Chapter 4 The Knight's Apology and the Prince's Revelation

The Duke's Knight, Galon, was heading to the countryside at the order of the Duke.

"Sir Galon, if you go a little further, you'll see the village."

Of course, he wasn't alone. He was accompanied by soldiers for the mission and mercenaries to lead the way. It was a large number of troops for what was supposed to be a secret mission. But there was a reason for it.

"Your mission is to escort the prince, who has been living as a serf, safely. Externally, it will be presented as a gift from the Duke to the Great Lord. Never stand out and proceed quietly."

Galon's eyes, who had been mulling over the order for a while, flashed as he heard that he had reached his destination.

"Okay. And just in case, don't lower your guard."

Two men following Galon's instructions burst into laughter.

"Sir Galon, at the very least, would there even be a bandit on a mountain like this?"

"That's right. Unless they're stupid, they'll hide in front of this Duke's flag."

They were the centurion who commanded 100 soldiers and the mercenary captain hired for this mission.

"Moreover, with Sir Galon, one of the Duke's Five Knights, is there anyone who dares to attack us?"

"Ha ha! That's right. Five Knights of Duke Garcia, even street kids know their name."

However, Galon replied in a cold voice.

"We're on a secret mission. Just in case, we should minimize unpleasant situations as much as possible. If you understand, keep up your guard right away."

"Yes, Sir."

The centurion and the mercenary captain muttered as they retreated with displeased expressions.

"Damn it, I thought it would be an easy task to just bring a kid from the countryside."

"That's it. Some people aren't that flexible."

"They're too uptight, so we're the ones getting these chores."

But then, a young man appeared next to the two talking men.

As the centurion was about to say something to him, the young man smiled sarcastically.

"Well, I understand. But you should know that Sir Galon is the Duke's favorite knight."

"···!"

"In the past, Chief Grayson once spoke ill of him, and then his throat…"

The young man made a neck-slicing gesture with his hand.

The centurion's complexion grew pale as if he had been cursed.

"Oh, right! Sir Galon told you to be vigilant."

"You guys move too! After you get your weapon… Hey! What are you doing? Be on your guard right now!"

The mercenary captain moved urgently at once. The young man smiled mischievously.

"It should have been like that earlier."

"How was the reconnaissance, Sir Nathan?"

"Ah, Sir Galon!"

"The village?"

Nathan shrugged as if it was nothing.

"It is a peaceful village that doesn't seem to have much problem. It seems like there is a commotion because the plaza is a little bustling."

"A commotion?"

"The lord seems to be moving the soldiers… Well, it could be the lord is on his way to subdue some rebellious residents. Anyway, I don't think it's a good place for the villagers to live in."

Galon furrowed his eyebrows. It might be a simple riot control, as he said, but...

'Someone may have noticed the king's bloodline before us and moved.'

There could have been a problem with the target he had to escort.

Galon quickly found the centurion.

"I'll be there first. The centurion leads the soldiers and mercenaries and follows me."

"What? Oh, wait. Sir Galon!"

Galon hurriedly spurred his horse. All who followed him was only Nathan.

However, Nathan seemed excited.

How could he not be excited?

Genius knight Galon.

He was a knight coming from a commoner background and was praised as the third greatest swordsman in the empire. In fact, he almost became a royal knight, a position said to be reserved for only the best knights in the kingdom.

Hence, there was no one among the nobles who did not know him.

Because of that, even the king felt regretful when the Duke took him in as a vassal.

There was no way there could be someone who could defeat him in such a rural village.

'It's a good opportunity to see his skills up close.'

But Galon hardened his face at Nathan's expression.

"Now, the mission is my priority. Manage your expression, Sir Nathan."

"Okay, I got it. I got it. You're such a boring fellow."

When the two arrived at the problematic place, Galon's eyes noticeably widened.

'That one?'

He couldn't help but be amazed at the sight unfolding before his eyes.

A child was running rampant against the adults, no, the soldiers.

Moreover, the simple-looking sword movement seemed to be flowing with energy that overpowered the opponent.

Nathan also had his mouth agape. He was utterly surprised.

"That's amazing. Using such a movement against such an opponent. I guess he learned swordsmanship from a retired knight."

Of course, for orthodox swordsmanship, something seemed lacking.

However, Nathan was also a swordsman who had taken on the duty of escorting the Duke from a young age. He was strong enough to defeat any number of people by himself.

Because of that, he knew well how difficult it was to move that much against that number.

But it wasn't that part that Galon was astonished about.

"That's the royal swordsmanship."

"What? Royal swordsmanship?"

Nathan gaped in amazement. It was far away, so he couldn't see his face or appearance very well, but...

"Looking at the way he is dressed, he should be a serf, but how can a kid be like that!"

Galon smiled in intrigue.

'Is that him? The one I will take to the Excellency the Duke.'

The goal of this mission. The seventh son of the king had been spotted.

Nathan, who was surprised at the scene, was sweating nervously.

He had no choice but to do so.

'That stab.'

Nathan was really shocked by Ian's stab.

A stabbing is an attack aimed for the opponent's life. Because of this, beginners tended to stop midway in fear that their opponent might die.

However...

"There was no fear at all. No hesitation."

"Yeah. He seems to be very familiar with situations like this. His moves are similar to ceremonial swordsmanship."

"You say that… what?! Ceremonial swordsmanship?!"

Nathan shouted in disbelief as if it was ridiculous.

