Chapter 11 Knight Gaiden

"All you trash think the same way. You've been leeching off me for 15 years, and now you want to take my skills and toss me aside? Even demons from hell would be disgusted by you and run away."

"Th-that bastard!"

Sylas's taunts made the villagers' faces flush with anger. Their hands trembled as if they were ready to kill him, but they couldn't bring themselves to move. The moment they stepped out from their cover, they knew an arrow would hit them.

"Anyway, you broke the warning, so you'll have to pay the price."

"Idiot! You really think you can take on all of us by yourself?"

"Probably not. If you all rush me at once, I could take down maybe four of you. So, who's going first?"

"...."

The villagers looked at each other, clearly reluctant to be the first to step forward, even though someone had to. Seeing them hesitate and pass the responsibility, Sylas smirked.

"Always so protective of yourselves. But it's already too late."

"Too late? What nonsense are you spouting?"

Stop right there! 

At that moment, a loud shout echoed through the entire forest. Startled, all the villagers turned toward the source of the voice.

"What is it? Who is it?"

"Oh no, it's a knight!"

Riding towards them, shouting, was a knight clad in full armor. Unlike the previous knight, this one had around ten mercenaries following him. The faces of all the villagers, including the chief, turned pale. A knight showing up alone was already bad, but one with mercenaries in tow was a disaster.

The knight gradually slowed his pace, looking down arrogantly at the villagers.

"So, you're the ones living in that village ?"

"Y-yes, my lord."

The chief quickly knelt and bowed his head. The knight they had robbed before was arrogant, but not particularly violent. In contrast, this one seemed ready to kill them at the slightest misstep.

"I'll ask once. Is there a boy named Sylas in your village?"

"Pardon? Did you say Sylas?"

"Don't make me repeat myself."

"I-I'm sorry! That boy over there is Sylas!"

Terrified by the knight's growling voice, the chief hurriedly pointed to the top of the hill. The knight's eyes flashed as he looked up at Sylas.

***

Dark brown hair and eyes of a rare violet hue on the continent, and a face strikingly similar to his lord's.

'Damn, it's definitely his child.'

Sir Gaiden, a knight of the Corleone family, cursed inwardly. It all started with the Count's order. Suddenly, he was tasked with finding the Count's illegitimate child. For Gaiden, who was living comfortably within the territory, it was an inconvenient job.

But that would have been fine if it were just that. He could take his time searching while enjoying the support funds for the search, making life relatively comfortable. The real problem was the fury of the Countess, who was seething with anger.

"An illegitimate child! An illegitimate child! And not just anyone—him!"

Even if the search for the illegitimate child was conducted discreetly, it couldn't be hidden within the family. The Countess, upon hearing the news, flew into a rage. The existence of an illegitimate child meant her husband had been with another woman—an ordinary commoner, not even a noblewoman.

The enraged Countess called upon knights she had connections with and gave them private instructions. Gaiden was one of them.

" Gaiden, if you find that child, do not simply bring him back. Put him in his place."

"What do you mean, my lady?"

"Don't let that lowborn think he can behave like a noble. Frighten him and make him cower, so that my lord will be disappointed in him."

Roderick was a typical noble of martial prowess. The Corleone family was famous for its military prowess, and thus, they placed great importance on honor and valor. If the illegitimate child acted confidently, the Count's estimation of him would rise, while the Countess's resentment would deepen.

Her intention was clear: ruin his first impression and, at the same time, satisfy her own anger. Gaiden, who had benefited considerably from the Countess, couldn't refuse such a request.

'At least it's not a difficult task.'

As long as the Count hadn't officially acknowledged the child, he wasn't even certain of his existence. Gaiden couldn't kill or harm him, but scaring him was easy enough. Treating him like a serf and occasionally shouting at him would be sufficient. From a commoner's perspective, that alone would make them fear for their life.

"E-excuse me, my lord. May I ask why you're looking for Sylas…?"

The village chief's question broke Gaiden's train of thought. Gaiden glared at the chief with an irritated expression.

"Do you think you can do whatever you want? Get lost!"

"Y-yes!"

The villagers hurriedly fled, helping the injured as they went. It was better to keep their distance rather than get caught up in the wrath of the knights and mercenaries. Once the village chief and the residents disappeared, Gaiden urged his horse forward toward Sylas.

"Are you Sylas?"

Gaiden lowered his voice and glared at Sylas with narrowed eyes. It was a threat that would normally make an ordinary commoner flinch and kneel. However, Sylas calmly nodded his head.

"Yes, I am."

'Look at this guy?'

Gaiden's eyes twitched at the unexpected response.

"You brat! How dare you be so insolent as a commoner! Can't you kneel right now?"

"How strange. Didn't the Corleone family come to find me?"

"W-what?"

"I saw the red dragon engraved on your scabbard. I thought my father sent you to find me."

'What the hell!'

Gaiden grimaced at Sylas's words. If the illegitimate child already knew his status, the situation changed. It became difficult to instill fear in someone who was already assured that they wouldn't be harmed.

'Should I treat him like a young master now?'

But the thought of the Countess's bribes kept flashing before him. If he backed down now, the hefty bribe he was expecting in the future would disappear. Just thinking about it was too much to bear. After a long moment of contemplation, Gaiden came to a conclusion.

'It can't be helped. I'll have to stick to the original plan, even if it gets a bit rough.'

After all, he was just an illegitimate child, not a legitimate heir. No matter what he did, as long as he later feigned innocence and gained the Countess's favor, he would be fine. Having made up his mind, Gaiden glared at Sylas and shouted loudly.

"You audacious brat! Where did you hear rumors to act like a young master? Capture him and make him kneel before me!"

"Yes!"

At their employer's command, the mercenaries approached Sylas. Sylas stood still, coldly glaring at Gaiden.

'I knew it, this money-grubbing bastard.'

Gaiden Borel. A knight of the Corleone family who had succumbed to greed, acting as the Countess's pawn. Even before his regression, he had tormented Sylas frequently under the Countess's orders.

'He must want to create some reason to be in her good graces to avoid losing his funding.'

It had been the same even before his regression. At that time, Gaiden had deliberately taken the long route to corner Sylas severely. He used informal language and didn't hesitate to threaten him with words like "If you're not the Count's real child, you'll have your head cut off," or even brandishing a sword.

'It was ridiculous that he later pretended it never happened.'

After being officially acknowledged by the Count, Sylas reported him. But Gaiden was brazen. He completely denied the occurrence of such events.

'—How could I act that way toward someone who might be the Count's true heir?'

Thanks to his oath of honor as a knight, Sylas ended up being the one accused of slander. In short, Gaiden was a piece of trash who would exchange honor for a few gold coins.

However, there was one thing different from then and now. Just before Sylas was captured, the door of the cabin burst open.

"Who dares to harm the young master!"