The Game Difficulty
Is Crazy
The next morning.
At the front gate of the Wordsworth estate, dozens of people were standing, divided into two groups.
One side was made up of knights and servants who were there to escort Tris.
The group gathered around Glen consisted of trainee knights and instructors.
In addition, at the center of Glen’s group, a supply wagon was sitting by itself.
“What’s that, Glen?”
Tris asked, pointing at the wagon.
“Ah, this? It’s my small token of sincerity for the Gray Wolf Knights.”
“Sincerity? Ah, the thing you mentioned yesterday……”
“A bribe, basically.”
Tris gave a bitter smile.
“I hope they like it.”
“They won’t dislike it.”
“I’m really curious. What on earth did you prepare?”
“It’s a secret.”
Glen smiled with his eyes.
“You’re really mean.”
Tris puffed out her lips.
At that moment, the butler Fred approached them together with the captain of the guards.
“I sincerely apologize for being late, young master. And miss.”
As Fred spoke, he looked far more worn out compared to before.
Tris smiled wryly.
“You’ve been through a lot too, Fred. I’m sorry for giving you such a big responsibility.”
These days, Fred had been spending every day busily because of the Edgar incident and the inquisitors.
Managing the servants of the estate alone was already no small task.
On top of that, with Tris also leaving the estate in place of Edgar, Fred had taken on all the duties that the lord should normally handle.
Of course, this was all a scheme Glen and Tris had devised to keep Fred tied down.
“This old man is fine. More than anything, I only hope that the young master and miss will calm the anxiety and doubts of the vassals, even if only for a day.”
The eldest son Edgar, who had accused his own younger brother and was instead escorted to the capital.
Under the pretext of personally explaining that disgraceful and shameful incident, Tris and Glen were said to be visiting vassals across the land.
Using that as an excuse, Tris had refused to take on the duties of the family head.
Naturally, Fred had no choice but to accept and shoulder the work.
Overworked and short on manpower, Fred would lose the capacity to keep an eye on the two siblings.
As a result, even if Glen and Tris went around the territories of the minor lords urging them to prepare for war, Fred would never hear about it.
“Leave it to us, Fred.”
“Mm. I’ve already sent messenger crows to each territory, so escorts will come to meet you along the way. Please take care of the estate.”
“That puts my mind at ease. Then, young master, miss, please take care of yourselves.”
With that, the two groups, each headed to different destinations, left the estate gate.
After traveling for about thirty minutes.
Having left the city and reached a crossroads, Tris and Glen stopped their horses and the wagon for a moment.
“We won’t be seeing each other for a while, sister.”
“Yeah.”
“If the vassals come on strong, don’t let yourself get intimidated. You know that, right?”
“Hey…… Glen. Did you forget what I told you yesterday?”
Tris put force into her brow.
“Look forward to the new me. I’ll turn every single lord into someone obsessed with the holy war.”
“That’s reassuring.”
The two siblings exchanged smiles.
“Oh, right. Glen, take this.”
Tris unpacked some luggage and handed him something wrapped in paper.
“What is this?”
“Butterscotch pie Lucy made.”
“You’re giving this to me?”
“Yeah. She made two. She said one was for you.”
“That’s surprising.”
It was the estate’s best dessert, something Lucy would never make for anyone but Tris.
When he looked at Lucy standing at the back of the group, she quickly lowered her head with an embarrassed expression.
“Right? Surprising, isn’t it?”
Tris smiled with satisfaction.
After parting with Tris.
Glen’s group rode their horses toward Avenew Fortress.
For several hours, they traveled in silence without much conversation.
Then Sir Gregory spoke.
“We should let the horses rest around here and prepare a meal.”
Sir Gregory, who had come as both lead instructor and escort knight, along with five trainee knights and Glen.
Eight people in total, including the coachman, divided roles and prepared the meal.
After eating.
With some time left before departure, Glen called Tasha out to a nearby clearing.
Chaeng—!
Clang!
The sharp sounds of blades cutting through trees and grass rang out.
At the center of it, Glen and Tasha were performing a sword exchange.
Ironically, the one on the offensive was Tasha.
Kaang—!
“…!”
A look of surprise flashed in Glen’s eyes, but he did not give up the initiative.
As he blocked the blade, Glen leaned his body forward.
A follow-up chain of strikes.
It was a sword style different from the swordsmanship of the Wordsworth family.
