Nathan Beatus. The third child of the Beatus family. The outcast of the Beatus family.

Known as the Red Wolf, he is a battle maniac as renowned on the battlefield as Rodrick.

If Rodrick is in the north, Nathan wanders the west and south, participating in conflicts wherever they arise.

He shows no mercy in battle, to the point where enemies tremble before the fight even begins.

The Red Wolf, carrying the thick scent of blood, seemed to enjoy his wandering life and never settled in one place. So it was not easy to track his location.

“Rodrick Schwartz. You should know I hate it when you use my full name.”

He doesn’t care. Rodrick ignored Nathan’s words. He closed his eyes tightly for a moment, suppressing his raging madness.

He took out a narcotic herb wrapped in tobacco leaves from his pocket and lit it. The white smoke he deeply inhaled and exhaled obscured his vision.

In the swirling smoke, his blue eyes became languidly unfocused.

“Still ignoring people, I see. Why are you here anyway?”

“Diana Beatus.”

Nathan’s hand, which had been roughly combing through his red hair, stopped abruptly. His face hardened in an instant.

“What did you say?”

“I have something to ask about Diana.”

“Captain!”

Rodrick raised his hand, clad in a black leather glove, to stop his subordinates.

Don’t move. At his command, the subordinates retreated, their hands still on the swords at their waists.

“Speak. Why are you mentioning our youngest’s name?”

It was a speed that even the elite few couldn’t follow with their eyes. The blade touched Rodrick’s neckline, and red liquid trickled down.

Nathan, who had approached right in front of him, glared at Rodrick with murderous intent.

Regardless, Rodrick remained calm. His arrogant attitude made a thick vein pop out on Nathan’s temple.

“Choose your words carefully. One wrong word and your head flies off here.”

Hmm, so he does have affection for his sister. His reaction to hearing Diana’s name was unexpected. For a brute who knows nothing but fighting.

Can I exclude him from the list of suspects who imprisoned Diana in the Black Forest?

Rodrick quietly let Nathan’s momentum pass. After observing Nathan with a gauging gaze, he spoke softly.

“Move it.”

His large mouth opened, and the corners of his lips curled up. One of Nathan’s habits was that the more annoyed he got, the deeper his smile became.

“Answer me. Rodrick Schwartz.”

Who is Rodrick Schwartz? He was a tyrant of the battlefield whose name alone was enough to change the flow of battle.

There were only a handful of people who could treat Rodrick casually, and Nathan, who had rolled together with him on the battlefield, was one of them.

“You’re still as reckless as ever. That’s why you always lose to me.”

A comrade he could trust with his back. He had already figured out his personality while roaming the battlefield together. It should be fine to tell this guy Diana’s location. He was a man at odds with the Beatus family. Since he seems to care deeply for his sister, he might be helpful.

“What, you bastard? What are you say……”

Rodrick, having briefly organized his thoughts, cut off Nathan’s words.

“Your younger sister. She’s with our family.”

Bang-! With a thunderous sound, dust rose like a sandstorm. Every time their swords clashed, bang- kwang- thunderous sounds rang out.

“Why is my sister in that house? Kidnapping? Is it kidnapping?”

It was a one-sided attack from Nathan. Rodrick easily parried the heavy attacks that would have broken the arms of ordinary soldiers and ignored his words.

“Are you crazy? You’ve really gone mad, right? I know you’re bloodthirsty, but have you finally gone mad for women too! You bastard! No matter how pretty my sister is, still! Kidnapping a girl quietly living in the capital?! Die!”

Haah. A cool sigh with lingering traces of the narcotic herb. His blue eyes briefly rolled, scanning the surroundings.

The mock battle seemed to have already stopped due to the noise they were making. A crowd had gathered around them, watching with keen interest.

“Wow, that’s insane. Are those human movements?”

“I bet 1 gold on Captain Rodrick!”

“Well, you can’t ignore the Red Wolf’s reputation either. I’ll bet 2 gold on Deputy Commander Nathan.”

They were even placing bets on who would win, as if it were the fight of the century. His subordinates occupied the front row.

“Hey, of course our captain will win! Don’t you see that unrivaled composure, you idiots!”

“What are you saying. By the way, why did you come to our area without notice?”

“Never mind that, hurry and place your bets. On our captain! No, wait, since we should win, everyone bet on the Red Wolf. He’s on your side, right?”

These guys and those guys, discipline has gone lax. I’ll deal with you later. You first.

“Die!”

His eyes had completely lost it. Rodrick, who had been avoiding and deflecting the sword, readjusted his grip.

Nathan, keenly noticing that subtle difference, also put more strength into his sword handle.

“As you’re Diana’s family, I won’t draw blood.”

“What are you…! Kuhek!”

Rodrick, who had been waiting for an opening, clashed swords and deflected, then bent his waist slightly and planted his fist into Nathan’s abdomen.

“Ooooh-!”

The audience’s response was enthusiastic, regardless of whether Nathan fell or not.

“As if I’d fall from something like this…!”

Rodrick didn’t give him time to rest. Before Nathan, clutching his stomach, could get up, he struck Nathan’s temple with the sword handle.

The force was so strong that it created an illusion as if his head was being ripped off separately.

What followed was the beginning of a beating. Nathan became the prey of Rodrick, who was already in a foul mood due to his raging madness.

