The Black Monster Forest Expedition assembled in short order, led by Duke Agnus himself. The expedition was quite modest for a group led by a Duke of the Empire; it consisted of only a hundred people, including Armand—the only 4th-Class wizard in the Duchy—the Red Knights, and the two Young Masters.

Naturally, the vassals—particularly the commander of the Golden Mane Corps, Armstrong—were fiercely opposed. Were something to happen to the Duke himself or his heirs, the entire Duchy would be shaken to its roots.

"Who is protecting whom?" Duke Agnus silenced the opposition just like that. 

After all, Duke Agnus only allowed the strong to participate in the expedition; in fact, the initial plan had been for the Duke to take his two sons into the Black Forest with no one else, but his vassals' objections had been too strong.

‘There's no denying he's a great person,’ Joshua thought as he watched Duke Agnus walking ahead of him. He was the worst father...