‘They aren’t taking us seriously. The message is clear.’
Roland stood still, watching the soldiers surrounding them. His group numbered around fifty, with five of them being tier three class holders. Their opponents had twice the number of troops, but among them there was only one person at tier three. Still, they possessed a variety of enchanted weapons, and the traps set up around this fake gate could not be dismissed.
‘Do they not care, or was the deception successful?’
The entire city of Albrook was under surveillance through his monitoring devices. Whenever someone passed through the main gate, their mana fingerprint and level were recorded. Even if they wore enchanted items to conceal their status, his runic devices could uncover the truth. This method had exposed numerous spies. Some were eliminated, while others were handled by the maids using various methods before being released with false information. That might have explained today’s treatment, although simple disdain for Arthur’s presence could also be a contributing factor.
“You dare take that tone with Lord Arthur Valerian?”
Regardless of the reason, Roland had to act. As the second in command, he could not allow this insult to Arthur to pass unanswered. It was a direct challenge. As High Knight Commander, it was his duty to respond. He stepped forward toward the man who had asked them to clear the area, ready to deliver a few carefully chosen words.
Roland strode toward the fox-eyed man. Although he wore lighter armor than usual, he still towered over the seemingly unassuming butler. To most people here, the man likely appeared harmless, but Roland could see through the act. He was similar to Mary, a hidden tier three assassin. Without a doubt, he was the strongest person present and likely had a method of escape prepared in case the traps were triggered.
The fox-eyed man’s smile remained, but his posture tensed. He was no fool as he could feel the shift in atmosphere, the invisible weight of killing intent pressing in from Roland’s every step. The knights behind Arthur instinctively tightened their formation, eyes shifting between the gate’s defenders and their commander.
“Now, now.”
The butler said with a practiced chuckle, lifting one gloved hand as if to wave away Roland’s fury like a puff of smoke.
“There is no need for such words. This is just a simple matter of logistics. I’m sure the young lord will understand…”
“Silence. Show some respect.”
Roland’s voice turned colder, infused with his intimidation skill. The tier two soldiers surrounding them began to feel the pressure bearing down on them, and even the defensive enchantments on their armor struggled to shield them. Though clearly affected, none of them collapsed, but the man standing before Roland remained unmoved. His smile did not fade; in fact, it grew wider. It was as if he had been waiting for this moment, as though the entire encounter had been a ruse to observe Arthur’s response.
Nevertheless, this was something the two had discussed beforehand. Roland raised his hand, and runes began activating, not on his armor but on the massive sword carried by the horse. The large metal holster holding it in place started hissing, and the weapon slowly started to slide out of it. The sudden movement caused the guards and even the fox-like man to tense. The magical energy radiating from the sword was intense, strong enough that none of them could ignore it.But before the situation could escalate, a voice called out from within the carriage.
"Sir Wayland, that's enough. Stand down."
It was Arthur, speaking calmly to defuse the tension just as they had practiced during their planning sessions. The young lord didn’t want to leave anything to chance, so they had prepared for several possible outcomes. One scenario resembled this exact moment, and they had agreed that Roland would display a controlled show of force before Arthur stepped in to deescalate the situation.
The fox-eyed man’s smile twitched, only slightly but Roland noticed it. That flicker of uncertainty was all he needed to confirm the bluff had worked. The butler had probably not expected any pushback to come from someone like Arthur. The sheer fact that he was able to control someone like High Commander Wayland already showed that he had his loyalty. These nobles thought Arthur was soft but now perhaps they would think otherwise.
“As you command, Lord Arthur.”
Roland held his ground for a moment longer, letting the silence settle around them. The massive rune sword, which had only halfway left its holster, began to slide back in on its own. The silence was intentional. He wanted to show them that they would not allow themselves to be pushed around. The pace at which they handled matters was theirs to set, and for now, their plan appeared to be working.
“I hope you’re not planning to let my Lord step out in this place?”
Although this part of the operation was finished, the battle itself was far from over. Roland stepped toward the butler, and the carriage began to move. Once it cleared the teleportation gate ramp, the fox-eyed man gave a nod and bowed. He then looked to the side, and a new gate slowly began to open, revealing a path ahead.
“Of course, Sir Wayland. Allow me to guide you to your temporary accommodations.”
“Temporary accommodations? Isn’t the grand assembly taking place today?”
The man paused and looked up, still wearing a broad smile. Roland already had a sense of what was happening but chose to press further.
