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To obtain the first required item, I immediately sent a message to the Mask of Night.

‘They might contact me as early as tonight. The colorless mask holds that much symbolic value for them.’

Not just for the Count’s sake, but mine as well, we had to win this territorial war.

In this kingdom, there are three ducal houses and five marquisate houses.

As the highest-ranking nobility and the central power of the Hart Kingdom, there’s no need to explain the extent of their influence.

So, if Count Arsene’s family becomes one of these influential houses……

‘The likelihood of me, a foreigner, representing this country in the Master Tournament would significantly increase.’

A representative is the face of the nation.

Moreover, the recommendation for the Master Tournament is limited to one per kingdom.

Naturally, in addition to skill, one’s background would be thoroughly scrutinized.

In that sense, being a foreigner was a significant disadvantage.

Unless I naturalized, I would inevitably be scrutinized for my nationality.

With countless candidates eager to elevate their honor, they would exclude dubious ones from the start.

Consequently, I needed to secure as many ‘supporters’ as possible in this kingdom.

‘My plan to participate in the Master Tournament remains unchanged.’

On that day, at that place, I will show them.

To the bastards of the Empire who drove me to death, that Ancelot has returned from hell.

‘And to the Meeke Duchy, this body’s homeland.’

Strictly speaking, they are strangers to me now.

Is that all?

I hold no personal grudge from my past life.

However, it was hard to completely disregard them.

The benefactor who gave me a new opportunity and the owner of this body, Andrew, the seventh prince.

It’s only right to repay this child, even if a little.

“Master!”

While I was lost in thought, Harun and Kirian came running from afar.

It was a scene that made me tilt my head in confusion.

“I called three people, so why are there only two of you?”

“Well, Jan is still injured and seems to have trouble moving.”

“In other words, he’s faking it?”

“F-Faking it?”

“I heard it’s nothing life-threatening aside from a slight scratch on his eyeball.”

“A slight scratch on the eyeball, you say……”

Harun trailed off with an awkward expression.

Even Kirian avoided my gaze this time.

‘Even on bad terms, they’re still family, it seems.’

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Sure, despite being from different mothers, how long have they lived under the same roof?

Even if most of that time was unbearable enough to make them want to kill each other, they wouldn’t mock each other in such situations.

Unlike beasts, humans are beings with morals and ethics.

‘Then again, if he were truly that wicked, I wouldn’t have considered raising him in the first place.’

Perhaps realizing I wouldn’t back down, Harun spoke again.

“Master…… I hate to say this, but if training is the goal, why not leave him out? Honestly, it doesn’t seem like he’s faking it.”

“Do the examiners of the state-sponsored tests consider each candidate’s personal circumstances?”

“What? No, but……”

“Then he should drag himself out even if he’s hurt. Unless he wants to render all his previous efforts meaningless over the loss of one eye.”

“But how could exams matter at a time like this……”

Harun muttered in a voice smaller than an ant.

But I heard him clearly.

“I should ask you in return. If a territorial war breaks out right now, what does that have to do with you?”

“What……?”

Harun and even Kirian looked at me with open mouths.

“You’re an outsider, Harun, and the same goes for Kirian and Jan.”

“W-Wait, Master. What do you mean by that? If the family is at risk of collapsing, who if not the lord’s children would be concerned?”

“Children should fulfill their roles as children. There’s no need to act like adults.”

“……!”

“Right now, even if you play war games, you’ll only be a hindrance. We’d be lucky if you don’t get captured and negatively impact the outcome of the war.”

I said that and looked at Kirian.

“Especially you, Kirian. Your brother has lost an eye and is now disabled. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the future of the Arsene family rests in your hands.”

That’s how war is.

Even if you win, it’s a monster that brings irreparable and terrible damage to both sides.

Thus, above all else, the roots of the family must stay strong.

Only then can we rebuild steadfastly even from the ruins after the war.

“……Then all the more, as the head of the family, I must lead by example……”

“That’s just a shallow sentiment, perfect for getting yourself killed. What kind of example can a weakling set? Surely you don’t think the knights under you will follow a bloodless wimp with no title, do you?”

Only then did Kirian bite his lip softly.

Just then.

“I agree with that sentiment. It’s a shallow sentiment perfect for getting yourself killed.”

“……!”

Step, step, step.

Footsteps could be heard from not far away.

“J-Jan?”

