bookpower Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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The mediation between the 12 Tribes and the Orcs had been a success.
The Elves remained hostile towards Hans, but they were pursuing their own independent course of action.
The situation was progressing favorably.
Back at Lionheart Fortress, Hans savored a rare moment of respite, relaxing in his chair.
The simple act of staring at the ceiling felt therapeutic.
He had accomplished so much.
The Human Kingdom, the Dwarf Kingdom, the 12 Tribes, and the Orcs. He had intervened and resolved conflicts for almost every race, with the exception of the Elves.
It was only natural that he felt exhausted. He hoped this peace would last.
Naturally, it didn’t.
“Commander, do you have a moment?”
Cluna entered his office, a gentle smile on her face.
Hans nearly jumped out of his skin. Cluna, always busy with her duties, rarely sought him out.
If she did, it usually meant trouble. He had enjoyed three days of uninterrupted peace since Cluna’s last visit.
And now, it was over.
‘Well, that’s just my luck.’
But he couldn’t show his frustration. He was the Commander of the Royal Knights, a pillar of strength.
Or so he thought. The reality of the Royal Knights was far more twisted.
Their loyalty, their motivation, revolved solely around Hans. They cared little for anything else.
They had each joined the order with their own goals, their own paths to glory.
But that path had ended in ruin. They had witnessed devastation, the brutal slaughter of their comrades.
Even the strongest individuals could be broken by war. And they had witnessed the horrific deaths of their companions, those they had fought alongside for over a decade. ṟАƝÔ₿Ëś
It was Hans who had saved them, offering them salvation. Though it had come at the cost of a twisted possessiveness.
If Hans were to fall, the Royal Knights would unravel.
They might even ally with the demons to save him. It sounded absurd, but they were capable of it.
“What is it, Cluna?”
Unaware of the depths of their devotion, Hans addressed Cluna calmly.
She smiled, handing him a letter.
Hans took it and read the contents slowly.
[A monstrous creature has appeared, wreaking havoc in the Human Kingdom. The casualties are significant, but more importantly, this Minotaur is searching for you, Commander.]
A Minotaur rampaging through the Human Kingdom, searching for him. There was only one Minotaur that occupied Hans’s thoughts.
‘Is that bastard causing trouble again?’
He had encountered the Minotaur shortly after arriving in this world, before he had fully grasped his situation.
He had been forced to let it go.
Imprisoning it had been an option, but the refugee camp lacked the facilities, and the risk of escape was too great.
More importantly, he hadn’t been confident in his ability to defeat it. But things were different now.
Hans glanced at the sword at his hip.
Sensing his gaze, the holy sword pulsed with a brilliant light.
Hans looked back at Cluna.
“Didn’t the Royal Guard send a subjugation force?”
“They failed.”
“Failed?”
The Human Kingdom’s palace remained unchanged. It prioritized function over aesthetics, more a fortress than a palace. Hans, after a brief pause, continued inside.
“Welcome, Commander Hans.”
“We meet sooner than expected.”
“I apologize for the circumstances.”
“No, I think it’s for the best.”
The Human King prioritized efficiency, avoiding unnecessary expenditures of resources and manpower.
This was one of the reasons Hans held him in high regard.
“So, the Minotaur. That’s the problem?”
“Yes. He now calls himself Ayanhar. I don’t know why.”
“Ayanhar?”
“Do you know what it means?”
“...I believe it’s a fragment of a myth.”
Hans suspected it was a corruption of “Einherjar.” The pronunciation was similar, and it suited the Minotaur’s obsession with seeking out strong opponents.
“Regardless, that’s not important. He’s looking for me?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
“...Right outside.”
“Right outside?”
“Follow me.”
Hans followed the King, escorted by the Royal Guard, to the castle walls.
From atop the ramparts, Hans spotted the Minotaur sitting calmly.
“He’s just sitting there, waiting.”
???? Important Notice ????
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“Yes. He claims he sensed your presence when you were here before.”
“Sensed my presence?”
“That’s right.”
“...”
‘Crazy stalker bastard.’
Hans swallowed the words.
He wouldn’t damage his image with such outbursts.
“There’s no choice. Let’s deal with this.”
“I apologize for the trouble.”
“No, he’s stronger than before. We can’t underestimate him.”
The King, encouraged by Hans’s words, nodded. He hadn’t shown it, but the thought of the soldiers and knights lost to the Minotaur filled him with rage.
But now, he felt a sense of relief.
The Commander would handle it.
‘He’s stronger than before. So don’t blame me too much if I lose.’
Hans was simply laying the groundwork, just in case.
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[Translator Notes]
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