33. Come on in
The judgment on the duke was over.
‘A worthless laughingstock is more annoying than a comrade who dies on his own.’
Just because he was of the paladin’s bloodline, you shouldn’t feel sorry for him.
It was only right to punish someone who had made a pact with the demons.
If he hadn’t been punished earlier, he would have continued to interfere with us while colluding with the demons.
There was another reason.
‘It’ll make things easier in the future.’
It was to weed out the guys who had joined hands with the demons like the annoying duke.
Of course, we had to be careful.
No matter how incompetent he was, the duke’s bloodline was genuine.
Even if it was just to use him as a contractor, the enemies would make their move.
The paladin must have understood because he drew his sword.
Swish.
And swung it right away.
It was aimed right at the duke, or rather, the wretch who had now lost everything.
Screech!
Kyaaagh!
The duke, who had lost his arms and legs in an instant, screamed.
The knight king’s eyes were icy as he watched.
“Deal with the traitor who has tarnished the honor of his house and betrayed humanity.”
“Yes sir!”
This time, 100 knights moved directly.
They bound him tightly so that he wouldn’t be able to struggle again.
“No, wait a minute… I’m a duke! I’m a duke of the Edmer family…”
“Be quiet and go.”
“How dare you… to our family’s knight.”
“Didn’t you hear the knight king? He will be executed in front of everyone in the castle, so be quiet until then.”
The duke was destined to die as soon as he saw the last sun.
On the one hand, it could be worrying.
Why not kill him right away?
Couldn’t he escape again since he escaped once?
Couldn’t the demons try to save him?
But there was no need to worry.
Joo-yeon already had a plan.
“Contact the temple and ask them to send priests and paladins. Just in case the demons approach.”
“Hmm…”
“Why? Are you embarrassed to ask the temple?”
“If it were my knights, there would be no problem even if the demons invaded again.”
“Will only the demons come?”
“What do you…”
Joo-yeon mouthed a word only the knight king could see.
[Traitor]
It was clear what he was trying to say.
There were many who had joined hands with the demons besides the duke. Of course, there were nobles, and there were also those hiding among the royal family.
‘I have to solve it to avoid a bad ending.’
They were the ones who interfered the most and were dangerous when dealing with achievements.
That’s why priests and paladins were needed.
“The temple is a continental organization that supports warriors. No matter how powerful the royal family or nobles are, they can’t do anything reckless in front of them.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Hmm…”
“Paladins would be even more effective against demons. If you’re not satisfied, you can set up knights as well.”
Anything that benefited everyone was the best.
The knight king eventually nodded his head.
“Did you hear everything?”
“Of course, former duke. I will contact the temple right away.”
Joo-yeon added a word.
“While you’re at it, tell the temple. Tell them it’s my request.”
“……!?”
Joo-yeon was currently known to be of humble origin.
There was no way the temple would move just because he asked.
But he was confident.
‘Right now, I’m known as the hero, aren’t I?’
Then, the temple would definitely try to confirm it somehow.
Moreover, it was a request from the [Knight King].
A request from the hero’s old comrade who had slain the Demon King, not just anyone.
The temple had no choice but to respond to the request, even for their own reputation.
They would at least send a cardinal or an archbishop, even if they couldn’t send the Pope.
‘I’ll get closer to the temple and take care of the trash inside. It’s perfect.’
The temple was a place he had to visit in order to complete the achievement of taking care of the Demon King within 3 years.
‘They’re not easy, but there’s someone I need to get there.’
Of course, there was trash he had to take care of in Duke Edmer’s family.
The lackeys of Count Sanderson.
They were guys he had to get rid of as quickly as he would traitors of humanity.
‘No, maybe they’re related to the traitors.’
The Knight King watched the captured Duke intently and called Joo-hyeon.
“First, I have to thank you. You helped me find the rat who betrayed his family and humanity, even though he’s my son.”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you. You gave me the ＜Succession＞.”
“It was only natural to give ＜Succession＞ to [him].”
Something natural could not be a reward.
It was even thanks to Joo-hyeon that he was able to relieve his regret.
“Until now, I’ve been waiting for someone to inherit my name.”
A successor.
The title of [Knight King] was not just a name.
“There’s no other reason why I haven’t given ＜Succession＞ to my children or any other knights until now.”
[Knight King] was a name that was passed down from generation to generation and would remain eternal.
They were all lacking in carrying such a name.
None of them had the qualities to succeed the name.
Even Albert, the captain of the 100-man knights, was the same.
But Joo-hyeon was different.
‘That was definitely my ＜Sky Cleave＞.’
Of course, he couldn’t follow it perfectly.
It was at the level of ＜Earth Cleave＞, his best skill in the past.
But the Knight King was satisfied with that alone.
‘He was surrounded by guys who couldn’t even do half of what he did. If I miss this chance, I might never get another chance.’
He just had to teach him a little.
If he combined Joo-hyeon’s special skill with his teachings. Not only would he perfectly inherit the Knight King’s name, he could even defeat the Demon King.
He was that talented.
The Knight King believed in his own eyes that had directly judged countless knights.
‘Hero Ryu-jin. A hero much greater than him might be born.’
If things go as he thinks, in the next generation, the title of [Knight King] might even come before [Hero].
‘If that guy were to become a part of our family… The Edmer family name might rise above all others.’
Even for a conservative man who had come from knighthood, this was a temptation hard to give up.
Of course, Joo-Heon wasn’t an idiot, so he wasn’t going to just fall for it.
“I’m not giving you my power. I’m just giving you a chance to learn. On the other hand, you’ve helped me a lot.”
“Oh? Then what kind of reward will you give me?”
“If you want, I’ll give you the position of the Edmer Dukedom’s Lord.”
“……!?”