Clang—! Chaeng!
Tasha frowned.
The pure white holy power particles surrounding her sword grew denser.
But the more their blades clashed, the more her posture fell apart.
Paang—!
In the end, Tasha’s sword was knocked into the air by Glen’s upward strike.
“I lost.”
“Hoo! Good work.”
Glen looked refreshed.
“…As expected, a complete defeat.”
“It wasn’t that one-sided.”
“Unlike me, who was fighting at full strength, you didn’t even use a single Holy Ring.”
Tasha had strengthened her body with two Holy Rings, and even used the skill Weapon Enhancement – Holy.
Meanwhile, Glen had not activated even one Holy Ring.
The only ability assisting him was his automatically triggered unique potential, Ringless Knight.
Even so, Glen was clearly a step above Tasha.
“That’s true, but I’m a bit unusual.”
“That seems to be the case.”
“You say that so plainly……”
Tasha replied in her usual flat tone.
“Even Lady Tris matches the number of rings when sparring with you.”
“That’s the normal thing to do.”
“But you don’t even use Holy Rings at all, so I agreed that you are unusual.”
There was a sharp edge to her words, but her calm blinking expression showed no ill intent.
Glen shrugged.
“…Well, let’s say that’s true. Anyway, until we arrive, let’s spar whenever we have time. Is that fine?”
“I don’t mind, but will you be all right, young master?”
“Hm? Why?”
“I don’t think sparring with me will be of much help to you.”
“Ah.”
It wasn’t entirely wrong.
Even without using holy power, Glen’s swordsmanship and strength far surpassed Tasha’s.
From a normal perspective, it was nothing more than Glen teaching Tasha.
But that was only from a normal perspective.
For Glen, these spars had meaning beyond teaching his opponent.
‘They have a huge effect on the growth of Ringless Knight.’
He had said it before.
Ringless Knight was a late-game–oriented potential ability.
The higher the level of swordsmanship, the greater its effect.
When Glen’s sword reached an even higher realm, Ringless Knight would grant even stronger power and open even higher stages.
A valuable potential ability where growth and ascent repeat endlessly.
And the most efficient way to refine this valuable ability was to use only the sword.
Normally, sparring with Tris while using all his holy power was efficient for both swordsmanship and holy power.
‘But right now, sister Tris isn’t here to spar with me, so this is better.’
In other words, focusing on strengthening Ringless Knight rather than training holy power was more efficient at the moment.
Of course, Tasha, unaware of this, probably thought he was simply making time for her.
“So if it’s for your training, wouldn’t Sir Gregory be more suitable than me?”
“No. You’re better.”
‘If I train with Sir Gregory, I’d have to activate holy power in an awkward way.’
Even if the difference in Holy Rings was only one, the gap between Tris and Gregory as sparring partners was like heaven and earth.
Half-hearted holy power training was something he wanted to avoid.
“I don’t quite understand.”
“You don’t need to. Just think of it as getting carried.”
“Carried? I’m not sure what you mean……”
Tasha tilted her head.
“It’s just a rough way of saying goodwill.”
“…If it’s goodwill, I’ll accept it gratefully.”
“Good. The time won’t be long, but take this chance to learn properly.”
Although he didn’t say it out loud, Glen had been paying close attention to Tasha.
Her dry and cold personality was a weapon stronger than most holy power or swordsmanship.
A calm and detached nature usually led to fewer mistakes, which directly connected to mission performance.
She had clear limits and could never become a dragon, but as the head of a snake, she was more fitting than anyone.
That is, a commander of a personally operated unit, or his adjutant.
In Glen’s eyes, Tasha clearly possessed such talent.
“Yes. I’ll do my best.”
A very faint smile appeared at the corner of Tasha’s lips.
After that, whenever time allowed, Glen took Tasha to a suitable clearing and repeated spars that benefited them both.
Two days passed faster than expected.
After repeating travel, rest, and sparring about six or seven times, they finally reached the foothills of Mount Rivero.
A fortress faintly visible at the edge of their vision.
The stronghold of the Gray Wolf Knights, Avenew Fortress.
‘It’s quite a sight in person.’
Snow piled thickly at the peak.
Below it spread dark rocks and a gray fortress built at the foot of the mountain.
He had seen this castle hundreds of times through a monitor, but seeing it with his own eyes was like looking at a painting.
