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354. Childhood EP – Escape

As the aura fluttered from the Count’s sword, Gilbert swallowed hard.

“Ah, Father… please…”

“Shut your mouth.”

His son begged, but the Count dismissed him sternly. He was so angry he didn’t even know where to start.

The very idea that the one who instigated this war with a kiss to the princess was now begging to stop it was absurd.

Even considering his son was a half-blood royal born between him and Iina, it was still a brazen request.

But, well, he was still my son. That much was acceptable, but what really fueled the Count’s anger was the sixteen knights surrounding them.

How on earth…

How could they match our numbers so perfectly? How could they have anticipated our arrival? How could they have been waiting for us at this exact time?

The Count looked at his son, who was moping around like a peace envoy that had just failed negotiations, with disdain.

If any information had leaked, it would have come from that brat, and there were plenty of people who had the authority to demand information from Gilbert, the legitimate heir of the Forte Count family.

The Count cracked his neck and gestured to the knights.

“Take one each and fight. I’ll take care of that guy who looks like the captain. Gilbert, stay back. Your exile ends today.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the ground erupted as if a stone had been thrown into water.

The Count leaped from the trench, and the dazzling, shining Oblivion Blade cleaved the sky.

With that momentum, the Count aimed to split both the knight in front of him and the ridiculous trench in two, but—

– Clang!!

‘Clang?’

A sound that absolutely shouldn’t have happened rang out when he swung the aura. A sensation that he couldn’t even register.

The Oblivion Blade, which split things like tofu, was stopped by the puny knight’s sword right in front of him.

The unidentified knight slowly raised his upper body.

‘Ugh, that was close to being fatal.’

Reb grumbled inwardly. He truly had just been seconds away from death and had even seen the chariot and said a prayer.

It was because Count Hermann Forte’s strike was so powerful that, the moment his sword struck, Reb found his knees buckling.

He hadn’t blocked that strike merely with his arm strength, however. Reb had leant the sword over his shoulder and thrust its tip into the ground behind him.

So he had absorbed the sword with his whole body, as if carrying a heavy load. His arms trembled, and his bruised shoulder ached.

But he acted as if nothing was wrong and slowly rose to face Count Forte.

This was Reb’s first time meeting Count Forte. And… wow, the man was just ridiculously huge.

Reb’s height didn’t even reach the Count’s chest. The muscle on the Count’s arms was tremendous, reminding him of the first time Leah had encountered the Chicken Shop Owner back in the beggar siblings scenario.

He felt like he’d drop dead with just one punch.

Reb thought, ‘Should I shake off this feeling now?’ but couldn’t leave, so he tightened his grip on the sword.

Lower. As low as he could.

He swung the sword that was slung over his shoulder diagonally downward. Reb’s blade grazed the Count’s thigh (while being blocked by his sword).

Diving beneath the trench, Reb used his left hand, which he had just raised, to grip the hilt better. As he turned and thrust, Count Forte looked somewhat surprised at the combination of moves and the terrain.

Or maybe he was still stunned from the earlier encounter with the Oblivion Blade… The Count too, grabbed his sword.

“You’re surprisingly decent for a kid. Your physique is a bit disappointing, but… well, since we’ve met as enemies, it can’t be helped.”

The Count jumped down into the trench.

The enormous Count found the trench a tad cramped, but he viewed it as a condition to catch Reb. He pulled his sword and made thrusting his primary attack—

[ Achievement: Thug ‘3’ – You become stronger in dark alleyways. min(3) ]

Reb barely managed to deflect the Count’s sword that was coming in like a flash. Thanks to the unexpected “Thug Killing” achievement triggered by the “Knight Killing” achievement he’d never even hoped for.

Of course, Reb had no time to analyze it. Ping-! The Count’s sword grazed past his earlobe.

Count Forte’s swordsmanship didn’t involve any preparatory movements.

It was a style that thoroughly concealed its prelude, and by the time his arm moved, the sword was already at Reb’s nose.

