The Master of Language - T.M.L Chapter 33 (Part 1):

After passing the vast green plains, we entered a valley surrounded by high mountains on both sides.

There were traces of water left here and there, as if a large river had once flowed through this area.

Hansis continuously spoke to Count Furst as he guided the way. Count Furst responded to his words appropriately while silently driving the horses.

“From here on, the path is not good, so we will have to walk. If we’re not careful, there’s a risk of falling off the horses.”

Hansis said this and then got off his horse.

As the black knights dismounted in unison, a heavy reverberation filled the valley.

Thud!

Intimidated by this silent pressure, the Count’s knights also all got off their horses. However, Count Furst remained seated on his horse.

As everyone’s gaze turned to the Count, he scanned Hansis and the black knights, then said,

“I’m fine. Lead the way.”

Thereupon, the one who seemed to be the captain of the black knights stepped forward, looked straight up at him, and said,

“Count, you must get off the horse.”

The Count, looking down at him just as directly, replied,

“I will not get off. So lead the way.”

Even among nobles, there is a hierarchy, but there is no need for one noble to get off their horse when meeting another noble.

That is only required when a noble meets royalty or a commoner meets a noble.

Memories from my childhood are surfacing again.

The petty power struggles between nobles.

But it cannot be said that this is simply childish.

For nobles, dignity is synonymous with power.

Just as for a mage, dignity is synonymous with magical power.

The black knights’ commander took off his helmet. With a distorted expression, he approached Count Furst and soon growled,

“Count, get off at once. Otherwise, I will…Aaargh”

The commander’s body was lifted and thrown far away, crashing into the cliff.

Thud!

The black knights all drew their swords, exuding a menacing aura.

The Count looked at me with a blank expression, and I shrugged my shoulders.

“Since they were acting childishly, I guess I got a bit childish too. By the way, are we not going to draw our swords on our side?”

Only then did the Count’s knights and their commander slowly draw their swords, but the look in their eyes made it clear they would flee the moment a fight broke out.

I knew they were incompetent, but I didn’t know they also lacked loyalty.

This is quite surprising.

I wonder why Count Furst keeps such incompetent knights under his command.

Hansis raised his hands.

“Mage Ran, Duke Balkan also has a mage. He even has a disciple or two. It would be wise not to provoke him.”

I looked up at the narrowing valley.

There, I could not feel any magical power or majesty.

If it were someone like Kalasta, or even Master Abana, a sense of awe would have been palpable.

But this is not an opponent I cannot handle.

“Hansis, my junior.”

“……”

I turned my head to look at him.

“I drowned a mage more skilled than me in the sea. And that was in the first magical battle I ever experienced. Do you know what that implies?”

“……”

Hansis quietly swallowed his saliva.

Whatever is experienced for the first time becomes the standard for all subsequent experiences.

In magic, this goes beyond just symbolic significance and has real meaning.

I swung my staff to pull the black knights’ commander out from the cliff and placed him in front of me.

He coughed up blood, barely regaining consciousness.

“If you want a fight, go and tell him to come. I’ll be waiting.”

Hansis quickly approached the black knights’ commander. The commander opened his eyes with difficulty and whispered something to him.

Hansis nodded once, then looked up at me and said,

“Very well. Then please continue to ride the horse. If any misfortune befalls you, you’ll have to blame yourself.”

Hansis gestured to the black knights. They all sheathed their weapons, and in response, the Count’s knights also disarmed with sighs of relief.

A black knight supported the commander, and Hansis began to walk ahead. Everyone followed him into the valley.

Only I and the Count were still on horseback.

How long had we walked? The gradually narrowing valley had become a V-shaped, confined path, looking like an entrance to another world.

“From here, the knights will have to wait.”

At Hansis’ words, I quickly replied,

“The black knights should wait as well.”

Hansis gestured to the black knights, and they stepped back towards the wall. The Count’s knights also moved to the opposite side.

Hansis said as he led the way,

“Shall we proceed?”

He entered first, followed by the Count, and then I.

The view suddenly opened up.

Kio! Karak!

Under the pouring sunlight, the vast fields and valleys proudly displayed the grandeur of nature. And soaring above them, a massive being with outstretched wings shattered any sense of reality.

“A, a dragon.”

The Count uttered those words and could not close his mouth.

Dangun

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