Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Overwhelming Victory
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“You lot are seriously outnumbered.”
“But the mercenaries are mostly intact, aren’t they? With us and those mercenaries, a ragtag band of wandering beggars wouldn’t even make a decent snack.”
“Haha! I hope these country bumpkins don’t take one look at us and piss themselves in fright.”
“Everyone except Sir Eugene might just run off, though.”
Hahaha...!
Even after four of their groups—about sixty knights and squires—had peeled off separately, the Blue Army’s noble knights brimmed with leisure.
Jousting and sword fights depended on individual skill, but mock battles were different.
In group combat, nothing mattered more than numbers, superior equipment, and morale.
Compared to the Free Knights’ detachment, they still held a massive edge in all three.
Even if half of their original forty-plus knights had departed, it was a fight they couldn’t lose.
“Sirs! The scouts have returned.”
At that moment, the Blue Army’s scout party—made up of squires—came back.
Squires leaped from their horses and rushed to report to the knights.
“We’ve spotted what seems to be the enemy vanguard. Sir Eugene is leading them, and their numbers are around twenty or so.”
“Is that right? Certain?”
“Yes, sir! It was the black dragon banner. Definitely Sir Eugene!”
“And the Red Army’s main force?”
“Not in sight. The other lords who went ahead first are probably engaging them.”
Oho...!
The knights brightened.
The prize for the mock battle’s greatest feat had luckily fallen to them.
“Let’s go take them out right now!”
“Of course. The other lords who split off might find them first, so let’s hurry.”
“True. If they’ve smashed the main force, they could return anytime. Where are they? Lead the way!”
“Yes, sirs!”
The noble knights excitedly spurred their horses onward with their squires.
“Sirs! Sirs! What about us!?”
“Knights! Wait for us!”
“Tch! Follow on your own! Do we have to babysit you too?”
“You lot! Earn your silver!”
The silent mercenaries shouted desperately in pursuit, but the noble knights callously rode away.
“Damn it... If they’re just gonna use us as rear guards, why hire us at all?”
“Anyone who doesn’t know they hired us just for show? No fighting means it’s good for us.”
“Right. In a real mock battle clash, you’ve gotta brace for broken bones here and there. The knight sirs will handle it anyway, so let’s take it slow.”
“Agreed.”
A scant few responsible mercenaries hustled after the knights, but most dawdled along as if running or not.
However, as the knights’ backs receded ever faster, even the mercenaries’ sense of duty evaporated.
In short order, the noble knights’ group and the mercenaries completely separated.
* * *
“Master! The Blue Army’s main force is heading this way!”
“Good work.”
Eugene nodded at Luke’s report, who had raced back on horseback.
Only after four battles that took out over sixty knights and squires did Eugene send out scouts.
He judged they could now properly engage the Blue Army head-on.
“Anything unusual?”
“A bit odd, but no mercenaries in sight.”
“Hmm?”
Eugene narrowed his eyes.
Then, another scout party sent by Lancelo returned swiftly.
“Sir Eugene, they say the Blue Army main force and mercenaries have completely split.”
“Hmm. A feint?”
“Doesn’t seem like it. Given how fast they’re coming, the mercenaries probably couldn’t keep up with the knights’ pace.”
“An opportunity.”
“Indeed.”
Eugene and Lancelo exchanged knowing glances once more.
Eugene called out to the Free Knights, who had restored their stamina by consuming mana crystals.
“Knights! The final battle is upon us! But the Blue Army’s remaining knights still seem to look down on us! They’ve ditched their mercenaries and are coming here alone!”
“Those insolent bastards!”
“Have they still not learned!?”
Uooo...!
The Free Knights, already riding high on four victories, unleashed fierce jeers.
As expected, nothing stirred people like pricking their pride.
“The remaining Blue Army, minus mercenaries, numbers about forty. As planned, Lancelo and I will lead the vanguard. When those glory-hungry fools chase after me and turn their mounts, that’s our chance! Show your valor and spirit!”
“Leave it to us!”
“I stake my honor on delivering victory to you, Sir Eugene!”
“For our comrades!”
Uoooooo!!!
The Free Knights’ roars echoed with full morale. But it wasn’t the pure honor or brotherhood their grand words suggested.
Raw, primal emotion surged in the Free Knights’ eyes and expressions.
Lust.
This being the last fight meant merit awards would follow.
And Eugene had promised the Free Knights earlier: He’d take only ten percent of the prisoners’ ransoms, splitting the remaining ninety percent equally among the entire Red Army.
As Red Army captain, Eugene could’ve claimed half without protest, given his overwhelming feats.
His generosity naturally set the impoverished Free Knights’ eyes spinning.
And moments later, at a spot in the hunting grounds, the Free Knights clashed with the Blue Army main force—and vented their desires bluntly.
“Silver’s walking right to us!”
“Smash ’em all!”
“Chaaarge!”
* * *
“What, what is this!?”
“Why are they all here!?”
“You said it was just the vanguard!”
“Where are the other lords!? Where’d the ones who went ahead go!?”
The main force’s noble knights, who had charged in with gusto, couldn’t hide their panic.
The Red Army gathered in one place was shocking enough, but the other knights—who had sequentially split off to flank or scout—were nowhere to be seen, amplifying their fluster.
“The mercenaries!?”
“Those lazy donkey bastards!”
Searching for mercenaries they’d erased from their minds was futile.
