59.
Among the first to seek out after regaining his composure was his one and only master and lord, Viscount Izell.
Though the unrelenting joy of victory hadn’t faded from the chaotic battlefield, due to the reduced numbers from the fierce fighting, he could spot several familiar faces.
“Sir Rohan!”
“I had hoped Sir Rohan was safe.”
Soldiers who had been with Izell came forward to greet Rohan.
“Sir Rohan! About earlier… remember?”
“hahahaha… I do. Argent seems a bit different…”
“Did you notice? hehehe.”
With a beaming smile, Rohan embraced Argent, pointing towards the sky.
“Master!”
And finally, Rohan, who found the Earl of Izel covered in blood and filth, rushed towards him, dragging his heavy body.
“Rohan, it’s you!”
The Earl, leaning against the wall, also responded to Rohan’s voice and struggled to get up.
Though both were battered, there was no hesitation as they embraced each other.
“You’re safe. That’s truly fortunate.”
“It’s a relief that you’re safe too, Master. Lady, Sophia, and everyone were very worried.”
The two men, checking each other’s bodies, almost simultaneously let out a sigh of relief.
Although there were countless minor wounds, there were no major injuries that would endanger their lives.
After confirming the Earl’s safety, Rohan cautiously inquired about how Adam was faring.
“By any chance, where is Sir Adam…”
The Earl’s expression darkened sharply at Rohan’s question.
After a brief hesitation, the Earl reluctantly spoke.
“…He fought bravely. He met a knightly death.”
At the expected response, Rohan’s expression also darkened.
The death of an acquaintance was never easy to get used to, no matter how many times one experienced it.
A heavy silence lingered briefly between the two.
“…It’s inevitable. Knights always live with death by their side. Having fought honorably and died, Adam will have no regrets.”
Forcing a smile, the exhausted Earl patted Rohan’s back.
Together with the Earl who had risen, they gathered soldiers from Izel.
Starting with Argen, those who had left Izel territory with Rohan were now standing before the Earl one by one.
“Is this… all of them?”
Examining the soldiers standing before him, Rohan, with a slightly closed voice, asked.
Among the soldiers who were close to seventy, excluding Rohan, only about twenty had survived.
Even among them, three soldiers seemed to have suffered serious injuries, with limbs not entirely intact, indicating a near-total loss.
Rohan, observing the faces of the surviving soldiers, could not hide his somber expression.
It was due to hearing about the deaths of Kenneth, his childhood companion, and Charles, who willingly passed on his vision to Rohan.
As the surviving forces grouped by affiliation and took rest in the ruined Baekjak Castle.
Thanks to the enemy’s main forces being diverted to the Frederick Baekjak Castle, the forces of Count Calton, who had relatively easily repelled the monsters’ assault, arrived late.
Except for the nobles who fell to the hands of monsters and the Western nobles who defended their positions, all the lords had gathered at the Baekjak Castle.
With the kingdom suffering a significant blow, the tales they had to share were far from pleasant.
Frederick Baekjak willingly opened the gates of the inner stronghold, and the survivors slowly moved inside the castle.
While the nobles inside the castle shared stories, the soldiers were provided with a decent meal and a place to rest.
The taste of the food was mediocre, but merely consuming enough nutrition and getting a good night’s sleep rapidly rejuvenated their exhausted bodies.
Of course, not everything was positive.
As time passed, the injuries of the wounded soldiers worsened, leading them to depart one by one.
The soldiers from Izel Castle were no exception; two of the three critically injured soldiers could not survive the night.
The bodies of the soldiers who died in battle were taken care of by the survivors, and one by one, the deceased from the Izel army were found and laid to rest beside their comrades.
Tears welled up in the eyes of the soldiers as they gazed at the bodies laid side by side for burial.
Rohan, too, felt a surge of sadness at the sight of his fallen comrades.
After the chaotic exterior was tidied up a bit, a joint funeral was held under the supervision of the priest staying at Carlton Castle.
Flames imbued with Arnesian sanctity erupted from the priest’s hands, and the slowly growing fire soon engulfed all the bodies of Atam and the soldiers.
As comrades united in the flames were laid to rest with the priest’s elegy, the funeral came to an end.
Though comrades had departed, those who survived had to prepare for what was to come next.
It had been a day since the battle with Lich had ended.
Led by Rohan, the soldiers who were unharmed stepped forward to gather supplies, managing to prepare to leave the road in a hurry.
The nobles’ meeting ended without a clear conclusion, looking forward to the next gathering.
The only issue they all agreed upon was to contribute to the restoration of Arden.
After the meeting, the troops gathered to combat the dark sorcerer set off one by one towards the Marquisate.
The soldiers of Izell also finished their preparations to return home.
One soldier, having lost an arm but survived, decided to stay in the Marquisate to wait for his wounds to heal, while the rest of the troops, including Rohan and the Marquis of Izell, finally set off on the journey towards their beloved homes.
The road to Izell Castle was not an easy one.
The weather remained chilling, and lurking monsters waited for the moment when they let their guard down.
Nevertheless, as days passed, the soldiers’ faces brightened.
It was because they felt their homes drawing near.
Over a month had passed since leaving Izell Castle.
Most soldiers had never been outside their homeland, and leaving the castle had only brought them hardship, making thoughts of home all the more poignant.
As the familiar walls of their home finally came into view, some of them even shed tears.
As the group led by the Marquis of Izell approached the gate, the guards recognized the Marquis and their eyes widened as if in disbelief.
“The Marquis is here!”
“The Marquis has arrived!”
As if to announce the news, one guard dashed into the castle, while the remaining guard stiffly saluted the Marquis.
