Chapter 231
4.
Several days had passed, but
The excitement and restlessness within Sysbalt persisted.
Even after five whole days.
Though it was understandable.
Leon Banzar, the former captain of the Equinox Knights, who had been presumed missing, had reappeared.
And he brought back the corpse of Ragna Ekrion.
A corpse corrupted by mana, shriveled and ruined.
The revelation that Ragna Ekrion’s formidable strength came from human sacrifices to a mana-infused weapon was an issue that couldn't cool down even in five days.
Both players and NPCs alike couldn’t hide their excitement.
Seeing NPCs still pointing fingers and cursing, assuming Ragna Ekrion would be that way,
And players agreeing he was worse than expected contributed heavily to the atmosphere.
In this situation, word spread swiftly that Leon Banzar would return to lead the Equinox Knights.
“Though injured, a knight with chivalry wouldn’t just disappear.”
“Doesn’t a captain rely solely on strength? Strategy and tactics are more important, aren’t they?”
“Even without that damn Ragna Ekrion, the Equinox Knights are strong enough. Damn right!”
“And I heard a monster rookie joined the Equinox Knights recently?”
“Yeah! The one they call ‘Iron Fist’? They say he never lasted more than a day on any mission.”
“They say he takes on missions every day, that’s why they call him ‘Iron Fist’!”
“Wow, a knight from outside the country? Impressive.”
NPCs had been raving like this for days,
But even the players couldn't dismiss it as strange.
A knight from outside the country.
Just that alone was incredible.
Someone among outsiders earned a knight title!
Seonghyun had heard about the recent promotions,
Wondering if it was just another player.
And all the pieces were shouting to the players residing in Sysbalt,
Seonghyun left the streets and headed toward the Equinox Knights’ barracks.
Some players were vigilantly watching the entrance,
But he easily used Lord of Darkness to create illusions and stealthily entered.
‘Why must I go this far?’
They thought meeting the knight who came with the High Elf would mean they could do something.
They didn’t understand why, but decided to avoid trouble for now.
Anyway, when Seonghyun arrived at the Equinox Knights’ barracks, he dispelled his cognitive impairment and took off his hood.
Several knights around recognized him.
Having done missions together, it wasn’t surprising they knew him.
After all, he was a member of the same knight order.
Seonghyun appeared unbothered,
But,
“W-what!? Iron Fist!?”
“What? Iron Fist? Where, where!!? I-it’s really him!”
“They say Iron Fist returned!?”
“Our knight order’s hero!”
Their reactions were unusual.
What was wrong with those knights?
Seonghyun watched as they excitedly chatted.
“I heard you took on Leon Captain’s mission and took down Ragna Ekrion!”
“Hahaha! I thought his skills were no joke! Told you so!!!”
“If he came on Leon’s request, he’s trustworthy!”
“Thanks for saving our knight order!!!”
“If it weren’t for you, we’d have fallen victim to that vile Ragna Ekrion!”
The knights gathered and talked excitedly, showing none of the harshness they had before.
When Seonghyun first arrived, they were rough and tense.
But that steeliness had completely vanished.
He understood their gratitude and that Leon’s return had calmed things,
But it was still quite a change.
As Seonghyun looked a bit troubled,
A loud voice came from the barracks building.
“Hey! What are you all doing not training!!!”
Startled, everyone turned their heads.
There stood a burly, intimidating knight glaring at them.
Despite many scars and a battered body, his presence was overwhelming.
It was Leon Banzar, captain of the Equinox Knights.
At Leon’s arrival, the knights surrounding Seonghyun gasped sharply.
Then,
“We, we’ll get in line right away!”
“W-we’re going now!”
“Argh!”
They uttered hurried sounds and rushed to the training ground as if fleeing.
Seonghyun smirked watching them.
Leon was clearly feared.
But unlike when Ragna Ekrion took charge, this was different.
Though each showed a knightly demeanor, the fear was evident in their faces.
It showed how much Leon was respected.
After driving them off,
Leon said,
“These kids were annoying. Come on in.”
Seonghyun seemed like he had something to say.
