Duke Huiten

Duke Huiten is a Mogor noble, the swordmaster known as the Knight of the Sun, and the Empire's foremost swordsman. He serves as both military commander and political observer for Imperial Prince Adin, maintaining a gracious public manner while advancing the Empire's concealed interests.

Biography

Ancient powers and imperial schemes

Huiten appears beside Adin during the imperial celebrations as one of the prince's two most important assets. Publicly, he welcomes Cale Henituse with a gentle smile and praises his noble principles. Cale's knowledge reveals a darker connection: Huiten supplies enslaved people to the Alchemist's Bell Tower for experimentation. When part of the Sun Palace collapses, the duke promptly mobilizes the imperial mages and alchemists and helps transfer responsibility for the structure away from Cale's shield. (Chapters 35–36)

His courtesy and military competence protect the same imperial system. Rapid rescue command limits visible casualties and political damage, while the gentle public manner prevents foreign guests from easily connecting the Knight of the Sun to victims sent into the Bell Tower.

Northern war and Death Canyon

Adin sends Huiten to Karo with imperial knights, mages, and soldiers as support against the Indomitable Alliance. Huiten takes command of Castle Leona's northern tower and offers troops to Cale during the war council. In battle, he maintains a disciplined defensive formation and periodically strikes the bears with sword aura. He also helps delay Karo's pursuit by emphasizing the pain priests would suffer while purifying dead mana, privately judging the stalled response a successful outcome for the Empire's operation. After Rowoon's victory, he enthusiastically praises Cale's forces while probing for information about their powers, then returns to Mogor intending to investigate them further. (Chapters 46–48)

The deployment combines genuine allied defense with imperial observation and delay. Huiten's formation fights the common enemy, yet his advice around dead mana advances Mogor's interest by slowing Karo's response. Praise after the victory becomes another intelligence method: admiration invites technical disclosure that a direct interrogation would not.

Appearance and personality

Huiten looks like a middle-aged man but is actually in his late sixties. He generally wears a gentle or dignified smile and speaks with the measured courtesy expected of a duke. Behind that presentation he is observant, calculating, and capable of quickly replacing irritation or surprise with good-natured composure. His delight in formidable strength appears genuine even when he uses the same conversation to gather intelligence. (Chapters 35, 47–48)

Abilities and powers

Swordmaster aura and perception

Huiten is Mogor's foremost swordsman and projects aura far enough to strike large beastfolk from a fortified tower. He treats roughly three metres as a normal swordmaster benchmark, which makes Choi Han's much greater reach immediately noteworthy. Martial intuition also lets him notice dangerous mana or concealed strength, encouraging Cale to keep Raon and Choi Han's full capabilities away from close inspection. (Chapters 35–36, 47)

The rank is formidable but not supreme. Huiten himself judges Choi Han's demonstrated attack difficult to reproduce, and the scoped chapters do not show Huiten defeating Cale's leading fighters.

Military command and intelligence collection

Huiten holds Castle Leona's northern tower through disciplined formation, assigned troops, and periodic aura strikes rather than abandoning command for a duel. He coordinates imperial knights, mages, and soldiers while participating in the allied war council. (Chapters 46–48)

Observation continues during cooperation. Gentle praise and technical questions encourage allies to reveal range, mechanics, or limits, while plausible humanitarian arguments delay decisions favorable to Mogor. His information remains partial because Cale recognizes the method and deliberately conceals key assets.

Relationships

• Adin: Huiten is one of Adin's principal military assets and represents the prince's interests when Adin leaves Karo. (Chapters 35–36, 46)
• Cale Henituse: Huiten publicly praises Cale as a heroic noble while privately studying his Ancient Powers, allies, and connection to Rowoon's strength. Cale reciprocates the courtesy while recognizing him as an imperial conspirator. (Chapters 35–36, 46–48)
• Choi Han: Huiten recognizes Choi Han's sword aura as far beyond the usual swordmaster range and admits that reproducing his attack would be difficult. (Chapter 47)
• Mary: Huiten is impressed by Mary's necromancy but treats her revealed strength as another capability to investigate for the Empire. (Chapters 47–48)

Items

Duke Huiten has no cataloged signature item; his status and battlefield threat derive from his own swordmaster aura, command experience, and imperial forces rather than a unique generated object.