Leopold's hand holding the cup of water paused for a moment before he naturally handed it over. “You walked back yourself.”
Isabella took the cup, took a sip with her head lowered, and blinked suspiciously. “I walked back myself?”
“O-Of course! I promise!”
Isabella placed the empty cup on the low table beside the bed, then looked down at her fingers, seemingly trying to recall something.
“...Leo.”
“Hmm?”
“Last night... I didn't say anything weird, did I?”
Leopold's ears felt hot again. He immediately turned his head away, pretending to look at the morning light outside the window. “No, absolutely not! You fell asleep right after you drank!”
“...Really?”
“Really!” Leopold turned back, his expression so earnest it was almost exaggerated. “You fell asleep the moment your head hit the pillow. You slept so soundly, you even snored.”
“I snored?”
“Uh... well, maybe it was just my imagination...”
Isabella didn't press him. After a long while, she finally looked up at Leopold. “...Then how did you sleep?”
“Me?” Leopold pointed to the wooden stool by the window. “I slept sitting over there.”
Isabella's gaze fell upon the wooden stool, then moved back to Leopold's face.
“You're actually quite a gentleman.”
“Of course, I'm a gentleman!” Leopold patted his chest.
Isabella glanced at him, couldn't help but chuckle, and then threw off the blanket to stand up.
“I'm going to wash my face.” She walked to the door and pushed it open. The morning light poured in, dyeing her white hair a faint gold.
She paused at the doorway, turning her head slightly so her profile faced Leopold. “Last night... thank you.”
With that, she stepped over the threshold, her footsteps gradually fading down the corridor.
Leopold sat on the wooden stool by the window, watching the patch of ground illuminated by the morning light at the doorway, and slowly let out a breath.
“...A gentleman.” He whispered his own words, shook his head, and couldn't help but laugh.
He stood up, gathered the empty earthenware bowls, and then pushed open the window, letting the fresh morning air pour in.
People were already active on the village path. A few elderly women who had woken up early were carrying wooden basins to fetch water by the well.
“Mr. Leopold!” Iron Fist's voice came from the direction of the village entrance. He strode over, his old iron sword hanging at his waist.
“Mr. Leopold, someone's here at the village entrance!” Iron Fist couldn't suppress his excitement. “Your 'Grand General' has arrived! And he brought... uh, he brought a squad of demons!”
Leopold showed no sign of surprise. He simply adjusted his collar as he walked out. “Blake is here? How many did he bring?”
“A dozen or so! They're all demons, but they're lined up so orderly, just like a proper army!”
Leopold stepped out of the house. Iron Fist was already striding ahead to lead the way, his old iron sword clanking against his waist.
“Iron Fist, you seem even more eager than I am.”
Without looking back, Iron Fist said, “I've never seen demons marching in a line in my entire life. It's amazing!”
The two walked down the village path, turned past the old locust tree at the village entrance, and their field of vision suddenly widened.
On the open ground outside the village entrance, Blake stood with his hands on his hips. Behind him, two rows of demon soldiers stood in neat formation.
“Yo, you're awake? I thought you were going to sleep until the sun was high in the sky.”
“You certainly got here quickly.” Leopold walked up to him, his gaze sweeping over the two rows of demon soldiers behind him. “You received it last night?”
“I did.” Blake lowered his hands. “That transmission spell of yours is pretty useful, though the magic fluctuations were a bit strong.”
“I didn't expect you to make such a grand entrance,” Leopold remarked, genuinely surprised by the discipline of these demons.
Hearing this, Blake crossed his arms, his chin tilting up slightly.
“Of course! If you're going to put on a show, you have to bring out something respectable!”
As Blake spoke, the leading demon immediately took the cue. He stomped his right foot, and the entire squad turned in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized.
“Alright, alright.” Blake puffed out his chest, waving his hand as if he didn't care. “Not bad. At least it looks the part now.”
Standing to the side, Iron Fist watched in a daze, whispering, “...They're so well-trained. They're much better than the militia I used to lead.”
