kscans

t/n: Switched to more english localization, but the previous style might still get mixed in.

1

The group entered the city of Geidou and headed towards the residence of a certain knight. It was said to be a branch of the Graybuster family. Although the head knight was absent, his wife welcomed the group. Despite the unexpected visit, she was extremely pleased and treated them with hospitality. Upon hearing that Chantillion had been welcomed into the main Argolide family, she showed even more joy. It was later revealed that this lady had taken care of Chantillion when he was young.

The two accompanying knights seemed to take turns acting as escorts. It was a bit awkward for Bard to have the same knight present during meals, but for Chantillion, it seemed natural. These two knights also carried their luggage, and they took care of all of Chantillion’s needs. It was difficult for Bard to understand how a full-fledged knight could be used as a servant, but in a noble family of a great nation, even knights of the same rank had different social statuses. Ignoring the guards and the serving staff as if they were air, Chantillion spoke to Bard. The lady was not present in the room. She had said that she had already finished her meal, but she was probably running around giving instructions for the cooking and preparing Chantillion’s accommodation.

“After witnessing Sir Karz Rowen’s swordsmanship, I was awakened. I realized that a sword could be this powerful. It was truly a wonderful experience. It’s no wonder that you, Sir Bard, saw potential in him and took him as your adopted son.”

His voice and expression were filled with genuine admiration. Since he didn’t take the match in a negative way, this young man’s reception was not bad.

“That’s why I was puzzled. If he wanted to, he could have easily defeated me. So why did he play around with me? I, who was ignorant, didn’t understand the meaning until Doriatessa’s sword pierced my right chest. It was then that I finally understood. Sir Karz was assessing my skills for Doriatessa’s sake. His strange way of keeping distance was to show Doriatessa my sword. I heard later that Doriatessa was also an apprentice of Sir Bard, just like Sir Karz.”

Bard said that Karz was an adopted son, but he had never taught him swordsmanship. His tone was casual, and he didn’t use honorifics. Chantillion had requested it that way. Chantillion, on the other hand, called Bard somewhat familiarly.

“Please tell me, Sir Bard. That technique. The one Doriatessa showed at the end. What kind of technique is it?”

Bard told Chantillion about the guidance Karz gave to Doriatessa that day. He also told him what happened to Doriatessa that night. Chantillion listened intently, as if forgetting to breathe. After finishing, he drank the wine in his goblet in one gulp and said,

“I see. That happened that night. It’s like a story. But if you have genuine talent, receive teachings from the best master, and strive without giving up on your lofty goals, and have an unparalleled senior by your side, such things might happen. Ah! I wish I had been there that night too. I wanted to see Sir Karz’s guidance. I wanted to feel the moment when Doriatessa received enlightenment up close. Please forgive me for my excitement, Sir Bard. I feel like I’ve become a young boy again, my heart pounding.”

Bard said that Doriatessa felt the same way. She was able to meet Chantillion Argolide, a swordsman among thousands, and because she sincerely wished for victory, she was able to reach such heights in her skills. Doriatessa must be reminiscing with a pounding heart about the fact that she was able to meet him.

“Is that true? Doriatessa too. Is that so?”

Chantillion drank his wine again. He had quite an appetite for it. Was he always like this? Perhaps it was because of the accumulated wine, but his face was slightly red.

“That leather armor was a gift from Duke Argolide, and it was made by the best craftsmen in the capital. My sword master saw the hole and insisted that it was impossible for a practice sword to achieve this. Actually, that sword was in my possession. One of the assistant judges had a connection to my family, so they asked the head judge to let them hold the sword. It was a very rude behavior, but thanks to that, we were able to prove that there was no foul play with the sword. My master fell silent. It was a technique that surpassed the world of swords that my master knew.”

For some reason, he seemed amused.

“At that time, I intended to cut off Lord Doriatessa’s head. I had a strong feeling that I couldn’t show any mercy to this opponent and had to use my strongest attack. I never expected to be blocked like that. But even so, I thought I couldn’t counterattack at that distance and posture. And while taking a step back, I was preparing for the next move, planning to unleash another three-hit combo. However, Lord Doriatessa’s sword pierced straight through my chest. Ah! Those eyes. Those clear, hawk-colored eyes. I’ve never seen eyes like that before. No flattery, no envy. No anger, no resentment. No arrogance, no resignation. She simply became the sword itself and flew straight into my chest. I’ve never seen eyes like that before.”

