Hoddis, with gray hair and an old face, was wearing a brown linen gown and sitting in a corner eating dinner.
The main dish is large pieces of potatoes and a few cubes of beef.
A glass of water and two slices of bread was all that remained.
Out of place!
Whether it's clothing.
Or the food you eat.
Hoddisdu looked out of place among the Fapor nobles in the restaurant who were well-dressed and enjoying exquisite and luxurious food, as if he was a commoner who suddenly broke into the palace.
Even the Fapol nobles who already knew about Hoddis's style could not help but look at the deputy leader of the "Rose Knights" at this time.
Curiosity, surprise, and deep pity.
If it wasn't Dirkmo, surely Hoddis would be different?
Everyone thought so.
I couldn't help but look at Hoddis more.
Under the gazes of many people, Hoddis did not change at all. He used a spoon to mash the soft potatoes into a paste, then mixed the diced beef into it. After quickly stirring with the spoon, the mashed potatoes and diced beef formed potato and beef meatballs.
Hoddis scooped one of them up with a spoon and put it in his mouth.
A hint of smile appeared on that face, which should not have aged.
It satisfies the stomach.
After all these years, only at this moment could he feel a trace of satisfaction.
Even the simplest food gave him enough comfort.
"Hodis!"
Dortmund Mag suddenly appeared amidst the soft shouts.
Looking at the eldest son of the Tulip Family in front of him, Hoddis was stunned.
"Good evening, Lord Mag."
Hoddis greeted respectfully.
"Don't be so polite, Hoddis. Have you forgotten when you first called me 'Dot'?"
The eldest son of the Tulip family tried to use memories to bring the two sides closer.
But it's basically useless.
Hoddis remained respectful.
"It's not the same, Lord Mag."
The eldest son of the Tulip Family stared at Hoddis in front of him. It was hard for him to connect this respectful... no, not just respectful, but a little timid man, with the brilliant man back then.
Not only does he look old.
The heart has also grown old.
The once gifted young man has now completely turned into a middle-aged man who has been crushed by the burdens of life.
"Do those setbacks really have such a big impact on you?"
The eldest son of the Tulip family asked with a little reluctance.
"Does it still matter?"
Hoddis smiled.
Full of helplessness.
"I can help you, this guy Dirkmo..."
Buzz!
Just when the eldest son of the Tulip family wanted to say something, suddenly a roar and vibration came from far away. Although it became very slight when it reached the ship due to the long distance, the eldest son of the Tulip family and many people in the restaurant noticed it.
Among the Fapol nobles, someone immediately walked out quickly to investigate the situation.
After a while, the person who was inquiring for information came back.
Dirkmer is dead!
After hearing the news, the Fabol nobles in the restaurant had different expressions.
Most of them were surprises.
A few are accidents.
Only Hoddis, who was sitting there, had a trace of sadness on his face.
The eldest son of the Tulip family saw such sadness, but at this time he couldn't care about Hoddis.
He appeared here to win over Hoddis.
Relying on Hodis's reputation in the 'Rose Knight Chart', he drew the power of this knightly order to the Tulip Family, but Dirkmo's death disrupted his plan.
Not bad.
But it's good.
Well done to Dirkmer!
Although it will cost you some money, it is worth it !
He can now attack the accompanying members of the Rose Knight Group more directly!
And Hoddis?
It doesn't matter anymore.
"Hodice, I'm sorry, I have to go."
"Dirkmer's assassination of Goethe will anger the Grand Duke of the North. I must appease the Grand Duke's anger. Otherwise, I'm afraid we won't be able to leave the North."
The eldest son of the Tulip family stood up and apologized.
Hoddis shook his head and made a gesture of invitation to the eldest son of the Tulip family.
Watching the departing figure of the eldest son of the Tulip family, the sadness on Hoddis's face became even more intense.
Because he heard people around him discussing Dirkmer.
Not only is it terrible, but it's also glossed over.
What everyone is more interested in is that the lady Goethe brought with him was not Margarida Magg.
Looking at the excitement on the faces of the nobles around him, Hoddis sighed.
He doesn't fit in here.
Your Majesty is right.
Faber was ill.
A treatment is needed.
A complete treatment.
only……
Why was he chosen as the healer?
Thinking of this, Hoddis stood up and walked towards his own cabin. As one of the branch leaders of the 'Rose Knights', Hoddis had a separate cabin.
However, it is the smallest of all the individual cabins.
It's not being targeted.
But it was Hoddis's own request.
A living room that is too large will make him feel more uneasy.
Hoddis took off his sackcloth robe.
He put on his knight's armor.
He slung his sword around his waist.
He raised his hand and picked up a knight's gun.
