Chapter 248

“I just went along with you because I couldn’t be bothered. Do you think I’m on the same level as you?”

“What’s wrong with my level?”

Crash!

In an instant, discord ensued. Dennan watched the pathetic soldiers without a word before quietly standing up.

“Where are you going?”

“To General Mayhard.”

“…To report this situation?”

“What? No,” Dennan scoffed.

He had something else to report.

“Then what?”

Dennan left the barrack, not bothering to answer his comrade’s question. He thought to himself as he walked.

‘General Mayhard was acting a bit different from usual today.’

The other soldiers wouldn’t have noticed that their superior was slightly out of his element, but Dennan had a knack for observing people.

‘He’s never been like this before.’

Did something happen? Dennan was worried, his intentions sincere.

Unlike his comrades whose attitudes changed as easily as flipping a switch, Dennan had always regarded Kaywhin positively. Ever since he had seen the latter at the send-off ceremony, he had wanted to get closer to him naturally, and he was eager to follow him.

Dennan’s feet made their way to Kaywhin’s personal barrack of their own accord. When he arrived at the entrance, he debated briefly before opening his mouth.

“General Mayhard, it’s me, Dennan.”

He could feel that someone was inside, but he received no response.

‘Under normal circumstances, he would have already sensed my presence before I even announced it and given me an answer.’

Like Dennan thought, something was going on.

“I will go inside.”

Dennan drew the barrack’s curtain. Then, he flinched and froze in place.

“…General Mayhard? Where are you going?”

Kaywhin stood in the middle of the barrack, seeming like he was about to leave.

‘Am I mistaken?’

Then, Kaywhin opened his mouth.

“I have to go.”

Dennan wasn’t mistaken.

“Where are you going?”

“To my fief.”

“Pardon?”

For a moment, Dennan forgot where he was and raised his voice. He immediately calmed down and lowered his voice, but he couldn’t rein in the look on his face.

“What do you mean… Your fief, you say?”

After inspecting his own attire, Kaywhin spoke calmly.

“You’ll be able to handle the rest of the war without me, right?”

Well, that actually would be possible. They were approaching the end of the war anyway.

But that wasn’t the problem…

‘Desertion? Is he going to desert the army?’

So boldly, on top of that?

Dennan’s eyes shook. He just barely managed to speak.

“I-I would like to… at least know why. Why in the world do you need to go to your fief now…”

“There’s something I need to check.”

That’s all Kaywhin said. He glanced at the bracelet on his wrist. His face instantly hardened.

‘The bracelet isn’t working.’

It had all happened so suddenly.

Up until just this morning, he had contacted his wife through the bracelet as usual. But just before, the mana gem suddenly cracked without warning. And then, the artifact completely lost its ability, like it was broken.

Kaywhin clenched his jaw. He felt a chill on his neck.

He felt uneasy.

He could have simply chalked it up as the artifact being broken, but strangely, he felt restless. He felt an unpleasant premonition as his wife’s face flitted before his eyes.

Thus, Kaywhin decided that he would have to see for himself that his wife was safe. His destination was the duchy. He had heard that his wife had gone to the capital, but he had to spend a few days on horseback anyway. His wife would be back at the fief by then.

[Tsk, tsk. He’s crazy for his wife and not in his right mind.]

The Holy Sword, hanging from Kaywhin’s belt, criticized the latter sharply, though no one could hear him, of course.

Dennan was tremendously flustered, but then he resigned and stepped back. He could tell that this wasn’t something he could stop from happening.

“Understood. Then I will notify the supplementary troops…”

At that moment, Dennan suddenly went pale.

“…Hak!”

“Dennan?”

“Hak, hak!”

Instead of finishing his sentence, Dennan lowered his head and gasped for air. Then, with a look of astonishment, he raised his head.

“What in the world…!”

Only a few people knew this, but Dennan could see into the near future, as he did just now.

He couldn’t believe the future he had just seen.

“…Please go.”

Dennan’s lips trembled as he continued.

“Hurry, please! You have to leave at once…”

At that moment, a scream was heard from outside the barrack.