Chapter 135
Raul issued commands rapidly as he walked briskly toward the portal.
「All units, move to the highest alert status. Assume wartime conditions until further orders.」
「Yes, Master!」
「All territorial lords’ deputies and commanders, cease monster-hunting operations immediately and assemble troops at the respective lord’s castles. Relocating villagers from frontier settlements to the castles is permitted if necessary.」
Raul continued to give orders while hurrying toward the portal.
「All knights from the Free City Guild branches, except for a minimal number, are to move to Calix Castle. Instructors at the Mira Academy are to continue classes until further notice.」
「Understood, Master.」
「External threats may target us upon hearing the news. Everyone, stay vigilant and prepare for any threats. And at 19:00 today, an emergency meeting will be held with executives and commanders. Gather the latest status reports of your domains and units. That’s all.」
Upon reaching the dedicated portal at the First Knight Order Mira Branch, Raul found Kane, the head of the information department, Dalton, the academy’s principal, and Nakia waiting.
“What’s the current situation?”
“The Count is unconscious, and healers and priests are starting treatment.”
Kane replied.
With a grave expression, Raul asked, “What’s his condition?”
“They can’t say yet. There don’t seem to be any external injuries, but he hasn’t regained consciousness….”
“Kane, come with me directly to the main estate. Dalton, join Bernard and his team at Calix Castle with Nakia and wait for further orders.”
“Yes, Master.”
Before departing, Raul gave Nakia a secret directive through a private communication channel. She nodded with a worried expression.
***
“You’ve come, Master.”
Waiting in front of the portal at Conford Castle were Knight Commander Philip and ten First Order knights.
“We must hurry to the main house.”
Those who had awaited Raul’s arrival mounted their horses and urgently rode to the main estate, arriving at the Count’s mansion shortly after.
“Young master Raul….”
At the mansion entrance stood the butler Ivan, who looked as though he had aged five years in a short time, his expression one of sheer despair.
“Ivan, what happened here?”
“It’s all my fault. I failed to take proper care of the Count… I am deeply ashamed.”
The iron-willed butler, Ivan, usually unperturbed, now appeared disheveled for the first time, bowing his head in shame.
Raul gently patted his shoulder and asked directly, “What’s my father’s condition? No, just take me to him first.”
“Yes, this way.”
The mansion’s entrance was now guarded by knights, enhancing the security.
Climbing the stairs to the Count’s bedroom, Raul saw additional knights and soldiers stationed throughout the mansion—a sight that caused his brow to furrow slightly.
‘First, to my father….’
Finally reaching the Count’s bedroom, Raul saw priests and healers sweating as they checked on the Count, while key figures of the territory gathered in the adjacent reception room.
“Oh… Young Master, you’re here. Sob, sob.”
His sister-in-law was the first to notice Raul, rushing forward with tears in her eyes. Raul did his best to console her as he moved to his father’s side.
Count Melvin lay weakly on the bed, his once robust form swollen and filling the space. A sense of intense heat emanated from the Count’s body, and sweat continuously streamed down his face.
His body was bloated, with bulging, purple veins writhing like worms across his skin—a sight far from normal.
Grinding his teeth, Raul asked the bishop standing nearby, “What happened? Why is my father in this state?”
With a troubled expression, the bishop sighed and led Raul to a corner, speaking softly.
“The exact cause is still unknown, but based on the symptoms, it appears to be a form of ‘mana reflux.’”
“Mana reflux?”
Inside the bodies of all knights who use mana, there is a pathway called the ‘mana road’.
Similar to how blood circulates through veins, mana flows in a specific direction through the mana road, circulating within the body.
Mana reflux occurs when, for some reason, the mana flows in the opposite direction. This condition often results in death or, if miraculously survived, leaves the person severely debilitated.
“Although the symptoms aren’t entirely consistent with what I’ve seen or read in medical texts, it’s difficult to define the Count’s condition as anything else.”
“Then what can we do? Is there no treatment? We must at least stabilize his condition.”
“Unfortunately, divine power cannot resolve this situation. Aside from placing blessings to prevent the Count’s vitality from waning, there’s nothing more that can be done….”
“…….”
Raul had anticipated such a scenario, but witnessing his father’s agony firsthand made it hard to stay calm.
“Do your best.”
There was little else Raul could say. The bishop also sighed, regretting his inability to help.
Raul left the bishop’s side and approached the family’s dedicated healer to inquire about his father’s condition, but the healer too had no viable solution.
As Raul bit his lip in frustration, a voice echoed in his mind.
「The Count has incredible willpower. The pain must be excruciating.」
「Master, is there any way to help him?」
Caldenas borrowed Raul’s senses to examine the Count’s condition and then tilted his head in curiosity.
