281. Engagement Ep – Blood Battle

“Sir Arpen! What is the meaning of this? Sir Noel doesn’t have a sword on him! Why are you blocking him?”

Noel Dexter was standing on the podium with a sword in hand for his speech. The royal guard had blocked him, but Baron Albasete allowed it, and Prince Anolf approached him, questioning him.

“Entering near the king while armed is unacceptable…”

“Please remain calm, Your Highness. I’m a bit nervous myself.”

Could it be that the king truly isn’t human?

Arpen had heard from the Holy Woman to “trust that lady, Leira. The Cross Church will fully cooperate,” but he felt uneasy deep down.

What if the king is actually that Evil God? What if Noel decides to throw his sword, and blood splatters everywhere?

He wouldn’t be able to avoid the stigma of plotting a rebellion. However, Arpen was shaking off his anxiety in his own way.

– I’ve never liked that guy.

Arpen placed his hands on the prince’s shoulders and spoke.

“Your Highness, no matter what happens from now on, you must not be surprised.”

“What are you planning?”

Glancing, Arpen saw Noel turning away. Regardless of the outcome, one thing was certain.

“Your Highness, today you will become a king.”

“What? Hey! Someone, get that man out of here!”

That’s when Noel threw down his sword.

In an instant, sensing something amiss, Arpen swiftly pulled the prince back, and the wave of steel wings exploded outwards. Arpen heard the voice of a god penetrate his thoughts.

– Kill.

“Ha… Hahaha… Hahhahahaha! So it was true! Yes, I’ve never liked that guy! What are you standing there for?! Move aside!”

With a proud red beak raised, Malpas revealed his true colors. Arpen dashed toward the enormous raven, pushing aside the flabbergasted royal guards.

The great sword ignited with a blue blaze, and Arpen advanced, shredding the wings adorned not with feathers but with blades.

This is why it’s a troublesome existence.

A Swordmaster is.

The red raven, Malpas, looked down at Arpen with emotionless eyes and spread his wings wide. Then, whoosh! A hurricane of iron erupted from his eight wings.

“Gak!”

Sharp metal shards scattered. Arpen tried to hold his ground, but the location wasn’t conducive. There was no cover on the high podium, so he had to turn his steps in retreat. First, he looked after the prince.

“Your Highness, please step back.”

“W-what is happening? Where is Father…?”

“It’s a long story. Your Highness, focus immediately on the situation at hand. What must you do?”

Anolf de Klaus took a deep breath. Gathering himself for a moment, he glanced around to see citizens in a state of panic. He set his doubts aside and did what he had to do.

“Soldiers, listen! Guide the crowd to fall back! Citizens of Barnau! Fall back, fall back!!”

The sorcerer was frothing at the mouth and struggling, while the prince shouted hoarsely.

Fortunately, the citizens were focused on the podium, and once they noticed the prince’s gestures, they began to flee.

The crowd scattered in all directions. However, among them were those who pushed inward instead.

The Holy Knights and priests of Barnau Church, led by Leira, and dozens of Great Warriors who had gathered from across the kingdom, laughing heartily, “Haha! Look at that! I told you it would be worth the wait?” — it was Dehorman.

And the nobles who owed Noel a debt. The previously hesitant nobles freely offered their knights.

Arpen leaped off the podium, clutching the prince, and shouted to the first and second knight order.

“Everyone, draw your swords! We will take down that monster who has mocked us while wearing the king’s shell! With Jensen absent, command of the Second Knight Order falls to me, Arpen Albasete, the captain of the First Knight Order! Form up for battle!”

The knights quickly arranged themselves into formation.

Four hundred and fifty strong, more than any kingdom across the continent, fitting for a kingdom of knights. Their three rows surrounding the podium, weapons drawn, was a magnificent sight. Moreover,

“Deus proptius eris impus Shea! O God, forgive the wicked!”

“Dant animos militis non kkeok! Grant courage to the warriors!”

Blessings from the priests of Barnau Church were cast upon them. The church’s emblem glowed white on the courtyard floor, and the cloudy sky poured down radiant light. The armor of the Holy Knights with Lachar’s name inscribed was dazzling.

“Oh dear. I was told there would be trials… and if this goes wrong, we might not have a pot to piss in?”

On top of that, the Great Warriors, who had gone through trials, and had hunted many monstrosities also waded in. The preparations were perfect. Absolutely perfect, but…

– Caw-!

Malpas was a god born of war. Unlike Oriax, who could only summon the Minotaurs he served, or Barbatos, who was based on hunting, he was not so straightforward.

A complex art of slaughter.

That is war.

The ominous caw of the raven, Malpas’s beak trembled. Crows soared from every corner of the square, and fires ignited on the south gate walls. With a swoosh! a pile of stones came crashing down.

“What, what’s that? A catapult?”

The defensive weapon of Barnau went rogue. Stones and pots of boiling oil were dropped, and red mist enveloped the trade areas of the square as ping! arrows came flying in.

[Siege Warfare]

The fundamental ability of the god of war, Malpas. Naturally, there was more to come.

– Caw! Caw!

[Blood Battle]

The soldiers retreating while leading the citizens turned around. Not all, but about two thousand did.

Among the citizens, some turned around as well, but they were the ones without wedding rings.

That number was about eight thousand. Malpas’s most economical and powerful ability.

For a blood battle to unfold where they kill each other, both sides must be evenly matched, right? [Blood Battle] would balance that.

Designate an enemy and secure the power to counter only that. Of course, with just eight thousand citizen troops, it was absurd to think they could face the kingdom’s knights, Holy Knights, Great Warriors, priests, and Swordmasters.

“You, you all! What are you doing?!”

