Black Wind 5
The Kennys Border Barony is vast and blessed with fertile land. The Ebene Plain is ideal for both agriculture and dairy farming, so much so that even neighboring countries covet it. Consequently, skirmishes with neighboring nations have been frequent since the barony’s founding. As a result, the Kennys Order of Knights has earned a reputation for being the most formidable compared to other noble orders, known for their bravery and boldness. However, this nature of the order is likely influenced by the baron himself, as those who know him well suggest.
The current baron of the border, Hamilton Kennys, was visiting a fortress overlooking the border that day and attended the knights' training. Recent reports had indicated movements among the lords of the neighboring country along the border. Shadows resembling scouts had crossed the river several times, infringing on their territory. Yet, there was no concrete evidence.
Moreover, with the peace treaty in place, the neighboring country would not overtly attack the Kingdom of Slibegrad. They would maintain the pretense that any border issues were the actions of local lords. Thus, the barony could not afford to be overtly militaristic. Creating a situation that suggested an intention to attack would provide an opportunity for them to exploit.
After much consideration, the baron decided to station the Kennys Order at the border fortress under the pretext of a training exercise. With the uncertainty of when the neighboring country might invade, the atmosphere near the border remained tense. However, maintaining such a state for months was not feasible. The purpose of his visit was to assess the extent of the neighboring lords' war preparations with his own eyes, but he also came to offer some respite to the troops.
Despite being in his advanced years, the baron's prowess from the civil war had not diminished. Few knights in the order could match him in battle.
After a series of matches with the knights, the baron wiped the sweat from his forehead. His expression was stern, but satisfaction gleamed in his eyes.
— Yeori and Innyebori.
Both were "Northern immigrants." Last year, Yeori had volunteered to go to the capital as a decoy for the frequent disappearances occurring in the barony. He was a promising and brave young man. Without the help of the Duke of Clark’s daughter, the baron would have lost both a talented knight and a valuable asset.
Innyebori was the only victim Yeori had wanted to bring back to the barony. The others seemed irrelevant. Amused, the baron had allowed Innyebori to accompany Yeori. Despite being a girl, Innyebori showed promise as a knight.
Now, a year later, both were among the promising young knights. Yeori was nearing adulthood, and Innyebori, who had just begun to show signs of puberty, would likely be able to match the baron in a few years.
The baron found this prospect highly enjoyable.
“In terms of skill, they might surpass my son, Billy. I’m not sure if they are excellent commanders, but I might need to adjust their training content as potential senior officers.”
The Kennys Border Barony was distinct from other noble territories in that it operated on meritocracy rather than aristocratic lineage. Even those with noble blood who lacked skill could not join the order. Conversely, those who demonstrated capability could join, and those with recognized potential could become commanders. There were even commoners who had been appointed by the baron as officials.
In fact, the baron’s youngest daughter, Marianne, had been permitted to work as a maid for the Duke of Clark’s daughter based on her wishes and talents. The baron was content with this arrangement as Marianne seemed happy.
The baron’s good mood was not solely due to the excellence of Yeori and Innyebori. Reflecting on the letter he received that morning, he smiled. He called out to Deputy Commander Maurice.
“Maurice, come with me.”
“Yes, sir.”
Maurice, with his gray hair and gray eyes, was plain in appearance but exceptionally skilled as a knight. He was particularly adept at strategy, known for his calm and analytical approach to battlefield situations. His ability to remain unaffected by emotions was crucial for someone tasked with defending the border.
Maurice instructed the knights to continue their training and then accompanied the baron. Heading towards the stables, the baron led out a black horse, fitted it with a bridle, and mounted it. Realizing they were going for a long ride, Maurice prepared his gray horse. Mounted with agile movements, the baron addressed Maurice.
“We’re heading to the border.”
“Understood.”
The two rode side by side across the plains. After some time in silence, the baron finally spoke.
“Good news. The western tiger has awakened.”
“Is that so?”
Maurice nodded with few words, but an uncontainable joy was evident in his expression.
The "Tiger of the West"—Duke Ealdred. He was the sharpest intellect in the Kingdom of Slibegrad. However, he had been minimally involved in politics, primarily serving as a check against the extremists in the advisory council. Many lamented this silently, feeling it was a waste.
The baron chuckled through his nose.
“Though I think he’s a bit late in awakening.”
“It couldn’t be helped. After the death of his first wife, he lived like a shell of a man until Lord Austin was born.”
