The Undying Knight

Episode 1.

The green of the plains. Upon it, corpses form a field. The fully bloomed yellow dandelions have transformed into spider lilies. It was a stage created by war.

Soldiers emblazoned with symbols of red and blue disturb the green plains, traversing the gates of life and death.

"Die! You sons of bitches from Azrion!!"

"Think we'll just keel over?! You cowardly Lodan titmice!!"

These individuals, strangers to one another, denigrated the symbols of their respective nations as they clashed with razor-sharp blades.

"Help me!! Aaaagh!!"

The sound of flesh tearing in death erupts.

The screams of those who have passed through the gate of death sing of demise, while those who have passed through the gate of life dance with swords, stained with blood-soaked madness.

Then, they too spew blood and are struck down by the enemy's blade, joining the feast of death.

Perhaps it was the result of faithfully fulfilling their roles on the stage of the battlefield.

'I'm going to die.'

Rian Cade ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thought so.

Even as he snuffed out the lives of the Lodan Empire soldiers who had pushed his comrades into the gate of death, the word 'death' filled his mind.

It was merely a matter of reminding himself what his role was on the stage of war.

His helmet had been knocked off by an enemy's blunt weapon. His black hair, save for the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blood-soaked strands, fluttered in the wind, and blood trickling from his forehead clung to his handsome face.

His appearance clearly represented a situation where death was inevitable, and the scenes reflected in his eyes were no different.

The blue armor, the symbol of his allies, was slowly being forced into the ground by the encroaching red armor of the enemy.

"I'm going to die."

Therefore, the word that filled his mind even leaked from his lips.

However, his eyes, shining like black moons, seemed distant from the word 'death.' As if he had no intention of welcoming death.

Swoosh-.

He wiped the blood and sweat from his hands onto the gambeson emblazoned with the lion crest on the blue leather and gripped his sword again.

Then, he ran towards the enemies surging in like a red tide.

At a glance, the gambesons with the eagle crest on red leather, the number of enemies wearing them was overwhelming. There must have been thousands.

In contrast, the number of allies wearing gambesons with the lion crest on blue leather was only three companies. Five hundred in all.

No matter how many companies within the battalion were full of experienced and skilled fighters, they could not hope to win against enemies charging in with such numbers. Especially on a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠vast plain.

They couldn't even run away.

They were already surrounded in a circle, gradually narrowing the formation and slowly devouring the lives of his comrades.

I'm going to die.

Even as he dodged the fiercely flying spears and swords, stabbing and slashing at the enemy in a desperate struggle, death pressed down on his entire body even more strongly.

I'm going to die.

The necks of his comrades positioned around him are severed, their hearts pierced, and they fall to the ground, dying. He mourns their deaths with a fleeting glance.

I'm going to die.

His body is torn and broken, and he is pushed back. There is no way out. The terrified faces of his comrades with their backs to his prove it.

"Haa…. Haaah."

His breath caught in his throat. No, he was already clinging to life with short breaths. It was only now that he could hear the last testament of his lungs, realizing death.

His arms hung limp, too heavy to lift. It was as if the souls of the enemies he had taken the lives of were clinging to the blade, pulling it down.

Of course, that was just how it felt. This was merely the fatigue he felt from the arduous battle.

"Tough bastard. Haa. Haa."

"This guy's completely insane… Haa! If you're gonna die, just die quietly. Tsk!"

The soldiers of the Lodan Empire were also quite exhausted, spitting out curses and catching their breath.

The fact that he was still surrounded by a red wall on all sides remained unchanged. It was despair.

"Now you're the only one left, you son of a bitch from Azrion. So don't even think about dying quietly……."

As someone among the enemies said.

There were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no allies around.

He had survived alone.

Now, no more.

"Squad Leader! At least you should escape, Squad Leader!!"

"Damn it!! How are we supposed to stop that!! You're telling us all to die!!"

"I'm going to kill all those Empire bastards and get promoted!! Come on!! You Lodan greenhorns!!"

Wilson, the squad leader of the 1st squad, who had shouted for him to escape when they first encountered the enemy.

Hans, the squad leader of the 2nd squad, who had grumbled and complained.

Ronald, the squad leader of the 3rd squad, who had vowed to survive and get promoted, were no more.

'I knew it would come to this, but I didn't think I'd be the last one.'

He was destined to die anyway.

The death that had been postponed until now had finally arrived, and the Grim Reaper had simply chosen him as the one to close the gate of death.

"I'll follow you soon. After taking a few more Empire bastards with me. Forgive me."

Rian muttered his last words, hoping they would reach his subordinates who had departed ahead of him.

And as he caught his breath again and resolved himself for the final battle.

Thud-.

A single footstep stole his gaze.

"Tch. It took too long to deal with just five hundred. I'll take care of things here. The remaining forces, pursue the retreating Azrion Kingdom army."

Someone's low voice washed over the surroundings and opened the encirclement.

At his command, the soldiers began to scatter, their faces pale.

The man who had suddenly appeared stared silently at Rian, who was exhausted.

Thud-.

A tall, red-haired man narrowed the distance.

The armor, with its iron plates connected like crustaceans from his gauntlets to his shoulders and chest, was quite different from the armor of the Empire soldiers he had seen so far.

The short sword in his hand also gleamed as if it were not made of ordinary steel.

"I am Gerard, commander of Marquis Bueno Argent's Shadow Squad. You've held out well. I commend you."

His low, resonant voice carried a pressure that sent shivers down his spine.

His sharp, piercing gaze seemed to amplify the power of his voice.

'Why the Shadow Squad?'

Rian stared at Gerard with an indifferent expression. He was catching his breath, his eyes determined not to miss the other man's reaction, but Gerard had no way of knowing that.

"Defect. With your skill, the Marquis would gladly accept you."

