Chapter 83

Colin rested his chin on his hand and began interpreting the prophecy.

By nature, prophecies often foretold the future in ambiguous ways. Not even the person receiving the prediction knew its exact meaning, so it was better to interpret it oneself rather than leave it in someone else’s hands.

‘The meaning doesn’t seem that complicated. Three encounters and three opportunities, two failures and one chance. If I seize it, he’ll be a benefactor; if I let it pass, he’ll become a reaper.’

If interpreted literally, it meant Colin had had three opportunities, of which he had wasted two.

If he could take advantage of the last one, he would receive great fortune; but if he let that one slip too, he would die.

The real problem was that he had no idea what those “failures” referred to.

‘It’s true I’ve failed twice recently. In Bornholm and in Krephelt I had to flee without even receiving full pay. But those were just jobs—not aimed at any specific person.’

Who the hell was this figure that could become either a benefactor or a reaper?

If only a few people had been involved, maybe he could make some guesses. But both Bornholm and Krephelt had been battlefields where entire armies clashed.

It was impossible to know who might have been mixed in among that crowd.

“Is it hard to interpret?”

“No, the interpretation itself is simple. The problem is the word encounter. Is it used metaphorically too?”

Colin handed the paper back to Helen while asking. After thinking for a moment, she shook her head.

“Normally it isn’t used metaphorically. If a prophecy mentions an encounter, it usually doesn’t mean anything else.”

“Huh I don’t recall meeting anyone twice recently.”

“Maybe the failure wasn’t the meeting itself, but the chance to meet—and you missed it.”

“Not meeting someone, even when I could have, counts as a failure?”

“Ah… I’ve said too much. A prophet must not intervene after the prophecy has been revealed.”

With an ambiguous smile, Helen closed her mouth and said no more. Colin would’ve liked her to help a bit more, but it seemed impossible to get her to speak again.

Sighing, Colin stood up.

“Well, if the prophet says so, I have no choice but to interpret it as best I can.”

“That’s the right attitude. I hope you manage to seize your benefactor.”

Colin left the cave, leaving behind her brief words of farewell.

She hadn’t told him to take care—but then again, despite appearances, she could protect herself very well, almost instinctively.

Now, his own safety was what mattered, especially since the prophecy explicitly mentioned a “reaper.”

‘Three encounters, two failures… damn it, who the hell is this benefactor?’

As he headed to his hideout, Colin kept trying to figure out that person’s identity. But no matter how much he turned it over in his mind, no one came to him.

That was when he had been thinking for so long that his head began to ache.

“You’re late, mage.”

“…Sir Palmir, if you were coming, you could’ve given me a heads-up.”

At the sudden insult from the side, Colin frowned. Turning, he saw the man who had been waiting.

“If you use magic, you should be able to sense things like that. Not even noticing someone approaching, and you still call yourself a wielder of miracles.”

“I’ve told you many times. Magic varies greatly by school. Just because someone rides a horse well doesn’t mean they know how to tame wolves.”

“You think so? Sounds like an excuse to me.”

“You didn’t come all this way just to mock me. What brings you here?”

Colin cut in calmly. Continuing that conversation wouldn’t lead to anything good.

Clicking his tongue, Palmir got to the point.

“There’s someone I want you to take care of. They say you can call down lightning.”

“You want to make it look like a natural disaster? That’s possible, but if dark clouds suddenly form, people will get suspicious.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m not planning to do it in front of spectators. As long as it looks like a natural disaster.”

“In that case…”

Even though he accepted the job, Colin couldn’t help feeling bitter.

As a mage meant for study, how many more assassinations would he have to take?

It was a matter of survival, but sometimes the self-loathing weighed on him like a stone.

“I’ll give you the exact date later. Until then, gather power. And don’t waste it on nonsense—if you start making excuses on the execution day…”

“Don’t worry. That won’t happen. Though, I would like to know who the target is.”

“Lucian Valdeck. The third son of Grand Duke Valdeck.”

“I see.”

The House of Count Calix was crossing a dangerous line. Colin thought so, but said nothing.

As a mercenary, as long as he was paid, the danger of the target wasn’t his concern.

“Then I’ll be ready. Let me know when the day is set.”

“Hmph.”

Palmir snorted disdainfully and disappeared down the hill. Even at the end, his attitude overflowed with contempt.

“A guy who flushed his knighthood down the drain but still clings to his pride.”

Clicking his tongue, Colin returned to his hideout and calmly began organizing his potion bottles.

Just in case, he decided to prepare a few catalysts to amplify his magic for the day of the assignment.

‘Valdeck, huh? Strange—I keep running into that name too often. In Bornholm, in Krephelt, and this would be the third time.’

Clack.

Colin froze completely as he set down a bottle.

A chill ran through his body as he realized what he had just thought.

The third time?

‘Three encounters, two failures. What if the failures were not meeting him when I had the chance?’

A wave of unease swept over him. He was certain that if he ignored that thought, the real “reaper” would come for him.

Without hesitating any longer, Colin dropped the bottles and rushed outside.

He had to find out what kind of person the third son of the Grand Duke Valdeck really was.

***

Lucian decided to move immediately with his vassals as soon as he sent the response to the House of Count Calix.

Since things had come this far, there was no reason to give the enemy time to react.

The best course was to strike like lightning and end it all before they could act.

“Is the baron not planning to come with me? You might witness quite a few interesting scenes.”

“I sincerely appreciate the invitation, Your Highness, but the territory is still unstable. Until the second son returns, I must maintain control here.”