Chantillion took a sip of wine and moistened his throat. He seemed to be easily stirred by emotions, as Bard had noticed during that match.

“It seems that a messenger will be sent today to propose marriage to Princess Shernelia. And that messenger is also an envoy of invitation for Doriatessa.”

He didn’t know that, so he said,

“Is that so? It was decided in yesterday’s meeting of the senior officials, and I just heard about it last night. By the time we finish this mission and return to the capital, Doriatessa might already be here. I can’t help but feel my heart racing at the thought of having another match with her.”

No. That’s strange. Doriatessa won against Chantillion in the Frontier Martial Arts Tournament, but that can only be considered a one-in-a-hundred victory. The difference in their abilities is as vast as that between an adult and a child, and frankly, Doriatessa can never be a worthy opponent for Chantillion. When Bard said that, Chantillion became stubborn and argued back. What’s the point if you don’t believe in me? Doriatessa is truly, truly amazing, a knight like no other in this world, he said. And then he finished his wine and said this.

“I didn’t know, but the Fafarlen family is a prestigious noble family. When I heard that the princess of the Fafarlen Marquisate family participated in the Frontier Martial Arts Tournament, Duke Argolide was speechless. If I had cut off her head a little earlier, he said, his face turned pale, I would have had to deliver your head as an apology.”

Why is he so happy to talk about how he almost lost his head? He must have had a bit too much to drink. Bard thought so and calmed down Chantillion, who still seemed unsatisfied, finished his meal, took care of his equipment, and went to sleep.

2

They arrived in Mithra in seven days. Normally, it would take nine to ten days even with a change of horses, considering that it’s about ninety koku-ri away. Bard wanted to see Chantillion’s endurance and patience, so he pushed him a little. Chantillion, who looked like a slender young man, easily followed Bard. His riding horse, Baykuri, was also a large and robust horse. The two knights accompanying them, Tsagarie Kikieri and Nuts Cajunel, were the ones who suffered. They were carrying Chantillion’s luggage between the two of them, so it was inevitable that they would fall behind. In fact, Bard’s luggage was not much less than theirs, but Yueitan was on a completely different level in terms of size and stamina. The horses of the two knights were also good, but when they heard that Yueitan was a wild horse, they widened their eyes and said,

“In the frontier, are there such wonderful horses running around in the mountains and fields?”

“I want to go to the frontier once and catch a horse.”

They were impressed.

The main reason the journey went smoothly was that they didn’t have to camp out in the wild. Camping would take up a significant amount of time for meal preparation. However, this Chubara region was a terrible place. There were hardly any edible wild plants, and there were very few rivers or springs to begin with. The bigger problem was that there was no grass for the horses to eat. The group solved this problem by reaching the next town by nightfall. When Bard was told that this was the city of Mithra, he felt a sense of awe. On the other side of the Great Ova, there was a trading village called Padelia, which was about two weeks away by carriage. Bard had heard that there was a city called Mithra located in the desert and grasslands beyond Padelia. For Bard, who had spent most of his life in the remote corners of the frontier, Mithra could be considered a symbol of the cultural civilization of a distant great nation. The excellent craftsmanship that Bard had seen was all from Mithra. Both weapons and furnishings were obtained from Mithra. Mithra was the city that represented the farthest reaches of the world that Bard could imagine. And now, he was about to set foot in that city, and from the side of the capital no less. Bard thought to himself that in one’s lifetime, you never know what might happen.

Yueitan was in a good mood. He hadn’t been able to exercise properly at Lordvan Castle, and the journey to the Parzam Kingdom had been slow, so he had accumulated quite a bit of dissatisfaction. In this journey, Bard hardly pulled on the reins. In other words, he didn’t hinder Yueitan from moving forward. Yueitan ran to his heart’s content. There were splendid roads from town to town, with some undulations, but very easy to run on. Cutting through the wind, leaving behind one rocky mountain after another, Yueitan ran to his heart’s content. Bard, sitting on his back, was also in an extremely delightful mood. Often, he would realize that the two accompanying knights were far behind.

But still. His back didn’t hurt. If he had indulged in such a reckless run, his back would have been screaming in pain in half a day. Not to mention, his whole body was filled with strength. When he saved Doriatessa, he realized that his sense of smell had become unusually sensitive. When he tasted the various dishes he had never seen since crossing the Ova, he could discern their subtle flavors, and he could eat and eat without getting tired, as if he had returned to his thirties. His reflexes, his eyesight, for example. He had become able to perceive the movements of Karz’s sword, which he couldn’t catch before, without realizing when it happened. What was happening to his body? Was it because of Stavros or this ancient sword? He didn’t know. He didn’t know, but there was one thing he could say. He was enjoying being alive right now.