Therefore, Gerard was offering him a chance to defect. Rian tilted his head.

There were quite a few corpses of Empire soldiers beneath his feet. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Rian was responsible for 30% of them.

And yet, the man who had watched all that was offering him a chance to defect, Rian could not understand.

"Do you think you're going to lose?"

It was a random question that popped out in a situation he didn't understand.

It was also a provocative remark thrown out carelessly since he had no intention of defecting anyway.

"……."

Gerard twitched his eyebrows and his eyes flashed with murderous intent. He felt that he had been ignored, and that the Argent Marquis he served had been insulted.

Thwack-!

Instead of answering, Gerard kicked off the ground and charged towards Rian.

It was a fast and light footwork that didn't match the pressure that crushed the ground.

'Ah.'

He lost sight of Gerard. By the time he came back into view, the tip of his sword was already flying towards his heart.

He couldn't avoid it.

That was the conclusion he came to in a split second.

So, he would die together.

With the determination to die together, Rian swung the sword in his hand, aiming for Gerard's neck.

It was the best he could do at the moment. But the angle wasn't good. He couldn't inflict any meaningful damage. Even if the lower part of the blade touched his neck, it didn't seem like enough force would be transmitted to cut him.

Of course, all those thoughts were useless.

Thwack!!

The tip of Gerard's sword tore through the gambeson, pierced his flesh, and gnawed at his bones as it entered Rian's heart.

"Cough!!"

I'm going to die.

His beating heart spewed blood.

Since there was no chance of survival, death was finally being realized.

Thud-.

Gerard pulled out his sword, pushing Rian away as if he had no further business with him.

Blood gushed from Rian's heart, which had fallen to the ground, like a spring.

"Arrogance. That is the reason for your death."

Gerard bid farewell to Rian in an emotionless tone and turned his steps towards where his troops had gone.

"……."

Rian lay sprawled on the plain like any other corpse, staining the ground red.

It was an exit from the stage where the feast of death had taken place.

He had no more blood to spill.

He felt the burning pain gradually dulling.

Only a faint remnant of consciousness was aware of death.

That was quite funny.

Whether it was consciousness, ego, or soul.

Even though death was immutable, it was as if an intangible spirit was somehow clinging to the body and wouldn't let go.

'Is it regret?'

Perhaps it was.

After all, he had not achieved his dream.

"Ellen… Father……."

At the moment of death, did the years of his life flash vaguely through his mind?

Rian thought of his father.

He was not his blood father.

"Rian. You were actually the only child who survived the witch's hut. I was the one who picked you up."

Was it on the day he celebrated his eighth birthday?

The infamous witch who had driven a thousand newborns to their deaths.

It was a confession that he had given birth to him in his heart and raised him, the only survivor from the witch's dwelling.

"You're definitely going to be the most handsome man in Azrion. That's why I picked you up and raised you! Haha!"

Perhaps he was embarrassed, he ended his confession in front of the simple birthday table with such playful words.

'Well, I expected it since we don't look alike at all. But it was still a shock.'

Was that when it started?

"Take up the sword. That is the only way you can survive."

Ellen began to teach him the sword in earnest.

He was a commoner, but he had shown talent in swordsmanship and had been granted the Cade surname and even joined the Knights.

However, he had suffered damage to his aura in the process of rescuing Rian and had no choice but to retire. A knight of misfortune. Or rather, a knight aspirant.

The year he turned fifteen.

"How about becoming a knight? Well… I don't think you'll do well with your current skills, but I think it's good to have a dream anyway."

He spat out his desire for him to continue his dream as if throwing a stone.

He was sturdy and his face was rough, but he was kind, simple, and knew how to take care of those around him.

His wish, as he continued his humble farming life while still dreaming of becoming a knight, was by no means a light stone.

"I will."

He joined in that dream.

He had enlisted in the military and was following in his footsteps, but it had come to this.

"Cough-!"

He really felt like he was going to die now.

He lost his sight and a white world covered the sky. All his senses became indifferent.

This was the end.

He had miraculously survived and lived chasing his dream, but this was the end.

His consciousness was cut off.

But.

That's what he thought.

[You shall be freed from the time allowed for death…….]

What on earth was that supposed to mean?

A whispering voice brushed past his ears like the wind.

Was it a trick of the Grim Reaper? Or was it just an auditory hallucination?

'But why…….'

His thread of consciousness remained.

Following that, a sound tickled his ears.

Squirming-.

Scratch-. Scratching-.

It was a strange sound.

His vision was still blocked by darkness, making it even more terrifying.

He even imagined that maggots would devour his entire body until he became a skeleton, and only then would his soul leave his body.

But then, he felt something.

His pierced heart.

And it was as if someone was tickling the wounds all over his body.

He couldn't understand why the senses that had died were coming back to life and making him feel so alive.

Not long after.

The curtain of darkness slowly lifted.

His vision brightened as if heralding the appearance of a new stage.

He could even see a flock of crows flying in circles in the blue sky.

"I'm alive?"

He could breathe, and his heart was beating.

All his senses had returned.

That was why the words burst out.

Swoosh-.

He raised his body.

The torn leather and iron plates had not been reattached, but his flesh, muscles, and nerves were attached to his body without a single wound.

It was closer to a miracle than a miracle.

He wasn't sure if this was right.

"Huh?! There!! A survivor!"

"Damn it! It's a bug from Azrion. I guess he was pretending to be dead?!"

"You bug-like bastards! Anyway, we have to kill all those dishonorable bastards, whether they're from the Empire or the Kingdom!"

He could hear such sounds right away.

'I don't know what's going on, but.'

I have to survive first.

With that in mind, Rian picked up his sword that was lying on the ground and gripped it again.

It was the same old desire for life.