At Harald’s words, filled with regret, Lucian nodded.

The firstborn had sparked a rebellion, so chaos still hadn’t settled, and no one knew what other move Calix might attempt. Until the second son returned and an heir was formally designated, it would be difficult for Harald to leave his domain.

With no other option, Lucian’s group left Harald behind and headed to their next destination — Baile, the only territory that had once belonged to the ducal house of Grimaldi.

“I’ve heard a lot about this place, but it’s really just a forgotten backwater.”

After scanning the village, Lucian let out a dry laugh.

Despite bearing the name of a ducal territory, the population was no more than that of a rural area.

“Believe it or not, eight hundred years ago there were two veins of rare metals here, and it was quite prosperous. When they were exhausted, it began to decline.”

“How many centuries ago did you say? In eight hundred years, a kingdom can fall and rise twice.”

“Indeed. Seen another way, it’s almost a miracle that this place has survived until now solely for its historical value.”

After finishing the explanation, Raymond’s gaze turned to the lord’s mansion.

In contrast to the village, the building was surprisingly clean and majestic — to the point of seeming out of place.

‘Looks like a desperate attempt not to disappear.’

Was it the last pride of the north?

When Lucian’s maternal grandfather was still alive, it was said that neighboring lords contributed collectively to cover its maintenance costs.

After his death, the House of Count Calix had continued managing it in exchange for huge sums, hoping to profit from it.

Thanks to that, at least externally, the mansion still looked perfectly habitable even now.

“Halt! Identify yourselves!”

As they approached the partially ruined inner fortress, some soldiers blocked their way.

Seeing the crest of House Calix engraved on their armor, Lucian clicked his tongue.

“Who are you?”

“We’re in charge of guarding this place.”

“That’s not what I asked. I’m asking why you’re guarding it. I never hired you.”

“Huh?”

“I’m the owner of this house.”

“…!?”

At those words, the soldiers looked at each other, completely confused.

At that moment, a knight appeared from inside, accompanied by the metallic clinking of armor.

“I don’t know what family you’re from, young man, but you’re saying strange things. This is the private residence of the Duke of Grimaldi. Could it be that you’re mistaken?”

The tone was polite, but the voice was so sharp it felt like it could cut if you got too close.

Even so, Lucian stared at him without flinching.

“No, I’ve come to the right place. I am his maternal grandson.”

“…Are you Young Lord Lucian? The third son of House Valdeck?”

“I see you’re well informed. I appreciate that you’ve cared for the place without me asking. Now then, would you please step aside?”

“I’m sorry, but…”

The knight was about to refuse without hesitation when another figure stepped forward. It was Glenn, the inspector sent by the Empire.

“There’s no ‘sorry’. We’ve come to carry out the succession procedure for the late duke’s estate. Step aside. This is an imperial order.”

“What…?”

Upon hearing the words “imperial order,” the knight’s eyes widened.

Recognizing Glenn’s seal, his expression turned pale.

Northern parochialism only worked in closed environments; once a “legitimate procedure” entered the picture, there was no room to impose one’s will.

“What are you waiting for? Step back immediately. The grandson of the late duke has come to inherit the title and estate. Do you need a greater justification?”

“But… the one who has maintained this mansion until now has been House Calix.”

“How admirable. Taking such good care of an inheritance that doesn’t belong to you. Someday you’ll be repaid for it.”

“…”

The knight pressed his lips together but couldn’t say anything else and stepped back.

To confront an imperial inspector would only earn a humiliating reprimand.

Moreover, Lucian was not only coming to receive the inheritance but also the title of House Grimaldi. That meant becoming fully part of the north.

‘Even if I call him an outsider, no one here would support me. Damn it, at this point, I have no choice.’

The knight gave a subtle signal to one of the elite soldiers nearby, and the soldier slipped inside.

Just as Lucian’s group crossed the drawbridge and was about to pass through the main gate—

Boom! Hiiihiii!

“…!”

The door slammed shut with a deafening clang. While calming the horses startled by the noise, Felicia shouted in anger.

“What’s the meaning of this? You act like you’re stepping aside and then shut the gate!”

“It’s a misunderstanding. It seems the gate mechanism has broken down. Could you wait a moment while we repair it?”

It was a ridiculous excuse. A gate that had worked perfectly until then — and had been maintained by House Calix — couldn’t suddenly break. Clearly, they were stalling for time.

‘With such a flimsy excuse, they must be pretty desperate. Are they trying to move something before I get in?’

Calix had likely occupied the mansion for its symbolic value.

With no rivals, they had left everything as it was until Lucian appeared to claim the castle.

‘Sorry, but that’s not happening.’

Even if they were just symbolic items, all the Grimaldi inheritance belonged to Lucian.

He wasn’t about to give Calix so much as a plate or a rag.

Lucian dismounted, drew his sword, and shouted toward the other side of the gate.

“If anyone’s behind there, move away now. Don’t get involved where you might get hurt.”

“You’d best give up. That door is made from adamantium alloy; you can’t cut it. Resign yourself and wait.”

The knight’s tone was polite, but it dripped with mockery. Lucian, on the other hand, smiled and raised his sword.

At the same time, he unleashed all the energy he could muster at that moment, fully reinforcing his body.

Uuuuuung—

“What is that…!?”

The knight stepped back in horror. Clearly, he had never seen a manifestation of energy; in his wide-open eyes there was only shock.

Just as he was about to shout something—

Boom!

The sword, wrapped in explosive energy, slammed into the gate.