novelraw Chapter 54
Chapter 54
“Ah!”
“Your voices are too weak!”
At the Knight’s roar, the trainees shouted with all their might.
“Ah-!”
The sound reverberated throughout the training ground.
Millerf approached Arthur, who was watching the scene with a satisfied expression.
“You were here?”
“How’s the village atmosphere?”
“Everyone is delighted and welcoming the return of the Lanister family.”
“It seems their reputation was quite good.”
“They were the spear of the House of Count Julius; how could it possibly be bad?”
Millerf smiled faintly and looked towards the training ground.
“Everyone is working hard.”
“Because there’s something to protect.”
“Indeed, having a purpose or not makes a huge difference.”
As Arthur nodded, Skevin approached with a stern face.
“New information has arrived from the informant watching Count Yarve.”
“……!”
Arthur’s eyes flashed, and he moved to the command tent.
Arriving at the tent, they stood around a table with serious expressions. Arthur spoke first.
“What’s the content?”
“Count Yarve is personally leading troops here. They are expected to arrive in Aslan territory tomorrow.”
“Already?”
Millerf’s eyes widened.
“They departed two days after Hazan arrived.”
Arthur asked with a stern expression,
“Troops?”
“They received support from the Knight Orders and troops from the Barton, Marsav, and Tensha territories, and the Balkan territory also sent the Iron Knights.”
“As expected.”
Arthur looked at Millerf.
Millerf thought for a moment, then asked Skevin.
“Was there no mention of the Apos Mercenary Group?”
“There was no word about them.”
“Hmm.”
The joining of the Iron Knights was expected, so there was no surprise.
However, knowing nothing about the Apos Mercenary Group was frustrating.
The mere fact that they might be involved created psychological pressure.
Understanding them before the battle was the top priority.
Millerf said to Arthur.
“Measures against the Apos Mercenary Group are urgent.”
“More importantly, will Count Yarve send an envoy tomorrow?”
“According to principle, he should, but with him branded as a follower of the devil, is there any need?”
“I think the same.”
“Then, we will now enter a state of war.”
At Skevin’s words, Arthur nodded and asked.
“How well are they adapted to the Britanniker?”
“They can now mount them without hesitation.”
“There won’t be any problem deploying. The situation might turn urgent, so be ready to deploy at any time. And from now on, assign guard duties to the trainees as well.”
“Understood!”
As soon as Skevin answered respectfully and went out, Dark entered.
“Did you call for me?”
“How are the unit members?”
“Porshe and Ramni have almost recovered, so everyone is on standby.”
“Then, you are to immediately scout the path leading from Aslan territory to the southern mountain range.”
“……?”
“Count Yarve has moved. His forces are said to arrive in Aslan territory tomorrow, but I don’t see the mercenary group he hired. They are probably moving by a different route.”
“I understand.”
“If you find any suspicious individuals, do not engage them; report immediately. They don’t seem like ordinary guys.”
“Yes.”
Dark quickly left.
Arthur looked at the map spread on the table.
‘If I were Yarve….’
There was a high probability he would rely on his overwhelming forces and push straight through.
In that case, confronting them at the border of Aslan territory would minimize damage to the territory.
‘To do that….’
Arthur’s gaze deepened.
After several minutes passed.
He spoke decisively, as if he had made up his mind.
“Tonight, we march.”
***
At sunset.
The castle was bustling.
“Hurry!”
“Trainees, hold your assigned guard positions!”
“Ah!”
Where the trainees had vanished, the Phoenix Knights, clad in blue armor, entered, having completed their preparations for deployment.
Skevin, who had ascended the platform, looked around.
Everyone’s eyes gleamed sharply.
They all knew that a Territorial War was imminent, but there was no trace of fear to be found.
“Good.”
Skevin looked with satisfaction at the Defen Knights, who were lined up to the left of the Phoenix Knights.
They seemed clearly nervous, as if they had heard the news that Count Yarve was leading a large army.
His eyes met Hextro’s.
He, too, was equally nervous.
In this state, far from demonstrating their abilities on the battlefield, they would likely tremble in fear and meet their end by an enemy’s sword.
Now he understood why Arthur had entrusted them with the defense.
‘Indeed.’
It was then that Skevin admired Arthur’s insight.
Arthur entered the training ground.
His dragon helmet and golden armor made him shine even brighter, and a powerful force was palpable.
Unconsciously, his body tensed, and his heart grew hot.
Skevin quickly descended from the platform and shouted loudly.
“Attention, all!”
Thud!
The Phoenix Knights snapped into a precise stance, rigid with tension.
Skevin performed a sword salute as sharp as a blade.
“Ah!”
Arthur nodded and ascended the platform. Then he slowly surveyed the Knight Orders.
The aura emanating from the Phoenix Knights and the Defen Knights was distinctly different.
It was as expected.
As Arthur’s gaze turned to Skevin, he reported the situation.
“Report! Phoenix Knights: 160, Defen Knights: 105. A total of 265 personnel!”
Arthur nodded and opened his mouth.
“Today, we march.”
A solemn determination settled on everyone’s faces.
“The enemy forces are at least three times greater than ours, and they are the strongest from each territory.”
The Phoenix Knights remained calm, but the Defen Knights’ faces darkened.
“Are you afraid of them?”
“…….”
No one answered.
“They are strong. But I! We! I am confident that we are stronger than anyone.”
