5 When a Father meets his Child 1

"....Do you think this was the last batch that had to be burned?"

"Yep!..."

It was nighttime. Two men wearing chainmail armor were leisurely chatting among themselves near a pile of burning stuff. If a person who did not knew the situation came, he would assume that some guards were taking a break near a bonfire, but if they were to see what was burning, their faces might turn pale.

"Don't you think the Duke is a great person?"

"Yes. If he was not here we would have failed to react in time, But at what cost?"

"Hmm... It's truly unfortunate for him, his wife died, and the son is in a coma for almost 3 years. Do you think the lineage of the Heisenberg will... End?"

"I don't want to imagine that! He is the only High noble in the Empire who could go toe to toe against the oppressive behavior of many aristocrats. Haven't you seen him killing that bastard of a Viscount?"

"Aa yes, speaking of the Viscount, do we have news on the Count and his collaborators?"

"No... I tried to ask the squad commander but he answered 'The search is going on!' and something like that."

"Hey... do you know I feel sorry for the Duke but... I also feel grateful for what happened as well...."

"What do you mean! Look... If you are slandering the Duke by any chance, please STOP! otherwise, I might do something unpleasant to you."

The second guard answered in an angry tone.

"Chill Ron, I'm not saying this to offend you or tarnish the name of the Duke. Look, If anyone other than the Duke was attacked, say for example any other high noble, they might just be angry, and send their armies to kill those monsters appeasing their fallen family members, other than that no action might have been taken."

"Then?"

"But since it's the Arch Dukes family who's been targeted, he had put all of his forces together to eradicate them, due to him our families who lived in this Duchy are safe, though I know he would have helped us even if the monsters would have attacked us. But since one of his own family has been attacked, the effect is fast.

The Duke's quick action and foresight helped us to protect many people, now even the smallest village on the outskirts of the Duchy is as safe as the Capital.

A friend who is a guard working for the County, ruled by Count Maiester Le'Crock which is adjacent to the Duchy of Heisenberg, sent a letter to me stating their predicament that they have to watch over as well as provide for the many Mythral, Oracalcum, and Admintied teams employed by their Count directly from the Capital's Adventures Guild, and even then many of the unguarded territories like the Villages are been attacked by small groups of monsters."

"You truly are a selfish person, but did you say directly from the Capital of the Empire? Did the Count have that amount of money?"

"You know the nobles right? if they ever need funds they might borrow it from the Merchant guilds banks, or..."

"...Raise the taxes?"

"IIieeeee"

The two guards cried like a strangled chicken in unison and hurriedly unsheath their swords pointing towards the direction of the unknown voice.

"I think you need more training men! What would have happened if this would have been an ambush attack?"

A man wearing red plate armor with a symbol of a Dragon at its center emerged from the forest, he was trailed by two guards wearing similar plate armor. the Dragon's insignia was also present on their cape which was tied around their neck portraying their affiliation with the Duke's army.

"C...Captain Aaden Gerald! Why are you here personally?!"

"Be at ease men... I was strolling around the vicinity after all that shitty paperwork ended, but then I heard the message that the dinner is ready. I was just calling out those people whose shifts are ended. Come you lads, the dinner is ready."

The two guards' eyes were filled with reverent gazes for their captain. If looked closely the lips of the captain as well as the guards behind him were curled upwards, after seeing such reactions from the common guards. But their smiles do not contain any malice.

"Captain! thank you for telling us personally"

"Hahaha... well anyways come you all..."

All the men started walking towards their camp, while the guard named Ron asked.

"Captain, has lord Duke arrived?"

"No. But he would be arriving soon, as most of the rebellion of the Count's domain has been stabilized. News has it that the Emperor would send a regent to administer the Count's domain."

"Ooo, should we through a welcome party?"

"No! the lord does not like that kind of stuff, and more importantly, there has been news going around that not only does the Empire but the other nations are also suffering from these sudden monster stampede."

"What!!? Is it true? I thought this was because of a powerful ancient artifact running a mock, at least that's what the rumors say but... Captain, do you think this is the scheme of the Demons of the Demon continent?"

