episode_0128

Episode 128

There are no requirements. I just plan to achieve what I want by force.

After one round of shooting, the men drew their swords but had no intention of approaching.

I plan to thoroughly reduce their numbers and fight. Philgret also seemed to have noticed this and ordered the knights to charge.

William shouted, ready to jump out of the carriage at any moment.

“I will join too!”

“No, Baron, please stay inside the carriage!”

William nodded at Philgret’s firm answer.

When the knights jump in, it becomes a melee. In a situation where there is a hectic fight, there is a high possibility that they will first try to seize the target inside the carriage. Needless to say, that goal is me.

William also seemed to realize this and silently drew his sword.

Strangers also went into battle against the charging knights and Laurentian soldiers. Their weapons appeared to be of a uniform uniform. However, it was not a style commonly seen in Lustier.

I reached into my arms and grabbed the horn.

Upon hearing this sound, Rika and the mercenaries would immediately come here using the Earth Dragon’s Gauntlet. Then you can definitely get out of this situation.

That is also one way. If Rika and the Black Water Mercenaries join forces, these people will be able to be suppressed without difficulty. After that, it could be said that the safest move was to leave the Laurentian region together.

However, they do not know anything about the enemy’s identity and targets.

Conversely, the opponent learns about my trump card, Rika. After understanding the effect of the Earth Dragon’s Gauntlet and the size of the troops, they may come up with a number that can be sure to annihilate them.

In that case, it would be right to believe in the power of knights here.

I left the horn where it was. Meanwhile, a bloody battle was in full swing outside the carriage.

Pilgret cut down his enemies in a truly demon-like form. The knights were also struggling. The number of enemies, which had been twice as large, was gradually decreasing.

“Aaagh!”

Someone opened the carriage door. It was a man with strange eyes. He tried to push himself into the carriage.

There were only women and children in the carriage. William was caught off guard by that fact and suddenly stabbed him with a hidden sword.

I turned my head to see the terrible sight. Tina began to scream like a siren.

Regardless of Tina’s shattered mentality, the fight outside seemed to be gaining some momentum. Knights covered in dirt and blood were driving out the enemies.

They also seemed to realize that the situation was unfavorable and began to retreat to the field. I shouted loudly to the Laurentian soldiers who were trying to chase me.

“Don’t chase me! Develop your posture first!”

I don’t know how many more enemies there are. Pursuing hastily is suicidal. I asked Pilgret, who was drinking water from his canteen.

“What is your current status?”

“There is no loss of life on our side. But the loss of speech is fatal. I don’t know if that was the goal from the beginning.”

“…I got hit.”

The horses seemed to be dead or, even if alive, in no condition to run. The driver who was driving the carriage also appeared to have been killed by the first shot.

Pilgret unmasked the dead raiders. Large facial features, light colored eyes and hair color. It was the appearance of an imperial person.

“Imperialist… seems to be a soldier too.”

Soldier of the Empire…

In the novel, the Kingdom of Lustier was half-overtaken by the Empire. And that too from the very beginning.

The reason I couldn’t do that here is because I have been suppressing Carmel’s activities. But of course, that didn’t mean their existence disappeared.

This is my mistake. I had to realize more clearly that not only the Aristocracy and Carmel, but also the Empire were my enemies.

I can’t believe I wasted my greatest weapon, knowing the setting and development of the novel in advance, like this…!

But I’m glad I realized it now.

Why are the soldiers of the empire proudly active in Laurentia? What is the purpose of targeting the princess?

It pointed to only one thing.

treason. Laurentia is dreaming of rebellion by borrowing the power of the empire.

There was no need to consider things like rearranging from the beginning. Because the plan was to overthrow the Lustier Kingdom itself.

‘…Carmel…’

Carmel is deeply involved in this rebellion. It’s not surprising. Because both in the novel and here, Carmel only wanted to destroy this country.

As the queen of a failing country, she instigates its destruction and cruelly humiliates Princess Sera, the last member of the Lustier royal family. That was Carmel as the villainess in the novel.

I may have been overlooking the essence of Carmel these days. I could feel my nails digging into my palms as my fists were clenched.

