Chapter 108

It appeared suddenly, like a sudden gust of wind.

The unexpected natural disaster approaching the Bright Wing Knights returning to Frostmoor Fortress after successfully repelling the barbarian tribe’s assault seemed just like that.

Well, if it were really a gust of wind, unless it was accompanied by an avalanche, it wouldn’t pose any danger to the peak of knighthood, the Bright Wing Knights, so calling it a disaster wouldn’t be right.

But my vision told me that this gust of wind was indeed a disaster, yet not a naturally occurring phenomenon.

What entered my field of vision wasn’t a gust of wind at all.

It was merely the phenomenon of dust kicked up by galloping horses colliding with fierce winter winds, creating the illusion of a whirlwind.

Even though it wasn’t a whirlwind, there was still a need to be wary.

Although it might be a bit exaggerated to call it sheer cliffs, the steep and treacherous mountain path that the horses navigated without hesitation, and the rider who maneuvered them as if they were his own limbs, made it seem more unusual not to be cautious when seeing them approach the Bright Wing Knights.

In an instant, my mind recalled that such skilled equestrianism could only be demonstrated by one group aside from the Bright Wing Knights I currently belonged to.

Just as I saw a black horse with a properly equipped full armor, its mane flying wildly, racing like a tempest across the snowy plains through the thick cloud of dust, I realized that this was the worst calamity that could be wrought by human hands.

Before I could even think about the danger from observing the phenomenon, my body reacted.

Without stopping, climbing the steep incline, and reaching the ramparts of Frostmoor Fortress, which left one breathless with awe, I leaped down to the snowfield in one bound.

Even though seasoned knights could land unscathed from most heights, the height was daunting enough that even those knights hesitated. However, having sensed the danger, I poured out all the hostility within me, reinforcing my body with hardening techniques, so despite the height, no significant shock affected my body upon landing.

Usually, such a landing would have been cause for celebration, but now…

“Milord!”

“You don’t have time to call! Run too! How can you stand there and watch this?!”

At this moment, my actions were driven more by the urgent need to dispel a foreboding sense of unease than any small celebration.

Elshimer initially looked confused at my words, but soon after he started moving, I heard him hurrying down below the battlements.

Though his achievements fell short compared to mine, the fact that he also wore the emblem of the Black Wing Knights on his shoulder and acted like a true knight meant he instinctively recognized what that dark whirlwind was, explaining his rush.

Ideally, we should have joined forces and rushed towards where Arusin was, but lacking the time to wait for him, I ran ahead, urging him to follow if he could.

The hardening technique that had protected me when I jumped from the battlements also propelled me swiftly toward where Arusin was, leading me there in a single bound.

“Damn it! What the hell is this?!”

“Formation! Even a cavalry charge can be countered if you meet it head-on with a shield wall!”

Despite running at a speed that felt faster than anything I’d experienced before, I couldn’t reach Arusin before the immense calamity formed by the rider and his horse approached her.

BOOM!!

Before I could reach the point where the Bright Wing Knights were gathered, an explosion-like impact hit my ears.

The ominous feeling that something terrible was happening grew stronger with each passing second.

“Aaaaah!!”

The agonizing scream of a Bright Wing Knight struck by the charging horse reverberated in my ears.

Seeing a highly armored elite knight, whose defensive prowess was overwhelming, being thrown away like autumn leaves by the barbarian’s powerful strike was almost unbelievable.

Even with hostility protecting their bodies, the knight’s descent was so violent that it was clear they would suffer a severe impact upon hitting the ground, making the situation extremely dangerous.

THUD!!

Fortunately, the knight who was thrown like a cannonball didn’t shatter into pieces upon impact with the ground.

The wind that blew just as he touched the ground cushioned his fall.

He wielded a blade called Caladbolg, and after exhaling a sigh of relief, Arusin created a man-made whirlwind with her sword.

“Ghh… Thank you.”

The knight who barely managed to get up knew it was thanks to Arusin’s help that he was able to maintain his composure and resumed his duties.

Even though it was shocking for a knight at the pinnacle of his abilities to be sent flying like a cannonball due to a surprise cavalry charge, the knight could consider himself fortunate for surviving the attack, which could be called a siege weapon.

