Chapter 196. The Prelude to a Counterattack (1)

With the Second Sword Justia's single command, the knight order's human hunt began.

Their swords were swung like beasts starved for blood, and the soldiers of the allied forces, while being slaughtered, couldn't even muster the courage to fight back and were busy just trying to escape.

In the end, the chief of staff, who was acting in place of the fallen commander, cried out as if in agony.

“All forces, retreat!”

The irony of having to order a retreat even after defeating the twin knights, Lec and Luc of Robern's Five Swords.

However, the judgment was clear.

The other swords were still intact, and to confront them recklessly would only lead to annihilation.

Moreover, Benked Castle was a fortress with double walls.

Even if they gave up one layer, they could retreat further inside and reorganize their ranks.

“Gather the wounded! We will retreat inside and regroup!”

The soldiers supported their blood-soaked comrades and barely managed to gather inside the castle gate.

As the massive gate was pulled up and closed, the iron chains creaked, making a tense sound.

—Charrrrk!

Thus, the connection with the enemy was severed for the time being, but it was only a temporary measure.

With the outer wall already lost, morale had plummeted, and the fear that the enemy could attack again at any moment weighed down on the soldiers' shoulders.

Furthermore, with Commander William's death, the central pillar of the Manoa Kingdom's army was gone.

Nevertheless, the chief of staff, as the one who had inherited command in case of an emergency, calmly assessed the situation.

‘The remaining forces are still 80 percent of the total. Numerically, we can hold on. But the problem is that the soldiers' morale is completely broken due to the annihilation of the Lancer Order and the commander's death.’

Defeating the twin knights was certainly meaningful.

However, from the moment the castle walls were breached, a humiliating reality had been exposed to them.

‘This makes it certain. They weren't just probing. They attacked believing they could overwhelm us even with those numbers.’

Despite that, the enemy did not push deeper.

They merely sealed off the outside of the gate thoroughly, maintaining a siege formation to prevent the allied forces from coming out again.

The chief of staff took a heavy breath and climbed onto the castle wall, engraving the sight of the enemy encamped in the darkness, watching them, into his eyes.

‘The mercenaries from Solaid were a great help. So, we must forget the past pain and regroup. Even if we discuss a truce, it is absolutely impossible while they are within our territory.’

Before tasting the height of humiliation, the Manoa Kingdom at least had to make a plan to drive out the arriving enemies, even if it meant staking their pride.

However, it was the Empire that moved more quickly.

“Chief of Staff! Look ahead! A new enemy force has appeared!”

“What?!”

It was reported that only a few thousand imperial troops had appeared with Robern's Knight Order at first, but what the chief of staff saw now was a large force that looked to be well over 20,000.

“Didn't the scout report that there were no signs of reinforcements at all?”

“That…… that is……”

The face of the officer who reported in place of the dead adjutant contorted in grief.

“The scout who reported to us…… was a double agent.”

“What? A double agent? I've known him for years……. He even contributed to victory in the last battle and was decorated for his service! And you're telling me he was a double agent?”

“It's hard to believe, but it's true. It seems he deceived us all this time for this very moment. He has already completely gone over to the Empire's side.”

“How can this be……!”

The chief of staff was so shocked that he lost his words for a moment.

And soon, he got goosebumps all over his body, and a chill went down his spine.

‘Wait……. The fact that he revealed his identity now and returned to the Empire means his cover was either blown or there was nothing left for him to do. But no one knew his identity. If that's the case…….’

In other words, the fact that the spy, who had been leaking information to them and building trust until now, had returned to the Empire meant there was no longer any reason to hide, and at the same time, it was a sign of confidence that they could end everything right now.

‘Robern's Knight Order is still intact. And with that many troops, even a siege is more than possible. This isn't a simple threat; this time, they intend to completely break us!’

At first, he thought it was a silent pressure to force a truce.

However, the moment the secret force was revealed, he realized the Empire had no intention of stopping anymore.

Moreover, they hadn't given the allied forces time.

They had simply been buying time for their reinforcements to gather and arrive.

“Everyone, listen!”

The chief of staff shouted at the top of his lungs from the castle wall.

“The enemy reinforcements are already before our eyes! They did not come to threaten us. They are here to kill us all!”

For a moment, the inside of the castle was in an uproar.

“Is it true?”

“Look at the faces of the people on the wall…… it doesn't look like a joke.”

“Damn it……!”

It was a natural reaction.

The allied forces had been barely holding on even when they had the numerical advantage.

In this situation, the news of enemy reinforcements delivered directly by the chief of staff was no different from a death sentence.

Nevertheless, the chief of staff did not hide it.

It was a fact they would find out soon enough.

He intended to drive the allied forces to the brink by telling them the truth.

“We cannot collapse like this! Behind us are our friends and families! Are we going to let them be trampled under the Empire's feet!”

The chief of staff screamed until his throat was hoarse.

Speeches had always been the commander's role, and he had never once stood on a podium.

“I will not! I will die here before I let the enemy set another foot on our territory!”

His hand went to his waist, and finally, his sword was drawn and raised.

“They too must have squeezed out their last remaining forces! That means, if we win, the Empire will no longer be able to hold on and will fall! Allied forces, take up your arms!”

It was not a prepared speech, nor were there any sophisticated words.

It was not a voice that commanded dignity.

However, the sincerity was conveyed, as the always composed chief of staff was screaming so desperately.

That sincerity was what the soldiers needed most at this moment.

