The Count's Gun-Shooting Scoundrel-Chapter 18 : Awakening (1)

“Don’t just use your upper body, use your lower body too!”
Arthur parried the dagger Dark thrust out and tripped him.
Thud!
Dark grimaced, quickly getting up and retreating. Then, he took an attack stance again and glared at Arthur with chilling eyes.
A week had passed since he began sparring with him.
He had fainted dozens of times during that period.
But he endured with the single-minded determination to become stronger.
As a result, the fruits of his training slowly began to show.
The number of times he fell decreased, and he was no longer just taking a one-sided beating.
Although he was mostly scrambling to defend, he was able to land a few attacks here and there.
Of course, this was only possible because Arthur was adjusting the intensity of his attacks to match him.
But while he was hopelessly weak before Arthur, in spars with his fellow comrades selected for the Devil's Corps, he hadn't fallen even once.
It was truly a dazzling growth, and his faith in Arthur solidified.
‘I can become stronger!’
He gritted his teeth and blocked Arthur’s attack.
Skevin, watching Dark from a distance, was amazed by his tenacity.
Anyone else would have given up long ago, but he would always endure to the very brink of fainting before collapsing.
‘He’s truly relentless.’
Skevin shook his head and shifted his gaze to the trainees sparring with the knights.
A few days prior, the trainees had become official knights and learned the Mana Training Method.
Since then, they had been achieving dazzling, rapid growth.
Every one of them had reached the level of a Sword Actor.
All the knights who had trained alongside them had also advanced by one level.
As a result, they had transformed into a powerful knight order with over 50 members at the Intermediate Sword Expert level or higher.
The training ground was filled with knights wearing the blue armor symbolizing the Phoenix Knights, and his chest swelled with pride every time he heard their spirited shouts.
If things continued like this, it was only a matter of time before they reclaimed their former glory.
The moment the Empire's Spear returns!
All the contempt and oppression they had endured would disappear.
To do that, he, the Commander of the Phoenix Knights, had to become a ‘Sword Master’.
If he could achieve that, they would be called the ‘Invincible Knight Order’ once more, just like in the days when they commanded the respect of the empire.
‘If I’m with the Young Master…’
Just as Skevin clenched his fist, steeling his resolve, a voice rang out.
“A messenger has been sent from the House of Count Yarve!”
A castle gate guard ran over, shouting urgently.
“……!”
For a moment, everyone’s movements stopped.
Clang!
Arthur, too, parried Dark's dagger with enough force to send it flying, then looked at the guard.
“It seems what was bound to happen has finally come.”
*        *        *
“I will give you three days! I advise you to make a wise choice!”
The knight in red armor, who had led ten other knights, delivered a declaration of war at the castle entrance.
The key figures of the castle had all gone up to the ramparts and were watching the scene, seething with anger.
“How dare they!”
Madeline, who had come out with Aild, was also engulfed in fury, her whole body trembling.
“Count Yarve…”
The knight then drew his sword, raised it high, and shouted loudly.
“I will say it again! If you do not surrender, we will turn the Grada territory into a sea of blood!”
Then they turned and left, their red rose banner fluttering.
As they completely disappeared from view, Madeline staggered and collapsed.
“My lady!”
“Mother!”
Aild quickly lifted her onto his back and descended with Millerf.
Arthur watched them for a moment, then thought of Count Yarve’s knight order, which would be somewhere far away.
Except for the knight in red armor who had just come as a messenger, the rest all looked fierce and rough.
It was different from the disciplined aura one would feel from a knight order.
“You felt it too, didn't you?”
“Yes.”
Skevin, who had been standing next to him watching them, replied with a serious expression.
There had been rumors that they were hiring a large number of mercenaries, but he hadn't expected it to be to this extent.
All the knights who came as messengers were Sword Experts, and a blue aura rose from the sword of the one who appeared to be their leader.
He was on almost the same level as Skevin himself.
If the messengers were this strong, their main force must be teeming with powerful individuals.
It was highly likely they had recruited a Sword Master, just as the rumors said.
“The situation seems more serious than we anticipated.”
“What was bound to happen has happened. And we are just as strong as those bastards.”
“That may be so, but the trainees’ only real combat experience is against Goblins and Orcs. I doubt they’ll be able to fight properly when a real war breaks out.”
“Don't worry. I have something in mind.”
“You have a plan?”
Skevin’s eyes widened.
He was surprised that Arthur had prepared a countermeasure for this situation even while training them more harshly than anyone.
“Assemble everyone in the training ground. I'm going to stop by and see my mother first.”
“Understood.”
Skevin bowed his head deeply and hurried down.
Arthur looked around at the village within the territory.
Just like any other day, children were playing cheerfully, laughing with innocent abandon.
“I will protect you, no matter what.”
*        *        *
“Mother, are you alright?”
“I was just a little dizzy.”
As Madeline tried to sit up in bed, Aild quickly stopped her.
“I think it would be best for you to just get some rest.”
“How can I rest in a situation like this? We have to find a solution somehow. Sir Millerf.”
“Yes.”
Millerf, who had been standing back, approached.
“Request help from the neighboring territories at once. And we must also send a letter to the Emperor.”
“Understood.”
Just as Millerf was about to bow his head, Arthur’s voice was heard.