Harun and Kirian widened their eyes after seeing the owner of the footsteps.

A faint smile also appeared on my lips.

“Late on your first day?”

“What do I have to do?”

“Huh?”

“I heard you have a way to take revenge on the Marquis of Foltaine.”

I looked Jan up and down lightly as he said that.

‘This guy, his aura has changed a lot. Just a few days ago, he was merely an immature brat.’

Jan was silently staring at me.

His only eye was as calm as a windless lake, but I could see it.

A fragment of emotion, like a volcano on the verge of erupting.

“You look like you want revenge so badly it’s killing you.”

“I’ll ask again. What do I have to do?”

I sighed lightly at the voice filled with suppressed emotion.

“Nothing.”

“What?”

“There’s nothing you can do right now. Revenge requires strength. Especially for someone like you, who has no skills and is blinded by anger. I can’t allow such a weakling to step onto the battlefield.”

“……I lost a precious family member right in front of me. And you’re telling me to just watch?”

Now, even a distinct murderous intent could be felt in his voice.

‘Guys like this always cause trouble later.’

I scratched my head, thinking I might need to take drastic measures.

“Yeah, just stay put. Don’t cause trouble for those around you.”

“No matter what you say, I’ll find a way to tear those bastards apart.”

With that, Jan turned sharply.

“I thought you’d changed a bit, but you’re still a brat who doesn’t listen to a word.”

“……!”

“What kind of revenge is possible for a cripple who’s lost an eye?”

Thinking my words might have been too harsh, the other two opened their eyes wide.

“M-Master……!”

I raised my hand to silence Harun.

“Do you really believe the Marquis of Foltaine killed your mother? Do you feel like you’ll go crazy if you don’t kill him right now?”

“You, who haven’t experienced such a thing…… will never understand how I feel right now.”

In my ears, his voice sounded like the cry of a wounded beast.

Even if Jan replied without even turning his head.

‘How could I not understand that feeling?’

You lost your only mother, but I lost my wife, my child, and comrades— my everything.

“I don’t care if you understand or not, I have to say this because I think differently.”

“What do you even know……!”

“First. It was your immature foolishness that killed your mother.”

“……!”

Jan’s eyes widened for a moment.

Yes.

The reason I lost my wife so tragically was because of my stupidity, unable to realize what was truly precious.

“Second. It was your unworthy mother’s greed and avarice that led to what happened to your younger sibling.”

It was my slavish loyalty that led my comrades to their doom.

“And it was your weakness, rolling around helplessly on the ground while your brother died before your eyes, that created this outcome.”

“……!”

It was my arrogance and weakness, thinking I would never lose, that killed Andy and myself.

“Revenge? I’m not stopping you. What I mean is, become stronger first. If a weak person tries to take revenge on a strong one, it’s not revenge. It’s just another meaningless death.”

“How…… How am I supposed to become stronger in this situation! There’s no time!”

Jan finally shouted, almost in a fit.

“That’s why I’m telling you, I can help you.”

“……!”

Finally, Jan opened his one remaining eye wide.

Harun, who had been watching the atmosphere, hurriedly intervened.

“M-Master! Do you have a plan?”

“First, I have to train you so that you won’t die. Even if you gain the upper hand, if your family is taken hostage, the situation can turn around immediately.”

Having said that, I looked at the three of them in turn.

“So, I plan to create a temporary knight order.”

“A knight…… order?”

I nodded at Harun’s question.

“By the way, this is a decision with a long-term view. No matter how strong an individual is, they cannot overcome an organization. Therefore, from now on, you must become an undefeated group. A military force that makes the enemy tremble with fear just by hearing your name, so they won’t even think of sending assassins.”

Even if we win this war, more successors to the Marquis of Foltaine will emerge.

This is inevitable.

So, if we’re going to do this, it’s better for Arsene to become the best in this country.

We may be checked, but at least the enemies won’t act recklessly.

‘Just like the current Empire.’

I murmured to myself as I looked around.

“First, Harun and Kirian. You two will be the first members of this knight order.”

“Huh? Me……?”

Kirian pointed to himself with his finger, and I nodded quietly.

“You asked me to teach you how to fight, didn’t you? I don’t teach fighting to just anyone.”

“B-But that’s……”

Kirian glanced at Jan.

“You can come and go as you please, but once you’re in, you can’t leave without permission. Of course, there are no duties or responsibilities in this knight order I’m creating, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“No duties or responsibilities? Then what kind of knight order is that?”

