episode_0044

Excluding the powerful technique of Soe-srang that can defeat knights by piercing them with the fervor and wishes of comrades,

the widely known method for raiding knights is generally as follows.

Firstly, if the knight is mounted on a horse, it begins with pulling them down from it.

Digging the ground to break the horse’s legs, having a dozen spear soldiers create a wall to collectively stab, or even grabbing and pulling them down by hand is acceptable. Without completing this step, the next phase cannot be discussed.

It is extremely arrogant to discuss victory against a knight solely by doing just that. Once the knight is dismounted, Phase 2 begins.

Although mobility is lost, the knight with free arms transforms into a monster on the battlefield.

Each knight has various attack patterns. There is no concise word to summarize actions like swinging wildly, throwing sand, or hurling weapons.

However, there is one commonality: they are mostly immune to slashing attacks.

Therefore, the orthodox strategy involved lengthy and cumbersome methods such as immobilizing them in a mud pit, beating them with a mace, or relentlessly stabbing the gaps in their armor with a dagger.

If one wishes to defeat them with a single blow, bringing a siege weapon and ramming it into them would suffice.

Hence, based on medieval common sense, that was not an option.

It was not an option.

“Why not?”

Marcus muttered absentmindedly.

Although he seemed to exert some force, wasn’t he wearing a chainmail that was not meant to be cut through? This is a bluff.

In truth, he did not know much about Raven.

Rather than conducting a thorough investigation, his exploits were limited to defeating bandits in a small village.

With few witnesses and somewhat exaggerated testimonies, it was difficult to filter out accurate information.

The only other useful information was that he often showed off a shining sword, but ignorance about combat was inevitable.

Clearly, this was an unexpected situation. However, he could not retreat now.

The issue of his authority was trivial. For the sake of his grand plan, he could let go of that much several times.

More importantly, obtaining Philah and the compass, everything he had planned was on the verge of collapsing.

Perhaps fleeing alone might be possible. However, a life pieced together as a mere fugitive was not worth living.

Those who valued their lives remained at the church and home. But no one would willingly give up their safety and comfort, jump into the most intense battlefield, and accept such an ending.

Furthermore, he was armed with armor, weapons, and relics kept safe at the church.

Also, numerically, he had the advantage… or so he thought.

“Do you have no intention of surrendering?”

“As if.”

There were countless variables on the battlefield, so the outcome was unknown until the fight began.

He did not come here just to surrender.

He had to stop him here to obtain the territory and the relics.

Moreover, initially, he only aimed for the compass, but now it seemed that Raven’s luminous sword would also be a valuable prize.

The inner instinct of a looter whispered about the value of that sword.

“Is that luminous sword, Raven’s?”

“Oh, you know about it. But don’t you want to introduce yourself?”

“I am Marcus. I lead the band of bandits that have taken over this city.”

“So, why are you telling me this… not because you’re not planning to let me go easily, right?”

“…You should be the stepping stone for my success.”

Marcus drew his sword. Although not as luminous as the glowing sword, the slightly shining blade indicated a powerful relic.

Instead of raising his sword against him, Raven held something in both hands.

“I was thinking the same thing.”

“What?”

“Among the free knights on the battlefield, who wouldn’t be thirsty for success.”

As Lavender finished speaking, three Solberries flew towards her face.

And if that’s the item I’m thinking of…

“Raise your shield!”

“Yes, yes?!”

-Boom! Bang!

With Marcus’s desperate shout, a fruit containing the power of destruction exploded fiercely, deafening everyone in the vicinity.

*****

Realizing that words were not getting through, I decided to take action.

It was a tactic that could only be used at this moment. If the fact that Solberries were present was revealed even once, it was highly likely that the prepared enemies would retaliate.

After the dazzling fireworks had passed, dry coughs filled the air.

In the place where the dust settled, thieves were huddled in pain, groaning.

“Cough! Cough, cough!”

“They’re still alive.”

I had no hope of wiping them all out from the beginning, as they were already armed. Solberries were just to take advantage of the chaos.

I rushed towards those who were still disoriented by the smoke and light.

Although the two in front did not even react and were easily defeated, their leader, Marcus, was different.

“Where are you going!”

-Clang!

Before I could reach him, he blocked my attack with his sword.

I tried to strike with all my might, but his sword also emitted a faint light.