Reb barely managed to evade it, not even knowing how he did. But the same went for the Count.

[ Leo, you have inflicted a wound on the continent’s strongest swordsman. You have earned the ability {Swordsmanship.5v: Forte Style}. ]

That guy’s movements are impossible to read. To land an effective hit, you’ve got to know where their center of gravity is, but whenever I think it’s to the right, he dives in and when I think it’s in some other direction, he lunges forward. The cramped space was working to Reb’s advantage.

“Damn it!”

“Ugh!”

Unable to endure his frustration, the Count lowered his great sword and slammed it down. As the blazing Oblivion Blade came crashing down on him, Reb had no choice but to raise his sword to block it. And…

Stumble. No matter how sturdy his lower body was, Reb’s knees buckled.

He could withstand it, but he wasn’t a match for Count Forte. He was merely managing to survive against an unbreakable sword, but it was clear he would soon be crushed by the Count’s strength.

However, Reb had brought a card with him; Gilbert drew his sword and stepped in.

“Father, please! Stop!”

Pushing down on Reb, Count Hermann Forte turned around as if in disbelief.

“I told you to stay back.”

“If you promise to stop the war, I will step aside.”

“Do you have any sense of responsibility, or can you not grasp the situation? How can I possibly stop this war? You, my son, started it! Do you think Prince Vivian will just stop it for us?”

“…I’ve already asked for Prince Vivian’s forgiveness.”

“Then tell him to get lost. The crime of formally declaring war on the Belita Kingdom can be overlooked, but you must retreat immediately and stop your nonsense.”

“…No, Father. No matter what…”

“Can’t do it, can you? Then neither can I. Prince Vivian came wanting something from our country, and I can’t simply back down. Just know that over six thousand have already fallen. I must take the price of our citizens’ blood.”

“…”

Gilbert closed his mouth. It seemed he had been persuaded, but with nowhere to go, Reb opened his mouth.

“Isn’t negotiating better than losing a war? Oh, you look fierce when you glare like that. But we’ve already won the war. Count, you have no idea what’s happening in the rear, do you?”

“You’re trying to fight with words instead of with a sword.”

“Marquis Benard Tatian rejected the supplies from the Conrad Kingdom. And the Aisel Kingdom will soon send a large reinforcement army. After that, it won’t be possible to negotiate.”

Though it was spoken from the enemy’s mouth, the high-quality information spilled out, and the Count began to listen. Of course, he was still pressing Reb down with his sword.

“The Conrad Kingdom? You’re not saying they’ve handed over supplies to your kingdom, are you?”

“Why wouldn’t they? But it was permitted by Marquis Tatian. Thanks to that, we have an ample supply of goods… Even the Gaidan House has changed its mind and decided to participate, so Count Hermann Forte, your army will retreat before winter ends.”

The Count paused for a moment. As if he were thinking about something, he then smirked and said.

“I’ve heard a good farewell. So, it means I need to wipe you all out before the reinforcements arrive, huh? Do you think that’s difficult for me?”

He had only intended to obliterate the enemy camp while scouting, but he already had the plan set for dealing with them.

The Aisel Kingdom Army had divided their forces into fifteen segments, and with only a thousand soldiers, killing them alone wasn’t impossible.

Just like how this little knight was holding his ground in the narrow trench as a weapon, he could also push through the trench and systematically slaughter the soldiers. Just needed to be careful of getting surrounded by enemy knights or sorcerers.

If he practiced swinging his sword a thousand times, it would be simple. He would need to conserve his aura as much as possible, but he could take them down one by one.

Thus, this brat needed to be taken down. No matter how he was blocking his sword, having him around would ruin his earlier mentioned strategy.

The Count’s power surged further. He was now pushing forward as if to roast Reb alive with the heat radiating from the Oblivion Blade, but Gilbert Forte wouldn’t remain idle.

He raised his sword, warning his father.

“I understand your words, Father. We’re leaving now. I’ll speak with Prince Vivian and look for a solution.”

