𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 (2)

‘𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦?’

No more knights came out from the enemy’s camp. Instead, the soldiers started to advance.  

If they send out more knights here, the morale will just drop to the floor, but doing nothing would have the same effect. What will the soldiers who just witnessed what happened be thinking?

The shock from earlier must be washed away by the heat of battle.  

With the enemies coming out like that, Johan didn’t need to hold on any longer. Johan mocked the enemies as he returned to his allies’ camp. Cheers for the honorable knight who was victorious in the duel erupted.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

𝚊𝚠𝙚𝕓ṡ̇ᴛᴏ𝙧𝚒𝘦ṡ.ᴄ𝔬𝙢

“Gorgale Mercenary Group, forward!”

What the Gorgale Mercenary Group prided themselves on were their unique crossbowmen. The crossbowmen who charged out carrying shields took their positions and fired bolts.  

Enemy soldiers who were not properly equipped with armor or were poorly equipped screamed as they tumbled about. Already, some parts of their formation were collapsing.  

Although the enemies counterattacked, the crossbowmen did not falter. Their skill level was different from the hastily conscripted soldiers.  

“■■■■!”

“■■■■!”

Realizing they were no match, enemy knights gritted their teeth as they hurried their soldiers. Flags fluttered here and there as their movements quickened.  

The clash will occur soon.  

“Confirm the locations of the enemy knights.”

“Yes. Paying attention.”

Johan was in the central camp carefully observing the enemies’ movements. If they really clashed head-on like this, it didn’t look like there were any factors for defeat.  

However, the other side also had brains. They would do something. The most textbook move would be to deploy the reserves of elite troops they had set aside to places their forces were being pushed back.

Although the enemy knights were relatively lightly armored, they were still cavalry on horseback. If they wildly charged in, the momentum of that spot could be completely reversed.  

“Those damn elves fight really well.”  

Gurelic’s murmur could be heard. He was talking about the Akiten’s b*stards. Although they had dismounted to fight, elves were inherently militant. Also, their equipment was outstanding.  

“In the name of St. Kaila!” 

“Smash the enemies’ heads!”

The elves slashed at the enemies as they swung their swords and shields. It wasn’t only the elves who were fighting well. In places, the mercenaries were overwhelming the enemies.  

Although the centers had not clashed yet, the mercenaries were pushing back the opponents on the left and right flanks. It already looked like the opponents were being forced back. The flags were fluttering as they retreated.  

It was strange they were being pushed back when they had greater numbers, more experience, and were better equipped than the enemies.  

“Could it be a trap?”

“With those conscripted soldiers, would they really be able to carry out a feigned retreat to lure the enemies and set up an ambush? Wouldn’t that take divine skills?”

Ahir asked as if finding it preposterous.  

It wasn’t something just anyone could do to feign a retreat. If morale was high and loyalty was lacking, there was a chance they could disperse for real after pretending to retreat.  

It was good Johan did not look down on the Count of Jekyllid too much, but he also seemed to be overestimating him a bit incomprehensibly.  

Why on earth would such a brave person. . .?

Ahir’s sons also nodded their heads in agreement with his meaning.  

“Well, you have a point there.”

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸  

“What are you doing? Don’t retreat and advance forward. If you retreat, the commanders will be held responsible!” 

“Understood, Your Excellency.”

Although the messenger ran off, the expressions of the nobles nearby were not good. The situation would not change just because Jekyllid was angry.  

Although they could not grasp the full situation, they could tell at the very least that the left and right flanks were being overwhelmed now. 

After all, messengers kept frantically coming asking for reinforcements.  

Although they were somehow stubbornly fighting back, collapse seemed imminent at any time.  

For the first time, unease began to set in for the Count.  

Could the enemies really be elites and not nobodies?

What if it wasn’t that someone of no renown was unable to restrain his greed and only conscripted a bunch of green troops, but a genuine contender to become the hegemon of the south who had made proper preparations before coming?

“We placed experienced knights and veteran mercenaries at the center. If we breakthrough the enemies’ center, we can turn the situation around.”

“I. . . I see.”  

At his vassal’s words, the count nodded as he looked ahead. At that moment, the enemy center swayed and the flags on both flanks started moving. At a glance, it looked like movements right before retreat and defeat.   

“The enemy is collapsing!”

“?!”

‘𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺?’

A few nobles looked at the center in puzzlement.  

Unless the enemies had only stationed *ssholes at the center, there was no way they would collapse already after clashing for just a few hours. . .

The nobles’ thoughts were correct.  

Those were not collapse movements, but cavalry making space to charge.  

A path opened and Johan and his guards charged out. The enemies they were fighting in front cried out in panic. Johan’s appearance had already left a strong impression in the soldiers’ minds.

“D. . . D. . . The demon! The demon! The demon has appeared!” 

‘𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯?’

The soldiers’ screams fully entered Johan’s ears, which could now somewhat understand the eastern language.  

“Strike!”

Johan shouted as he swung the Giant Slayer up and down, left and right. Each time he swung, a wide area opened up. His momentum was so fierce that the enemies could not even take aim with their weapons as they retreated.  

Although experienced soldiers had gathered at the enemy center as well, they were useless in this situation. As if they had encountered some ferocious monster, they were frightened out of their wits, shoving and trampling their comrades as they fled.  

“If you retreat, I’ll behead you! Fight and stand your ground!”

Although the knights and sub-captains shouted desperately, the soldiers did not listen. Johan grabbed a spear and threw it. It pierced straight through the neck of a shouting sub-captain who collapsed.  

“Kill all who stand still!”