「This is quite peculiar. It doesn’t exactly match the mana reflux cases I’ve encountered. It feels like the flow was artificially induced. Nevertheless, because of this, the Count is holding on. The mana hasn’t completely reversed its flow yet.」
「What does that mean? Is there a possibility of treatment?」
「The Count’s physical condition is highly unusual. With this amount of mana, he should be at least mid-Master level, yet hasn’t reached that stage, which is strange. Currently, it seems like the Count’s mana is in a tug-of-war with the reversing mana, trying to prevent it from fully reversing. He won’t be able to hold out much longer. His robust body is forcibly staving off the mana clash, but even the toughest bodies have limits.」
「So, what should we do?」
Raul’s anxiety grew. He had anticipated this situation and prepared, but what if his plan didn’t work?
「There are two methods. First, identify and eliminate the cause of the mana reflux. Since the flow feels artificial, cutting off its power source should revert the flow back to normal.」
This aligned with Raul’s own thoughts on treatment, so he nodded unconsciously, eager to hear the second method.
「The second method involves forcibly blocking the reflux. By adding external power to support the Count’s mana. However, this method is extremely risky. It requires extremely precise mana manipulation and at least Master-level mana reserves. Even if successful, there’s no guarantee the Count’s mana road will normalize. If my body were in normal condition, I could help, but alas, that’s impossible.」
Despite this, Raul didn’t lose hope. Just having an additional option brought him some relief.
‘If necessary….’
Raul clenched his fists. Leaving the Count’s bedroom, Raul headed to the reception room. Feeling slightly calmer, his mind began working again.
“Ivan, why hasn’t my eldest brother arrived yet?”
His eldest brother Dylan, who should have been the first to arrive, was nowhere to be seen.
“Well… A peculiar dungeon was discovered recently. After losing two squads of knights and soldiers, sir Dylan went to inspect it himself just a few days ago.”
No wonder there had been no response to the guild communication; he must have entered the dungeon.
“Has there been any contact? Any word on his return?”
“Unfortunately, the dungeon is located in the most remote part of the Count’s domain. A messenger set out from the nearest village, but we can’t be sure when he’ll return.”
Raul had a sinking feeling as he scanned the reception room, noting the absence of several key figures.
“Wait a moment. Where is the Knight Commander? And what about Viscount Bozel, the Chief Commander?”
“The Knight Commander accompanied Sir Dylan to the dungeon, and Viscount Bozel has been away for over a week on a monster subjugation and mobility training mission.”
“Then who’s currently overseeing the Count’s personal security and the castle’s defense?”
“The security of the main house is temporarily under the ‘Silver Bear Knight Commander’, baron Carlo de Ashton, while the castle’s defense is managed by the Guard Captain, baron Dwayne de Ashton.”
‘Damn it.’
Raul frowned slightly. These were not individuals he considered reliable.
‘No wonder the Silver Bear Knights are guarding the mansion.’
There were four knightly orders in the Ashton County.
The Golden Bear Knights were the elite and the direct retainers of the family head.
The Silver Bear Knights consisted of Ashton household members.
The Iron Bear Knights comprised commoners and knights from other regions.
And while not an official knight order, the Chain Knights were knights in waiting, equipped with knight-level skills but awaiting assignments.
Although the Silver Bear Knights were officially the second knight order of the territory, they only numbered 50, and their actual combat prowess was generally considered inferior to the Iron Bear Knights.
However, being composed of family members, Raul found dealing with them politically sensitive.
“Ivan, immediately send messengers to convene the remaining Golden Bear Knights to the mansion, including those mobilized for dungeon raids and village defense! Replace their positions with trainees and Chain Knights.”
“Understood.”
“And inform Guard Captain Baron Dwayne de Ashton to immediately restrict access to Conford Castle. No outsiders are to be admitted for the time being.”
With Count Melvin incapacitated and Dylan unreachable, Raul was now the acting authority of the Ashton County.
Had the Knight Commander or Chief Commander been present, their approval would have been necessary, but circumstances left Raul with no choice.
‘The timing is suspicious.’
Everyone seemed to attribute Count Melvin’s mana reflux to an accident, but Raul was not so sure.
The Count collapsed just as Dylan went on a long-range expedition, and the realm’s Chief Commander and elite forces left for training. It was highly suspect.
‘Whoever arranged this clearly didn’t anticipate my swift response through my guild’s communication network.’
Raul steeled his resolve.
‘I’ll save my father, thwart those aiming for our family, and cleanse the ranks of traitorous hyenas.’
He opened a guild communication channel.
「Jake, immediately lead 50 knights and 200 guild members to Conford Castle. I’ll keep the dedicated portal open. Once you arrive, wait near the inner citadel. Dalton, join me at the mansion with Nakia and Ken.」
「Yes, Master.」
The enemies were unaware of the true strength of Raul and the First Knight Order.
Raul intended to hide his knights and guild members within the inner citadel, ready to react if the enemies moved, believing the main house to be undefended.
Just then, Kane, with a grim expression, brought more news.
“Master, we have a situation. Six baronies bordering our realm are moving troops to their borders. Including their knight orders, they have significant forces.”
‘These bastards!’
It seemed necessary to show what happens when you rouse a sleeping bear.
(To be continued)