3

Viscount Mithra, the feudal lord, was absent. What Bard heard from the knight acting as his representative was surprising.

Twenty days ago, there was a messenger from Corpus Fortress. They had been attacked by twenty demonic beasts and requested reinforcements. Surprised, Lord Mithra dispatched knights and sent a messenger to the capital. This was in accordance with the rule that they should immediately report to the king when demonic beasts appeared. They were supposed to have sent enough troops, but seven days later, they requested further reinforcements. So, all the available knights were sent to Corpus Fortress. However, there had been no word until today.

Until this point, Bard had been optimistic, thinking that the situation wasn’t so serious. Demonic beasts were terrifying precisely because they were encountered in the wilderness of the frontier. If well-armed knights faced them on open plains with good visibility, there were countless ways to fight. Moreover, this time there were an abnormal number of twenty beasts, but they had defended themselves in a sturdy fortress. There was no reason to worry.

However, when he heard the story, something seemed fishy. Corpus Fortress was fifteen koku-ri to the north. If they left their luggage here, Yueitan could reach it in a day. However, they couldn’t leave the accompanying knights behind.

The next morning, with a soldier as their guide, the group set off. They stayed overnight at a rest stop with a well and set off before dawn.

4

It came into view. It was too huge to be called a fortress.

To the north of the fortress, there was a large mountain, and beyond that, there used to be a city. That city was hostile to the Parzam Kingdom and often attacked Mithra and caravans. The frustrated King of Parzam built this fortress. The enemy was strong and numerous, so the fortress became large and sturdy. The city eventually ran out of water, and the people scattered, leaving it in ruins. Now, this fortress served as a resting place for caravans and frontier knights, and there were only a few soldiers to defend it. Approaching, they was taken aback. No way, that was… But, as they suspected, it was true. The bodies of horses and soldiers were left abandoned. They were in a pitiful state, as if they had been ravaged by wild beasts.

As they got closer, they noticed spears and arrows scattered on the ground, not being collected. Moreover, they seemed to surround the fortress and continue towards the north. They circled around and reached the north side of the fortress.

An unbelievable sight awaited them there. In the central plains, good quality wood is scarce, and arrows and spears are considered valuable. Yet, these precious arrows were stuck in the ground, covering it completely, discarded and abandoned. The same went for the spears.

And there were also the remains of several knights, attendants, and horses. Among them were the carcasses of beasts as well. They approached and took a look. It was a black bear. Its body was torn to shreds, with numerous arrows sticking out of it. They picked up a spear that had fallen nearby and stabbed it. It didn’t go in easily. This resistance was undoubtedly that of a demonic beast. There was also the corpse of a jaguar lying there. It was also a demonic beast, as expected.

“W-who’s there?”

Finally, a voice called out from the fortress.

“I am Bard Rowen, who has been appointed as the Commander-in-Chief, and this is Chantillion Argolide, who has been appointed as the Vice Commander. We have come for an inspection. Open the gate.”

One of the accompanying knights raised his voice, but the response was quite poor. This fortress had a main gate to the north and south, and small gates to the east and west. Bard and the others were currently in front of the north gate, but it seemed that they had hurriedly dropped the gate. One of the attendants was crushed under the gate and died from being crushed by a sharp, large log. How pitiful. And it seemed that this had happened at least ten days ago.

After a brief exchange, the gate was finally lifted. Very slowly. It required patience to wait for it to rise to a sufficient height. Since the general was entering the fortress for the first time, he had to pass through while mounted on his horse. The scene that came into view as the door rose was unbelievable.

Soldiers were lying all over the place. Some were dead, some were on the verge of death. Even the ones who were still alive had vacant eyes. Even though it was the general’s entrance, there were hardly any who tried to stand up and greet him. The smell was terrible. Upon closer inspection, there were also carcasses that seemed to be demonic beasts scattered around.

Bard urged Yueitan forward and entered the fortress. When he asked about the highest-ranking knight in the fortress, he was told that he had suffered a serious injury and was in critical condition. As for the second-ranking knight, he was said to be holed up in his room and not coming out. Bard ordered one of Chantillion’s accompanying knights to bring the second-ranking knight.