He hung a small nameplate on his chest.
It read: Hoddis.
Hoddis raised his hand and stroked the clear name.
"It's all going to end, right?"
"It will all be over!"
"Everything will be alright, right?"
“Everything will be fine!”
As he asked and answered his own questions, the pain that Hoddis had been suppressing made his voice tremble, even though he wanted to make himself more resolute by asking and answering his own questions.
But I can't do it.
He has long been unable to look directly into his own heart.
traitor.
This is the position he gave himself.
He betrayed too many people.
because……
He was loyal to Fabol VII.
There is nothing wrong with being loyal to your king as a knight, but because of being loyal to your king, you frame your students and friends, pushing them into the abyss step by step...
Is this the right thing to do?
Hoddis didn't know.
He asked himself this question every night.
But from beginning to end, no answer was obtained.
now?
The same is true.
Hodis stood in front of the mirror, looking at himself who was becoming more and more unfamiliar in the mirror. He unconsciously pulled out an ugly smile, put on his helmet, turned around and walked out of the cabin.
…
Dortmund Mager sat in the reception room, the anger on his face disappeared with the departure of Simlaik and Enmlaik.
Negotiation.
Even if you agree in your heart, you still have to pretend.
The secret technique of 'Flame Sword Tornado'?
He doesn't feel sorry for the Rose family.
500w gold grams?
The Tulip family wanted to pay, which made Dortmund Magg feel a little embarrassed.
The Tulip family spent a lot of money on this layout.
Spend another 5 million gold grams?
That's really stretching the envelope.
But it's worth it!
At least, the eldest son of the Tulip Family was certain that by paying 5 million gold in exchange for the safety of his group, he would gain the favor of more people, including those members of the "Rose Knights".
Even if it's not at the level of a sub-group leader.
But as long as they are members of the 'Order of the Rose', they are worth winning over.
After all, they, the ordinary members, are not alone.
There are also parents and relatives.
These people are the cornerstone of Fabol's middle and lower classes.
It is also what the Tulip family needs.
Just as Dortnier Mag was thinking about the specific operation——
Tap tap tap!
Undisguised footsteps appeared in the corridor outside the door, followed by a knock on the door.
Dong Dong Dong!
"Come in."
Dortmund Mag sat up straight.
When Hodis walked in wearing armor, the eldest son of the Tulip family was stunned.
He glanced at the nameplate hanging on the armor, sensed the breath again, and confirmed that the person in the armor was Hodis.
But precisely because it was Hoddis, the eldest son of the Tulip family was even more puzzled.
"Hodis, what are you doing?"
He tried to test it.
"Loyal Lord!"
Hoddis took a deep breath and replied.
Suddenly, Dortmund Mag came back to his senses.
"It is Amos you choose to serve?"
"Is it Amos who asked you to stay with Dirkmer?"
"Your failure in the second awakening was also a fake?"
The eldest son of the Tulip family was trying to find out more information.
"My loyalty is always to His Majesty."
Hoddis replied.
It was brief, but enough for Dortmund Mager to understand most things.
Although there are still some questions, they are not important anymore.
The eldest son of the Tulip family stood up as he looked at Hoddis, who was eager to fight.
"Here?"
“Here!”
"A knight's duel?"
"Knights' Duel!"
After the question and answer, the eldest son of the Tulip Family walked aside and picked up a knight's spear. The 'Tulip Knights' were disbanded when the Rose Family came to power, but this did not mean that the heir of the Tulip Family would be unfamiliar with knight duels.
The two men stood facing each other, holding their lances straight up.
"My armor..."
"I don't need armor."
As soon as Hodis finished speaking, he was interrupted by Dortnier Mag.
Although Dortmund Mag said this, for the sake of fairness, Hoddis still took off his helmet and armor.
He chose fairness.
But just when Hodis took off his armor, Dortnier Mag teleported behind Hodis and swung the knight's spear in his hand towards Hodis ' neck.
At the same time, don't forget to say it in your mouth.
"Your set is outdated."
"To hell with your old dogma!"
Hoddis' body trembled.
He couldn't help but think back to the time when he first met Dortniel Mag——
As a teenager, Dortnier Mager charged face to face with Hoddis on his warhorse with his lance held high. After the two men passed each other, they fell off their horses at the same time. The eldest son of the Tulip family, who was lying on the ground, curled his lips and said insincerely.
'knight?'
'It's old fashioned.'
'but……'
'Very handsome.'
"Knights are not handsome, but loyal and honorable!"
Hoddis, who was also a teenager, emphasized.
'Yeah, loyalty and honor.'
'Just like my father said, the loyalty and honor of a tin can is the romance and... waste of a man until his death.'
