Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Escape
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The cheers were now echoing right in front of the mansion. The knights finally snapped out of their daze at the massive roar that sounded like it came from at least a hundred men.
"Damn it... What the hell..."
"These guys have no sense of honor...!"
The knights, belatedly regaining their senses, cursed Sarisa Count's actions even as they fled. Writing to the emperor? The real question was whether they'd even make it out alive.
Still, if things kept going like this, they could reach the stables without issue. That was the moment the thought crossed his mind—accompanied by the clanking of armor, a group of soldiers appeared right in front of them.
Armor and swords that didn't pale in comparison to the knights'. They were Sarisa's Elite Swordsmen—the same ones from the Elite Swordsmen Association he'd met not long ago.
"Sir Knight."
They recognized him and spoke up. Their eyes, visible through the gaps in their visors, were fixed on him. The knights were drunk and had rushed out with only a single sword each.
"...You gonna charge us?"
There was no choice but to fight with everything they had. As he raised his sword with that resolve—
Clank!
One of the Elite Swordsmen lifted his visor. Only part of his face was visible, but Lucas Kyle recognized him. It was the escort from yesterday, the one from that swordsmen association gathering.
"As if we would, Sir Knight."
The man shook his head. He explained that they'd come this way anticipating the group would head for the back gate.
"Didn't we tell you? We'd repay this favor someday. We never expected the chance to come so soon, but... go on. We'll repay that noble gesture."
With that, the swordsmen turned as one, clearing a path.
"...What in the world? What have you been doing here, Sir Lucas?"
The Lady's puzzled voice rang out, but how could he explain right now? In his silence, one of the swordsmen answered for him.
"He simply showed us kindness. More importantly, you need to hurry. Soldiers will swarm here any moment."
"I owe you. I'll remember this."
"No need... We've prepared horses by the back gate. Follow the path along the wall after mounting up—it'll be much easier. We've got that covered."
They parted along the walls, chuckling that no one had seen them here.
"We must capture them!"
The mansion was filled with soldiers' cheers and the torches they carried. Hastily gathered, they were still red-eyed with fury at the Cligrove scum who'd cost them their jobs.
"Kill the Cligrove fox!"
Of course, Sarisa Count had started the war, but inciting these uneducated brutes was child's play for the count and Viscount Trump.
"Did they drink all the liquor?"
Sarisa Count spoke, peering through the lord's castle window at the soldiers storming the mansion. He'd thrown the party deliberately to get the knights and escorts drunk.
"Of course. They guzzled it like it was their last drink... But..."
"But?"
"That woman's escort—Baron Lucas..."
Lucas Kyle. The count scowled at the mere name. How could he forget the man who'd humiliated him?
"He downed a whole bottle of the strongest brandy and was fine. He should've been at least tipsy, but he was steady even leaving..."
A bad feeling stirred. They'd confirmed the other knights were drunk, but failing to intoxicate the key escort captain gnawed at Viscount Trump.
Yet the count dismissed it casually.
"So what if one lowly bastard stayed sober? It'll probably make him think dying drunk was a mercy."
As they spoke, lights flickered on one by one in the mansion amid the sudden midnight commotion. The swordsmen guarding it rushed out, swords in hand.
"What the hell! These bastards!"
"Cligrove dogs over there!"
"Block them! Don't let them reach the Lady!"
The swordsmen clashed with soldiers in the central lobby. Outnumbered several times over, without proper armor, and with booze in their systems, they held firm, blocking the waves of soldiers to defend the lobby.
Vanguard Swordsmen. True to their name, they led the charge, swinging their blades fiercely to protect Cligrove's heir, Lenia. They fell one by one in the lobby.
Meanwhile, thanks to the swordsmen buying time, Kyle, Lenia, and the knights slipped out the back gate. Just as the Elite Swordsmen had said, horses were tied at the stables.
But unlike what the swordsmen claimed, soldiers were there too—ones who'd circled around since the lobby was too tough to breach.
And they locked eyes with Kyle at the front.
"Huh?"
"Th-that...?"
Kyle lunged first. Before the soldiers could scream, his Two-Hander whistled through the air in a beautiful arc.
Crunch!
