Chapter 807
Chapter 807
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 807
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Guard in a Count's Family
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“The enemy’s coming!!”
Someone’s shout echoed through the air.
Kyle, who had been sitting in his chair examining the map and letters, leaped to his feet, grabbed his sword, and dashed outside. The soldiers moved with disciplined precision, readying themselves for battle.
Kyle cast his gaze toward the distant Marbelot Fortress. A river flowed around it, making it look at first glance like a castle built atop a lake. The fortress gates had lowered into a drawbridge. It was beautiful—a scene straight out of a painting when viewed from afar.
But the current situation was far too dire to call it art. Even a moment’s lapse in vigilance could cost the lives of his soldiers.
Clop clop. Clop clop.
Wooden horse-riding marionette knights burst forth from the gates—nearly a hundred of them.
“Damn these marionettes…!”
A curse slipped from Kyle’s lips, one he rarely used. Every other day, these puppets sprang to life on their own and attacked. He suspected they were created by the power of some relic.
When the marionettes were destroyed, they simply crumbled into ordinary wood and vanished.
Though they resembled knights, their skill was no better than that of elite infantry. They couldn’t inflict major damage on Kyle’s army. Still, they wore down his troops and caused a steady stream of minor injuries.
‘The marionettes’ advantage is that they cost the Marbelot side nothing.’
The relic summoned a hundred wooden horse-riding marionettes every other day. It was a ridiculously overpowered ability.
“Regular soldiers, fall back! Only knights and above engage the marionettes!”
Kyle shouted.
If ordinary soldiers stepped forward, they’d just take needless losses. The knights had to swiftly eliminate them before suffering any casualties themselves. That was the best approach.
As an upper-tier Aura Expert, he charged toward the marionettes.
Plum blossoms bloomed in the air with his sword strokes—one by one, until ten fully unfurled, slicing into the marionettes. The puppets were vulnerable to aura.
“Captain! Arrows incoming!”
Someone shouted from behind.
No more arrows came. Isolated as they were, the enemy was conserving supplies until reinforcements arrived.
Kyle’s knights surged forward from behind him, their blades mercilessly carving through the marionettes. In less than three minutes, the puppets were cleared. Kyle sheathed his sword. Victory—but only barely holding on.
Rumble rumble groan.
The drawbridge rose under magical power. Charging it meant facing a barrage of spells. They could only watch.
Kyle surveyed his soldiers.
They were all exhausted.
The siege had dragged on for over three weeks now, with little real gain. The river encircling the fortress prevented a brute-force assault. They’d at least cut off enemy supply lines, but grim reports said Marbelot had three months’ worth of food stockpiled.
Kyle rallied his men. Thankfully, thanks to his reputation and the loyalty he’d earned, morale hadn’t plummeted.
“Terius.”
Kyle approached a young mercenary sitting in the corner, wrapping a bandage around his arm. The man turned, his wild brown hair swaying.
“Captain! What brings you here?”
Terius’s face and body were covered in scars. He’d been sold into slavery as a child mercenary. Until Kyle rescued him from that band, he’d been overworked and regularly beaten.
“Just checking on the troops. Terius, how’s the arm? You got that this time, right?”
“This? It’s nothing. Just a scratch. Swinging a sword and holding a shield’s no problem.”
“What about the potion I gave you?”
“Saving it for emergencies. Can’t waste it on a little scrape.”
“……”
Kyle couldn’t bring himself to tell him to use the potions freely. The army’s finances weren’t in great shape.
An army was all about consumption. Even sitting idle burned through food. With prices for rations and potions skyrocketing, precious items like potions had to be rationed.
Kyle sat across from Terius and personally rebandaged his arm.
“Captain, I can handle it myself.”
“Got nothing else to do. You practicing the Hunyuan Heart Technique properly?”
“Every dawn, just like you taught me. Thanks to this mana cultivation method, I became an Aura Expert. No way I’d slack off.”
Kyle had passed down Huashan Sect techniques to Terius. Seeing his character and talent, he’d decided to make him a disciple. Terius had the potential to become an outstanding Plum Blossom Swordsman.
“Keep at it. With your talent and the Hunyuan Heart Technique, you’ll reach Master someday.”
“Me, a slave-born Aura Master? Sounds like a dream.”
“Only if you don’t stop pushing yourself. If you hit a wall, come to me. My advice’ll help.”
“…Thanks, Captain. I owe you so much, I don’t even know how to repay it all.”
“Just keep the promise you made me.”
“Honestly, I don’t know much about Huashan or Plum Blossom Swordsmen… but a promise is a promise. I won’t break it.”
Kyle nodded. Terius was young, but trustworthy.
His gaze fell to Terius’s left hand gripping the bandage. A crude iron ring adorned his ring finger.
“That iron ring… you’ve always worn it, haven’t you?”
He’d brushed it off before. But now it nagged at him. Yuria came to mind—she’d worn a ring from Eugene on her left ring finger too.
