"Who is it?" Julius furrowed his brow, looking to his father for guidance.
"Go check," Francois suggested with a glance at the door. "If it's a girl, give her some silver coins and send her away."
Julius nodded in understanding. He gripped the hilt of his long sword and approached the door cautiously, then slowly opened it.
Indeed, standing at the door, enveloped by the cold wind, was a young girl. She had golden hair, her face reddened by the cold, wearing simple linen clothing. When she saw Julius open the door, the girl, noticing that he didn't wear a Grail Knight's badge, hesitated before speaking, "Um... the Baron sent me here..."
"Go, leave." Julius's expression remained stern, his poker face showing no emotion as he handed her some silver coins. "Hurry up, don't make me tell you twice!"
"But!" The girl was pleased with the money, but her eyes kept darting inside the house.
"Leave!" Julius's voice carried a hint of anger as he forcefully closed the door.
The girl, clutching her few silver coins, disappeared into the cold winter night.
Inside, Francois poured aperitif into mugs, chuckling to Ryan and Gerard, "It's normal. Whenever Grail Knights lodge in a town, local lords often think we have certain needs, so they usually send young virgins to 'serve' us voluntarily."
Ryan sipped his aperitif, the sweet and tart flavor comforting him as he shook his head, "I've encountered this too, and I've also refused."
"Mmm, the path of knighthood need not dwell on such trivialities. While there are indeed some Grail bastards from time to time, which to the serf girls could be considered an honor, it's somewhat dishonorable for us, especially for lords like Ryan and me," Francois smiled lightly. "If you don't want serfs turning up later with children claiming you as their father, you'd best keep yourselves in check. Having a few female courtiers is normal, but legitimate and low-born bastards are fundamentally different."
This was the Duke's advice, and everyone nodded.
Ryan felt a stirring inside; Francois's words were clearly meant for him.
Among the women associated with Ryan, the Champion of the Lady, some were there by his choice, like Olica and Veronica, whom Ryan needed.
Others were not part of his initial plan, like Theresa and Morgiana.
Ryan had never planned for the Lake Witch and the sorceress to be part of his life's blueprint, which had originally included only a lady, a witch, and a maid.
But plans often fail to keep up with changes. Theresa had already done so much for Ryan; if not for her risking her life, Ryan might have died at the siege camp by the Gresmore River.
Morgiana was a simpler case; had he not saved her, she likely would have died already.
Noticing Ryan's nod of understanding, Francois swiftly changed the subject, "Tomorrow we'll go to the market to buy some dry food and meat. Crossing the Grey Mountains will take a few days, and we'll arrive at the town of Ubseric on the other side, which is on Imperial territory."
Gerard stroked his goatee, "Ubseric, a trade town of the Empire with about three thousand five hundred inhabitants, located downstream of the Toifel River that originates in the Grey Mountains. It's governed by Count Ronge-Freud, and not far from Hemgart, the Empire's primary fortress to defend against invasions from Brittany."
There are three main routes to cross the Grey Mountains without considering the territorial dispute of the "Corona Road." The northern route, Gisoleaux's Path, which Ryan took to Brittany, is passable but not suitable for trade.
The second route, the famed "Axe Bite Pass," is known as the safest mountain path between the Empire and Brittany. Numerous castles are built along this path, including the capital of the Duchy of Montfort, Montfer Castle, situated in the canyon of the Axe Bite Pass. This path is the most reliable trade route between the Empire and Brittany due to its security.
Montfort, like Paravon, is a mountainous duchy with little arable land, making tolls a major source of revenue for the Duke of Montfort.
Heavy taxes, reportedly as high as thirty percent, are levied, but Montfort knights work hard to keep the Axe Bite Pass safe. Any caravan attacked has only to hold out for ten to fifteen minutes before a patrolling knightly force can arrive to rescue them, ensuring nine out of ten caravans pass safely, an impressive survival rate in this world.
The third path is the "Lady Grey's Path" from Glenael in Paravon.
"Lady Grey
's Path" starts in Glenael and ends across the mountains in Ubseric.
This route has lower taxes but is seldom traveled due to its danger. The path is riddled with tribal orc and goblin encampments, and vampires also occupy a castle within the mountains—the Eternal Dragon Rock.
The vampire count, Konstant-Drachenfels, who had resided in the castle, was slain by Francois during a decisive battle against the necromancer Heinrich Kemmler over a decade ago. However, the castle still houses a multitude of dark creatures that frequently raid travelers.
No matter the path, all lead to Hemgart, a major city in the Empire's Reichland, where the Empire stations heavy troops to fend off any invasion from Brittany.
"I know a knight of the Moorish Order in Ubseric who can arrange accommodations for us," Francois, slicing pork with a silver knife, remarked as they prepared for their journey. "Or do you have another plan, Ryan?"
"I do. This is a pass signed by my brother-in-arms, Count Griffin Anton-Ferdinand," Ryan produced a parchment sealed with the Griffin Duke's seal. "This pass allows us unfettered access through most cities and checkpoints in the Empire's Reichland."
"Excellent."
The next day, Francois and his companions set out on "Lady Grey's Path."
The biting cold wind whipped the faces of the four knights, but the rugged mountain path could not deter these stalwarts. Ryan's white Grail cloak fluttered audibly against the high mountain winds, "Such a strong wind!"
Looking up, the path was shrouded in mist, with the peaks of the Grey Mountains covered in thick snow, resembling a stunning landscape painting in its serene silence, with only the slow progress of Ryan and his companions breaking the stillness.