The subordinates who had been cheering after winning big money suddenly became solemn. Because they had seen their own future.

“Hey, should we run?”

“Do you think that’s possible?”

“We’ll die even more if we’re charged with insubordination, idiot.”

The subordinates quickly assessed the situation and dispersed the watching crowd.

“Kuhek… You crazy bastard… Stop it…”

The tightly clenched fist stopped near his face. He had aimed precisely at areas that weren’t clearly visible. Nathan’s face was still intact. No more. It was time to stop.

“Haah.”

Rodrick, exhaling languidly, stood up and threw off his black leather gloves.

As he was putting on new leather gloves from his inner pocket, Rodrick kicked the fallen Nathan with his military boots.

“Stop exaggerating.”

“Get lost, you madman. Since when does a warrior use fists instead of a sword?”

In real combat, if you don’t have a sword, you fight with your fists or even your gums if you have to. Nathan knew well that he was talking nonsense.

He turned his aching body and lay spread-eagled on the ground.

He seemed to have forgotten what he was angry about. Seeing his deflated spirit, Rodrick took out the narcotic herb again and lit it.

“Nathan Beatus. How long has it been since you returned to your family home?”

“I don’t know, bastard. It’s been over 5 years since I left that house, I think. Why are you asking?”

Then he must be unfamiliar with family matters. He clicked his tongue lowly. I came all this way for nothing.

“Are you in contact with Debir Beatus?”

“I think it’s been over 10 years since I cut ties with elder brother? Come to think of it, elder sister Vanessa entered the imperial palace as the crown prince’s fiancée, right? Scary sister.”

Remembering Vanessa’s viper-like gaze, Nathan shuddered.

“I got my answer, so I’m leaving.”

“Hey, where are you going!”

“Back to the north.”

After asking all those questions, he didn’t say a word about Diana.

Knowing well that once Rodrick closed his mouth, he would never speak again, Nathan jumped to his feet.

Hah. Roughly shaking off the dirt from his hair, Nathan strode towards the commander who was controlling the mock battle.

“Chief, I’m taking some leave.”

It was a unilateral notification. Not a request for leave, but a willful, impulsive action declaring he was leaving now.

“What?”

“I said I’m taking leave. There’s no conflict to participate in for a while, right? So don’t look for me.”

The middle-aged commander was too stunned to respond. Although Nathan was always willful when in a mood, he had never left the military camp before.

“Hey, Nathan. What are you doing so suddenly!”

“Ah. I don’t know, I told you clearly. Don’t look for me. If you send anyone after me, I’ll kill them right away.”

The middle-aged commander closed his mouth at the chilling gaze. Would there even be anyone capable of tracking him?

If he were an ordinary soldier, he would have been punished for desertion. However, Nathan was a renowned general with many achievements. There weren’t many who could punish him recklessly.

His background as a member of the Beatus family, which he himself so despised and hated, also played a part.

It was late at night. The knights, who were used to riding horses day and night, were able to take a rest, albeit not a real one, by order of their lord.

“Hey, but wasn’t our captain rejected?”

The knights, leisurely camping, once again fell into gossip while keeping an eye on their lord.

“He must have been rejected. That’s why he came all the way here to get permission from her family.”

The knights’ faces flickering in the campfire looked ominous. They all had dark bruises.

“Haven’t you heard? They say the young lady boldly said to the Duke, ‘Please give me your son!'”

The knights, who had their discipline tightened under the pretext of sparring, were fortunately able to save their bet money without losing it. That’s why they could grin like madmen even while receiving a beating.

“Wow. That’s so cool.”

“One of the aides in His Grace’s office is my younger sibling’s friend’s cousin, and they said His Grace’s eyes were so fierce it was terrifying. But the young lady didn’t even blink and just smiled. Against that Duke!”

“Well, she needs that kind of guts to be our captain’s wife.”

“I approve of this marriage. If they get married, maybe our captain will become a bit more mellow……”

“You guys.”

It was a chilling voice that sounded like it was scratching their throats. The excited knights’ hearts sank.

The knights’ bodies stiffened at the unfamiliar voice. Their heads slowly turned towards the direction of the voice, creaking like broken machinery.

“Say that again.”

A wild wolf was flashing red eyes in the darkness.

Eeek! The knights swallowed their screams internally. It was terror. Another demon like the captain has appeared!

“The young lady you’re talking about is my sister?”

The warm atmosphere that had been gently wafting as the wood burned – tadadak – instantly changed to a bloodcurdling chill.

Nathan, slowly revealing himself in the campfire light, grinned wickedly.

The knights were shocked at his evil smile. Why is this person here!

“We, we must have heard wrong!”

The knights struggled to survive.

“That’s right!”

“We don’t know who you’re talking about. Pl-please calm down.”

But it was in vain.

“Enough. Let’s have you guys take some hits.”

But why! Nathan began to vent his frustration with Rodrick on his subordinates.

“Aaaagh! Please spare us!”

“Captain, please save us!”

At his subordinates’ pleas for help, Rodrick, who was sitting on a log smoking the narcotic herb, tilted his head back crookedly.

“Dodge it yourselves.”

At those indifferent words, the knights held back tears.

You cold-blooded bastard. Just stay rejected and live as a lifelong bachelor!

While inwardly cursing, the knights had to endure Nathan’s one-sided venting.