“That place is Avenew Fortress……”
“So that’s the station of the Gray Wolf Knights we’ve only heard about?!”
The trainee knights were visibly excited.
Aside from Gregory, it was everyone’s first time seeing Avenew Fortress.
Seeing their innocent faces, Gregory approached.
“Young master. We’ll wait here for a moment. I sent a messenger crow before departure, so an escort should arrive soon.”
“Understood, Sir Gregory.”
After waiting for about ten minutes.
From the direction of the fortress, about fifteen mounted knights came galloping toward Glen.
Dududududu—
Dududududu—
Warhorses charging powerfully.
Men clad in dark gray armor that glimmered faintly, and banners bearing the head of a roaring wolf.
They were the Gray Wolf Knights, the pride of Wordsworth, and the nightmare of the demons on the northern front.
‘So this is the Gray Wolf Knights, in the flesh.’
Glen raised his eyebrows.
Even the Saint Summoner who had played Gray Eden hundreds of times had never seen them in person.
As Glen’s eyes shone with interest, the knights arrived and dismounted.
All of them removed their helmets at once and paid their respects as vassals.
Then the middle-aged knight at the front shouted loudly.
“I, Zaber, son of Orland Remarque, commander of the Gray Wolf Knights, the shield that protects Wordsworth, greet a blood descendant of Wordsworth!”
The man who introduced himself as Zaber Remarque was impressive in many ways.
A massive build that easily looked over 190 centimeters, and a scar cutting across one eye.
His slicked-back hair and thick beard resembled a gray wolf’s mane, but his bulky, solid frame made him look more like a bear than a wolf.
“The legitimate bloodline of Wordsworth. I, Glen, second son of Henry Wordsworth, greet the leader of the Gray Wolves.”
Glen also showed proper respect as the master.
Then, as usual, he put on his public-facing smile.
“May God’s grace be with you this morning, Sir Zaber.”
A brief silence passed.
“Khahahahaha!”
Zaber laughed heartily.
His deep voice boomed loudly.
The trainee knights looked flustered at the sudden laughter.
“God’s grace, you say! I heard rumors that the second young master is very devout, and it seems they were true! Khahahaha!”
“Ah, if the rumors have reached even this distant borderland, then I must be living my faith properly.”
“Still, it seems not all rumors about you are true.”
Suddenly, Zaber stepped forward toward Glen.
The shadow of his huge body fell over him.
His wolf-like single eye scanned Glen.
“From the rumors alone, I thought you were a gentle lamb, perfect for having your neck bitten by the wolves you raise.”
“Sir Zaber, what is this—!”
Just as Gregory tried to step forward.
Glen himself raised a hand and stopped him.
Then, smiling lightly, he looked up at Zaber.
“Then what kind of master do I look like to you in person?”
Zaber’s eyebrows twitched at the unexpected boldness.
Then he curled his lips into a grin.
“To these eyes, you look like a fearless master who doesn’t know how vicious his wolves are, yet lets them bite his neck.”
“Then it doesn’t seem that different from the rumors. What should I do to avoid being bitten by the wolves?”
“Well, wouldn’t it be best not to enter the wolf’s den in the first place?”
It was a clear warning.
In short, Zaber was refusing Glen’s visit to Avenew.
“That’s troublesome. I have something I must discuss with those wolves in order to carry out God’s will.”
The already cold air seemed to freeze even further.
The trainee knights held their breath, afraid something might happen.
An unknown, heavy tension filled the space.
Then, suddenly, Glen slowly stepped backward.
“Just now, God whispered a method into my ear.”
“Oh? God spoke to you?”
“Yes.”
“And what method might that be? Would you tell this man as well?”
Glen stopped in front of the supply wagon.
He reached out and grabbed a box.
“God says to shut the mouth of the wolves you raise.”
And threw it to the ground.
Crash—!
The box shattered into pieces, and its contents scattered across the ground.
Splat—
Thud—
What lay strewn across the ground was none other than meat from sheep and cows.
There is a saying.
‘Meat is always right.’
A truth that applies across all times and places.
And how much more so for macho men chewing preserved rations beneath a barren mountain where not even a single deer roams.
“What do you think, Sir Zaber?”
Glen raised his eyes.
A sly light gleamed in his ash-gray eyes.
At the same time, Zaber—
“….”
Was grinning.
