Chapter 101
Wolfgang de Eisenfeld
The drawbridge leading into the city of Beldana was once again packed with countless people.
The long line stretched on and on.
Every one of them was waiting to enter the city.
Monks and pilgrims, travelers and adventurers, merchants and migrants, provincial nobles... The line contained people from every walk of life.
Among them, a group of nobles who had traveled from the provinces began whispering among themselves.
“Isn’t that the Myatro family crest?”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the drawbridge on the opposite side.
That bridge was completely empty.
Not a single person could be seen on it.
Only guests invited by the Count were permitted to use that drawbridge.
“It is. The crescent moon crest. It symbolizes the Watcher of Narak.”
An antique carriage rolled onto the deserted bridge.
A blue crescent moon was emblazoned on its side.
It was the symbol of House Myatro.
No noble could possibly fail to recognize that crest.
Though the family had now fallen into decline, House Myatro had once been the most prestigious noble house on the continent.
“It seems the rumors were true. I heard His Excellency the Count had joined hands with the young baron of House Myatro.”
The opposite drawbridge was opened only for honored guests.
The young baron of House Myatro was undoubtedly riding inside that carriage.
“What do you mean, ‘young baron’? It has already been more than two months since that bastard became the head of the family.”
Several people looked puzzled.
“The head of a family at such a young age?”
“Exactly. I heard he’s still just a child.”
One of the nobles clicked his tongue.
“You people are painfully slow when it comes to information. Haven’t you heard that the Council amended the law? The royal capital was thrown into an uproar because they wanted to make that bastard the family head.”
Every noble on the Council had been summoned to amend the law.
The meeting continued for days, and the proposed amendment was ultimately approved by unanimous vote.
Johan von Myatro, the illegitimate son of a baronial house, was now the officially recognized Watcher of Narak.
Everyone clicked their tongues in disbelief.
“The story sounded so absurd that I dismissed it when I first heard it. I can’t believe the rumor was actually true.”
“I thought the royal family had sent out the wrong official notice.”
“These truly are the end times. A bastard becoming the head of a noble house—and the Watcher of Narak, no less.”
The noble at the front thumped his chest in frustration.
“Good grief, you ignorant country mice. The problem isn’t that some bastard inherited a noble house.”
“What issue could possibly be greater than that?”
“That bastard is now a member of the Council!”
The Council consisted of the ten nobles who governed the kingdom.
Each and every one of them stood at the pinnacle of power in the kingdom.
A mere child born out of wedlock to a frontier baronial house had no right to stand as an equal beside the nobles of the Council.
Everyone was stunned.
“H-How could something so outrageous happen?”
“The world has truly gone mad!”
“His Majesty approved it?!”
One of the nobles sighed.
“What power does His Majesty have? King or not, he is nothing more than His Excellency the Count’s puppet.”
“L-Lower your voice. What if someone hears you?”
“Did I say anything untrue? Aren’t all of you standing here because you want to side with the Count instead of the King?”
Several people cleared their throats awkwardly.
They could not deny it.
They had come to Beldana in hopes of establishing even the slightest connection with the Count.
Several nobles like them arrived in the county every single day.
“Ahem... In any case, the Council’s decision this time was rather rash.”
“I agree. Frankly, I cannot accept it.”
“I am sure the great lords had their reasons, but no matter how much I think about it, I cannot understand their decision.”
Everyone offered an opinion as they stared toward the opposite drawbridge.
Their gazes were laden with countless emotions—jealousy, envy, longing, and resignation.
Despite all that attention, the carriage continued silently forward.
The opinions and emotions of ordinary men were irrelevant.
Johan did not have the luxury of concerning himself with them.
Inside the carriage, Ilea drew back the curtain slightly and looked outside.
“Everyone is watching us. We’re attracting quite a lot of attention.”
Sitting opposite her, Johan set down his teacup.
“Well, that was inevitable. Rumors about me must have spread throughout the kingdom by now.”
Most nobles would regard Johan with displeasure.
In noble society, a capable illegitimate child was an unwelcome existence.
They would never look favorably upon him.
A faint smile formed on Ilea’s lips.
“Such insolent looks. Shall I teach them a little lesson?”
She could play a few tricks on them with magic.
Johan replied calmly.
“Pay them no mind. They’re insignificant people with nothing of value to offer.”
Johan had no desire to waste his energy on extras like them.
He needed to conserve as much mental strength as possible to deal with the nobles of the Council.
Ilea closed the curtain.
“To be honest, I was getting a little bored. After spending nearly ten days inside a carriage, I’m starting to feel restless.”
The two had traveled by carriage from the southern region to the central region.
They had traveled normally, without using magic or demonic authority.
They had deliberately allowed everyone to witness their journey to the capital.
Their purpose was to announce the presence of House Myatro to the world.
And it had worked exactly as intended.
Over the past ten days, Johan had passed through numerous territories and villages. Rumors about him would now spread across the kingdom as though they had sprouted wings.
—The Watcher of Narak is advancing into the kingdom’s central stage.
With so many eyes upon him, Johan’s standing would continue to rise depending on what he accomplished.
Of course, a single mistake could send him plummeting just as quickly, but Johan was confident that he would succeed.
If it was a double-edged sword, then it was a weapon he had long since grown accustomed to wielding.
Johan spoke.
“You said it felt like a pleasant journey before. Have you already grown tired of it?”
Johan and Ilea had spent an entire ten days together inside this cramped carriage.
They had spoken far more than usual.