Come to think of it, they had cut off the plundering rights of the church ten days ago.

There must have been relics that ordinary people couldn’t even see inside. And as the leader, he would have been well-equipped.

His sword was harder than before, and as relics clashed, white flames flickered.

While I struggled with him, the knights and their followers who had followed me were not just standing around.

They were fighting the thieves coming from the opposite side. Although they were not as well-armed as the ones I was facing, they were still elite.

“Ah…!”

“Step back! First, stay calm and stop the bleeding.”

No matter how well-armed they were, their stamina was limited.

One soldier screamed as he was stabbed in the abdomen, blood staining the ground as he staggered and fell.

The soldiers who bravely charged in without the same armor were also scattered with wounds.

No, one had already fallen and was pressing his injured area with his hand.

The situation was not so good for the knights either.

I was sure they could hold out a little longer, but it wouldn’t be for long. The fact that I didn’t have any followers and the balance was disrupted seemed to have played a part.

Of course, our victory was certain as it was, mainly due to me facing the leader of the thieves alone.

But in the process, a few allies were likely to die. So, I needed to take care of my side first.

As I glanced back to assess the situation, Marcus rushed towards me again.

Was it a surprise attack aiming for a gap? I didn’t neglect my guard, so I didn’t hesitate to wield my glowing sword.

Unlike the cunning move he showed just now, his movement was straightforward. Even considering the narrow passage, his movement was predictable.

In a battle where caution was paramount, it was strange, but there was no reason to let go of a given opportunity.

First, to disarm the most troublesome weapon, I swung my glowing sword towards his arm.

The relic imbued with the most sacred power struck his arm that didn’t change its trajectory.

“Aaah!”

-Crash!

The metal twisted, and a chilling sound reverberated. Although it was a relic armor, Marcus couldn’t completely remove it, but his arm, which was also twisted, was clearly unusable for some time.

At the same time, his sword clattered to the ground. The once shining sword was now dark, slightly bent from the previous skirmish.

In battles, such injuries often led to defeat. Especially when one had lost their weapon as well.

But Marcus’ expression was far from showing any concern.

There was no distortion of pain or fear of impending defeat in his eyes visible through the helmet. Marcus spoke in a rough voice.

“I get it. If I can take you down here, I win.”

“What did you say?”

“If I can leave here with just you defeated, that’s a victory.”

-Tick!

And then, Marcus, with his remaining unharmed arm, pulled something out.

I knew what that sound meant. Even if I was cornered, surely not.

“Sacred Solbongul…!”

Marcus grabbed me with an unknown force.

Whether it was a final act of defiance, he didn’t move even when I tried to kick him away.

While I wouldn’t die, the explosion was enough to render the battle impossible to continue. It was a fact that applied to both the opponent and myself.

And in this place still filled with enemies, it was no different from death.

Marcus weighed his significant injury against the unexpected victory. It was a crazy move to put his life on the line.

Prepared for any shrapnel flying through the gap in the helmet, I tightly closed my eyes. Soon, a loud noise and dust filled the air.

The burning heat was felt in my chest. Along with an immense impact hitting my abdomen, I was thrown backward.

“Kraaaah!”

“…?”

No, it wasn’t me who was thrown back.

It was Marcus who was getting farther away. He was thrown back, knocking down subordinates like bowling pins before stopping.

What’s going on?

Confusion.

*****

Licia listened carefully to Raven’s words.

Without leaving his tent, she occasionally treated the wounds of critically injured individuals brought to the camp from afar.

In a world where healing magic required close proximity and physical contact, the idea of healing from a distance was considered impossible.

Although clerics somehow believed that healing magic listened well, they never thought that someone was casting magic.

Rather than thinking that a saint was present, it was more plausible to think that they were feeling unusually good today.

If a young girl were seen entering the tent alone, the stigma of being a human race would be stamped on her, so the fact that no one could see her using magic was also beneficial.

Of course, the red line at that time meant a whip on the body for violating strict military laws and acting recklessly.

Without any interference, she dedicated herself to healing magic for half a day.

As the sun began to set and both sides of the siege accumulated fatigue, it was approaching a stalemate.

“…Huh?”

Licia felt a strange unfamiliarity.

The feeling that her cast magic had been cut off. She had given Raven a protective necklace with a protective spell.

“If that’s been cut off, could it be…?”

The girl immediately got up and went outside the tent.