Chapter 591 – Isgard Departure.

“How do I look?”

“Like someone trying too hard. How about you relax a bit?”

“You think so? Is this better?”

“Barely.”

Arthur gave an awkward chuckle when he was told he was putting on too much of a front. He was holding both of his new weapons and striking an overly gallant pose. Mary stood nearby, and Roland could sense the animosity radiating from her eyes. While the others kept quiet, he had no problem speaking to Arthur plainly now. He didn’t see himself as one of Arthur’s retainers, but more like a partner in crime.

Just as Roland had to worry about appearances to a certain degree, Arthur was facing a different kind of pressure. He was one of the heir candidates who had not yet earned true acceptance from the others. They all knew that if his brothers noticed any flaw in his behavior or appearance, they would likely cause a scene. Roland could only imagine how much stress his friend was under, but there wasn’t much he could do besides playing the role of the perfect High Knight Commander.

“Don’t get discouraged, Lord Arthur. You look quite gallant and fashionable. I’m sure all the other nobles will be green with envy.”

While Roland shared his honest opinion, Mary chose to compliment Arthur on his dramatic posing. He was clearly overdoing it, but that did not mean he looked bad. His long white hair matched the polished richness of his attire, which had been crafted with both tradition and extravagance in mind.

Arthur stood confidently, dressed in a refined outfit that reflected his natural sense of style. His black coat, trimmed with silver patterns inspired by the Valerian crest, was elegant without being excessive. Beneath it, he wore a dark green vest and a crisp high-collared shirt, the deep green drawing attention to his eyes. His long, silvery-white hair was neatly brushed and draped over his shoulders, deliberately concealing the tips of his ears.

“How do they feel? Is there a problem with channeling your aura?”

Mary focused on complimenting Arthur, but Roland remained focused on the task at hand. They were nearly out of time, and it was time to leave. The new blades Arthur held were still prototypes, but by the look of things, they were a success.

“These are quite astonishing. I just wish I could practice more. Of all the things I thought I would lack, time was not one of them…”

Arthur held one of the rapiers in his right hand and gave it a quick flourish. With his current tier three class, he had reached superhuman status. The speed at which he moved the blades would appear as a blur to most observers, even those who had also reached tier three. In the past, he had given up on the idea of advancing this far and believed he would eventually fade into obscurity. Now, however, it felt as if there was too much to do, and not nearly enough time to do it.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have time. Once we’re back, I’m sure you can take Mary and finally explore the dungeon properly. I could even prepare a proper suit of armor for you and some of your guards.”

Roland said as he moved toward the door, clearly urging them to leave.

“That would be splendid, my friend!”

Arthur replied with a cheerful tone, then turned to his maid.

“Ah, yes, we did have that agreement, didn’t we, Mary? I suppose you won’t have any excuses left now.”

“… Yes, Lord Arthur.”

Mary replied with a tone of resignation while Arthur smiled. The young lord had longed to explore the dungeon and experience a true adventure. For years, he had been confined to training with bound monsters, striking them repeatedly just to raise his skills. He had promised not to face real danger until he reached his current level, and now that the time had come, he was ready to train seriously and explore in earnest.

A noble had many duties and experiences to face, and venturing into deadly dungeons to face monstrous creatures was one of his next goals. But before that journey could begin, they all had to tackle the next challenge. It might be a minor step forward, or it might prove to be a mountain waiting to be climbed. They wouldn’t be sure until they arrived at the city of Isgard.

“Shall we?”

Roland asked as he pushed the door open. Arthur nodded.

“Indeed.”

Behind the door stood two armored men in full suits of armor. Their visors were lowered, and both saluted their lord before taking their positions behind him. Roland remained at the front as he led the group forward and was the first to step through the exit of the mansion. Only after he had stepped outside and given a nod did Arthur emerge, where everyone was already waiting for his departure.

Outside, many servants stood in silence. The maids and butlers were present with their heads bowed. In front of them stood a large carriage prepared specifically for this mission. It was a gleaming testament to noble wealth and enchanted craftsmanship. Its body was painted a pristine white with a subtle sheen, accented by golden highlights that caught the early morning light.

At first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than an overly expensive carriage drawn by four white steeds. However, it had been constructed from costly alloys, and multiple runic enchantments were hidden beneath the chassis. Though it looked like a normal, lavish carriage, it held a few surprises.

“I wish we could have spent that money elsewhere.”

Arthur muttered as he looked at the extravagant carriage in front of him. Roland knew exactly how much it had cost to build and had personally modified the original schematics to fit more runic enchantments. For the price of this single carriage, they could have likely created several battle golems, which made the whole thing feel like a waste. Even so, they had to maintain appearances. Without it, Arthur’s brothers would certainly mock his arrival.

“We can dismantle it for parts once we’re back.”

Roland whispered to Arthur as the two made their way toward the carriage. He would not be riding inside with his friend. Instead, he had been assigned to a horse positioned just in front of it. While the four horses pulling the carriage were all snow white, the stallion given to Roland was pitch black. He wasn’t wearing his usual heavy armor, but he still looked unmistakably like a noble knight. His cape fluttered as he mounted the steed, which was covered in heavy runic barding, and he glanced back toward his supposed lord.

Mary was the only one permitted to sit inside the carriage, her status as the chief maid granting her that privilege. She opened the door and waited for Arthur to enter first, then followed him inside. His voice echoed from within the carriage shortly afterward.

“Let us depart then.”

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The entourage of around sixty well-equipped soldiers and knights began to move. Morien and Gareth, the two knights who had waited patiently outside Arthur’s private quarters, now rode behind the carriage, flanking it on either side.

As the company descended from the estate’s elevated position and entered the first tier of the city, Roland couldn’t help but feel a strange tug at the edge of his thoughts. They hadn’t even reached the city square yet, but the streets were already lined with people. Cheering people, which in itself was odd.

The announcement had been made to clear the streets for Arthur, who was preparing to leave. This was not meant to be a triumphant event or an opportunity to gain more favor with the people. They were simply departing toward the current main city teleportation gate.