kscans

T/n: the original word is tripartite but look weird to me. also ‘trination joint forces’ or ‘trination allied forces’?

1

When Bard was appointed as the commander of the TriNation Joint Forces, his first action was to meet with Mados Arkeios, the frontier lord of Gadusha. At that time, Mados was forty-nine years old, a sturdy man with distinctive curly black hair and deep-set black eyes.

“General Bard. Or rather, the ‘Knight of the People’. I’ve finally had the chance to meet you. My father Dusan always wanted to meet you but never had the chance,” Mados said, gripping Bard’s hands with a firm strength. They exchanged pleasantries, discussing topics such as Count Linz, and Bard was left with a deep impression that Mados was a trustworthy man. They discussed preparations for the battle against the demonic beasts. Based on their discussions, Mados, utilizing his position as a frontier lord and privy councilor, managed to secure support from the royal palace.

Eighteen magic swords. Five magic spears. Bows and a large number of arrows. A small amount of poison. Medicines. Food. And funds.

Although they couldn’t secure the desired number of troops, it couldn’t be helped. The wagons loaded with these supplies, protected by the frontier lord’s guards, headed to Lordvan Castle ahead of Bard. The frontier lord himself stayed in the royal capital. He had his own tasks to handle there.

Bard busied himself with preparations at the royal palace. He gathered maps and documents detailing the conditions of various countries. Information about demi-humans, especially records about Manuno. The palace officials were extremely competent as long as clear orders were given, satisfying Bard. Jurchaga, as usual, demonstrated his remarkable geographical understanding, aiding Bard as he rushed around the palace. Karz, who could read even old scripts and decorative letters and remembered well what was written where, proved to be a great asset.

With the help of the knowledgeable medical scholar Zenospinen, they quickly refined the poison. The royal palace’s herb garden had a considerable amount of Zumolbas, which they used to refine the poison. Spinen brought along a young boy who lived with him, named Torika. He had introduced him as his grandson when they met before, but it turned out that Torika was an orphan he had taken in.

There were also tasks for Bard outside the palace. He went to the engineer Auro and arranged for ten improved crossbows to be made. They could only manage to make two hundred arrows.

Desperate for more manpower, Bard inquired about the treatment of the Toad family’s knights. The count, who was the main culprit in the attempted assassination of the crown prince, was sentenced to death. However, the execution was postponed, and he was pardoned in conjunction with the coronation, and he was to live quietly in his reduced fief. The two knights who were the actual perpetrators and the nine foot soldiers who shot the crossbows were sentenced to death. However, the foot soldiers were to be commuted to long-term hard labor in conjunction with the coronation. When asked why the two knights were not commuted, it was said that they strongly desired the death penalty. Bard negotiated with the department in charge and persuaded them directly. If they were going to die anyway, they should die protecting the people and add honor to the Toad family, Bard argued. The two were moved by Bard’s words and swore to give their lives under Bard. Their punishment was changed to military service, but the officer in charge said it would be troublesome if they were taken out before the pardon was issued. Bard, in anger, shouted, “Put a doll in their place!” and forcibly took the two with him.

When Chantillion heard about Bard’s struggle to secure forces, he lent one of his close knights, Natz Cajnel, even providing him with a magic spear. Chantillion was promoted to the rank of Lower Army general and was set to deploy to the city of Casse to set up a defense line. Knight Natz was one of the knights who participated in the Corpus Fortress defense battle with Bard and Chantillion. He was a brave man of both wisdom and courage, and he was well acquainted with Bard.

Suddenly, Doriatessa arrived. She wanted to be taken to the battle against the horde of demonic beasts. Although it was supposed to be a secret, Bard wondered where she had heard about it and declined, saying she had her own job. However, she said her job of training female warriors hadn’t started yet. Apparently, there were over a hundred candidates from an initial five, as there was a sudden rush of volunteers. Princess Shernelia was soon to be married, and her protection was to be handled by Doriatessa and the female warriors she trained. When Bard shouted that her battlefield was nowhere but the palace, she seemed dejected. Remembering something, Bard praised Chantillion for his great help this time. As a token of gratitude for lending Knight Natz, Bard tried to give Doriatessa a good impression of Chantillion. Then he remembered and asked. He had heard that someone had sneaked into the harem and sung a love song a while ago, and he asked what kind of song it was. However, she replied that she had been training in the training ground at that time and hadn’t heard it.