Bard asked one of the knights who stood up to greet him what had happened. Twenty-something days ago, a pack of wild beasts came from the mountains to the north. There were ten blue panthers and ten black bears. These were beasts that were not commonly seen in this area. The commander ordered the gate to be closed temporarily, but one of the attendants jumped out on horseback. He must have been tired of his boring duties. He also wanted the reward money that could be obtained by defeating the wild beasts. Two more attendants followed suit on foot.

In this case, the attendants were those who had received knight training but couldn’t afford the equipment necessary for knighthood. Originally, there were hardly any knights in this fortress, and there were many attendants who joined for the sake of the salary. They were provided with horses by the lord, and there was also temporary income from subjugating wild beasts and bandits, so the salary wasn’t bad, even if it was low.

While the black bears were a bit tough opponents to defeat with just three people, they must have thought that someone would follow them. In fact, there were some who were about to jump out. However, those who were eagerly watching were immediately silenced. Even when they attacked, the beasts were unfazed, and the first attendant was killed in an instant. Someone shouted that they were demonic beasts. The second attendant was also killed. The last attendant turned around and fled. At that moment, a soldier who had been ordered to close the gate remembered his duty and cut the rope that held the pulley. Unfortunately, the poor attendant was hit directly by the falling gate and died.

The commander sent a messenger to Mithra to request reinforcements and closed all the gates. The demonic beasts withdrew that day, but they came back the next day. This time, to their horror, the black bears started climbing the walls. They desperately shot arrows one after another and managed to stop the black bears somehow. From a distance, the blue panthers looked like cats, but up close, they were not small and extremely fierce. The black bears were also agile, and the arrows didn’t easily penetrate them. On the fifth day, the knight squad arrived. However, the knight captain underestimated the demonic beasts. Instead of entering the fortress, they confronted the demonic beasts head-on. Even with the strength of their forces at that time, they should have been able to fight back against the relentless horde of demonic beasts. But the knights lost their composure in the face of the never-ending onslaught. The captain ordered a retreat into the fortress. The fortress commander did not want to open the gates, but he was forced to and opened the eastern and western gates. Naturally, the demonic beasts entered the fortress along with the knight squad. This resulted in a terrifying amount of casualties. Some demonic beasts were defeated, but many soldiers were injured or killed. The fortress commander also died during this time. By the time the demonic beasts withdrew in the evening, there was no one left with the will to fight. The knight captain suffered a serious injury and was bedridden. The second-in-command knight sent a messenger to request reinforcements from Mithra and locked himself in his room.

For the next two days, there were no attacks, but no one attempted to leave the fortress. The following day, long-awaited reinforcements arrived. The knights entered the fortress and prepared to face the demonic beasts. The ones that arrived were ten demonic beasts of Shirozuno and ten demonic beasts of the long-eared wolves. The size of Shirozuno varied, but the larger ones were as big as horses. The gate, which had been continuously struck by the hammer-like horns on their heads, made a loud noise. Arrows rained down like rain, but they had little effect. They couldn’t afford to let the gate be broken, so they sent out knights from the eastern and western gates. With the speed of their horses, they should have been able to outmaneuver Shirozuno, but the long-eared wolves hindered their movements by jumping on them. This kind of battle continued for several days, and the knights were completely exhausted. Additionally, the horses’ fodder ran out, and human food became scarce.

The blue panther demonic beasts were not completely gone. When they tried to send out a new messenger, they were attacked and killed by the blue panther demonic beasts. Those who tried to escape suffered the same fate. The soldiers realized that the demonic beasts intended to massacre everyone in the fortress. A sense of apathy and despair took over the fortress.

5

It was displeasing. Everything was displeasing.

The fact that the demonic beasts acted in groups and would stop attacking and withdraw at night was absurd and displeasing. The fact that they would interrupt their attacks for several days was displeasing. The fact that the same kind of animal would all turn into demonic beasts at the same time was displeasing. It was impossible.

But what was even more displeasing was the state of the knights here. It was extremely difficult to search for and defeat demonic beasts in the deep forest. On the other hand, it was not difficult to fight demonic beasts in an open field where horses and long-handled weapons could be used. Moreover, it should have been easy to wait in this well-fortified fortress and defeat the demonic beasts that attacked. They had splendid armor, swords, spears, shields, bows, and an abundance of arrows. With all these advantages, how did it come to this?

Are these really knights?

