episode_0014

Episode 14

During the season when the sun shines the longest in the year, a thousand-strong army on each side stands in a standoff across the wide plains of the Duchy of Normandy.

In the slightly overcast sky, as if a shower was about to fall, crows were quietly circling above the soldiers’ heads as if they knew what was about to happen.

-Booong…

The trumpet sound signaling the start of battle rang out, and archers with bows marched out in a ceremonial manner from behind the friendly infantry formed in square formation.

The commander of the archers next to the flag bearer shouted out an order.

“All troops cheer up!”

-This is so profitable…!

The sound of the bowstring being pulled back is heard immediately after the archers raise their bows and take aim at the enemy camp.

“Bal-ssaaah!”

-Phewing!

The sharp sound of arrows slicing through the air filled the battlefield, and soon a rain of arrows fell from the sky on the enemy camp.

-Eww!

-Ahhhh!

Most of the arrows missed or were blocked by shields, but a few unlucky or careless soldiers were hit by arrows and fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

Immediately, archers with bows in hand from the opposing camp stepped out of their squares, and on both wings, mounted knights formed up and began to advance slowly.

For a while, the archers exchanged arrows, and the knights on both wings slowly began to close the distance.

“Norman Knights, protect both wings!”

The father, wearing a splendid coat of arms decorated with the emblem of the Duke of Normandy, a lion standing on two legs with a sword in his mouth, gave orders to the mounted chevaliers.

-Dudududu…!

The chevaliers of the Duke of Normandy, wearing coats of arms emblazoned on them and mounted on horses clad in colorful tunics, formed up in formation at their father’s command and began to protect the wings of the infantry.

My heart was beating fast as I watched this romantic scene from behind.

The infantry on both sides began to slowly advance and close in, and soon the order to attack was given by the cavalry on both wings.

“Charge!”

-Kugugugugugu…

The sight of hundreds of warhorses charging and shaking the ground looked like colorful waves engulfing the plains.

-Bang!

-Woojijik!

A moment later, the cavalry on both wings clashed with their lances aimed at each other, and the sound of lances breaking, the cracking sound of impact, and the neighing of horses filled the battlefield.

The most notable of them all was, of course, my father, the sword master who was destroying the enemy’s Chevaliers on the right front line.

When Father threw Lance into the enemy camp, the point of impact of the lance exploded as if it had been hit by a missile, and the enemy and their horses caught in the explosion flew high into the sky.

It was the first time I saw a person fly so high.

My father, who did not withdraw his lance but drew his sword, swung his sword and the enemies were swept away like fallen leaves in the wind.

“You’re a real monster.”

In an instant, the enemy’s right wing was destroyed, and my father and the Chevaliers circled the battlefield to support the left wing, completely destroying the enemy’s cavalry.

All that’s left for the enemy are archers and infantry.

For an army of infantry without cavalry, all that remains is one-sided massacre.

After that, the friendly hammer-type cavalry supported the anvil-type infantry, and with the beautiful hammer and anvil tactics, they completely destroyed the enemy forces.

Now all that remained was to pursue the defeated troops.

“Lead the Leon Reserve Force and pursue the defeated soldiers. Be careful not to pursue them too deeply, as it is dangerous. ”

My father took off his helmet and gave me an order with an expression that showed no signs of fatigue.

“I will keep that in mind, Father.”

#

Tracking down the scattered remnants was easier and more difficult than expected.

While there were enemies who surrendered obediently and became prisoners, there were also enemies who gritted their teeth and resisted until the end.

If we left the defeated soldiers alone, they would plunder the villagers, so I did my best to track them down.

After playing hide and seek all day, I was getting tired and while chasing the defeated soldiers without thinking, I found myself deep in the forest.

I remembered my father’s words that if I pursued too deeply I might end up in danger, so I decided not to pursue any further.

“I think we’ve gotten in too deep, so let’s withdraw for today.”

“Who cares?”

-Pheet…Kwaaang!

There was an explosion and flames shooting up where I was, and the horse I was riding fell down without making a sound.

“Ugh…!”

The shock of the explosion causes my head to ring and a ‘beep’ sound, as if from a broken microphone, is heard in my ears.

It was a confusing situation, but I looked around as calmly as possible.

But all I could see were the cold corpses of the reserve force, scattered in the explosion.