Their footsteps left marks on the mountain path, and through a gap in the clouds, the proud sun cast its own brilliance down upon the world, illuminating the path of the Grail Knights.
The icy air filled Ryan's lungs, but as the Lady's Champion, he was unfazed by the harsh conditions, having experienced many such journeys. Francois reveled in the challenges of the wild, considering every hardship encountered as a blessing from the Lady. After breathing the mountain air and the fragrance of snow, Francois turned to his son Julius and cousin Gerard, "Get used to this. When you embark on your own Grail Quests, you'll have to face these trials eventually."
"That is certainly... not easy!" Julius struggled to pull himself out of a snowdrift, feeling the bone-chilling cold despite his thick winter clothes and enchanted plate armor. The heavy armor, which usually felt weightless, now seemed unbearably heavy. Like his father, Julius felt this was a test from the Lady.
I can overcome this, the young kingdom knight reassured himself.
"Ah, now I understand why this path is so difficult," Gerard, turned into a snowman, also labored along the path. His steps were heavy and uneven, unlike the lighter steps of Ryan and Francois. The cold wind penetrated the gaps in his armor, "But I will persevere."
"Everyone must persevere because this is just a small test on your path of knighthood," Francois said sternly, watching his cousin and son struggle. "On my Grail Quest, I once lost my gear in a deep valley. I survived by hunting and drinking melted snow. When I finally climbed out of the ravine after enduring great hardship, I was greeted by a band of Greenskins."
"Father..." Julius's voice wavered.
"I killed them all, then sang a hymn of praise to the Lady. A group of Imperial peasants found me injured and brought me back to their village, where they offered me their black bread—the best meal of my life," Francois's gaze hardened as he looked at Julius and Gerard. "Are you going to give in to mere difficulties like these?"
"No!!!" Reignited by the Duke's fervor, Julius and Gerard responded loudly, shaking off their despair and keeping pace with the Grail Knight.
Days passed in this way.
The scenery changed, the sparse mountain meadows gradually receded, and a landscape of a thousand hills unfolded before them. The muddy grey-white snow accumulated at the highest points, blanketing the ridges of the undulating mountains. The complex mountain paths fragmented and were gradually swallowed by the high cliffs.
Ryan, holding the reins of his pure-blood Elven warhorse Grapes, stood at the summit of the path, silent.
"Lady's Champion, why do we halt?" Francois, whose armor and cloak still shone like new, walked up to Ryan, teasing with a smile.
Julius and Gerard staggered up, barely keeping up, and joined Ryan.
Ryan looked up, signaling for the others to look ahead. Not far away, on a small flat area, stood a boundary stone.
Brittany, 936.
This was the border area of Brittany.
Beyond this point lay the territory of the Empire.
"We have completed half our journey," Julius nodded lightly. "Beyond this lies the Empire."
"No, we have at most completed a quarter of our journey," Francois directed his gaze towards the distant mountains crowded with trees, grasping the unicorn sword at his waist. "Do you hear that?"
"I hear it," Ryan picked up his griffin war hammer, his expression stoic.
Gerard was about to speak when a vile, nauseating screech echoed from the snow-covered peaks above, and several dark, sinister figures leaped from the mountaintop, then charged down roaring.
They were undead creatures!
Gerard immediately recalled the battle from over a decade ago, when Francois had led the forces of Wintefort against the necromancer.
"Vampire beasts!" Julius shouted, drawing his weapon—a two-handed broadsword. The ducal heir threw off his cape, revealing the pure white Pegasus family crest and the translucent plate armor beneath.
Dozens of vampire beasts leaped down from the mountains like an avalanche, carrying with them the force of thunder. They roared, drowning out the knights' low growls. These dark creatures, even when crouching, stood over a meter tall, with strong limbs and huge mouths, their four sharp fangs chilling in the cold wind.
"Fight! For the Lady!" Ryan released Grapes's reins, the mountain path being unsuitable for a cavalry charge. The Lady's Champion erupted with intense might, charging at the vampire beasts like a mighty bull.
"For the Lady!"
When the two forces collided, the power shook the mountains. Ryan smashed the head of the leading vampire beast with his hammer, splattering its brains. Unstoppable, he spun and sent another beast flying off the cliff with another blow.
Julius drove his sword's blade into a vampire beast's mouth, piercing out through the back of its head. Gerard's sword, quick as lightning, impaled another beast's heart before it could dodge.
Then, Francois moved.
The Duke of Wintefort's sword—the Unicorn Sword—was unsheathed, emitting dazzling light. Within a five-meter radius, all vampire beasts exposed to the light were instantly vaporized into ash.
Three.
Francois spun gracefully, the Unicorn Sword's blade cleanly slicing through another vampire beast's neck.
Two.
With each move, the Duke of Wintefort beheaded three vampire beasts in succession, his formidable display causing deep fear among the creatures. More vampire beasts encircled Francois.
One.
Francois retreated slightly, dodging a combined attack from several vampire beasts. His Unicorn Sword traced a semicircle in the cold air.
A flash of light passed, and all vampire beasts within a five-meter radius of the Duke were again turned to ash.
Ryan's eyes widened, witnessing Francois in action for the first time.
This was the power of his future father-in-law, the head of one of the knightly kingdom's three great families, the "Pure White Pegasus," the foe of the undead, and the Duke of Wintefort, "Longlegs" Francois!
With the old father-in-law finally taking action, perhaps it's time for a vote?
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