When Bard went to Auro’s place to pick up the improved crossbows, the swordsmith Zendatta was there. He had just arrived in the royal capital. After talking with Bard for a bit, he asked if there was any work for a blacksmith in that assignment. He must have sensed something. When Bard mentioned that it was a very dangerous mission and that the king had lent him eighteen magic swords and five magic spears, Zendatta widened his eyes slightly and then bowed his head, asking Bard to take him and his apprentices along. Having skilled personnel who could maintain weapons was something Bard desperately wanted. Moreover, Zendatta was a swordsmith who could even sharpen magic swords. Gratefully accepting his offer, Bard gave him the funds to prepare the necessary items and hurried him to prepare.

About ten days passed in the blink of an eye. It was time to depart. Bard left the royal capital, seen off by only a few people. It was said that it was the custom of the Central Plains not to engage in military activities for a year after the death of the previous king. Although there were no countries that still followed this custom, it was still considered inappropriate to send Bard off on a grand scale at this time. Bard didn’t have a knight order to accompany him. After all, if word got out that a horde of demonic beasts was attacking, it would stir up public anxiety, so this was a top-secret mission.

The funeral of the former king of Wendelland had not yet been held. Julelan announced that the death of the former king was a conspiracy by Shinkai after the invasion of the Central Plains by Shinkai began, and he intended to hold the funeral after winning that war.

Soon, a priest arrived from the Mercano temple, and the coronation ceremony was held. Immediately after that, the wedding ceremony with Princess Shernelia was held. After that, three concubines were brought into King Julelan’s palace. It was a bit disappointing not to be able to see their radiant appearances, but all Bard could do now was to do what he had to do. The demonic beasts might already be attacking.

Last night, Kamler prepared a special dinner. All the dishes that came out were things Bard had never seen before, and the profound taste even made him dizzy. Without a doubt, this was a menu that this genius had prepared with exceptional effort. The main dish was a dish that was unidentifiable even from the outside. Bard could tell it was deep-fried. The knife went in smoothly. It felt a bit like a pot roast made from crushed meat or fish, but the inside was different. He put it in his mouth. It had a crisp texture. But the inside was moist and soft, and he could crush it with just the pressure of his tongue. It had a good mouthfeel. He chewed it a few times, enjoying the texture and taste. A rich, mellow flavor spread throughout his mouth. Although it felt light when he first put it in his mouth, the more he chewed, the richer the flavor became. Every part of his mouth that could taste was tingling with stimulation. The swallow was also of high quality. It was a wonderful dish. Kamler revealed the identity of the dish. It was, astonishingly, a cow’s brain. After lightly searing it, he had coated it in flour and deep-fried it. According to Kamler, cow’s brain has long been known as the “strategist’s elixir,” and it is believed to improve brain function. It must have been intended as a send-off to victory.

2

They arrived in Mithra in twelve days. The carriage was loaded with people and luggage, so it took quite a bit of time. Bard was greatly relieved that Mithra was safe. Since they had sent a fast horse ahead to announce their visit and purpose, the Viscount of Mithra was waiting for them. The Viscount of Mithra thanked Bard profusely for his help in the Corpus Fortress relief four months ago and immediately offered six of his subordinate knights. These were men who had received enough training to become knights but had not been able to do so due to economic reasons. All six had been under Bard’s tutelage in the previous battle and were said to be devoted to Bard. Moreover, this time the Viscount of Mithra lent them horses, weapons, and armor, effectively allowing them to work as knights. They were a welcome reinforcement. Bard thanked the Viscount of Mithra profusely and told the six subordinate knights as follows.

‘From now on, the battlefield they are heading to is extremely harsh. However, it is an unavoidable fight to protect the people of this town and the eastern part of the Central Plains. Fortunately, His Majesty the King has promised a substantial reward. If you achieve a feat, you can even get the funds to become a knight.’