“Nice to meet you, Leon Norman. I thought my neck was going to snap while waiting for you.”

I barely managed to raise my head and looked in the direction where the voice was coming from. A pale middle-aged man with silver hair and blue eyes was licking his lips and smiling in satisfaction.

“…Who are you?”

“It’s a little embarrassing to brag, but he is the Duke of Baston, the only wizard in the Frankish Kingdom, or even among living humans, who has reached the 8th rank through magic.”

“Why would such a great person interfere in the fight between the Duke of Normandy and the Count of Brigne?”

“Umm…I don’t need to answer in detail…No, no, since you became involved between Jinawa and Lyon, I guess I can tell you this much.”

“…”

The Duke of Baston, who looked slightly unstable, continued to mutter to himself.

‘They say there are quite a few magicians who suffer from mental illness.’

“Your father killed my father. Isn’t that right? If you say it like that, it’s as if you were the real son of Negarion. In other words, Hamarion de Normand killed my father, the previous master of the Duke of Baston? ”

‘This is fucked.’

As soon as I heard the Duke of Baston muttering with his sparkling blue eyes, I unconsciously closed my eyes in a dizzying feeling.

##

“Leon is a little late…”

“Isn’t it because you’re thinking of the people of Yeongji that you’re chasing down the defeated soldiers?”

The Duke of Norman and the Knight Commander, who were clearing the battlefield and dealing with the captured prisoners, were talking about Leon’s delayed return.

A crow flew down from the sky near Lyon-de-Normand, dropped something, and circled around him again.

The Duke of Normandy, who had noticed the fallen object, began to harden his expression.

“…I have to stop by somewhere for a moment, so you wait here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The loyal knight commander simply followed the Duke’s orders, not caring about the true nature of the object that had hardened the Duke’s expression.

After finishing his speech, the peacock started to run in the direction where the crow had disappeared, as if he was flying away without even riding his steed.

###

“So I asked him then…’How did you get to the 7th rank in such a short time?’, but he didn’t answer…”

“…”

Clemente Baston, this man is a madman.

I wish I could shut that mouth that keeps talking, but unfortunately I don’t have the strength to do that.

He just kept talking, regardless of whether I showed any interest or not.

Even if you were dropped on a deserted island alone, wouldn’t you still be able to talk?

“To be honest, I was a little grateful to Lyon at that time, a little sense of liberation from being away from my father? But that wasn’t what I wanted, that day at Lyon-de-Normand completely changed my perfect scenario.”

“The role of killing my father was mine, but my friend left the role, so the main character and genre of my story changed. So I had no choice but to write a new script to finish this story completely. ”

What is certain is that this man was acquainted with my father in the past, and rather than hating Lyon-de-Normand, his father’s enemy, and thinking of revenge, it feels like he is seeking revenge by interfering with his story?

The more I listen to him, the more I feel like he’s not in his right mind.

“I was wondering what to do, and then this great opportunity came up, but I still don’t know how to use you… Ah, here we go.”

-Bang!

My father fell from the gloomy sky like a meteor.

The surroundings were devastated by the impact, but my father pushed away all the dust around him with one stomp of his foot.

“Oh, Lyon! Long time no see!”

“…Where is Leon?”

“Oh my… I feel a little sad that I didn’t even say hello to my long-lost friend and started looking for my adopted son.”

“…”

“Ah, now I see. Judging by your expression, you value Leon quite a bit? No, not really. I don’t know, but it’s probably one of the two. Anyway, the important thing is that I have this child in my hands. ”

“…What do you want?”

-Tick…tidikk…thuduk…!

Small water droplets began to fall from the darkened sky, and soon it began to rain.

My father, who had been glaring at the Duke of Baston with a hardened face while being hit by the falling raindrops, shook off his ominous air and asked him.

“It’s really touching, how could Lyon-de-Normand, who seemed so bloodless and tearless, be so restless and at a loss!”

“Tell me what you want, Clemente Baston.”

“…Father’s revenge?”

“What’s the price?”

“Your death or the life of your precious family?”

-Kuuuk…

“Hoo…”

I closed my eyes, catching my breath. My father’s hand tightened, then quickly loosened.

My father, who had been thinking about something for a moment while getting rained on, soon looked at me with warm eyes and opened his mouth.

“Do it with my life.”