Witches: Starting as a Lord Marrying a Wife

"Uncle Ole, I'm just going to take a look. If I can't rescue the witch, I won't take any unnecessary risks."

David reassured the Grey Wolf Knight repeatedly. Only after demonstrating his strength did the knight reluctantly agree, though he still urged caution.

"Uncle Ole, while I'm gone, make your presence known around Frostwolf Ridge. No one will suspect there's another full knight in the territory."

The two finalized their plans. The Grey Wolf Knight handed David intelligence gathered by their spies in Lynx Town, advising him to contact them if necessary.

Although the Frostwolf family had fallen, their influence had left behind a network of agents across the north. These remnants of their former power were invaluable.

After committing the details to memory, David instructed Leah to cover for him during his absence. Then, he slipped out of Frostwolf Ridge and headed toward Lynx Town.

---

Lynx Town wasn't far from Frostwolf Ridge. David arrived at dusk, riding a black horse and hiding in the nearby woods.

The Lynx family had once been vassals of the Frostwolf family.

But with the Icebear family's rise and the Frostwolves' decline, they betrayed their former liege to become subordinates of the Icebears.

David's mission wasn't just to rescue the witch. He also intended to eliminate Baron Lynx—a traitor and potential threat to the Frostwolf family.

---

At midnight, David infiltrated Lynx Town.

The Lynx Baron's manor was easy to locate. It was a shabby estate with minimal defenses, making it easy for David to sneak inside with his current abilities.

He found his way to the baron's bedroom.

As he stepped inside, Baron Lynx's eyes snapped open.

"Who's there?"

The baron leapt from his bed, grabbing the knight's sword at his side.

David didn't waste words. He surged forward with the speed of a Tier 2 knight, channeling the power of his Frostwolf bloodline into his blade, and struck without hesitation.

Clang!

Their swords collided.

Baron Lynx staggered backward, a look of shock on his face as he was thrown across the room.

"A Tier 2 knight!" he gasped, his voice trembling with disbelief. He had never imagined that such a powerful knight would appear in a remote town like Lynx, let alone to assassinate him.

"Die."

David struck again.

Already gravely injured, Baron Lynx had no chance to defend himself. He could only watch as David's sword sliced across his throat, plunging him into darkness.

"So much easier than I expected," David murmured, his expression calm.

This wasn't his first kill, but it was the first time he had slain a full knight.

---

He began searching the baron's bedroom, knowing the Frostwolf family desperately needed funds.

Although Baron Lynx wasn't particularly strong, as a knight and lord of a territory, he was bound to have some wealth.

After thoroughly ransacking the room, David found a small chest containing about 100 gold coins—a significant sum. He stuffed the coins into his pouch and continued searching the manor, checking the study and other key locations.

Once he had looted everything of value, he set the baron's bedroom ablaze, ensuring the corpse burned with it, and left the manor.

The flames lit up the night sky.

Hearing shouts as guards rushed toward the fire, David used the commotion to head for the town's dungeon.

---

Lynx Town's dungeon was a four-level structure built entirely of sturdy granite. The witch was imprisoned on the lowest level.

Wearing a mask, David waited outside the dungeon. When the guards changed shifts, he slipped inside.

Drawing a dagger, he silently eliminated one guard after another, dragging their bodies into dark corners.

With the night vision granted by his Frost Giant Wolf bloodline, the dimly lit dungeon posed no challenge.

His Tier 2 knight abilities far surpassed the ordinary guards, allowing him to dispatch them without resistance as he made his way to the fourth level.

At the bottom of the dungeon was a single cell.

Inside, a witch was bound to a cross.

The chill of late autumn filled the air, and the temperature in the dungeon was cold enough for every breath to produce visible puffs of mist. Yet the witch wore only a thin garment and seemed unaffected by the freezing conditions.

Her identity as an Ice Witch was unmistakable.

The sudden arrival of David's shadowy figure made the witch lift her head. Her piercing blue eyes met his, calm and foreboding, like the sky before a storm.

David locked eyes with her for a moment before drawing his sword. Without a word, he slashed through the iron shackles holding the cell door shut.

For the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed the witch's face. She watched as the masked knight approached and cut the chains binding her to the cross.

"I'm here to save you," David said, his voice low and steady.

Everything had gone smoother than he anticipated, thanks to his strength. Even the more capable guards had been unable to react to his surprise attacks before being taken down.

The witch, though weakened, nodded silently, her gaze sharp and thoughtful as she observed her rescuer.

David turned to her. "Can you walk?"

"I can manage," she replied, her voice soft yet clear, carrying a note of quiet strength.

"Follow me," David ordered, leading the way out of the dungeon. With the commotion

still focused on the manor fire, they disappeared into the shadows of the forest, leaving Lynx Town far behind.