Their grief… was his pain. Losing any of his loyal knights was no different from losing a part of himself.
Marcus closed his eyes and restrained his emotions.
Fine. I've likely lost this life, but it won't end so easily. I need to figure out a few things before kicking the bucket.
Marcus turned his gaze to an auction house a few streets away.
Within the flames and destruction, this was one of the very few buildings that remained untouched.
However, unlike the rest, there was a thick presence of Devilish Intent reeking from the auction house.
They say that Cassir Mayores owns the building. He might be a part of the cult too.
Marcus made a mental note of this name.
Cassir Mayores–a name he was familiar with.
One of the names that Baron Savani had spilled some tea on. However, the Baron couldn't say whether Cassir was a cultist or not as he wasn't certain.
A tax evading, exploiting criminal, yes but not a cultist.
However, the name had popped up again about four months ago when they were gathering intelligence on the cult.
Many of the places where the thickest presence of devilish intent was found, were owned by the man.
However, before they even got to arrest him, he had disappeared.
No trace of his whereabouts.
Returning his gaze to his two knights, a plan began forming in Marcus's head.
A plan for a different future.
The path I chose might be wrong… no, that is not the main issue. About 5 major problems emerged on this path I chose, if I had dealt with them, then I would have been successful.
Marcus looked back at the commotion of the battlefield. Knights were dropping like flies and their numbers were quickly dwindling.
Should I have offered to equip them with Marc Steel?
He shook his head.
No, that wouldn't have changed their situation much. Brown and the rest were equipped with the highest of Marc Steel, though it gave them the upper hand against the mutants. They still lost their lives. The first major problem is the traitor.
Marcus analyzed.
His knights would have been fine, however, the positions were revealed and they were overwhelmed by numbers.
The second major problem… my passiveness. I was too lax thinking I could drag other powers into this sandbox. But they pushed me and I landed on my butt. The idea of dragging them in through the students isn't wrong, but I relied too much on their contributions just because they had more men for the job.
This second issue filled his heart with shame, he had scolded himself several times for being careless.
He had tried to borrow an axe to chop the tree. But somehow, the tree whipped him.
The majority of the information he received from the start of this ordeal, in his own territory, came from others' investigations.
Marcus had previously considered that they would lie in some reports to secure some advantage for their faction, and he didn't mind.
As long as the cult was dealt with.
Now, Marcus could shake his head at how foolish he was.
The third problem… my personal strength. I should have diverted some attention to growing my level. As a level 1 Mage, with limited mana crystals, after a few spells, I will be vulnerable.
Moreover, he had kept his Mage identity a secret till now.
Now, he was considering upgrading his Arcane Knowledge level and unlocking the Body Modification Knowledge section. He had the achievement points, but Marcus had been saving up to buy some very expensive blueprints.
A unique type of weapon he never imagined.
But now, this wish of his seemed irrelevant for now. He needed power.
"Brown, Logail," He called as he stood up.
"Milord?"
"We're the two of you able to learn how to detect Devilish Intent?"
The two were unsure of why Marcus was asking them this… regardless, they replied; "Yes sir."
"Okay, good."
The fourth problem is the Devilish Intent. Not everyone is capable of sensing it when hidden, not even the stronger knights can do that. That's one of the many reasons why Inspectors matter. We were tricked because those who could sense the intent weren't at the forefront.
"I, Marcus Sirdi, hereby absolve Knight Brown, and Knight Logail of their oath. They are no longer tied to me and free to make their own decisions."
"What!?" Both knights felt like they were struck by lightning.
Was their lord abandoning them?
Why!? Why did he choose such a time to do this unreasonable act?
Marcus could see their questions written on their faces.
He smiled and said; "You don't need to think much. Since we are going to die, at least, you two should struggle to survive some more. You don't have to risk your lives for me anymore."
This act was from a place of guilt. They didn't have to go through the process of dying… at least not in front of him.
Perhaps an act of reprieve to quell his conscience.
As though they had spoken about it, the two of them dropped to their knees.
"I pledge my life and loyalty to the descendant of Sirdi, Lord Marcus! We live and die with the young lord." They said in unison.
[+2 Redo].
Marcus didn't expect this.
Not his knights pledging their lives to him again and then receiving two more redo points.
This filled his chest with emotions and uncannily, the confidence to die.
Also, this gave another idea of how to earn more Redo points… but he didn't dwell on it.
Brown and Logail could only see that Marcus was relieved. They too found pride in what they did.
The time when they followed the young lord because of their oaths had elapsed.
Now, they followed him because they truly respected him.
Over the past few months, witnessing the changes he had brought to Agard, this respect only grew.
They were proud to follow him.
"Fine, come die with me then." He chuckled and turned his gaze back to the auction house.
The fifth…
Marcus pushed off his hiding spot and ran for the auction house. Behind him, Brown and Logail followed.