episode_0138

The scenery flashed by in the corner of the Count of Ravenna’s vision.

A slightly unpleasant smell of coal tickled my nose, and the clattering of the horse’s hooves with each step crashed like waves in my ears.

It was the first feeling of liberation I felt in a long time.

Even though it was a battlefield, I didn’t feel any troublesome thoughts even for a moment. What took its place was a trivial thought from the good old days.

Are we instinctively recalling the past to trace the fading past as we grow older?

Maybe it was because, as memories tend to do, the things we didn’t like were forgotten and glorified. Since most of the people worth asking about were already in the coffin, it was difficult to find out any further information.

‘It’s been here for a long time.’

When the Count thought about such things, he realized how much time had passed and thought about it.

While I was enjoying that delicate feeling, a voice came through the wind blowing in my ears.

“Your Excellency the Count, is it okay? Even now, it would be better to go back with a few escorts… … .”

“I am ready, so let’s just go ahead.”

Although the knight who spoke reluctantly complied with the firm answer, he could not hide his uneasiness.

Nobility is essentially a fixed totem. I don’t think things will work properly without me, and unless I’m in a situation where I’m going to the end together, it’s normal for me to sit in the background and scratch my stomach.

The long history of war has often told stories about foolish people who, unable to overcome their desire for honor, set up to fight and were captured.

Of course, the Count, who was a well-educated intellectual, also knew this fact well.

However, there was a reason why he climbed onto the horse himself, as it was nice to be told that he was behaving inappropriately for his age in his later years.

It is said that the word noble originally meant a group with the power to protect the people in the past. It was a time when nobles were not great because they were noble, but honorable because they were great.

Although that duty gradually shifted to knights and wizards, some still maintained the tradition and wielded appropriate force.

The count once belonged to that exceptional category. There was a time when I was a passionate person who ran around the battlefield.

That’s why it wasn’t that unfamiliar to me to ride out like this all the time. Anyway, it was something I did a lot when I was younger.

Of course, the reason was not only that I wanted to run through a battlefield that might be my last.

“There is no reason to go in person, is there?”

“No, I have a good reason. There is something I need to check myself.”

his own son. Perhaps the only blood relative left in this world.

I did some research this winter about an article called Raven. From his life to the present, I searched every path I could find.

And looking at it comprehensively, from as objective a point of view as possible.

He was a human being who could be described as ‘he goes around saying a little strange things, but other than that he is a good person.’

He grew up quite well, considering he grew up without a guardian. Considering the situation in the first place, it was almost a miracle that his mind was so distorted that he didn’t do anything like a bully.

As if someone had intervened.

“Isn’t the work of people so unknown?”

“Yes?”

“No, I’m just talking to myself, don’t worry about it.”

The reason he sent Raven alive a long time ago was out of pity and also to avoid directly killing someone with whom he was half blood related.

More than anything, there was something I was curious about.

‘Did God really give me this fate?’

There is no problem with the seeds, as illegitimate children pop up all the time. I’ve remarried three times, so I didn’t think I’d be this lucky.

If so, perhaps there was intervention from someone higher up.

Why doesn’t Europa send me a knowledgeable heir?

If it is an arrangement that cannot be understood by mere humans, then how big a picture is being drawn?

And unless the One in the Kingdom of Heaven has arranged something, does this mean that the family lineage is destined to be cut off here?

Nevertheless, seeing as there was only one remaining child here, it seemed like he had something else in mind.

And what can a mere human do about this? Just comply with the fate given to you.

“Are you trying to see the end yourself? If that’s the case, shouldn’t we take charge of it?”

“Of course I believe in the scriptures. But I have a personal curiosity.”

Could he kill himself? Or will she be able to defeat him and maintain her position as count?

Of course, I couldn’t keep him alive on purpose. Because it was an opportunity for reverse corruption that was tolerated by his emperor.

And this is a car that has already shown its teeth at Rudolph once. I had to kill him even if it was obvious.

but.

‘If I kill him like this.’

Since I knew enough examples, it didn’t take me long to think about it.

There is no end to the detailed division, but according to the words of the estate that lost its owner, it was largely divided into three branches.

The surrounding nobles fight on their own and then tear it apart and share it.

The lord who serves them may take it without notice and distribute it to someone appropriate.

Or, before you die, make an oath to hand it over to the church or another friendly noble.

In either case, the land he had during his lifetime could not be intact.

I could fully understand my drivers’ concerns. Because there was no successor, his death meant the end of his salary.

Nevertheless, it was their choice to serve such a lord, so is there anything wrong with it?