The royal guard surrounding the podium began to stab at the knights. The Great Warrior with the raven tattoo named Baral Abiker, among the ones Dehorman had brought, also lost his mind and started slashing at those around him.

– Caw caw caw caw!

This is it. Isn’t this the true taste of war?

To kill each other, and keep killing. If one side tilts, I will lend strength to the side that is falling.

Even if it’s not my side.

And I was thinking of savoring the last remaining victors. Malpas barked joyfully, and the environment was ripe for it. Ray Dexter shouted.

“Don’t panic! We need to capture that bastard! Holy Knights, follow me!”

“The knights split into two groups! The First Knight Order will deal with the mad royal guard and assault him! Noel! You lead the Second Knight Order and secure the rear! Protect the priests!”

“Dehorman, what should we do?”

One warrior who had swiftly taken down Baral Abiker asked. Was it Kali Toluka…? Dehorman shrugged.

“Do as you see fit. Those who want to catch the monster can go catch it, and I’ll stay here because I’m worried about that side… ugh!”

A blind arrow pierced Dehorman’s shoulder. It wasn’t too severe a wound thanks to leather armor and sturdy muscles, so as he pulled out the arrow, he continued speaking.

“I’m worried about that side, so I’ll remain here. Just take care of yourselves.”

The Great Warriors scattered to do what they wanted. Many who turned back with Dehorman did so because of the citizen army approaching over there.

“Little one! Little one! What’s going on?!”

“Dear!!”

A poor but seemingly happy family clung to a sturdy man, pleading. However, that man simply walked on with dazed eyes, pushing his wife and mother-in-law away…

“There’s no helping it! Kill!”

As the knights began to kill the royal guards below the podium, the motion of the wife trying to stop her husband froze. With a baby on her back, she turned her body towards the blood storm.

“Sweetie! Sweetie! Why are you doing this too?”

An old woman clung to her daughter and son-in-law, but the elderly man was pulled away helplessly. Such tragedies unfolded everywhere.

The citizen army, unaffected by falling rocks or pots of boiling oil, marched on. Sensing the situation, Anolf de Klaus ordered the remaining soldiers to block the citizens, but for every soldier mobilized, there were citizens turning away.

The old woman trying to stop her son slapped one soldier’s cheek and tried poke his eyes with her thumb.

“Grandma, grandma! Please don’t do this… Ah! You bastard… Aaaah!!”

What a mess. No, it’s hell.

Dehorman’s fears were coming true. Among the citizens walking towards him was Leira. Fortunately, she was

“Uncle! Uncle! Stop!”

“Father!”

Pulling Elson along with Yuan, her attempts to knock Elson out had resulted in blood streaming from his head.

“Leira!”

“Dad! This man… Ah!”

Elson drew a sword and lunged at Dehorman. Clang! He blocked it with his axe, but the shock tingled in his hand.

Elson was a former squire turned mercenary captain. A not-so-easy opponent, making Dehorman click his tongue in frustration.

“This is bad. Leira, could you disarm him? Then I’ll try to grab him with force.”

“Okay.”

But even that wasn’t easy. Perhaps recognizing Dehorman as an enemy, citizens began to swarm around them.

Ultimately, Dehorman swung his massive axe with a whoosh! Meanwhile, Noel faced a horrific ordeal.

Citizens approached with hostility. Members of the Second Knight Order and the knights were awaiting his command. The priests were busy granting blessings to those clashing with Malpas.

They had to be killed. They must be killed…

The nightmare of the Nine-Day War resurfaced. Killing all those who obstructed his purpose.

After much inner turmoil, Noel gritted his teeth and commanded.

“Kill all who approach.”

The knights given orders looked much more at ease than Noel. Blood burst all around, and Noel closed his eyes. When he opened them again, despair washed over him.

“…Older Brother.”

His elder brother, who had cast aside his sword because of him in their youth, approached with a sword in hand. Leira went to help Dehorman, and only Yuan was dragged along by his pants leg.

Some knights also recognized Elson. All of them hesitated, prompting Noel to step forward.

“N-no! Please, please!”

Yuan pleaded. Noel hesitated momentarily, sword in hand…

– “That’s how you hold a double-handed sword. Yes, just like that. Oh, good job! Now stab!”

Piercing through the chest of his brother, who used to seem so big. Elson collapsed, frothing blood, and ceased to move.

“Oh… Father…! Father!!”

Noel approached Yuan, who was weeping uncontrollably. Kneeling, he closed Elson’s bulging eyes. Had his older brother’s face always had this many fine lines…? Just as that thought crossed his mind…

– Thud.

A dagger pierced deep under his collarbone, into his chest. Yuan, pressed tightly against him, glared.

“You bastard…! You took my father… my father again!”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? If you’re sorry…”

Noel embraced Yuan instead.

In order to hide the dagger stabbed into him from prying eyes, he whispered.

“Your father, Count Pamphilly, was a remarkable man, even if he was my enemy. And my brother was certainly no less. Yes, I knew that. There’s no way to atone for the sins I have committed against you.”

“…”

“But I promise you. I will clear the burden I’ve amassed… could you let me go for just a moment? Thank you. You must survive and carry on our family’s legacy.”

Noel grasped the dagger tight. Holding Yuan’s hand, he smoothly pulled it out and cleaned the blood on the cloak.

As if the blood had never touched the hand of the nephew adopted by his brother. Then, to Leira who had just reached him, he spoke.

“I’m sorry, but return my sword.”

“…What?”

“You took my sword a long time ago. Yes, that one. I need it now.”

Feeling the familiar weight, Noel turned around with the sword in hand. Blood had already flowed to the podium.