Chapter 212 : Chapter 212

Chapter : 212

“Hmm. ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Did I throw it too hard…?”

As ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I looked toward the knight of the Holy Empire’s Emperor lying fallen in the distance, I scratched my head.

After ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍showing that kind of monstrous strength, would the enemy not catch on?

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍problem was that I had not been able to restrain the flare of anger that had surged up for a moment.

“Damn… ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I made a mistake.”

Clicking ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍my tongue in self-reproach, I knew what this meant. If things went on like this, that sharp-witted Count Steffen would stop sending out knights and return to a defensive stance.

After going to the trouble of disguising myself and even fighting a duel, I had ended up drenched in sweat for nothing.

Still, there was one consolation: I had obtained a magical bow from the Holy Empire’s knight who had died to my spear.

-Uuuuuung!

When I casually lifted the bow to look at it, the magical mystery bound within it rippled at once, flaunting its presence as if it were no trivial thing.

“Fine. I will be satisfied with this. It cannot be helped.”

Thinking that, I held the bow and mounted my horse.

There would probably be no response now, so I planned to return straight to my own camp.

But then—

-Waaaaaah! Ho! Ho!

From the Holy Empire’s lines, which had been silent as if a mouse had died, a fresh roar of cheers suddenly erupted.

“It is Otmar Willant of Brandenburg! I will punish you for your insolence—thinking you can prance about on the strength of a magical weapon!”

A knight burst out holding a long spear, shouting in a thunderous voice.

“????”

It was strange enough that someone had suddenly rushed out to challenge me to a duel, but what was this talk about a “magical weapon” all of a sudden?

I did not understand what he meant, but that did not mean I was going to retreat.

No fool refused when the enemy was willingly stepping into his stratagem.

“Fine! Then come and punish me, if you can!”

I swiftly drew my sword and charged at him. I meant to dispose of him before he realized that I was the Margrave of Bellua.

“Oh? So you do have some courage, for someone who relies on a magical weapon.”

“Hm? If you say that, your own weapon seems to be a magical one as well.”

“Hmph! If I am to teach a shameless wretch like you a lesson, naturally I must use a magical weapon as well! Take this!”

The knight who introduced himself as Otmar Willant was shameless in his own way.

He was using a spear that surged with magical mystery, yet he called me a coward.

Thanks to that, I could decide very quickly.

“Take the spear of me, Otmar Willant! You rat!”

“Very well. This rat—this Margrave of Bellua—will take your spear!”

-Sswaeaeaeaeak!

I meant to send Otmar Willant, with his writhing magical spear, straight to heaven.

“W-what?!”

Otmar Willant flinched at my words, eyes going round.

Why was the Margrave of Bellua suddenly here?

But before he could even finish forming the question, his fate was sealed.

-Pagak! Puk!

My sword cleaved through Otmar Willant’s spear and smashed down onto his head.

-Giiiiiiiiiik!

The magical spear, split neatly in half, screamed with a grotesque sound. In contrast, Otmar Willant, with his skull split open, could not utter a single word. He swayed once—then collapsed to the ground with a dull thud.

“……!!”

It was a truly shocking scene.

With boastful knights falling one after another, the Holy Empire’s imperial army stirred in an instant.

Raising the sword that had felled him, I rode in a swift circle before the Holy Empire’s lines.

It was both a victory display and a provocation.

-Waaaaaah-!

-Bel-lua! Bel–lua!

From my camp, a thunderous cheer erupted at the sight. It was always a delight when a knight on one’s side won a duel.

“Th-that—! That insolent…!”

“Your Excellency. Let me go out at once. I will teach that damned bastard a lesson.”

Naturally, sparks flew in the knights’ eyes.

The Emperor’s knights, seething with rage, shouted at Count Steffen, as though they might riot if he did not let them go.

“W-wait! Calm yourselves. Calm yourselves.”

Something felt wrong.

A long-honed instinct from countless battlefields kept prickling at Count Steffen’s mind, warning him not to send those fools into duels.

But—

“Yes, Your Excellency Count!”

“There is no greater humiliation than this. We cannot endure it, Your Excellency Count Steffen!”

Even the nobles who should have been restraining their knights were snarling in anger. And the inspector, who should have mediated with cool judgment…

“You are not proposing to let an insult to His Majesty the Emperor pass without consequence, are you, Your Excellency Count Steffen? His Majesty has been increasingly concerned of late.”

He spoke those infuriating words, fanning the flames in a burning house.

“…Fine. Go, then.”

In the end, Count Steffen could only yield to the mood.

“For honor!”

With Count Steffen’s permission granted, the knights had no restraint.

“I will go first!”

“No. I will!”

“You fools. With your skill, how could you win? I will go and reclaim our honor.”

“Hey, calm down! We should draw lots instead. Let us decide the order by lot.”

“That is a good idea!”

They advanced all the way to the foremost battle line of the Holy Empire’s imperial army and began deciding their order among themselves.

Those who drew late lamented that they had lost their chance to build fame, while those who drew early were possessed by the desire to make their names.