“No, good Sir. The assembly will take place in two days. Some of our guests are scheduled to arrive later.”
Roland said nothing. This was another layer of mockery built into the event. They had been given an official date and time for the assembly, yet the schedule for using the gates varied for each brother and noble. This manipulation served to establish a hierarchy. Those forced to arrive early and wait in temporary guest houses were viewed as lesser. Since Arthur had arrived two days in advance, he ranked somewhere in the middle. Some nobles had been summoned even earlier.
The other sons of Duke Valerian clearly didn’t intend to let Arthur gain any standing without a fight. And they’d started that fight before the real gathering had even begun. Still, this was not a loss. Their arrival had already challenged assumptions. The fox-eyed butler’s momentary hesitation was proof of that. Word of this encounter would spread. Rumors moved faster than banners, and Arthur’s growing strength would be measured by how he endured this trial of politics.
‘This was what I was trying to run from… but I got pulled back in anyway…’
Roland climbed back onto his horse and they began moving. When he was younger, he had escaped his old home to distance himself from noble politics. Even though he had memories from his old life which made him an adult, he had still been naive. This kingdom and likely the entire world was controlled by people like these nobles. There was no real escape from it. The only way forward was to gain power of his own or align with factions strong enough to shield him when he lacked the strength himself.
‘I hope it ends at this. I should probably take it easy, if I posture too much they might actually ask me for a duel.’
While Roland didn’t fear the other knight commanders, he had not worn his best armor to this event. He understood that if he acted too aggressively, some knights might take offense and challenge him to a duel. Such confrontations had occurred in the past, and he couldn’t ignore the possibility that one of Arthur’s brothers might seize this chance to test his strength. Wayland, the High Knight Commander, had become the subject of many rumors, and this gathering presented a valuable opportunity to uncover some of his secrets.
As they passed through the gate, more of the fortress's interior came into view. They were now in Isgard, the largest city on this volcanic island and one located near the supervolcano dungeon. From this vantage point, however, the volcano was not visible. A powerful magical barrier blocked the sight of it and replaced the landscape with a scene that resembled a typical skyline. They had arrived directly inside the massive castle-fortress built by the Valerian household, a self-contained city that stood in stark contrast to the lands beyond its walls.
‘There is a massive environmental control formation around this entire castle.’
He had noticed it earlier, but the temperature here was surprisingly mild. He had visited this city before, and back then the heat from the volcano had been ever-present, seeping into every corner. The entire castle radiated with magical energy, a force that prevented the volcanic warmth from penetrating the interior. Even in the event of an eruption, the lava and ash likely would not breach the magical defenses.
‘Interesting. I should analyze it. This barrier appears more advanced than any I encountered at the institute.’
The area they had access to was closed off from the outside. It was clear that only the wealthy lived in this part of the castle, as there were no commoners or adventurers in sight. Their group continued forward, and Roland took a moment to assess their surroundings.
Under normal circumstances, he would have deployed his sensors and floatation golems to scan the area, but that was not an option now. Any such action, if discovered, would put both Arthur and himself at risk. There was also the strong possibility that detection devices or surveillance magic more advanced than his own were present. The Duke was known to be a tier four class holder, a level of power Roland had not yet attained.
Thus he just used his eyes and senses that were available to him. To his knowledge, the grand castle was divided into three distinct areas. The first, the outer castle area consisted of servants quarters, training grounds, and infrastructure that supported the daily function of the stronghold. It also acted as the first defensive barrier and from what he knew, took quite a bit of damage from the recent culling event.
The third, the inner heart of the castle, was reserved for the highest nobility, including Duke Valerian himself. It was there that the most powerful enchantments were anchored and where the family’s most sacred relics were kept. However, Roland and the others had not been granted entry to it, for that they would need to wait until every guest arrived and the entrance would be open for everyone.
They had been placed in the middle section instead. This area was known for its peace and leisure, something every noble hoped to experience at least once. After moving away from the area with the teleportation gate, they arrived in a vast courtyard paved with marble and surrounded by opulent manors. For a moment, he wondered if he had been transported to another magical institute, as towering spires rose around him, carved from enchanted obsidian and glowing moonstone.
This part of the city was home only to nobility, their personal servants, and a handful of exceptionally wealthy merchants. The area stretched wide and reminded him of green suburbs from the modern world. There were few shops here, as this place served purely as a secluded residential paradise, carefully planned to offer both luxury and tranquility to the kingdom’s most powerful families.
