Chapter 193. The Strongest Knight Order (1)

Inside the carriage, while Evan was dozing off, Ron and Rotman were engaged in a rather serious conversation despite having just met.

The topic was none other than the enemy they would soon have to face, Robern’s Knight Order.

“I'm not interested in history, but I've heard the name ‘Robern’. But are his subordinates that strong too?”

“That's right. Just to join that knight order, one must be at least at the Sword Expert level.”

“A Sword Expert……. If all of them are at that level, they're quite strong. But still, it’s not to the point of being overwhelming, is it?”

“From your perspective as one of the Seven Stars, that might be so. But most people don't think that way at all. Above all, what makes them fearsome isn't simply their skill, but because they have learned Robern's swordsmanship.”

Throughout the history of the continent, the man regarded as having reached the pinnacle of skill in the ‘sword’ was Robern Crest.

His swordsmanship and Qi manipulation, which were difficult to even approach, were passed down only to his own knight order.

That is why even after Robern's death, the legacy of his swordsmanship was carried on solely by the knight order.

“I can't say for sure since I haven't experienced it myself, but I shouldn't recklessly look down on those who have learned a sword of such renown.”

“That's right. Moreover, some of them are known to be close to the Sword Master level.”

Ron showed an expression of interest.

“Oh? And yet they are not one of the Seven Stars?”

“That’s because they are only ‘close’ to that level, not having fully achieved it. Still, their skills are certainly on par with the Seven Stars.”

“Who are they? I feel like I should know in advance.”

Ron was a man who had lived his life as he pleased, but when it came to battle, he was a cautious and calculating person.

Trying to grasp the enemy's strength beforehand was also a habit of his.

“There are a total of six such individuals. Under the commander, the ‘Iron Mask,’ are those who hold the title of vice-commander.”

“Are there no particular characteristics?”

“Of course, there are. The knight order is based on Robern's swordsmanship, but each fights by adding their own individuality. Among them, the five most representative are called the ‘Five Swords of Robern’.”

Rotman revealed everything he knew.

“First, the First Sword, Raven, specializes in lightning-fast slashes. He is a strong warrior who has added his own individuality to Robern’s swordsmanship.”

Just then, Ron, feeling something was strange about Rotman’s story, interjected.

“Wait, you said there were six, so why are there five now? Did one of them die?”

“I will tell you about that in due course.”

Leaving Ron's question aside, Rotman continued his explanation.

“Next is the Second Sword, Justia. Although her skills are inferior to the First Sword, Raven, she is a woman of hegemonic disposition who wields swordsmanship closest to Robern’s original style.”

Afterward, Rotman explained about the Third Sword, ‘Ironveil,’ and the Fourth Sword, ‘Blackthorn.’

And he opened his mouth about the final sword that Ron was most curious about.

“And the last of the Five Swords are, unusually, twins. That is why there are six people, but the title is the ‘Five Swords’.”

“Hoh? Is their combination that strong?”

“That's right. Their individual combat power might be somewhat lacking, but when the two of them combine, even the other swords find it difficult to handle.”

“Wow…… each and every one of them is interesting enough to make me want to fight them.”

Unlike Ron, who showed interest, Evan sat quietly with his eyes closed and no reaction.

But all the conversation was reaching his ears, and he had already engraved the composition and strength of the knight order in his mind.

‘That damned knight order has become much stronger than during the time I was active. This won't be easy.’

Wary of the knight order's skills, which had been further refined over time, he formulated a new battle plan in his mind.

However, putting all that aside, the target he had to be most wary of was always the ‘man in the iron mask.’

* * *

In a situation where the enemy was right at their doorstep, the theoretically best choice was to hold their ground and not go out.

This was because if they didn't respond, there was a high possibility that the exhausted enemy would withdraw on their own.

But war is not governed by reason alone.

The opponent had brazenly invaded the allied forces' territory and showed a provocative attitude despite being numerically inferior.

A force of only a few thousand had come right up to the castle and was acting leisurely.

In this situation, just holding their ground would instead break the morale of their own troops.

In the end, the commanders of each nation judged that launching an attack was the best course of action.

“Open the castle gates.”

That judgment would have been correct a hundred out of a hundred times against an ordinary enemy.

If the opponent hadn't been the imperial army accompanied by ‘Robern’s Knight Order.’

“Look! Their numbers are merely a few thousand! Let's show them our strength!”

The vanguard of Manoa, a knight possessing the strength of a Sword Expert, raised his sword high and spurred his horse.

At his valiant momentum, the soldiers of Manoa also shouted and followed him.

However.

—Chwaaak!

One of Robern’s Knight Order members swung his sword aura with a nonchalant face.

The one responsible was the vice-commander known as the ‘First Sword,’ Raven.

And that single stream of sword aura vertically split the knight leading the charge, along with his horse, into two.

—Thud!

As the body, instantly split in half, fell to the ground, the steps of the Manoa soldiers froze.

Terrified by the horrific sight, their battle line broke.

“Go. Show the enemy how fearsome we are.”

“Yes, Vice-Commander.”

The members of the knight order who received Raven’s command rushed forward.

Wherever their blades passed, three or four Manoa soldiers fell with a single slash.

