Chapter 24: 100th Birthday

Days passed one by one.

The Old Lord’s 100th birthday celebration was drawing near.

The residents of Ravini Border Fortress had arranged everything and prepared the food, waiting eagerly to begin the festivities.

The Pioneer Knights from Xiadamu Village had also returned to Ravini Border Fortress, intending to pay their respects to the Old Lord.

“Lord, we have returned.”

The Pioneer Knight Commander arrived at the Lord’s mansion and met Lord Ravini in the hall, sharing a brief embrace.

“Where is the Old Lord? I want to congratulate him in person,” the Pioneer Knight Commander said.

“The old man locked himself in his room early this morning and said he would not entertain any visitors,” Lord Ravini replied with a bitter smile.

“Ah? Why?” The Pioneer Knight Commander was somewhat confused.

Lord Ravini shook his head helplessly, indicating he didn’t know either.

“What about Lady Xiadam?” the Pioneer Knight Commander asked again.

“The elven apprentice said Lady Xiadam is also in seclusion. It’s better not to disturb her,” Lord Ravini answered.

“May the Faith in the Unnamed Hero bless us all.” The Pioneer Knight Commander scratched his head in puzzlement—what were these two important figures up to?

“Knight Commander, I know your faith is sincere. But to avoid unnecessary trouble, it’s better not to say such things out loud. Let us keep our respect for the Unnamed Hero in our hearts,” Lord Ravini advised.

“What’s going on?” The Pioneer Knight Commander sensed something was amiss.

“The Kingdom Envoy is coming to inspect our city soon,” Lord Ravini’s expression grew serious.

“I will make sure everyone keeps their mouths shut,” the Pioneer Knight Commander replied gravely, knowing how to weigh the gravity of the situation.

After several days of training with the young warriors, Old Lord Osiris skipped physical training on the last day.

He spent the day resting in his room, preparing to face tomorrow’s decisive battle in the best possible condition.

“Xiadam Ludwig.”

He was the youngest ever Deputy Commander of the Order of War Knights, the Nameless Hero, the Sword Saint of the Evil Dragon, and a Rebellious Knight.

There was no doubt he was the strongest man on the continent.

Wah! Even though now he had become a woman! Wah!

Yet precisely because of this, Osiris believed he still had a sliver of a chance.

If it were the full-powered Nameless Hero, even though he was the invincible Third Company Commander, a hundred of him combined couldn’t defeat a single Rebellious Knight.

The Order of War Knights was highly exclusive; only the strongest knights on the continent qualified to join.

Still, inside the order, hierarchy mattered a great deal.

No matter how strong a young knight was, they had to obey the experienced older knights.

Once, the youthful Nameless Hero had beaten all the veteran company commanders before finally being allowed to become Deputy Commander as an exception.

Each old commander had been knocked unconscious, and it was a grueling series of fights—although all joined together, they still couldn’t beat that young man.

Yet no old commander had been convinced or humbled; all harbored grievances against this young Deputy Commander.

Just like the Third Company Commander, a man’s stubbornness could last thirty years.

I’m a hundred years old and still don’t acknowledge you!

But such is the strange camaraderie among men—the more they resisted, the deeper their bond grew.

Dusk approached.

Old Lord Osiris suddenly opened his eyes—it was time to get up.

Though he had not slept, his entire being buzzed with excitement.

Osiris pulled out an ancient black box from under his bed.

“Father, are you awake? The protagonist should make his appearance,” a knock sounded at the door, followed by Lord Ravini’s voice.

“Come in,” Osiris answered deeply.

Lord Ravini quietly opened the door and entered the study.

He saw his father holding a large black box on the bed and lifting its lid to reveal a set of pitch-black armor, scratched and battle-worn.

“Old friend, thirty years no see,” Osiris murmured as he caressed the armor before donning each piece.

“Father? Isn’t wearing armor inappropriate for a birthday celebration?” Lord Ravini held a splendid, custom-made birthday robe for his father.

“This isn’t ordinary knight’s armor; this is the Order of War Knights’ armor. It holds immense significance for your father.”

Osiris stubbornly refused the birthday robe.

For his 100th birthday, he would wear his coolest, most powerful, most domineering Order of War Knights armor!

By nightfall.

The much-anticipated Old Lord’s 100th birthday celebration was finally about to begin.

After a day of preparations, the residents of Ravini Border Fortress, young and old alike, gathered in the open courtyard of the Lord’s mansion.

Outside the courtyard was filled with laughter and cheer; behind the kitchen, it was like a battlefield.

The Head Chef and dozens of cooks bustled about, heat rising as they cooked furiously.

Everyone outside gathered together, filling dozens of large tables, steaming dishes spread out everywhere.

The Border Knights had shed their armor and wore civilian clothes to attend the feast, enjoying a rare half-day off and freely drinking.

“Lady Sheffield, sorry to bother you. Where is Lady Xiadam? Why isn’t she here?”

The Pioneer Knight Commander found Sheffield and the Fat Little Dragon eating heartily at a corner table.

“The master is still in seclusion training in her room, but she’ll be out soon. We’ve timed it perfectly; she will definitely join the banquet,” Sheffield replied as she snatched a chicken leg from the Fat Little Dragon.

“That’s good. As village chief of Xiadamu Village, I’d regret it for the rest of my life if I missed seeing the founder of our village again,” the Pioneer Knight Commander laughed.

But who was the one person unable to smile all evening?

None other than the stone-faced Lord Ravini.

Yet everyone thought this was exactly how the Lord should be—calm and composed in the face of crisis, a true leader.

In truth, Lord Ravini was panicking inside.

The reason was simple…

“Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!”

Suddenly, the banquet fell into a hush as a sound everyone knew rang out.

The clashing of knightly armor plates.

The atmosphere of the birthday celebration quieted considerably.

Not because the host had arrived.

Though everyone knew the Old Lord was a grumpy old man, they also understood he was a legendary old knight with a rough exterior but a soft heart.

No, it was because Old Lord Osiris appeared clad in an extremely cool, pitch-black suit of armor!

He even wore a Black Knight helmet and carried his knightly sword, exuding murderous intent.

Luckily, the helmet’s raised visor allowed everyone to recognize the person inside the armor as the Old Lord through his eyes.

“The Old Lord?”

“W-What’s going on?”

“Why is he wearing armor?”

“What style of armor is that? I’ve never seen it before.”

“That must be the armor the Old Lord wore in his youth; you can tell it’s aged.”

“There are so many scars on that armor. How many battles has the Old Lord fought?”

Whispers and speculation spread throughout the crowd.

Old Lord Osiris sat solemnly in his seat of honor, silent as if awaiting something.