Emperor Has Returned

As the mood around the mansion turned sour, Ethan grabbed a passing guard and asked.

“Hey you, what’s going on? Has something been stolen?”

“It’s nothing to worry about sir. I better get going….”

As the guard attempted to leave, Ethan grabbed his collar and threw him into the air. The guard smashed into a wall back first, leaving him gasping for breath.

Surprised, the surrounding guards moved in, but after seeing the White crow mark on his cape, they stopped.

The guard who was thrown into the wall, was late to realise Ethan’s identity.

“I’ll ask again. What is going on?”

Ethan calmly asked. The guard momentarily hesitated but then spoke.

“Han, Earl Hannbon’s coveted item has been stolen. We were tracking the culprits movement, and its highly likely the culprit had help, so…..”

“The stolen item is?”

“I, I don’t know for sure. I heard it’s some kind of crystal or jewel.”

Crystal.

Ethan made a face as he turned around. His vice officer, who’d also joined in and was holding up a guard by the neck, dropped him and went to Ethan’s side.

“What are you thinking of, Commander?”

“There’s an item that Earl Hannbon was going to give to Bishop Rieto. I don’t know the exact details but it’s likely related to what’s happened just now. Bishop Rieto isn’t one to covet crystals…….So I have an idea what it could be.”

Indeterminate polyhedron.

It was a crystal that made the holder of the item cursed, but was a coveted item nonetheless. The curse part wasn’t something proven, but it was a known fact that the item was able to absorb dark power.

“This might put our plans on hold…. But, I think it’s best we help the guards for now. If we’re the ones to retrieve it, we can use it as leverage over Earl Hannbon.”

“Then, I’ll form a search team with the knights that have already entered the city. Are you going to lead the team, commander?”

“No. Better to split up. Move in groups of three. I’ll search by myself.”

The vice officer went out and relayed the command to the other knights, while Ethan decided to take a look around the mansion before getting on his horse.

The possibility of them still close by was high. He thought about the fact, these small incidents could also be related with the Hugin knights considering the timing of these events.

‘I’m becoming what I’ve always feared. Obsessed with catching them.’

It was a bitter feeling but it was all the more reason for him to capture the Hugin knights. The White crow knights would never be free from their duty without their destruction.

The area around the mansion was a lot quieter than he’d expected.

Everyone assumed the thief would have gotten far away and the search parameter was immediately set far and wide.

It was a correct thought if one understood the way things operated in Hiveden.

As stolen goods were easily sold and bought in this city, it was easy to locate places where it was sold. But on the other hand, it was easy to keep an eye on places where this trading occurred.

And especially, if the stolen item belonged to Hiveden’s Earl, it was a wise decision to leave as soon as possible as danger would follow anywhere in the city.

Ethan walked alongside the wall looking for any traces of the thief. His hand quickly went to the hilt of his sword at noticing a presence at the corner of the wall.

The presence belonged to a noble lady and a child that looked like her servant.

A woman of nobility that he came across earlier in the corridor and the black haired child that was fighting a duel earlier in the field.

The child, oblivious to Ethan’s gaze, had his hand on the woman’s thigh underneath her skirt and face buried in her chest.

Having heard of secret affairs between ladies of noble birth and their servant, Ethan felt a sense of displeasure and turned around to quickly leave.

But the moment Ethan walked past the two people, he drew out his sword and swung at them.

Clang! A loud sound echoed as Ethan’s sword clashed with the child’s dagger.

He had a completely different look compared to before when he had his face buried in her chest.

Her face red, Heretia quickly tidied up her skirt. Juan lightly pushed Heretia away, creating space between her and Ethan.

“I knew it.”

Ethan loosely held onto his sword as he ventured towards them.

“Certainly an unusual combination. Your identities? Hugin knights perhaps?”

“I thought Paladins would run away at seeing such an affectionate scene as most would have grown up without any interaction with females…..Maybe my acting wasn’t sincere enough?”