A fierce anger welled up from deep within. The knight in front of him, after finishing his explanation, asked with pleading eyes when reinforcements from the capital would arrive. The so-called second-in-command knight who was brought along couldn’t even properly greet him.

Bard asked how much poison they had in stock. The second-in-command knight answered that they had none. Bard then asked about Zumorbas. The second-in-command knight answered that they didn’t plant any.

Bard was dumbfounded. “Of course not,” he thought. Who would use poison against humans? A knight who used poison against humans was no longer a knight. But on the other hand, how would they fight demonic beasts without poison? There were only three poisons that were effective against demonic beasts: Jabu, Wolmegie, and Zumorbas.

Jabu (knight fish) could only be caught in the Ova River, but the poison made from its innards had immediate effects and could be a decisive factor in fighting powerful demonic beasts. Wolmegie (rotting snake) was difficult to find, but the poison that flowed from its fangs had a high effect even when applied to the skin of demonic beasts with extremely tough outer shells. And the poison made by boiling the roots of Zumorbas may have a slightly dull effect, but the advantage is that it can be cultivated endlessly. That’s why in the frontier districts, no matter how small the fortress, they always grow Zumorbas. In the prosperous countries of the central continent, such common sense may have been lost.

No. No. If it’s true that no demonic beasts have appeared for a hundred years, knowledge and experience in dealing with demonic beasts may be lost. But. But. Can a knight ever forget the heart of a knight?

They can stand but choose not to. They can fight but choose not to. They don’t even send messengers to warn of the crisis. They hide inside the fortress, trembling in fear. What would have happened if the demonic beasts had directed their fangs at Mithra? Because most of the knights were dispatched here, Mithra is now in a very precarious state. If those cowards were to let demonic beasts overrun that city and kill the people, what would they say to make amends?

In Bard’s mind, the face of a young girl suddenly appeared. A girl who had left the frontier town of Gantz. She said she was attending school in Mithra. Bard Rowen, can you remain calm even if you see that girl being devoured by demonic beasts? No, no. He will do everything he can before that happens. That’s what it means to be a knight.

Bard took a deep breath, still filled with anger, and let out a thunderous roar.

“Listen, all of you! My name is Bard Rowen. I am the one entrusted with the Royal Army’s Kenji (Sword Seal). I have come under the orders of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I will teach you how to fight demonic beasts!”

The second-ranked knight was overwhelmed by Bard’s tremendous presence and fell on his backside. The knights and soldiers, with eyes like dead men, looked up at Bard and whispered among themselves.

(Bard Rowen, the general?) (Do you know him?) (No, I don’t) (Bard Rowen. Isn’t he the “Knight of the People”?) (Knight of the People? What’s that?) (He’s a great hero known throughout the frontier) (I heard he can take on a hundred men by himself) (Oh! I’ve heard of him. Isn’t he the knight from Pakula who recently sent us demonic beast fur?) (I heard he killed a demonic beast with his bare hands) (I heard he only eats demonic beasts) (No, I heard he ate a hundred stalls in Linz) (No wonder he has such a big and sturdy physique)

Bard stared at his surroundings, making sure he had captured enough attention, and then continued speaking.

“Mithra is still safe for now, but while we are like this, the demonic beasts may turn their attention to Mithra. Are you really not going to regret letting that happen? We can fight now. You have the power and the weapons. I will teach you how. Now, stand up, defenders of the frontier. There is something you must do now.”

“Stand up, stand up,” Bard repeated, urging them on. As if pushed by the force of his words, everyone began to move slowly. And surprisingly, there were more people who could move than expected. Bard gave them instructions, having some collect arrows, some gather the bodies in one place, and some check for food and medicine.

Technically, Bard did not have the authority to directly command them. This fortress belongs to the king, but the defense forces are the retainers of Viscount Mithra, who received the king’s commission. But there was no time to argue about such things. The demonic beasts could appear again at any moment. And when they did, they would come quickly.

“Hey, demonic beasts have appeared!”

A soldier on the lookout reported with a scream.

6

While scolding the restless soldiers, Bard brought those who were outside the fortress inside and lowered the gate. Approaching were ten Yelgers (blue leopards) and ten Fukurozarus (owl monkeys). Bard frowned. The first ones to attack were supposed to be ten Yelgers and ten Fukurozarus. Some of them had been defeated. Bard had seen their corpses. Yet now, the ones approaching were ten of each again. How could such a ridiculous thing happen? It was as if they had been replenished for every one that was lost. And these creatures were definitely acting in groups. When one see the red light in their eyes, there is no doubt that they are demonic beasts. However, they are behaving in a way that is most unsuitable for demonic beasts. As the demonic beasts reached the fortress, they looked up at the humans and began to growl menacingly.