Most of the permanent residents were aging heads of noble houses. Many had relinquished their titles and chosen to retire here rather than remain on their ancestral lands. Some of the mansions were occupied by mistresses installed by high-ranking nobles, waiting to be visited for a few fleeting days before being left alone again for months.
Similar areas existed in several other ducal cities as well as the largest one in the capital. Although these districts appeared to be lavish paradises on the surface, they served a deeper purpose. They acted as a means to bind the lesser noble families to the high nobility. Some believed the residents here were not much different from hostages. They were rarely permitted to leave and could only access select districts within the outer castle grounds, which included various businesses and an exclusive pleasure district reserved for the wealthy.
“...”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, everything is fine. Let’s just continue and get this over with.”
As they passed through the area, he could tell Arthur’s heartbeat was quickening. The nervousness was becoming more obvious. Arthur kept shifting in his seat, restlessly glancing out of the small carriage windows. From what he knew, this was where Arthur’s mother had once been kept, though he wasn’t sure if she still lived there.
‘This doesn’t really look like the area from Arthur’s ascension trial. She might be held somewhere else.’
The memory capture device allowed Roland to peer into Arthur’s personal memories. The first zone appeared as a lavish mansion enclosed by an illusory dome that resembled the barrier currently hovering above them. Although similar, there were clear differences. In the distance, he could see the main inner region of the castle along with the massive wall surrounding it. This was certainly the main Isgard castle, not a hidden area concealed by illusion.
‘There is something there but I won’t be sure unless I examine it more thoroughly.’
He thought while scanning a few suspicious locations. The obsidian spirals were not merely decorative. They emitted strange magical fluctuations that he felt compelled to investigate. Just as he began to strain his senses, he noticed the suspicious-looking butler watching him. The man smiled, as if he had realized what Roland was attempting, prompting Roland to halt his investigation, at least for now.
To make things worse, people were starting to look at him as they moved through the flat road. They were all nobility, their gazes were mostly focused on the luxurious looking carriage and the Valerian crest on it. As the carriage finally pulled up to their designated ‘temporary mansion’ Roland couldn’t help but scowl.
It was impressive, on the surface. A tall white structure with silver-tiled roofs, flanked by trimmed hedges and small ornamental trees, it stood nestled just along the perimeter of the inner wall. The proximity to the wall said everything. This wasn’t a place of honor. It was close enough to the servant area to mock them.
“Welcome to your residence, young lord . I do hope you find it… comfortable.”
The message was clear. He had been placed in one of the mansions farthest from the inner castle area. This arrangement had clearly been prepared to send a message, though it was done in a way that did not openly display contempt. If they reacted without a proper excuse, they would risk becoming a laughingstock.
However, Roland did not see this as entirely negative. The location was removed from the areas with heavier enchantments, suggesting that surveillance was not as intense. While there were no golemic cameras or sensors hidden here as there had been in Albrook, other magical devices capable of similar monitoring were still present.
Roland dismounted with a sharp thud, his boots striking the stone path. He swept his gaze across the surroundings. More guards were stationed along the edges of the property, clearly positioned to keep watch over them. Subtle runic traps shimmered faintly among the flowerbeds. Wards lined the windows, likely placed to prevent anyone from sneaking out during the night.
Only after he had scanned the area and given a nod did Gareth dismount his horse and open the door to Arthur’s carriage. Arthur stepped out slowly, but his eyes did not focus on the temporary residence. Instead, they fixed on the grand Isgard Castle in the distance. The city was vast, and even though the inner wall lay several kilometers away, the towering structure still appeared enormous.
Roland noticed the flicker of longing in Arthur’s eyes but chose to remain silent. Instead, he turned his gaze to the same sight, taking in its grandeur. He could activate skills that allowed him to see the mana in the environment. Although the entire middle section pulsed with enchantments, it was insignificant compared to the massive column of radiant energy that surrounded the castle.
‘This is going to be a headache…’
He already felt a faint pressure building in his skull just from being here, and it was clear this situation would only get worse. The power concentrated in this place was overwhelming, and they were now trapped. Leaving was no longer an option, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to take control of the teleportation gates as easily as he had during his brother’s rescue. They were stuck, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and watchful eyes. Any one of them could be a threat, and surviving the next two days would be a challenge. Arthur had already insulted one of his brothers, and the risk of assassination was very real. Then to make things worse, the butler looked at the fifty soldiers they brought along and then spoke out.
“Now then, I shall escort your forces to the outer castle district…”
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