"No matter how many third-rates you are dealing with, that is not ceremonial swordsmanship however you look at it!"

As far as Nathan knew, ceremonial swordsmanship was just a kind of flashy swordsmanship. It could never be used for practical purposes.

Yet that kid fought with that kind of swordsmanship?

Knowing that, Galon's eyes twinkled.

Obviously, ceremonial swordsmanship is flimsy.

Of course, he could use it for practical use if it was him, but the world didn't even know if that's possible.

In fact, some of ceremonial swordsmanship's moves are excellent as dodging skills.

'I can't imagine where he learned that...'

Maybe it's because that kid didn't know anything but that? Or did he know that fact and use it on purpose?

Seeing the change in Galon's gaze, Nathan was speechless.

'That Galon...'

Without a doubt, he was interested in that kid.

So it was even harder to believe.

'He is the man who even refused the Crown Prince's request to teach him swordsmanship...'

Even the Crown Prince, praised for having the best sword skills among the princes, did not catch Galon's eye.

And while the two were talking, the situation had almost reached its end.

"Both of you, die!"

Supervisor Johnson used a serf to aim for Ian's gap.

If left as it was, both Ian and the serf would definitely be stabbed by Johnson's sword.

Nathan picked up the sword reflexively.

"No more watching! We're going... huh?"

Nathan said no more.

It was because Galon, who was supposed to be next to him, had disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Galon!"

It was just that moment.

Slash!

Johnson's arm, which was aiming for the royal bloodline, fell to the ground.

In an instant, the plaza fell into silence.

Not only the Lord but also none of the soldiers who attacked Ian were willing to open their mouths or move.

The man who suddenly appeared.

It was because he cut Johnson's arm and stood in front of Ian.

"If anyone moves one step further from there, I'll cut off both arms."

A man probably in his late 20s.

He was a handsome man with a rare status that was not commonly sighted in such a rural area.

And it was surprising that such an excellent man suddenly appeared and cut off the supervisor's arm.

"You're late."

The soldiers were intimidated by what Ian said with a smile.

That's right. Uniforms that stand out more than men with silver hair!

That was the problem.

'That's a knight!'

There was no mistake about it.

And Ian was just a lowly serf.

No matter how ignorant he was, he would know that the man was a knight just by looking at his attire, but he spoke informally to such a knight with a high position.

And knights were infamous for being intolerant of being insulted.

'He's going to die...!'

But something strange happened.

"I'm sorry."

The knight Galon bowed his head toward Ian.

Ian was surprised.

*Galon apologized to me?*

Knights were known for their pride. Even when he was just a royal bastard, Galon had ignored him until Ian was crowned prince. Ian's surprise was palpable as he looked at Galon, the Duke's most trusted knight.

'This guy…!'

Despite recognizing the familiar uniform, Ian double-checked to confirm. It was indeed Galon—the knight who had played a crucial role in the Duke's victory during the succession war. His reputation was so formidable that it was said that one had to confront him before facing the Duke himself.

Ian had encountered Galon before, but never under such circumstances.

'But this time, we meet like this.'

Ian observed that Galon was neither disrespectful nor overly polite. He recalled feeling overwhelmed by Galon's imposing presence.

At that moment, Johnson, missing an arm, staggered in a fit of rage.

"Do you know who I am?! I am the Lord's supervisor! You think you can get away with attacking the Lord's servant?"

His eyes were wild with anger as the soldiers scrambled to silence him.

"Johnson! Stop! That… That person!"

The urgency in their voices was clear.

<The Knight>

Knights were special, not merely skilled swordsmen.

[Oath]

Knights took a single, lifelong oath, endowing them with extraordinary powers: the strength to break mountains, endurance against countless enemies, unmatched speed, and a gaze that could pierce through any defense.

Such power made it unthinkable for someone like Johnson to insult them.

'We're all going to die.'

Fear gripped the soldiers and villagers, but Johnson was defiant.

"What do you know about knights? They're just swordsmen without titles!"

Johnson, a mere villager, was oblivious to the gravity of the situation. He should have kept quiet, given his predicament.

Meanwhile, Nathan, who had arrived, laughed coldly.

"Sir Galon, he doesn't know which way is up. Should I handle him?"

Nathan unsheathed his sword, preparing to deal with Johnson's insolence.

Johnson's panic escalated as Nathan drew his blade.

"My Lord! Help me! Punish this insolent man!"

Yet, the Lord was powerless. Knights were rare and highly valued; raising even one was a challenge. It was said that a hundred soldiers were needed to match a single knight.

Here, with fewer than thirty soldiers, the Lord could only glare in frustration.

"Leave before I report this to the capital and your master!"

"You want me to leave?"

"Yes! Why are knights intervening in my territory?"

Galon ignored the Lord and focused on Ian.

"Once again, Knight Galon apologizes for the delay."

Galon knelt gracefully before Ian, demonstrating flawless etiquette. Johnson, bleeding and furious, screamed.

"I can't believe you're kneeling to a mere commoner! Are knights disrupting the order of the country?"

"Silence your filthy mouth."

Galon's eyes, previously emotionless, now flashed with intensity. He left the punishment to the prince, the highest-ranking individual present. Nathan also knelt and added,

"In accordance with the Duke's orders, we are here to escort His Highness Ian, the seventh prince of the royal family."

At that moment, both Johnson and the Lord froze in shock.

"P-Prince?"