Chapter 23
Chapter 23
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Rally of the Phoenix Knights
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“You tiresome bastards.”
Arthur swiftly slashed the ogre’s nape with his aura-wrapped kukri.
The ogre’s nerves went numb, leaving it unable to move a muscle.
Arthur quickly shoved his Cheytac into the beast’s maw and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
He dispatched it in an instant.
“As expected…”
Millerph, who had been holding out on mental fortitude alone, collapsed with a thud as the tension released.
Arthur quickly scanned the surroundings.
The knight order’s main forces—Millerph, Skevin, and even Helot—had all fallen.
The Devil Squad was at the forefront, fighting alongside the knights against the orcs.
“Hmm.”
They were unilaterally pushing back the orcs, but exhaustion was evident on everyone’s faces.
In contrast, the orcs maintained their numerical superiority, pressing forward endlessly like a human wave attack.
At this rate, they’d eventually be overwhelmed.
The tide of battle needed to be turned.
Arthur climbed onto the ogre’s back where everyone could see him. He then aimed his gun at an orc warrior.
Bang!
Thud.
The orc warrior’s head exploded.
In that instant, the orcs and the entire knight order froze.
They all turned their heads toward the source of the sound in unison.
Arthur stood atop the fallen ogre.
“Young Master?”
“No way, that monster…”
“Gasp! Look over there.”
One knight spotted Helot collapsed beside the ogre.
“Vice Captain!”
He was stunned to see Skevin and Millerph down as well.
“This, this can’t be…”
Everyone seemed deeply shocked, staring in dazed disbelief.
At that moment, Arthur drew his kukri from his belt and charged into the orc horde like a bullet, thundering out.
“Phoenix Knight Order!”
“...!”
Everyone snapped to attention.
“Follow me, all of you!”
‘If it’s the Young Master!’
Hope gleamed in the knights’ eyes when the Devil Squad moved first, swift as ever.
Though they had reached their physical limits, they unleashed their specialties without reservation, cutting down orcs as they pursued Arthur.
Seeing the Devil Squad catch up, Arthur shouted.
“Target the warriors only!”
“Yes, sir!”
They roared in response.
They looked ready to drop, but watching Arthur charge ahead filled them with surging strength.
He was the one who pushed them to their limits every day.
Just seeing him triggered an instinctive reaction.
“I never thought the shivers I got from the Young Master would turn into this kind of help.”
“Let’s smash them!”
“Shall we get started?”
The Light Brothers surged forward at tremendous speed, striking the foes.
Not to be outdone, Mulan swung his massive two-handed sword mercilessly.
As the Devil Squad launched their fierce assault, Jonathan—who had received focused training from Skevin—glared and bellowed.
“Let’s kill them all!”
“Kill!”
“Don’t let a single one live!”
Knights consumed by rage charged the orcs, swinging their swords indiscriminately.
“How dare you! Against our Captain!”
“This is revenge for the Vice Captain!”
“Sweep them away!”
“Squeak squeak! Don’t retreat!”
The orcs counterattacked, but they fell helplessly before the tidal wave of strikes.
Seeing the orcs’ momentum break, Arthur called out to the Light Brothers, who had closed in right behind him.
“Keep pushing them like this!”
“Yes, sir!”
The Light Brothers pressed even harder.
Meanwhile, Arthur dashed toward a house-sized boulder at the 11 o’clock position.
He swiftly climbed atop it and surveyed the area.
The knight order, wrapped in fury, exuded overwhelming momentum.
At this rate, annihilating the orcs was only a matter of time.
But the orcs’ desperate struggles were inflicting non-negligible casualties.
He emptied his pouch of all the marbles.
Six rounds in total.
He decided to shatter the orcs’ remaining morale completely.
Arthur loaded the marbles into his Cheytac and aimed at the orcs. Through the scope, he targeted an orc warrior.
“You first.”
He pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The sound hit like lightning from the sky, startling the orcs.
“Squeak squeak! There’s a mage!”
“Squeak! Find and kill it!”
Boom!
The orc warrior’s head burst open.
“Squeeeeak!”
The orcs cried out in terror.
In sync, the Phoenix Knight Order and Devil Squad unleashed a barrage.
Bang!
Boom!
Whenever the gunshot rang out, an orc’s head reliably exploded like a watermelon.
Some Devil Squad members stared blankly at the scene.
They knew the sound came from Arthur’s weapon.
But with him out of sight and orc heads shattering, it looked just like magic.
For foes facing an invisible enemy, it was pure terror.
‘Incredible.’
‘As expected of the Young Master.’
Mulan, raining attacks on the orcs, yelled.
“What are you doing? Push!”
Those who had hesitated briefly resumed their assault.
Bang!
Bang!
Gunshots continued to echo, and with each one, the orcs sank deeper into fear.
Bang!
As another head exploded, spraying green blood everywhere!
The orcs finally plunged into utter panic.
“Squeeeeak!”
“Squeak! Run!”
“Squeak squeak! The humans have an archmage!”
The orcs fled in panicked disarray.
Suddenly appearing from somewhere, Arthur charged at them, shouting.