The six of them let out a roar and were fired up. They stayed the night in Mithra and were entertained by the Viscount. They had asked about the handling of the demonic beast’s skin they had obtained in the previous battle at Corpus Fortress, so he told the Viscount to do as he pleased. It seemed to be a fortune, and the Viscount was greatly surprised. He were fed up with him wanting to hear about Bard’s heroic tales, which he had heard rumors about somewhere. Unable to refuse, he let Jurchaga tell the story, strictly ordering him to keep it modest. The gathering was lively, but Bard didn’t have the energy to keep listening and retired to his bedroom early. He later realized that Jurchaga had also been talking about things before he met Bard. He wondered where he had learned that.

3

With Jurchaga around, they hardly have to worry about being ambushed. After all, whether it’s a person or a beast, Jurchaga can spot them from a terrifyingly long distance. His ability to guide them goes without saying. The place they are currently advancing to should be new to Jurchaga. Yet, he seems to be able to accurately determine their location from the information he heard from people, and he leads the group without any danger.

“We should be able to see Tsugart Fort soon,”

As he said and they crossed the next hill, they indeed saw something that looked like a fort. Upon arrival, they confirmed that it was Tsugart Fort. It was a fort that was said to have been wiped out by an attack from something like a demonic beast, along with Zeanos Fort. They wanted to see it for sure.

The aftermath of the destruction was vivid. The door was broken and the defensive wall itself was smashed. It was a terrible sight, as if a huge siege hammer had been used on such a small fort. The bodies were hardly cleaned up. It was cruel, but in this case, it was also a blessing. From the damage, they could gather information about the enemy.

It was the work of a beast, probably a demonic beast. Bard confirmed the marks of claws and fangs from several types of beasts. Also, it seemed that the beast that broke the gate was Shirozuno or something similar. They sprinkled sand on the bodies, paid their respects, and left. They wanted to go to Zeanos Fort as well, but they decided against it as it would be a bit of a detour.

They arrived at Lordvan Castle on the thirty-sixth of October. There were only four days left until the assembly day, the fortieth.

4

The first to greet them was Seifert. It was an honor to be welcomed by the Knight Commander himself.

“General Bard! I can’t believe the day has come when I can fight under your command. Although it’s inappropriate in the midst of such events, I’m overjoyed,”

Seifert said, and next to him, Vice Commander Maitalp also said,

“Indeed, that’s right. The entire Frontier Knights Order sincerely welcomes the arrival of General Bard,”

He said, with a friendly smile on his stern face. Upon entering the commander’s room, Bard immediately confirmed the strength of the troops with Commander Seifert.

The current strength of the Frontier Knights Order is sixty-nine knights and eighty attendant knights (squires). Normally, there should be three battalions of knights. The number of people in the formation here is unique, with three people forming a small team, three small teams forming a medium team, and three medium teams forming a large team. If there are three large teams, there should be eighty-one people. But there are some vacancies, and including Seifert, there are currently sixty-nine people. However, half of the attendant knights can work as well as the knights. The rest can also use spears and bows and have undergone training for rear support. There is also plenty of stock of weapons.

The Arkeios family, that is, the vassals of the Gadusha Frontier Marquis, are nine knights and fifteen attendant knights. It may seem small for such a large family, but since the Frontier Knights Order is responsible for fighting foreign enemies, it naturally turned out this way. Most of the vassals of the Frontier Marquis are engaged in production and domestic affairs. The city owned by the Frontier Marquis is not only here, but it has a considerable number of knights in total. However, in response to the king’s request, they have sent out a large number of knights, and their cooperation is to the best of their ability without reducing this force.

On the thirty-seventh of October, the day after Bard arrived, the troops of the Goriora Empire arrived. If they had formed the troops after receiving the results of the discussions in Parzam’s royal capital and then left the imperial capital of Goriora, they would not have made it in time for this date. In other words, this unit left the imperial capital without waiting for the results of the discussions. They may have anticipated the establishment of the joint unit, or they may have intended to respond to the attack of the demonic beast even if the joint unit was not established. Either way, it shows that Goriora is taking the attack of the demonic beast seriously.