“Oh, this ring? It’s more important to me than anything. Back in my slave days, before parting with my friend, we split this iron ring. As long as I wear it… I promised I’d find her no matter what.”
“That friend—was she a girl?”
“Huh? Yeah, a girl.”
Terius blushed as he answered.
“Oho.”
Kyle grinned and peppered him with questions about her.
“Her name’s Nepia. Most distinctive thing’s her silver hair. It’s been years, so her face might’ve changed, but that silver hair won’t have.”
“Silver hair… light blue-silver, by any chance?”
The question slipped out unbidden. He knew it couldn’t be the Yuria he knew.
“Nah, Nepia’s is more grayish silver. …Come to think of it, the one who took her had light blue-silver hair…”
“Yeah? Light blue-silver’s rare, but not impossible to find. Want help tracking down that Nepia girl?”
Terius stroked the iron ring. It was uncomfortable—a child’s hasty craftsmanship. Aside from resizing it, nothing had been done, so of course it chafed. Yet he’d never once removed it.
“…Not right now. I’ve got no savings, and if I learn where Nepia is… I’d drop everything and run to her. At least when I can protect her safely… that’s when I’ll find her.”
“Terius… you really love Nepia, huh.”
Terius’s face flushed deeper. The blunt words embarrassed him, but he didn’t deny it.
“You’re right, Captain. I like Nepia. No—love her. I’m sure… she feels the same.”
Kyle felt a twinge of envy. There was something admirable about declaring love for a woman so boldly.
“Why wear the iron ring on your left ring finger, though? I’ve noticed others do the same.”
“Other fingers get in the way too much. Pinky’s too small. And… I heard from some northerners that in their lands, wedding rings go on the left ring finger. Something about it being connected to the heart?”
“…Wedding ring…?”
“Gasp!”
Terius startled. Kyle’s face had hardened terrifyingly. He’d never seen such a grave expression.
“C-Captain…?”
“…Sorry. Bad thought crossed my mind. I overthought it.”
Kyle relaxed his face, forcing a wry smile as he stood.
“Let’s talk more later, just us.”
He headed back to his tent.
The carriage slowed as it neared its destination.
I glanced sideways. Yuria, dressed as a maid, sat beside me. Her face slightly flushed, she caught her breath against my shoulder. The blush was from our recent sex. My semen was probably still leaking between her thighs beneath her skirt.
“Darling… I love you.”
“Love you too.”
Yuria tilted her head back, eyes closing. I cupped her cheek and gave her a light kiss. Smack. As I pulled away, unsatisfied, she leaned in for more. Only after several did she finally part, beaming at me.
I opened the carriage window and peered out. Tents and soldiers dotted the view, and beyond them loomed the grand Marbelot Fortress Kyle was besieging.
I closed the window. Soon, the carriage halted. I looked at Yuria. She’d straightened her disheveled clothes and schooled her face into a blank mask—like the old amnesiac Yuria.
“Yuria.”
“Yes, Master.”
“You’ve memorized the intel on Kyle?”
“Yes, all of it. Don’t worry—I won’t slip up.”
Kyle had been smitten with Yuria for ages. If he learned she’d recovered her memories, he’d be a pain.
‘Well, Yuria’ll handle it.’
Amnesia didn’t erase her talents.
“My lord, we’ve arrived.”
Knight Commander Floyd’s voice came from outside. I nodded, and Yuria opened the door. I stepped out, with her following.
Descending the carriage, I faced forward. There was Kyle. Behind him stood his knights and soldiers in perfect formation, each radiating elite prowess.
Kyle glanced at Yuria behind me, then extended his hand.
“Thanks for the support. Heard you took Mirphobos Castle recently. You’ve gotten impressive while I wasn’t looking.”
I shook his hand briefly. My mood soured.
“Mirphobos was a cakewalk compared to Marbelot. How’s the situation? Kyle hyung.”
Kyle gave a bitter smile.
“Same as ever. Marbelot’s holding out. Intel says they’ve got three months’ rations. By then, Balt Kingdom reinforcements will have arrived. The fact they haven’t come yet… probably means Balt knows too.”
“When exactly are Balt’s reinforcements due?”
“Five days at best. Seven at worst. Time’s short. Got any ideas?”
“Not out here—let’s head into the command tent. This is big strategy stuff.”
“You’re right. I got ahead of myself. To my tent.”
I followed Kyle with Floyd and Yuria. My soldiers and slave troops would integrate under his knights’ command.
As they walked, Kyle said to Yuria,
“Yuria, long time. You haven’t changed.”
“It’s been a while, Young Master Kyle. You seem more mature.”
“…Yeah?”
Kyle chuckled sheepishly at the praise.
That’s when a brown-haired soldier burst out, blocking their path. A young man scarred across face and body. Wildly excited, he pointed at Yuria and yelled,
“Y-You! You’re the woman who took Nepia back then, right?! No mistake—I couldn’t forget! Nepia! Where’s Nepia right now?! Tell me!”