novelraw Chapter 199 : Chapter 199
Chapter 199 : Chapter 199
Chapter 199. Evan Lafard Has Arrived
The carriage heading from the eastern port to Benked Castle was comfortable but by no means fast.
That wasn't a big problem in the first place.
After all, if the Empire and the allied forces were just in a standoff, they didn't think there was a need to hurry.
However, when they heard from refugees they met on the way that the Empire had launched a preemptive strike, the situation changed in an instant.
They jumped out of the carriage, quickly acquired horses, and began to gallop towards Benked Castle at full speed.
“Damn it! That's why I said we should take horses! We would have arrived long ago!”
Evan shot a sharp glare at Ron, who had insisted on the carriage.
“How was I supposed to know this would happen? We can just run now!”
“The opponent is the Empire! Robern’s Knight Order has come to the forefront! It wouldn't be strange at all if something happened right now!”
“Hey, still, with the numbers from three kingdoms, what's the big deal.”
As Ron showed an optimistic attitude, Rotman, who was listening from the side, took Evan’s side.
“If it's that knight order, they are more than capable of causing trouble. We cannot afford to delay.”
As the two of them spoke with one voice, Ron looked troubled.
As Evan said, if they had come on horseback from the beginning, they wouldn't have had to worry like this.
“…….”
Ron, who was silent for a moment, lost in thought, finally made a decision.
“Alright. Then I'll go on ahead.”
Since he was the reason for the delay by calling the carriage, he felt the responsibility that he should at least be the first to arrive at Benked Castle and handle the situation.
“If I run myself, I'll arrive much faster than a horse. I'll go first and protect Benked Castle.”
At Ron’s suggestion, Evan was silent for a moment before nodding heavily.
“……I'm counting on you.”
“Don't worry. I'm not the type to fall so easily.”
“If you arrive first, take care of my people first.”
Evan was more concerned about the comrades he had decided to fight with than the war itself.
“How am I supposed to distinguish your people? Don't tell me I have to go around introducing myself on the battlefield.”
“Look for a woman with red hair. They'll all be gathered around her.”
He mentioned Jaina, who had the most distinctive feature among the group.
Rorn and Gaiard also had distinctive features, but he didn't mention them separately as he believed they could hold their own.
“Red hair……. I'll remember that. Then, I'm off!”
Ron leaped forcefully from his horse and landed far ahead.
As he immediately kicked off the ground and started running at full speed, his speed, as he had said, was even faster than a horse, and he quickly disappeared from view.
Evan gritted his teeth and gripped the reins.
“Rotman, let's pick up the pace too!”
“Alright!”
The two of them also spurred their horses and further increased their speed towards Benked Castle.
* * *
Ron Witterek, who had run towards Benked Castle with a marvelous physical ability that could hardly be called human.
From the sounds of clashing weapons and screams he heard from afar, he sensed that he was late.
‘Damn, that Evan kid is going to give me an earful.’
Thinking of Evan who would follow, Ron put strength into his legs to at least calm the situation.
Then, kicking off the ground as if to break it, he lightly jumped over the high walls of Benked Castle.
‘Huh? It's not a one-sided push.’
Before crossing the wall, the picture Ron had expected was the tragic sight of the allied forces being thoroughly trampled by the Empire.
He had thought that the mere fact that the inside of the castle was breached meant the Empire had seized the initiative.
However, the battlefield he confirmed with his own eyes was surprisingly tense.
A situation that looked like they were exchanging blows in at least an even fight.
And in the middle of it all, there was a particularly eye-catching scene.
A woman with red hair, covered in blood, creating a storm and rushing as if to swallow the Second Sword Justia.
The wind blew so fiercely that even Ron, who had crossed the wall, had to land early to maintain his balance.
‘That young woman created that storm? The world is truly full of monster-like humans.’
Even Ron, who was counted as one of those monsters, couldn't help but swallow his admiration.
The Bloodstorm Jaina had created was a technique powerful enough to rival the Seven Stars.
It was so powerful that even he himself couldn't guarantee his survival if he were caught in the middle of it.
‘But, the woman is already in tatters. She must have gained enlightenment on the brink of death.’
While there were natural-born monsters like Ron, there were also strong warriors who started with ordinary qualities and created their own weapons at every life-or-death crisis.
Jaina was clearly the latter.
‘Then what I have to do is set. To protect the talent of a newly sprouted bud. Things like this are by no means common!’
As the Bloodstorm subsided, Justia, whose whole body was as if torn to shreds, revealed herself.
With her trembling body, she gathered her last strength and unleashed a sword strike with all her might, aiming for Jaina’s life.
At that moment, Ron rushed in at once and blocked the blow.
“Heup!”
It was not his preference to face a dying enemy that someone else had already worn down.
But to protect the life of the red-haired woman, he couldn't be picky right now.
—Thwump!
The trident in Ron’s hand deflected Justia’s sword aura and used the recoil to spin the spear.
‘Oof, she was an aggressive woman. To think she held on so well against a woman like that.’
And the next moment, the spear cut through the air and flew, piercing Justia’s torso and pinning her all the way to the castle wall.
Justia died on the spot.
