Richard

Richard is the draconian member of the Demon King's Palace's five captains. A powerful swordsman and political observer, he covertly tests In-gong's rise before returning to the northern front, where he becomes one of the commanders holding the Aegis Gate against War-driven barbarians.

Biography

Captain of the Draconians

Richard first watches In-gong's growing faction from the captains' place at court. Curious about a previously disregarded prince's sudden strength, he orders his nephew Henry to arrange an ambush by the expelled soldier Jiks. Richard says the object is measurement rather than assassination, but he also accepts the risk of injury and hopes the attack will plant suspicion among the royal factions. The plan fails when In-gong defeats Jiks; instead of escalating, Richard studies the reports from Evian, recognizes In-gong's individual and military ability, and becomes more interested in how quickly a fourth faction has formed. In-gong remembers Richard as Zephyr's strongest ally in the Knight Saga route, but that alternate history is context for his suspicion, not proof that present-day Richard acts under Zephyr's orders. (Chapters 103–104, 110, and 151–152)

Richard returns to the northern frontier and remains there as the succession crisis becomes a war for survival. When the palace is attacked, he and Yecaderina stay at the Aegis Gate while two other captains move closer to the capital; because the winter king's defeat is not yet known, abandoning the absolute northern defense would expose the south. Richard meets the resulting charge of hundreds of thousands with an aura blade stretching dozens of metres along the wall. The gate is damaged despite his power, but he survives and joins Baikal, the other captains, and royal reinforcements in defending it through the following campaign. (Chapters 185, 221, 224–225, and 230)

Appearance and personality

Richard has bright blonde hair resembling a lion's mane, long white horns, and unusually large, hard hands roughened by a lifetime of sword use. His smiles and moderate speech can carry the impression of a lion's growl. He is calculating and willing to use dangerous proxies, but not indiscriminately rebellious: he refuses to oppose Mitra's prohibition on killing royal successors and later performs the defensive duty of a captain. His response to In-gong combines rivalry, curiosity, and a genuine reassessment when evidence overturns his expectations. (Chapters 104, 110, and 152)

Powers and abilities

Swordsmanship, aura, and command

Richard is identified as one of the strongest captains aside from Gallehed and has trained with a sword throughout his life. At the Aegis Gate, he forms an aura blade dozens of metres long and sweeps it along the wall against massed barbarians, demonstrating both range and the ability to defend a large front. His captain-level power is still not army-ending: even with Yecaderina and Baikal beside him, the War-maddened force damages and partially collapses the walls. The corpus names no sword style, transformation, draconian breath, or special technique for Richard, so those mechanics and his later level of mastery remain unspecified. (Chapters 104, 110, and 224–225)

Richard also commands through the institutions of the draconians and the Demon King's army. He can direct agents through the five leading draconian families, while his assignment at the Aegis Gate reflects the strategic need to keep two captains on the northern defense. His covert reach has limits: after Jiks's defeat, Richard considers collecting the scattered survivors' reports too cumbersome, and explicitly lacks another operational arm in Evian. (Chapters 110, 152, and 221)

Relationships

• In-gong: Richard first treats In-gong as an unknown variable to be tested, then accepts that his victories reflect real personal and command ability. Their rivalry never becomes a direct fight, and Richard later serves in the defense organized under the new Demon King. (Chapters 104, 110, 151–152, and 230)
• Zephyr: Richard is In-gong's strongest ally while playing Zephyr in the alternate Knight Saga route. The current corpus does not show Zephyr ordering Richard's ambush or formally appointing him to his faction, so the game relationship remains separate from demonstrated present events. (Chapters 104 and 110)
• Yecaderina: The two captains share responsibility for the Aegis Gate. Richard supplies an extended aura attack while Yecaderina strengthens the defenders, but even their combined power requires Baikal and later reinforcements against the enormous barbarian assault. (Chapters 221 and 224–225)
• Baikal: Baikal fights beside Richard at the Aegis Gate and supplements the captains' defense with large-scale magic when the walls begin to fail. (Chapters 224–225 and 230)

Items

• Richard keeps an unnamed wrought-iron seal restricted to members of the five families that lead the draconians. It signifies institutional authority, but no supernatural property is established. He also uses an unnamed sword for his lifelong swordsmanship. (Chapter 110)