Chapter 668
Chapter 668
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 668
Chapter Title: Reincarnated as the Plum Blossom Swordsman in a Count Family
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I handed him the sword and armor. They were top-grade equipment forged by dwarf slaves. Over 70% silver content, perfect for maximum effectiveness against the undead.
"A-are you telling me to fight the undead right now?"
"Yes."
"I-I've never properly trained in swordsmanship. I only learned a bit for cultural refinement. I've never hunted so much as a monster, let alone a small animal! If I go out there, I'll just die! Won't that be a problem for you too, Baron?"
"My knights and I will protect you to ensure you don't die. It's necessary for Your Highness's reputation."
"If you praise me..."
"It'll be far more effective if you step up yourself rather than me saying it. So put it on already."
I growled the words, and the startled prince hurriedly donned the armor. He didn't even know how to wear it properly and barely managed with help from the royal knights. Clutching the sword, the prince descended from the carriage on trembling legs.
"B-Baron... What am I supposed to do...?"
"Fight the undead. Show some spirit, Your Highness."
"F-Fight those things...? No way! I'll die!"
The prince stared straight ahead, shaking his head frantically. In front of us loomed an undead horde impossible to ignore—from low-tier zombies and skeletons to ghosts, wraiths, dullahans, and death knights.
By numbers, roughly 20,000 strong. Most were low-grade undead, of course.
"Trust in me and the knights. Surely you don't doubt us?"
The knights and soldiers here were the elite of the elite. Counting only combat-ready personnel on our side, we had over 5,000. With plenty of knights among them, focusing on defense would let us overcome even 20,000 undead without much trouble.
"I trust you! I do, but... What if I get hit by a blind swing? I have a sacred duty to inherit the throne. I can't die here..."
"Your Highness's pathetic state might blind us into swinging wrong. Show some bravery before that happens to me. Hurry up!"
"B-Baron! The sword—the blade—it's touching my back! I get it, so lower it!"
"It's not a sword; it's my aura. Do you think I'd openly point a blade at your back?"
"......"
The prince's face paled as he charged forward. He seemed more terrified of me than the undead. I followed behind with my knights, glancing back briefly.
"Don't panic! We can win this! Wounded, fall back! Able-bodied, grab stones—anything—and attack the undead! Use the carriages to block the front, gather unnecessary baggage, and light fires—the undead's natural bane!"
Princess Aileen issued commands without pause. She had a charisma that captivated people. If left alone, she'd end up the one we'd helped the most.
I drew in a deep breath of cold air and bellowed.
"His Highness the Prince steps onto the battlefield himself! Don't fall back! His Highness's sword shall grant these corpses a second death!"
All eyes turned to Prince Aidan. Feeling the gazes, he raised his sword. Close by, I could see his body shivering. As expected, Prince Aidan had some exhibitionist streak in him.
"Th-that's right! These rotten-smelling bastards—I'll kill you all again myself!"
"Waaaaah!"
The knights' and soldiers' morale surged. A prince charging into battle personally—it was bound to draw more attention than Princess Aileen directing from the rear.
"Iyaaaaah!"
Prince Aidan swung at a zombie. The dwarf-forged anti-undead sword performed flawlessly, slicing through the zombie's body as cleanly as cutting tofu.
"I-I... did that..."
Above anyone else here, Prince Aidan himself was the most shocked—and delighted—by his own swing.
"I repelled the undead!"
The prince shouted. Adrenaline must have hit him hard. I didn't stop him, silently handling the surrounding undead. It was better than him sniveling about how scary the zombies were.
Now to deal with Princess Aileen. If her commands continue to the end, she'll claim all the glory. Her directions have been spot-on so far. Where's Yuria?
I had given Yuria three orders.
First: Destroy the undead dungeon and lure the horde. Success.
Second: Assassinate Duke Sunhaits amid the chaos. No matter how I thought about it, he seemed like he'd get in my way, so I planned to take him out this time.
Third: Kidnap Princess Aileen. Pull her from the funeral procession. Don't kill her—just prevent the funeral from completing. That would tarnish her reputation.
Boom! Crash!
A explosive battle noise echoed from the rear. The undead legion pressed from the front; there were no enemies behind. Which meant this commotion was Yuria's doing. I sensed something had gone wrong.
Damn. The North's giant. Marquis Lukman Petras!
A week ago, when we'd stopped in the north, Marquis Lukman Petras had joined the procession. He must have been near Duke Sunhaits.
The worst-case scenario I anticipated.
Marquis Petras was a master. Even Yuria couldn't easily subdue him without going all out. Right now, she was fighting hidden by magic, masking some of her power. And...
Marquis Petras can't die here. If war intensifies later and he's gone, the north will collapse.
Yuria had told me about him directly.
At the very least, I have to kidnap Princess Aileen. Yuria knows that, so she'll either subdue or shake off Marquis Petras. The plan's underway—no need to get anxious.
I gripped my blade and focused on my task. Protect Prince Aidan and help him shine.
"You rotten things! I'll sweep you all away! I am the prince of Rapelli!"