Joo-Heon’s eyes widened.
As expected of the [Knight King].
His generosity was extraordinary.
He had only killed a single Demon and a traitor.
Yet the reward was the position of the Lord.
The greatest prestigious family in the North.
A knightly family famous even on the continent.
Of course, Joo-Heon didn’t accept it like an idiot.
“Sorry, but that’s not a reward, it’s a punishment. It doesn’t have any appeal to me.”
“……!”
In an instant, the Knight King’s expression hardened.
Who would have imagined it?
To dare speak words that belittled his family in front of the [Knight King].
His loyal knights’ faces also turned red with displeasure.
“Not a reward but a punishment! Aren’t you being too harsh with your words!”
“You’re rejecting the position of Lord of the most prestigious family in the North!”
“Even if you’re the Hero! Do you think you can get away with ignoring the Edmer family in the North!”
However, Joo-Heon was serious.
“The King of the North? The greatest prestigious family in the North? So what?”
“……!?”
It was an uncomfortable family that was rotten with incompetence on the inside while being targeted by enemies on the outside.
The Knight King, who was its only pillar, was planning on stepping down and going back into training.
‘If that happens, I’ll have to do everything until I get caught?’
If he was going to do it, he had to do it properly.
Joo-Heon picked up the shield that was leaning against the wall and slammed it on the ground.
Boom!
With the loud sound, everyone’s attention gathered at once.
Joo-Heon shouted with a sharp look different from before.
“Such a great family didn’t even know that their successor’s life was in danger?”
“What are you talking about?”
“The successor’s life is in danger?”
The expressions of the 100 knights hardened.
While the head of the family was away, something must have happened.
Instead of answering, Jooyeon called someone in a fierce voice.
“Aiden Edmer! Come out! Tell me with your own mouth!”
Aiden was among the crowd.
He had been confused by the sudden appearance of the demons and the betrayal of the duke until now.
But he did not refuse the voice calling his name.
He walked out slowly and prostrated himself towards the Knight King.
“Grandfather, no, Your Grace, the former duke. I was attacked by the enemy while I was away on a trip outside.”
“Enemy? In the North?”
“Yes. They tried to kill me and my knights with poison using bandits. Of course, that man was also targeted.”
If it weren’t for Jooyeon’s help and the artifact passed down to the successor, he would probably be dead.
Everyone in the Duke’s family was furious at Aiden’s words.
“The Edmer family is a family of heroes who saved this continent with the warriors! How dare you target the successor of such a family!”
“How dare… Who in the North dared to target the successor of the Edmer family!”
The vassals turned red in the face and expressed their anger.
They were ready to go to war at any moment.
Then Jooyeon intervened.
“Earl Sanderson. The culprit is the fox of the North.”
“……!”
Everyone’s movements stopped at his words.
It couldn’t be helped.
[Earl Sanderson]
It was the name of the only family in the North that followed the reputation of the Edmer family.
He did not have a great reputation like the Knight King who shook the continent, but he was a man who had absorbed the entire North with his enormous wealth.
“Such a person… targeted the Edmer family?”
“But Earl Sanderson should be friendly to the Edmer family?”
Earl Sanderson usually showed absolute goodwill to the Edmer family.
In many ways, he made concessions and expressed great kindness to the vassals of the Edmer family.
“Why would such a person be lacking in anything……”
“No, in the first place, why would anyone in the North, let alone this continent, target our family……”
Jooyeon clicked his tongue at the sight of the people who were not aware of the crisis.
“That’s why you guys are so stupid. That’s why the Edmer family is called a brainless, ignorant can.”
“Wha… An ignorant can? How dare you insult a knight like this……”
“Don’t you still understand? In order for that guy to obtain the North, he has to bring down the Edmer family. So he used both carrots and sticks.”
“……!?”
Jooyeon’s words were true.
Earl Sanderson of the Balentino Saga had always been like that.
On a small scale, he absorbed the vassals of the Edmer family, and on a large scale, he directly targeted the lives of the successors.
He sent assassins to those who got in his way.
And he showed great kindness to those who helped him.
That was Count Sanderson’s style.
‘And starting with the Edmer family in the north, he aims for the kingdom, the entire continent.’
Of course, he used every incident to his advantage.
In the end, he would always stab them in the back.
Jooyeon turned to the Knight King.
“If you give me the position of Lord of the Edmer family, you should be prepared. I don’t know how many branches will be left after I prune it.”
“Hmm…”
After a moment of contemplation, the Knight King nodded.
He had already chosen Jooyeon as his successor anyway.
Then, all that was left was to earn his trust with unwavering support.
So, he held out his sword.
“I have never uttered a word I would take back. If you wish, I will give you the position of Lord of this family. However, since you do not want it right now, do as you wish.”
It was the sword he had just retrieved from the Duke.
Entrusting him with his sword meant entrusting him with the full authority of the family.
At that sight, the knights and family servants who were present all knelt down.
“We shall follow the will of the Knight King.”
The corners of Jooyeon’s mouth turned up naturally.
‘Yes. This is it.’
Originally, it would have been difficult to receive full authority.
Perhaps, even as a successor, he would have assisted him.
However, with this, Jooyeon could do as he pleased, while the Knight King bore the responsibility.
Then, he could start more boldly.
‘I have to cut off Count Sanderson’s tail first. I’ll make him regret messing with me.’
The Knight King asked curiously.
“So, how do you plan to prune?”
“It’s simple.”
What? Simple?
The Knight King narrowed his eyes.
As expected, he was weak against schemes as a knight.
He could fight the enemy head-on with a shield, but he couldn’t easily find a spy hiding among his own ranks.
However, Jooyeon’s expression was full of confidence.
How could pruning be simple?
Jooyeon knew the answer.