Chapter 170: I had a pleasant time after a long time (4)
Pwah-la-la-la-
As the knight, his body enveloped in light, pierced through the shadows, the shadows were torn to shreds and scattered in all directions. Proportionately, the light surrounding Joey’s body grew even stronger.
“Evil darkness that blocks the light, beware! Ru Ikellainin!”
Seeing the Shadow Manipulation being broken by Joey’s charge, which could be considered the essence of a Shrine Knight with his overwhelming presence alone, it felt as if the voice of the god who had disappeared in the past was being heard again.
Soon, the shadows that had been spread around began to recede like fog being pushed by the wind. The shadows all rushed towards one place, and there stood Silvan Harcian.
Silvan Harcian, still completely covered in his robe as before, coughed loudly after brushing away the remaining shadows while leaning on his staff.
Baius Extoria, standing next to him, held a halberd with a stern expression. He exclaimed,
“You scoundrel! How dare you attack an old man instead of respecting him! You shameless wretch!”
“Hey! If you’re old, just stay put! Aren’t you ashamed of blocking the path of young people even in your old age?!”
Lucy immediately threw in a witty remark. His sense of humor is truly appreciated at times like these. Baius Extoria frowned at Lucy.
“Judging by your face, you haven’t even gotten married despite your age! Women hate it when you don’t respect your elders!”
“Huh? Do you even have a wife?!”
“I’m a singleton!”
“Ah, yes. Very much so.”
Lucy seemed to be quite enjoying being able to tell Baius exactly what he had been told.
I said,
“I’m sorry, but it would be best if you were captured here. I have a lot of questions.”
“Huh-huh, what a bold little one. If we’re going to do this, can’t we at least have some tea?”
“You know that’s impossible, right?”
“Ugh. I should have expected this when I didn’t see you on the Narvis Plain……… Let me ask you one thing. Where do you get such information?”
I shrugged. I’m not going to tell you my secret that I haven’t even told Levidian, am I? Baius Extoria frowned and gripped his halberd with both hands.
“Alright. I guess I have to win here somehow and get out. But are you all planning to attack?”
“Think of it as a handicap.”
His expression clearly showed that he didn’t want to carry such a handicap, but Baius Extoria seemed to realize that he had no choice.
The fact that a force of 30,000 was being pushed back by a force of 6,500 was a testament to the fact that their morale had hit rock bottom. In this situation, even if he ordered them to fight, it would be questionable whether they could even put up a proper fight.
With a bitter expression, he shouted,
“Everyone, stop! Surrender!”
The Western Army soldiers around him stirred. I shouted to the 2627th Division, who were fighting, to give him a chance to speak.
“First Sword Mezin, cease fighting! All Herduke Kingdom Army, cease fighting!”
The sounds of fierce battle that had been raging around us gradually subsided. Baius gave me a slight nod and shouted,
“We give up on retreat! Everyone, surrender!”
“C-Commander!”
“Shut up! Do you think we can win against the Kingdom Army even if we go back?! Consider our luck to have run out! That’s all!”
He made a quick decision. Thanks to that, the fight was over. The Western Army soldiers each laid down their weapons and slumped to the ground.
“Everyone, fall back! Will you guarantee the safety of my subordinates?”
“I guarantee it. Chief Sispa Grayman, are you here?”
“Yes! I am here, General!”
Sispa, who had been standing behind, ran over. I handed her the badge that proved I was the commander of the 8th Legion. She took it and her eyes widened.
“G-General…?”
“Keep it so you don’t lose it, and return it later. From now on, I have to fight for personal reasons. The entire army will retreat 200 meters.”
“B-But………! I understand. I will be waiting. 8th Legion, advance 200 meters to the rear!”
She took the badge and gave a strange order that was a retreat, but not a retreat. The cavalry, who had stopped fighting, looked at each other and turned their horses without hesitation.
Once the Western Army and the Kingdom Army retreated, there was nothing left in this area but corpses. Baius clicked his tongue and said,
“Don’t you ever think about what will happen if you lose?”
“Didn’t Artshever tell you? I’m not deep enough of a thinker to fight while worrying about such things.”
“So you’re saying you’re not planning to lose. I’m the same way.”
I didn’t care what would happen after losing the fight. As a military commander, it was a mistake to do something so reckless……… But isn’t this a problem that can’t be solved by thinking about it that way?
I raised my sword and took a stance ready to fight at any moment. Baius also raised his halberd, and behind him, Silvan Harcian prepared his Shadow Manipulation. Behind me, Levidian, Al, Lucy, Aila, Joey, and Namia each prepared for battle in their own way.
I said,
“I haven’t heard the news of Redbane’s death yet. Isn’t that your goal?”
“Hmm, I won’t make that mistake this time.”
“This time? What do you mean?”
“I think you would know, wouldn’t you? I know quite a bit about you from Setrife.”
He was staring intently at me. The moment I saw the light wriggling in his eyes, I understood. Since he was Artshever’s companion, I thought he wouldn’t be an ordinary person………
“So that means……… it was a mistake?”
“Heh. Redbane is a peerless warrior, rare to see even in death. What does the swordswoman over there think?”
“I acknowledge that the Spear King is a warrior unmatched in history. However, I can’t understand the conversation between you two.”
“I suppose so. Heh.”
He gave a self-deprecating laugh, and I frowned. Judging by that expression……… Is he living to correct his regrets?
“What is your true purpose?”
“This time, it’s to have a good fight without killing.”
“Because of regret?”
“So to speak. That’s why I accepted the suspicious offer that Alse made.”
