Batenna Kran was silent for a long time, seemingly lost for words, before finally speaking.

“Do you know that I am now affiliated with the Immortal Order?”

“Well, given that your torso is not resting on that desk, I think that assumption would be correct,” Isaac replied, biting back a sarcastic comment about Batenna’s unnaturally elongated limbs.

Batenna remained silent for a while longer before he spoke again.

“I refuse.”

Isaac was not surprised; he had anticipated this response.

“The main force of the Dawn Army is approaching. My soul, bound by my contract with the Immortal Order, demands loyalty to the Immortal Emperor Beshek and requires me to prove my faith. This means I must rally the people of Kran Fortress to fight against the main force of the Dawn Army. A futile and foolish endeavor.”

“I can evacuate the residents,” Isaac countered.

“And what of my children? Will they live their lives as exiles in foreign lands? It would be better for me to be incinerated and Kran Fortress passed on to my heir. Do you intend to persist with this foolish suggestion, Holy Grail Knight?”

Isaac sighed.

He knew his proposal sounded foolish. His sole reason for offering to return the fortress to Batenna Kran was that it seemed like the only way to fulfill the “honest payment” required to stop the inevitable death that hunted him.

Batenna Kran rolled his eyes before fixing them back on Isaac.

“You must have a compelling reason to insist on returning the fortress to me.”

“Yes.”

“Was there a curse placed on you by the lich?”

“In a manner of speaking.”

Batenna Kran was silent, seemingly processing Isaac’s response, before finally making his own proposal.

“If you accept one condition, I might reconsider.”

“What is your proposal?”

“Become the guardian of my children.”

In this context, a guardian would officially act as a supporter or protector for a family that had lost its head or for promising young individuals needing backing. For the last remaining members of the Kran family, having a guardian would be invaluable, but it would also be a burden—especially for a foreigner caught between powerful factions at a strategic location.

However, Batenna seemed aware of this potential burden and clarified.

“I don’t expect money, mentorship, military support, or protection. All I ask is for your reputation as a Holy Grail Knight to act as a warning—a message to the Codex of Light and the Immortal Order that these lands and my family are under your auspices.”

Essentially, Batenna wanted to ensure the Dawn Army had no legitimate cause to plunder or attack Kran Fortress again, emphasizing that the land had already been tarnished by his association with the Immortal Order.

Isaac pondered this before realizing the demand was manageable, but he added one condition.

“Let Ciero be established as a guardian as well.”

“……”

“I understand what you’re thinking. He may seem like a treacherous and ridiculous jester. But I can keep him under control. And in some ways, he might be more capable of protecting these lands than I am.”

Isaac was serious.

Given that the angels were already aware of his true nature, relying solely on his reputation was dangerous. Ciero, now newly awakened, might prove more attentive to these lands than Isaac himself.

“…Fine. If that is your wish, I will accept your proposal.”

“Will you accept Kran Fortress?”

“I will. And as Lord of Kran, I declare that Kran Fortress shall be passed down to Lehena Kran. May the gods have mercy.”

The moment the fortress was transferred, Batenna immediately carried out the succession ceremony. The conditions were now met.

Isaac had returned Kran Fortress to the Immortal Order, and if his assumption was correct, his honest payment should be complete, meaning the unavoidable death that hunted him would be nullified.

“…It’s not working.”

No notification of mission completion appeared. This meant that Kran Fortress was either not the required payment or that this mere formality was not enough.

“It’s not going well, is it?”

“No, but we’ll move on to Plan B.”

Isaac turned his gaze south.

His short detour was over. Before the Reaper could reawaken, he planned to head south quickly. There were people there who could reveal the tax that had been placed on Isaac’s head.

‘If anyone can figure out what tax I’m supposed to pay, it would be Shalok and Leonora.’

***

“What? The Holy Grail Knight has already left?”

“Yes. He asked for your understanding as he departed hastily due to pressing matters.”

Isaac left in a hurry, flying off on Nel the moment his tax payment was rejected. He left behind instructions through Hesabel.

He first asked Edelred for understanding. Summoning the King of Elil here and then leaving without so much as a proper farewell was inexcusable, after all.

Even though Edelred likely bore no ill will towards Isaac, it was necessary to prevent any rumors or misunderstandings from spreading.

“Sir Isaac was afflicted by a severe curse while battling the Immortal Order. He must travel to Odryf to find a way to break it.”

“What…”

“A curse is something unavoidable.”

The knights who had harbored misgivings about Isaac were now more understanding at the mention of a curse.

The knights of Elil, long plagued by the Witch Hecatli, regarded curses as objects of fear and resentment. They had seen many great knights succumb to curses over the years.

“He also asked His Majesty King Edelred to handle the aftermath of Kran Fortress. As the highest-ranking noble present, you possess the authority that no one else here can challenge.”

“Hmm. When he spoke of handling the aftermath, what exactly did he mean?”

“First, since the successors of King Kran are still alive, Sir Isaac asked you to officially acknowledge their right of succession. He stated that he would vouch for their status in the name of Issacrea.”

In a land disconnected from its ruling house, it would be easy to bring in any random person and declare them an heir. Therefore, the identity and integrity of the guarantor were critical, and Isaac’s reputation was impeccable.

Edelred had the power to enforce this, so it was a simple request.

“Understood. I’ve seen those children. They’re young and will need guidance, but I was not much older when I became king. I’ll assign a trustworthy knight to look after them.”

“Thank you. The second matter concerns Priest Ciero.”

“M-Me?”