“If he had recovered sooner, he might have been the chancellor by now.”
After losing his first wife, Duke Ealdred had been a mere shell of his former self. Both the baron and Maurice had witnessed the duke’s dejection up close at the funeral. He had only moved enough to ensure his family and children were safe but had lost all ambition. The former king had dismissed him as a once-great talent now reduced to insignificance. Instead, the previous king had chosen the Duke of Clark—now serving as the chancellor with remarkable skill. Had Duke Ealdred's wife not died, or had her death been different, the Kingdom of Slibegrad might have looked very different today.
Sensing the baron's unspoken regret, Maurice nodded slightly and murmured.
“Things will surely change from now on.”
“Do you think so?”
Noticing the change in the baron’s tone, Maurice turned his gaze to him. The baron, who had been positive moments before, now had a bitter look and said, “I received a letter from the Tiger of the West this morning.” At Maurice’s silent prompt, the baron continued in a matter-of-fact tone.
“The Tiger of the West does not reveal everything. So, my understanding is limited to what I can infer from the disclosed information.”
The baron paused momentarily. The awakening of the Tiger of the West was too late. Things had already begun to move. The vested interests had surfaced. The result was the inquest of the Order of Knights' commander and the second battalion commander, as well as the indefinite suspension of the Deputy Director of the Magic Bureau. However, the focus should be on the process leading to these results, not just the outcomes.
“There are lunatics trying to seize control of our country under the guise of the Emperor’s passing. They were on the verge of taking over the Magic Bureau and the Order of Knights. It’s safe to assume the Magic Bureau has already fallen into their hands. The Order of Knights has failed, but they will likely attempt to remove the obstacle soon.”
“Exclusion of the commander and the second battalion commander, then?”
That’s correct, the baron nodded. There were others who might resist in the Order of Knights. If no measures were taken, they would all be eliminated.
Another concern was the neighboring country. Being the one tasked with defending the border made the baron more acutely aware of the urgency conveyed in Duke Ealdred’s letter.
“There are reports of movements from the neighboring country as well. The noise at the border is probably due to that.”
The baron turned his gaze towards the unseen border. His sharp eyes seemed to glare at the neighboring country.
The “suspiciousness” that could not be felt in the capital was quickly noticed at the border. There had been a sense of unease since the increase in immigrants, but the baron could not pinpoint its exact cause.
Maurice nodded in understanding. After a moment, he asked, “Do you think the neighboring country is involved in the takeover of the Magic Bureau and the Order of Knights?”
“That possibility is high,” the baron added, noting that Duke Ealdred seemed to think the same, though he had not explicitly stated it. Maurice frowned.
“It would be troublesome if they gained control of the Order of Knights.”
“Yes, if they took control of the Royal Order of Knights. We would have to ally with Calvart and win over other lords. Even then, the odds of success are uncertain.”
Though the baron’s tone was light, the implications were grim.
The Royal Order of Knights was not the strongest force but was still a significant one. Particularly troublesome would be the second battalion, composed of magic knights, and the seventh battalion, which prided itself on meritocracy. If the Royal Order of Knights were to be won over by the neighboring country, there would be nothing the lords could do. With the Royal Order of Knights and the Empire’s forces, the Kingdom of Slibegrad would be in jeopardy.
The situation was worse than during the previous civil war. Back then, the neighboring country had not actively sought invasion, and more importantly, the Kingdom of Slibegrad had had a hero. The previous king was not only a warrior of exceptional skill but also had the talent to elevate capable individuals. Even four years after his death, many still revered him, though there were even more followers during his reign. This support had enabled the kingdom to amass overwhelming strength and secure victory. Even if the military forces had been evenly matched, having a charismatic hero could rally people and bring out performances beyond expectations, minimizing the damage.
But now—what was present then is absent now.
“There are no heroes in this era.”
The baron murmured bitterly. It was not necessary for there to be just one hero. The heroes who ended the three hundred years of darkness were three in number.
It didn’t have to be a hero. It would have been enough if someone with the ability to unite people was among the royalists. That way, there would have been no division over who should be the next king.
Moreover, the timing was poor. It would have been better if the current king was in good health and had influence over the nobles. At the very least, the current king should have supported the regime until the crown prince came of age. However, the king was bedridden and not holding council meetings. All policies were decided in advisory councils. There was no time for the crown prince to solidify his position, and influential nobles could not assess his qualities before time passed.
The baron had come this far without being able to decide whom to support as the next king.
