Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 178: Gradually Awakening

Gawain stood by the side and observed the busy work of that Cleric. The Druid medicine had already replenished the urgently required vitality for Victor Kant; the Knight’s ‘Blood Boost’ had supported this vitality and rapidly replenished this viscount’s loss of blood. Right now, the healing Holy Light had covered up the wound. The Cleric then prayed sincerely as he carefully grasped the hilt of the dagger before calling out the name of the God of Holy Light and rapidly pulled out the weapon.

The Holy Light immediately surged and allowed the wound to rapidly close up while nursing the damaged flesh and bones inside the wound. During the entire process, the Holy Light Cleric constantly prayed to the God of Holy Light to ensure that the healing effects on the Viscount didn’t stop midway.

Gawain nodded silently and thought he had finally seen a normal Holy Light Cleric. How could a Cleric actually obtain the skills of Shoryu Bone Setting and the One-inch Sober Fist?[1]

The healing process was probably going to last for a period of time. While the servants gathered around their master, Gawain started to look around and conducted his own inspection of every corner in the study room.

No one had any suspicion of his behavior as the servants assumed that the Duke was actually inspecting the murder scene. Butler Carter who might have possibly stopped Gawain had already become the guilty party and had fled this place.

Gawain’s vision was shifting around this sealed-up study before he frowned.

This place wasn’t suitable to be a study. It might be on a high level in the castle, but it was an environment with rather bad lighting. The ancient castle’s narrow and unfitting windows were especially prominent as the entire room only had one narrow window. Even during the brightest time of the day, it was hard for the room to have plenty of illumination. The magic crystal lamps that were embedded in the walls had an obvious problem. Even though the lamps were lit up, the room was enveloped in a hazy and dusky atmosphere.

No, it might not be a problem with the magic crystal lamps…

Gawain’s line of sight fell on one of the lamps. The lamp’s light was actually very bright, but the radiance seemed to be restrained by some force; therefore, it was unable to illuminate the room.

The friendly and cheerful Viscount Victor would normally work in such an eerie study?

Gawain arrived at the side of the room where there was a massive bookshelf leaning against the wall. It was filled with a huge quantity of exquisite books with thick covers that were arranged neatly and orderly. Many of the books’ spines were inlaid with golden or silver ornaments, which was the classic trait of a noble’s book collection.

In Gawain’s opinion, it had multiple functions. The book could be read when it was required for the intellectual contents, and it could also be used to smash someone when required for defense. If the clan declined, the gold on the book covers could be used as funds to rebuild the clan. Apart from the fact that the books might fall off the shelf and cause paralysis when reading, these heavy and exquisite books were simply the example of ‘knowledge is power and money’.

In reality, this era had plenty of books that were heavy and exquisite. They were originally ‘luxury goods’ that the wealthy could possess. Sometimes, the number of books in a castle’s collection would directly reveal the foundation and wealth of a noble even if they could hardly read the books in a single lifetime.

But Viscount Kant obviously wasn’t collecting these books to hold up his reputation. Most of the books’ covers were already worn and deformed to a certain degree. This was a sign that it had been frequently flipped through. Some of the book covers even had the marks of repair that was done with glue, leather, and golden or silver leaves. This was a behavior that would only be seen in book lovers.

However, when Gawain looked through the books, he noticed that the marks of repair seemed to have been done a long time ago, and those golden or silver leaves had already changed in color. The leather pasted on it would also have many abrasions, and there wasn’t a single book on the shelf that was even slightly new.

It seemed that at some time, Viscount Victor Kant seemed to have lost interest in these ‘ordinary books’?

Then what was he reading? The sorcery books that were given by the Eternal Sleepers?

Gawain then turned to a small table behind the study table. The table was stacked with some documents and files that were not being used for the moment. Gawain’s eyes were suddenly attracted by an unfolded piece of paper.

On it were some careless writings of recent transactions, and they seemed to be raw data that weren’t recorded into the accounts in time. Among the list, there was a particularly prominent record, and it was the remuneration for a certain mercenary group and the deposit for the next operation. Under the contents for the job, it was written with ‘collection of raw material’.

Was this a record of the hiring of mercenaries to capture refugees? Evidence?

Gawain frowned, and just as he was walking closer to the piece of paper, he suddenly heard a commotion from the servants at the back. Additional radiance entered this slightly dusky room.

Gawain turned around and was rather surprised to see that Viscountess Lilith Kant was standing at the entrance. The sickly madam was so skinny that she was like a shadow. She was holding onto a portable lamp that she probably used to run from the north tower all the way here. Her eyes were widened as she saw everyone crowding around Victor Kant, while her face was filled with fear and astonishment.