The commander is Count Arflaburne. He had heard that there was a high possibility of this. The force is all from the Fafarlen family. Thirty knights and thirty attendant knights (squire). And sixty attendant soldiers (foot soldier), all of whom are bowmen. The attendant soldiers cannot stand on the front line, but they have undergone sufficient training in archery, and all of them have skills such as weapon maintenance and injury treatment. Count Arflaburne is wearing silver armor, the knights are wearing matching burnished silver armor, the attendant knights are wearing black-based armor, and even the attendant soldiers are wearing matching white clothes with navy blue shoulder covers, hoods, and helmets. Their march is nothing short of spectacular. Arflaburne stepped forward in front of Bard, took a formal bow to his superior, and said,

“We may have our own thoughts and negotiations between countries, but we, the knights of Fafarlen, will only fight according to General Bard’s orders. Please use us to your heart’s content.”

Looking at his subordinates, Bard recognized all of them. They were all warriors who had come to explore Doriatessa and had spent several days with Bard and his group. (t/n: not sure what ‘explore Doriatessa’ mean)

“There is nothing more grateful than being able to have truly reliable allies in a difficult battle. Count, I’m glad you came. It’s a unique joy to be able to share the battlefield with the warriors of the Fafarlen family. But, I think you’ve heard, the commander is decided by the battle.”

At Bard’s words, Arflaburne laughed and said,

“Hahahaha! Let me give that presumptuous Jog Ward a good lesson. If you want, I can cut him down for you. It’s a difficult task to beat Karz, let alone think seriously about beating General Bard. If a knight thinks that, he’s crazy.”

Bard thought that while Jog was a bit crazy, what Arflaburne said was also a bit strange.

5

Jog Ward arrived with the Gaineria forces on the thirty-ninth of October. Gaineria’s sphere of influence extends right up to the vicinity of Lordvan Castle, so it’s fair to say that this area is Jog’s backyard, so it’s no coincidence that he appeared exactly on the day before the assembly day. The force that Gaineria sent out was twenty-four people from the Fifth Knights Order, twenty-four people from the Sixth Knights Order, twenty-four people from the Seventh Knights Order, and eighteen non-combatant attendant soldiers. This is all but the Eighth Knights Order that can be sent out, and it is extraordinary in terms of national power. It shows how urgent the issue of protecting this region from the demonic beast is for Gaineria. Even so, this country has traditionally not shown weakness or sought cooperation from other countries in such cases. The establishment of this joint army is a surprising event for those who know history.

And the arrival of the Gaineria army means that the time for Bard and Jog’s showdown has come. Bard went out of the castle to greet the Gaineria army, but as soon as Jog saw Bard, his eyes sparkled and he glared at him. In response to Bard’s proposal to rest for a night and duel the next day, Jog Ward said,

“No. Now. Let’s do it right now, you old fart. There’s no point in living another day.”

6

“Coliiiiin! Bring me my armor. Bring me my armor and sword!”

Jog shouted without looking back.

“Got it!”

A knight who responded loudly gave orders to the attendant soldiers. That’s Colin Kruizer, Jog Ward’s aide. Bard told Seifert, who was next to him, to ask Count Arflaburne to be the witness. Then he looked for Jurchaga with his eyes. He was there. He had run into the castle gate even though he hadn’t been ordered yet. He’s a man with good intuition.

Even before Seifert called him, Count Arflaburne came out of the castle. He nodded at Seifert’s request and stepped forward in front of Jog and said,

“So you are Lord Jog Ward. I am Count Arflaburne Fafarlen of Tilgeri, the person in charge of the military staff of the Goriora dispatch army. I will be the witness to this duel, is that okay?”

Without even glancing at Arflaburne, Jog continued to glare at Bard with his intense eyes, responding with a simple “Yes.” Colin and his squire brought Jog’s armor and began to dress him. Even though Arflaburne suggested moving to the castle’s arena, Jog insisted on staying where they were. When asked about the rules of the duel, the method of determining the winner, and the rights of the victor, Jog simply replied, “Hit your opponent with your weapon of choice, and the loser obeys the winner. That’s all.” He never took his eyes off Bard, as if fearing he would disappear the moment he looked away.

By the time Jog was almost fully armored, Jurchaga appeared, dragging Yueitan along. Following them were Knights Natz, Nid, and Husban, carrying Bard’s armor and sword. Colin Kruizer checked Jog’s horse’s gear and hooves, patted its neck, and whispered encouraging words to it. Then, with the help of the squire, he helped Jog mount the horse.