“Offer? What did he offer you?”
“Hmm, that’s something we’ll talk about later.”
Baius closed his mouth. It meant he wouldn’t say anything more, and I decided to respect his wishes. So I turned my gaze to Silvan Harcian.
“Silvan Harcian, have you found any traces of Magnolia Beming?”
“I almost found it. If it weren’t for the interference.”
“Huh-huh, look at this guy. He treats his comrades like pebbles on the road.”
Silvan Harcian spoke in a dull voice devoid of any humor. His face was hidden under his robe, making it impossible to see his expression.
“There’s no time to waste. If you want to know something……… ask Setrife. I’m sure you can guess.”
I gritted my teeth. So, Artshever holds the key to everything? Judging by their nuances and the stories of the resetters I’ve met so far………
Artshever and the resets are significantly related.
But in my opinion, it seems like the people who died by Artshever’s hand were the ones who were mainly reset, right? The ‘offer’ Artshever made to Baius Extoria was probably that.
But……… what about me?
My death was a common death on the battlefield. The arrows that pierced my body were not one, but many.
Ugh, let’s not think about it any further. Let’s capture these two in front of me first. That way, we can weaken Artshever’s power and find clues to the secret!
Silvan Harcian spoke in a dull, low voice.
“Let’s end the conversation.”
As his wrinkled hand moved slightly, a shadow spread out in a circle beneath him, forming a puddle. And from there, shadowy tentacles sprang out, wriggling as if alive.
Right, let’s end the conversation!
“Alright! Let’s fight!”
I charged forward.
In response, Levidian rushed towards Baius Extoria from the right, and Al from the left. From behind on the left, I could hear giant footsteps heading towards Silvan Harcian.
The true first battle between Artshever and me had begun.
To add, I’ve been waiting for a very long time.
Baius Extoria was strong.
He was the one who killed the Spear King before he died, and he seemed to have become even stronger after being revived. Like me, he had stepped into a new realm with all the enlightenment he had gained before his death.
Tsk! I’ve said it again and again! Reset is cheating!
“Haat!”
Levidian had no intention of holding back from the beginning. She had a grudge against them from the start. Especially with Silvan Harcian, she would be grinding her teeth.
Based on the logic of the right place and the right time, she was facing Baius now, but she would probably want to beat up Silvan right away.
It seemed she had come to the conclusion that she would take care of Baius first and then deal with Silvan. She was attacking Baius with all her might.
“Hryap!”
Baius blocked her attacks with his seasoned defense, the depth of which could not be fathomed.
A long weapon like a halberd is a long weapon that is difficult to handle at close range where short weapons like swords are effective, but he moved his body as if to eloquently refute that nonsense.
Seven thrusts in one breath, Levidian’s Seven Star exploded. Baius, aiming for various parts of his body with the approaching thrusts, held the halberd wide and moved his body in a twisting motion to escape the range.
Al rushed towards that spot, but Baius planted the end of his halberd on the ground and kicked at Al.
“Tsk.”
Al blocked his kick with a regrettable look, and I rushed towards Baius the moment he landed. However, as if he had already read my attack, as soon as his raised foot touched the ground, he flipped his body and tried to split my jaw with the axe blade of his halberd. Whoa!
I had to stop my advance as I pushed away the heavy axe blade with a lower block.
Baius pulled his body back again, shortening his grip. Then I was left standing alone at the distance where the power of the halberd was maximized.
“Damn it!”
The halberd, as if to turn my body into minced meat from a butcher shop, flexibly bent and repeatedly stabbed, poked, sliced, and struck at me.
Cha-ja-jang!
I was terrified, but I dodged and parried or blocked all those attacks while creating distance by backing away.
Whoa, whoa! I almost died! If I hadn’t gotten a little stronger, it would have been difficult to deal with him.
While I was calming my pounding heart for a moment, Levidian and Al skillfully dug in.
It was a tactic where Levidian would fight from the outside while Al would go in and fight. Levidian, with her outstanding skills, never retreated a single step against his halberd. Al, who had dug into that gap, threw a punch at him………!
“Too bad, young man!”
Baius raised one foot to block the punch. No, how can he have the leisure to do that while fighting Levidian? Does this even make sense?!
He pushed his foot forward, and Al was pushed back. At the same time, Baius retrieved his halberd and took two large steps back to secure distance. I couldn’t help but be awestruck by his truly seasoned skills.
Al stared at him quietly in a low stance and muttered softly,
“It’s difficult with bare hands.”
Then he picked up a spear that was rolling around nearby. Baius, seeing this, burst into laughter.
“Huh-huh! This guy. An unfamiliar weapon is rather………”
Wheeng! Whee-wheeng! Wheeing!
Al, after a brief but splendid demonstration with the spear, thrust it forward. His posture was definitely not that of a beginner.
“Rather, what?”
“Did you know how to use a spear?”
Baius had a sheepish expression, and Al tilted his head and then thrust the spear with lightning speed. As expected, it wasn’t an ordinary thrust, but a sharp one.
Oh my god! He had such a hidden talent?
“Indeed. Just as I’ve heard.”
Levidian said something I didn’t know and rushed towards Baius. Wait, just as you’ve heard? I haven’t heard anything? Feeling the unfairness of being left out for a moment, I also rushed towards Baius like the others.
Al, holding the spear, was a completely different person. He was thrusting, striking, and blocking with the spear as if he had known how to use it from the beginning.
“Hoot!”
Al thrust the spear, aiming for Baius’s hand. Baius then instantly pulled back his halberd, and at the same time, Levidian dug in with a clean movement.
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