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All were holding their breath when the Minotaur appeared, bellowing under the faint moonlight. The curse had worked.
The army that had surrounded the forest was silent. They could not move until the Minotaur was captured.
Normally, a few knights eager for glory would have rushed out on their own in such an army, but there were no such men to be seen. It was not only because Johan had spoken strongly, but also because the Minotaur was so overwhelming.
‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭.’
“Send the signal.”
Johan was satisfied. In fact, he had never seen a properly commanded army in this world since he came.
Because each person brought their own army to gather, there were often sudden actions that violated orders, and they were even considered a right.
At least he didn’t have to see that. If any man had stepped out, he would have thought of recovering that man’s fiefdom by any means necessary.
With the sound of ropes being released from the darkness, sharp spears flew. Even from a distance, it seemed like a piercing sound could be heard.
The Minotaur, trapped in a trap, let out a dying scream, twisted its body, and knelt down. And then he fell with a thud.
“Where did the dwarves get that?”
The centaurs were amazed. They were far from such technology, so they could not help but be surprised.
Even in ancient times, when the centaurs invaded the Empire, the most annoying thing was the fortresses built by the dwarves.
“The leader has been defeated. Send a signal to the left and right wings. We will surround them and finish them off.”
The goblins and ghouls who followed the minotaur were gathered clumsily around the forest. They were planning to surround them from three sides and completely wipe them out.
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐦━
Along with the drumbeats, the flags began to flutter incessantly. Finally, those who received the signal began to move happily.
The vassals who came out with Johan were looking for an opportunity to shine in front of their new lord, and the vassals who came out by abandoning the marquis were looking for an opportunity to somehow catch his eye. Each of them thought about their own thoughts and moved.
“Are you not going, count?”
Achladda, as well as Euclyia, tapped the ground with her hooves as if disappointed next to her. Johan shook his head.
“Since I have obtained the title of count, I should also give my vassals the opportunity to shine.”
Always leading the charge and defeating the enemy was not always the best course of action. As a lord, one should give their vassals the opportunity to shine. It was also a virtue for a lord to be magnanimous and generous.
“Wait. Does that mean I have to go too?”
“You need to protect me.”
Johan’s words caused the centaurs to laugh as if he had told a ridiculous joke. Iselia, who was listening nearby, even hardened her face.
“My dear. Are they really loyal?”
“Even though they look like that, they are loyal. They’re just a bit unique.”
The centaurs were the ones who had the hardest time understanding when Johan was giving out fiefs to those who had distinguished themselves in battle.
Achladda, at least, understood what it meant and accepted it, but Euclyia couldn’t understand why she had to stay on a small piece of land.
At first, Euclyia thought it was a punishment and began to cry.
Johan managed to convince her by saying, ‘𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.’
“■ ■■■ ■■■ ■■ ■■ ■■■■ ■■■?”
Euclyia asked Johan in Eastern dialect. If Iselia had heard it, she would have blushed and trembled all over.
“My dear. What are you saying? It sounds like you’re talking to me.”
“You are so beautiful.”
“Wh. . . What? What kind of harassment is this.”
Euclyia nodded with a smile. Johan’s words were not translated incorrectly. There was only a slight difference in accent and vocabulary.
In fact, she also meant it as a compliment. Euclyia said this time in clumsy Empire language.
“We will protect you.”
“Th. . . Thank you.”
Iselia was a born knight. She was grateful for Euclyia’s favor, who looked like a strong warrior. Johan thought to himself.
‘I’m glad I don’t know Eastern language.’
“Count! Count!”
“What is it?”
“This pirate brat is crazy enough to die! Can’t you just sit still?!”
It seemed that there had been a commotion among the pirates behind them. A captain glared and shouted.
“Let me kill him right away! This pirate brat dares!”
In itself, causing a commotion during battle was a serious crime. It was only natural to suspect of desertion. The mercenaries were about to kill him immediately.
However, Johan stopped the mercenaries. Tamir, who was caught and had his face pressed to the ground, was surprised at Johan’s patience.
“Let’s hear what’s going on and deal with it later. Tell me.”
“Huff, huff. . . Count! You have to be careful! The minotaur is not dead!!”
“What nonsense are you talking about. . .!”
“Everyone be quiet.”
Johan’s words made the captains fall silent. Even though his voice was calm, it felt like a cold blade had brushed past their backs.
“The minotaur is dead. If it were alive, it would have crawled out of the trap.”
The left and right wings were happily surrounding the monsters and beating them up. The monsters that had emerged with great momentum were screaming and being smashed to pieces. If it could endure this, it was not a monster.
“If the minotaur really died, the goblins would at least have to run away!”
“. . .!”
Johan instinctively knew that Tamir’s words were true. But the fact that the minotaur was dead was also true.
What is it?
At that moment, a flash of light went through Johan’s mind, and he came to a conclusion.
“. . .Could it be two?”
“This is hell.”
Achladda muttered a curse under his breath.
The thought of another minotaur jumping out among the knights who were happily running amok made him feel dizzy.
It was easy because we trapped it with a trap and then cut off its breath with a siege weapon, but otherwise the minotaur was a monster close to a nightmare.
“Is the poison ready, Achladda?”
“I can shoot it at any time!”
“Order the centaurs to follow us! I’m going to help!”
Johan immediately started riding his horse and running out. The soldiers who were guarding their positions were surprised, but quickly made a path.
“Send a retreat order! Tell them not to go deep into the forest!”
Johan urged the messenger, but he didn’t expect much. In the first place, even if the messenger sent a retreat order, the knights who were blinded by achievement would fight.
“My dear! I understand that you are worried about your vassals, but you must not do anything reckless!”
Iselia, who was following Johan on horseback, shouted in a hurry. She was worried about what Johan was going to do.
“Don’t worry, Iselia. I have never done anything reckless.”
“????”
The centaurs followed and threw a questioning look at Johan.
Yes?
However, Iselia naively believed Johan’s words. Johan led dozens of cavalrymen to quickly break through the formation and enter the forest. Inside, soldiers were fighting with monsters.
“I, Johan of Yeats, order you to retreat!”
“B-But, my lord! Why. . .?”
A knight asked in a puzzled manner after defeating three goblins. The reason soon became clear. A thick tree flew from behind.
𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠!
A large shadow began to grow rapidly from between the trees. It was a minotaur charging at full speed without even breathing. Its eyes were red and its mouth smelled like hell.
Johan stared at it without dodging. He could feel his horse trembling. As the third tree broke, a spear tore through the air and flew towards the minotaur.