with a sword, not even a scratch appeared, which pleased him greatly.
[Moonshadow: A belt designed to store throwing weapons. Doubles accuracy when using throwing techniques.]
With the item’s ability now revealed, it felt good to finally be able to identify named gear.
"I’ve got myself an amusing little item." "Looks like you're satisfied." "A good find like this deserves satisfaction."
Wearing the belt, Karl walked out to the training yard. He stood about ten meters from a tree. Depending on the target’s size, it was a decent challenge to throw with pinpoint accuracy.
He took a moment to breathe and focus on the target.
"Hup!"
With a short exhale, several daggers flew through the air in an instant, cutting through with sharp whistles.
Papapak!
In a single breath, four daggers hit the tree, forming a perfect square. Their blades were sharp enough that they embedded deeply, up to the hilts, into the solid wood.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but he felt his senses sharpen the moment he wore the gear.
"...You know how to throw, sir?" "Just a minor skill. But it helps to survive."
Despite Karl’s downplayed response, Joseph couldn't agree that this was a mere “minor skill.” He was certain he wouldn't be able to block one of those daggers if caught off guard.
"Baron Nopak said it's not a loan but a gift, so you may keep it." "That was my plan."
At some point, Karl had shifted from speaking casually to formally, and Joseph, once casual himself, now addressed Karl with respect.
"Not going to check out the rest of the warehouse?" "Doesn’t seem necessary."
After testing the throwing knives a few more times in the training yard, Karl and Joseph headed to the provisions storehouse. They packed ample food and supplies before returning to their respective quarters.
A few hours later, in front of the baron’s castle, 25 knights stood mounted and fully armed.
Among them were Karl, Isabel, as well as Godfrey and Wooster.
"Move out."
With Isabel’s short and direct order, the group set off. Karl gently tapped Silver’s saddle, urging the horse forward.
"Pleased to meet you. I’m Kelvin Manov of the 5th Holy Knight Order of the Essus Order." "Karl. A Free Knight."
Karl had encountered many Holy Knights from the Order on the East Continent. Judging by the twenty knights following Kelvin, he appeared to be a squad leader. If the same standards applied here, he was likely mid to high Expert level.
Compared to Godfrey, he was a little weaker—but still not someone to underestimate.
"I’ve heard you’re quite the skilled knight, Sir Karl." "Just rumors." "Well, the feats you’ve shown in such a short time certainly don’t seem like mere rumors."
Kelvin’s tone, unlike Isabel’s, was light as a feather. His weasel-like face made it hard to call him good-looking even out of courtesy.
Before arriving here, Karl had the vague impression that Holy Knights were noble figures who lived to embody the will of their gods.
Of course, some were like that. But many of the knight orders he had seen here were no different from mercenary bands that moved for personal gain. They just happened to be affiliated with the Order.
"If I ever get the chance, I’d love to learn from you."
Though the words weren’t disrespectful on their own, his tone and expression were irritatingly flippant. It was clear he was subtly implying Karl's skills were overrated, causing a few to frown.
"If the opportunity comes."
Karl responded in his usual indifferent tone, not caring how others took it. Isabel tried to step in but soon turned away. It was obvious Karl didn’t need protecting.
"Inquisitor Isabel, it’s been far too long! I don’t think you realize how deeply I admire you. Your recent exploits in the southern continent were—"
With a greasy expression and over-the-top flattery, Kelvin had moved his horse to ride beside Isabel.
Godfrey, cautious by nature, showed no sign of interfering. He seemed disinterested in the politics of the Order.
"Sir Kelvin."
After a while, Isabel called out briefly to the blabbering Kelvin.
"Yes, Lady Isabel. I’d love to hear more of that voice of yours." "You’re being noisy." "...Sorry?"
Her curt words brought immediate silence over the group.
"Lady Isabel? I think I misheard you?" "You heard right. I said you’re noisy."
Though her tone was cold and business-like, a faint trace of contempt leaked through her frosty expression.
"Ugh..."
Kelvin’s face twisted in discomfort, and the group eventually arrived near the spot where the heretics were said to be hiding.
Though it appeared to be an ordinary forest, a chilling atmosphere lingered even at the entrance.
"Captain, have you ever fought one of those beastkin?" "Not yet." "Sir Karl is a rare case. Even the Inquisitors have trouble locating them."
Isabel answered Wooster on Karl’s behalf.
"Inquisitor Isabel, what exactly are these beastkin?"
Godfrey, despite his many battles, had never seen a man turn into a beast.
"They’re heretics who borrow the power of their devil to transform into beasts. Our Order calls them beastkin. We don’t yet know the exact cost they pay for such power, but we’ve learned they require a sacrifice for their rituals."
"A sacrifice? Surely you’re not saying they’re using the missing children as offerings?"
"...That seems very likely."
While riding and surveying the surroundings, Karl raised a question.
"For fanatics like them, wasn’t Dalton hiding in too obvious a place?" "Originally, they only operated in the shadows. For some reason, they’ve recently started appearing in the open."
Godfrey nodded at Isabel’s explanation.
"Dalton probably never imagined he’d lose his life to Sir Karl. Beastkin are far stronger than typical knights, after all."
As Isabel said, it was rare for beastkin to die outside battlefields. With their regenerative abilities, they could survive even against powerful foes by retreating.
"When we dissected Dalton’s body and compared it with past records of purified beastkin, we concluded he was average among them. According to the records, even a high Expert-level Holy Knight struggled immensely against one of his caliber."
"That strong?"
Kelvin interjected into Isabel and Karl’s conversation.
"Exactly. And yet Sir Karl not only defeated such a beastkin, but also took out the entire Dalton Knights in one go? That’s hard to believe."
His tone already dripped with distrust toward Karl.
"Sir Kelvin, show some respect." "Tch. Apologies."
Kelvin muttered an insincere apology, his grumbling tone toward Isabel showing just how petty and transparent he really was.