“Everyone, attack!”
He fearlessly hacked through the orcs with his red aura-clad kukri, the picture of bravery.
As Arthur became drenched in their blood, the knights’ morale soared.
“Kill them all!”
“Don’t let a single one escape!”
The orcs, bereft of fighting spirit, were slaughtered mercilessly, the area staining with their blood.
How much time passed?
The dark sky gradually brightened.
The site of fierce battle moments ago now hung in heavy silence.
Blood-soaked Arthur emanated a chilling aura.
As he passed by, the knights gazed at him not in fear, but with awe, saluting with their swords.
Arthur arrived where the ogre’s corpse lay.
Skevin, Helot, and Millerph stood, supported by the knights.
Millerph bowed at the waist.
“You’ve done well, sir.”
Arthur examined his condition with a stern expression.
No visible wounds, but his pallid face suggested internal injuries.
“Nothing serious, I hope?”
“Just a brief blackout. A day’s full rest should suffice.”
“Good.”
He shifted his gaze to Skevin and Helot.
Both were covered in wounds.
Above all, Skevin’s once-golden hair had turned stark white.
“What happened?”
“I’m not sure. No particular bodily anomalies, so we’ll need to observe.”
“And the other injuries?”
“Minor ones.”
Skevin couldn’t properly meet Arthur’s eyes, ashamed of failing his duty.
Vice Captain Helot felt the same.
“Hmm.”
Confirming all three were out of mortal danger, Arthur finally relaxed.
The knights had gathered, all watching him.
Arthur looked them over.
Covered in wounds and green blood, it was clear how fiercely they had fought.
The Devil Squad was visible too.
They had penetrated deep into enemy lines to smash the orc command and led the vanguard against the orcs—their state was pitiable.
Kasan in particular had severe burns on his face and arms. Yet he had fought to the end, which Arthur found grateful and admirable.
Unlike the Phoenix Knights standing individually, they leaned on each other or draped arms over shoulders, warming Arthur’s heart.
It was the team image he’d always envisioned.
Old comrades suddenly came to mind.
They trusted each other like extensions of themselves.
With them, anywhere was possible; their perfect teamwork had never failed a mission.
But in the long war, they departed one by one, leaving him alone.
He survived to the end, avenging them by slaying that bastard.
He thought the war was over…
‘Damn it!’
The war hadn’t ended.
Here, a war against monsters had begun.
He didn’t know who the monster king was, but he clenched his fist, vowing.
To blow its head off.
Arthur made his solemn oath and spoke softly.
“You’ve all done well.”
Everyone perked up, listening intently.
“We don’t know when they’ll return. Never let your guard down, and use this battle to address your shortcomings. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
A thick, resolute chorus rang out.
Arthur added one more thing.
“There’s only one way to topple a strong foe: unite your strength and fight together. Remember, that’s the best tactic for victory and the path to saving your comrades.”
With that, he walked forward.
The blocking knights parted to both sides, clearing a path.
As Arthur passed, one knight dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
Like a signal, every knight knelt on one knee and paid respects as he went by.
Watching this, Skevin smiled faintly.
“Too many rivals.”
Helot grinned.
“Still, you’ll be the first the Captain chooses.”
“You think so?”
Skevin smiled and glanced at Millerph.
Meeting his eyes, Millerph scratched his head sheepishly and shook it.
“Rejected.”
“R-Really?”
“He said he has no need for rice-wasters.”
“Hah.”
Skevin let out a hollow laugh and looked at Arthur.
He was falling deeper under his charm.
Today, Arthur’s back seemed especially grand, giving Skevin a firm goal.
For now, he watched from afar, but he’d become a Sword Master and follow behind, no matter what.
‘I’ll make it happen.’
Skevin steeled his expression and surveyed the knight order.
They had suffered casualties, but achieved tremendous growth.
Dozens had reached Sword Expert realm, and most trainees could qualify as full knights.
Moreover, the Devil Squad’s performance exceeded expectations.
At this rate, they’d become powerhouses in record time, making their presence known to the world.
Now he understood what Arthur meant by awakening them.
With this force, Yarve Count was no threat—confidence overflowed.
He didn’t know how many mercenaries Yarve had hired, but they had Arthur, inheritor of Teheran Julius’s true arts, and Millerph.
Above all, this subjugation had solidified the knights’ faith in Arthur.
Having captured their hearts, their loyalty and unity would differ vastly from before.
His chest swelled.
“The day we soar draws near.”
Skevin murmured to himself.
Hearing it, Helot smiled and nodded.
Millerph approached, leaning on his staff.
“It won’t end there.”
“...?”
Skevin and Helot tilted their heads.
Millerph gazed at Arthur with a meaningful expression.
Seeing him dispatch the ogre in one go confirmed it.
His words weren’t mere talk.
Anyone who touched him would meet death.
With worry, fear, and anticipation mingling on his face, he spoke heavily.
“The Young Master will become emperor. And not just any…”
“...!”
Their eyes widened.
Millerph couldn’t finish, swallowing the rest inwardly.
‘The Conqueror Emperor.’