Ch.15Knight Camille (1)

The Barony of Alzar, one of the few powers in the eastern Frankish Kingdom, was a fairly wealthy and powerful domain by the standards of this era.

The grain produced from the original (old) barony alone was enough to feed the people throughout the territory, and still abundant enough to export wheat and barley to the Holy Empire in the east.

Additionally, the Ruhr Barony under the Alzar Barony was an industrial zone in contact with a nearby dwarven underground kingdom, serving as a hub that produced large quantities of metal and iron rods through high-quality bituminous coal and iron ore.

So much so that the price of precious iron tools was only about 20-30% compared to the western continent’s average, allowing most farmers within the domain to use metal farming implements.

Given that even ordinary steel or wrought iron—not just precious metals—traded at high prices, it was no wonder that the Alzar Barony was called a wealthy domain.

And this unique prosperity of the barony led directly to strengthened military power and stable public security.

In the modern world, armies are merely consumption groups that consume without producing, similar to money-eating hippos.

But in this world where all kinds of dangers threatening humanity and powers vividly exist, cultivating military strength is absolutely essential. A well-developed army brings beneficial effects beyond its vast budget, one of which is stable public security.

While most of this world is close to lawless territory except for parts of cities and well-traveled roads, the barony is different despite having territory comparable to small southern nations of the western continent.

Thanks to not just outsourcing to the Adventurers’ Guild but actually dispatching domain forces for regular subjugation of hostile entities, public security is safely maintained, and simultaneously, the residents’ favorability toward their lord is considerably high.

Thus, while at a considerable level compared to other domains in the Frankish Kingdom, this world is still absolutely not safe.

The forests found everywhere are filled with mysteries originating from nature, and beasts called “magical beasts” that have gained magical powers from these influences appear.

The appearance of barbaric different races with intelligence, such as goblins, is also very common in rural areas, and furthermore, it’s not difficult to encounter groups of highway robbers or bandits.

No matter how safe it’s said to be, this is only relative. Human society hasn’t yet developed enough to suppress all these threats, as civilization in this world hasn’t advanced to that extent….

“Grrrrrr….”

“H-how….”

And that’s why it wasn’t particularly strange that these common folk, who had set out to sell their harvested produce to the domain’s capital, somehow encountered a wolf pack at a deserted path.

It was late spring. Normally, this would be the time to manage growing crops, but it’s also the season to harvest precious spring foods like peas and vegetables.

Moreover, rye sown in autumn is also harvested during this time to serve as a staple food until barley and wheat fully grow, and vegetables that grow quickly during this period can already be harvested if planted early in spring.

Therefore, selling these harvested crops was essential for the villagers to sustain themselves through summer….

Little did they know that they would encounter a pack of wild wolves after setting out from the village with their ox carts to sell crops and purchase necessities from the city.

“M-mommy….”

“It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay….”

People cowered back from the wolves’ murderous aura, especially the children who had been excited about seeing the city, now trembling in fear behind their parents.

However, not everyone retreated in fear.

This is a world where starving ferocious beasts or magical beasts appear when least expected, where goblins emerge, and where bandits and thieves are not difficult to find.

Naturally, in such a world, especially in rural areas closer to nature and thus more dangerous, humans who have survived until now wouldn’t have maintained their lives if they acted weakly.

“Get back! Children to the back!”

“Take up weapons! Take up weapons!”

“Archers! Draw your bows!”

These rural people, who could easily defeat ordinary goblins or wild dogs with just iron tools like hoes or work axes, and who learned archery to hunt birds that anyone with means had the right to hunt.

The rural folk, skilled enough to potentially defeat inexperienced soldiers, confronted the wolf pack with hidden weapons—farming tools capable of being used as weapons or hunting bows—as they faced off against the wolves.

A hoe swung with force is a deadly weapon capable of crushing and puncturing a wolf’s skull, and a hunting bow, despite the limitations of its arrowheads in penetrating hide, could aim for the eyes for a kill shot.

However, there was one problem: the wolves they were facing were not ordinary wolves.

The malice of creatures that came out to the road to kill humans despite the forest being full of easier and more abundant prey could never come from ordinary beasts.

In short, these wolves were all beasts with some kind of magical ability—magical beasts—and their numbers were at least three times that of the people on this trading journey.

Moreover, these wolves weren’t just any magical beasts.

They were the infamous magical beasts known as “Silver Wolves,” sometimes called “The Farmer’s Nightmare”—magical wolves with silver fur.

With intelligence and cunning comparable to humans, and the overwhelming ability to naturally enhance their bodies using magical power, they were magical beasts that had caused countless human casualties.

And there were at least three times more of them than these farmers.

‘…Can we win?’

Because of this, one of the militia members accompanying these villagers momentarily lost focus while contemplating the seemingly impossible odds, creating a vulnerability…

And the large, fierce Silver Wolf wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

—Kuhung!

With a howl infused with magical power that momentarily intimidated those who heard it, the wolf that acted as the pack’s leader stepped forward.

With magical power surrounding its yellowish fangs, it lunged at the exposed vulnerability, greedily attempting to tear at the defenseless neck…

And that’s when it happened.

—Fshwook!

With a sound like something small and sharp cutting through the air, a small throwing knife flew from behind them and embedded itself directly into the eye of the wolf charging at the group, penetrating through to its soft brain.

This was the worst possible outcome for creatures so focused on brutally tearing humans apart that they failed to remain vigilant of their surroundings.

Meanwhile, the people gathered around the cart finally noticed, as their tension slightly eased, that the sound of horse hooves clattering was approaching their ears.

And humans whose judgment wasn’t poor enough to miss such an opportunity couldn’t survive as mere independent farmers in this harsh world.

“They’re coming! Allies are coming!”

“Raise your hoes! Draw your axes! Don’t let them approach!”

“Aim your bows! That will keep them from charging recklessly!”

Having all participated in militia training coordinated with the domain forces, or having experienced actual coordinated battles.

The militia members skillfully commanded the people, and during this time—finally, the owner of those hoofbeats appeared.

A knight mounted on a warhorse that boasted an imposing stature and majestic appearance incomparable to the draft horses used for farming in the village.

Though only wearing a breastplate and helmet as plate armor, these people still saw this figure as a knight in heavy armor with chain mail and gambeson (quilted armor) underneath.

Especially seeing the purple energy (aura) emanating from the long sword in one hand, anyone would consider this armored figure on horseback to be a knight—humanity’s shield and spear.

“A-a knight! A knight from the domain!!”

“””Waaaaaaaaah!!!”””

“We’re saved, we’re all saved!”

And the moment a militia member recognized the surcoat bearing the domain army’s insignia and shouted in joy, the rest of the people also cheered, causing the Silver Wolves to flinch and appear intimidated.

They too possessed relatively high intelligence and excellent perception abilities, sensing that the knight before them wielded incomparably transcendent power.

“Step back, citizens. This place is dangerous, so remain vigilant.”

“…Yes, sir!”

The militia member was somewhat taken aback upon realizing that the knight’s voice was younger than expected, but what mattered most was that they had survived.

So as they gradually retreated to avoid interfering with the knight, the knight deliberately maintained an imposing appearance, perhaps out of consideration for them, while striding confidently into the U-shaped encirclement formed by the wolves.

As if displaying confidence that regardless of what those creatures might attempt, their own strength could handle it with ease.