And if that horse and rider were indeed the ones I remembered, surviving such a situation would be seen as a badge of honor.

However, my prediction seemed to align perfectly, much to my dismay.

“Haha! There’s nothing more gratifying than striking when someone is off guard!!”

The enthusiastic voice of a man who burst into laughter after the shock of his sudden appearance confirmed that his ambush had succeeded.

“Instead of hiding like a mole and shooting arrows, it paid off to set a trap. It worked!”

A few days ago, even when we met after a long time, he had changed somewhat, but during our separation, he had become even more frivolous…

“Doimus! You miserable scoundrel! Were you alive?”

No, the roar that erupted the moment Doimus’ presence was confirmed did not come from me.

It came from an old knight among the Bright Wing Knights who had followed Arusin.

After their marriage, whenever there was free time, they would hone their skills with swords and bodies at the training grounds of the Duke’s Residence, occasionally sparring to build camaraderie.

His name… was quite rustic even by the standards of the locals in the North…

“How amusing it is for you to ask who is still alive, Henrik. With luck, you’ve survived to this age without ending up in a coffin. Do you think you have the right to mock me?”

Yes, Henrik.

He was a seasoned knight, one of the top figures in the Bright Wing Knights, known for his adeptness in changing weapons.

A knight of Henrik’s age would certainly know who he was.

After all, he was the former head of the Count’s family, who often belittled his own family out of inferiority.

“Hmph. Even a dead man has come back to life and is causing trouble.”

Despite Doimus’ taunt filled with contempt, Henrik merely scoffed and ignored him.

“Attack! This despicable creature isn’t even worthy of dirtying the captain’s hand!”

He immediately ordered the knights within his formation to attack Doimus.

Although Doimus’ sudden appearance on a black steed, surrounded by a menacing aura, was shocking, the stern reprimand for his reckless act stood out against the backdrop of the elite troops of the Empire’s strongest, the Bright Wing Knights.

“Henrik Sir! Don’t rush forward!”

From my lips, a desperate cry emerged, trying to stop Henrik Sir and the young knights he led from rushing at Doimus.

But despite the urgency, Doimus’ expression remained unchanged as he watched the multitude of knights charge at him from his position on the horse.

WOOSH!!

The weaponless object in Doimus’ hand emitted a dark, sinister aura, drawing bloodthirsty energy.

Even though standing still made him an easy target for charging knights, they moved faster than arrows released from a bowstring, yet none of their strikes landed on Doimus.

With a loud clash of metal, every weapon shattered into pieces, leaving the knights unable to continue fighting.

Seeing these knights, who usually cut down anyone who drew a sword against them, not killing their opponents was perplexing.

“Look here, Henrik. Consider yourself lucky. With great peril looming, what’s the point of shedding insignificant blood? Hahaha!!”

Doimus, whose emotions were clearly heightened, suddenly decided not to kill Henrik and the other knights, which was beyond comprehension.

Still, thanks to this unexpected decision, I had the opportunity to intercept him favorably.

Although Doimus’ indifference to me was unsettling, considering his insatiable desire for ascension, it raised doubts.

But now, the priority was to confront my father with a sword.

“Doimus!!”

I shouted his name fiercely and drew Paleord, positioning myself in front of him.

“Sir Henrik, step back. You’re not the one he should face.”

Arusin commanded Henrik firmly, positioning herself in front of Doimus as if they had planned it.

Even though we had just faced Doimus again after his humiliating defeat, the fear of losing to him again was less prominent than the anger and determination to confront him.

“That day, if you understood what you saw, you would have stayed confined to this fortress. Are you here because you want to lose again?”

My anger at his relentless taunts and the resolve to support Arusin in her judgment of him from behind were strong.

While running, I didn’t stop the hostility I had been cultivating, channeling it all into Paleord, ready to unleash it in one powerful strike.

WOOSH!!

The ominous resonance from Doimus’ weaponless object paled in comparison to the calm and stable resonance that echoed from Paleord.

“…You still don’t understand your duty.”

Stopping his mocking, he laughed coldly as he usually did.

But surprisingly, Doimus, who hadn’t dismounted from his horse, looked even more sinister than when he had counterattacked Henrik, his eyes brimming with malice.