The words of the eldest son of the Tulip family angered Hoddis.
He rolled over and wrestled with the other man.
More than once.
But ten times.
All draws.
But every time, the eldest son of the Tulip family would choose to fight him in a knight's duel.
He thought it would be the same this time.
but……
Everything is different.
Bang!
Unlike the wooden spear used in practice, the metal spear made entirely of metal hit Hoddis's neck heavily, but Dortnier Mag's face changed drastically.
The touch is wrong!
It didn't look like the shot had hit a mortal body at all.
More like hitting metal.
When the eldest son of the Tulip Family saw the dragon scales emerging on Hoddis's neck, his face changed again.
"Dragonblood Warrior?"
"Have you ever taken dragon blood potion?"
"The person who took the dragon blood potion refined by the three leaders of the Dragon Blood Knights was not Dirkmo?"
"It's you?!"
Dortnier Mag exclaimed.
And the answer given by Hodis was a dragon roar——
roar!
The loud dragon roar shook the entire ship.
The dragon's might, like the might of heaven, instantly enveloped Dortnir Mag.
The sudden tremor in his heart instantly made the teleportation of the eldest son of the Tulip Family ineffective.
Just a moment.
But for Hoddis, it was enough.
clang!
The long sword at his waist was unsheathed.
The figure flashed and stood behind Dortmund Mag.
Dortmund Mag took two steps forward.
"Quick sword?"
"You haven't given up on the quick sword at all."
"You also hid the dragon's blood,"
"you……"
The eldest son of the Tulip Family murmured softly and subconsciously raised his hand to touch his neck.
puff!
As the blood surged, a stream of blood spurted out.
The eldest son of the Tulip family fell to the ground, his life fading away rapidly.
Hodis turned around with the long sword in his hand, and the regret in his eyes became more and more intense. It was no longer just regret, but also mixed with a kind of confusion - confusion about his own beliefs.
He lowered his head, looked at Dortmund Mager who was lying on the ground, and spoke softly.
"Feel sorry."
"Oh?"
"Don't be such a hypocrite, victor."
Dortnier Mag covered his neck and sneered.
He knew he was doomed.
But he had to die later.
He still had things to finish.
The next moment, a tall figure appeared on the scene.
Looking at the figure that looked like a little giant, Dortmund Mag wanted to remain elegant and say hello, but he couldn't do it. His eyes had begun to blur.
But my sister can still see clearly.
"Brother?"
Margarida Magg looked at her brother lying in a pool of blood, and immediately teleported to Dortnier Magg's side, wanting to apply medicine to her brother.
"it's useless."
"I'm hopeless."
"The Tulip Family is also finished - remember, you must marry Goethe. He is your only way to survive now, and he is also the Tulip Family's last chance!"
The eldest son of the Tulip family grabbed his sister's hand and spoke very quickly.
"I……"
"Promise me."
The eldest son of the Tulip family pressed his hands harder and harder.
"I promise."
Margarita Mag nodded.
Seeing his sister nod, the eldest son of the Tulip family breathed a sigh of relief. His childish eyes began to relax, but he still shouted with all his might: "My murderer is Hoddis. As the eldest son and heir of the Tulip family, I allow my sister Margarida Mag to marry Goethe Wein!"
The shout was loud at first.
Then it became low.
After Goethe's name was finally spoken, there was silence.
The eldest son of the Tulip family passed away.
“Brother!”
Margarida Mag cried out.
The Faber nobles present were at a loss.
Hodis, who was confronting Simlaik, suddenly changed his expression - the contract in his heart received the order from Fapol VII.
It's simple: kill all the Tulip family members!
Hodis looked at the crying Margarida Mag, and his hand holding the sword trembled a little.
His chivalrous creed prevented him from attacking someone who had their backs turned.
Not to mention, she's a lady.
But he must obey his master's orders.
Also because of the chivalric creed.
what do I do?
Hoddis asked himself.
Hoddis was confused, but some others were not confused—several figures hidden in the crowd rushed straight towards Margarida Mag.
The second daughter of the Tulip family, who was crying bitterly, was completely unaware of it.
clang!
Hodis drew his sword.
As fast as ever.
No!
Faster than before!
His sword flashed like lightning, and the sword energy it brought was like a strong wind, forcing those figures back!
"Hodis!"
Those figures roared in shock and anger.
Simlai K's fist had already been thrown, but it stopped abruptly in front of Hodis's back. However, the energy and blood power contained in it still made Hodis lunge forward and almost fall to the ground.
"you?"
Simlai K looked at Hoddis in confusion.
“I don’t know why I do this.”
The confusion in Hoddis's eyes did not subside. Even though he was spitting blood, he still looked at a loss.
