Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Night Guests Arrive Without Warning. (5)
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"What... what do you mean?"
"Run away?"
The knights' faces hardened as if there could be no greater insult.
"There is no retreat for the Ovest Knight Order!"
"Who will stop the monsters if not us!"
As their voices grew heated, only Conrad kept his mouth shut, studying my expression.
"......"
His green eyes remained calm and still, without a hint of agitation.
'As expected, he's sharp.'
He seemed to have already grasped what I was getting at. It was probably a thought he'd had countless times on the border.
Shing—
"If you insist on dying here, then fine."
The knights fell silent all at once as I drew my sword and spat out the words coldly.
"Disobeying orders means death."
Their trembling eyes fixed on the blade.
"You're really going to kill us...?"
"We're not refusing to obey... we just don't understand..."
The knights shrank back, mumbling dejectedly.
'Stubborn fools.'
It could be frustrating at times.
But it was that unyielding spirit that had kept them defending the Ovest Territory with their lives.
I didn't want to lose these men—or the ones I'd trained so painstakingly.
'After all the investment I've made.'
When you've poured in your precious time and money, you expect results in return.
The men on my side had to return to the territory whole and intact.
"A knight's pride—such a fine phrase."
I slowly caressed the sword and moved my lips languidly.
"It's what has allowed the Ovest Territory to hold out until now."
The knights flinched with every twitch of my fingers. The effects of my "special training" were manifesting perfectly.
"But it's also just empty words."
My voice, now cold as frost settling on the ground, sank into the earth.
"I'm not building a Magna Morten here."
At the familiar term, the knights' faces changed. They lifted their gazes to fix on my face.
"I'm not telling you to act cowardly."
I swung my sword to point behind them.
"—!"
The knights recoiled as if stabbed, then slowly turned to follow the blade.
"I'm saying fight your best—but not like there's no tomorrow."
"......"
"Because we're not alone here."
At the tip of my sword, other knight orders were busily moving. They had fought alongside us until now and made for decent reinforcements.
"Fight with all you have, watch your surroundings, and combine your strength."
"......"
"We didn't come here to die."
The knights turned their faces back to me. A different emotion welled up in their eyes now.
"Where is the place where the Ovest Knight Order must truly shed blood?"
A hush fell at my quiet question, then—
"......Ovest."
"Ovest."
Proud voices began to break the silence, one by one.
"Ovest!"
"Ovest!"
The words gained solid strength, coalescing into an unbreakable unity.
"Ovest!"
The knights' cheers merged into one. Their eyes toward me sparkled like stars.
"Yes. We will return to Ovest proudly—all of us unharmed."
I'd grown a bit fond of these guys, it seemed. Comparing these rough men's eyes to stars—what was I thinking?
"If anyone gets hurt, I'll kill them myself."
I said it harshly to hide my softening heart.
Yet smiles lingered on the knights' lips. They knew I didn't mean it.
"Then let's go."
I flung my cloak over my shoulder and turned from them. Conrad fell in step beside me as I took the lead.
"Young Master."
"What."
"Thank you."
His voice was soft but clear as it reached my ears.
"You're... very different from Captain Diego."
"Obviously."
Conrad smiled faintly despite my curt reply.
"I'm truly glad you're commanding this subjugation."
"You only realizing that now?"
"Yes, far too late."
Conrad's gaze wandered into the distance.
"No one has ever told us it's okay to run."
His mind wasn't on the battlefield before him but somewhere in the past.
"We were always pushed to the brink, testing the limits of our limits."
"......"
"Some nights, going to bed, I'd even pray tomorrow wouldn't come."
Conrad's voice was calmly sorrowful.
"I have a feeling things will change a lot when you return to the territory, Young Master."
His face relaxed completely after speaking. That face, etched with true trust, was still rugged but far more appealing.
"Lead the way. We'll follow."
Conrad stepped back. The knights naturally formed ranks beside him.
No orders, no words—just a glance, and they understood.
"......"
Even on the eve of perilous battle, the Ovest Knight Order's atmosphere was serene.
A sharper killing intent than usual had formed, but it was neatly contained, pure in its intensity.
Not just their formation—their very aura sharpened into a single, well-forged spear.
'...Didn't expect them to gel this well.'
A few words of speech, and the mood shifted like this. My shoulders lifted involuntarily at my brilliant oratory.
"Everyone ready?"
I kept any smugness hidden, maintaining a solemn front.
"Yes!"
The Ovest Knight Order's gazes turned to the distance as they answered.
Kirruk!
Kikikeke!
Kyaaak!
Kinus, Lephri, Gatino.
Monsters we'd seen before mixed with new breeds, charging forward.
The distance had closed enough that everyone could now see them clearly.
"Archers, first row—ready!"
Mikel's voice rang from above.
"10, 9, 8."
The knights gripped their swords and steadied their breaths.
"7, 6, 5."
Arrows would clash with the monsters soon after launch.
"4, 3, 2."
