The Black Winged Duke’s family originally shared the same bloodline as the Argon royal family. However, as the bloodline diminished, they eventually became a separate family. Despite this, their influence within the kingdom was significant enough that during times of instability in the king’s reign, efforts were often made to enthrone them.
As a result, the ancestors of the Black Winged Duke decided that their very existence was a seed of conflict, pledging eternal loyalty to the royal family—using a method that made betrayal impossible.
This was the ‘Oath of Loyalty.’
The current Black Winged Duke serve as the king’s knight and simultaneously hold the position of the kingdom’s sole duke.
This paradoxical situation led to greater glory, honor, and prosperity for the Black Winged Duke’s family. They became an eternally loyal family and protectors of the royal family.
Henceforth, it became an unspoken rule that the leader of the Royal Guard, the kingdom’s strongest knightly order tasked with protecting the Argon royal family, would always be the most outstanding member of the Black Winged Duke’s family.
“Do you understand? Thus, we must be loyal to the royal family…”
“Ah, I got it already!”
Slap.
The middle-aged man, who was reciting the grand history of their family for the umpteenth time during what should have been a pleasant meal, was now pitifully looking at his precious daughter who had just slapped her own mouth.
“H-how could you. Do you know how I’ve raised you…!”
“Yes, raised me preciously. I’ve heard that over a hundred times! Can’t we just eat our meal quietly, family head?”
“Family head? We have so few chances to be alone together, why so formal, my daughter?”
“I don’t want to hear that from the person ruining this precious time with his tedious lectures, family head.”
“Gasp…!”
The blond woman, Lucia de Negras, the legitimate daughter of the Black Winged Duke and the vice-captain of the Royal Guard, sighed as she looked at her foolish father who was clutching his perfectly healthy heart.
“Father, we rarely get to have family time, so is this really the time to talk about such things? When else will I get the chance to come back to Negras?”
“Ahem… I-I’m sorry, dear.”
Lucia was about to sigh again at her father’s solemn face, which quickly turned dejected, but she forcefully swallowed it down. How could such a person be the guardian of the royal family…?
“Well, since the mood is already ruined, let’s talk business. You must have already heard why I am here.”
“Hm.”
In that instant, the demeanor of the Black Winged Duke changed drastically. With just a change in his gaze and a straightening of his posture, her foolish father transformed into the pillar of the kingdom and its strongest knight.
It might be surprising to see someone change so drastically, but Lucia was used to it.
“Even so, I’ll explain once more. It’s official business, after all… A distinguished guest will be visiting Negras in the afternoon. I am here as the advance party.”
“Yes, you mentioned the second prince? Given how arrogant and self-righteous he is, it’s no wonder he’s trying to expand his influence. So, what does he need from me?”
“I didn’t hear the specifics, but I can guess. He likely wants to borrow Father’s champion, lady Pashantu. They say she recently subdued a demonic realm in the north.”
“Hm. Pashantu would gladly accept, but I’m not keen on the idea. Where else has the second prince extended his hand?”
“He seems to have sent people to the old fox, Marquis Arsen, as well.”
“The Witch of Loren, is it? She’s definitely worth recruiting if she managed to hunt an ogre. Whether he can succeed is another matter.”
The Black Winged Duke sliced a piece of meat nonchalantly and began chewing it.
“He’s behaving as if the kingdom belongs to him. That’s why he never succeeded to the throne. He can’t even discern heaven from earth.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Do so. And also ignore what I’m about to tell you.”
Lucia nodded obediently.
“You might have heard of the Northern Emergency Committee. I’ve received news from them. Specifically, Count Lante sent a letter. It discussed the individuals responsible for subduing the demonic realm and ending the chaos in the north.”
“What? That’s…”
“We couldn’t get much detail from Pashantu since she’s not very articulate. However, she did make one thing clear—her role was not major.”
“You mean Guild master Kal Elson played a significant role?”
“That’s what I initially thought, but no. You must have heard that there were three heroes involved in subduing the demonic realm. Guild master Kal Elson, Pashantu whom I consider my champion, and the last one… a barbarian whom Pashantu claimed as her nephew. They called him the Executioner in the north.”
The Executioner…
Just hearing the nickname made Lucia imagine a gruesome and violent barbarian. She thought he must be a hideous and brutish figure.
“That Executioner is the one who quelled the Marquis Deilone’s rebellion. Both Pashantu and Kal Elson merely assisted. Also, he was the one who named the Emergency Committee at the request of Count Lante.”
“But… barbarian aren’t usually knowledgeable in civilized languages.”
“The Executioner is an exception. He is reportedly very fluent in the kingdom’s language and skilled in political discourse, according to Count Lante’s letter. He wrote that if the Executioner takes control of the Emergency Committee, they would have no way to counter him.”
It was hard to believe, yet Lucia knew her father wouldn’t speak falsehoods lightly. He would have verified all the facts first.