“Arriving soon. Concentrate.”

“It’s a swamp from here. You have to get off your horse and move.”

“Yes, eggplant.”

The Count didn’t have much to lose anyway. There was no need to pay any more attention to a land that one could not take with them when they died.

If there was anything to lose, it was Rudolph’s victory.

But here today, one of them had to die.

Stepping on the cold mud, the count made his way to the emperor’s barracks, where his son was not.

*****

The reason why morale rises just by the presence of a monarch is simple.

Since the diamond is in a box that is painted black and you can’t see the inside at all, it doesn’t make much sense to be told to protect it.

However, if you can clearly see the sparkling, bright appearance inside a container made of glass, you will feel motivated even if you had never had anything else before.

A diamond named the emperor was exactly that.

With his flag flying behind his back and his face occasionally visible, the soldiers were finally able to intuitively know what to protect.

“Check who you are fighting for! And go ahead and protect it! Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand!”

Even if such motivation could not overcome the fear of death, it was a force that helped to at least dilute it. Along with faith, it was a unique driving force.

However, unlike faith, propaganda such as ‘The Emperor is always by your side’ does not work, so the difference is that the target must be in person.

That’s why Rudolph risked his life to be here.

Of course, if I had to, I would avoid it first, but it was meaningful in that I participated anyway.

so that.

“Your Majesty, something urgent has come!”

“What is it? Did someone else escape? Leave it alone, it’s not just a one-time thing anyway… … .”

“That’s not it, enemy knights have appeared nearby! Our troops are working hard to block it now, but you never know what might happen, so please take refuge somewhere else for a while.”

“What?”

I never thought I would face a crisis in a place like this.

It wasn’t like the situation was turning unfavorable. It was just that the enemies suddenly invaded the main camp.

In the world, it was originally called a defeat, and normal armies did something called a military alert to prevent such a thing. Unless morale collapsed and they were defeated, it was like nothing would happen.

So, in a normal military.

“What about our knights? What are they doing?”

“Preventing the charge of enemy cavalry. Because the distance is a bit far, it may take some time to join.”

Okay, there are no major problems up to this point. However, it seems like you are leaving out one important fact.

As Rudolph gazed at the soldier, his eyes rolled here and there aimlessly, as if there had been an earthquake.

“What did they do until they came so close!”

“That’s… To stop a cavalry charge… … .”

“Yes, we must stop it! But if you knew that fact, why did you only hear about it later!”

There are two possibilities.

There was so much aggro from the cavalry that I couldn’t pay attention.

Or maybe they weren’t paying attention to boundaries in the first place.

Either way, it was reckless and careless. Normally, I would have had to apply a lot of pressure until a golden Maillard reaction came out, but Rudolph may have been an annoying type of person, but he was not stupid.

At least I knew that time was precious to interrogate here.

‘This army has no answer.’

Only the iron law that was ingrained in my mind remained the unchanging truth.

Because it was that kind of army. Because the cohesion is so low.

Whatever the reason, the emperor’s flight meant defeat.

They’re fighting just fine in front of me, but they come out alone from behind?

All I heard was that we were surrounded and attacked from all sides. And since the words of the surrounded army were truly miserable, isn’t it obvious what would happen next?

Soldiers who put their bodies on the line so as not to die like me.

The general tries to console the soldiers, but ends up getting killed.

Finally, the battle came to an end with such a miserable defeat, and he was unable to dream of a comeback.

Rudolph quickly drew up a scenario in his head and got up from his seat.

“… Wait a moment.”

“Your Majesty!”

“I have to see it with my own eyes.”

Yes, it was common for them to make a fuss.

There have been more than one or two times when I was in trouble because I believed that. You should at least try to check for yourself.

Just by crossing the mouths of five people, a cat becomes a tiger, and a tiger becomes a fire-breathing dragon.

It was even more dishonorable and unfair to flee in surprise at the surprise attack of a few lightly armed mercenaries.

Before anyone could say anything, Rudolph opened the tent and came out. Several of the guards hurried out after him.

“Wait, it’s still dangerous-”

-Taeng!

-grasp!

“… … !”

“… Huh?”

And before he could even finish assessing the situation, a hole was made in the forehead of the subject who was trying to tell him to wear at least light protective gear.

His eyes turned to his slowly falling body. Since there are no arrows stuck, it is magic, so is it the work of a wizard?

“A crazy person pushed a wizard to the forefront-”

And when I looked up and followed the trajectory, I finally understood the situation.

A shiny rust-colored sword I had heard of, and an armor I remember seeing once.

The Count of Ravenna’s son and wife were here.