Episode. 35 Sieg Battenberg (1)
I looked up at the sky.
On the battlefield where lives came and went, a huge Wyvern was circling in the sky.
I met the eyes of the handsome man who was on top of it.
“Welcome, bro.”
As he welcomed me with a grin, his face embraced a mysterious light.
Zeke Battenberg.
The fact that he was coming was something he had known in advance through Shinan.
Ludwig, if you were that man, you would have had in mind that Horgyo would steal all your knights.
Kirrureuk-!
The winged wyvern howled.
It seemed that he was excited by the heat of the battlefield.
“I-that… … !”
The knights who were fighting with the monster belatedly discovered the wyvern and were embarrassed.
A few of the monsters were also busy raising their heads and crackling their mouths.
I took a deep breath and cried out.
“Wake! We are fighting now!”
A cry of faith awakened the spirits of allies
“Focus on the monsters!”
“Don’t look away!”
Commanders shouted loudly.
I held the Dragon Tooth and Hundred Demons in both hands and swung them without stopping.
At that moment, a figure fell down beside me.
Zeke’s voice cut through the thick dust.
“Are you Richard?”
The first thing to ask is whether or not to check on your sister.
Somehow, I remember my first meeting with Moritz.
At that time, Moritz also looked at me and asked if I was Richard.
“That’s right, but first the monster.”
Chew-!
I replied, scattering my sword.
A battlefield full of pestilence and stench was not suitable for conversation.
“… … I really can’t believe it.”
Even in the midst of the confusion, Zeke’s voice was clearly audible.
Suddenly, a tremendous force surged from him.
I just turned my eyes and looked at Zeke.
“Brother. Hurry up and let’s talk.”
Eyes full of interest.
He smiled and started to do the sword dance.
A blood storm erupted from the monsters caught in the trail of the sword’s point.
“… … I’m not the next strong successor to Battenga for nothing, this is it.”
To be honest, it was tongue-in-cheek knife skill.
It seemed that today’s battle would end sooner than expected.
◈ ◈ ◈
Zeke asked to talk after the battle, but there was more work to be done before that.
“I came with an order from Battenberg to support Rio Castle.”
The meeting that was convened immediately after the battle, Zeke, who drew the attention of the leadership, opened his mouth calmly.
I quietly looked at his face from side to side.
Then, in my head, the end of Zeke I knew came to mind.
‘Blasted by Alan and the magician’s all-out offensive… … Was it?’
One thing is certain: none of Battenberg’s bloodlines died in bed.
“… … I express my infinite gratitude to Battenberg for recognizing the difficulties.”
While I was lost in my thoughts for a while, the leadership and Zeke finished their greetings.
In particular, the fact that the heads of the leadership and Moritz’s faces were in full bloom seemed to be very welcome to the unannounced guest.
“Could you tell me the situation of Varen? The news is late because I have lived in remote areas for many years.”
The one who answered Zeke’s question was the lord of Ord Castle.
From the three liches that ate Pauline Castle to the undead war.
A concise, concise explanation followed.
“Then, what about those monsters from before? They were people I had never seen before.”
“that… … .”
Suddenly, the lord of the castle of Ord looked at me.
Did he decide that it would be better for me to explain from here on out?
Following him, Zeke’s gaze also turned to me.
“It’s the curse of a monster named Calgos, one of the army commanders under the Demon King.”
“Devil? Commander… … ?”
It was only natural that Zeke’s head was tilted at my unkind explanation.
“there is. ignorantly strong guys. Anyway, our enemies are those who have been plagued by the curse of a guy named Calgos.”
The Demon King, Kalgosuni.
Even if I tried to explain it word for word, it wouldn’t make sense.
All Zeke needed to know immediately was about the plague monsters.
The rest of us had to live here and get to know each other.
“In the place where Pauline Castle used to be, the Plague Castle was established. Monsters are pouring out of the castle. They have a terrible plague.”
“… … It is an epidemic.”
Zeke, who glanced down at me, tilted his head once more.
I went into a frenzy among the monsters with the contagious disease, but it seems very questionable that there is nothing wrong with my body.
“The benevolent World Tree must have saved my brother.”
◈ ◈ ◈
It took Zeke quite a while to figure out the situation.
That’s why the situation at Rio Castle was so unusual, even though it was unique.
“I heard that some tree is wrapped around the castle, but I can’t believe it was a world tree.”
Now, a tree that was treated as a legend has grown in Rio Castle.
It was hard to believe, but there was no other way to explain the mystical aura that filled every corner of the castle unless it was the World Tree.
Furthermore, the smell of grass passing by the tip of his nose was clearly that of an elf.
