Lord of Caldera - Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Chapter 98
Sylas was well-versed in the patterns of each region, and he knew that while monster sightings were frequent in the West, this level of activity was highly unusual.

There’s definitely something going on, Sylas thought. Whether or not it was related to the fall of the five families, it was clear that the West was not normal.

“What should we do, sir?” Toby asked.

“About what?” Sylas replied.

“Are we going to keep camping out?”

Sylas clicked his tongue in annoyance. Since arriving in the West, they’d avoided staying in any cities or villages, opting instead for camping. He didn’t want to risk getting roped into any troublesome requests before he’d located Ray. As a wandering knight, he wouldn’t be able to refuse if someone asked for his help.

And with the way monsters keep popping up, there’s no way we won’t be asked to deal with them.

Most likely, they’d be asked to take on difficult monsters or deal with marauding beasts, which would delay his visit to the Winslow estate. The problem was that camping out indefinitely wasn’t safe.

“Let’s hold out for just two more days. If we haven’t reached the Winslow estate by then, we’ll head to a nearby village,” Sylas decided.

“Understood,” Max replied with a sigh, lighting a fire for warmth. It was already too late to sleep, so he settled by the fire to rest.

Just then, a shadow appeared in the distance.

“Is someone there? I’d be grateful if I could warm myself by your fire,” a voice called out.

The tone was casual, but the accent carried the distinctive air of nobility. Sylas glanced over at Toby and asked, “Who is it?”

“A knight. He’s alone, no companions with him,” Toby replied.

Satisfied with the information, Sylas called out, “We have space here; you’re welcome to join us.”

“Thank you!” the man replied with a cheerful tone as he approached. As he drew nearer to the fire, the light revealed his features: a young knight, likely in his mid-twenties. He immediately sat down, warming himself by the flames.

“Ahh, finally some warmth! I nearly froze to death,” he sighed.

“Did you not come prepared for camping?” Sylas asked.

“I had what I needed to start a fire, but I got ambushed by monsters. Knocked over my supplies,” the knight replied.

Warming his hands, the knight took a closer look at Sylas’s face and seemed surprised.

“You’re quite young! Are you an apprentice knight?” he asked.

“I’m a wandering knight. I recently came here from the East,” Sylas replied.

“Hmm, a wandering knight in this day and age. And the ones behind you?” the knight asked, gesturing to Toby and Max.

“One’s my servant, and the other is my retainer,” Sylas explained.

“Ah, I see,” the knight replied, nodding with interest as he looked at the three of them. He seemed both intrigued by the concept of a wandering knight and eager for conversation.

“So, this is your first time in the West?” Beric asked.

“Yes, it is,” Sylas replied.

“You’ll find no shortage of work here. There’s always a need for people,” Beric said with a nod, then seemed to remember something. He looked at Sylas.

“I haven’t introduced myself properly. I am Sir Beric Winslow.”

“…Winslow?” Toby repeated dumbfoundedly. Beric merely nodded, unaffected by Toby’s reaction.

“Yes, my family is rather influential in the West, though there’s no need to feel intimidated. I’m a distant branch member, just a low-ranking knight,” Beric said, assuming Toby’s surprise was due to the family’s reputation. Sylas gestured for Toby and Max to stay quiet and then introduced himself.

“I’m Sylas Corleone.”

“Corleone? As in the Red Dragon’s Corleone?”

“Yes,” Sylas confirmed.

The smile vanished from Beric’s face, his expression turning stony as the firelight illuminated his tense features. Sylas continued unfazed by Beric’s reaction.

“So, you’re from the Winslow family. Do you know a knight named Ray Winslow?”

“…How do you know that name?” Beric asked, a hint of caution in his tone.

“How do I know? She’s my knight, that’s how,” Sylas replied.

At the mention of “my knight,” Beric flinched.

“What do you mean by ‘your knight’?” he asked.

“I mean she swore a life contract of loyalty to me,” Sylas clarified.

“Is that so…” Beric muttered, casting his eyes around as he let out a hollow laugh, clearly unsettled.

“Let me ask you again: do you know a knight named Ray Winslow?”

“She’s dead,” Beric answered bluntly.

Sylas chuckled at the obvious lie. “Don’t bother lying. I can see you’re trying to keep me from meeting her.” Beric, caught off guard, closed his eyes as if resigning himself.

“Can’t you just let this go?” he asked.

“If you don’t want to answer, don’t. I was already on my way to the Winslow estate,” Sylas replied.

With a sharp intake of breath, Beric reached for something at his belt and swiftly threw it.

Swish!

“What…what’s going on?!”

“…!?”

Suddenly, a web-like substance shot toward them, entangling Sylas and his companions before they could react. Finding themselves bound at the torso, they looked on as Beric explained with a sigh.

“It’s a magical tool modeled after an old artifact. Made by those elven bastards, designed to capture targets.”

“We welcomed you as a guest, and you betray us like this? Are you so willing to break the code of hospitality?” Sylas demanded.

The code of hospitality dictated that if a host treated a guest with respect, the guest was equally bound to honor the host in return. Among nobles, this tradition was sacred. Unfazed by Sylas’s rebuke, Beric replied resolutely.

“It’s shameful, I know. But I have no choice. I can’t let you take Ray.”

“What do you plan to do?” Sylas asked.

“I’ll bring you to the estate or maybe another town. Once things are settled, I’ll release you,” Beric replied.

“And this ‘matter’ you speak of?” Sylas pressed.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Beric replied, stepping forward with his sword hilt ready, intent on knocking them out.

“You’re going to make this difficult?” Sylas asked calmly.

“I’m sorry, but yes,” Beric replied.

“Toby, break it and get us out,” Sylas ordered.

“Yes, sir!” At Sylas’s command, Toby flexed and strained against the magical binding. Beric watched, shaking his head.

“It’s no use. That magical restraint is as strong as chains. I don’t know of anyone who could break chains with their bare hands…”

Crunch!

“…Apparently there is,” Beric muttered, his mouth agape as the restraint shattered, fragments falling to the ground. Toby cracked his shoulders as he turned to Sylas.

“Master, what should I do?”

“Just make sure he lives,” Sylas replied with a nod.

“W-wait…!” Beric stammered, retreating as Toby’s fist came flying toward him. For the next several minutes, the night was filled with Beric’s cries as he took a memorable beating on the Western road.