Chapter 60
"What did you say? Avalon is dead?"
"Yes, Count. It seems Sir Avalon died alongside his subordinate knights."
"And who… who the hell killed my knight?"
"They say his name is Karl, a Free Knight."
"A Free Knight…?"
Count Calido’s brow twitched.
There was no way this 'Karl' hadn’t known who Avalon was.
That could only mean one thing—he killed Avalon knowing full well he was Count Calido’s knight.
"…How dare he? A Free Knight…?"
Even if the man was out of his mind, killing one of his knights in this region—his domain—was unthinkable.
And Avalon wasn’t just any knight; he was Superior-class.
It was hard to believe he could die at the hands of a mere Free Knight.
"Are you sure he’s a Free Knight?"
"We investigated beforehand but couldn’t confirm any affiliation. However, we did find out he previously operated with the Holy Knights on the East Continent, and recently resolved an affair for the Vatican, receiving direct authorization from the Pope to wield a sacred relic."
"The Holy Knights?"
If it was the Holy Knights, it was odd that he hadn’t heard of him before.
Count Calido himself had learned and witnessed much at their side, once upon a time.
"He’s better known by another name—The Ghost of Chevalier."
"…"
Calido’s face hardened.
He, too, was someone well aware of The Ghost of Chevalier.
In the East Continent, that name needed no explanation.
"So, that bastard’s become a Free Knight…?"
The twisted expression on his face slowly shifted into something else.
‘Could His Excellency be thinking of recruiting him…?’
Baron Solar, Calido’s right-hand man who managed all his dirty work, knew exactly what kind of expression this was.
"My lord, that man killed your knight. He’s also repeatedly interfered with the Tarantula group’s work."
"The Tarantulas? I only use them as I please. No problem there. But to think he’s still alive after all that… Now that is interesting."
There had been plenty of nobles on the East Continent who wanted to recruit The Ghost of Chevalier.
None of them had succeeded.
"I want to meet him. Send someone to bring him in."
"…As you command."
Solar bowed and left the room.
‘If the Count wants him brought in, I’ll follow orders. But… there’s no need to stop someone else from killing him before that happens.’
Karl was already on a collision course with the Tarantulas.
Solar didn’t need to make a move himself—there were plenty of alternatives.
He stepped out of the Count’s office and summoned two people.
One was a messenger to formally invite Karl.
The other, a figure cloaked entirely in a dark robe.
"It’s about a man named Karl. You already know he’s a thorn in your side. Wouldn’t it be best to eliminate him now?"
"He’s at least a Superior-class knight. Maybe even Master-level. Why should we take that risk?"
"He’s already interfered with you several times. And he will again. You know he’s worth it. Besides, he hasn’t reached Master level yet. That’s the final piece of information Avalon gave with his life."
"…Fine."
"He’ll have no choice but to move soon. Do what you do best."
Solar gave a satisfied smile and held out his hand. But the robed figure ignored it and simply turned to leave.
***
"Hmm…"
Having resolved the situation in Sinice, Karl decided—at Baron Mollio’s request—to stay at the manor for a while.
The biggest reason was the uncertainty about what Count Calido might do once Karl left.
While Karl remained, Mollio dispatched a messenger to Baron Vito and began reaching out to other territories that were wary of Calido, trying to form an anti-Calido alliance.
"…As expected, it’s difficult."
While the domain was busy, Karl remained focused on his daily training.
[Zen Meyer Sword Manual]
The item in Karl’s hand was a reward from a recent quest.
The manual’s author bore the surname Meyer.
It occurred to Karl that he, too, had once had a surname.
Though vague now, it meant this Meyer could be one of his ancestors.
The strange thing was—Karl had never heard of the name before.
The Meyer House was a barely-surviving noble lineage, with no remarkable achievements to speak of.
Yet the swordsmanship within this manual was profoundly deep.
‘Every technique is built on the use of aura.’
It went far beyond the average level.
Karl had heard that the Meyer House once produced several great knights long ago.
‘If Zen Meyer was that renowned, how do I not know of him? I made a point to study the history of my house…’
Pushing aside the origin of the manual for now, Karl returned to focus on his training.
Although he had used the Aura Armor skill once before, that wasn’t proper aura usage.
Relying solely on the skill consumed his Qi too rapidly, quickly leading to exhaustion and powerlessness.
‘Conviction… the power of conviction…’
The term appeared frequently in the Zen Meyer Sword Manual.
Its abstract and vague phrasing only made Karl’s head throb more.
What exactly was the power of conviction?
Did he not possess conviction?
He had endured countless hardships and adversities in this world—wasn’t that enough?
Sigh.
A faint breath escaped his lips, burdened by the weight of thought.
"What’s got you thinking so hard?"
Karl looked up sharply.
Standing there was a knight with a single arm, smiling brightly—Harris.
