Lord of Rot

”Good day, Lord Leech!”

Lacy Sith swung himself off his horse and bowed to Leech.

”Good day,” Leech nodded. ”It’s been a while.”

”Yes, it’s been a month,” Lacy Sith nodded.

He looked at the black-haired lord before him, a man younger than himself. He had once followed Philip ”Midnight Sun” Cavendish into the war for Pebble Castle, hoping to build a legacy.

But in the end, he was captured and nearly turned into a puppet. It was Baron Porcupine who had saved him.

Later, he had hoped to win glory in the tournament, but he never expected to face Baron Porcupine. The moment they crossed swords, he knew he was no match.

Compared to the blindingly brilliant Philip, this country baron was someone Lacy Sith admired far more.

Besides, tales of his deeds had long ago eclipsed those of the Midnight Sun.

Leech felt a little uncomfortable under Lacy Sith’s stare.

’Why is he just staring at me after we said hello? Don’t tell me Lacy Sith is like the Second Prince, Little George.’

’I feel like I need to make something clear. While I don’t have anything against affection between men, please don’t target me as prey.’

”AHEM!” Leech coughed, trying to get his attention.

”Sir Lacy, what brings you to Porcupine Territory?”

”Ah, right!”

Lacy Sith snapped out of his daze. ”I’ve been ordered to deliver some files.”

He took a cloth-wrapped package from his saddlebag and handed it to Leech.

Instead of opening it immediately, Leech said, ”Please, come inside and have a seat.”

It was poor etiquette to keep a guest standing at the castle gates.

After arranging for someone to bring Lacy Sith a drink to soothe his throat, Leech sat down and opened the package.

Inside was a pile of documents with a letter on top.

Leech opened the letter.

”Baron Ross of Steel Territory has assembled his forces and begun his attack on Iron Valley. The Black King isn’t the only thing in Iron Valley. This is the information I promised to send. I await your good news at Roaring Castle.”

’So, Sidor Sea Water sent this,’ Leech realized.

He began to flip through the files Sidor Sea Water had compiled.

”Horrifying, swaying black shadows.”

”The dead rise again.”

”People who go out at night disappear.”

”Extremely sensitive to sound.”

”No one has seen it and lived to tell the tale.”

Leech’s expression remained unchanged. ’Whether this ’rising of the dead’ is true or not, I have some experience when it comes to the deceased.’

The one thing he didn’t understand was why two thousand mercenaries from Iron Stone City were heading to Iron Valley.

’Could it be that Baron Spark also wants to find a Magic Potion to curry favor with the Duke?’

Leech had no intention of helping the Duke find the so-called Pill of Immortality. He also had no interest in help from the East Gorge; the moment the Golden Thorn Sword’s influence crept in, he’d become a puppet lord.

’It’s better to use the search for the potion as a cover while I slowly build up my strength.’

’With Porcupine Territory’s support, it won’t be difficult for Iron Valley to develop, especially since it’s right next to Waterfall Land.’

’Then, when I have the time, I’ll wipe out the monkeys. After that, I’ll unite Longship Castle, Monkey Territory, Iron Valley, and Porcupine Territory. I can probably pull Linta Bay into the fold too. Then, I’ll raise the banner of rebellion... Oh, and it would be best if I could slay a white snake first.’

He was just getting carried away with his own fantasies. As long as the Duke was alive, the East Gorge would not descend into chaos.

And as it happened, what Leech needed most was peace, not chaos.

’It’s best to develop slowly within the existing rules of peace.’

’But a war with Monkey Territory is inevitable. It won’t be long now. There will be a battle this year for sure.’

Although things had been relatively stable over at Longship Castle recently, Leech could sense a storm brewing on the horizon.

The letter was simply telling Leech to start paying attention to the situation in Iron Valley and be ready to swoop in and claim the prize.

’If the dead are running rampant, will Baron Ross and his men encounter them? Or is the area infested by the dead separate from the Black King’s location?’

After pondering for a while longer, Leech noticed how stiffly Lacy Sith was sitting.

The wine in front of him was already gone.

”Sir Lacy,” Leech decided he should make some small talk rather than just ignoring his guest. ”How is Sir Philip doing?”

”Philip trains diligently every day,” Lacy replied. ”Ever since he lost to you, he’s been training harder and harder.”

”I hope he doesn’t get too fixated on it,” Leech said. ”Ultimately, one man’s strength can’t decide a war.”

Leech didn’t feel bad about the effect he’d had on the ”High-Beam Knight.” ’Fights have winners and losers. If you’re too afraid to fight one person or think you can’t beat another, it’s best not to enter the ring at all.’

”What is it?”

He noticed that Lacy Sith looked like he had something to say but was holding back.

SCREECH!

Lacy suddenly stood up, the legs of his stool scraping against the floor tiles.

He strode forward and, with a SHING, drew the Longsword from his waist. He grasped the blade with both hands and knelt on one knee. ”The Sith Clan has fallen, and I am its last scion. I have spent half my life fighting for various knights and lords, yet I have never managed to carve out a place for myself. If I remain at Roaring Castle, I fear I will end up serving that ’Golden Stallion,’ and my life as a Knight would become a joke. I am not stubborn like Philip. I believe that by following you, I can fight for a better future... My lord! I wish to swear an oath of fealty to you before the Four Gods!”

Leech thought to himself, ’So this is the effect of being the tournament champion?’

’No wonder so many noble lords love to compete in tournaments. Only a lord with honor can attract other Knights to his banner.’

’Before this, I tried countless methods but could never recruit a single noble, not even a useless fool no one else wanted.’

’As for an Extraordinary Knight like Lacy Sith, I never would have dared to even dream of it.’

’Knights don’t care for gold; they care for honor. And as it happened, Porcupine Territory used to have no honor to speak of.’

’The greater my renown, the more people will flock to my banner. If I win more battles, perhaps famous commanders really will seek me out and pledge their allegiance on the spot.’

The thought flashed through Leech’s mind for only a moment before his attention returned to what Lacy Sith had just said.

’Why does that sound so familiar?’

’I have drifted for half a lifetime, my only regret not finding an enlightened lord. If you will have me, my lord, I would call you my father?’

Leech walked over to Lacy Sith and took the Longsword from his hands.

’Setting other things aside, Lacy Sith is a very competent Knight. He’s not only powerful but also brave enough to follow Philip into peril. Plus, he dares to speak ill of the ’Golden Stallion’ openly.’

’Yes, in my eyes, that’s also a virtue.’

’Because Baron Leech is in desperate need of talent. As long as someone is a decent person, a few minor flaws aren’t flaws at all; they just make them more perfectly human.’

He lightly touched the sword to Lacy’s shoulder.

”In the name of the Celestial Father...”

”In the name of the Knight...”

”In the name of the Maiden... in the name of the Prisoner...”

”Rise, Lacy Sith of East Port. From this day forward, you are my Knight, and I shall grant you the honor you have earned.”

”Yes, my lord!” Lacy Sith took back the Longsword, his voice filled with emotion as he rose to his feet.

Leech asked, ”When we fought in the arena, I didn’t see you use your Extraordinary power. What is your ability?”

Lacy Sith looked a little embarrassed. He sheathed his sword and said, ”My lord, my Extraordinary power is... I’m immune to weight.”