Chapter 489: Gears in Motion ( 489 )

Javier’s eyes were still half-closed when he heard it.

Clashing steel. Mana pulses. Screeches from the forest.

It wasn’t nearby, but close enough.

One of his deployed white puppet knights had already engaged in combat.

“…Tch,” he muttered.

He didn’t even bother to sit up.

Still lying down, he raised his right hand toward the sky.

A quiet flick of mana.

Fifty more white puppet knights materialized around him in perfect formation. Their armor glittered under the moonlight, weapons already drawn.

Thirty carried swords and shields.

Twenty wielded magic crossbows enhanced with white ore, glowing faintly with purified mana.

“Forty of you,” Javier said calmly, pointing toward the treeline, “assist the others in combat. Clear the miasma zone where the devices haven’t reached yet.”

The puppet knights moved at once.

“Command received. Affirmative.”

They marched forward, silent and precise, vanishing into the darkness.

Javier then looked at the remaining ten.

“You stay here. Guard the camp.”

The ten knights formed a protective perimeter around the sleeping area.

Delya, still clinging to him, mumbled softly, “You’re so reliable… even half-asleep.”

“Go to sleep,” Javier muttered.

“Okay~,” she replied with a yawn.

He finally closed his eyes again.

Buddy continued snoring beside him.

But in the distance, the battle had already begun.

Meanwhile, at the Armand estate…

Liana and Gloria were lying down on Javier’s bed.

The room was quiet.

Too quiet.

Normally, they would be sleeping beside their young master. But now… it felt cold and empty.

They both stared at the ceiling in silence.

“…It’s not the same without him,” Gloria said softly.

Liana nodded. “Not even close.”

Their bodies were still sore. The earlier training had drained every bit of energy.

The level 78 training room had been brutal—triple the difficulty of level 77. The enemies moved faster, hit harder, and had unpredictable patterns. Neither of them had managed to clear it.

Not even once.

“If it wasn’t for Mrs. Erinnette,” Gloria muttered, “we’d still be stuck there.”

Liana let out a small sigh.

“She cleared it like it was just a warm-up… even before General Hesbeirn hit the stop button.”

Gloria rolled onto her side and pulled Javier’s blanket closer to her chest.

“I miss him…”

“…Me too,” Liana replied softly.

They both fell silent again, lost in their thoughts.

Inside Garius’s private chamber…

The room was dim, lit only by a single mana lantern on the desk.

Alf entered quietly, holding a scroll in hand, and bowed deeply.

“My lord.”

Garius looked up from his documents.

“Yes, Alf?”

He gestured for Alf to continue.

“We received a message from the border wall outpost. It’s from the Beastkin Kingdom.”

Alf extended the scroll forward.

Garius took it, broke the seal, and read silently for a moment.

“…Message from King Lioness.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

“So one of the Dwarven messengers managed to send a formal request for assistance.”

He set the scroll down calmly.

“Alf. Erinnette.”

“Yes, my lord?” both replied in unison—Alf standing rigid, and Erinnette stepping forward from the side of the room.

“Call Hesbeirn. Now.”

“Yes, my lord,” Alf responded without hesitation and turned to leave.

Erinnette gave a quiet nod before vanishing down the hallway like a shadow.

Garius remained seated, fingers steepled.

The pieces were moving faster than he expected.

Somewhere in the estate’s training wing…

Hesbeirn sat on a bench, a half-empty flask in one hand. His jacket was draped over his shoulder, and a faint smirk played on his face as he watched two younger knights sparring in the distance.

A battle maid approached swiftly, stopping with a short bow.

“General Hesbeirn. Lord Garius is calling.”

Hesbeirn raised an eyebrow, then stood up with a stretch.

“Alright. Coming.”

He dusted off his coat and slid the flask back into his belt pouch.

“Haaah… I wonder what kind of task it’ll be this time,” he muttered with a small grin.

“Hopefully not another assignment that ends with me chasing monsters through mud.”

He walked off casually, hands in his pockets.

But his pace quickened the moment he stepped out of the yard.

If Garius was calling—then something serious was coming.

Knock, knock.

“Come in,” Garius called.

The door opened, and Hesbeirn strolled in casually with his usual relaxed air.

“My lo—” he started, but froze mid-step the moment he saw who else was inside.

Erinnette.

She was already standing there, arms crossed, eyes calmly locked onto him.

“…Gulp.”

Hesbeirn straightened instantly.

He lowered his head and gave a polite, formal bow.

“My lord. Hesbeirn, reporting.”

“Sit,” Garius said evenly, without looking up from the document in his hand.

Hesbeirn moved to the seat swiftly, avoiding his sister’s piercing gaze.

“Where is Cedric?”

“I already sent for him, my lord,” Erinnette replied. “Along with Master Marcellus.”

“Good.”

Hesbeirn cast a quick glance between them, sensing the weight pressing down on the room.

“…Is it important, my lord?”

“Very.”

Garius finally set the document down with a decisive movement.

“But since the Armand region still lies within the Human Kingdom’s borders, I cannot officially send troops to the warzone.”

He paused, eyes sharp.

“Not until King Edmund himself declares war on us.”

The room fell silent for a moment.

Erinnette’s eyes narrowed silently.

Hesbeirn leaned back slightly, muscles tense.

Before Garius could speak again, the door creaked open.

“Yaaawn…” a voice called out.

Marcellus stepped in, scratching his stomach and still looking half-asleep.

The moment he caught Garius’s glare, he froze on the spot.

His posture stiffened instantly.

“Esteemed Father.” Marcellus bowed, placing his right hand over his left chest. “Forgive my delay.”

Garius nodded slowly, eyes remaining fixed on him.

“Where is your brother?”

“I believe he’s on his way as well, esteemed father.”

“Good. Now sit.”

Marcellus hurriedly moved to the seat next to Hesbeirn, not daring to yawn again.

Garius leaned back in his chair, folding his arms.

“Erinnette.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Drag those three in here.”

Erinnette’s expression remained calm; she already understood exactly who he meant.

“As you command, my lord.”

She gave a quick bow, then turned and left the room without asking further questions.

Hesbeirn glanced sideways, listening.

Outside, a familiar voice echoed down the hall.

“Mr. Alf, no need to drag me like a kid—ahhh!!”

Marcellus sighed softly as he glanced toward the door.

“Sounds like Cedric’s here.”

From beyond, Alf’s stern tone could be heard.

“Your father is calling. And yet you’re strolling like we’re on a picnic. You’re taking too much time.”

“Alright, alright! Jeez… too strict. It’s not like Father is going to—”

The door swung open.

“Ah… Esteemed Father!”

Cedric immediately straightened, posture upright, hands clasped behind his back.

He sounded serious now, with no trace of the earlier complaining tone.

Garius fixed a long, steady gaze on him but said nothing.

Cedric hurried inside, taking the last open seat beside Marcellus.

“…I’m ready.”

“Good,” Garius replied, his tone flat and unwavering.

( End Of Chapter )

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