Raising the Princess to Overcome Death-Chapter 282: Engagement - Bloody Battle
281. Engagement - Bloody Battle
“Sir Arpen! What are you doing? Sir Noel does not have his sword drawn! Why are you blocking him?”
Noel Dexter had ascended the podium to deliver his speech, carrying a sword. A royal guard stepped in his way, but Baron Albacete permitted him, prompting Prince Arnulf to approach and protest.
“Carrying a weapon near the king is never allowed, regardless of the situation…”
“Please, Your Highness. I’m nervous too.”
Is the king really not human?
Arpen recalled the words from the Saintess: “Trust that man named Ray. The Cross Church will fully cooperate.” Still, he felt uneasy.
What if the king wasn’t the evil god? What if Noel throws his sword and—splurt! Blood bursts out?
He wouldn’t escape the stigma of plotting rebellion. Yet, Arpen quelled his unease in his own way.
- I’ve never liked that bastard.
Arpen placed his hands on the prince’s shoulders.
“Your Highness, no matter what happens from now on, you mustn’t be surprised.”
“What are you planning?”
Arpen glanced, confirming Noel turning around. Whatever the outcome, one thing was certain.
“Today, Your Highness will become king.”
“What? Guards! Seize that man immediately—”
That’s when Noel threw his sword.
Sensing something was amiss, Arpen swiftly pulled the prince back. A burst of steel wings exploded outward. Arpen heard the voice of a god piercing his mind.
- Kill.
“Haha… Hahaha… Hahahahaha!! So it was true! Yeah, I’ve never liked that bastard! What are you standing there for?! Move aside!”
Malpas, with its crimson beak arrogantly raised, revealed its true nature. Arpen pushed aside the horrified guards and charged toward the giant raven.
His greatsword flared blue, and Arpen advanced, slicing through wings laden with steel blades instead of feathers.
This is why they’re troublesome.
Swordmasters.
The red raven, Malpas, gazed down at Arpen with emotionless eyes and spread its wings wide. Whoosh! A storm of iron erupted from its eight wings.
“Argh!”
Sharp shards of metal scattered. Arpen tried to hold his ground, but the location was poor. The high, pyramid-shaped podium offered no cover, forcing him to retreat. He first secured the prince.
“Your Highness, please step back.”
“W-What is happening? Where is His Majesty…?”
“It’s a long story. Your Highness, focus on what’s in front of you. What must you do?”
Arnulf de Klaus rubbed his face, taking a moment to regain his composure. As he looked around, he saw the panicked citizens. He put his doubts aside and fulfilled his duty.
“Soldiers, hear me! Control the crowd and move them back! Citizens of Barnaul! Retreat, retreat!!”
A mage collapsed, foaming at the mouth, and the prince shouted till his voice was raw.
Fortunately, the crowd’s focus had been on the podium, allowing them to notice the prince’s gestures and start fleeing.
People scattered in all directions, but some pushed inward instead.
Led by Ray, the paladins and priests of the Barnaul Church, “Hahaha! I told you it was fine to expect this!”—Dehor’s hearty laugh, and dozens of great warriors gathered from across the kingdom,
And nobles indebted to Noel. Initially skeptical, the nobles unhesitatingly dispatched their knights.
Arpen, with the prince in tow, leapt off the storm-ridden podium. He shouted to the members of the 1st and 2nd Knight Orders.
“Draw your swords! We will slay this monster that mocks us by wearing the king’s shell! With Jensen gone, the 2nd Order’s command falls to me, Arpen Albacete, Captain of the 1st Order! Form battle formation!”
The knights swiftly assembled.
450 strong, befitting the Kingdom of Knights, more numerous than any other kingdom on the continent. They formed three lines encircling the podium, drawing their weapons in a grand display. Then,
“Deus proptius eris impus Shea! Lord, forgive the wicked!”
“Dant animos militis non kkeok! Grant courage to the warriors!”
Blessings from the Barnaul Church priests were layered upon them. The church’s emblem was etched in white on the southern square’s ground, and through the cloudy sky, brilliant light poured down. The armor of the paladins reciting the name of Latzar shone dazzlingly.
“Oh boy. There were supposed to be trials… If this goes wrong, there won’t be anything left!”
Furthermore, battle-hardened great warriors who had faced many demonic beasts joined the fray. Their preparation was flawless. It was perfect, but…
- Caw-!
Malpas was a war god born from the chaos of battle. Unlike Oriax, who could only summon the minotaurs that served him, or Barbatos, born from hunting, Malpas was not so simple.
It was a complex art of slaughter.
That is war.
With an ominous caw, Malpas’ beak vibrated. Suddenly, ravens emerged from all directions, soaring through the square, and fires broke out along the southern gate walls. With a loud whoosh, a boulder crashed down.
“What… What’s that? Catapults?”
Barnaul’s siege weapons were operating on their own. Stones and cauldrons of boiling oil crashed down, and red mist enveloped the commercial district surrounding the square, followed by a sharp whizz as arrows flew.
*
[Siege Warfare]
*
Malpas’ basic power as the god of war. Of course, he had far worse abilities.
- Caw! Caw!
*
[Blood War]
*
Soldiers who had been retreating with the citizens turned back. Not all, but about two thousand.
Among the citizens, some turned as well—those not wearing things like wedding rings.
Their numbers were about eight thousand. Malpas’ most efficient and powerful ability.
A bloody battle requires both sides to be evenly matched, doesn’t it? *
[Blood War]
* ensured that balance.
Designate the enemy, and secure a force that can just match them. Of course, mere eight thousand citizen-soldiers could hardly challenge the combined strength of over seven hundred royal knights, paladins, great warriors, priests, and swordmasters...
“You… You all! What are you doing?!”