I couldn’t guess what the hell was going on in this narrow castle.
After washing his face once, he raised his head.
At some point, only Zeke, Richard, and Moritz were left in the conference room.
“Tongue, brother! How are you so far!”
“Ah, Moritz. I’m not in a hurry, so I’m finally able to say hello. How have you been?”
Moritz, his eyes wide open, got up from his seat and bent at a right angle.
Since he was Moritz, who had always followed Zeke since childhood, it was not strange at all.
“guy. You’ve sorted things out quite a bit. I grew up unrecognizable. great job!”
At Zeke’s affectionate voice, Moritz’s face turned red like persimmon.
“Joe, following the example of my respected older brother, I trained hard. I just want to thank you for recognizing my accomplishments!”
Tuk-tuk.
Zeke raised his hand and patted Moritz’s head.
Richard, who took a step back and watched the two of them, let out a small sigh.
‘Zeke’s brotherly love is exceptional.’
The story of all sorts of trickery between brothers was a rumor that arose over Moritz in his tyrannical days.
“These guys. What were you guys thinking when you left the family?”
Sieg made a stern expression on his face and urged Moritz and Richard.
However, as an older brother, it was only a formal scolding.
“I don’t think I left home without any vision.”
Rather, his voice was full of curiosity and interest.
Zeke was very curious about the path chosen by his younger siblings.
In particular, the youngest standing quietly with his mouth shut.
Even though he was growing up, he had grown too big, and now his eyes were taken by Richard, who had become a young man.
It was clear that the strong spirit had already reached a high level, and the energy flowing from the body was mysterious enough to be incomprehensible.
Why was Battenga making such a fuss in the name of Richard, Sieg immediately understood.
“He has a vision. Won’t you join us too?”
Richard smiled at Sieg and said.
Funny enough, even that silly laugh seemed holy and noble.
Whirik-!
Richard was the first to raise the flag.
It was a cross-patterned flag that I had seen many times before.
“that… … .”
“It is the insignia of our Hoor religion. I must have seen it quite often on the way here.”
The story that followed was very absurd for Zeke.
Horgyo.
In other words, a group that believes in God called Hor.
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That leader was none other than Richard, and Moritz and the 3rd Knights had left Batten to serve Hor.
And now even the kingdom of Baren is serving Hor.
“God… … .”
Zeke, who had been organizing his thoughts for a while, let out a sigh of relief.
“You guys are still alive. Without being killed by the head of the household.”
No criticism, no ridicule.
Zeke showed no discomfort about his brothers serving God.
“The path you have chosen. I hope you have no regrets.”
It was respect for his younger siblings.
Moritz’s face turned red at the trust-filled gaze, and Richard furrowed his brows.
“It looks like you have no intention of coming over to us.”
“That’s natural. My road is always Battenberg.”
Zeke’s dream is to become Ludwig himself, the current head of Battenberg.
There was no room for anything else to intervene in that blind goal.
Tsk.
Richard clicked his tongue secretly at the resolute attitude.
◈ ◈ ◈
Battenberg’s joining brought great vibrancy to Rio Castle.
I could feel it all over my body, so I could see how strong Battenberg’s prestige was.
Of course, it wasn’t that Sieg Battenberg was more trustworthy than Horgyo.
It was comfortable to think that just one more supporter supporting the Rio Castle had been added.
“So, what are you doing here?”
I rolled my eyes and looked at Zeke.
I was just about to go to sleep.
“There is something I really want to ask you.”
dump-
Zeke, who took a seat on his own, scratched his cheek.
I want to ask you.
“Are you curious about how I, who was said to have insensitivity to mana, has changed?”
“Well, I’m curious about that too… … Seeing your face, I don’t think you’ll let me know.”
Then, why did you come here in the middle of the night because you were so curious?
“Mmm.”
Zeke chose his words for a long time.
The more I did, the more I guessed what his question was.
“Others say you receive revelations from God. Thanks to that, I know a lot of information that no one else knows.”
“… … .”
Little by little, a bitter taste lingered in my mouth.
“if. my brother… … Do you know anything about Heinrich Battenberg’s whereabouts?”
When the question I was concerned about came up, I closed my eyes.
First of Battenberg, Heinrich.
A man who disappeared long ago.
The fact that Zeke received long-term missions every time was actually to find Heinrich.
That was Zeke’s will, and Ludwig’s regret for losing his dear son.
“Richard. If you know anything, please let me know.”
At that earnest request, I shook my head.
He denied knowing anything about him.
To him, who had a desperate face, it was unbearable to say that his older brother was already dead and couldn’t even leave a corpse behind.