Chapter 217
Chapter 217
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: 64. Empty Yet Full (3)
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"Who decided that!"
"I have no intention of dying here at all! After everything I've done to get this far!"
The nobles started cursing again.
"What are you all doing? Open the way, now!"
They aimed their swords at their own allies without a shred of hesitation.
But there was nothing they could do.
"They're all locked in combat! No one has the luxury to worry about us!"
The knights and private soldiers they had hired at great expense were locked in a deathmatch with the imperial army, too busy to even hold their swords backward, let alone glance back.
"You fools! I told you to keep yourselves safe!"
"Why the hell are the rearguard scum up front brawling with the imperial forces?!"
The nobles finally grasped the situation and vented their frustration, but by then, their hired thugs had already been cunningly herded to the front lines by the Royal Knight Order and the royal guards.
"Was this your plan from the start?"
One of the nobles asked the king with a hollow expression.
The Royal Knights bristled with killing intent at his tone, which showed not even the bare minimum respect for his own king.
The nobles, who had been bellowing, snapped their mouths shut as if by prior agreement under that flashing malice.
But words once spoken could never be taken back, no matter what.
The Royal Knights did not let slide the nobles who had forgotten the respect due to the king.
"Argh!"
The nobles screamed as they were struck with the flat of blades and sent tumbling across the ground.
These nobles, who had recoiled at even a speck of mud on their leather boots amid the brutal battlefield, were instantly caked in filth.
No one dared complain about it.
Getting dirty was the least of their concerns now.
The Royal Knights beat them as if they truly intended to kill them.
"That's enough."
Had the king not intervened at the right moment, the nobles might have actually been beaten to death.
The nobles crawled on their knees to the king and expressed their gratitude for his mercy.
The king merely stared at them blankly.
His gaze was like that of a man eyeing cattle soon to be slaughtered.
Suddenly, he turned his head and addressed the leader of the Royal Knight Order.
"You've suffered greatly serving such a foolish lord. How could mere words express my apology and gratitude?"
His tone was gentle, as if speaking to a longtime friend.
"Yet at this very moment, instead of thanks, I intend to make another harsh request of you. Knowing your rigid nature, it won't be easy for you to accept. Even so, I shall ask it of you."
But the content was utterly heartbreaking for the Old Knight.
"This stems from a father's wish for a capable knight at his son's side, and a sovereign's desire that precious talent not perish in vain."
Before the Old Knight could respond, the king poured out his words.
"Immediately gather the surviving Royal Knights and soldiers, withdraw from the battlefield, and join the Iron Lions to board the fleet. Save as many as you can, so they may finally return to their families' embrace. And..."
The king paused and let out a sudden sigh.
"That child... please look after Ian well."
His eyes clouded with complex emotions as he belatedly wiped his mouth.
It seemed like regret, pride, or perhaps both.
The Old Knight watched the king's shifting expression before issuing orders to the other Royal Knights.
"Immediately gather the remaining forces and withdraw from the battlefield."
The Royal Knights responded without hesitation to the Old Knight's command.
"Make haste."
The Old Knight urged them on.
Clack.
The Royal Knights snapped their heels together and placed hands to their chests in unison.
"Glory to His Majesty the King. Good fortune to the Silver Lion's blade."
Their salute was short and rough, but the respect it held was genuine. With that, the Royal Knights withdrew from the battlefield en masse.
And a few knights who did not follow them removed their helmets.
All were white-haired Old Knights.
"Looks like only us relics are left."
"Bah. I'm still spry. It'll take thirty imperial knights to take me down."
"Wanna bet? On who drags more along as company."
"Not a bad idea."
The Old Knights spouted their coarse banter with serene faces.
There was no trace of bewilderment in their demeanor.
The entire process flowed as naturally as water.
As if it had all been planned in advance.
"If we all leave like this, those lot will scatter and seek their own paths to survival. They're tenacious sorts, so a few might escape alive. Some may even surrender to the empire. Someone has to stay and ensure they don't pull anything foolish."
The leader of the Royal Knight Order explained their reason for staying in a matter-of-fact tone to his king.
"How could I not know that men like you are exactly what Ian needs!"
The king, who had been staring blankly until then, snapped back to reality and flew into a rage.
"We are grateful for Your Majesty's high regard, but the Crown Prince is already surrounded by brilliant knights like stars in the sky. The absence of a few old men like us won't make much difference."
This was no mere flattery.
Truly exceptional knights abounded around the Crown Prince, though it was a mystery where he had found them all.