Prince Aidan yelled, swinging wildly. Tasting victory had him wildly excited. In truth, it was all gear carry—no skill involved. Floy and I spotted and eliminated any dangerous undead first. All the prince's sword felled were zombies and skeletons.
"I—I'm the prince!"
Perhaps this was Prince Aidan's inferiority complex exploding.
???
An hour passed.
Things were getting tough. Prince Aidan, exhausted, had hidden among the knights to rest. And from the rear...
Boom! Crash!
Yuria and Marquis Petras were still clashing. I recalled the marquis. He'd once visited my territory. We'd dueled with spears, and I'd lost. He was a master of exceptional skill.
"Enemies!"
A voice rang out. Realizing it wasn't pointing at undead, I looked up.
"Enemies!"
The shouts came from behind.
"Block them! They're coming from the rear! Block them!!!"
"Uwaaaaaah!"
"Knights! My knights! What are you doing? Protect m—Kuaaagh!"
"Royal Knights of Rapelli! Protect the princess with your lives!"
I climbed atop a carriage to check the rear of the procession. Armored foes with swords, identities unknown, were charging straight for the princess.
Mercenaries? No. Look closely—their movements are uniform. Perfect coordination... Professionally trained. Some move beyond normal humans. Knights.
They weren't part of my plan. Nor Yuria's.
Trailing us stealthily? Or ambushing from nearby? Who the hell are they? Don't tell me...
The attackers gunning for the princess moved with deadly intent. The royal knights were overwhelmed. I couldn't let Princess Aileen die like this.
"My lord?!"
"Floy! Protect the prince!"
Floy and the female knights would execute my orders perfectly.
Acceleration.
Activating the skill, I boosted my speed. Leaping across carriages, I landed before Princess Aileen. She had climbed one to direct the battle. I plunged my sword into the heart of an assailant targeting her, then grabbed her waist and leaped down. Easier to fight on the ground than atop.
"Baron Prucker?!"
"Yes. Princess Aileen. Baron Prucker at your service."
I scanned the surroundings. Royal knights fought desperately. Several lay dead already.
"Baron... Why did you come to save me?"
"No need for pretenses. Speak freely."
"......Why save me? Wouldn't my death benefit you more?"
"I'm hurt, Princess. I'm a noble of Rapelli."
"I thought it was one of your schemes."
"Even if I were your rival, I wouldn't stoop to this."
"Princess Aileen! Die!"
I cleaved through a foe charging with a two-handed grip, aura flaring strong. Blood sprayed everywhere. Arrows flew. Not at me—at the princess.
Moment.
I deflected every arrow with my sword.
"Seems you're quite popular, Princess. Know who they are?"
"......If not your doing, then probably soldiers from the Vitrase Kingdom."
Vitrase Kingdom.
Rapelli's western neighbor. As the saying goes, close neighbors mean distant relations—their ties were worse than with Balt.
"They're ignoring the prince entirely, gunning only for you."
"Vitrase knows I mustn't become queen."
Fair enough. Princess Aileen was exceptionally capable.
I wielded my sword before her, guarding her like an iron wall. Over 20 foes fell to my blade. Regaining composure, the princess crossed her arms, observing.
"Baron, your skill is impressive. Too good to serve under my brother. Care to join me?"
"If you become my woman, Princess, I'll consider it positively."
"Rejecting with vulgar jokes, eh? I was serious... That hurts."
"Not a joke."
"Fine. I give up."
Marquis Petras, who'd been tangling with Yuria, joined the fray. Yuria had tried to slip away early but couldn't shake his relentless pursuit—until now, finally escaping successfully. Venting his frustration at losing her, the marquis began slaughtering the attackers. Each swing of his massive spear swept away three or more.
The tide turned, and the enemies fled. With me shielding the princess and Marquis Petras unleashing unmatched might like Lu Bu himself, their morale had plummeted.
I pressed my left shoulder to staunch the bleeding. Even I couldn't block them flawlessly unscathed.
"Princess Aileen. Why so quiet? Directing would benefit you, no?"
"Consideration for you, Baron. You're plotting to make my brother the hero of this incident. I'll play along—no more commands from me."
I lowered my sword and looked at her.
"Well, thanks. Worth saving you."
"Just so we're clear—this is consideration for you only. The debt for my life, I'll repay separately later."
She was leagues beyond Aidan. Tempted to pounce right there.
Afterward, Marquis Petras charged the undead horde. The battle wrapped up in under three hours. Roughly 2,000 casualties. Duke Sunhaits had only a right-arm injury—nothing life-threatening.
I'd hoped Prince Aidan would shine, but my own fame spread instead.
"They say Baron Prucker protected Princess Aileen against 30 knights."
"30? I heard 40. A royal knight I know was nearby—said he fought like a legend from history, was thrilled."
"As expected of the blood of the Prucker frontier count."
Prince Aidan sulked in his carriage, disappointed. Still, his reputation had improved somewhat.
......This has to be 100% Princess Aileen's doing.
Not as planned, but boosting my fame wasn't bad.