It’s as if they’re inviting them. How intriguing.

There’s no time to ponder over this inexplicable situation. Looking around, all he see in the soldiers’ eyes is fear. How can he turn these fearful eyes into determined ones? It’s decided. He just need to show them an example.

“Chantillion!”

Bard called out sharply to his vice-captain.

“Yes!”

Chantillion, already dressed in a silver armor, responded with a resolute answer. Behind him stood two knights, also in armor, and Bard addressed them.

“Knight Tsagarie. Knight Nuts. Let’s give you two some work to do as well. Bring me those large shields over there.”

“Yes, thank you for the opportunity.”

“To be able to fight alongside the general is the greatest honor.”

The two knights showed fearless smiles and followed Bard’s instructions. During their journey, there had been moments where they glimpsed each other’s personalities and martial skills. Moreover, the genuine respect that Chantillion, their lord, showed towards Bard had also influenced these two knights. With their impressive equipment and their movements, it was clear that they were skilled warriors. Bard had been amazed at the idea of using two top-notch knights as his attendants, but now he was grateful for his good fortune. With these four, they could fight.

Bard and his group left through the eastern gate on foot. To fight against the blue panthers, it would be best to weaken them with poisoned arrows and then attack with a combination of shield bearers and spear users. However, there was no poison here. If they used horses, the horses would be killed, and it would be difficult to defend while riding. The problem would arise if twenty demonic beasts attacked at once, but they had to find a way. They needed to turn the tide and go on the offensive.

They had maneuvered to a position where they could see the demonic beasts. This meant that they could be seen from both sides. One blue panther ran towards them, as if testing the waters.

Tsagarie and Nuts, who held the large shields, were ordered to focus on defense. Bard stood between the two, protecting Chantillion’s back. Both Bard and Chantillion held kite shields in their left hands. Bard drew his ancient sword while glaring at the approaching demonic beast.

“Stavros, it’s your turn.”

The ancient magical sword emitted a bluish-green phosphorescence. No, it shone brightly. However, this light could only be seen by Bard. He could feel the warm power flowing into him from the sword, invigorating him.

The demonic beast leaped and attacked Bard. Bard swung his ancient sword, striking the demonic beast’s face. The shield bearers adjusted their shields to not obstruct Bard’s movements. The ancient sword entered through the center of the demonic beast’s forehead and sliced through its throat. The demonic beast fell to the ground, convulsing, but it was clear that it had received a fatal blow. The soldiers watching from the fortress walls let out a murmur. The sight of the seemingly invincible monster being defeated in a single strike should have ignited a spark of hope in their eyes.

“Well done.”

Chantillion quietly praised. Two blue panthers immediately rushed towards them. Bard ordered the shield bearers to defend. Despite being surprised by the strength of the impact, the two knights successfully blocked the initial attacks from the demonic beasts. One demonic beast managed to slip under the shield and thrust its claws into the right leg of the knight on the right. However, the high-quality armor withstood the attack. Although the impact should have reached his body, the knight maintained his stance. Before the demonic beast could retreat, Bard’s sword struck its front leg. He didn’t manage to sever it, but he inflicted a deep wound.

“Hold it down!” Bard commanded Tsagarie on the right, while Nuts on the left warned, “Incoming!”

The blue panther on the left momentarily backed off and then leaped towards them with a running start. The demonic beast cleared the shield and landed a blow on the helmet of the knight on the left. Bard thrust his left shield upwards, deflecting the attack, allowing the demonic beast to pass over his head. In that split second, Chantillion’s sword struck the belly of the monster.The scream raised by the demonic beast indicated that his attack had a significant effect.

Chantillion quickly turned around and stood back-to-back with Bard. Bard couldn’t see what was happening, but he could sense Chantillion’s surprise. And no wonder. The sword Chantillion was currently wielding was the magical sword “Eire Shicheru” (Pale Lady) that the Argolide Duke’s family had stored. Chantillion believed that with its terrifying sharpness, he could easily cut through the demonic beast. However, when he actually struck the demonic beast with the sword, he could barely leave a scratch, let alone cut it in half. He had now realized the true horror of a demonic beast.