The daughter of House Kirguyen, praised for her thoughtfulness and unyielding strength toward others, possessing not only personal skill but also the qualities to lead a nation's knights.
The maid-turned-knight who had caught Bail Ballerhard's eye with her talent during his lifetime—he had tried to take her as a disciple only to be rebuffed by the Crown Prince—and who had finally reached mastery in her early twenties.
The eldest son of House Ilai, once derided as a wastrel but who had in truth concealed the kingdom's foremost swordsmanship within his family.
The current head of House Ballerhard and the northern knights had not achieved mastery, but their sword aura and spirit, honed against orcs, were of rare valor unseen in the world.
"Moreover, I have already selected a fine successor. His swordsmanship may not yet match those mentioned, but given his diligence and talent, I can confidently say he will soon earn the title of Silver Lion."
With such outstanding knights at the Crown Prince's side, the Old Knight quipped, wouldn't it be fine for them to remain by the one they had originally served?
"You've made up your mind, then."
The king looked resigned.
He seemed to have recalled the Old Knight's temperament: once resolved, he never turned back.
"Just as Your Majesty has set your will, so have I. But unlike Your Majesty, with grand ambitions in your heart, I am but a petty man of narrow mind. I have simply resolved, as a knight, to guard my lord to the end."
The king clicked his tongue at the Old Knight's words.
"This is dire. With you refusing to yield, I shall be remembered as the reckless king who dragged precious knights into the flames."
"Then I shall remain the foolish knight who failed to properly serve his lord. Take solace in that."
The king couldn't help but chuckle at the rigid knight's jest.
"A foolish king and foolish knights..."
The words seemed to please him, as he repeated them several times.
Meanwhile, the battle was hurtling toward its climax.
The nobles' private soldiers, who had fiercely held back the imperial forces, were now nearly spent.
The nobles began edging backward, stealing glances.
"Where do you think you're going?"
The white-haired Royal Knights blocked their path.
"We're old and rickety, but escorting noble lords on your way should be no trouble."
"Better to die honorably against the enemy than disgracefully by allies' blades, no?"
The king nocked an arrow amid his guards and spoke.
"Since coming to the empire, my archery has improved markedly. From a hundred paces, of forty arrows loosed, one misses, and the rest strike between the eyes. If you wish to test it, by all means—turn tail and flee, or kneel before the foe."
His tone was calm, but the threat unmistakable.
The nobles paled.
Imperial forces ahead, the king and Royal Knights behind.
No word fit their predicament better than "caught between hammer and anvil."
Swish.
The leader of the Royal Knight Order, who had watched silently, gave a signal with his eyes. The white-haired knights suddenly prodded the nobles' backs with their sword tips.
"Argh!"
The nobles screamed as if slain outright.
"Oh dear. Didn't expect you to skip armor beneath."
"Swords and arrows see no weight or heat—I told you as much, repeatedly."
The Royal Knights calmly prodded again.
The nobles' backs quickly became a bloody mess.
"Fight. Become fertilizer for the kingdom. Among the great trees that grow from it will be your own spawn."
The king said coldly, but the nobles only screamed. They showed no sign of drawing the fine swords at their waists.
Clack.
At that moment, the imperial forces, having dispatched the nobles' private soldiers, surrounded them with swords and spears at the ready.
"The king of Leonberger, surrender!"
One imperial knight stepped forward, clumsily urging surrender in the kingdom tongue.
The king ignored him utterly.
He silently nocked an arrow, aimed at the imperial knight.
The imperial knight flinched and raised his shield.
Twang.
The king suddenly twisted his waist. The arrow tip veered from the imperial knight.
Thud.
A noble, hands raised, charging toward the imperials, took an arrow to the back of his head and rolled across the ground mid-stride.
The nobles, whose feet had twitched, froze solid.
The king eyed them coldly, then nocked another arrow.
Without a moment's hesitation, he loosed at the imperial knight.
Whizz.
The arrow flew true.
The imperial knight deflected it.
"...!"
The knight shouted something, but the king loosed again without care.
"......!"
The imperial knight, deflecting consecutive shots, bellowed in fury.
The imperial forces, who had encircled the kingdom's men without moving, now advanced with spears and swords raised.
And the battle erupted.
The nobles, scheming survival to the end, clashed first with the imperial knights.
"S-spare m... Argh!"
"If you spare me, I'll pay a fortune in ransom... Grrk."
