Chapter 40

The Game Difficulty
Is Crazy

The Gray Wolf Knights.

Why were those who carried such a dignified and powerful name treated in a way that forced them to fill their hunger with preserved rations?

It was because their roots were low.

The Gray Wolf Knights were once infamous savages of Mount Rivero, a large band of raiders who came down the mountain and plundered villages large and small within Wordsworth territory.

Even the knight orders of nearby minor lords could not handle them, and they were eventually subjugated by the head of the Wordsworth family of that era.

Those who survived were captivated by the overwhelming power of the family head and swore loyalty.

The family head granted them knighthood in order to use them as a shield against the demon race.

Thus began the Gray Wolf Knights, who displayed astonishing achievements against the demon race on the front lines.

Over several generations, they became the strong and brave combat group they are today.

However, because of the stigma of having savage blood, they were subjected to all kinds of mockery and contempt from other nobles.

Just looking at how most young nobles who entered the order were either troublemakers of their families or youngest sons with no chance of inheritance showed their standing clearly.

—They may look impressive on the outside, but their origins are barbaric.

—The best way to handle wolves like them is to starve them.

—A hungry beast is the most threatening weapon against the enemy.

Even listening to the words of Henry Wordsworth, the current family head, made it clear what the reality of the Gray Wolf Knights was like.

‘No wonder even wolves become more extreme.’

Empty praise on the surface, and contempt hidden beneath it.

To endure that, the Gray Wolf Knights must have grown even more vicious, thinking, “Fine. Then I’ll become the savage beast you say I am,” and bared their fangs at the world.

Of course, in the end, this situation was an opportunity for Glen.

A knight with nowhere to give sincere loyalty was easier to bring to one’s side than any other.

And when an order was in a state where it could not even receive proper food supplies, the effect of gifting fresh meat doubled.

‘Still, meat is nothing more than an entry ticket.’

Looking at the chunks of cow and sheep meat scattered across the ground, Glen let out a small laugh.

At the same time, a sharp glint entered the eyes of Zaber Remarque as he looked at the same sight.

His lips curled upward as if he found it interesting.

“Young master. What is all this?”

“This is part of what I personally brought from the estate, and a small gift for you and the order.”

Zaber snorted as if it was ridiculous.

“Does the family head know you’re doing this?”

“He doesn’t, which is why I brought it. Well, even if he did know, what could someone staying in the capital do to stop me?”

Glen shrugged.

“Why are you doing this?”

“I told you already. I want to have a conversation with the wolves here.”

“……”

Zaber’s eyes scanned Glen’s face, as if trying to read his true intentions.

A short silence passed.

“In all my life, I’ve never met a master as strange as you.”

“I am a bit unusual.”

A familiar cheerful smile bloomed on Zaber’s lips.

“You lot! How long are you going to keep the master standing outside?! Escort him inside!”

“Yes!”

The knights’ replies rang out loudly.

Soon, with swift movements, the Gray Wolf Knights escorted the group and the supply wagon.

The wagon that had been standing still began moving toward Avenew Fortress.

“I’m quite curious what kind of interesting story you’ve brought, young master.”

“I don’t know if you’ll find it interesting, but at least you won’t be bored.”

Zaber laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! Then I look forward to it.”

Glen replied with his public-facing smile.

Silence followed, and only the sound of horse hooves echoed quietly as they climbed toward Avenew Fortress.

Clop, clop—

Looking at the fortress drawing closer, Glen let out a short breath.

For a good-for-nothing, even entering like everyone else was not easy.

‘Anyway, the first checkpoint is cleared.’

The meat he brought from the estate played a big role in many ways.

‘Though it was only for that purpose.’

If he had not even done this, Glen would have been turned away at the gate and returned to the estate with nothing gained.

Zaber had simply let an unwanted guest inside because the item he desperately wanted happened to be in that guest’s hands.

The real negotiation with the Gray Wolf Knights was only beginning now.

Glen was stepping into a wolf’s den filled with wariness and hostility.

And the fate that awaited someone who fearlessly entered a wolf’s den carrying meat was one of two things.

Either be torn apart along with the thrown meat by their sharp fangs.

Or—

‘Return after taming the wolves with the promise of the next meat.’

A crafty light flashed in Glen’s eyes.

The interior of Avenew Fortress was even more to Glen’s liking than he had expected.

Tall walls reinforced solidly, weapons placed so they could be used at any time, and soldiers standing guard with sharp eyes.

Even the cleanly designed pathways that connected all of it without obstruction.

In terms of practicality, Avenew Fortress was a near-perfect stronghold.

And that was not all.

The people moving busily around also pleased Glen.

On one side, blacksmiths were working amid waves of heat.

On the other, knights had stripped to the waist, training their bodies or sparring with real swords.

Seeing such a textbook image of a knight order was pleasing to the eye.

‘Honestly, with a fortress this well made, most siege events would be easy wins.’

It was ironic that such a fine fortress would fall once the scenario began.

That aside, the gazes of the Gray Wolf Knights watching Glen were colder than ever.

They showed proper courtesy because he was of their lord’s bloodline, but even that was only superficial.

Still, such cold stares were far too familiar to Glen.

‘This isn’t the first or second time.’

As always, he simply walked his path with a relaxed smile.

Because before long, those eyes filled with hostility would turn into shock.

After that, Glen shared a seat with Zaber and had dinner.

Thanks to the meat Glen brought, quite a feast filled the table one dish after another.

“Thanks to you today, young master, I finally get to eat meat that actually tastes like meat!”

“It was worth bringing the gift, then.”

A fairly pleasant atmosphere continued.

