Chapter 270
Chapter 270
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 270
Chapter Title: The Free Knights' Approach
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Freyja was walking slowly.
By her side was only one person, Cardinal Ian.
"It's been far too long."
Her voice carried the weight of countless years.
Ian nodded at Freyja's words.
"Nearly twenty years."
Back when Ian was still just an apprentice priest, the two had walked side by side like this.
Of course, it had been a simple stroll back then, nothing like now, but the emotions they felt were much the same as they had been.
"It's not a bad atmosphere for heading into battle."
Wrinkles formed at the corners of Freyja's eyes.
She was smiling.
"...Are you sure you'll be alright?"
Ian wore a worried expression.
When he had reunited with Freyja, he thought it was the grace of the Lord God.
As a former knight commander who had reached the transcendent realm, she could surely resolve the current crisis with ease.
But now, facing the enemy, the worries he had forgotten in his joy began to creep back in.
"There's no need to worry about this old body of mine."
The issue was that Freyja had grown frail with age.
No matter how far one advanced into the transcendent realm, time was an unstoppable force.
Unless it was a state like Sion's Sword Ghost or the Sky Tower's Sword Sage, where youth was regained...
"How could I not worry?"
The Freyja of his childhood had been the picture of a stalwart knight.
She had been of advanced age even then, but her body had been robust, and her spirit unyielding.
But the Freyja now was different.
She didn't show it outwardly, but with every step, it was clear she was struggling.
"Heh—I've got my own plans."
Whether she knew Ian's thoughts or not,
Freyja kept her smile and continued walking slowly forward.
In the end, Ian could say no more and simply followed behind her.
How long had they walked like that?
Just as he began to worry about Freyja's stamina,
A change started in the distance.
Rumble rumble rumble—!
The ground vibrated faintly amid a cloud of dust.
"Looks like they're coming out to greet us."
Freyja stopped as if it were perfect timing and plopped down onto the ground.
"Captain!"
Ian cried out in surprise, but she waved it off dismissively.
"If you're going to spout nonsense, just shut up and sit."
Freyja showed no intention of moving further.
They were coming to her, so there was no reason to tire herself out walking.
"What? Worried about your dignity as a cardinal?"
When Ian hesitated, Freyja clicked her tongue.
"It's not that."
"Of course it is. I can see you dreading getting that pristine priestly robe dirty."
Ian sighed and shook his head at her words.
It had always been this way, but beating Freyja in a battle of words was incredibly difficult.
"Even if they're the enemy, I can't just sit and receive them. I'm one of the cardinals representing Aier, after all."
He had a point.
Freyja snorted as if she still didn't like it, but she didn't press him to sit again.
The dust cloud drew nearer, and the approaching figures became visible.
"It's Brobison's Free Knights."
It was just as expected.
"That deep navy cloak—it's been ages since I've seen it."
A trace of nostalgia crossed Freyja's wrinkled face.
Even in the past, Aier and Brobison had never been on good terms, not even in jest.
They had clashed with the Free Knights multiple times because of it.
It had been fierce back then, but looking back now, those were the days when she had swung her sword with the most thrill.
The thought of meeting those opponents she'd fought to exhaustion again stirred even a flicker of anticipation.
Thud thud thud thud thud—!
The closer they got, the more palpable their blazing hostility and battle fervor became.
"It seems they've mistaken us for the ones who harmed their soldiers."
On their way from Andor toward the Brobison army, they had encountered a scouting party.
Freyja had naturally subdued them, letting only one go.
To spread the word.
But she hadn't killed the others.
She had merely knocked them out and neatly stacked them aside.
Yet Brobison seemed to have misunderstood.
"They've probably heard about me too, so their reaction isn't all that strange."
An unmistakable tension flowed among the Free Knights charging toward them.
Brobison's free knights rode with stern expressions, belying their name.
"They're certainly fast."
Unlike Aier's holy knights, their movements were remarkably light.
They had chosen light armor over heavy plate.
This allowed their warhorses to gallop at high speed without strain.
"Time to stand up, I suppose."
They had barely rested, yet the knights' swift approach had cut even that short.
"We are Brobison's Free Knights. State your identity."
About three hundred knights had appeared.
The strongest-looking one among them stepped forward and demanded.
His gaze was fixed on Ian.
It was only natural, given he clearly looked like a high-ranking priest.
As Ian opened his mouth to respond,
With a groan, Freyja rose from her seat and took a step forward.
Whoosh—!
A massive aura swirled around her at the same time.
Neighhh—!
"Urk!"
The terrified horses reared up, and the Free Knights gritted their teeth.
Only then did they realize.
The overwhelming foe their scouts had spoken of was the old woman right before their eyes.