“Just one thing.”

“……?”

“When a fellow member is in danger like this time, don’t ignore them and extend a hand. In other words, the basic obligation expected of a decent human being.”

“……!”

“If you can do just that, I won’t impose any other obligations or responsibilities.”

“……”

A silent stillness descended.

All three were lost in their own thoughts.

After a while, Harun cautiously asked me.

“Master, do you have a name in mind for this knight order?”

I answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Andy Knights.”

***

As expected, a visitor came looking for me even before the next morning.

“We finally meet.”

When I returned to my room, he was sitting naturally in a chair, as if he were the owner, waiting for me.

Unlike the green one, I could tell at a glance that this person was no ordinary individual.

He had the skill to deceive and infiltrate even the highly fortified Count Arsene’s household.

‘……Indigo.’

Above all, he was wearing an indigo mask.

“What an honor.”

I calmly walked over and sat across from him.

The masked man, who had been observing me with curious eyes, shrugged his shoulders.

“If I’m an important guest, it would be nice if you treated me as such. Why does a young boy speak so rudely?”

“More importantly, you don’t seem to be the person I was supposed to meet.”

At my question, the indigo mask tilted his head.

“Didn’t the green one inform you? I know the person you want to meet is our leader. But due to the circumstances of our organization……”

“That’s why I’m saying this.”

“……!”

When I interrupted at the right moment, his eyes behind the mask flickered slightly.

“Well, if you have something to hide, I won’t pry. Anyway, as you know, my situation has become quite urgent.”

“……Have we met before?”

“As I said, the urgent matter is on our side. Let me speak first.”

Only then did the self-proclaimed indigo mask nod his head.

“A territorial war is about to take place.”

“Yes, and this is the information you want. Unfortunately, as we understand it, the current Count Arsene’s household has less than a 10 percent chance of winning the territorial war.”

“Well, that’s why you visited so urgently. If I die like this, you’ll never find the colorless mask.”

“…….”

Silence is often an affirmation.

I continued to speak.

“I need your help.”

“What?”

“The importance of information in war is beyond words. If I can utilize the intelligence network of the Mask of Night that spans the entire continent, the odds of winning this territorial war will greatly increase.”

“So?”

“I want you to continuously provide information during the territorial war. For example, the deployment of enemy forces, characteristics of the surrounding terrain, and key points.”

“…….”

After a brief silence, the indigo mask burst into laughter.

“……Hah. I almost got sucked along with your pace. The rumors weren’t entirely exaggerated, it seems.”

“I believe you’ll agree to this since it’s beyond my control. I have to survive to get the item you’re looking for, don’t I?”

“You could be tortured here to extract the information by force.”

“Go ahead and try.”

I deliberately spread my arms lightly.

“Aren’t you afraid of death?”

“Not particularly.”

“……You could lose something more precious than your life.”

His voice carried a chilling intent.

I knew all too well.

That my opponent was someone I couldn’t handle at my current strength.

Of course, I wasn’t the type to be intimidated by such things.

“Something more precious than my life…… Ah, you mean my family?”

“I wasn’t specifically referring to anything, so don’t misunderstand.”

“Oh, well.”

“……What?”

“If possible, torture my family, not me. If they scream in agony, who knows? Even a tough heart like mine might soften.”

Those who have nothing to lose are the most dangerous.

“…….”

After staring at me for a long time, the indigo mask burst into laughter again.

“Hahaha. Well, now that I think about it, your family is also quite messed up.”

Even in a situation where blood could be drawn any moment, he laughed cheerfully.

“I admit you’re an interesting guy. But the organization won’t be played by you any longer. That’s why I came personally. We’ve already made too many unprofitable transactions.”

“That’s unfortunate. It would be nice if you could lose just a little more.”

I clicked my tongue as if genuinely upset about it.

The indigo mask, watching me quietly, spoke.

“So, I’ll buy your information right now.”

“As I said, I need to survive first……”

“You were curious about the Great Hero, weren’t you?”

“……”

My mouth slowly closed.

“If that’s what you’re interested in, I’ll give you information related to him. I’m confident it

will be comparable to the whereabouts of the colorless mask.”

“……Let’s hear it first.”

At my response, the indigo mask answered confidently.

“Ancelot Heil Edenberg, the Great Hero of the Empire. I know where his legacy is hidden.”