Philgret asked with a tired face.

“…What do you want to do?”

Since you have already lost your horse, it is impossible to escape Laurentia on foot.

I glanced at Tina Laurencia, who was in a panic, and said,

“Let’s go to Senain Castle.”

To where Tina’s mother, Luna Laurencia, is waiting.

* * *

The route to cross the river, bypassing the blown-up bridge, was quite difficult. No, actually the road was ordinary. The reason I felt that way was because I had to stay tense the whole time while preparing for the attack with my exhausted body.

The towering Senain Castle seemed within reach at any moment, but no matter how much I walked, I couldn’t seem to get any closer. Still, I had no choice but to walk.

“Ugh… My legs hurt… Why am I like this… ”

Tina Laurencia looked extremely exhausted both physically and mentally. I’ve probably never walked this long before.

Suddenly, I saw a village nearby with a few houses gathered together. It was too small a place to even be called a village.

The Laurentians tried to conscript us by force, but I stopped them and paid them properly. The villagers took out everything they had and treated us to gold coins that they had never seen before.

Even while resting, I could not let down my guard against my surroundings. Pilgret coordinated with Laurentian soldiers to set up a perimeter.

The time when the sun slowly sets. We were sitting around a rough tree, watching the stew boil over the campfire. It was a stew with all kinds of ingredients, including ham and vegetables.

Tina Laurencia, who tasted it, completely frowned.

“It’s not delicious… How can the food eaten by low-income people be so bad…”

William put down the bowl he was eating for a moment and walked in front of Tina. Tina seemed embarrassed by William who stopped in front of her.

“What, what…? Also, trying to find fault with my words… Ouch!”

William knelt in front of Tina and took off her shoes. Tina’s delicate feet were so swollen that they bled.

“Oh, it hurts… I told you it hurts!”

Ignoring Tina’s whining, William tore his shirt lengthwise. And with that, he wrapped and tied Tina’s injured foot.

“It will be a bit of a walk.”

“Who do you think will appreciate this? Wow, pretending to be a gentleman despite being a fake nobleman…”

“Don’t be mistaken. I’m just worried that I’ll be late because of you.”

Tina glared at William and started eating the stew she said was tasteless. You do cute things.

But Tina is Laurencia. The one who brought about this current situation is none other than Laurencia.

I don’t know how aware Tina herself is of that fact, but…

It was then. A loud bell rang at the entrance of the village.

Dang, ding, ding, ding, ding!

It is a sound coming from the bell tower that has set up a perimeter. It was set to sound when something approaches.

Five times out loud. It was a sign that a large number of people were approaching.

Is it an enemy attack? Just as I was thinking about that and preparing, a large number of people on horseback stormed into the small village. Dust flew into the stew that had just been made.

The Laurentian emblem flutters from the flag held upright. A large white horse approached among the separated people. And from above, a person jumped down in front of us.

“…Luna Laurencia…”

It’s the same as what I saw last time at the palace. A face that is extremely cold. But my impression now is a little different from then.

“Tina, Tina!”

“Uh, mother! Ugh…!”

When Luna came into view, Luna ran towards her, leaving everyone else aside.

“I’m so glad you’re safe, I’m so glad you’re safe…!”

The face of the woman who hugged her daughter with two trembling arms as if she were about to break down was not Laurencia’s, but just a mother’s.

“It’s been a long time, Luna Laurencia.”

“Princess Sera…”

Luna separated from Tina for a moment and knelt down on one knee in front of me. It was an extremely polite attitude.

“I rushed over after hearing the news that the Hughes Bridge had been blown up. When he saw Tina’s destroyed carriage there, he realized that the situation was dangerous. I am so glad that the princess is safe.”

“It was imperial soldiers who attacked us.”

Luna’s shoulders are shaking. I guess you can guess it.

“Does this mean Laurencia as a whole? You know better what it means to point a blade at the princess of this country, especially the blade of the empire.”

Luna remained in heavy silence for a moment. Then he spoke in a clear voice.

“I never knew anything about this incident. I guess this is definitely the work of my brother, Elrond Laurencia.”