Freyja addressed the flustered knights.
"Where is Dwayne?"
"...Dwayne?"
The lead knight's eyes widened.
No knight in Brobison was ignorant of that name.
"Who are you?"
But the Free Knight countered with a question of his own instead of answering.
Even as he did, he couldn't help thinking, 'No way?'
A female knight in the transcendent realm who knew Dwayne's name.
As far as he knew, Aier had only one such figure.
And his guess proved correct.
"This old woman's name is Freyja. So go call Dwayne."
The Free Knights' eyes bulged wide.
* * *
Seo Woojin moved without pause, keenly feeling Aier's chaotic atmosphere.
Thanks to the map Yohan had prepared, he wasted no time and traveled at a brisk pace.
"I figured as much, but the mood is worse than I thought."
During his journey, Seo Woojin was stopped for inspections several times.
Without the pass issued by Van Slane, he might have been forcibly conscripted.
"Dragging every able-bodied man into the army..."
At this rate, did they even qualify to be called a holy kingdom?
Seo Woojin clicked his tongue inwardly when he overheard a conversation from people walking nearby.
"The eastern road is blocked. I need to deliver these goods quickly—this is a problem."
"Why is the eastern road blocked?"
"Why do you think? War, of course. Brobison's army advanced right up to Andor's doorstep, so that route is completely sealed off."
'Brobison?'
Seo Woojin's eyes lit up as he listened.
He had heard the name before.
In a world where rank was absolute, it was the one nation that championed freedom and fairness.
It suited a republic more than a kingdom—Brobison Republic.
But that wasn't why Seo Woojin remembered it.
'Byung-gyu definitely said he was getting support from there, right?'
Adventurers and a nation of freedom.
Quite the fitting pair, no?
'Andor is a major city on the way to the Grand Cathedral anyway, so I have to pass through there... Maybe swing by?'
He had no intention of jumping into the fray.
From the looks of things, Aier wouldn't even put up a proper fight anyway.
Brobison wasn't the type to massacre civilians either, so they would likely claim victory moderately and urge surrender.
No reason for Seo Woojin to intervene.
Still, he wanted to check it out to witness this era's warfare firsthand.
Not mere curiosity, but to study strategies, tactics, and the atmosphere.
It wouldn't hurt to observe once in preparation for the Great Descent War.
"Alright."
Seo Woojin decided to pass through Andor and head toward the battlefield.
"We need countermeasures now! I have to get back to the caravan and report!"
He had guessed from the word "delivery," but the people chatting beside him were merchants.
One, hearing the road was blocked, hurriedly turned back the way they came.
"...Didn't you hear me? That road is blocked."
The remaining merchant glanced at Seo Woojin and spoke up.
"Ah, I'm heading to Andor."
Seo Woojin replied with a smile.
"A mercenary?"
He noticed the sword at Seo Woojin's waist, then shook his head.
"Your outfit doesn't scream someone who does rough work like that."
Seo Woojin's appearance was too refined for a mercenary whose livelihood was hunting and combat.
Having spotted the high-end coat and sword no commoner could dream of, the merchant's tone grew cautious.
"Just some business to attend to. But aren't you heading there too, sir?"
The other merchant had scurried off.
Yet the one who had warned about the blockade was still proceeding toward Andor.
Finding it odd, Seo Woojin tilted his head and asked.
"Well, there's more than one road."
There seemed to be a detour.
"Where are you headed? If it's the same way, want to travel together? I'll guide you."
It wasn't pure goodwill.
With times like these, someone wandering alone with a sword might prove useful in a pinch.
In exchange, he would show the way.
Not a bad deal.
If Seo Woojin had planned to go straight past Andor to the Grand Cathedral, he might have accepted.
But since he had decided to watch the Aier-Brobison clash, he couldn't.
"I'm good. Got my own errands."
The merchant smacked his lips at Seo Woojin's response.
He seemed disappointed to lose the chance at cheap escort.
"Fair enough. Take care, then. Aier's in such a state right now that getting stabbed by a stranger on the road wouldn't raise eyebrows."
The merchant offered a word of advice and strode off ahead.
'Hmm...'
Watching his retreating figure, Seo Woojin scratched his head.
"Who's worrying about whom, I wonder."
No mana or holy power emanated from the merchant—not even a trace.
Yet he showed no anxiety.
Whether it was his bold nature or some ace up his sleeve, Seo Woojin couldn't tell...
"But he's wandering alone, so he must have something."
Seo Woojin suspected the merchant was no ordinary man.
"Well, if it's meant to be, we'll cross paths again."
A strong premonition that they'd meet soon made him commit the fading silhouette to memory.