In front of Jog, who was now on horseback, Bard calmly removed his leather armor. He put on chainmail on his torso, waist, legs, hands, and head. Over that, he began to put on his metal armor. It was a gift from the king, adjusted by the craftsmen in a rush job. Once Bard was ready, Yueitan walked up to him and knelt down, his belly touching the ground.

A murmur of awe spread through the crowd. By this time, the knights of Parzam and Goriora who were in the castle had come out to watch the duel. The murmur was a mix of admiration for the well-trained horse and concern about whether it could carry a heavily armored knight. The one most surprised was Bard. He hadn’t expected Yueitan to do this. But he pretended not to be surprised and mounted the massive horse. Yueitan stood up smoothly with Bard still on his back, causing another wave of awe. The crowd admired Bard, who had mounted the horse without any help, and Yueitan, who had stood up so effortlessly. Jurchaga approached Yueitan, praising him and promising to feed him delicious vegetables later. Then, he securely fastened Bard’s feet to the stirrups.

And so, the two men stared at each other from horseback.

7

Jog Ward’s horse, Dust, was a magnificent black steed with a single white streak between its eyes. Jog’s armor was also entirely black. His hair, beard, and eyes were black too, making him look like a figure shrouded in darkness, as if he was absorbing all the sunlight in the area. The fierce light in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by a soft, dreamy gaze directed at Bard. With his gaze still fixed on Bard, he extended his right hand backward. Colin Kruizer, with the help of a squire, brought Jog’s sword. As Jog gripped the hilt, they both drew their swords. The long, dark blade emerged from its sheath. The knights of Goriora watched with tense eyes as the massive chunk of steel was revealed. When the sword was fully unsheathed, the tip hit the ground with a thud. It was unimaginably long. Jog lifted the heavy sword with one hand, adjusted its trajectory with his left hand, and rested it on his right shoulder.

In contrast, Yueitan was a slightly grayish-white horse. Bard wore armor adorned with small black silver plates on a navy blue base. The kingdom’s emblem was emblazoned on his left chest, indicating that this was a suit of armor only allowed for the general. Jurchaga and Knight Nid presented Bard’s sword from the left. Bard received it over Yueitan’s neck. As they both drew their swords, a burnished silver blade emerged. Some people gasped out loud in surprise. It was a sword as long as Jog Ward’s. It was found in the palace armory. It was about the same length as Jog’s black sword, perhaps a little longer. However, while Jog’s sword was wide from base to tip, Bard’s sword was not as wide and got narrower towards the tip. Instead, it was thicker than Jog’s sword.

Whether it was Jog’s sword or Bard’s, such long and heavy swords are usually not used on horseback. They are used to knock down knights on horseback. With such a massive size, it’s impossible to swing them around with sheer strength. However, this common sense doesn’t apply to Jog Ward.

Jog turned his horse around, moved away from Bard, and turned back when he was about a hundred steps away. With his sword still resting on his right shoulder, he wrapped the reins around the pommel and lowered his face guard with his left hand. Bard also rested his sword on his right shoulder, tied up the excess reins, and lowered his face guard with his left hand. Both of them were using leather gauntlets instead of iron ones. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to grip these swords.

Bard had the option to fight with the ancient sword. With his current proficiency with the ancient sword, he could probably finish the fight with one blow if he could dodge Jog’s first attack. However, that would be a strategic way of fighting. This duel couldn’t be like that. If they didn’t face each other head-on and determine the winner fairly, they wouldn’t earn the trust of the entire army. Even if Jog won as a result, it would be better to give him command than to win by exploiting a weakness. Although Bard’s physical strength and agility have rejuvenated, Jog is probably superior in both. Still, Bard decided to fight this battle head-on.

Jog’s horse started running. At the exact same moment, Yueitan also started running. Jog’s eyes must have been burning like flames inside his helmet.

They ran, and ran. The two giant horses, with their extraordinary acceleration that only special horses possess, ran towards each other. The explosive hoofbeats, as if they were about to split the earth, eloquently spoke of the monstrous nature of the horses.

The two knights raised their massive swords, which had an overwhelming sense of weight. In the blink of an eye, they had each other within range. They swung their swords, which they had raised high with both hands, down on each other’s heads. The swords clashed head-on. A collision sound that seemed to shatter the heavens and the earth echoed.