“What happened!?” Lilith exclaimed before she stuttered. “Who—who can tell me… Victor, he… What happened?!”

“Madam, Madam, please don’t be alarmed. My lord is fine.” The Holy Light Cleric quickly stood up and said, “Thank the God of Holy Light’s blessings. My lord merely suffered a physical wound and is only unconscious due to shock. Duke Gawain fed my lord with medicine promptly, and with my healing spell, my lord is now safe.”

While speaking, the Holy Light Cleric raised his hand and attempted to summon a ray of Holy Light to pacify the madam’s fright. But Lilith Kant simply ignored the Cleric and staggered as she ran to Victor’s side. She checked to see that Victor was indeed breathing before she let out a breath of relief and looked at Gawain. “Thank you… Thank you for saving him.”

“It is something I should do.” Gawain nodded slightly before looking at the surrounding servants. “It is too congested here. Your master needs fresh air. Apart from the personal servants, the rest of you are dismissed.”

Gawain wasn’t the master of this castle, but when he gave the instructions, no one opposed. Most of the servants left the room immediately, and after ensuring that the healing spell had already taken effect and that the Viscount didn’t require any more spells, the Holy Light Cleric had also dismissed himself.

Viscount Kant’s wound had already healed. A high-ranked male servant was wiping the blood off the Viscount’s body, while the viscount gradually awakened.

His line of sight focused for a moment before he clearly saw the situation in the room. He saw Gawain first and was stunned for a moment. Immediately after, he saw Lilith who stood in front of him and immediately got nervous. “My love! Why are you here?!”

“I… I heard that something happened in the castle…” Lilith Kant appeared to be rather nervous as she said, “Then I ran over to see you…”

“I am fine.” Viscount Kant used some effort to wave his hand as an indication for the personal servants to be dismissed. He then attempted to stand up in a weak manner but failed after trying his best. Lilith immediately stepped forward to support him, but he grabbed Lilith’s arm and said, “You don’t have to worry. Instead, I am very worried that you are here.”

“I—I am okay.” The viscountess spoke frantically and turned to nod at Gawain. “The Duke rescued you in time and even called for the Cleric. My love, what exactly happened?”

“Thank you for helping.” Victor Kant immediately thanked Gawain and frowned while he slowly inhaled. His wound had recovered, but the pain of the dagger that was stabbed into his chest seemed to be lingering at his heart and lungs. “It’s Carter. Carter suddenly attacked me, and I was stunned. He seemed to have changed into a completely different person, and when he stabbed me, he was also saying something strange. Saying that the castle has an intruder and that something must be protected… I am now completely at a loss!”

Immediately after, the Viscount suddenly recalled something. “That’s right. Carter… Where did he run to? Did he attack anyone else?”

Just as Gawain wanted to reply, a shadow suddenly took form in the study. Amber’s voice echoed from the shadows. “He escaped.”

When the half-elf young lady appeared, her body was almost completely drenched by the rain. Her long ears shook in the air (probably to shake off the water?) before she turned to look at Gawain. “That old butler definitely isn’t a normal person! I saw him running on the top of the castle, and it looked like he was flying. His figure would vanish for a moment before reappearing. I used Shadow Walk but was still unable to catch up to him… I pursued him to the stables at the back of the castle, but he vanished without a trace, and I couldn’t find him anymore.”

Gawain was shocked. “There is someone that you cannot trace?”

“Yes, that person is at least a half-god.” Amber spoke with confidence, “I am the Goddess of Night’s chosen one after all…”

Gawain treated it as though he didn’t hear the statement.

“He escaped and will probably become a threat.” Gawain looked at the Viscount and Viscountess and said, “I advise you to increase the defenses of the castle.”

“That is for sure.” Viscount Kant nodded forcefully.

Lilith had also nodded, but she suddenly held her head while her body started to sway slightly as though she had lost support.

Viscount Kant instantly turned nervous. “My love?”

“I… I am a little dizzy.” Lilith held her head and spoke with a little agony, “I am not feeling well…”

“You have left your room for too long!” Viscount Kant sounded stern as he said, “Hurry up and return to rest. Don’t worry. I will send twice as many soldiers to guard the north tower. Once I feel better, I will go over to be with you.”

“Okay… Okay.” Lilith Kant swayed as she stood up and complied with her husband’s arrangement in a daze. She then lifted the portable lamp and walked slowly to the entrance of the study[a].

[a]I believe it’s just study, not study room, which is something else.

[1] This is actually referring to Wright Awiken