Unable to even think of fighting with sword in hand, bereft of the slightest pride, they met deaths unworthy of common footsoldiers.
Next came the Royal Knights.
"It was an honor to serve Your Majesty!"
"I'll go ahead and wait! Punish me there for failing to serve properly in life!"
"Long live the Leonberger royal house!"
Stabbed and slashed dozens of times, the white-haired Royal Knights never dropped their swords, falling one by one until none remained.
Now, only the king and the leader of the Royal Knight Order were left.
"Won't you reconsider, even now?"
"Too late."
Before the Old Knight finished, dozens of imperial knights charged, scattering sword gleams.
"Stay behind me, Your Majesty."
The Old Knight murmured softly and traced countless silver arcs in the air.
Imperial knights fell, spurting blood.
But one hand could not fend off ten. The Old Knight swiftly became a bloody figure.
"I am Schrumhilde Strugart! Silver Lion of the kingdom, knight of His Majesty the King!"
Tearing off his shattered pauldrons and breastplate with brute force, the Old Knight regripped his sword and roared.
Then, from the imperial rear, three knights with exceptionally sharp auras stepped forth.
Paladins.
The paladins unleashed dozens of slashes. The Old Knight countered with more.
Facing three paladins squarely, the Old Knight yielded not a single step.
It was a frenzy of steel.
Seeing no sign of retreat, the imperial paladins shouted mid-clash while dividing their blades.
The paladins gathered their auras.
And charged again.
In sync, ten imperial knights advanced.
Realizing their intent too late, the Old Knight desperately swung his sword.
But the paladins clung tenaciously.
The Old Knight's blade grew erratic in his haste.
His wounds multiplied rapidly.
Flesh wounds mattered little now.
As he parried the paladins' swords, his eyes tracked the king.
The king loosed arrows relentlessly.
One knight took an arrow through his visor slit and dropped dead.
But the remaining nine deflected arrows and closed in on the king.
The king discarded his bow and drew his sword.
"I am the king of Leonberger!"
With that cry, he swung fiercely.
The imperial knights blocked it effortlessly.
Then thrust playfully.
The king was drenched in blood in an instant.
Stab.
An imperial sword pierced the king's shoulder. He grabbed the blade with his bare hand. The knight sneered and yanked it free.
The king's palm shredded crimson instantly.
Yet he clung to the imperial sword.
The startled knight gripped with both hands. In that instant, the king raised his dangling sword and lunged.
The half-withdrawn imperial blade plunged deep into the king's shoulder again.
The king's thrust severed the knight's throat.
Thump.
The imperial knight clutched his neck, spewing gore, and knelt.
The knights encircling the king like hounds, thrusting half-heartedly, now roared in fury.
"Your Majesty!"
Seeing sword auras bloom at their tips, the Old Knight bellowed and unleashed his blade.
The paladins countered.
Instead of blocking the lethal strikes, the Old Knight kicked off the ground toward his king.
His back split from the pursuing sword gleams. His side tore open.
Yet he swung, felling an imperial knight.
But he claimed only three.
Four swords impaled the king.
Shoulder, thigh, gut. Flank.
Spewing blood, the king raised his sword and beheaded the knight who had stabbed his belly.
The imperials recoiled in shock and twisted their blades. The king's wounds gaped wide.
Even in that state, he charged the imperial knights.
"Cough. I... am the king of Leonberger..."
Spewing blood, the king cried out. Another knight fell to his sword.
The Old Knight felled the rest.
Crunch.
A chilling sound pierced the Old Knight's ear.
He widened his eyes at the king.
A cold blade protruded from the king's gut.
Behind him stood a blood-soaked man.
"Since you're resolved to die anyway, thrashing about only makes it uglier. Best to go peacefully now, Your Majesty."
The king finally glanced back.
"Of all the arrows I loosed today, the one and only vital miss was yours, of all things."
Seeing the speaker, the king sighed.
A noble who had lain flat amid corpses suddenly thrust his sword, now sneering at the king.
He abruptly shouted at the imperials.
"I'll bring you the king's head! Don't kill me!"
But before he could withdraw the sword from the king's body, the Old Knight arrived.
"W-Wai..."
Not even a pathetic excuse escaped before the man's head parted from his neck.
"Your Majesty!"
Having eliminated the final threat, the Old Knight supported the king.
"It's for the best, in a way. Their swords found me, not that child."
The king laughed heartily, incongruous with the moment.
But the laughter turned to bloody coughs,
And his body finally crumbled.