8

When the thunder god Paul-Bo attempted to steal the beautiful wife of the forest god Ubanu-Dodo, Iesa-Rusa, he swung his “Thunder Hammer” at Ubanu-Dodo. At that moment, Ubanu-Dodo and Iesa-Rusa’s son, Kido, deflected it with the “Earth Sword.” The tremendous destructive force of the deflected “Thunder Hammer” gouged the earth deeply. The fissure created at that time is now known as the “Great Fissure,” running from Thula to the Mercano Temple Autonomous Region. The young Kido became the God of War, Mada-Veli.

Everyone watching recalled this myth. Jog Ward was a man capable of swinging this enormous sword for half a day. That man poured half a day’s worth of energy into a single swing. The old knight countered with a strike filled with enough spirit to match it. The two massive knights, riding giant horses, charged with all their might, and their full-on collision occurred at a single point. The resounding thunderous noise made even seasoned warriors feel like their souls were being scraped away.

Stalemate.

The two forces of destruction were evenly matched. The swords of the two giant knights fiercely competed in front of their faces. Then, both of them pulled their swords back at the same time. The two horses also took a step back. Then, they both raised their swords high and swung them down on each other’s heads. The metals clashed again, sparking and making a loud collision sound.

This sight must have been shocking to the knights watching. A two-handed greatsword is usually swung around to gain speed. If swung while riding a horse, the momentum of the horse is used to add power to the sword. It’s not a sword that can be swung around with arm strength. The strength of these two men exceeded the common sense of humans. This was something that the battle-hardened knights understood.

The second collision sent a scream of pain through Bard’s waist. His right shoulder also felt a sharp pain. Bard’s fighting spirit flared up like a flame, drowning out the pain. The fighting spirit that surged from Bard’s entire body burned the faces of the knights watching from a distance. It was Bard’s desperate struggle. Jog was superior in terms of explosive power. He was far superior in terms of endurance. To counter Jog’s attacks, even for a few blows, Bard had to rely solely on his fighting spirit.

Bard raised his sword again. His arm muscles screamed in protest. But he forcefully accelerated the sword he had raised high and swung it down on Jog’s head. Jog, on the other hand, pulled his sword back sharply to the right and swung his black sword around with a vigorous twist of his waist. The sword tip didn’t dip at all, and the sword was swung out straight to the side. It was an astonishing display of strength, something Bard couldn’t replicate. And probably, Jog Ward could do this over and over again.

Bard’s sword hit Jog’s left shoulder. Jog’s sword dug into the left side of Bard’s torso. The impact made his vision blur. But he forcefully held onto his consciousness, giving instructions to Yueitan with his foot movements. Without misunderstanding Bard’s intentions, Yueitan stepped back a few paces.

What kind of face was Jog making inside his helmet? Was he grimacing in pain? Or was he grinning at the prospect of killing his arch-nemesis?

‘Now!’

The moment Bard’s mind switched to attack, Yueitan suddenly charged forward. This time, he charged from the opposite side, meaning he was rushing with Jog and his horse on his left. Bard mustered the last of his strength to lift his great sword. His swing was meant to sweep Jog from left to right, but he no longer had the strength to swing it around. The best he could do was to use the momentum of the horse’s charge to slam his sword into his opponent.

Jog blocked Bard’s sword in a downward pressing motion. The knights watching the battle witnessed the rare sight of two great swords clashing and grinding against each other. The moment Bard thought, “This is it!” Yueitan lifted his body. Jog’s body was lifted. Jog, who was on the verge of losing his balance, stretched out and tried to push back Bard’s sword with all his weight. His waist was completely off the saddle, and he was supporting himself with the strength of his legs and thighs hooked on the stirrups.

Bard twisted his wrist and turned his sword. Jog’s sword slid along Bard’s, sparking as it went. The opponent who had tried to push back with all his might had his strength diverted. Jog completely lost his balance, and his right foot slipped from the stirrup.

Without missing a beat, Yueitan took a step back and jumped. Bard adjusted the angle of his great sword while supporting it with his whole body. The sword targeted Jog’s face. The impact born from the weight of the great sword and Yueitan’s leap exploded on Jog’s face. Jog was thrown off his horse as if he had been blown away.

After running a few steps with the momentum, Yueitan turned around and stopped. Bard no longer had the strength to launch another attack. Jog remained fallen and did not try to get up.

