novelraw Chapter 98 : Chapter 98
Chapter 98 : Chapter 98
Chapter : 98
“St-stop them!”
The cavalry that charged into the crumbling battle line was truly invincible.
The elf knights and I, without losing the momentum we had gained, began to sweep through the enemy's left flank.
-Aaargh.
-Crack.
Upon impact, the enemy soldiers became skewers and fell to the ground.
-Swoosh.
I threw away my broken spear and immediately drew my longsword. Its length was shorter than a spear, making its range narrower, but it was much easier to handle.
“For honor!”
“Let's slaughter them all!”
“Die! Die, die! You weak humans.”
I ran rampant, receiving the unconventional escort of the elf knights. Death began to descend wherever we passed.
“We just need to stop them-!”
“It’s the Margrave! Get him! If we catch him, we win the fight!”
Some of the king's knights who recognized my identity charged at me, but it was in vain.
The effect of the blessed trait [Genius of Swordsmanship] was one reason, but the [Blessing of the Goddess] given to me made it easy for me to wreak havoc in such a chaotic battle.
-Crash!
If they tried to block with a shield, it would be shattered by the force, and if they tried to counter with swordsmanship, I would use the opening to strike them down. There was no way to fight me.
“I am a knight of the Kingdom of Aragon…”
-Thwack!
“I learned swordsmanship from the great Swordmaster Sir Johannes… Gak!”
-Crack!
Thanks to that, the bodies of numerous knights and broken flags piled up around me.
“I-insane…”
At this point, even the bravest knights couldn't help but be terrified. They scattered in all directions like grasshoppers whenever I moved forward.
With the knights, their commanders, behaving like this, there was no way the soldiers would stay put.
“R-run away!”
At some point, the enemy's left flank completely collapsed, and there was no resisting force to be found.
-Tiriring!
[You have shown an incredible achievement. Your military exploits will spread far and wide across the continent. While the world is still too conservative to accept the anti-cavalry tactics you have demonstrated, some ambitious individuals may be willing to emulate your tactics. Be cautious.]
[Notification: You have acquired the new title ‘Inspiring Warrior’.]
[Inspiring Warrior: Occasionally and temporarily raises the morale of allies.]
The battle on the right wing was over.
Now, only one thing remained.
The place where the flag of the King of Aragon fluttered in the distance. It was the enemy's central main force, which would end the battle.
***
The army collapses.
At the same time, the king felt his kingdom collapsing.
The eastern nobles had already harbored resentment and sided with the Prince-elector of Bohemia.
If he were to lose this battle on top of that, there was a very high possibility that the remaining nobles would also turn their backs on him.
“Steffen… Where has Count Steffen gone?”
“Your Majesty. That damn imperial hick and his imperial knights fled a long time ago.”
“What?!”
At the unbelievable news, the King of Aragon screamed.
In fact, this battle had been waged in reliance on Count Steffen. And now he had run away.
“Hah… haah…”
The King of Aragon was so shocked he couldn't breathe. But in the meantime, the enemy army was rapidly closing in.
Especially on the left flank.
The right wing of the Prince-elector of Bohemia, which had defeated Count Steffen, had broken through the left flank and was now striking the side of the main force.
If things continued like this, they would all meet their end here.
“Your Majesty the King. We must retreat now.”
Therefore, the surrounding nobles urgently shouted. For them, who had committed all sorts of atrocities by the king's side, a truly terrible end awaited if they were captured here.
They thought they had to retreat to the capital now, lock the gates, and try to resolve the problem through negotiations as much as possible.
But the King of Aragon showed no sign of moving.
He was already lost in shock.
“Damn it. We’ll have to escort you.”
“That’s right. Let’s just run for now.”
Therefore, the surrounding nobles eventually began to drag the king and quickly leave the battlefield with a small number of cavalry.
“Forgive our rudeness.”
“We are retreating!”
“What about the retreat order…?”
“You fool. Don’t they have to hold them off to buy us time to escape?”
“Ah! You’re right.”
They prayed that the remaining soldiers would hold back the Prince-elector of Bohemia's army. It was truly a futile defeat.
***
“A great victory!”
“Indeed. There will be no greater victory than this. For His Excellency the Prince-elector of Bohemia!”
After the battle ended, the nobles all chattered with flushed faces. A great battle involving over 80,000 soldiers from both sides.
A battle of this scale had not occurred in nearly a decade.
To have even won such a battle! They had every reason to be this happy.
It was as if they had gained an honorable military achievement to boast about for generations.
But the Prince-elector of Bohemia was by no means in a good mood.
For some reason, the King of Aragon had suddenly retreated. And he had simply abandoned his soldiers.
“The King of Aragon?”
“He has already fled, Your Excellency.”
“He can’t fight and he’s full of fear. To run away just like that. Don’t even think about that coward.”
Thanks to that, the Elven King Prince-elector of Bohemia had won the battle, but he couldn't end the war.
He needed the King of Aragon to end everything.
“Well, he is a coward.”
At the nobles’ words, the Prince-elector of Bohemia smiled pleasantly. He had run away, but the tide had turned. He wouldn't get far before he was caught.
