The tightly clenched fist stopped near his face. He had aimed precisely at areas that weren't clearly visible. Nathan's face was still intact. No more. It was time to stop.
"Haah."
Rodrick, exhaling languidly, stood up and threw off his black leather gloves.
As he was putting on new leather gloves from his inner pocket, Rodrick kicked the fallen Nathan with his military boots.
"Stop exaggerating."
"Get lost, you madman. Since when does a warrior use fists instead of a sword?"
In real combat, if you don't have a sword, you fight with your fists or even your gums if you have to. Nathan knew well that he was talking nonsense.
He turned his aching body and lay spread-eagled on the ground.
He seemed to have forgotten what he was angry about. Seeing his deflated spirit, Rodrick took out the narcotic herb again and lit it.
"Nathan Beatus. How long has it been since you returned to your family home?"
"I don't know, bastard. It's been over 5 years since I left that house, I think. Why are you asking?"
Then he must be unfamiliar with family matters. He clicked his tongue lowly. I came all this way for nothing.
"Are you in contact with Debir Beatus?"
"I think it's been over 10 years since I cut ties with elder brother? Come to think of it, elder sister Vanessa entered the imperial palace as the crown prince's fiancée, right? Scary sister."
Remembering Vanessa's viper-like gaze, Nathan shuddered.
"I got my answer, so I'm leaving."
"Hey, where are you going!"
"Back to the north."
After asking all those questions, he didn't say a word about Diana.
Knowing well that once Rodrick closed his mouth, he would never speak again, Nathan jumped to his feet.
Hah. Roughly shaking off the dirt from his hair, Nathan strode towards the commander who was controlling the mock battle.
"Chief, I'm taking some leave."
It was a unilateral notification. Not a request for leave, but a willful, impulsive action declaring he was leaving now.
"What?"
"I said I'm taking leave. There's no conflict to participate in for a while, right? So don't look for me."
The middle-aged commander was too stunned to respond. Although Nathan was always willful when in a mood, he had never left the military camp before.
"Hey, Nathan. What are you doing so suddenly!"
"Ah. I don't know, I told you clearly. Don't look for me. If you send anyone after me, I'll kill them right away."
The middle-aged commander closed his mouth at the chilling gaze. Would there even be anyone capable of tracking him?
If he were an ordinary soldier, he would have been punished for desertion. However, Nathan was a renowned general with many achievements. There weren't many who could punish him recklessly.
His background as a member of the Beatus family, which he himself so despised and hated, also played a part.
[This is the timeline separator]
It was late at night. The knights, who were used to riding horses day and night, were able to take a rest, albeit not a real one, by order of their lord.
"Hey, but wasn't our captain rejected?"
The knights, leisurely camping, once again fell into gossip while keeping an eye on their lord.
"He must have been rejected. That's why he came all the way here to get permission from her family."
The knights' faces flickering in the campfire looked ominous. They all had dark bruises.
"Haven't you heard? They say the young lady boldly said to the Duke, 'Please give me your son!'"
The knights, who had their discipline tightened under the pretext of sparring, were fortunately able to save their bet money without losing it. That's why they could grin like madmen even while receiving a beating.
"Wow. That's so cool."
"One of the aides in His Grace's office is my younger sibling's friend's cousin, and they said His Grace's eyes were so fierce it was terrifying. But the young lady didn't even blink and just smiled. Against that Duke!"
"Well, she needs that kind of guts to be our captain's wife."
"I approve of this marriage. If they get married, maybe our captain will become a bit more mellow..."
"You guys."
It was a chilling voice that sounded like it was scratching their throats. The excited knights' hearts sank.
The knights' bodies stiffened at the unfamiliar voice. Their heads slowly turned towards the direction of the voice, creaking like broken machinery.
"Say that again."
A wild wolf was flashing red eyes in the darkness.
Eeek! The knights swallowed their screams internally. It was terror. Another demon like the captain has appeared!
"The young lady you're talking about is my sister?"
The warm atmosphere that had been gently wafting as the wood burned - tadadak - instantly changed to a bloodcurdling chill.
Nathan, slowly revealing himself in the campfire light, grinned wickedly.
The knights were shocked at his evil smile. Why is this person here!
"We, we must have heard wrong!"
The knights struggled to survive.
"That's right!"
"We don't know who you're talking about. Pl-please calm down."
But it was in vain.
"Enough. Let's have you guys take some hits."
But why! Nathan began to vent his frustration with Rodrick on his subordinates.
"Aaaagh! Please spare us!"
"Captain, please save us!"
At his subordinates' pleas for help, Rodrick, who was sitting on a log smoking the narcotic herb, tilted his head back crookedly.
"Dodge it yourselves."
At those indifferent words, the knights held back tears.
You cold-blooded bastard. Just stay rejected and live as a lifelong bachelor!
While inwardly cursing, the knights had to endure Nathan's one-sided venting.
Search "seduce" at redcatty [.] com to read ahead up to chap 70.