The guards surrounding the podium began slashing at the knights. Among the great warriors brought by Dehor, those like ‘Baral Aviker’ with raven tattoos also lost their minds and started slashing those around them.
- Caw, caw caw caw caw!
This is it. This is the true flavor of war.
Kill and be killed. When one side falters, I’ll lend my strength to the losing side.
Even if that side isn’t mine.
And in the end, Malpas planned to feast on the survivors who remained after the bloody battle. Malpas cawed joyfully as the environment became ripe for chaos. Ray Dexter shouted,
“Do not panic! Just capture that bastard! Paladins, follow me!”
“The knights will split into two groups! The 1st Order will deal with the crazed guards and strike the beast! Noel, you take command of the 2nd Order and cover the rear! Protect the priests!”
“Dehor, what do we do?”
A warrior, who had just cut down the rampaging Baral Aviker in one swift motion, asked. Was his name Kali Toluca? Dehor shrugged and replied.
“Do as you wish. If you want to kill the monster, then go and kill it. I, however, am more concerned about… ugh!”
An errant arrow thudded into Dehor’s shoulder. Thankfully, it didn’t penetrate deeply, thanks to his leather armor and solid muscles. He pulled out the arrow and continued.
“There’s something over there that’s been bothering me, so I’ll stay here. You all do what you need to do. Stay safe.”
The great warriors dispersed, choosing their own battles. Many, like Dehor, turned back due to the approaching citizen militia.
“Please, my love! What’s happening to you?”
“Honey!!”
A poor but seemingly happy family clung to a burly man, pleading with him. But the man, with glazed eyes, only pushed away his wife and mother-in-law as he kept walking…
“There’s no choice! Kill them!”
Below the podium, as the knights began slaughtering the guards, the wife who had been trying to stop her husband froze. With her baby strapped to her back, she too turned toward the blood-drenched chaos.
“My baby! My baby! Why are you doing this too?”
The elderly woman clung desperately to her daughter and son-in-law but was dragged helplessly away. This tragic scene was unfolding everywhere.
Citizen militia advanced undeterred, even as stones and cauldrons of boiling oil rained down indiscriminately. Unable to stand it any longer, Prince Arnulf de Klaus ordered his remaining soldiers to block the citizens, but for every soldier he deployed, another citizen turned around to fight.
An old woman who had been stopping her son-in-law grabbed a soldier’s cheek and tried to gouge his eye with her thumb.
“Grandma, please! Stop this… Ah! You… damn it… Aahhh!!”
It was utter mayhem. No, it was hell.
Dehor’s worries were spot on. Among the citizens advancing toward him was Rera. Fortunately, she was dragging Elson along with Yuan’s help. They had tried to knock him out several times, causing Elson’s head to bleed.
“Rera!”
“Dad! Help this man… Ah!”
Elson drew his sword and charged at Dehor. Clang! Dehor raised his axe to block, but his hands went numb.
Elson was a seasoned mercenary leader, formerly a junior knight. He wasn’t an easy opponent, and Dehor clicked his tongue.
“This is bad. Rera, can you disarm him? If you do, I’ll handle the rest.”
“Yes.”
But that too was no easy task. Seeing Dehor as an enemy, surrounding citizens began swarming toward him.
In the end, Dehor swung his massive axe with a mighty whoosh! Meanwhile, Noel faced a horrific trial.
Citizens approached with malice. The knights of the 2nd Order waited for his command. The priests were busy bestowing blessings on those battling Malpas.
He had to kill them. He needed to kill them…
The nightmares of the Nine-Day War resurfaced. Slaughtering anyone who stood in the way of his objective.
After much internal conflict, Noel gritted his teeth and gave the order.
“Kill all who approach.”
The knights, relieved to receive a clear command, wore expressions far more relaxed than Noel’s. Blood erupted from every direction, and Noel closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was overcome with despair.
“…Brother.”
His older brother, who had once thrown away his sword because of Noel, was approaching, weapon in hand. Rera had gone to help Dehor, leaving only Yuan, clinging to Noel’s trousers and being dragged along.
Several knights recognized Elson, hesitating. Noel stepped forward.
“No, don’t. Please, please.”
Yuan pleaded. Noel hesitated with his sword in hand…
- “This is how you hold a greatsword. Yes, just like that. Wow, you’re good at this! Now, thrust!”
As a child, Noel had seen his brother as a towering figure. He stabbed Elson’s chest. Elson gurgled, spewing blood as he collapsed and ceased moving.
“No… Father…! Father!!”
Noel approached the wailing Yuan. He knelt and closed Elson’s wide-open eyes. Were his brother’s wrinkles always this prominent? He thought, and at that moment—
- Thud.
A dagger plunged beneath Noel’s collarbone, into his chest. Yuan, clinging tightly, glared up at him.
“You bastard…! You killed my father… you killed my father again!”
“...I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? If you were sorry…”
Noel hugged Yuan tightly.
Concealing the dagger wound with his cloak so no one could see, he whispered softly.
“Your father, Count Pamphili, was a remarkable man, even if he was our enemy. My brother goes without saying. I knew… I could never atone for the sins I’ve committed against you.”
“...”
“But I promise you this. I will settle the debts of my past… so let me go, just this once. Thank you. Live on and continue our family.”
Noel grasped the dagger firmly. He held Yuan’s hand, slowly pulling the blade out and wiping it clean with his cloak.
Just as his adopted nephew’s hands had never been stained with blood. Then, as Rera rushed over, Noel spoke.
“I’m sorry, but I need my sword back.”
“...What?”
“You took it from me long ago, remember? Yes, that one. I need it now.”
With the familiar weight of the sword in his hand, Noel turned around. Blood ran down the podium, spilling onto the ground.
.
!
Chapter 282: Engagement - Bloody Battle
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