Chương 73

The atmosphere around the clearing was much warmer and livelier now. The heavy, suffocating dead air that had surrounded Winfred for the past year was completely gone, replaced by the crackling fire and the rich smell of roasted meat. Rudra proceeded to cook several more dishes for the others using the remaining cuts of the Salamander meat. Because he wasn't pouring his raw, desperate willpower into the food like he did for Winfred, they didn't trigger the Empathic Cuisine effect. But they were still masterpieces.

[An epic-rated dish was produced, so all stats have permanently risen by +4 and reputation throughout the continent has risen by +80.] As the rest of the group happily dug into their meals, Winfred caught Rudra's eye. The old man tilted his head toward the deep woods, signaling him for a private chat. Rudra shoved a piece of meat into his mouth, chewed quickly, and excused himself, following the Red Sage into the cover of the trees.

"It seems you liked my food, Sir Winfred," Rudra joked as an icebreaker, leaning against a thick oak. Winfred gave a dry chuckle.

"Like is an understatement, young man. You dragged me back from the abyss. I was crushed by despair regarding that incident. For a long time, revenge was a forbidden concept to me. You may not know this, but the Red Knights are not even the absolute strongest force under the Emperor. They have hidden swords. Taking on the Empire... it seemed impossible, especially now with most of us dead and the rest scattered across the continent in hiding."

Rudra nodded solemnly, crossing his arms and waiting for Winfred to continue. Winfred's expression darkened, his voice dropping to a serious whisper.

"But there is a detail about the massacre that has haunted me. The official story claims that Asmophel betrayed Piaro out of pure jealousy. That is a lie." Rudra tilted his head.

"You don't think he did it?"

"I know he didn't do it willingly," Winfred said firmly.

"Piaro and Asmophel were closer than brothers. They were the absolute best of friends. Either one of them would have gladly given up their life for the other without a single moment of hesitation. A bond like that does not just snap over ambition."

"So, someone made him do it?" Rudra asked, cutting straight to the point.

"Empress Marie," Winfred stated, his eyes flashing with sharp anger.

"The Red Knights were fiercely loyal to the Empire, but we held too much independent influence. More importantly, we did not support her son, the 4th Prince. I strongly suspect she used high-tier black magic or an artifact to brainwash Asmophel. She needed to wipe us out entirely so she could create a brand new order of Red Knights completely subservient to her son." Rudra frowned. That kind of political backstabbing was exactly why he hated dealing with nobles.

"That's messed up. Does Elysia know your theory?"

"No. And do not tell her yet," Winfred warned, holding up a hand.

"She is still too emotionally volatile when it comes to Asmophel's memory. We need absolute proof before we open that wound. Keep this between us."

"My lips are sealed," Rudra promised easily.

"Good," Winfred sighed, his sharp, calculating light returning.

"Now, I heard from Elysia that you are a Marquis of the Murray Kingdom. In that case, you should have the full support of the Murray royal family. They must be aware of Elysia's true identity. With you being a Marquis and having her as your formal knight, I presume they are secretly supporting the former Red Knights, probably to recruit them in order to resist the Empire's growing influence." Rudra blinked. He hadn't even explained the political situation, but the old man had nailed it perfectly.

"Yeah, exactly. First Princess Seraphine is the one backing us. We have an agreement. In fact, Singuled—the Third Red Knight—is already secretly recuperating at my estate in Juden right now." Winfred's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Singuled, a genuine spark of relief flashing across his face before he quickly nodded.

"In that case, you will probably need to search for the rest of the knights who escaped the purge." Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Winfred pulled a small piece of parchment from his robes and quickly sketched a rough map, marking a few distinct points.

"Here," Winfred said, handing it over.

"A list of the surviving knights and their probable locations. I believe they should be hiding in these areas based on my knowledge of their habits and survival tactics." Rudra stared at the map, genuinely surprised.

"You instantly figured out exactly what I needed and mapped it out in ten seconds?" Winfred noticed Rudra's shock and offered a modest smile.