Instead of replying Juan teased Ethan. Ethan’s mouth twitched but it wasn’t enough to get on his nerves.

Expecting Heretia to run away, Ethan quickly made the decision to rush at her. Again swords clashed, producing sparks that lit up the dark alleyway.

The result was completely unexpected.

He’d managed to block Ethan’s attack but his heavy strike flung Juan’s body back into the air.

Having been flung up, naturally Juan was put in a dangerous position for Ethan to attack.

Ethan thrusted his sword at the falling Juan.

Juan tried to make a defensive stance with his dagger but in an unstable situation, it was likely Juan wouldn’t be able to block the attack.

Right before the attack would land on his body, Juan suddenly disappeared. Ethan quickly swung his sword behind him to stop Juan’s dagger.

It was an instinctive reaction from Ethan.

Sweat rolled down Ethan’s back. It felt like he wouldn’t be able to defend again a second time.

“What the….?”

Juan had a failed expression on his face.

Ethan recalled the movement that Juan just showed. An attack that his ‘graced’ shield that the emperor bestowed upon, barely managed to block it.

Maybe it was magic. A high level magic at that.

‘Teleport? No. For a split second I could see the movement. Then…it must be something related to speed.’

If that was a speed that Juan could reach physically, even Ethan would have a hard time against him.

However, noticing how Juan had his knife ready on alert, it seemed like he couldn’t use the skill too often.

‘It can’t be….top level ‘grace’, blink?’

Ethan felt a chill run through his body. Top level ‘grace’ was only bestowed to a handful, even amongst paladins because it was extremely difficult to master.

Before a paladin got used to using it, they often killed themselves in an accident. So it wasn’t given away lightly.

Even with the standard ‘grace’ that they received, Paladins were bestowed great power.

But even so, top level ‘grace’ wasn’t something that someone from beyond the border could use.

‘Maybe, he’s an illegal magician. I’ll have to look into this.’

Ethan spoke while facing Juan.

“Miss. I wouldn’t want to attack you so I’ll ask you to stay put.”

Heretia was about to run away, knowing she would only be a burden to Juan, but stopped at hearing Ethan’s warning.

Ethan glared at Juan and looked for an opening. He appeared extremely skilled but physically, there was no doubt that he had the overwhelming advantage.

Ethan recognised if Juan couldn’t use blink repeatedly, he would be favoured.

Ethan silently stared at Juan, then opened his mouth.

“You. You must be the black haired child that the Blue rose knights were after.”

Heretia pupils grew wide. But then changed into an accepting look.

She already had her suspicions. Juan didn’t respond but his silence was a reply in itself.

“I see. I thought as much, the two of you felt alike. (Referring to Sina) She’d be overjoyed if I bring your head as a present.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Juan replied in a relaxing tone.

Ethan once again ran at Juan. Before, Heretia was behind Juan so he attacked him front and centre.

He wouldn’t make the same mistake. Juan turned his body as he dodged the sword’s trajectory.

For a moment, Ethan’s eyes were clouded.

Thinking Juan had sprayed something at him, Ethan quickly turned around. However, Juan hadn’t done much but brought out his gray clock which briefly blinded Ethan’s sight.

Juan blasted off, at seeing his opportunity to strike.

Sound of stone pavement breaking was heard as Juan fired off like an arrow.

He couldn’t go for the critical parts. Instead he went for Ethan’s legs.

Kwang!

Juan’s body bounced back into the air and tumbled a few times before landing.

The one who was bleeding was Juan. Looking at the large gash on the side of his chest, Juan grimaced.

Ethan swung his sword spraying the blood on the sword onto the ground.

“Seeing it twice, I think I’m getting used to it. Maybe I can even get you on the third attempt.”

Juan clicked his tongue. Since he was a Paladin, the same as Arwen, a small part of Juan had underestimated him. He realised the two weren’t comparable at all.

It was the first time someone had blocked his blink attack without using a ‘graced’ equipment. Juan let out a long sigh.

