Chapter 340

Duke Eima stood atop the half-burnt fortress, looking down at the ground. Thousandsno, tens of thousands of people were kneeling down in a line, tied up with thick rope.

What are the casualties? Eima asked.

His aide shrugged. Theyre minimal.

Do we not have the exact number yet? Eimas eyes narrowed.

Thats because theres not much to say We have only one severely wounded and a few dozen lightly injured.

Eima tilted his head in confusion. Severely wounded?

One of the soldiers fell from his horse when it threw a tantrum and he lost control

Ah, that guy. Eima chuckled and nodded. Then we barely shed blood to enter the castle.

Youre right, sir. The aide also nodded.

Its all Eima trailed off for a moment and looked behind him. ...thanks to you, Count Theord.

I did what I had to do, Theord replied. The middle-aged man bowed, displaying the perfectly centered parting of his white hair.

Ill surely report this to the Grand Duke. No one can deny that our casualties would have been greater if you hadnt opened up the castle gate in advance, Eima said.

Thank you for the gesture, Theord bitterly replied.

Of course, its only natural. Eima shook his head. But may I ask why you did so? Youre the man who has been stopping our Empires attack for at least twenty years. Even we admire your uprightness and loyalty. Such a man had a change of heart overnight?

Theords expression turned slightly grim.

Dont get me wrong, Eima quickly added. I was genuinely curious, so if you dont want to

No, its okay. Theord shook his head. Ive spent quite a lot of time on the battlefield. In fact, its not an exaggeration to say that Ive spent most of my life on the battlefield.

Eima nodded. Yes, Im well aware of it.

Just like how you can read the opponents next move if you keep on playing chess, I was able to see a bigger picture on some level after spending all that time on the battlefield. Theord looked at the sky.

Yes, there is a saying that even a dog living in the academy on the eastern continent can recite writings,[1] Eima said.

Theord, who had been compared to a dog just now, bitterly smiled.

In that regard, the current Avalon Empire is like a sinking ship.

A sinking ship Eima repeated.

The fight between the foolish princes weakened the country, and the Empire is no longer one of the three most powerful empires on the continent. It made me doubt myself. I was no longer sure why Id been protecting this land for the past twenty years. Theord shook his head. In fact, I even regretted my time on the battlefield.

Eima merely hummed in response.

I just dont want to lose my dear family that Ive spent my entire life with, Theord said.

After Theord finished speaking, Eimas expression changed slightly. I understand your reasons.

He turned his head.

Trukang.

Yes, commander. Trukang, Eimas aide, stepped forward.

Let them go, Eima commanded.

Trukangs eyes widened. Eima was clearly pointing at the tens of thousands of war prisoners that were kneeling on the ground.

But Trukang trailed off hesitantly.

Are you going to make me a liar? Eimas eyes turned cold.

N-no, sir. Ill follow your order. Trukang immediately saluted and quickly ran down.

Eima turned back to Theord and looked straight into his eyes.

Ill also keep my promise.

For a moment, Theords eyes lost focus.

Again, thank you very much, Your Grace.

To be honest, I want to recruit you. Since youve decided to abandon your country, why dont you also become my man? Eima suggested.

Umm Theord became visibly conflicted for a moment, but anyone would be in a situation like this. After all, Theord was about to start a brand new life.

Please give me a moment he told the Duke. However, Theord didnt get the chance to finish.

Co-commander! Trukang shouted as he bolted back over to them.

Theord and Eima simultaneously turned to look at him.

Whats wrong? Eima asked.

W-we received a report from our scouts, Trukang said.

Our scouts? Eima wondered. He couldnt understand the fuss.

Theyre the ones who reconnoitered the route to the mainland Avalon Empire, Trukang added.

That means Eima trailed off, narrowing his eyes.

The enemy is sending reinforcement!

Eima and Theords expressions were the polar opposites of one another: Eima was quite surprised while Theords face darkened.

Isnt it too early? Eima frowned slightly. If reinforcements are coming right now, then it means Avalon responded as soon as we made a move.

Trukang nodded. I also thought I was mistaken at first

So how big are the reinforcements? Eima asked.

Well, they Trukang hesitated for a moment then carefully answered, Its one person.

What? Eima blankly asked. He had to stop to process Trukangs words for a moment.

Theord couldnt understand what he had just heard either.

On-one man? he repeated.

Trukang bitterly noted their reactions before he finished his report.

Yes, the report says theres one person moving unbelievably quickly toward here, Einberg.

* * *

The news of Einbergs downfall was enough to make the princes and nobles move quicker. In only half a day, the grand army of one-hundred thousand soldiers gathered in front of the palace, but there was a problem.

Is this it? Icarus, who had regrouped with Joshua, Cain, and Charles, dumbfoundedly murmured. The enemies advance army consists of over two-hundred thousand soldiers, but we have less than half of their numbers.

I know. Cain nodded.

Its going to take a while for the soldiers from the Pontier Family to arrive Icarus frowned.

I know. Why did Lady Charles come here on her own? She could have at least brought her guards, Cain said.

Icarus swiftly turned her head to glare at Cain.

Are you kidding me? she shouted.

Oh Cain raised his hands. Lets not take out our anger on somebody else.

Youre the one that made me do it! Icarus growled.

Cain shrugged. Im just stating a fact.

What do you mean fact? Then are you seriously saying that Lady Charles should have led seventy thousand soldiers here?! Icarus gave Cain a death glare.

He awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Im not saying that

Its fine, Charles interrupted at the perfect time. Stop it, Icarus.

Lady Charles? Icarus turned her head to look at her.

Charles nodded. Its only natural hed raise such a question.

Dont say that. No matter how quickly you all ride your horses, it would have taken at least two weeks since you cant use the warp gate to teleport seventy thousand people. This wasnt something you could have done. Icarus finished by scowling at Cain again.

Haha If I knew Einberg was going to fall this quickly I would have at least thought of a Plan B Cain scratched his head guiltily and quickly changed the topic. By the way, where is my master?

How should I know? Icarus grumbled.

I wasnt exactly asking you Cains expression gradually turned gloomy.

Hes there, Charles answered instead.

Huh? Cain tilted his head in confusion.

There. Charles pointed.

Cain turned to look and his jaw immediately dropped.

Wait, hes with those unsalvageable messes?

Charles was pointing her finger at the front of the high palace, where numerous people had gathered. However, even in a time like this a quarrel was taking place.

Viscount Muntra! Our country is in a crisis, and youve only brought a thousand soldiers? VIscount Romeno shouted.

Its funny to hear that from you when youve only brought one thousand five hundred soldiers, Muntra scoffed.

Thats not important, Romeno snorted. You definitely had men to spare.

What? Muntra narrowed his eyes.

Do you think I wouldnt know that you decreased the number of the soldiers you were going to dispatch at the last minute after you found out about the number of my soldiers!? Romeno shouted.

Dont slander me if you cant take responsibility for your own words! Muntra yelled back at the top of his lungs.

Responsibility? Romeno growled. Well, I can definitely do that!

And let me get this straight! If we compare the overall numbers, we, the nobles on His Highness Kisers side, brought more soldiers than the nobles on His Highness Kaizens side! Muntra added, pompously raising his chin.

Even in a national crisis, meaningless disputes like such were taking place here and there. The two men that were basically in charge of this army werent exceptions.

The higher-ups still havent decided who the commander-in-chief is going to be, so what are you going to do, Marquess Arie? Marquess Demir asked.

I have zero interest in the seat, but as you can see, Im not sure how the other nobles are going to react Kekeke Marquess Arie chuckled.

Demir shrugged. I think things will easily be sorted out if you refuse the seat.

You know what? I dont want to do that. Arie grinned.

Demir had been planning to talk the matter out. He raised one of his eyebrows in annoyance.

By the way, he said, you keep talking to me like Im a friend of yours, so why dont we show

Well, there is a way. Arie pointed behind him with his chin. If the great hero over there agrees on you being the commander-in-chief, I might say yes keke.

Great hero? Demir repeated, unsure of what Arie was talking about. He turned to look and frowned slightly. That boy is Youre talking about Joshua Sander?

Kekeke, are you not sure if you can win? Arie asked provokingly.

So you mean youll willingly hand over the seat of the commander-in-chief if I earn that boys recognition? Demir summarized.

Exactly. Arie chuckled ominously. He kept his true plan hidden.

Im taking care of him even without getting my hands dirty, kekeke, Arie thought.

Of course, there was no way for Demir to know Aries scheme, so he reluctantly walked toward Joshua. The clock was ticking, after all.

The nearby nobles became quiet and watched Demir intently as he approached.

Im Marquess Demir. Ive heard a lot about you, so I also know youre skilled. But the ability to command an army and your fighting skills are completely different things, Demir told Joshua. The man himself, however, just stared back at Demir with his unreadable, deep blue eyes.

After clearing his throat, Demir continued, I heard the Pontier Family has supplied you with seventy thousand soldiers. Since you must have made some promises to the Pontiers, itll be better for you to move separately from us and back us up hmm?

Demir raised an eyebrow in annoyance. His one-sided conversation was cut short because Joshua turned away before Demir could finish speaking.

How rude Demir clenched his teeth.

Do as you wish, Joshua quietly said.

What?

I wasnt interested in leading soldiers who wont listen to my commands in the first place. Just like you said, Im going to fight this war only with the soldiers from the Pontier Family and my colleagues, Joshua declared.

As soon as Joshua finished speaking, one hundred knights wearing full armor came forward. Of course, all of those men were knights of the Auxiliary Battalion that had trickled in one by one.

I knew it Kekeke! Arie, who had been watching the whole situation, burst into laughter.F0lloww new hapters at nov/(e)l/bin/(.)com

Joshua looked straight into Demirs eyes.

Keep in mind that were going to depart first as the advanced army, not as the backup army.

You mean? Demir narrowed his eyes.

Did you forget? Joshua calmly asked.

Demir tilted his head in confusion.

Im Joshua Sanders, Joshua said.

Even the people who had been watching the conversation from the sides widened their eyes. A suffocating silence descended as they were finally reminded of some memories they hadnt recalled for a long time: Joshua was the youngest Master on the continent, the king of Reinhardt that had earned the Wilhelm, and the great hero that defeated numerous Superhumans.

These one hundred men are more than enough people for me, Joshua boldly stated. Then he immediately walked away. His knights trembled faintly, goosebumps running down their skin. Yes, that was how great their commander was.

Well depart immediately! Cazes shouted.

Yes, sir! the Auxiliary Battalion knights shouted at the top of their lungs.

1. This line came from an Korean idiom (A dog that spent three years in the school can read). It emphasizes the importance of practice.

Chapter end