The duel had not even been decided yet, yet they behaved as if they had already seen the end.

It was absurd, to say the least.

“Take my blade! I am Hartmann of Rossdorf!”

At last, a knight of the Holy Empire’s Emperor charged out toward me, where I sat with my sword raised in mockery.

He wore solid armor, held an arming sword in one hand, and a large kite shield in the other—a classic “hard shell” knight.

“He looks quite proud of his strength… Fine. I will use that and give him a proper lesson.”

Sir Hartmann thought so as he tightened his grip on the shield.

In the Empire’s eastern frontier, were there not barbarians everywhere with heads larger than a man’s torso?

Sir Hartmann had fought such barbarian warriors countless times.

That was why he saw no reason this duel would be any different.

If the opponent wanted to boast of strength, then he would defend with his peculiar shield technique. That was all.

“Your courage is admirable, but…”

I clicked my tongue as I looked at Sir Hartmann.

His intention was obvious.

The strength I possessed could not be stopped by a mere shield like that.

I had already seen it many times.

The end of those who tried to block me with shields.

-Dugudugudugu!

I charged forward on horseback, tightening my hand around the sword hilt.

“Come, then. Take it.”

Seeing that, Sir Hartmann raised his shield and hunched like a turtle.

It was the house shield technique passed down through generations: a secret art that nullified attacks through the shield’s curvature and the subtle motion at the moment of contact.

If one exaggerated, it could block even a giant’s blow.

The timing was difficult, but Sir Hartmann had mastered it so thoroughly that he could do it with his eyes closed.

Just as he did now.

-Paat!

The instant the sword-light flashed at close range, Sir Hartmann moved the arm holding his shield.

He meant to meet the attack angle with the curved surface.

“I block it. Heh. I will deflect it.”

But there was one thing Sir Hartmann did not know.

-KWANG!

“Kkeok?!”

My strength was probably greater than a giant’s.

-Kwaddeudeuk!

The shield failed to absorb the impact. With a tearing, bursting sound, it flew away. Sir Hartmann’s arm, still holding it, bent backward at a grotesque angle.

It was agony beyond words, yet Sir Hartmann could not even scream.

-Kwajik!

My blade split his skull in an instant.

It ended in a single strike, so at least he died without prolonged pain—small mercy within misfortune.

“How could that be?!”

“Why has such a master never been known until now? Who is he?”

The Emperor’s knights waiting behind cried out in horror at what they had seen.

Once or twice could be dismissed as luck, or carelessness.

But three times in a row was different.

A man of that skill should have been famous.

Yet before anyone could answer the question, another provocation came.

-Hiiiiiing!

This time, I had ridden far closer than before—almost to their very noses.

“You all look lively. Is there no one else who will come out and fight me? Ah! It seems the Holy Empire’s imperial army has no brave knights!”

“What?!”

“You insolent bastard! I will face you. It was my turn next anyway—I was going to go out.”

“Good, good. The mood is still hot. So you are not trembling with fear. Uwahahahaha!”

Mocking the seething imperial knights, I taunted them and turned my horse at once.

As if they could endure no more, knights began pouring out in a wave.

“You bastard! You honorless cur, how dare you speak so arrogantly!”

“Take my sword!”

“I will not let you off easily! Hyah!”

At first, three.

Then, ten.

And after that, swept along by the frenzy, the soldiers of the front ranks began charging after them.

The defensive formation they had built so solidly began to collapse in an instant.

“Are these madmen out of their minds?! What are you doing?! Signal them to return at once!”

“It is t-too late, Your Excellency!”

“They have gone too far already.”

The nobles screamed in panic at the sudden turn.

They had been dissatisfied with Count Steffen’s defensive and ignoble orders, yes—but remembering the strength of the Margrave of Bellua’s army from the last battle, they had still believed those orders were necessary.

They had merely wanted a little diversion to vent their resentment.

And now the knights, in a sudden frenzy, had rushed out like that.

But the worst was still to come.

“The front battle line is collapsing!”

“The soldiers are charging out, Your Excellency! Your Excellency! What shall we do, Your Excellency Count Steffen?!”

Mistaking the sight of dozens of knights surging forward as a charge order, the front-line soldiers were now charging along with them, swept into it.

“I know! Shut your mouths!”

Count Steffen felt as if he was going insane. What in the world was this disgraceful spectacle?

“It cannot be helped. You must ride out at once, even now!”

“Indeed. The formation is breaking.”

“Perhaps it is for the best. They will not have expected this charge either. Order a full assault.”

As if his mind was not already in turmoil, the inspector poured oil onto the fire.

What made it worse was that, maddeningly, the inspector’s argument had a certain logic to it.

“Damn it! Prepare for battle at once! Bring me my spear! And gather the knights! I will go to the front myself.”

Swallowing down the boiling rage, Count Steffen roared.

Since it had come to this, he intended to stab the Margrave of Bellua in the side.

Their pike phalanx had one clear weakness: it took a long time to form.

If he could exploit that gap and shake them quickly with cavalry, there might be a chance.

Of course, Count Steffen did not know.

Plans always look convincing when they are written.