novelraw Chapter 355: Childhood Friends – Escape
Chapter 355: Childhood Friends – Escape
As the aura surged from the Count's sword, Gilbert swallowed hard.
"F-Father... please..."
"Shut your mouth."
Though his son pleaded desperately, the Count dismissed him with cold finality. His anger had reached a point where he didn’t even know where to begin venting it.
The sheer absurdity of the person who started this war with a kiss now demanding for it to stop was infuriating beyond measure.
Even considering that his son was a half-royal born between himself and the princess, it was an astoundingly brazen request.
But still... fine. Fine, he is still my son. That much, the Count could accept. However, what truly fueled his rage was the sixteen knights that surrounded them.
These bastards...
How?
How do their numbers match ours so perfectly?How did they know we would come here?
How did they time it so perfectly to wait for us at this exact moment?
The Count shot a scornful glare at his son, who stood there looking dejected, like a failed peace envoy who had lost all hope.
If there was a leak, it would have been through that brat.
As the official successor of House Forte, Gilbert had access to the necessary information and people willing to deliver it.
With a crack of his neck, the Count gestured toward the knights.
"Each of you, take one. I'll crush that commander-looking one and support you afterward. Gilbert, stand back. As of today, your asylum is over."
Before his words had fully left his mouth, the ground exploded like a stone tossed into a still pond.
The Count leapt over the trench in one bound, his aura blade gleaming as it split the sky in two.
With the same momentum, he swung downward, intending to cleave the knight before him — and the wretched trench — in half.
— Claaang!!
Clang?
That was a sound that should have been impossible for an aura blade. It was a sensation he should not have felt, either.
The aura blade, which could cleave anything in the world as if slicing tofu, had been stopped by the sword of the small, unassuming knight before him.
The mysterious knight slowly straightened his posture.
“Damn, I almost died.”
Rev cursed inwardly. He had genuinely come so close to dying that he saw his life flash before his eyes and even muttered a prayer.
It was all because the strike from Herman Forte, the Count, was far too powerful. The moment his sword collided with it, Rev's knees buckled.
But it wasn't just brute strength that blocked that blow. Rev had tilted his sword over his shoulder, letting the tip dig into the ground behind him.
Like a man shouldering a burden, he had taken the full force of the strike with his entire body. His arms shook, his shoulders ached as if he’d been beaten, but he endured.
Feigning nonchalance, Rev slowly straightened up, meeting the Count's gaze.
This was his first time facing Herman Forte. And... Whoa.
He's HUGE.
Rev didn’t even reach the Count's chest. The man’s forearm muscles were so thick they seemed to belong to a different species. It reminded him of that moment long ago in the "Beggar Siblings" scenario, when Lean first faced the owner of a chicken restaurant.
Just one punch from this guy would kill me outright.
For a moment, Rev hesitated, wondering if he should start "spilling his guts" right here and now. But if he did that, he wouldn’t be able to escape, so he readjusted his grip on his sword.
Lower. As low as possible.
Rev shifted his sword from where it hung over his shoulder and slashed diagonally downward. His sword grazed the Count's thigh but was deflected by the Count's sword.
Rev leapt down into the trench and used his free hand to adjust his grip on his sword. He turned and thrust his blade at the Count, his fluid use of terrain and movement momentarily surprising the older man.
Or maybe the Count was still reeling from having his aura blade blocked earlier.
The Count also shifted his grip on his sword.
"You've got some guts for a runt. Your body's a bit lacking, though… but whatever. We’re enemies now, so no hard feelings.”
With that, the Count jumped into the trench.
For a man as large as the Count, the trench was a cramped space. But he viewed it as a condition to his advantage — it was like trapping prey in a box. The Count shortened his grip on his sword, relying on thrusts as his primary attack method.
[Achievement: Defeated 3 Thugs — You are stronger in dark alleys. min(3)]
Rev barely managed to deflect one of the Count's lightning-fast thrusts. This wasn’t thanks to his "Knight Slayer" achievements — it was the "Thug Slayer" achievement, of all things, that activated. The bonuses from both combined to give him just enough of an edge.
Of course, there was no time for Rev to analyze what had just happened.
Ping—!
The Count’s sword sliced past his earlobe, almost cutting it off.
The Count's swordsmanship was devoid of preliminary movements.
Since he hid all signs of his attacks, the moment his arm moved, the blade was already at your face.
Rev managed to avoid the strikes by sheer instinct, dodging them without even knowing how he did it. But the situation was just as frustrating for the Count.