Only when dinner was nearing its end did the conversation with Zaber finally turn serious.

“Then shall we hear it now? For what reason did you come all the way here in such a chaotic time?”

The atmosphere was still bright, but for a moment Glen caught a sharp light in Zaber’s eyes.

‘The welcome bought with meat ends here, so start talking about your business.’

That was roughly what it meant.

With a relaxed expression, Glen began.

“First, there are two reasons why I came here.”

“Two reasons?”

“Yes. One is to personally explain, as a blood descendant of the family, the recent disgraceful incident at the estate.”

If one spoke of the recent disgraceful incident at the main house, it could only be the matter of Edgar and the inquisitors.

As if he had expected this, Zaber maintained a calm expression.

“I heard about that as well. Even if our roots are savage, I am still a noble and a vassal.”

Zaber lowered his head slightly.

“It is unfortunate about Young Master Edgar. You have my condolences. However, you don’t need to explain that matter to me. It doesn’t concern me.”

Normally, minor lords pledge loyalty to a nearby great lord, take the scraps that fall from beneath them, and build their own standing.

Because of that, most are extremely sensitive to incidents and accidents within the family they serve.

If the family prospers, they flock over with flattery. If the family wavers, their loyalty wavers with it.

Of course, this did not apply to the Gray Wolf Knights.

“The Gray Wolf Knights are loyal to the strong. Even if there was a disgraceful incident, the family head we serve stands firm, so there is no reason for us to waver.”

In other words, what they were loyal to was the power of Wordsworth, not the name itself.

And in other words, to them, who followed a seven-ring holy knight, the story of Edgar, merely a talent, did not even qualify as an issue.

Knights in a religious nation who followed pure strength rather than faith or honor.

It was as ironic as savages who valued honor.

And precisely because of that, Glen liked them even more.

“If you say so, then there’s no need to talk further about that matter.”

“Indeed. Honestly, wasn’t that the reaction you expected as well?”

“I won’t deny it.”

Glen smiled faintly.

Bringing up the Edgar incident had been nothing more than a formality.

From the start, he had thought there would be no need to painfully explain Edgar’s case to the Gray Wolf Knights.

“Alright, that’s enough about that. Then tell me the second reason. Why did you come to a place crawling with ill-mannered brutes like us?”

Zaber’s eyes gleamed as if hoping it would be an interesting story.

“The second reason I came to the wolf’s den… is to gain your support.”

“Hm?”

Glen’s clear ash-gray eyes met the wolf’s gaze.

“In case you misheard, I’ll say it again. I came to Avenew to gain the support of the Gray Wolf Knights.”

Glen’s follow-up left no room for doubt.

At his calm tone, devoid of any joking, silence fell over the table.

“Huh……”

A sound leaked from Zaber’s mouth.

His lips twitched, then—

“Hahahahahaha!!”

Zaber burst into loud laughter that shook the room.

Amid the booming laughter, Glen calmly looked at him.

“Did it sound like a joke?”

“Heh… no. Do I look like such a fool that I can’t tell the difference? It’s just……”

Zaber waved his hand and then sharpened his gaze.

“I couldn’t help laughing because I thought such a bold young master had prepared a truly interesting story. If I offended you, I apologize.”

“No. It’s fine. As long as you understood that I was serious.”

“Heh heh. So… you want the support of the Gray Wolf Knights. Do you know what that actually means?”

“If I were too foolish to know, I wouldn’t have even made it into Avenew.”

“The more we talk, the more interesting you become.”

As said before, the Gray Wolf Knights were a group that served pure strength itself, not name or fame.

There was only one way to gain the support of such rough men.

To prove strength that they could acknowledge.

“Long ago, when the current family head took his position, he crossed swords with me. He won, and thus took the loyalty of the Gray Wolf Knights.”

A sharp glint entered Zaber’s eyes as he looked at Glen.

“At that time, the family head had seven rings. Are you saying you can recreate that situation?”

I am loyal to the strong. So if you want my loyalty, defeat me.

It was the most Gray Wolf–like way imaginable.

But Glen’s total strength so far was roughly between five and six rings.

“I can’t.”

Even though he was growing day by day, he could not yet defeat Zaber, a six-ring holy knight.

And no one knew that better than Glen himself.

That was why he had prepared a workaround.

“Not right now.”

“Not right now?”

Zaber raised one eyebrow.

“Yes. I am not yet strong enough to take your loyalty. That’s why this time, I’m only asking for your support.”

“Support, not loyalty? What does that even mean?”

Zaber asked, as if those words were the same.

“To put it simply, I’m asking you to acknowledge me. As the master you will one day swear loyalty to.”

“Hm?”

Zaber’s eyes widened, then he let out a low laugh.

“I truly did not expect you to be this bold.”

“I have neither the power nor the intention to steal my father’s loyal knights. What I want is simply to build a close relationship with you.”

A sharp light gleamed in Glen’s ash-gray eyes.

“So that in the future, we can get along more smoothly, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Heh heh heh. A close relationship, you say… But if you want to be acknowledged by wolves and befriend them, you must at least be strong enough to survive inside their den. Are you confident in that?”

“Confidence……”

Glen curled his lips.

“If I didn’t have it, I wouldn’t have come here after stealing meat.”

“Hahahaha! In spirit alone, you’re at least twice as good as the first young master!”

Zaber laughed heartily and slapped his knee.

Then, nodding in satisfaction, he shouted toward the outside.

“Peter! Are you out there!”

A Gray Wolf Knight soon entered and bowed his head.

“Light the training grounds.”

Zaber’s lips curled upward, his face looking exactly like that of a beast.

“The young master wishes to see the valor of the Gray Wolves.”