However, according to Bard, it was truly impressive for Chantillion to land an effective blow on the formidable enemy, the demonic beast of the blue leopard, with just one strike from a top-notch magical sword like Eire Shicheru.

Bard leaped forward and delivered a powerful blow to the back of the demonic beast that Tsagarie had restrained. Despite probably suffering significant damage to its spine, the beast attacked Bard. Bard stepped back, and Nuts quickly swung his shield to fend off the demonic beast. Then Bard stepped forward again and delivered a fatal blow to the blue leopard’s neck. Meanwhile, Chantillion could be heard fighting with the demonic beast from behind. Bard called out, “Aim for its legs, and I’ll deliver the finishing blow,” and Chantillion dutifully responded, “Understood,” and slashed at the unharmed leg of the blue leopard. At that moment, Bard turned around and shattered the momentarily still demonic beast’s head into two. Bard shouted, “Retreat!” and all three of them acknowledged his command.

The true strength of a knight can be seen not only in their advances but also in their retreats. Anyone can move forward and defeat enemies with momentum, but retreating while minimizing casualties and coordinating with allies requires training and courage.

In this regard, these four individuals, without losing their composure, steadily and securely retreated at a constant speed despite the continuous attacks from the demonic beasts. There was no doubt that they were first-class knights. Moreover, they had accomplished this feat with completely new teamwork. If a military supervisor from the royal army had been present, they would have surely exclaimed in admiration.

While the two shield bearers were restraining two blue leopards, another blue leopard jumped over them and struck Bard’s left temple with its powerful right forelimb. Bard had just knocked down a flying monkey, so he couldn’t intercept the attack. He shook his head in the opposite direction to lessen the impact, but he still took some damage. However, Bard, in his current state, didn’t flinch at all. His leather helmet, imbued with the spirit of Porpo, protected him.

Surprisingly, just after Chantillion had knocked away two flying owl monkeys, he swiftly turned around and struck the blue leopard that had delivered a blow to Bard’s forehead with his magical sword. It was an impressive display of reflexes, but it was a bad move. The sword was deflected, throwing Chantillion off balance, and he was pushed down by the blue leopard. Bard swiftly cut off the blue leopard’s head as it bit into Chantillion’s throat. He kicked away the headless body of the blue leopard and helped Chantillion up by pulling his right hand. It is the duty of a fully armored knight to assist a fallen comrade.

“Don’t strike the head. Your hand will go numb. The sword will dull or break.”

“Yes,” Chantillion replied to Bard’s words and, as he stood up, struck down the two flying owl monkeys that pounced on him. Bard promptly crushed their heads.

While all this was happening, they reached the eastern gate. Perhaps invigorated by Bard and his companions’ valiant fight, soldiers armed with spears held back the demonic beasts, allowing them to smoothly slip inside the gate. The blue leopard that had broken a spearhead and stuck its head out fell prey to the ancient sword. Once the gate closed, several logs were firmly pressed against it.

Bard drank the water offered to him and deliberately took a deep breath. Chantillion and the two shield-bearing knights followed suit, appearing exhausted. Although it had been a short time, it was a battle of such intensity that rarely occurred. Bard’s face, as he removed his helmet and drank water, was filled with a strong smile. The soldiers of the fortress gathered around, removing their armor to let the wind cool them off, passing around water and rations, and praising each other’s efforts. Some people also approached Bard. Their eyes were no longer filled with despair.

Among them was the knight who had just explained the current state of the battle to Bard. He seemed to be a knight of some rank. Bard ordered the knight to assign eight soldiers to guard the eastern gate, and called out to Chantillion and his two companions.

“Well done. You performed admirably, just as you would in Pakula. Take a break, and then we’ll head out from the western gate.”

The three of them responded with enthusiasm. However, one person raised an objection.

“General, weren’t you supposed to teach us how to fight?”

It was the knight who had explained the battle situation. His name was Ray Kobak. (t/n: レイ・コバク rei kobaku)

“Who among you fights alongside Knight Ray Kobak?”

Many soldiers responded to Bard’s loud voice. There were enough of them to fight. Five out of the ten blue panthers were still alive and moving. The seven owl monkeys were all injured, but still alive.

To ensure safety, only soldiers wearing full armor were sent out. They were divided into groups of three, with one person wielding a spear and the other two carrying shields and one-handed swords. Six groups were quickly formed. Bard gave instructions from the top of the castle wall, having two groups face off against one blue panther each. The owl monkeys just needed to be driven away. After all, once the blue panthers were defeated, they were no longer a threat.

