I Became a Mythical Knight King

Chapter 53: Lords Meeting Ⅱ (2)

Unlike yesterday, today’s conversation took place on a balcony overlooking the city’s panorama.

Yoo Seong and Baron Varian stood side by side, while René, a short distance away, watched them with a deeply anxious expression.

In her heart, she wanted to stand right next to them, keeping a close eye on Baron Varian to prevent him from spouting nonsense again. But she couldn’t.

“We must speak privately.”

It was a conversation necessary to define the relationship between the Count of Baltois and Yoo Seong and René was sharp enough to grasp the situation.

She immediately understood what kind of conversation Baron Varian wanted to have with Yoo Seong.

It was truly an important discussion, and she could see the reason for the private audience.

‘But even so, my anxiety is still there.’

René glanced nervously at the two, and Baron Varian, sensing her gaze, chuckled audibly and turned to Yoo Seong.

“Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Baron Varian, sent on a confidential mission from His Excellency, the Count of Baltois.”

“Cheon Yoo Seong.”

The confidential mission from the Count of Baltois.

Even Yoo Seong could infer what the topic might be.

Thus, he was able to calmly accept the next words Baron Varian spoke.

“‘The Black Knight of Lothian.’ If the prophecy René received is true, you could be the one chosen by the Goddess of the Lake.”

It was no coincidence that René sought out Yoo Seong.

Their meeting was a destined one, brought about by the prophecy of the Goddess of the Lake.

Though René often lamented her misfortunes, at first, the Count of Baltois had dismissed her story as nonsense.

But now, it could no longer be brushed aside as mere ramblings or delusions.

“‘The Black Knight of Lothian.’”

“‘A wielder of the Sun’s Flame.’”

“Descendant of Camelot, who defeated the Kobold Prince, a massive troll, and even vanquished a wicked necromancer commanding an undead legion.”

Baron Varian looked at Yoo Seong.

Though Yoo Seong’s eyes betrayed no trace of gold, they were steadfast and strong as ever. Baron Varian asked, looking directly into them:

“What is the truth? Are you truly the one chosen by the Goddess of the Lake?”

It was a question posed not as Baron Varian, but as an agent representing the will of the Count of Baltois.

Yoo Seong, without pausing to catch his breath or avoiding his gaze, met Baron Varian’s eyes and answered.

“Yes. I am the inheritor of the Light of the Sacred King. I stand on this land to end the Age of Ominous Stars and usher in a new era for humanity.”

Ending the Age of Ominous Stars.

At first, it felt like such a vague notion.

Even now, there was no clear path forward but at the very least, Yoo Seong felt he knew what he must do and what he had to fight for.

Monsters were killing people.

Kobolds, goblins, trolls, and undead rising again from the dead.

He would protect humanity from them.

He would protect his fellow humans as one of them.

This was the conclusion Yoo Seong had come to through his battles so far.

No, it was the task he personally wished to accomplish.

Baron Varian immediately followed up on Yoo Seong’s answer.

“Do you have proof that you are the Sacred King’s successor? Something visible?”

Yoo Seong’s eyes turned golden.

A subtle golden aura emanated from his entire body, ebbing and flowing. Baron Varian unconsciously swallowed hard.

It wasn’t due to the overwhelming pressure of Yoo Seong’s aura.

It was something slightly different, a feeling that no human could deny, but Baron Varian suppressed the pounding of his heart.

Hiding his agitation, he continued speaking to Yoo Seong.

“Is that the divine power of the Goddess of the Lake? Impressive, but it alone isn’t enough to justify calling yourself the Sacred King’s successor. Your chivalry may also be exceptional, but…that too, is merely extraordinary chivalry and not definitive proof. Is that why you haven’t made it public?”

“There are many reasons, but that is one of them.”

Being the inheritor of the Sacred King’s Light also meant that Yoo Seong was the rightful heir to the human throne.

Although he had discussed this with Ruan and Jillian before, the current powers—the kings of the three kingdoms that held the thrones and the emperor of that empire—would naturally find Yoo Seong’s existence undesirable.

Even if he declared himself the Sacred King’s successor, he couldn’t expect immediate support. Instead, it could lead to unexpected enemies.

For this reason, Yoo Seong had remained silent, steadily building his strength.

Though Yoo Seong didn’t explain this in detail, Baron Varian could easily guess the other reasons Yoo Seong had mentioned.

“It’s not a topic that can be casually brought up even at the Lord’s Council. However…”

Trailing off, Baron Varian offered a soft smile before kneeling on one knee in front of Yoo Seong, showing respect.