[Leo, you have wounded the strongest swordsman on the continent. As a reward for this achievement, you gain {Swordsmanship.5v: Forte Style}.]
This brat's moves are unpredictable.
The Count's eyes sharpened as he tried to read Rev’s movements. Normally, knowing where an opponent’s center of gravity lay would give him a clear idea of where their next attack would come from. But if he thought it was to the right, Rev would shift left. If it seemed to be backward, he would suddenly lunge forward.
The confined space of the trench worked in Rev’s favor, too.
“Damn it!”
“Ugh!”
Irritated, the Count switched tactics, turning his sword horizontally and smashing down. The wide, burning surface of his aura blade came crashing down like a falling guillotine.
Rev had no choice but to raise his sword to block.
— THUD!
His legs wobbled. No matter how strong his lower body was, his knees buckled under the impact.
If it were Rera, maybe she'd stand a chance, but...
I’m no match for Herman Forte.
Rev wasn't holding on with skill. He was barely surviving thanks to his indestructible sword.
But if things continued like this, he would be crushed under the Count’s overwhelming strength.
Luckily, Rev had a trump card.
Gilbert drew his sword and stepped in.
“Father, please! Stop!”
As he pressed down on Rev, Count Herman Forte glanced back in disbelief.
“Didn’t I tell you to stand down?”
“If you promise to end this war, I’ll step back.”
“Do you have no sense of responsibility or awareness? How am I supposed to end this war? You, my son, started it! Do you think Prince Vivian will stop the war just because you ask him to?”
“... I’ve already begged for Prince Vivian's forgiveness.”
“Then tell him to leave. I’m willing to overlook the crime of declaring war against the Kingdom of Bellita. Have them tuck their tails and retreat immediately.”
“... Father, that’s—”
“Can’t do it, can you? Then I can’t either. Prince Vivian came here to gain something, and I have no reason to step back for free. Over six thousand soldiers have already died. Their blood demands payment.”
“...”
Gilbert fell silent, his lips firmly shut. He seemed convinced, as if he’d accepted defeat.
No good, thought Rev. If this keeps up...
Rev opened his mouth to speak.
“Still, wouldn’t negotiating be better than losing the war? Oh my, the way you’re glaring at me is terrifying. But the war is already lost. Count, you don’t even know what’s happening behind you, do you?”
“Trying to fight a battle with your tongue instead of your sword, are you?”
“Marquis Benar Tatian has refused to import military supplies from the Kingdom of Conrad. And soon, a large reinforcement from the Kingdom of Aisel will arrive. By then, it’ll be too late for any peace agreements.”
Though the words came from an enemy, the information was too valuable to ignore. The Count began to listen closely. However, he didn’t relax his sword, still pressing down on Rev with relentless force.
“The Kingdom of Conrad? Don’t tell me they supplied your kingdom with military goods?”
“Why not? But it was all sanctioned by Marquis Tatian. Thanks to him, our supplies are now abundant... and even the House of Duke Kyrgyz has decided to join the war. Count Herman Forte, your army will face defeat before the winter is over.”
The Count remained still for a moment, thinking deeply. Then, suddenly, he snorted with laughter.
“I hear your final words clearly. So all I have to do is annihilate you before the reinforcements arrive. Do you think that’s beyond me?”
He had initially intended to destroy the enemy barracks as part of reconnaissance, but he had long since planned how to deal with them.
The Kingdom of Aisel's forces were divided into fifteen separate units. If one unit only had a thousand soldiers, he could slaughter them alone if he had to.
Just like this brat of a knight was using the narrow trench to his advantage, he, too, could use the trenches to press forward, wiping out soldiers one by one. As long as he avoided being surrounded by enemy knights or mages, it was manageable.
Think of it as practicing a thousand sword swings.
He’d have to conserve his aura as much as possible, but if he picked them off one by one, he could get through it.
That’s why this brat had to die.
No matter how he’s blocking my aura blade, if he’s alive, the plan will be ruined.
The Count's strength grew even more intense. His aura blade radiated so much heat that it seemed like he intended to burn Rev alive.
But Gilbert Forte didn't remain idle.
Raising his sword, Gilbert confronted his father.
“I understand, Father. But for today, withdraw. I’ll speak with Prince Vivian and try to find a solution.”
“There’s no need. You might be taken hostage, so come back with me…! Hah! You dare?!”
“Release Sir Rev.”
His son swung his sword.