Moreover, compared to before, there was something even more wrong with Hoddis at this time.
He not only violated the chivalric creed.
Even the last bit of chivalry that they held onto was lost.
Is he still a knight?
"Hodis, you traitor!"
At this time, the attacker, who had been captured by other Fabol nobles, shouted at Hoddis.
"traitor?"
"Yes, I am a traitor."
"I betrayed my friends, students, teachers, and even..."
"Own!"
Hodis's whole body trembled. He turned around and looked at Margarida Mag, who was still crying softly. When he was about to say something, Goethe appeared in front of him, blocking his view of Margarida Mag.
Hoddis smiled apologetically at Goethe.
"I'm sorry, Goethe. I didn't fight with all my strength in the previous battle. I insulted the honor of fighting."
Hoddis said, looking at his captured companions again.
In the end, he chose to activate the power of the contract.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry."
He was delivering the message.
"Dotniel, I'm sorry."
"Dilkmo, I'm sorry."
"And, Ms. Mag, I'm sorry."
He said this solemnly, then clenched the hilt of the sword, and under Goethe's vigilant gaze, Hordis turned the hilt upside down and stabbed it into his own abdomen, cutting across with force, splitting most of his body open.
He betrayed everything.
He was no longer a knight.
He has no face to live.
He chose death.
Goethe frowned, and after confirming the other party's intention, he asked.
"Do you need my help?"
Hoddis's face was shaking with pain, but he shook his head.
He is atonement for his sins.
He doesn't deserve anyone's help.
But he still had a little hope.
"It's for you."
"It deserves a better owner."
Hoddis handed his sword to Goethe, who took it after a slight hesitation.
After Goethe took the sword, Hoddis smiled.
This time, there is no more helplessness.
But a sense of relief.
as well as……
A little bit of envy.
"Your posture in the ring... I'm so envious."
In the last moments of his life, Hodis spoke frankly about his truest thoughts.
He also wanted to be like Goethe, standing on the stage and facing all kinds of opponents openly, instead of hiding in the dark and doing one shameful thing after another.
Can I choose my next life?
If possible, he would also like to become a knight.
An upright knight.
"Humility, honesty, mercy, justice, heroism, honor... sacrifice."
Hoddis closed his eyes while whispering softly.
Life then dissipates.
but,
Blood no.
The blood infused with the 'Dragon Blood Potion', under the power of the contract, began to reshape and condense into a human form.
"His Majesty?!"
Someone among the Fapor nobles exclaimed.
But the bloody figure ignored the man's exclamation.
He just looked at Simlek and Goethe with his scarlet eyes.
"The son of the Duke of the North?"
“It’s really a majestic body.”
“It’s amazing.”
"Are you Goethe Wein, the nephew of the Grand Duke of the North, who achieved an amazing 70-game winning streak?"
“Same excellent.”
"The appearance of the two of you is truly a blessing for the North, and it is truly enviable. I hope to form a brotherly alliance with the North."
"We will open air routes to exchange what we have."
Fapol VII said very politely.
Or to be more precise, friendly.
Simlek and Goethe frowned at the same time.
They are not children.
It is no exaggeration to say that Fapor and the North are arch-enemies. As the king of Fapor, how could Fapor VII be so friendly?
"condition?"
Simlai Ke asked in a deep voice.
"Give me Margarita Mag."
Fabol VII said.
"impossible!"
Simlaik spoke with great force.
"If you refuse, Faber will go to war with the North. Are you willing to risk the lives of all the people in the North for a woman?"
“Is it worth it?”
Fapol VII raised his voice.
Simlai Ke sneered.
"Goethe is a K family member."
The eldest son of the Grand Duke said.
"So you are willing to take the risk for the possibility of Margarida marrying Goethe?"
"The Ke family in the North?"
"It's even more reckless than the rumors say."
Fabol VII laughed out loud.
At this moment, Goethe, who had been silent all the time, suddenly spoke.
"Your Majesty, you just said that you want to form a brotherly alliance with the North?"
"That's right."
Fapol VII nodded, and at the same time, thought that things were taking a turn for the better.
Would a man give up peace for a woman? Give up more interests?
How is that possible?
Therefore, Faber VII smiled and listened to Goethe saying:
"My uncle has not been in good health recently, and he is going to pass the title of Grand Duke to my brother. That means my brother will become the new Grand Duke of the North. Since we are going to form a brotherhood, my brother's father should also be your father. If you have time, why don't you come to the North to meet your father?"
Immediately, Fapol VII's smile froze on his face.
Goethe's words continued.
"If you feel that your father is a little bit embarrassed to speak, after all, you once had a father too!"
"So, why don't you call my uncle..."
"dad?"