He deflected a desperate spear thrust by a hair's breadth, then cleaved through the soldier's gambeson and body in one stroke.
As the bisected man crumpled like torn paper, Kyle's sword was already swinging at the next. With smoother, more refined technique honed from his training, two precise strokes claimed two lives.
The thin chain of a kettle hat tore like paper, a head detaching like a Lego piece. Terror filled the remaining soldiers' eyes. Two dead in an instant—barely enough time for a sip of water.
"K-kill him!"
Another soldier thrust wildly, but Kyle casually parried with his sword and severed his head too.
As if plucking them from his pocket, Kyle dispatched the soldiers' heads with effortless grace. When he halted his blade dance, six corpses soaked the stable ground in blood.
Impressed by his full-powered display, the knights eyed him with strange expressions.
"His movements are sharp, for sure."
"Strength, speed—impressive. If he'd started sword training younger..."
The knights chattered, but they noticed the battle sounds from inside fading. Each pulled out a horse.
There were exactly eight horses—one for each. But Kyle frowned. He didn't know how to ride.
Snort!
The horses whinnied nervously at the strangers' touch, but the knights calmed them expertly and brought one to Lenia. Noticing Kyle's inexperience, she signaled the knights.
"Get on!"
A knight mounted first and extended a hand. Even with the knight's sturdy build plus Kyle, it was brutal on the horse... Lenia urged the hesitating Kyle.
"No time to think! Delay too long, and they'll realize we're escaping and seal the gates!"
Sealed gates meant death for all. No room for pride in this crisis. They mounted with only their swords at their waists.
"Hup! Hup!"
Neigh—!
Though no time to bond with the horses, everyone but Kyle was an expert rider. They galloped out of the mansion. A few count's soldiers spotted them and shouted, but the chaos drowned it out.
"Sarisa Count! You dishonorable thug!"
"We'll have our revenge!"
The knights swore vengeance mid-flight. If they survived, they'd report the count's treachery to the emperor. Begging to reduce war reparations one day, then striking from behind?
No one had imagined a count stooping so low. Failure here would doom even imperial blood—nobody could cover for that.
Imperials seemed untouchable, but they too needed image management for the throne. They had stakes and had to uphold honor.
"Damn...!"
Soon, they reached the gate—sealed shut. The frantic group dismounted, lifted the bar, and shoved.
"Nngh!"
Screech—
Kyle's arm, thick as a woman's thigh, bulged with muscle. Dozens of soldiers had strained to open it before; now it yielded slowly.
"Wh-what?"
"Why's it opening?"
Sentries atop the wall panicked at the sight, grabbing a horn.
Toot—!
The blast echoed across the castle. Searching the empty mansion, soldiers and nobles finally realized Cligrove's lady had fled. They'd assumed she was inside, thanks to the Vanguard Swordsmen's desperate stand.
That illusion shattered; nobles who'd backed the count for Lenia's death paled.
"Don't let them escape! Capture them!"
Let her slip away, and the territory was done. Cligrove's army would smash the gates, and the emperor would happily grant them Sarisa's lands upon hearing the truth.
No one—not even a duke—could save the count's head then.
Thud!
The gate swung wide. Wall soldiers leaped down but hesitated at Lenia and the knights. They knew their place.
Even sword-only, the knights radiated human-weapon menace. As soldiers dithered, the group remounted. But...
'The horse is spent.'
Kyle realized his mount was exhausted. Two riders from the start, plus the gallop—it'd be a miracle if it wasn't. Fleeing now, they'd be caught soon.
If the Lady got captured? Cligrove falls as planned. Alone, he could survive.
"Sir! Mount up quick!"
Ignorant of his thoughts, the knights urged. But his mind was set; he shook his head.
"I don't think I can."
"What?"
"The horse is exhausted. Two riders from the start—we'll be caught before the baron's lands. Collapse or slow down, doesn't matter..."
"You want us to abandon you?!"
"Outrageous!"
The knights erupted. Abandon a comrade? Lenia shook her head too.
"Impossible, Sir Lucas. How could we leave you alone?"
"Waaah!"
Soldiers' cheers approached. Kyle seized Lenia's reins urgently.
"No time! Don't worry about me—go! If the Lady dies, it's all over!"