“I will deliver your words to my lord. Baltois will stand with the returned king of humanity.”

The Age of Ominous Stars had begun and Yoo Seong standing before him was the greatest evidence.

Thus, Baltois would stand with the Sacred King’s successor.

It was a logical choice, considering both the principles and the practicalities, as well as the near and distant future.

“I’ll be counting on you.”

As Yoo Seong said this, he helped Baron Varian up.

Baron Varian, who had held a solemn expression, grinned, and Yoo Seong smiled back.

This was because René was cautiously approaching from a distance.

“Is your discussion finished?”

“Probably. Right?”

“Yes, it is, haha.”

As Baron Varian laughed in his usual manner, René frowned and asked worriedly.

“You didn’t say anything strange, did you?”

“Haha, who knows? What do you think we talked about?”

Seeing Baron Varian’s mischievous expression, which suggested a near-zero chance of a proper answer, René immediately turned to Yoo Seong.

“Successor?”

“Oh, we just talked about how René is very pretty, kind, and cute. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, we did. We talked about how René is kind, cute, pretty, and lovely.”

As Baron Varian responded cheekily, René, flustered, trembled slightly before making a clumsy farewell and leaving in haste.

Watching René’s retreating figure, Yoo Seong remarked.

“She really is cute.”

“She truly is.”

Baron Varian, laughing heartily, soon wiped the smile from his face and said:

“Then, I’ll see you at the Lord’s Council. Please understand that at the Council, I will address you as Baron Varian representing Count Baltois.”

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll take my leave. Let us discuss Baltois’ matters further after the Lord’s Council.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

As Yoo Seong agreed, Baron Varian gave another respectful bow and left Yoo Seong’s quarters.

Even setting aside his affection for René, Baron Varian was a likable individual.

Yoo Seong could understand why Count Baltois had chosen him as a confidant.

‘I’m curious about Count Baltois too.’

René’s father.

What kind of person was he?

Judging by René and Baron Varian, he seemed like a kind-hearted man.

But the information Yoo Seong had gathered suggested otherwise.

Count Baltois was not simply a good-natured gentleman.

He was the most powerful and influential Count in the western frontier, a man who knew how to wield his power effectively.

The countless examples Yoo Seong had encountered showed that the Count could be as ruthless as needed when the situation called for it.

‘Baltois will stand with us.’

It was still just the beginning—merely grasping hands—but it was undeniable that a sense of reassurance was growing.

After taking a deep breath to clear his mind, Yoo Seong sat on the balcony, gazing downward—specifically toward the entrance of the inner city.

At that moment, he noticed a carriage entering. Its crest depicted a wolf and wheat, identifying it as belonging to the Artois County.

From the carriage emerged a middle-aged man with a broad build and sharp eyes. Judging by his physique, he didn’t seem to be Sir Charles, who had mastered the second tier of chivalry. More likely, this was Baron William, the greedy noble mentioned by Jillian.

Even though the distance was too great to assess him with the King’s Insight, it was clear he was no ordinary individual.

More carriages continued to arrive afterward.

Yoo Seong spent his time observing from the balcony, while René and Jillian, seated beside him, occasionally provided explanations about the guests arriving for the Lords’ Conference.

There were a total of fourteen attendees.

As the sun began to set, the last participant arrived at the Lushen inner city.

“That man is Count Carian.”

The crest of a wolf and a steel hammer marked his house.

He was a handsome man with a stylishly groomed black beard. He appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties. Though he didn’t look like a knight, his well-built physique suggested he had undergone considerable training.

Accompanied by a female knight who appeared to be his bodyguard, Count Carian conversed briefly with Mayor Hexen, who greeted him with excessive deference.

Suddenly, he lifted his gaze, looking into the distance, toward the balcony where Yoo Seong was sitting.

Though the distance was too far for ordinary people to discern each other’s facial features, the moment Count Carian raised his head, Yoo Seong felt it.

Their eyes met.

They had recognized one another.

Rather than hiding or flinching, Yoo Seong quietly met Count Carian’s gaze. In turn, the count smirked slightly before stepping into the inner city with Mayor Hexen.

Of course, Count Carian was not Yoo Seong’s enemy.

While there had been minor conflicts over the Volano Barony, they had never directly interacted. At most, their relationship could be described as “somewhat uncomfortable.”

Given that the purpose of this conference was to promote cooperation, this tension might even be resolved moving forward.