“No need for that. You could be used as a hostage, so come back with me… Ugh! This brat!”

“Please let Reb go.”

His son swung his sword. He actually went for a feint.

Though he dodged, that allowed the little knight, Reb, to escape from the sword pressure.

That foolish kid.

Count Forte looked around, intending to yell for someone to grab his son, but the knights were busy fighting their own opponents… inevitably, his father was in a position to have to make a move against his own son.

Fine, then, I’ll subdue the son and kill that brat.

But it wasn’t that easy.

The little knight pulled out something from his pocket and smiled brightly. Before Count Forte could respond, he smashed the sphere.

A signal flare. Sorcerers would come flying in soon.

Count Hermann Forte’s body grew hot. No longer willing to hold back, he lunged, but the Oblivion Blade was still blocked, and his son was being a nuisance.

If Gilbert had been showing off some fancy swordsmanship, it would have been easier to deal with, but his son swung his sword honestly. He swung it straightforwardly and thrust it down, leaving no openings.

Especially in front of an opponent who could block the Oblivion Blade… Count Forte finally turned his back.

“We’re retreating!”

Who does he think he is? But Reb shouted and blocked the excited knights.

“Don’t chase them! Count Forte, it was a pleasure meeting you. But I’m sure we will meet again. Please be careful on your way out today.”

What Reb said was actually true.

After failing to raid the camp and returning the next day, the Count was set on exterminating an enemy camp, but somehow, Reb was out with a group of knights.

Thinking it unlucky, the Count chose another location, but again Reb was there, and again, and again…

After it happened repeatedly, the Count realized this was no coincidence. It was also too easy to notice that information hadn’t leaked.

No matter who he asked, that brat was always present. He gave a final warning that this would be the last time he went easy on him and then dropped out of sight.

Meanwhile, the front lines were gradually being pushed by sorcerers… the info about the Conrad Kingdom selling supplies to the Aisel Kingdom was true, and soon reinforcements would be coming. While more soldiers were summoned, there was a serious problem.

Sorcerers supporting the Gaidan House, the large number of Cornel Tower’s Lydia School sorcerers were set to join together. Up until now, only the Izadora House’s Cornel Tower’s Jegeon School sorcerers had been present.

Truly a magic kingdom.

Count Hermann Forte ultimately abandoned his course of action in the battle. He was busy writing letters requesting reinforcements in every direction. Threatening Kamitz Tower, which had only sent eight sorcerers, he called on the nobility watching the war, including Marquis Tatian, to send soldiers.

Meanwhile, Reb screamed in triumph when he saw Count Forte no longer moving. He rushed over to Leah.

“It’s over! Let’s get out of here!”

“What’s finished?”

“My part. Let’s go! I’ve spoken to the prince.”

In truth, Reb didn’t care how the war ended. His goal was to prevent Count Forte from finishing the war quickly, but the problem was that he needed to get out of here fast.

[ Achievement: King 5/6 ]

I need to go meet the King of the Asran Kingdom. I can’t stay tied here for too long.

So Reb intended to slip away while hoping the Count stayed in battle longer. It would be even better if the Count returned at the appropriate time.

To resolve this, Reb passed the bound item (the royal seal) he should have given to Reriana to Prince Eric.

To have him send reinforcements. Reb felt a bit of regret upon hearing that the commander of the reinforcements gathering in Ofrontis was Lady Jenia Jaqueri.

Prince Vivian, who didn’t want to share credit with Prince Eric, would probably send Gilbert to negotiate peace with Count Forte before the reinforcements arrived…

– “This? It’s nothing. I just had a little scratch on my wrist.”

The female knight, a bastard born wanting to live a thrilling life, twisted her left wrist uncomfortably, now had to wait for the next opportunity.

Having sided with Prince Eric, she would now achieve what she longed for in the power struggle between Prince Eric and Prince Vivian.

Reb and Leah rode away on Bante, disappearing to the north as magic swirled in the battlefield.