For Ilea, it had been an extremely satisfying experience.
“Tired of it? Not at all. It was enjoyable, and I’d like to do it again. I’m just feeling a little melancholy now. We’ll have to live apart for a while.”
Ilea would remain with the Count’s family for the time being.
Johan would have to leave her behind and depart for the royal capital.
They would not be able to stay together for a while.
“Be patient for a little longer. I’ll come back for you soon.”
Ilea gazed at Johan for a moment before giving him a playful smile.
“As my groom?”
The moment Johan married her after she became the adopted daughter of the Count’s family, House Myatro would obtain virtually absolute power.
Johan clearly had a similar development in mind.
He replied calmly.
“I cannot say for certain yet, but it isn’t impossible. Even if we do marry, it will only be for appearances, so there’s no need to worry. You won’t lose your freedom.”
Ilea smiled brightly.
“I wouldn’t mind.”
“Mind what?”
“I wouldn’t mind living as your wife.”
“Neither would I. A superficial relationship like that makes no difference to me.”
In this world, every interaction shared with another person was merely a struggle for survival.
Marrying someone, swearing loyalty to someone—most relationships were nothing more than means to achieve a goal.
Taking a witch as his wife was no different.
Ilea puffed out her cheeks slightly.
“Johan, do you even understand what I’m saying?”
Johan nodded.
“Of course. No matter what kind of relationship binds us, I will help you achieve your Transcendence. In the future, you may use my status and authority however you please.”
Ilea stared intently at Johan.
Then she suddenly sighed.
“Forget it. Let’s end this conversation here. I’m suddenly in a bad mood.”
Johan looked puzzled.
“Is something bothering you?”
“Everything. From beginning to end.”
“Tell me freely. If it is within reason, I will grant whatever you ask.”
Johan intended to fulfill nearly any request Ilea made.
After all, she had helped him far too much.
In truth, he owed her a tremendous debt.
Ilea replied sullenly.
“Figure it out yourself, Johan.”
She refused to say anything more.
Johan found himself somewhat at a loss.
Amid the uncomfortable silence, the carriage entered the city.
***
Inside the lavish drawing room of the Staviana estate, the Count sat at a table and stared straight ahead.
A massive, white-haired man was seated opposite him.
The giant repeatedly twisted his body, apparently uncomfortable in the narrow chair.
After enduring it as long as he could, he abruptly sprang to his feet and roared.
“This damned chair! It is utterly impossible to sit in!”
His roar was deep and powerful, like that of a ferocious beast.
The giant kicked the chair with tremendous force.
It shot through the air and struck the ceiling.
A deafening crash erupted.
The chair shattered into pieces.
Fragments of debris rained down across the room.
Despite the sudden commotion, Count Staviana showed no sign of agitation.
Taking a sip of tea, he spoke calmly.
“Father-in-law, this is not the North. Please maintain some dignity.”
The giant swept back his closely cropped white hair.
Even that small movement caused the veins and muscles in his arm to bulge prominently.
For a man nearing one hundred and fifty years of age, he was extraordinarily robust.
The massive old man shouted in a booming voice.
“Dignity? Cromwell, you are as obsessed with appearances as ever! Even the women of the North do not use such a word!”
He was the Tiger of the North.
The patriarch of House Eisenfeld.
A Margrave who protected the kingdom from demonic beasts.
Count Staviana spoke without expression.
“As I have already told you, this is not the North.”
Wolfgang Eisenfeld laughed heartily.
“Have you forgotten? I am the North, and the North is me! Wherever I stand becomes the North. Since you have come to the North, you must obey the laws of the North, Cromwell Staviana.”
Count Staviana swallowed a groan.
As expected, Wolfgang was not someone who could be reasoned with.
“...Fine. Let us get to the point. Why did you ask to meet me in private?”
Wolfgang looked displeased.
“The kingdom’s chancellor cannot even confront me directly. Cromwell, where has your old spirit gone? You have grown so weak that you could not even protect your own woman.”
Count Staviana’s expression darkened for an instant.
He quickly composed himself and replied.
“Father-in-law, Yeriyan is also your daughter.”
Wolfgang was Yeriyan’s father and Cromwell’s father-in-law.
Wolfgang snorted.
“I already have more than twenty daughters. You had only one wife. If Yeriyan had been my only child, I would have risked my life to protect her. But you failed.”
Count Staviana fixed Wolfgang with an icy gaze.
Just as he was about to respond, a knock sounded at the door.
A knight entered the room.
“Pardon the intrusion. It is an urgent matter.”
He approached the Count and whispered into his ear.
At that moment, Wolfgang slammed his hand against the table.
“Do not dare whisper in my presence!”
The table was utterly demolished, scattering into pieces.
The knight froze stiffly.
He had been overwhelmed by Wolfgang’s presence.
Count Staviana spoke in a calm voice.
“Even after growing so old, that temper of yours still has not—”
Wolfgang abruptly cut him off.
“The Watcher of Narak has arrived? Bring him before me at once.”
His hearing had caught even the faint whisper.
Wolfgang had already heard every word the knight had spoken.
Count Staviana opened his mouth.
“Aren’t you busy? State your business briefly and leave.”
The corners of Wolfgang’s lips rose into a broad grin.
“My business is the Watcher of Narak. Johan Myatro. I want to know why you are protecting that boy.”
Count Staviana felt a considerable headache coming on.
He could not begin to imagine what would happen if Johan and Wolfgang came face-to-face.