“If you're not going to desert, let's die taking down at least one enemy instead of dying a dog's death here! Warriors of Solaid!”

Commander Omar joined in and shouted.

“Yes, let's see this through to the end! The mages of Remshait will be with you!”

Luise also lent her strength.

“Uwaaaaah!!! Let’s drive out the Empire!”

It was the moment a cornered rat was finally about to bite the cat.

“Open the gates! Now is the chance, before the enemy reinforcements join them!”

The chief of staff tried to use even this desperate situation to his advantage.

If they had to face the enemy anyway, there was no other way but to aim for a piecemeal defeat before they joined into a larger force.

—Charrrk!

The iron chains moved, and the castle gate began to lower.

The imperial army in front of them seemed completely taken aback, as if they had never expected the allied forces to open the gates themselves.

“Drive out the enemies!”

As the allied forces, who had steeled their resolve for a final stand, poured out, Justia, who stood before them and the imperial army, laughed mockingly.

“Were you that eager to die?”

Just as she was raising her sword high, she frowned at the words of a soldier rushing forward.

“Who is coming……?”

Simultaneously, the sound of drums echoed from beyond the castle walls.

—Thump! Thump! Thump!

A familiar echo.

The first one to recognize the sound was the commander of Solaid, Omar.

“This is…… our drumbeat? But there can't be any troops coming now…… Don't tell me!”

Omar shook off the hands of those treating him and climbed onto the castle wall.

And he witnessed it with his own two eyes.

“Prince……?”

The prince of Solaid, who had not declared his participation in the war, had appeared leading his troops and was attacking the flank of the imperial army like a storm.

* * *

Harashin, who had sent reinforcements with Evan, had not shown himself in public, lost in agony day and night.

Whenever he tried to fulfill his duty as a prince, the faces of the allied and Solaid soldiers falling on the battlefield came to mind.

Among them, the image of Evan, who had dedicated himself to the kingdom despite being a foreigner, weighed most heavily on his heart.

Comparing himself to Evan, who was probably fighting on the battlefield at this very moment, Harashin fell into endless self-loathing.

‘This can't go on. I can't be remembered as a cowardly prince in the history of future generations.’

A human's life is short.

But history is recorded forever.

He did not want future generations to remember him as a weak prince who only protected the well-being of his kingdom.

Instead, he wished to be remembered like Kailam Juan, who defended his country with a do-or-die resolve.

‘I must go. Even if I am a prince, this is a war that the fate of the continent hangs on.’

In the end, Harashin made his decision.

But it was clear that the king would oppose him again this time, so he tried to sneak out through his room's window.

However, at that moment, the door opened at a perfect timing, and the king entered.

Discovering his son, the king asked with a troubled face.

“Harashin, where are you trying to go again?”

The king looked at his son, who always acted as he pleased, with tired eyes.

“……I must go. To the battlefield.”

“We have already done our best. Isn't that enough?”

“No, it is not enough. That is why I must go.”

The king lowered his voice and said.

“You are the one who will become the king of a nation. How can you treat your life as lightly as a fallen leaf?”

Then Harashin firmly refuted.

“I have never taken it lightly. The same goes for the lives of others. But if I can save tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands with my one life…… I will gladly offer it.”

“Harashin!”

“It is no use even if you try to stop me, Father. After all, haven't I always been willful?”

“…….”

This confrontation had been repeated countless times.

But this time was different.

“……Go. If you must go, then go and sound the cry of victory.”

The king, who seemed like he would hold him back until the end, for the first time, sent his son to the battlefield first.

It was probably because he too knew that the flow of the battle he was hearing about was unusual.

“Father……”

“But you must return alive. I must not have to hold my own son's funeral.”

Harashin suppressed his surging emotions and bowed his head.

“I understand.”

“And don't leave like a thief, but formally lead the army. This time, depart with dignity.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Thus, Harashin received an official order for deployment for the first time.

And he immediately led his army towards Benked Castle.

—Thump! Thump! Thump!

The sound of drums announcing the arrival of the Solaid army echoed across the battlefield.

At the forefront, Harashin charged towards the enemy lines ahead of anyone else.

“Harashin……? Oho, this is the first time I'm seeing him in person.”

The one who blocked his path was Robern's Fourth Sword, Blackthorn.

“I will defeat him and claim the honor of the Seven Stars! No one interfere!”

As Blackthorn swung his saw-toothed sword, numerous sword strikes, as if dotted with thorns, poured out like a wave.

—Kwakwakwa!!!

Harashin lightly dismounted his horse and charged straight ahead.

“Hup.”

He put strength into his fist and shattered the incoming barrage of strikes head-on.

—Thwump!

Harashin, who had broken through the fragmented sword strikes, immediately planted his fist into Blackthorn's face.

“Keoheok!”

As Blackthorn was about to be sent flying back while spitting blood, Harashin grabbed his arm to hold him in place and muttered lowly.

“You'll defeat me? If you had the strength for that, you would already be one of the Seven Stars.”

He twisted his body and kicked Blackthorn fiercely.

From the intense impact, Blackthorn was sent flying far away.

—Thwack!

Harashin looked down at him with a leisurely attitude, raising his chin.

“……And besides me, there is a human so strong you can't even imagine.”

It was a statement alluding to Evan, who had not yet arrived.

“So you frogs in a well should just stay cooped up in that well.”

Harashin gestured with his finger towards the knight order and the imperial army, provoking them.