Then the Phoenix Knights, who had been silent, shouted in unison.
“Ah-!”
The training ground reverberated loudly.
Hextro and the Defen Knights, who were witnessing such a sight for the first time, not only felt intimidated by their spirit but also stared blankly as if spellbound.
In response, Arthur also shouted, his voice strong.
“We will surely win!”
“Ah-!”
The training ground grew hot with the fervor emanating from the Phoenix Knights.
Arthur turned his head and blew a strong whistle.
Wheeeee-!
A moment later.
Clip-clop, clip-clop!
Khan galloped over, his hooves clattering.
With golden lamellar armor and a breastplate, his presence was overwhelmingly intimidating.
Hextro and the Defen Knights, seeing him, were startled and recoiled.
“M-monster…!”
“What in the….”
Khan, approaching the side of the platform, stopped as if standing beside Arthur.
Khan, meeting Arthur’s gaze, threw his head back and let out a long howl.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
With the sound of heavy metal, dozens of Britanniker appeared in the training ground.
Regular horses followed them.
A heavy power could be felt from those clad in blue lamellar armor and breastplates.
Their appearance further boosted the Phoenix Knights’ confidence in victory.
“All this…”
Hextro was too flustered to know what to do, and the Defen Knights were terrified.
Arthur looked at Hextro and said.
“Do not be afraid. They are our friends.”
‘F-friends?’
“Hextro, I entrust this place to you.”
As he mounted Khan, the Phoenix Knights also mounted their horses in unison.
It was then that Arthur raised his greatsword high to the sky, about to shout.
Bwoooong-.
The sound of an emergency horn echoed.
At the same time, Arthur spurred Khan and galloped towards the castle gate.
Arriving at the gate, he asked the guard.
“What’s wrong?”
“Look there!”
The guard pointed towards the West Mountain Range.
In the darkness, an unidentified group was approaching, kicking up a hazy cloud of dust.
But it seemed they were riding something other than horses.
Arthur quickly drew upon his Mana to enhance his vision.
Then, an astonishing sight came into view.
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-.
Men in black armor, wielding black spears, were galloping on Giant Wolves.
They were the men of the House Lanister.
A colossal aura felt like a tidal wave crashing in.
A smile played on Arthur’s lips.
“Amazing.”
Skevin, who had followed, widened his eyes at the sight of them.
“What are all those?”
“They are the descendants of the House Lanister, the spear of the House of Count Julius.”
“……!”
Skevin’s eyes widened.
Two days ago, Arthur, who had gone to inspect the construction site in the West Mountain Range, returned with the House Lanister, who had disappeared long ago.
Madeline, as well as everyone else who knew about the House Lanister, was overjoyed.
They had said they would formally greet the Count’s House once things were settled, but they had appeared in full armor.
It seemed they had heard talk of the Territorial War.
Skevin grinned.
“Their first impression is incredibly strong.”
Seeing them, each exuding a powerful aura, filled him with reassurance.
There were more of them than the Phoenix Knights, and they even had Giant Wolves.
Just looking at them, he could feel their immense power.
***
‘That’s!’
Drakan was greatly surprised to see Arthur riding a Britanniker.
Linda, who was close behind, was also flustered by the sight of the Knights riding Britanniker.
‘How….’
They, too, had tried to tame the Britanniker at first.
But they couldn’t handle the terrifying power of those beasts, and since they moved in groups, it was difficult to separate them one by one.
There were times when they were lucky enough to capture one, but it would soon break free with immense strength and escape.
“What method did they use?”
“A combination of Britanniker and Giant Wolves… that will be a fantastic combination.”
Drakan’s lips curved upwards.
He stopped before Arthur.
Drakan and everyone else swiftly dismounted from their wolves.
Drakan struck the ground with his spear before Arthur, then knelt on one knee.
Everyone followed suit.
Thud-!
Their magnificent aura engulfed the surroundings.
Drakan bowed his head respectfully.
“This servant, Drakan Lanister, will be with the patriarch.”
“I’ve been waiting.”
At Arthur’s words, Drakan shouted loudly.
“Spear of the House of Count Julius! Just give the order. We will sweep everything away.”
Arthur looked at Skevin.
“I’ll entrust you with the vanguard.”
“Understood!”
Skevin performed a sword salute with a solemn expression.
“Drakan, I’ll give you the task of the pursuit unit. Don’t let a single one escape.”
Drakan struck the ground with his spear, “Thump!” and replied heavily.
“Understood!”
Then nearly two hundred Lanister Knights simultaneously struck the ground with their spears.
Thud-!
A powerful spirit blazed forth with a deep resonance.
The Knight Orders lined up with Arthur at the center.
To his right were the Phoenix Knights, and to his left were the Knights of the House Lanister.
The Defen Knights and trainees, who had climbed the castle walls to watch the scene, swallowed hard.
‘This is the House of Count Julius?’
‘If this is their strength….’
Hextro’s eyes trembled violently as he looked at the black spears.
‘The Empire’s Spear… has returned….’
The mighty aura emanating from nearly four hundred Knights, hundreds of Britanniker, and Giant Wolves sent shivers down everyone’s spines.
Finally, Millerf rode out on a white horse and stood beside Arthur.
“All preparations are complete.”
Arthur nodded and shifted his gaze to the Knights.
“Tonight, we will make the House of Count Julius known to the world.”
He extended the blade of his greatsword towards the border.
“Advance!”