From the moment she was hit by the Bloodstorm, it wouldn't have been strange if she died at any moment, but Ron had been the one to cut off her breath.
With that one blow, not only was Jaina's life saved, but all eyes on the battlefield were focused on one place.
Ron Witterek.
It was a scene that announced he had finally appeared here.
However, for the man himself, such things were not important.
Ron’s interest was solely in supporting the red-haired woman, Jaina, who looked like she could collapse at any moment.
“Hehe, quite the aggressive lady, aren't you. I'm talking about both of you, of course.”
In the battlefield full of the smell of blood, even Ron’s joke was sudden.
Jaina, with a dumbfounded expression, having survived even though she had prepared for death, felt the current reality was surreal.
“It's Ron Witterek of the Seven Stars!”
A shout erupted from somewhere, and the battlefield was soon covered in cheers.
“Waaaaaaah!!!”
Ron, who had always shrugged off people's attention, smiled awkwardly for some reason today.
It was probably because he thought Evan might arrive soon and see this situation.
A slight laugh escaped him as he imagined what Evan's expression would be if he, who had arrived late on a carriage, was being treated like a hero.
“Haha, the real hero is someone else, though.”
Ron spoke gently as he supported Jaina.
“I was told to find a lady with red hair, thankfully I arrived just in time.”
“……Who are you?”
To Jaina's breathless question, Ron grinned and replied.
“Ah, my introduction is late. I am Ron Witterek. Just a fisherman who catches fish in the sea.”
“Thank you…… for saving me.”
“There's no need to be thankful. Your friend sent me.”
“A friend……?”
As Jaina's eyes widened and she asked again, Ron brought up the name of the person she wanted to see most at this moment.
“I mean Evan Lafard. He is on his way here.”
“Took him long enough. That bastard.”
Ron smiled as a curse came out of the mouth of the woman who, in his eyes, seemed noble.
“Lady! You have quite a rough mouth!”
“I'm sorry. I got emotional.”
“It's natural for your mind to be exhausted when your body is so broken. Lady, now leave this to me and rest.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Don't mention it.”
Ron lifted Jaina into his arms.
“You can relax your strength. I won't let you fall.”
The moment he was about to move her to a safe place, a weak hand gripped his ankle.
It was Mei, who was lying on the ground.
“You startled me!”
“I'm…… also part of Evan's group.”
“Ah! I thought you were a corpse because you were so still.”
Ron was genuinely surprised.
It meant Mei's condition was also a complete mess.
“I'm on the verge of becoming one.”
“You can't do that! Now, quickly, get on my back.”
Mei struggled onto Ron's crouched back, and Ron shot up from his spot as if to protect both women at the same time.
Just then, one of Robern's knights charged at Ron.
“Die!”
“Then, excuse me for a moment.”
Even with people in his arms in front and behind him, Ron lightly dodged the sword and sent a kick flying.
—Thump!
As the armor crumpled, the knight coughed up blood and flew far away before collapsing.
He was already dead before his back hit the ground.
“Now, hold on tight!”
Ron leaped up and crossed the battlefield.
And he landed in the inner castle, which had not yet been reached by the aftermath of the battle, and carefully set the two women down.
“Doctor! Bring a doctor right now!”
At his shout, soldiers ran busily, and soon, doctors who rushed in began to administer first aid to Mei and Jaina.
With this, at least the two would not die.
Only then did Ron stroke his chest in relief.
“……Go.”
Jaina, who was receiving treatment, said in a strained whisper.
“Hm?”
“Go, and help the others.”
Ron had been planning to do so anyway.
As her request pushed him on, he nodded and launched himself towards the inner castle wall.
Watching Ron’s back as he flew away, Jaina raised a corner of her mouth.
“Really, where does he find monsters like that……”
While admiring Ron, she was inwardly glad that she had been of some help, however small.
It would have been better if Evan had seen that moment, but what could she do.
He wasn't here yet…….
“Jaina, I'm sorry.”
Her eyelids, which were faintly closing, opened reflexively.
She thought it was an auditory hallucination, but Evan Lafard was really standing before her.
“You're late.”
She already knew Evan was coming, but seeing him in person, tears welled up in her eyes.
The meaning of the tears was relief and longing.
She didn't know how much she had wanted to see Evan at this moment.
“Yes, I know. That's why I'm sorry.”
Evan’s eyes held deep sadness, along with a burning anger.
“……If you know, then go.”
“…….”
“Go and win.”
Jaina recognized that flame and pushed him away.
Evan bowed his head, exhaled, and walked towards the inner castle gate.
“……This damned Duke, this won't end with extra payment. You'll have to buy me a whole town!”
Mei, who had been lying as if dead, shouted, squeezing out her voice.
Without looking back, Evan made a circle with his index finger and thumb.
It was a sign of promise that he understood.
But the first thing to do was to bring down the Empire before his eyes.
“Hehe…… that's right. Who do you think you are.”
Mei muttered to herself with a limp smile.
And those words echoed deeply in Jaina’s heart as well.
“You damned imperial bastards…… it's all over now. Because Evan Lafard is here.”
Jaina, who heard Mei's muttering, also closed her eyes and sympathized with her words.
Evan Lafard has arrived.
So you are all dead now.