Chapter 136

It seems that the Duke Maxburg is boasting about receiving a tremendous amount of support from Emperor Franche, as the knights led by Architel Duke have equipped their horses with armor, even on the horses themselves.

With iron covering the horse’s face down to its legs, it creates an illusion of charging towards the steel wall.

Thus, even after repeatedly charging at the enemy knights, it was impossible to suppress the instinctual fear that still lingered.

However, what if even one person here were to turn their gaze away or get scared and escape the charge?

Not only would it be the fool who ran away, but it would also adversely affect the comrades beside him and the outcome of the battlefield.

Understanding that much, our knights are charging forward with excited voices, as if they were riding a roller coaster.

“This time, I will take Architel Duke’s head and confess to Elise!”

“The ones who say such things tend to die first!”

“Oh, I’ll just capture three enemy knights, get a ransom, and with that money, buy my daughter a beautiful dress.”

“Don’t screw it up this time like when we fought Duke Maxburg! Back then, we pooled our money for a feast… we need to repay that too.”

The enemy, too, seemed to be trying to inspire the morale of their soldiers, as Architel Duke, leading his aged figure over seventy, personally approached me with a lance bearing a flag and said, “To whoever captures or kills that Croilet Count, I will grant you one Count’s territory, regardless of rank!! Those who wish to advance, fight with the resolve to give your lives!”

It’s natural to announce that capturing the enemy commander at such a crucial moment in war will yield great rewards…

But to think that the Duke would offer a Count’s territory for just capturing me, regardless of rank.

He must be frantic, given that his infantry are already being crushed on the battlefield.

If so, watching us retreat this time would surely drive him mad.

To forget my fear and lure the enemy as much as possible, I spoke mockingly towards Architel Duke.

“Your Majesty Architel Duke! It is a great honor for this Count to have the opportunity to learn from you today! Please look kindly upon us, even if we are a bit lacking!”

“Right! I’ll show you what it means to be my knight as the Duke of DeFranche. Wait there and wash your neck!”

Moments later, we and the enemy thrust our lances as fast as possible towards each other.

At this point, if I failed to deflect the enemy’s lance with my shield, the worst-case scenario would be that I’d be sent flying backward to my death.

Dying here would shatter all the plans I’ve been preparing…

I deflected Architel Duke’s lance with the shield on my left arm, causing it to veer slightly off course.

The stray lance shot through the air, grazing my left shoulder, and I seized the moment to command the soldiers.

“Draw your secondary weapons and prepare for a second charge! This time, we will definitely take Architel’s head!”

Architel Duke, not to be outdone, boomed out loud.

“The Croilet brats are naught but riding lackeys! There are still those who would follow us in our domain, and yet they dare to call themselves knights? All of you, get your swords and maces ready!! This time, we will show those half-baked knights true chivalry!”

With those words, we reached an unspoken agreement and quickly turned the reins to clash once more.

The moment I turned to look at the ground, I saw fallen knights from our side.

Most were incapacitated, either dead or injured due to the shock of their fall.

I was prepared for casualties in the first clash, but to think that more of our knights would fall than those of the enemy… while we are already outnumbered!

Nevertheless, we had no time to collect the bodies of those dying on either side.

Leaving that grim scene behind, ready to charge at the enemy, I said to the knights.

“It’s impossible to engage the enemy under these conditions. Fall back to the main force and regroup. Follow Baron Beerman to the main encampment in six ranks!”

With those words, I began to quietly move in line with the other knights at the back.

Normally, Architel Duke would be suspicious of my intentions and follow cautiously, but…

Perhaps blinded by the bait of our infantry being on the brink of annihilation, he started charging after me without proper caution.

“Kill that damned Croilet Count! To protect your territory, to secure a better life for your families, you must kill that scoundrel!”

“Let’s kill the offspring serving a Count who is worse than a cowardly dog on the battlefield!”

“Ten gold coins for each of that guy!!! Let’s capture a lot and become rich!”

Then, I turned my head back briefly to gauge the enemy’s formation.

The enemy seemed to think they had already won, loosening their grip on their formations.

Even the Duke, in a position where he should be stopping this, seemed consumed by the desire to crush us as we were worn out from fleeing…

Neglecting the crucial maintenance of formation for cavalry…

When one is blinded by desire, they can easily overlook even the most important matters.

However, no matter how recklessly they chase us, if they are caught before reaching their desired place, it all becomes futile.

I drew the sword at my right hip and swung it to command the knights.

“The enemy is increasing their speed! If you don’t want to die, speed up!! The vanguard doesn’t need to maintain formation, just run as fast as you can!! We must lure them there by any means necessary!!”

Following these instructions, the knights widened the distance between them from knee to knee, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

Then, they started to increase their speed from a brisk walk to a light jog.

It seemed the enemy thought we were truly retreating, raising their spirits to chase us down.

We pretended to be escaping for our lives, trying to evade the enemy for quite some time.

In fact, if we were caught before reaching our desired position, we would suffer catastrophic losses, so we fled for our lives.

As a result, several of our knights exhausted their horses and ended up falling behind.

Seeing this, the enemy’s morale boosted even further, and they began to increase speed, feeling that maintaining formation was now unnecessary, as long as they reached us.

At this point, even if Architel Duke realized we were leading the enemy into a trap, it wouldn’t stop him.

If we miss this opportunity, we will not get a chance to take down those powerful knights again.

“Inform Baron Beerman at the front! We will now pass by the left flank of the infantry as planned! Turn to go left!”

“Understood! The vanguard, immediately turn to go ahead of our infantry’s left flank!!”

As the command was repeated, Beerman raised his lance as if he had been waiting for this moment.

Following that signal, as we turned left for about five minutes, we began to see the fighting infantry.

Both the enemy and our soldiers were equipped with at least iron half-armor and proper spears, and some commanders were clad in plate armor like knights.

Everyone was fighting with the resolve to die, spitting blood, cursing, kicking, trampling, and stabbing.

“Die, you bastard!”

“Your esteemed Architel Duke will soon arrive… make sure you clear the path first so he doesn’t get bored!”

“Burn in the hellfire from the ground! You vermin of mercenaries!”

“I’ve heard that there are many rotund ones among you Croilet folks; look at that dead guy over there stabbed by a spear, spewing fat!”

As we passed through that desperate battle, we circled around the enemies’ rear and approached the left flank where our infantry was situated.

Indeed, Frost had not betrayed my expectations and had lined up a matchlock rifle regiment in a single file on our infantry’s left flank.

Seeing that sight, I silently cheered in my heart and turned to the knights.

The enemy was about 200 meters away from us, and I shouted at the knights.

“Slow down the entire army! And Baron Beerman, raise the flag we prepared!!!”

With those words, we slowed down, and soon after, Baron Beerman lifted the enormous flag emblazoned with my crest.

Seeing that sight, the enemy tried to halt, but they were already chasing us at too fast a speed to stop.

Then, just as the enemy was about to rush past the regiment led by Frost, we heard Lieutenant Frost’s voice.

“Regiment, fire at will!!”