"If it's true, then I think there will be a second crusade. Well it's not our place to decide, let's go"

When Captain Aaden and his entourage came near the gates of the camp, the guards stationed near the fence made out of wood saluted them, and a familiar site of several tents greeted them. Knights and normal soldiers were eating vegetables soup and meat in a wooden bowl with a wooden spoon were also visible, but some of the men were singing and dancing near the bonfire.

Seeing such a scene Captain Aaden thought.

'Even if it's not peaceful times. All of them are happy. Is it because of Lord? No. The lord does not show this on his face but deep inside he is broken, I don't know how long will the Heisenberg family will last... Why doesn't the Lord marries another woman? Thousands of beautiful women will be ready if he just wishes it. Ugh, if only the Young lord woke up from his coma, the lord might gain his reason to live.....'

Captain Aaden who was halfway through the entrance of the camp sighed as he thought of such things, but suddenly he saw a horseman through the corner of his eyes galloping at a fast pace. He was heading towards their direction, but the guards stopped him to confirm his identity.

Captain Aaden knew the man, as he was one of the vice-captains of the cavalry unit led by Feleious Seraolf, a friend.

"Let him through", he shouted.

The soldiers inspecting the horsemen stopped as their captain had ordered it and let him through. Many soldiers who were eating their meal and drinking near the gates of the camp paid attention to the sudden shout from their captain and the people who were already with the captain also did the same. The horsemen quickly disembarked from his horse and thump his left chest with his right hand, his face was pale as a result of non-stop riding but he had a broad smile.

"Greetings...! Sir... Aaden. Is lord..... Duke here?", he was gasping for air but even so said these words with a strong voice, but his eyes were peeking glances of the camp.

"Hold soldier! compose yourself, take a few deep breaths, and then speak clearly. And why is one of the key personnel of house troops here?"

He signals his subordinate knight guard to bring a waterskin.

"Here, drink this." captain Aaden handed him a waterskin.

"Thank you, sir."

Saying so the man drank all the water inside the bag and lay flat on the ground. Although captain Aaden didn't like such behavior he knew the man had traveled non-stop to deliver very important news. After a while, the man woke up, his breathing normal, and said.

"Sir, I came here on the direct orders of Lord Viscount Leon Cromwell." Hearing his words the captain and his surroundings went into complete silence.

"Lo... Lord Cromwell?!!"

If one was a common soldier of the Algrand Empire, he ought to know about 12 major powers who crawled their way from the lowest to the top in the history of the Empire. Leon Cromwell was also such a character, he was born an orphan in a mere farming village near the outskirts of the Duchy. He was raised by the local temples, as they also ran an orphanage.

Even if the Empire had not declared itself to follow a specific state religion, many autonomous territories ruled by their lord usually follow one of the two major religions. The Duchy as an autonomous domain ruled by the Duke was also presented with an offer by the two major religions to follow them. But the Duke made a neutral stance on that matter, but in the history of the Duchy previous Arch Duke usually supported "The Magus faith" which revolved around the eight pillars of magic, hence their crest was also of a Spider which they consider as their Divine Beast, thus the Duchy became a hub for the less popular religion (Magus) in the noble society. The followers of the Magus religion were not bounded by the usual constraint of praying or something, but was related to improving one's magical powers, or doing magical research and development, as such this religion was very popular among the Magicians Guild.

After living in such a community for almost eighteen years, Leon Cromwell joined the military to support his orphanage for other kids like him. Due to his extraordinary fire magic combined with his sword fighting abilities, he quickly climbed the ranks and became a {General}, but as if that wasn't enough, during the War of Fourbendor, when the Barakillf kingdom tried to annex the lands of Marquis De'Luke, the father-in-law of Duke Alin, during the harvest season of the Empire, when the manpower of the vast nation was focused on the harvest. He gained an unparalleled victory against all odds and gained the title of a {Viscount} and the title of {Legendary sword Magus}. But the main instigator of this war was a rival faction. After that, Cromwell saved the life of the Duke making their bond unbreakable, hence a message directly from such a person was very important.