"I was thinking about aura."
"Did you figure something out?"
"Not at all."
Harris chuckled.
"Even Sir Karl has his worries, it seems."
"Of course. Aura is a power not granted to me."
"But you use aura. How can you say it’s not granted to you?"
"…Maybe that’s exactly why."
To Harris, Karl was a strange man.
"I haven’t seen everything Sir Karl has done, but I know this—you walk a straight path."
"I don’t know about that…"
The path Karl walked was determined by the quests presented to him.
"Whatever your reasons are, if you didn’t want to walk that path, no one could have forced you. But you chose to lead. Again and again. That was your decision. And it was you who showed me that a one-armed knight could still fight. So what is it you’re so unsure about?"
"…"
Harris’ eyes shone with conviction.
‘I should’ve been learning from him, not teaching.’
It was his own decision. Karl repeated Harris’ words in his mind.
Every choice—between action and inaction—had been his.
He hadn’t chosen to fall into this damned game world.
But every step since then had been his own.
Helping Selena and Baron Vito.
Fighting alongside Isabel to defeat Tarantula.
Meeting Anne.
Serving the Vatican.
All decisions he had made.
But he had firmly rejected the fate of becoming a Legendary Knight.
‘Was that it…?’
Somewhere along the way, Karl had begun forging bonds and living of his own volition.
Harris silently left, and Karl—still standing in place—slowly opened his eyes.
***
A few days later, Karl had finished reading and practicing the Zen Meyer Sword Manual when urgent news arrived at the manor.
He sat across from Baron Mollio.
"Baron Vito has been attacked. And it appears Count Calido is preparing to assault Tennesse."
Karl frowned at the news. He had intended to visit the baron soon.
"What’s Baron Vito’s condition?"
"Grave, it seems. According to the messenger, he wasn’t even able to appear publicly. Lady Selena has taken command and is asking for reinforcements."
"What’s Calido’s force size?"
"Reportedly 300 infantry, 30 knights."
"…That’s a lot."
It was a sizable force for subjugating a single domain.
With the fallen knights from last time, Calido now had over 100 under his personal command.
"What do you intend to do?"
"I’ll go."
"It’s too dangerous. Is it worth risking your life?"
"I don’t overthink things. I go if I want to. Please notify Sir Godfrey of the Holy Knights about this."
Karl preferred to keep things simple, especially in complex matters.
If he wanted to go, he would.
[Quest: Crossroads of Fates and Bonds]
A new quest appeared with his decision—but that was secondary.
His mind flashed back to the words exchanged with Harris at the training ground.
‘Yes. Everything is my choice.’
With that, Karl made his preparations to depart that very day.
"You’re really going alone?"
"If we move together, we’ll be too slow. I’ll go ahead—please, Lord Mollio, follow as soon as you can."
"I understand. I’ll meet you there. Please, be careful."
Karl nodded silently and spurred his horse toward Tennesse.
***
From Sinice to Tennesse, it would take about four days on horseback.
Once Karl passed through the vast Sherwood Forest along the way, it was close.
Riding fast, Karl began to slow.
Woom. Woom. Woom.
The necklace gifted by the Pope began to glow faintly.
Karl heightened all his senses.
Among the thick trees and tall grasses along the path, he felt the faintest of presences.
‘So I’ve become popular.’
Though he hadn’t been in the West Continent long, a lot had already happened.
And with many bonds came just as many grudges.
"Show yourselves."
Karl brought his horse to a full stop.
Instantly, faint presences began to close in—but the forest remained deathly still, as if Karl were talking to thin air.
"I take it you're not here to ask for directions."
Suddenly, a dagger flew from his hand.
Though it struck flesh, there wasn’t even a grunt.
‘Dangerous…’
This was only the beginning.
Every sense in Karl’s body warned of imminent peril.
From all sides, robed figures in dark brown cloaks launched toward him.
They unleashed daggers and all manner of hidden weapons.
Karl leapt to dodge while lightly tapping Silver’s flank.
The fine warhorse understood instantly and dashed back the way it came.
The assassins paid no attention to the fleeing horse—only Karl.
Shk-shk-shk-shk.
They didn’t speak.
Only closed in, slowly, with precision.
Snap!
One rushed Karl from the front while five more circled behind.
It was a synchronized strike as if they shared one mind.
Karl charged straight at the one in front—intending to break their formation.
But the front attacker suddenly retreated, while five more assassins—who had been hidden—appeared to flank him from multiple directions.
Slash!
Karl managed to cut down three charging from the front, but paid for it with gashes to his arm and shoulder.
Still unsure of the total number, Karl steadied his breath and focused.
‘They knew I was coming.’
Baron Vito’s ambush, Count Calido’s assault, and now this—it was all connected.
Karl raised his sword and resumed his stance.
The assassins moved once more.