Ethan was bewildered at seeing Juan not caring to stop the bleeding on his chest. Then Juan spoke.

“You, what’s your name.”

“Ethan Ethil. You must be Juan?”

“Sina must’ve told you. Are all the knights under White crow order as skilled as you? The previous guy was laughable.”

“I’m not going to thank you for killing him. It was to be expected.”

Thinking that Ethan was head and shoulders above the rest, instead of thinking Arwen was poor would be for the better. Juan clicked his tongue and mumbled something.

“Regrettable.”

“What is?”

“Finally the opportunity to see a Paladin’s true strength and I’m burdened by a companion and you’re hesitant because she might interfere. Well, I’ve seen what you can do. Why don’t we see if you can keep up with me for the third time, some other time.”

“Who said I would let you go…..”

Juan started to spread his gray fog in the dark alleyway.

As the fog surrounded him, Ethan wondered, why resort to such pestering skill and rushed at Juan.

However, before he could reach him, something in lots came flying into him.

Ethan couldn’t back off. Hail of arrows slammed where he stood.

Ethan used his sword to block most of it, even grabbing one with his hand and letting it fly at the archer. A scream rang out.

Another sword came flying at Ethan. An attack slow and weak compared to Juan’s.

Ethan with his fist slammed the attacker’s head into pieces. The skull and the helmet broke into fragments and disintegrated into dust.

“An undead?”

Ethan grimaced. Beyond the fog, several undeads were crawling up from a sewer.

These dead men that defied divinity were appearing in front of Ethan. Instead of swinging his sword, he used the emperor’s grace to disintegrate the whole lot of them with a single lightning strike.

The skeletons melted away like salt.

Juan and Heretia were nowhere to be seen.

However, Ethan didn’t have the luxury to pursue them. In his memory he recalled that there was only one being in the area that could summon the undead.

Hugin knights.

*****

After escaping from Ethan, Juan and Heretia were running along a waterfront.

The bottom of Heretia’s dress was already dirtied, but she didn’t care one bit. Looking back over her shoulders once every while, she was more concerned that no one was chasing after them.

“Stop.”

After running for a while, Juan stopped in front of a giant sewage entrance. An out of breath Heretia asked Juan.

“Ha-ah, ha-ah. Just now, was that an undead we just saw?”

“That’s right. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one.”

“Why did it help us?”

“It didn’t.”

Juan answered as he drew out his dagger, staring towards the sewage entrance.

“Their hatred towards Paladins, overweighs any emotions towards us.”

Chul-puk, chul-puk. Hearing a silhouette lightly step closer towards them, Heretia’s expression turned pale.

Draped in a black fog type cloak, rusted armor, shield and holding a big sword, a knight was approaching them.

Inside its helmet, a pair of blue flames burned in its eye socket.

“An undead knight…….”

Heretia moaned a murmur.

“Ju, Juan. It’s an undead knight. You know what that is!?”

“Yes I know. Why are you so afraid. This is unlike you. Are you scared of ghosts?”

“Something that you can’t reason with should always be feared! Lies don’t even work against it! Those bastards are so powerful they have the strength to go up against a Paladin one on one! I mean, at least Paladins will die if they’re stabbed, undead knights won’t even die until you find the summoner! Even one of them has the potential to endanger a city…..why would one be here…..”

Whispering while she held onto Juan’s arms, Heretia soon found herself unable to speak.

Beyond the sewer, the number of flickering blue flames increased.

One, two, the number stopped at 16 pairs of blue eyes.

Heretia’s teeth started to chatter.

Sixteen undead knights would be enough to easily conqueror a small to medium sized city.

Conquering Hiveden would be nothing short of a walk in the park.

Heretia’s mind recalled a group that currently had Hiveden in their palms.

“Juan, I’m thinking they’re……”

“Yeah. Hugin knights. A bit different to how I last remembered them though.”

The undead knight’s armor, although it was rusted and stained, it clearly showed a mark of a raven.