—Swish!

A scene of massacre where they died without even having time to scream.

From the sides of the fleeing Manoa soldiers, the fighters of Solaid and the magic unit of Remshait stepped forward.

“Cowards, step back! We will handle them!”

“With great knowledge, we shall defeat the enemy!”

They, who put forward the fighting techniques and magic their respective countries prided themselves on, tried to break through the battle lines of the knight order and the imperial army.

In response, a part of Robern’s Knight Order sharply split to both sides and moved.

—Tat!

Their individual movements were by no means organically connected like a single body.

They didn't even have the teamwork that could be achieved with sufficient training.

—Tat!

The word selfish would be fitting.

Nevertheless, if there was one thing in common.

It was that they overwhelmed their opponents by showcasing their own skills based solely on a single swordsmanship.

So there was no need to coordinate.

Usually, the enemy would fall with the first blow, or a single follow-up attack.

“Keoheok!”

“Aack!”

It was the same for the fighters of Solaid and the mages of Remshait.

“To think you’d open the gates to face us with just this much. Your commander is too ignorant.”

The knight order's swordsmanship was by no means complex.

But before the overwhelming physical abilities of those who wielded it and their unstoppable attacks, they could only be helplessly defeated.

“Retreat!”

“Cease the attack and deploy defensive magic!”

And there was someone watching that scene from the watchtower of Benked Castle, the commander of Manoa, William.

‘Is that the legendary swordsmanship of Robern I’ve only heard about……. It is worthy of being called the sword of a supreme ruler.’

The one who reigned with the sword, Robern Crest.

The name of the swordsmanship he had cultivated himself was simply ‘Robern Swordsmanship.’

Usually, when naming a technique, it was common to attach the name of the being one acknowledged as the strongest.

And Robern, with the arrogant belief that he was the strongest in the world, attached his own name to his swordsmanship.

‘There is a clear basis for that arrogance. Even if it's not him, the swords of his successors who inherited his spirit are the proof.’

Moreover, all those who learned Robern's swordsmanship have reached the realm of Sword Expert.

And there were not just one or two such individuals, but over a hundred.

They were beings who, at this point in time, could be called the strongest group on the continent without any exaggeration.

‘But our side isn’t just being beaten one-sidedly either.’

There was a reason why William had opened the castle gates.

It was to test one thing.

‘Now is the time to test Manoa’s secret weapon, created in imitation of Robern’s Knight Order.’

Since the enemy had conveniently entered Manoa's sphere of influence and he judged there was a high possibility they would fight moderately and then retreat, William seized the opportunity to use their secret weapon.

‘In previous battles, they were not deployed due to concerns about exposing our strength. But they also need real combat experience. Now that our main force is vacant with the death of the Divine Archer, we need a presence to fill the kingdom’s void.’

As the main fighting force, the Seven Stars, had disappeared, it was necessary to show a new pillar of support to both internal and external audiences.

That was Manoa’s Lancer Order.

“Lances of Manoa! Go forth! Go and show the Empire the might of Manoa!”

As the commander's order fell, the crowd in front of the castle gate split to the sides.

—Clatter, clatter.

Then, lancers wearing silver armor and holding lances appeared on horseback.

At their shining majesty, the commanders of the other two nations also took note of them.

“You’ve been hiding guys like that all this time? And you had the nerve to curse us for being shady. I feel sorry for Karin.”

“We have Karnak, but that was something we couldn’t move at will. The intention behind hiding that is truly cheap. When everyone is trying so hard.”

The commanders clicked their tongues and looked down at them, seeing how they didn't reveal their true intentions even though they were allied.

At the same time, they intended to carefully observe the strength of those who might become enemies after the war.

Under their gazes, the lancers raised their heavy lances high into the sky and advanced slowly.

“Now! Let’s go defeat the Empire and protect the kingdom!”

“Yes!”

After a short pledge, they all aimed their lance tips straight ahead and charged towards the imperial army with fearsome momentum.

—Dudududu!!!

The battlefield stirred at the sound of horse hooves shaking the earth.

In response, two figures from Robern's Knight Order stepped forward.

They were the Second Sword, Justia, and the Third Sword, Ironveil.

“For the sin of daring to challenge the Empire, you must pay here.”

“Step back. I will block them.”

Before the fierce charge of Manoa's Lancer Order, only two knights stepped forward and raised their swords.

They didn't even coordinate their breaths.

They just swung their swords at their own timing.

—Swish!

—Whoosh!

The hegemonic sword aura of Justia and the heavy blow of Ironveil’s greatsword cut through the air.

The combined force created turbulence, breaking the vanguard of the lancers.

“Ugh!”

And taking advantage of that opening, the two knights cut down the leading lancers, lances and all.

—Chwaaak!

Justia’s relentless swordsmanship and Ironveil’s overwhelming weight-laden attacks swept through the lancers like a wave.

They threw themselves into the center of the thorny lancers without a shred of fear.

“To think the kingdom's level is only this much. Disappointing.”

“The commander won't even need to step in.”

With just two knights, they completely trampled Manoa's prized secret weapon.

This was the overwhelming skill that backed up the title of ‘the strongest existing knight order.’