The Knight Commander Abandoned The Kingdom

Damned Kingdom

‘Leon, I truly love this country.’

That was what my father used to say all the time.

This place was called Ragion, a small northern country that objectively couldn’t be called a good place.

Not that our family was wealthy either. While we didn’t have to worry about starving, we weren’t well off enough to live luxuriously.

But looking back now, my childhood was filled with nothing but happy memories.

Our family was always harmonious and full of laughter. To the point where raising voices at each other in argument was unimaginable.

One day, I had a big fight with a friend, and I got excited over something trivial and threw a punch at someone weaker than me.

I thought I would be severely scolded, but my father didn’t reprimand me. He just silently stayed by my side until I realized my mistake on my own.

When I cried and apologized for my wrongdoing, my father smiled and said,

‘I’m so proud to have such a good son like you.’

I respected my father more than anyone else in the world.

One day, I asked my father what part of this country he liked so much.

‘Yes, I suppose it’s time for you to hear this story.’

After thinking for a moment, my father told me an amazing story.

‘I was originally a wandering traveler with no fixed home. I only stopped by this village to warm myself up for a while.’

My father caught his breath and continued,

‘But then I fell in love at first sight with a woman I happened to meet at the inn. I had never seen someone so beautiful in my life.’

‘Don’t tell me that person was…’

‘Yes, that was your mother. You can’t imagine how hard I worked to win her love, being nothing but a wanderer.’

It was somewhat shocking to me as a child.

‘I quickly married her, fearing she might change her mind, and thought I couldn’t be any happier, but then I realized an even greater happiness was waiting.’

‘When was that?’

‘When you were born. Even if I live another thousand years, I don’t think I’ll ever feel that emotion again. How could I dislike this country that brought me the greatest happiness of my life?’

Seeing my father smile as he said this, I naturally felt like I would come to love this country too.

And there was one more thing – I found someone to love.

Her name was Alice, and though she lived next door, she rarely came outside due to her poor health.

One day, perhaps because her condition had improved slightly, she showed her face to people, and I, who fell in love at first sight, finally understood how my father had felt.

Alice was more beautiful than anyone I had ever known.

I followed her around all day trying to win her favor, and she didn’t seem to mind it too much. We soon became a couple who promised each other a future.

Just as my father said, I really came to love this country. The days here were filled with more happiness than I deserved.

However, all that happiness crumbled in an instant.

The demons, who hadn’t shown themselves for 30 years, suddenly invaded our village.

No hero appeared to save people from despair, like in the old stories my father used to tell before bedtime.

The last thing I remember was my father’s words telling me to survive no matter what.

When I came to my senses, everything was already over, and the scene before my eyes was like hell itself.

Only Alice and I survived that hell. We looked for others who might have survived, but all we could find were countless corpses.

We just cried without saying a word to each other. After who knows how long, when we had no more tears left to cry, she said,

‘Leon, let’s become knights. Let’s become so strong that no one can ignore us, and pay back those who did this.’

I had the same thought as her.

I had no intention of letting those who committed such horrible acts live. I would make those who completely stole my happiness regret it.

And I would ensure that no one in this country would experience such devastating pain like I did.

Because this was the country my father loved.

I still loved the kingdom so much. Because that’s what you wanted.

***

Alice and I volunteered for the Northern Border Knights. They were always short-handed fighting against the demon race at the frontlines, and there was no reason to reject us who came willingly.

Life there was so grueling that death seemed preferable, but we didn’t give up. Rather, the harder it got, the more we channeled our rage against the disgusting demon creatures.

After 10 years, I became the Commander of the Knights, and Alice rose to the position of Vice Commander.

The demon race, who had been toying with the Knights and ravaging the kingdom at will, could no longer cross the border’s threshold.

My beloved kingdom could finally regain its normal daily life.

Another 5 years passed. Though the demons’ resistance was persistent, it was all powerless against the might of the Knights who had fought their entire lives to kill demons.

After 15 long years, victory was within sight.

But then a variable emerged that overturned everything. Just one step away from victory, all supplies suddenly stopped.

The demons seemed to know this and strengthened their defenses, and we were driven into crisis in ways we never imagined.

Alice headed to the kingdom to find out why the supplies were cut off, but she never returned.

All I could hear was news that Alice had killed a noble and fled.

That fact was harder to accept than anything else. Because I had never once thought she would leave my side.

Though I felt like I would never rise again from the despair that gripped me, I gritted my teeth and endured.

If I were to fall now, how could I face the members who had willingly sacrificed their lives following my inadequate leadership?

I endured by gritting my teeth with that thought alone, but eventually, I reached my limit.

If we continued to hold out, even if we achieved victory, the entire Knights would starve to death before returning home.

My unfulfilled wish or their lives – which was more valuable? After much deliberation, I made a decision I would never have made before.

And so we returned to our beloved homeland.

***

In 15 years, the kingdom had changed unbelievably. The kingdom that had been devastated by demons had become incomparably more splendid, but I couldn’t find even a fragment of my memories there.

And no one welcomed our return.

I was ordered to self-reflect, and a week later, a one-sided notice came down that I would be held responsible for the defeat.

Their brazen behavior made me want to vomit. Isn’t the responsibility for the defeat yours?

All the Knights came to me and pleaded. They said their dedication was not for reward but only for the country. Why then must they be treated as criminals?

Because it was all true, I couldn’t give any answer.

As I remained silent, these heroes who had dedicated themselves to the country left, but I couldn’t stop them.

The only reason I hadn’t left yet was one thing: to hear the final answer from my beloved homeland.

After a long week, the trial began.

‘Leon Meyer, you as the Commander of the Kingdom’s Knights failed to fulfill your mission to achieve victory against the demon race. Do you have anything to say?’

‘…Victory was within reach. Why did you stop the supplies?’

‘Silence! What more do you want, you who have wasted the country’s resources for as long as 15 years?’

Surely the King must know how ridiculous his words are. After all, without us, the kingdom would have perished long ago.

Yet I could guess why he was saying such nonsense. He must have feared me becoming a hero of the kingdom.

‘Did you make a deal with the demon race?’

At those words, the King’s eyes wavered momentarily.

‘Now you even try to frame me with false charges. I was willing to end this with a reprimand considering your past merits, but you insist on crossing the line.’

Seeing that reaction, I became certain. They had deliberately empowered the demon race to prevent my victory.

While mistakenly believing they could easily handle the already weakened demon race themselves.

‘Leon Meyer, not only have you failed in your duty as the kingdom’s sword, but you’ve also committed the sacrilege of doubting your master!’

I spoke first, as even a fool could predict what would come next.

‘Then I shall lay down all my positions and leave Ragion.’

‘!!’

I loved my homeland. Because all my happiness was there.

The country my father loved so dearly was precious to me as well.

But now I have no family to love.

No companion who promised to stay with me for life.

The kingdom I loved has been destroyed by power-blind pigs, leaving not even a trace.

Now that 15 years of dedication has been repaid with terrible betrayal, there remains no reason for me to love the kingdom.

The treachery of those who had lived off our sacrifices was cursed.

From now on, I will never show mercy to this damned kingdom.