Not a bluff, but a swing meant to strike.
The Count dodged it, but that swing freed Rev from the crushing weight of the sword pressure.
“Foolish brat.”
Count Forte glanced around, ready to call for help to restrain his son.
“Anyone there?! Seize him!”
But all the knights were too busy fighting their own opponents.
In the end, the father had no choice but to deal with his son himself.
Fine. I’ll subdue my son and kill that brat.
But things didn’t go as smoothly as he had hoped.
The small knight pulled a wooden box from his coat and grinned. Before the Count could react, Crack! — the sound of a glass orb breaking echoed.
A signal flare.
The mages would be coming soon.
The heat in Count Herman Forte’s chest surged. No more hesitation. He charged forward, but his aura blade was once again blocked, and his son wouldn’t stop getting in his way.
Had Gilbert been wielding some flashy, "refined" swordsmanship, he could have been subdued easily. But his son’s style was honest, efficient. He swung his sword cleanly, cutting or thrusting with precision, never leaving an opening.
To subdue him, the Count would have to break a limb or make a major sacrifice, but with that strange knight blocking his aura blade as well…
Count Forte finally turned away.
“Retreat!”
The nearby knights were ready to pursue, but Rev shouted to stop them.
“Don’t chase them! Let them go!”
Rev glanced at Count Forte with a smirk.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Count. I’m sure we’ll meet often from now on. Be careful on your way back.”
***
The boy knight's words turned out to be true.
The day after he returned from his failed assault on the enemy barracks, Count Forte tried to attack a different enemy encampment.
But when he got there, Rev and a group of knights were already waiting.
Bad luck.
Thinking it was a fluke, he picked a different location next time.
But the same thing happened.
Again.
And again.
It’s not a coincidence.
He eventually realized it wasn’t a matter of a "leak" in information. It didn’t matter if he told no one about his plans — Rev was still there.
That boy had warned him that this was his last warning. After that, he never appeared again.
But by then, it was already too late.
The frontlines had shifted. Step by step, the mages pushed them back. The rumors about the Kingdom of Conrad selling supplies to the Kingdom of Aisel? True.
The news about a large reinforcement arriving soon? True as well.
While the arrival of fresh soldiers was already problematic, there was something far more serious.
The new forces included mages from the Lydia Faction of the Cornell Mage Tower.
Until now, the only mages on the enemy's side had been those from the Rebuild Faction, which supported the Isadora royal family.
Now, however, mages supporting Duke Kyrgyz have arrived.
As expected of a "Magic Kingdom."
In the end, Count Herman Forte had to give up taking the field himself.
He was too busy writing letters and sending messengers in every direction, desperately requesting reinforcements.
He threatened the Mage Tower for only sending eight mages, and he pleaded with high-ranking nobles like Marquis Tatian to send soldiers.
Meanwhile, Rev celebrated.
“It’s over! We’re done here! Let’s get out of here!”
Rev ran up to Lena.
“What’s over?” she asked.
“My job. I’m done. Let’s get out of here! I’ve already spoken with Prince Vivian.”
To be honest, Rev didn’t care how the war ended.
His goal had been simple: to keep Count Forte stuck in this battlefield for as long as possible.
Whether the Count won or lost was irrelevant.
Rev just needed him to stay on the frontlines.
And now that goal has been achieved.
[Achievement: King 5/6]
I have to meet the king of the Aslan Kingdom.
Rev couldn't stay in this place for too long.
He'd orchestrated the situation to stall Count Forte, while he slipped away. If the Count returned too soon, it would be inconvenient, but that was no longer a concern.
To achieve this, Rev had even handed over a bound item — the Imperial Seal — to Prince Eric, ensuring he would send reinforcements.
He had also heard the disheartening news that Jenia Zachary, commander of the reinforcements gathering at Offrontis, was going to take charge.
Because Prince Vivian didn’t want to share glory with Prince Eric, he would likely send Gilbert ahead to negotiate with Count Forte.
That meant Rev’s work here was well and truly done.
“This?”
“It’s nothing special. I just slit my wrist once.”
Rev recalled the knight, a bastard-born noble, who had twisted her left wrist as if it had been injured. She had always dreamed of living a dramatic life.
With her decision to join Prince Eric's side, she would soon find herself embroiled in a power struggle between Prince Eric and Prince Vivian.
Rev and Lena each mounted a Bante, riding north as spells raged across the battlefield.
The two of them disappeared into the northern horizon.