Blake's hearing was excellent, and he had clearly caught those words.
“Well, it is my first time leading troops. It's just so-so, nothing special.”
Just then, a sudden commotion arose in the crowd. Barrow squeezed through from the back, followed by his two guards.
Barrow pushed past the crowd. His two guards stood to his left and right, their hands resting on their hilt guards as they warily scanned the two rows of demon soldiers.
Barrow's gaze fell upon the two rows of demon soldiers. The expression on his face shifted from initial wariness to scrutiny, and finally to silence.
Blake tilted his head, sizing Barrow up. “Who's this?”
“Barrow, the chief of Hexi Village,” Leopold said. “The one who said last night that he wanted to see with his own eyes how we 'control demons'.”
“Oh—the one who wanted to see some real capability?” Blake grinned, then casually waved his hand backward.
The leading demon soldier immediately stepped out of the ranks and came to a halt a few paces in front of Barrow.
The two guards behind him instantly drew their blades, holding them up in defense, while Barrow himself took a startled step back.
“Don't be nervous, he won't hurt you,” Blake said lazily.
“This grand lord just wanted you to see clearly—these demons take orders from me now!”
“This is unbelievable!” Barrow spoke, not yet fully recovered from his shock.
Leopold stepped forward at the right moment. “Chief Barrow, do you still think cooperating with demons is impossible?”
Barrow did not answer immediately. He fell silent for a few seconds before releasing his grip on his sword hilt.
“...I must admit, this has indeed exceeded my expectations.” His tone was still stiff, but it no longer carried the hostile edge from last night. “However, just being able to control demons isn't enough.”
“There is still a Lord of the Black Tide in Blackstone Town. Just because you can control a few patrol guards doesn't mean you can handle him.”
Leopold did not argue. He simply nodded. “You're right. So for our next step, our target is Blackstone Town.”
Barrow raised an eyebrow. “You plan to attack Blackstone Town?”
“It's not a 'plan,' it's a 'must'.” Leopold's voice wasn't loud, but his tone was resolute. “As long as the Lord of the Black Tide remains there, the villages of the Eastern Border will never know peace!”
“Yes, yes, yes! Mr. Leopold is absolutely right!” Chief Toby quickly limped over.
Without even catching his breath, he first repeatedly cupped his hands to Leopold and Blake, then turned to Barrow with a broad smile plastered on his face.
“Brother Barrow, you must believe it now, right? Mr. Leopold has real ability!”
“Brother Toby, you certainly changed your tune quickly.” It was hard to tell if Barrow's tone was mocking or sighing. “Last night you were still playing both sides, and today you've completely sided with Cabin Village?”
“Brother Barrow, you jest,” Toby waved his hands repeatedly. “I was just being... cautious! As a village chief, one can't make decisions on a whim. But seeing Mr. Leopold's capability with my own eyes, I finally feel reassured!”
Barrow ignored him and turned back to Leopold. “You said you want to attack Blackstone Town, but how exactly do you plan to do it? Although that place isn't large, it's still a stronghold the demons have run for years.”
“If it's a frontal assault...” Blake interjected, “this grand lord is confident in freezing that cathedral into an ice sculpture!”
“An ice sculpture? You certainly talk big. But do you even know what lies beneath that cathedral in Blackstone Town?”
“We don't,” Leopold admitted frankly. “That's why we won't charge in blindly. A head-on charge is the stupidest way to fight.”
“Then what is your strategy?” Barrow asked curiously.
“All of this, of course, will be left to my Grand General Blake!”
“Me?”
Leopold nodded and handed a wooden stick in his hand to Blake.
“Yes, you. Since you're already the 'Grand General,' the deployment for the attack on Blackstone Town should naturally be decided by you!”
Blake's eyes widened, and then he burst into loud laughter.
“Hahaha! I knew it!”
“Even Leopold is captivated by my wisdom! Cough, ahem... Since you've put it that way, I won't stand on ceremony.”
Blake wiped his nose, suddenly beaming with pride.
Rate on N.U.