9

“The winner, Lord Bard Rowen!”

Arflaburne’s announcement sounded terribly distant. Knight Natz rushed over to take his sword. The tip of the sword was touching the ground, about to be dropped. Once again, Yueitan lay down, and Bard dismounted with the support of Knight Nid and Knight Husban. Jurchaga quickly removed his helmet and took off the chain coif from his head.

Bard took a ragged breath. His chest was convulsively demanding air. Sweat was pouring out, his hair was sticky, and his feet were unsteady. In this short time, his body felt as if it had lost half its weight. It was only natural. He had used up the strength that a normal person would use over several days in just an instant. All his muscles seemed to have lost their strength, and it was hard even to stand. Still, Bard commanded his legs to walk towards Jog.

“Jo, Jog!”

As if the spell had been broken, Colin Kruizer rushed to Jog. Then, he skillfully removed Jog’s helmet while he was still lying down. Jog was also drenched in sweat. Then, Jog raised his right hand and held it out. To Bard.

Bard moved his still unsteady feet forward and grabbed Jog’s hand to pull him up. That’s not to say he helped him stand up. That was impossible. With all his might, Bard could only manage to pull up Jog’s upper body.

Jurchaga offered Bard a water bottle, and Colin offered one to Jog. The two of them gulped down this life-giving dew. Sweat poured out in torrents. As the water entered their bodies, their stiff bodies finally began to move. After catching their breath for a while, Jog said to Bard.

“You monster old man.”

There was no longer any beast-like ferocity in his eyes. Jog managed to stand up on his own. He was always a remarkable man. Jog looked around at his subordinates, thrust out his fist, and declared loudly.

“Until this battle is over, the command of us…”

He took a deep breath and continued in an even louder voice.

“Bard Rowen will take it!!”

Jog’s subordinates all voiced their agreement. The two of them took off their armor on the spot. Or rather, they were helped to take it off.

“Hey, Bard.”

Without a smile, Jog started a conversation. When Bard answered, “What is it?” Jog said,

“Give me a drink.”

Bard replied, “Oh, I’ll also let you eat as much good beef as you want.” It was later discovered that there were few cows in Gaineria, and even Jog couldn’t eat that much. So it was no wonder that Jog was licking his lips at this time. In fact, it was Bard himself who wanted the alcohol and meat. He was so exhausted that he wanted to collapse. Bard’s body was craving alcohol and meat. Bard started walking with Jog and invited Arflaburne to the drinking party. Then he gave Seifert an order. Nodding, Seifert shouted in a loud voice that echoed to all the knights of the TriNation Joint Forces.

“An order has just been issued from General Bard Rowen, the supreme commander of the TriNation Joint Forces. At tonight’s dinner, a bar will be opened, and a drink will be provided to everyone!”

Of course, the “drink” in this case is not the diluted wine that is usually served with meals. It’s a full cup of distilled liquor with plenty of alcohol. Needless to say, a big cheer went up from everyone.

By the gate, the swordsmith Zendatta was standing. Zendatta caught Colin Kruizer and instructed,

“Bring General Jog Ward’s sword here.”

“Eh? Who are you?”

“I am the swordsmith directly under General Bard. I perceive that to be General Jog’s main weapon. It must have been severely damaged in the duel just now. It needs to be sharpened immediately. Please bring it here.”

“Eh? No. Isn’t General Bard’s sword first?”

“General Bard’s sword can wait. First is General Jog’s sword. Now, hurry.”

“Oh, okay.”

With a slightly happy expression, Colin Kruizer ordered his servants to take the sword to the blacksmith’s shop. The reason Zendatta said Bard’s sword could wait was because he knew Bard wouldn’t use it anymore, but there was no need to say that out loud. When he looked back, he saw Jurchaga leading Yueitan. Thinking about it, the real hero of the day was this horse. For Bard, who was inferior to Jog in terms of muscle strength and speed, and had no comparison in terms of endurance, the only thing he thought he was superior in was his horse. The size and strength of Yueitan’s body. And his cleverness and speed in understanding and acting on Bard’s intentions. Without these, there would have been no victory.

At Bard’s words to feed Yueitan plenty of good food, Jurchaga winked in response.