"I may have been a pathetic drunk these past few years, but I was once somewhat capable." Somewhat capable, Rudra thought, shaking his head. Elysia wasn't exaggerating when she told me he was the greatest tactician in the entire Saharan Empire. His brain is terrifying.

"I also noticed your combat style," Winfred continued, his tone shifting.

"I see you are walking the path of Sainthood. I have never heard of a Staff Saint before, but your momentum is staggering. However, you need to test it against true despair. I know the location of the sealed Great Demon, Morax, in the Dominion Kingdom."

"A Great Demon?" Rudra asked, his mind immediately jumping to his ongoing class quest.

"Morax was the 14th Great Demon who ruled over Hellfrost," Winfred explained.

"He is sealed underground beneath a famous lake. Because of the seal, he can only interact with the surface by borrowing a demonkin body, so he won't be at his full power. He uses intense frost to slow down his enemies and beat them to death. It is a terrible matchup for a fighter who relies on speed, but I believe you can handle it. And since you are an immortal... well, there won't be too much of an issue even if you die. The experience alone will forge your foundation."

Rudra was honestly thrilled, but also deeply intimidated by the sheer degree of intelligence Winfred possessed to instantly understand his situation and provide the perfect quest location. They walked back to the clearing. Nerissa was waiting for him, the empty canteen in her hands.

"Rudra," the Siren Princess said, bowing her head gracefully.

"Thank you for saving me. But I must ask for one more favor. The magical ocean currents leading to my hidden kingdom only open once every four months, and the next opening is exactly three months from now. I cannot survive out here alone until then. Please, guard me for three months and escort me to the Siren Kingdom. I swear on my royal blood, you will be heavily rewarded by my people."

"Three months is a long time to camp in the woods," Rudra said practically.

"I have my own path to walk and demons to punch. But I promise I will come get you when the currents open and escort you home. Until then, you need to follow Elysia and Winfred." Haster, who had been polishing his sword, sheathed it and stood up.

"I'm going wherever my master goes, so you can count me in for guard duty." Rudra looked over the group, then turned to his silver-haired knight.

"Elysia," Rudra commanded gently.

"I need you to take care of them. Escort them to Juden, my estate in the Murray capital. Meet with Princess Seraphine and give her this letter." He handed her the sealed letter he had drafted earlier. Elysia immediately frowned, stepping forward.

"My Liege, I cannot leave your side. My place is with—""Elysia, look at this group," Rudra interrupted, gesturing to the Siren, the old man, and the pro-gamer.

"They have massive bounties on their heads. They need heavy, absolute protection to make it across the borders. And more importantly, you are the only one in this group that Princess Seraphine will actually trust. If you aren't there to vouch for them, the Murray nobles might throw them in a dungeon." Elysia bit her lip, clearly torn between her oath to protect him and the logical weight of his command.

"Besides," Rudra smiled, tapping the hilt of his sword.

"If I really get into trouble with that frozen demon, I'll just use [Knight Summon]. You'll be right there." Elysia finally sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she compromised.

"Understood, My Liege. I will deliver them safely." Winfred interjected, walking up beside his former knight.

"He is right to send you, Elysia. You need the presence of a proper Alchemy Tower to properly grow your skills now. You have hit a wall in the wild." Winfred looked back at Rudra.

"You are walking a unique path by combining alchemy, medicine making, and cooking. But eventually, even you will need the presence of an Alchemy Tower to start working on the other parts of alchemy, such as modifying metals and the like."

"I'll figure something out when I get back to the city," Rudra promised. With the plan settled, the group gathered their belongings. Rudra watched as Haster, Winfred, Nerissa, and Elysia turned south toward the Murray Kingdom, moving safely under the cover of the thick trees. Rudra stood alone in the clearing, Kratos squeaking happily from inside his cloak. He pulled out the map Winfred had given him, his eyes locking onto the Dominion Kingdom.

He had the Staff of the Fire Lord, the method for infinite momentum, and a Great Demon waiting for him. It was time to see exactly what Rank 1 could do.