I tightened my grip on my sword, and—
"1. Loose!"
Countless fire arrows sliced through the black sky, tracing red streaks like falling stars.
Thump-thump-thump!
Dull sounds of arrows piercing flesh and muscle followed in succession.
"Kuek!"
"Kiek!"
Many monsters struck by arrows met their end.
The archers' skill was impressive—even at this range, a high percentage pierced chests. Some arrows skewered multiple beasts at once.
"Krurrk!"
The arrows' flames caught on the monsters' fur.
The acrid stench of burning hair and flesh began to spread. The dim plain lit up in patches.
"Kyaaak!"
"Krwooo!"
The surviving monsters charged even more ferociously.
"Archers, second row—ready!"
Mikel calmly sent forward the waiting next line.
Thump-thump!
Their numbers thinned again. But the monsters sped up, lowering hit rates.
Thump! Thump-thump!
The archers loosed arrows without pause.
"Kirruk!"
The monsters finally scattered to avoid mass impalement.
"Damn, they're dispersing!"
"Everyone, how's prep coming?"
Shouts from Mikel and others came from behind,
"Kyak!"
"Kikike!"
As the monsters' ferocious cries grew nearer by the second.
The archers' time was running out. Once friend and foe mixed, bows would be useless.
"They're coming!"
Conrad bit his lip.
Red and yellow monster eyes, reeking maws, coarse fur—everything filled our vision, and—
"Kwaaak!"
My sword pierced the lead beast's bulk, igniting the battle.
"Kiek!"
"Kirruk!"
Similarly, necks were severed on both flanks. Not a single monster advanced before the Ovest Knight Order's blades.
'Yes, that's it.'
I'd believed they could. No fear, no worry.
Just my usual confident smile.
"Kill them!"
"Kill them all!"
The knights gritted their teeth, slaying every monster in sight.
Thrusts to chests, slashes to throats, stabs through skulls.
Every motion grew precise and sharp. To waste no breath, they pushed their focus to the limit.
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
Puzzled murmurs arose sporadically among the knights.
"What?"
"Something's off?"
They wrinkled their noses curiously even as they moved.
"What's wrong?"
Conrad asked after felling a monster.
"Something's weird, Vice Captain!"
Roland replied after piercing a heart.
"What do you mean?"
"My body feels..."
Roland tilted his head, slaying the next monster in succession. Conrad glanced over, eyes widening.
"Wait, Roland. That habit?"
"Yes?"
"That habit of swinging left..."
Conrad trailed off.
"Kieeek!"
In that distracted moment, a monster lunged at him.
Slash!
"What are you spacing out for?"
I'd bisected it mid-leap. Conrad turned to me with a dazed look.
"Young Master, could it be?"
"Took you long enough."
I don't move without purpose.
The sparring sessions were to break their bad habits.
'Oh, and to instill discipline, of course.'
Plus some stress relief and venting.
Thud! Thump! Slash!
The knights' movements were far cleaner than at the start.
Fewer wasted motions, more efficient sword swings.
"Huh?"
"Whoa, why am I like this?"
Those sensing the change let out low exclamations. Killing monsters felt twice as easy.
To me, who'd mastered Ovest swordsmanship, refining theirs was simple.
Fill the gaps, trim the excesses.
Tailored corrections, with a dash(?) of violence.
'Finally seeing the results.'
Past battles hadn't been tough enough to draw out their potential.
But now, cornered, where a hair's breadth meant life or death.
Slashes!
"Hoo, hoo."
The knights fought with the same desperation and ferocity as our spars.
That was fueling their growth.
"As expected of the Young Master..."
Conrad marveled repeatedly as he fought on.
Thus, the Ovest Knight Order spear held the line faithfully.
Kill, and kill again. Holding position without a single step back.
Corpses of monsters we'd slain piled into a hill. And that hill only grew taller.
"Damn, no end to them!"
"Too many!"
Human flesh has limits.
Unlike me, maintaining pace, the knights' blades began to dull slightly.
"Hold on just a bit longer!"
"Don't break here!"
Mikel's Nord Knight Order helped later, but it wasn't enough.
"Kirruk!"
The relentless monsters finally began eroding the spear's tip.
"Ugh!"
Finally, the line cracked, and one knight fell.
"No!"
"Klaus!"
The knights' heads whipped around.
"Get up!"
"Hurry!"
They couldn't break formation, forced to swing on, desperate gazes fixed there.
"Kyaaak!"
Then, a monster lunged at the gap—
Slash!
Blood splashed over Klaus's face.
"Sorry for the delay."
Imperial Knight Captain Joshua appeared, severing the beast's legs. Other orders repelled monsters and took position.
Not bad for a hasty join.
"You all arrived awfully quick."
Though it didn't impress me.
"You ignored what I said earlier."
If they'd listened when I warned of incoming foes, we wouldn't have struggled like this.
"......Ahem, hem."
"Cough, ahem."
Chastened, they awkwardly gazed at distant mountains.