Nodding at Leon’s words, he followed him.
They arrived at the captain’s office.
It was different from the room Ragna Ekrion had used before.
After all, it wasn’t pleasant to use the same room as that guy.
That was understandable.
Anyway, heading to the captain’s office,
Seonghyun was rather surprised by how plain the room was,
Considering it was the office of the captain of the Equinox Knights, one of Sysbalt’s three major knight orders.
He was offered a somewhat shabby sofa and sat down.
Leon sat opposite on a similarly shabby sofa and spoke to Seonghyun.
“First, thanks again. Thanks to you, I could return to my position.”
“No, it’s because you, Leon, are revered by the knights, that you could be restored.”
“Hahaha! Thanks for saying so. That’s sincere. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do it all.”
Leon spoke with serious eyes.
Seonghyun understood he had guessed the situation.
After all, Seonghyun had disappeared without contact for five days and suddenly appeared.
It was a reasonable assumption.
Since Leon spoke so, it would be rude to hesitate.
Thinking so, Seonghyun looked at Leon and said,
“There is a place in Sysbalt I want to enter.”
“A place you want to enter… You could probably go anywhere, but if you’re asking me, could it be... that place?”
Though Leon didn’t mention it directly,
Seonghyun nodded as if he already knew where it was.
Leon was honestly surprised by Seonghyun’s demeanor.
‘How does this outsider know that place?’
That place was unknown and uninteresting to outsiders.
But since he said that, there must be something there.
It was likely a deep secret.
Leon pondered, then nodded.
“Normally, no outsider may enter. It’s managed by the royal family but…”
Leon hesitated.
It wasn’t a simple place.
It was managed by the royal family.
That alone told how strict the place Seonghyun sought to enter was.
Stricter even than a lord’s castle.
Sysbalt was a direct territory of the Knight Kingdom Rieszkan,
So it was natural for royal-related people to manage it.
Therefore,
Entering the castle of Sysbalt, the lord’s castle, was no easy feat.
And though the captain of the Equinox Knights could enter,
It was very hard even for ordinary knights.
Even with the captain’s recommendation,
Therefore, caution was necessary.
Seonghyun understood that too.
But then.
“That much I can handle easily.”
“...Excuse me?”
Handle it easily?
How?
Even as the captain of the knights, it shouldn’t be easy.
Thinking that,
“However, you’ll probably have to bear some disadvantages.”
“What do you mean?”
“In fact, during my report on your reinstatement, it seems some high-ranking person took an interest in you. They also want to reward you for dealing with Ragna Ekrion. I think you’ll be able to request access to the archives as a reward.”
“Ah!”
A reward for having dealt with Ragna Ekrion!
That actually worked out well.
Items and skills were overflowing; he clearly didn’t need more immediately.
Especially since he had Legendary-rank skillbooks he could convert via the Tome of Despair.
Seonghyun smiled thinking that things were going well.
He knew the Rieszkan Kingdom was dangerous.
‘They wouldn’t know I’m the Overlord.’
Since they didn’t know, he could act boldly.
Seonghyun nodded to Leon’s offer.
Leon promised with resolve,
“No matter how high-ranking those who rule Sysbalt are, you are my benefactor. Even if you betray Sysbalt, I will protect you somehow.”
Leon’s fiery determination made Seonghyun nod in understanding.
And he accepted.
[Hidden Quest, 『Administrator of Sysbalt』 has been generated.]
『Administrator of Sysbalt』
→ The administrator of Sysbalt is very curious about you. Meet him and have a conversation.
The reward was better than expected.
A lot of experience and the ability to make a request.
He would go anyway.
Even if he had no reason, just meeting would compel him to go.
Seonghyun felt quite satisfied at the thought of entering the archives of Sysbalt.
Would he be able to find what he wanted?
Thinking so with anticipation,
After giving some instructions to his subordinates,
He saw Leon turn to him, signaling readiness, and stood up.
Come to think of it,
‘Lately, wherever I go, it seems like I’m entering the lord’s castle.’
He felt that way sometimes.
But he let it go.