The border river came into view. The baron and Maurice guided their horses to the side of the dense forest to conceal their presence. They proceeded slowly, their eyes fixed on the other side of the border. The castle gate, which had been open a year ago, was now closed, and the moat surrounding the old castle was filled with water. Just a few months prior, the baron's spies had confirmed and reported that the water in the moat was being drawn from the river.
“Do you think His Highness Riley is the most suitable candidate for the next king?”
“His chances are the highest.”
Though he avoided stating it outright, the baron's decision was largely set after a year of observation. Above all, Duke Ealdred supported Riley. This had been confirmed by a letter from Duke Ealdred received that morning. The baron felt relieved that his judgment aligned with Duke Ealdred's.
“If Duke Ealdred decides on a course, Lord Playstead will follow. Therefore, there will likely be a significant number of Alcacia faction members who will switch to support the royalists.”
The baron said. Even among the nobles who had been taking a neutral stance, they had been divided among various factions. If several influential nobles from the Alcacia faction supported Riley as the next king, the situation could turn in their favor.
However, this would have been effective only until recently. The Magic Bureau had been taken over, and the Order of Knights was under threat. Although not explicitly stated, the “lunatic” referred to by the baron was likely an adversary of the royalists or—possibly—the neighboring nation of the Yunatian Empire. If the neighboring country was involved, even incorporating the Alcacia faction would not prevent the Kingdom of Slibegrad from suffering severe losses.
The baron was almost certain that the neighboring country had already begun interfering in Slibegrad’s internal affairs. Duke Ealdred likely shared this concern.
“Are the preparations for war in order?”
“Yes. Everything is ready for deployment at any time.”
Maurice nodded in response to the baron’s low-toned inquiry. The baron seemed satisfied, but then his eyes narrowed. In the next moment, he drew his sword. The sound of metal clanging echoed as several knives fell to the ground. Maurice reacted immediately, but by then, arrows had already struck the hindquarters of the horses they were riding.
“Damn—!”
The startled horses neighed and reared up, and in the chaos, the baron was thrown from his mount. However, as a seasoned warrior, he had managed to adjust his fall. He twisted his body towards the thick grass to cushion his landing. A sharp pain shot through his left shoulder, but he gritted his teeth and stood up. Maurice had also been thrown but managed to roll onto the ground and escape serious harm.
Both horses fell, frothing at the mouth. It seemed the arrows fired at them were poisoned.
“Damn it—!”
The baron growled lowly, gritting his teeth as he withdrew from the underbrush and readied his sword. Maurice stood beside him, sword drawn as well. The enemy was clearly hiding in the foliage but had not yet revealed themselves. The baron felt his body sway unsteadily. His legs felt weak. This sensation was familiar—poison. The enemy had likely anticipated his attempt to mitigate the impact of the fall by falling into the grass and had set a trap there.
Regular armies would not resort to such cowardly tactics. In other words, the enemy was likely one or a few assassins targeting the baron specifically.
“Maurice.”
“Yes?”
The baron called out the name of his trusted vice-captain in a low tone. Maurice, without turning his gaze, responded with a tense expression.
“Go.”
“But—”
Maurice hesitated. It was impossible for him to leave his master in such a state. But the baron was unyielding.
“This is not a full-scale attack. Their target is only me. But if you stay here, your life will be in danger too.”
Moreover—the baron had decided that the next captain of the Kennys Order would not be his elder brother but his vice-captain, Maurice. He could not afford to let Maurice die here. The words of Duke Ealdred flashed through the baron's mind.
—It is both a duty and a pleasure for an elder to nurture promising young people.
Duke Ealdred had supposedly told Riley this. He had vowed to lend his support to Riley and his supporting son, Austin, wishing to see their reign.
This had been the baron’s thought when he saw the young Duke Ealdred win a multi-board chess match. He had wished to see this talented young man lead the country. However, that dream was never realized. That was why, when he realized that Duke Ealdred considered Riley suitable to be the next king, his resolve was set.
Maurice pressed his lips together, took a step back, and then turned to run. His eyes seemed on the verge of tears, but the baron paid it no mind, instead smiling defiantly.
Though he spoke of meritocracy, the baron had always watched the talents of the younger generation. He had arranged everything to ensure they could perform at their best.
The ideal was still far off.
There were still young people who wished to see the future.
But he understood that this was the crossroads of his own fate.
“—Come out, you scoundrel!”
He growled in a low voice, anger driving him forward.
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