The Marquis responded with a quiet nod, unable to hide the smile creeping onto his face.
The soldiers, having received their share of gold coins, joyfully ran towards their homes, while the Marquis and Rohan walked side by side towards the Marquisate.
It seemed like the guards had passed on the news, as the Marquis’s family had come out to wait for them outside the Marquisate.
The Marquis’s wife and Sophia ran towards him, embracing him tightly, with the Marquis’s wife checking his body for any injuries.
As the wife was busy, Sophia, who had left the Marquis’s embrace, turned towards Rohan.
With tear-filled eyes, she gazed intensely at Rohan.
“It’s been a while… Rohan.”
Rohan, who was about to greet her casually, was taken aback as Sophia suddenly rushed into his arms.
At Sophia’s bold move, the maids who arrived late were shocked and covered their mouths.
As Sophia slowly let go after a while, her wet eyes meeting Rohan’s made him feel an irresistible impulse.
‘… But it can’t be here.’
With superhuman patience, Rohan stopped himself, exhaling a sigh mixed with regret and relief.
While Rohan stood still, Sophia, seemingly feeling embarrassed belatedly, stepped back slightly.
The Marquis and his wife, who had sent off the joy of the reunion, looked at the two with a strange smile on their faces.
Unpacking in the missed room, enjoying a hastily prepared dinner, the first day in Izell Castle came to an end.
Wrapped in the comfort of the bed, Rohan finally enjoyed a peaceful sleep after a long time.
A week had passed since Rohan’s group arrived in Izell.
Although welcomed by his family with joy for his survival, the Marquis, who returned to Izell Castle, felt a sudden headache and fear as he entered the study the next day.
The Countess had been doing her best in her own way, but with the resources and troops of the territory being drained to the capital, they were facing a crisis in every aspect.
After scrutinizing the documents for a while, the Count let out a deep sigh.
The origin of the problems that arose within the castle was clear.
“Too many have died.”
Of course, as soldiers by profession, those who had died were well aware that they could meet their end on the battlefield at any moment.
Since their families had received compensation in the form of condolence money, it was unlikely that the Count would feel regret over a son’s death.
But this was just a personal feeling; from the perspective of a lord, the issue was far from being resolved.
In this barbaric world, the meaning of being a soldier went beyond merely being able to defend one’s honor.
They were the all-around workers who guarded the castle as guards, carried out labor as laborers when there was construction, and even helped out struggling farms during harvest seasons for a small fee.
Moreover, whether inside or outside the castle, soldiers who possessed both quality military force and labor were indispensable human resources.
For instance, just a day’s journey south of Ezel Castle revealed a massive mountain range dividing the Arden Kingdom and the Floren Kingdom.
Although it was a mountain range where monsters lurked, it was one of the rare places in Ezel that produced unique resources.
From medicinal mushrooms to the beautiful fur of mountain animals and the occasional discovery of small mines.
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However, in order to obtain these resources, regular expeditions were essential.
Usually once a year, at least once in this year, the task had to be carried out.
If the timing was missed, even dozens of troops led by knights had to endure considerable losses.
The last expedition was conducted in the spring of the year before last, so the situation was pressing.
With winter coming to an end, preparations had to be made to mobilize the troops.
Soldiers to fill the ranks were absolutely necessary.
The mountain range was just one example among many; there were many places where the touch of soldiers was needed.
In fact, Rohan was a unique case, not being dragged into such miscellaneous tasks despite serving as a soldier.
Although soldiers were essential for the operation of the territory, cultivating them was by no means easy.
Not only did it cost a lot of money, but there were also not many people who wanted to become soldiers.
Although there was conscription, it was still a considerable burden.
Ignoring the will of freemen and conscripting them when it was not a state of emergency was prohibited by kingdom law, and the Count of Ezel did not want to choose a method that would clearly provoke the opposition of the territory’s residents.
Even if all those obstacles were ignored and the work proceeded, the soldiers who had been caught up in that way would not truly devote themselves to the Count.
As the Count pondered over his headache, he heard someone knocking on the door of his study.
“Come in.”
Upon hearing the Count’s response, the visitor cautiously opened the door and revealed himself.
“Oh, Rohan, what’s the matter?”
Confirming the visitor’s identity, the Count asked with a subtle smile.
Recently, the Count’s feelings towards Rohan had been nothing but pleased.
Although the formal betrothal had not taken place yet, Rohan, as a mere knight, had gained a reputation that could not be overlooked.
Even at gatherings of nobles, including the king, his name stood out multiple times.
The apprentice who had already surpassed the Count himself, showing some overwhelming talent.
‘No, I can’t even call him a student anymore.’
Rohan, who had already transcended the Count’s level, even felt awkward hearing the term ‘master’.
Soon, the Count felt he should advise Rohan to change the title by which he addressed him.
‘No, it might be better to just hurry up and arrange the marriage.’
While the Count was momentarily lost in thought, Rohan, who had cautiously approached, spoke.
“Ah, it’s nothing… There’s something I’d like to ask.”
At Rohan’s words, curiosity sparked in the viscount’s face.
It had been quite some time since the viscount had taken Rohan as his disciple.
Yet, he had never properly fulfilled a request from Rohan.
Seeing Rohan, who rarely made such requests, speaking with such a serious expression of asking for a favor, curiosity naturally surged within the viscount.
“What kind of favor is it that you’re asking with such a serious face? Come on, let me hear it.”
Upon the viscount’s urging, Rohan cautiously spoke up.
“Let me touch your body.” – Treacherous son-in-law Rohan