“He’s a clever man,” said Baron Varian during the evening meal.

Yoo Seong, René, Jillian, Ruan, and Robin were seated together, with Baron Varian joining them.

“Uncle, didn’t you say you’d be coming tomorrow?”

“Heh, wouldn’t sharing a meal strengthen our bond even further?”

René narrowed her eyes, and Baron Varian chuckled before turning to address Yoo Seong.

“Count Carian ascended to his title after a brutal succession war in which not a single sibling or relative of the same rank survived. Perhaps because of that, he’s quick to calculate and sharp-minded. While he follows profit, he’s not the type to lose the greater good for small gains. If you asked me whether I’d want him as a friend or son-in-law, I’d say no. But if you asked if he’d make a reliable business partner, I’d say yes. He honors his contracts, at least. And above all, he’s capable.”

The assessment was succinct and easy to understand.

“That’s why I believe it’s crucial to draft clear agreements during tomorrow’s conference. If we vaguely agree to ‘help each other,’ he might just go through the motions. But if we create a proper pact, he will follow through. That’s what I came here intending to accomplish.”

“It seems we can leave it all to you, Baron.”

“Heh, I’ll do my best,” said Baron Varian, thumping his chest with a grin, spreading smiles all around the table.

With the Baltois County possessing the greatest power in the west, it seemed reasonable to trust that Baron Varian would handle the negotiations well.

As the conversation about Count Carian wound down, René asked Baron Varian a question.

“I heard the County was attacked too. How’s the situation?”

“Well, it’s still manageable. The invading forces weren’t particularly overwhelming.”

Baron Varian explained that the County had suffered two attacks by monsters thus far.

“The first wave was kobolds, and the second was goblins.”

Though both numbered nearly a thousand, there were no special units like kobold princes or swamp trolls, so they had been relatively straightforward to repel.

“More importantly, René, let’s hear your story. From the rumors I’ve gathered, even if half of them are true, you could write several heroic novels.”

At his inquiry, René’s eyes sparkled as she looked toward Yoo Seong, as if asking for permission.

Can I?

Though she didn’t speak, her expression and gaze conveyed the question clearly. Yoo Seong smiled and nodded.

“Well, it all started when I went to Lotho Forest to find the site of the oracle…”

Once René began her story, Jillian and Ruan also listened with interest. Even Robin, who had initially seemed indifferent due to having heard the tale many times before, became intrigued when the tale shifted to Yoo Seong Castle.

“And then the successor swung his sword like this, and flames burst out with a whoosh!”

“When the successor saved everyone and shouted, ‘Go to Lothian! I am Lothian’s Black Knight, the champion of the Lady of the Lake!’ everyone was so amazed, shouting, ‘Waaaah!’”

“When the successor threw his shield and said, ‘I could do this all day!’…”

Though René’s account seemed embellished to the point of evoking a silent When did I ever say that?, it was broadly accurate.

As her listeners gasped and exclaimed with admiration—“Did that really happen?” “Wow!” “That’s amazing!” “You could really do that all day?”—Yoo Seong simply smiled awkwardly, neither affirming nor denying the claims.

Perhaps this is truly how René remembers it, he thought. Memory is, after all, subjective and prone to distortion.

“And that’s how we arrived at the present. Whew.”

After her long story, René gulped down a glass of fruit-infused water, her audience clapping and expressing their amazement.

“That’s quite the tale,” Baron Varian commented, his expression suggesting that the reality was likely even more incredible than the rumors. Yet he showed no signs of doubt.

“A cavalry unit of Pegasus riders—someday, I’d love to see them. No, I trust you’ll show them to us.”

“If you’d like, we can arrange it tomorrow.”

“Heh, perhaps during the conference. It might even intimidate the other lords,” he said with a hearty laugh. Robin, too, looked at Yoo Seong expectantly, clearly eager to see the Pegasus Cavalry.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Take care.”

“See you tomorrow, Uncle!”

With Baron Varian gone, the dinner gathering naturally dispersed as well. Even René, who had lingered to explore Yoo Seong Castle, eventually retired for the night.

Yoo Seong, having bathed early, lay down to rest. With the Lords’ Conference starting the next day, he intended to get a good night’s sleep.

However, just as he was about to drift off, he abruptly sat up.

“An earthquake?”

The faint tremor wasn’t strong, but it was noticeable.

Since it ended quickly, Yoo Seong, after sitting on his bed for a moment, lay back down and closed his eyes once more.

The next day, by afternoon, the Lords’ Conference began.