They had galloped ahead at full speed; armored mercenaries keeping up was impossible from the start.
“Knights! Horses holding up?”
“Enough for a couple charges!”
“Tch! All or nothing, then! Knights! Everyone, charge... What!?”
The lead knight, mid-charge order, bulged his eyes; others cried out simultaneously.
“Sir Eugene!”
“Twin Crown!”
Spotting Eugene charging like the wind, black dragon flag draped over his saddleback, similar thoughts flashed in the noble knights’ minds.
‘If I can just take him down!’
‘The top merit is mine!’
Arrogant the noble knights might be, but fools they were not.
The instant they realized their detached comrades were missing, they half-abandoned hopes of Blue Army victory.
Yet a mock battle was war in miniature. No matter the odds, capturing the enemy “captain” could reverse everything.
“Grab himmm!”
“He’s mineee!”
“Yaaaann Eugeeeene!”
The noble knights spurred toward Eugene, each one.
Their minds held only seizing Eugene for the ultimate merit.
Like the Free Knights, the nobles bared their desires in this final clash.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Waaaaah!
Eugene fled with noble knights in pursuit, Free Knights chasing those nobles—an bizarre spectacle unfolded.
As time passed, the gap between noble and Free Knights shrank rapidly.
The Free Knights had advanced slowly, while the nobles’ full-gallop horses here fatigued sooner.
“Stupid fools!”
“Eat thisss!”
Amid flying wooden spears, foam-flecked horses left noble knights in panic.
Finally, the rear knights and squires were encircled by Free Knights.
Pow pow pow pow!
Several times outnumbered, Free Knights mercilessly battered their armor with wooden swords.
Some nobles, unable to bear the humiliation of “wandering beggars” threatening them with practice blades, dismounted and drew steel.
“What the—crazy bastard!?”
“Target those guys first!”
Enraged Free Knights swarmed the steel-wielding nobles, three or four to one.
* * *
The moment Free Knights struck the nobles’ rear, Eugene and Lancelo—who had lured them—wheeled about.
Thud thud thud thud!
They charged into the heart of the noble knights, now down to a dozen-plus with utterly spent horses, unable to advance or retreat.
Knights’ honorable, beautiful combat was nonsense.
Horses screamed, spears and swords flew, screams and heavy thuds erupted everywhere—the battlefield was hellish pandemonium.
‘Now!’
Seizing the chaos, Eugene fired Fear at the nobles’ mounts. No one would notice in this mess.
Piiiineeeeigh!
“Gah!?”
Terror-maddened horses bucked wildly, unhorsing several nobles. For those clinging with expert horsemanship, Mirian’s spit barrage flew unerringly.
“Ptoo! Ptoo ptoo ptoo! Ptooo!”
“My eyess!”
“Urk!”
Right then, Eugene and Lancelo plunged into the nobles’ disordered formation.
They targeted the mounts. Unarmored for mobility in mock combat, the warhorses went berserk under wooden sword blows.
“Argh!”
“Damn it!”
In the end, the remaining knights and squires had to dismount too.
And they chose what they never should have.
Shing!
A steel sword gleamed coldly in sunlight.
Eugene, as if waiting, drew Madarajika and hurled it with full might.
Whiiish!
“Gah!?”
The terrifyingly fast Madarajika shattered the spears and swords of defending nobles.
Fine weapons all, but none withstood fifty kilos of mass plus vampire superhuman strength.
Swoosh!
Having fulfilled its role, Madarajika returned to Eugene’s hand.
“A magic spear?”
“Crazy...”
The shocked knights’ faces went slack. In that daze, they momentarily forgot another knight besides Eugene was there.
Crack! Clang!
Lancelo’s spear, tracing dazzling arcs midair, smashed their helms.
‘Hoo!’
“Keeet!? Quarter-elf knight sir is amaaazing!”
Even Eugene and Mirian marveled at the masterful horsemanship and spearmanship.
“Sir Eugeeen!”
Just then, Free Knights who’d mopped up the rear nobles and squires came charging.
“Hah...”
Seeing dozens of triumphant Free Knights bearing down, the nobles’ and squires’ faces paled visibly.
Spotting disarmed comrades crawling like dogs in the distance, they decided without consultation.
“We surrender!”
“Treat us honorably!”
Thus ended the mock battle.
Red Army: 0 prisoners, 11 wounded.
Blue Army: All non-mercenaries captured, 80-some wounded.
A truly overwhelming triumph.
* * *
With the mock battle over, unlike yesterday, no feast erupted. Too many injuries, large and small.
Yet Count Winslon generously distributed mana crystals for the wounded, proving his mercy and magnanimity; victors and vanquished alike praised him.
But Eugene garnered even greater cheers and acclaim.
Victorious Free Knights credited him for restoring their pride and fulfilling their greed; defeated nobles exalted him to minimize their shame.
“Tsk tsk! Switching sides faster than light spirits.”
Eugene agreed with Mirian but still comforted the losers.
No need to mock those who bowed first and make enemies.
His magnanimity even won sincere admiration from some nobles.
But none matched the Free Knights’ joy.
Eugene had kept his promise: Each earned over two hundred silver coins.
“Keeek!? Why so much ransom? Gotta split with our beggar knights sirs? Too bad!”
Eugene forced a smile but agreed with Mirian this time.
‘These crazy bastards? Mining silver from the ground?’
Even Eugene hadn’t expected dozens of silver-stuffed chests as ransoms.