“I’ve cross-verified with Hern, the head of the Emergency Committee. The Executioner donated his war trophies, which he considered his personal loot, for the reconstruction of the north, under the terms that they would be overseen by the town chief, a half-elf named Verthar.”
“……”
By then, Lucia was at a loss for words.
‘How could this be?’
Unlike other kingdom inhabitants, she had a fair understanding of barbarians, thanks to her frequent training sessions with Pashantu, the champion of the Black Winged Duke.
***
Moreover, Lucia had confirmed that half of the rumors about barbarian were false, which means the other half were true.
For one, they were undoubtedly uneducated. No matter how much time was spent, Pashantu never managed to learn the kingdom’s language. It wasn’t a matter of willpower; she simply couldn’t understand. Yet, once in battle, she displayed a high level of tactical prowess and became a natural master of combat.
In other words, barbarian had the intelligence of a child in matters outside of battle.
Furthermore, they revered combat to the extent that their desire for trophies won in battle was immense. And yet, this barbarian had donated his trophies without compensation? Including the wealth of Marquis Deilone?
‘And the personnel mobilized are remarkable.’
Especially puzzling was how they managed to involve Lady Verthar, given the known animosity the Pantheon Church harbored towards barbarian.
As the image of the “Executioner” barbarian grew increasingly bizarre in her mind, the Black Winged Duke continued his explanation, halting her train of thought.
“In essence, the Emergency Committee is now in his grasp. He hasn’t been given any formal title, but it would be difficult to refuse his demands. This means…”
“The barbarian known as the Executioner can determine the fate of the north.”
“Yes. And given that he performed better than Pashantu—who uses both swordsmanship and artifacts—his martial prowess must be incredible. Also, do you remember? The Ogre Slayer who hunted with the Witch of Loren was also a barbarian.”
“…No way!”
“Yes. It’s the same person. And the one who slew the dark mage causing trouble in the west and intervened in the Wagner conflict is likewise…”
A barbarian. Do you understand, my daughter?
“All of these acts were carried out by just one person.”
***
The Northern Hero, the Ogre Slayer, the one who eliminated the Western Dark Mage and the Fallen Priest—these tremendous accomplishments, even when considered separately, were all credited to a single barbarian. Lucia was not so foolish as to miss the implications of this realization. She shivered with the revelation.
Realizing why her father had brought up this barbarian at this moment, her eyes widened.
“You’ve realized it. If the second prince learns about this individual—no, Count Lante has likely already informed the royal family. We must assume they are aware.”
“Then, his aim isn’t just Sir Pashantu…”
“Through Pashantu, he aims to recruit that barbarian. And if the second prince succeeds in recruiting him, what will happen?”
The second prince’s influence would skyrocket. He would be able to exert indirect control over the north.
“I trust you understand why I’ve chosen to share this with you.”
The Royal Guard’s role is to protect the royal bloodline from threats. Naturally, every royal family member must be accompanied by the Royal Guard wherever they go. Both the captain and vice-captain of the Royal Guard are of the Black Winged Duke’s bloodline, and here the Black Winged Duke was essentially telling Lucia, the vice-captain:
‘Do not allow the second prince to threaten the throne. If necessary, obstruct him by any means.’
“You’re essentially telling me to ensure those two don’t interact. Understood.”
If this conversation were to leak, it might appear as though the duke was meddling in the succession of the throne. However, neither Lucia nor the Black Winged Duke found it unusual.
They were the kingdom’s guardians, eternally sworn in loyalty to the king.
“Of course, since that individual disappeared after resolving the northern issues, the second prince will likely have no opportunity to encounter him.”
***
Meanwhile, Khan and his party, who had visited Negras without notifying the Black Winged Duke, encountered an unexpected obstacle at the city gates.
“If I’m not mistaken, you must be the infamous Executioner. I came to Negras searching for you. Meeting you like this feels like fate. The Hero of the North. No, should I call you the Executioner?”
A man, likely in his mid-thirties, with red-tinged blonde hair and red eyes, appeared at the gates flanked by a dozen knights. He blocked Khan’s path with a sparkle in his eyes, as if he had stumbled upon a hidden treasure, while the knights naturally spread out to encircle Khan’s party.
His arrogant smile clearly expressed that anyone must halt if he so desired. And that demeanor suited him perfectly because—
“How dare you make this noble person lower his head first! Kneel—down—at—once! This is His Highness, Alan de Argon, second prince of Yorthus, and rightful heir to the throne of Argon!”
“Well, that’s what they say. Why don’t you identify yourself?”
The man’s grin widened at the declaration by the Royal Guard, who by now had completed their encirclement and were ready to draw their swords at any moment, shouting in unison:
“Show your respect—now!”
TL’s Corner:
All that talk about how amazing Khan is, with all accomplishments.
And then at the end, even with the Prince knowing Khan’s feats, as mentioned by the Black Winged Duke. Should we expect a good beating???