Chapter 104 [part 1] (2/2)

Dean looked at Boris, who was busily running around here and there.

‘The darkness that only the elite knights were privy to, will now disappear. Boris will be the beginning of a new generation of elite.’

Hugo proceed with the barbarian subjugation differently from the way he had done it before. The purpose was not to adequately reduce the numbers by tens of thousands, but to scatter the tribes that were beginning to gather together, reduce their forces and alienate them. He mobilized as many knights as possible and carried out various strategies. He didn’t leave any room for later troubles and dealt with it quickly. He had made his goal of returning home, his top priority.

And unlike before, Hugo didn’t feel any inclination to kill barbarians, even when they were in sight. Compared to his desire to hold his wife, the desire for slaughter and spilling blood was merely annoying.

The villages near the border were always exposed to the threats of barbarian looting, so they were very cooperative. The reason why the villagers didn’t leave their villages despite the risk, was because of their stubborn attachment to their hometowns.

By the time all the elderly people were dead and gone, the ones who left the village when they were young grew old and came back home. Like that, they stubbornly maintained the village’s existence.

In a remote village, there was always an abandoned empty house. Among those, he picked a somewhat sturdy house, roughly cleaned it up and made it their headquarters. In the first place, Hugo wasn’t the type to care for showy displays, so it was only a matter of tidying up the dust and preparing a wide desk for meetings.

While Hugo was reading a detailed report that came from various quarters, a knight came in.

“My lord, the village doctor is asking to see you.”

“Why.”

“He said you would know the name ‘Philip’.”

Hugo lifted his head. And he gave a forced laugh. He had thought the man was wandering around from place to place but had no idea that he was coincidentally staying here. Philip wasn’t a face that he really wanted to see, so he considered whether he should see him or not, then decided that there was no reason to avoid him.

“Let him in.”

Sometime after, the knight brought Philip in. Hugo sent the knight out. He silently watched the shabbily dressed Philip as Philip respectfully bowed his waist.

“What do you want?”

“Knowing you were nearby, I couldn’t help but come to pay my respects.”

“No need for that. There’s nothing good in seeing each other’s face so just act like you don’t know me. If that’s all, get lost.”

Philip studied Hugo carefully.

Hugo knit his brows, showing his displeasure. The only person who stared at his face so openly and directly was this old man.

“Should I ask them to drag you out?”

“You’ve changed.”

“…What?”

“The way you look at me is different from before. Before, you exuded bloodthirst like you were about to go for the kill.”

Hugo had never once felt good listening to the old man’s bullshit. But this time, when he heard his words, he thought, ‘Is that so?’. It was true that when looking at the old man now, he didn’t feel as twisted inside and nauseated as before.

Philip was a trace of all of Hugo’s nightmares. He was a medium, a reminder that he was a disgusting and terrible monster. But now, he wasn’t that terrible.

“You mustn’t change. As the true owner of the north, you have to be calm and cold hearted. Young master is the true Taran bloodline…”

Hugo lowered his gaze to the report he was reading with a sigh. As expected, the old man only spoke nonsense whenever he opened his mouth.

“Get out.”

“…Is the Madam well?”

Hugo’s red eyes vividly deepened, turning blood red. His gaze turned murderous as he looked at Philip and fiercely bared his teeth.

“Don’t even put her in your dirty mouth. There’s no need for your concern.”

“It’s just my concern as a doctor about whether the Madam’s symptoms are still the same as before. If you still need the cure…”

“Don’t need it.”

Hugo called a knight and ordered him to drag Philip out. Holding onto the Knight’s hand, Philip continued to chatter.

“I’m planning on staying in this town for the time being. If by any chance, you need my help to treat the Madam, please call me.”

Hugo ignored him. Philip went out and left a last word.

“The day you look for me will come.”

Hugo snorted. Every time he met the old man, it never ended well. Next time, he definitely won’t see him.

“My lord. Urgent news!”

A knight entered in a haste. The small wooden container that the knight handed over, had a sign demarcating that it was news from the capital.[1]

As Hugo’s expression stiffened, he hurriedly took out the message and read it.

After reading the short message, Hugo slammed his fist on the desk and sprang to his feet. He immediately ordered the startled knight.

“Call Callis…Sir. Elliot. Right now!”[2]

Translator’s Corner:

[1] I have no clue what [나무통은] is. All I could find was wooden pail so I figured it’s a wood container…

[2] The knight he’s calling, his full name is Callis Elliot. I believe he’s the knight captain.

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