“Issue a proclamation throughout the land-! A huge reward will be given to whoever captures the false king, the King of Aragon.”
“Ooh, understood, Your Excellency.”
“And you all go quickly as well. He can’t have gone far. And since the only place he can go is the capital, Barca, we can just block the way, can’t we?”
“That’s right, Your Excellency the Prince-elector.”
The nobles agreed with the Prince-elector of Bohemia, their eyes sparkling.
With a huge reward at stake, they seemed ready to rush out and send out a pursuit team at any moment.
In fact, some nobles were secretly giving orders through their vassals in the back.
‘Good grief… to see them act like this while crying out for honor…’
Of course, I was indifferent as I watched.
Although they said honor was their top priority, the actions of the nobles and knights seemed to pursue it in a somewhat ambiguous way.
Was it like they were cloaking their primal desires in honor? But what was interesting was that it didn't stray far from the medieval sense of honor.
“Hmm, are you not interested?”
“What gain would there be for me in following them, Magician Agpiel?”
“Well, you’ve already earned your merits, so there’s no need to go.”
“To be honest… it’s a waste of time. I’d have to camp out and sleep rough, wouldn’t I? In that time, it would be much more profitable to reorganize the army and manage the supplies plundered from the enemy.”
It was true.
Where would a fleeing man go? It was obvious he wouldn't dare to stop by a village or city, considering he would be pursued.
He would probably camp out in the fields or mountains, having a hard time.
I had no intention of following him and suffering. Besides, summer was starting. Wasn't it the season when the mountains would be teeming with mosquitoes?
“Hahaha. Really. I like that you’re not like a typical noble. You seem like a very old, seasoned noble.”
Of course, to Magician Agpiel, I was quite refreshing.
A noble who pursues practical interests without coveting merits. It was as strange as a merchant who wasn't interested in money.
‘Come to think of it, is he closer to a merchant?’
But then again, seeing him fight so boldly and bravely in battle, he also seemed like a typical knight.
‘He’s a very confusing friend.’
***
“Send the troops quickly!”
“We must be the first to capture the King of Aragon!”
As soon as the meeting ended, the camp became very busy. Everyone was showing their desires without restraint.
The dream of a windfall.
That was the title attached to the King of Aragon.
This was especially true for the nobles from the kingdom who had already betrayed the King of Aragon.
‘We must earn more merits, no matter what!’
‘No, we must capture the king with our own hands first!’
It was said that those who turn are the most vicious. In that sense, the nobles from the Kingdom of Aragon fit that description perfectly.
They sent messengers in all directions and began to track the King of Aragon using their connections to the fullest.
“They’re moving so busily. They have a lot of energy.”
“Baaaah. That's what I'm sayin', my lord. Didn't the battle just end?”
“Doesn't that just show how desperate they all are, Bishop Marco?”
“Baa?”
At my words, the goat beastman Bishop Marco tilted his head as if to ask what I meant.
As expected, I shouldn't have serious and complicated conversations with this friend.
“Never mind. I was just saying.”
“Baaheheh.”
I chuckled and led the goat beastman Bishop Marco to the military camp.
Here were soldiers who were injured and sick, and soldiers who had made a fortune from the war.
And Bishop Marco and I.
“Now, come here. This is a healing potion made with holy water blessed by the Bishop himself.”
“Ooooh! Is that true?”
“Yes. I brought it for you all. I will gladly give it to you if you show a moderate amount of sincerity.”
“Baaaaaah! Those who are sick in mind and body, come to me! I, Bishop Marco, will wash away your sins. Baa!”
“Aah… Bishop…”
“Please forgive me for the sin of killing I have committed today.”
In many ways, we were visiting (?) the soldiers in a rather peculiar way.
***
As expected, visiting (?) is profitable.
Especially a visit accompanied by a clergyman is even more profitable.
“Hmm, this is excellent indeed.”
I tapped the bulging box with a satisfied expression. Why did the goat beastman Bishop Marco so diligently proselytize to his followers and reveal his greed for money?
I felt like I was starting to understand.
“You. What are you going to do if the priests from the Holy See see you doing that?”
Of course, Magician Agpiel looked at me with a dumbfounded expression as I did this.
“What? The Holy See priests actually liked it, Agpiel.”
“What did you say?”
“It’s true. Haha. When they saw me personally blessing and visiting the soldiers, they praised me as a true performer of miracles, an example of a true believer.”
“Hah…”
The world was truly at its end. To think that his accumulated fame could beautifully package even such actions. Magician Agpiel shook his head.
“Ahem. Still, I’m being discreet. That’s also why I came with Bishop Marco.”
“What?”
“Bishop Marco’s greed is famous, isn’t it? He’ll be a good shield. Hahaha.”
“My goodness…”
At my smooth words, Magician Agpiel grabbed his head as if he had a headache.
He wondered if this was really the behavior of a noble. But then.
“Excuse me… Your Excellency the Margrave of Bellua?”
Suddenly, a man in shabby clothes approached.
“I have something to discuss with you in secret, Your Excellency. Please, I must speak with you.”