“Don’t panic! Even demonic beasts are not invincible. They may not be wounded with a single blow, but all you need to do is strike them ten times. Focus your attacks on their necks and take away their lives.”

Since it was impossible to attack the same spot repeatedly, even ten times the number of strikes wouldn’t be enough to defeat them. However, if they continued to attack, it would definitely have an effect. As the soldiers realized this, their morale gradually rose.

There were some dangerous moments, but they managed to eliminate all the blue panthers without losing a single person. If they had been facing larger blue panthers like the ones they fought in the residential area of Jameen, it wouldn’t have gone so smoothly. Fortunately, the blue panthers today were two or three sizes smaller. Chantillion and his companions, who had put on their armor again, watched the battle situation next to Bard.

“So you always fight against enemies like that in Pakula. Are all the knights in Pakula as formidable as General Bard?”

Stirred by this expression of local pride, Bard couldn’t help but respond.

“Don’t compare them to an old man like me. Not to mention Lord Galliera Tercia. The leading knight, Cedermont Expengler, surpasses me in my youth.”

He answered, causing surprise on the faces of Chantillion and his two accompanying knights. However, he would later regret making this statement.

“General! A new enemy has appeared in the north-northwest direction. Ten Shirozuno(s)!”

Upon hearing the lookout’s voice, Bard confirmed the new enemy. His decision was swift. First, he ordered Chantillion and the two accompanying knights to equip themselves with shields and lances. He immediately ordered the knights outside to enter the fortress through the eastern gate. He instructed those available to drop logs and stone blocks in front of the northern gate. He also ordered the preparation of spare lances. Then, he took a lance and shield and mounted Yueitan.

They were large Shirozuno. They were as tall as horses. Their skeletons were sturdy, and they weighed more than horses. Their initial speed wasn’t that great, but their acceleration was tremendous. They had large white hammershaped horns on their heads, which gave them their name. The charge of the Shirozuno couldn’t be stopped by infantry, even if they weren’t in their demonic beast form. To fight against Shirozuno, the mobility of horses was necessary. Bard and the other three rode out from the western gate. (t/n: Shirozuno was in katakana, prounounciation wise, shiro is white. zuno usually mean head or brain)

Yueitan ran and ran. It ran at an amazing speed. The three behind were left far behind.

Bard jumped in from the front of the leading Shirozuno, showing that he was about to engage in combat, then circled around from the left and thrust his lance deep into its neck. He let go of the lance and dodged the oncoming giant horns, running past the demonic beasts to their left rear. Bard felt the sensation of some demonic beasts falling and others being caught up in the fall, but the Shirozuno didn’t chase after him as they should have. However, thanks to the successful lance thrusts by the following three, the speed of the charge was dulled. Bard circled around to the front of the western gate. As planned, several spare lances were propped up there. Yueitan continued to run as he grabbed his lance and headed towards the north gate. Shirozuno and the others had already begun ramming their heads against the gate. If they hadn’t weakened their forces beforehand and made the footing worse by dropping logs and stones in front of the gate, it would have been broken by now.

He quickly thrust his lance into the base of one of their heads and swiftly withdrew it. Chantillion and the others followed suit. It was just a repetition of this process. And after weakening the demonic beasts, he decapitated them with his ancient swords. Those who witnessed it must have been amazed. After all, just by swinging this short axe-like sword from horseback, the head would be completely severed. For those who couldn’t see the mysterious light of this sword, it would appear to be a magical sword technique.

When he finally ended the life of the last demonic beast, a loud cheer erupted. Looking up, soldiers lined the top of the castle walls, raising their weapons towards the sky. Those without weapons raised their fists. Bard also raised his ancient sword in response. The cheers grew even louder.

That’s right. They have won.

Suddenly, Bard’s intuition caught something. In his turned gaze, he saw something moving in the distance on the rocky mountain. That presence disappeared in an instant.

7

Bard stayed at Corpus Fortress for seven days. Knight Ray Kobak and the others buried the dead, treated the injured, and procured food and medicine from Mithra. There were no more attacks from the demonic beasts. During that time, Bard taught them how to fight against the demonic beasts.

On the eighth day, after summarizing the events in a report to the Crown Prince and giving it to Knight Tsagarie and Knight Nuts, Bard and Chantillion left the fortress together.