"Vyke, I know you have some skill, but don't forget whose land this is. This is Morton territory!"
"You think you can stand against our army on your own?"
"Today, even if you sprouted wings, you wouldn't escape. Surrender while you still can."
The noble scion's voice dripped with arrogance.
Nolan let out a cold laugh.
"The Morton House. What an imposing display of authority."
The Mortons controlled only a few nearby villages. A minor noble house, yet more overbearing than some great lords in prosperous regions. That was the privilege of a warlord in troubled times.
The noble scion's face darkened with fury. He spun around, raised his straight sword, and pointed it at Nolan.
"You Graceless wretch! You dare stand up for a criminal again and again? Do you really think I wouldn't kill you?"
Before he finished speaking, he jerked the reins and urged his warhorse forward, clearly intending to strike.
The villagers around them turned pale, their hearts tightening for Nolan.
Standing up for injustice was admirable. But if it cost you your life, what was the point?
In these parts, the Morton family truly could do as they pleased.
"Young master, wait. Don't act rashly!"
At that moment, one of the attendants who had come with the noble hurried forward, as if struck by a sudden realization.
He grabbed the noble scion's arm and leaned close, lowering his voice.
"I once read of it in an old record. The armor that man is wearing… it looks like Carian Knight armor."
The whisper halted the noble scion in his tracks. His horse gave a sharp neigh and stopped.
The title of Carian Knight was not something lightly spoken of on this continent.
They were synonymous with heroes, warriors whose strength left most knights far behind.
Each of those magic knights possessed exceptional skill. Against ordinary knights, they were overwhelming.
More importantly, the Carian Knights had long served the royal house of Caria.
The great war known as the Golden Conquest had established the Golden Dynasty's supremacy over the Lands Between.
Yet even at the height of its power, that mighty dynasty had failed against Caria.
In those days, Lord Radagon personally led a host of Golden heroes to invade Liurnia of the Lakes.
The campaign ended in defeat, resolved only through marriage.
That failure made the world understand what kind of power Caria truly held.
Anyone among the Golden Dynasty Subjects who had bothered to study history knew this much.
Even two Crucible Knights, the mightiest warriors who had followed the First Elden Lord Godfrey in his southern and northern campaigns, had fallen there.
And then there was the Queen of the Full Moon, whose magic stood at the level of a true Lord.
It did not matter whether it was a hundred men or a thousand. Even an army of ten thousand would struggle to withstand that legendary spell, Full Moon.
When Queen Rennala unleashed it, its destructive force was nothing short of catastrophic.
Though Her Majesty had since fallen into madness, the small lords of this remote region knew nothing of such inner affairs.
But whether it was the Queen of the Full Moon, the Lunar Princess, or even a renowned Carian Knight appearing here, it was enough to make men think twice.
The noble scion's face turned pale at once, a fine sheen of sweat forming on his brow. He hurriedly forced a smile.
"What a surprise. An honored guest from Caria gracing us with your presence. I was blind not to recognize you."
"If I offended you earlier, I beg your forgiveness. Please overlook my ignorance."
Even setting aside the difference in strength, a Carian Knight was a true noble by rank, equal in standing to his own father.
Nolan had no interest in trading pleasantries. He waved a hand.
"How would tax collectors dare run wild in a village like this?"
"From what I saw, the men he killed were nothing but bandits guilty of countless crimes."
"And yet you labeled him a major criminal without even sorting out right from wrong?"
The noble scion nodded repeatedly.
"You are absolutely right. There must have been some misunderstanding."
"I will return at once and send men to investigate thoroughly. I will give you a satisfactory explanation."
As he spoke, he lashed his horse, eager to leave this place as quickly as possible.
Against someone of that caliber, even ten lives might not be enough to save his own.
"Sir, we will take our leave. Until we meet again."
Nolan glanced at the stunned retainers and flicked his hand impatiently.
"Still standing there? Get lost."
They were far too weak to interest him.
The attendants did not dare hesitate. They bowed hurriedly and turned their horses, following their young master away.
Vyke finally came back to his senses.
He stepped forward, bowed deeply, and offered a proper knight's salute.
"Thank you for your help. I will remember this kindness. If the chance arises, I will repay you with all I have."
Nolan studied the young man for a moment, a bold idea forming in his mind.
He smiled faintly and waved it off.
"No need for that. We are both Tarnished. It is only right to lend each other a hand out here. Besides, you seem like a decent man. That is reason enough."
"These days, the Lands Between are overrun with bandits. Soldiers and thieves blur together, burning and looting as they please. It is rare to see someone truly stand up for others. I could hardly ignore that."
His words struck deep, stirring everyone present.
The villagers were moved, their respect for the knight growing stronger.
Vyke felt it most keenly. He had only just arrived here, unfamiliar with the land and wary of everyone around him.
Now his eyes burned, and he looked at Nolan with open gratitude.
He was not one of the ancient heroes, but a descendant of them.
Carrying the honor of his forebears, he had returned to his homeland with ambition in his heart, hoping to carve out something great with his own strength.
Yet when he stepped forward to act, those with ulterior motives twisted the truth and turned the blame onto him.
In that moment, his heart had gone cold. What angered him most was the mockery of justice itself.
After wandering this chaotic land for days, he had learned his lesson.
Schemes and selfishness were everywhere. Truly good people were hard to find.
...
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