“It will be useless.”
“……!”
Everyone’s gaze turned to the door.
Arthur entered and continued speaking.
“Count Yarve will have already taken measures. There is no other way but to fight and win.”
“I know that. But we can’t handle it with our strength alone.”
“Why do you think so?”
“You saw them, didn't you? If their messengers are that strong, what do you think their main forces are like?”
“Do you think the same?”
Arthur looked at Aild.
Aild nodded without hesitation and said in a terrified voice.
“If we fight them, we'll all die. So we shouldn't even think about fighting him…”
SMACK—.
Arthur fiercely slapped Aild's cheek and glared at him.
“So you're saying we should just surrender as they wish?”
“Did you just… hit me, your older brother?”
Surprise and anger filled Aild’s face.
At the same time, Madeline’s face contorted.
“What are you doing to your brother? Apologize at once!”
Arthur ignored her reaction and met Aild’s eyes.
“Yes, we might live if we do as you say. But have you thought about what will happen after that?”
“Still, it’s better than dying…”
“Listen carefully. The moment we surrender to them, not only us, but all the people of this territory will be reduced to slaves.”
“W-what did you say…”
Aild looked utterly shocked, as if he’d been struck dumb.
Arthur shifted his gaze to Madeline and continued.
“The men will become slave soldiers, and the women and children will be sold to slave traders to live and die miserable lives. Are you still thinking of surrendering?”
“That’s too extreme…”
Arthur raised his hand, cutting her off, and said firmly.
“We must fight!”
“Arthur…”
“We must defend the Grada territory and show the neighboring domains. Show them what happens when they mess with the House of Count Julius, that the Empire's Spear has been resurrected.”
“……!”
Everyone was stunned.
Even Millerf, whose expression had been unreadable, looked taken aback by Arthur’s words, his face hardening.
“I ask you, Mother, to show a strong front to the people of our territory. I came to deliver this message.”
“What on earth are you thinking…”
As Aild looked at him with worried eyes, Arthur gave him a pathetic look.
“Consider yourself lucky it ended with just one slap. If Wesley were here, he wouldn't have ended it at that.”
“Brother is…”
“If you don't want to get beaten up by me, act properly.”
After giving him that sharp rebuke, Arthur walked out.
“What should we do?”
Even at Millerf’s question, Madeline just stared blankly at the door Arthur had left through.
Until now, she had only received s about Arthur through Leusanna; this was the first time they had met and talked.
The weak boy she remembered was nowhere to be found; it was like looking at a strong man.
If the reliability she felt from Wesley stemmed from the pride one feels for a child who has just become a young man, what she felt from Arthur was like a faith born from the strength of an adult.
She was confused, yet happy and reassured.
Amidst that, fear for what would befall their territory washed over her.
‘What would you have done…?’
She looked up at the sky outside the window with worried eyes.
After several minutes passed like this.
She spoke as if she had made a decision.
“Inform the people of the territory of this and have them take refuge in the castle.”
“Understood.”
Millerf received her orders and went outside.
Aild wore a look of incomprehension.
“Are you really going to follow his words?”
“Aild.”
As Madeline looked at him with cold eyes, he looked slightly flustered.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It might be right to survive, even if it means giving up everything.”
“It’s better than dying.”
“But perhaps choosing an honorable death is more righteous than surviving only to become a slave.”
“That’s ridiculous! How can dying be better than surviving?”
“Because we are of the House of Julius.”
“……!”
“Do not forget the pride of a Julius, Aild.”
In that instant, Aild’s mind cleared.
Julius!
The pride he had long forgotten came flooding back.
For the house once called the ‘Spear’ of the Oscar Empire to beg for its life was unthinkable.
He remembered his behavior from just a moment ago.
Where had the pride of a Julius gone, that his first thought was to grovel?
At this rate, he was no different from a terrified puppy.
“I’m going too.”
“Where are you going?”
Aild left the room with a grim expression.
“As the older brother, I can't just stand by and do nothing, can I?”
The blood of a Julius began to stir.
* * *
At that moment.
Arthur stood on the platform and looked around.
Everyone wore grave expressions.
Their minds must be in turmoil, having to face Count Yarve's declaration of war when they hadn't even dealt with the Orcs yet.
But thanks to the harsh training, not only the knights but also the trainees had grown stronger.
They just didn't know it themselves.
It seemed it was time to awaken them.
“Count Yarve has declared war.”
Everyone swallowed hard, hanging on Arthur’s every word.
“He advised us to surrender, but I have no intention of doing so. Instead, I plan to show them what happens when they mess with us. So, I will give you a choice.”
‘A choice?’
‘What does he mean?’
Everyone tilted their heads in confusion.
Arthur continued calmly.
“If you wish to leave the Grada territory, you are free to go. I will not resent you for it.”
No one moved.
They just stared intently at Arthur with grim expressions.
“Will you fight with me?”
“Hah!”
Skevin answered without hesitation.
Then, as if in chorus, Hellot and the rest of the knights and trainees shouted in unison.
Hah!
A powerful aura erupted from them.
Arthur nodded in satisfaction and looked at Skevin.
“Prepare to march.”
“……?”
Arthur’s eyes glinted coldly as he looked toward the West Mountain Range.
“We will deal with the Orcs first.”