Chapter 435
My Villains Episode 435
65. peak of spring(10)
Duke Avilambus is a man said to be the most powerful elector in the empire. It is also called the great lord of great lords because it owns a vast territory that fits the term small kingdom..
There are as many as five provinces in his duchy: Topal, Jarsen, Bülsruhe, Obdorf, and Angst, all of which are valuable lands with their own unique characteristics and strengths..
Among them, the region that is considered the best is Topal. The core region containing the Hundred Years Castle, the richest land in the eastern part of the empire and the heart of Prince Strom..
There is no way that the defense of such a region would be lax. As the kingdom's army pushed in to Aisbobalt, just a stone's throw away, Topal and Baek Nyeon-seong gathered an army of two thousand in just ten halls..
‘The soldiers of the Southern Shore led by Langbolt, the 'Shouting Wave', and the Nudein warriors following Atalanta, the 'Devil in the Eyes', blocked the road..
However, Topal's army shook off the pressure and advanced south, succeeding in advancing to a distance of about 20 kilometers from Eisbowald..
The reason why the Icheon army, which was advancing so desperately, stopped its advance was because of only one person..
“ o ” — rg •
With a dried up stream and an abandoned village in between, two hills stood facing each other..
On the northern hill was the garrison of the Topal Army, and on the southern hill a young man was busy cooking..
The leaders of the Topal Army closely observed the person sitting on the hill across from them with puzzled expressions.
“……That's 'the' red knight?”
It was a young man who muttered that. A man reminiscent of a black bear thanks to his large stature and thick, black eyebrows..
“It is clear, Grand Duke. Regardless of impressions, Lee Gak-soo is by no means a common demon..
The man quietly narrowed his eyes at the mantra of an imperial knight..
His name was 'Royad', and he was the eldest son and likely successor to the Duke of Avilambus. In addition, during the Duke's absence, he was in charge of Baeknyeonseong Castle, Topal, and the Icheon troops there..
“……It looks a little different from what I imagined..”
By the time Royad was muttering as if something was strange, the Red Knight on the opposite hill was tasting the contents of the cast iron pot after finishing a long meal..
After chewing his mouth for a moment, he retched and continued to spit. Then, looking down at the dish with a distorted face, he placed the entire pot down in front of Baikon, who was lying face down nearby..
The bicorn growled, baring its sharp fangs. And he overturned the pot with his horn. As the thick soup splashed out, the Red Knight jumped up and started spewing out harsh words..
“……This is extremely frivolous. A kid like that is the ‘terror of Zellntree’..”
In the battle of the border, he defeated Hofken Seongbaek, a master of the twin swords, and led his disciples and Ming.
The person responsible for cutting down dozens of worthy imperial knights was the Red Knight..
Is that it? He was the one who occupied more than half of the Anst and Obdorf regions in just over fifteen days, and he was also the one who defeated three sword masters and killed two of them in Eisbowald, the city of swordsmen..
But Phoenix, who was eating dry food across from me, didn't seem like that at all. I felt a strange sense of discomfort as I was behaving like a clumsy person and did not match my cool-headed appearance..
“Stay alert. You should never underestimate him.”
The one who opened his mouth was 'Roulud', a young man with a small physique and sharp eyes..
He was the second son of Duke Avilambus and the half-brother of Royard. He was known to be clever and quick to judge, although he lacked talent and sociability. It was for that reason that he became the duke's maboksi - a position in charge of managing horses and messengers..
“Those who had experience with him said that the Red Knight was as ferocious as a lion and as cunning as a snake. I also heard that I enjoy deceiving my enemies as much as slaughtering them..”
“okay. They said so..”
The Red Knight was famous for using any means necessary to achieve victory. Should I say that he was once a lowly mercenary?.
I am only counting anecdotes that are known to the public, such as attacking the King of Death while spouting foolish words, lying to him about his location by hiring a double in High Castle, and breaking into Eisbovald through a mouse hole and opening the castle gate. It wasn't just one or two.
“He was also the one who defeated all of his father's vassals who rose up like a swarm to defend the fief, leading only a small number of cavalry. Not only the armies of the minor lords, but also Jarssen's long spear troops and Prince Cherbeger's Bülsruhe army were defeated..”
“So, what do you want to say??”
“The Red Knight's actions like that must have a purpose, brother..”
Royad, who was listening to his younger brother's words, distorted his face in frustration..
“That's enough of the obvious, so tell me what the purpose is..”
“Of course it's an incentive. They probably have troops hidden in the southeastern forest - over the hill or there..”
Royad shook his head, wondering what kind of nonsense that was..
“Sounds frustrating. Didn't you hear the report from the Dragon Knights? It was only two days ago that I heard a report that troops in the area were retreating east of Eisvowald. But it's an ambush?”
“My brother is really frustrated. Do you still believe in the Dragon Knights?” "what?" Roulud wetted his thin lips and began to disparage the Courage Division..
“Think of the disgrace they showed in this war. Didn't the so-called 'riders of the sky' fall with only a few javelins, lowering their morale, and miss the separate units of 'giant knights' who raided the supply routes??”
Rowlud was not only Maboksi, but also one of the three deputy commanders of the Courage Division. Although it was only his name, Royad had nothing to say since the vice-captain criticized the Brave Knights..
“Is that it? After occupying High Castle, we were unable to find even half of the enemy's remnants. Thanks to this, my father, His Highness, had to traverse the entire battlefield as if wandering through a fog. We narrowed the search radius to Ovdo Lup, but failed to even track down a single enemy knight. In my opinion-”
Rowlud glanced at the vassals gathered around him and whispered..
“Do you remember when your father brought an old man who looked like a male prostitute to Wyvernstone last fall? I tried to keep it a secret not only from my retainers, but also from my brother and me.
That's right.”
“••••••however?”
“I guess that bastard is a necromancer from Yeonggeummun..”
“necromancer?”
“Lower your voice. Anyway, that bastard must have cast some sort of hex to expand the Wyverns' operational radius. Thanks to this, the wyverns and horsemen have all become idiots..”
Roulud has never flown as a Dragon Knight because he was never able to tame the baby wyvern assigned to him, but he is the vice-captain of the Dragon Knights..
So Royad nodded, even though he had an uneasy expression on his face..
“……So, first of all, we need to closely scout beyond the hill where the enemy knight is and into that forest..”
Rowlud took a few steps back and spoke in a voice that could be heard by all his retainers..
“If you plan to keep advancing..”
“What do you mean by that, little brother?.”
He looked back at his brother and retainers who were casting questioning looks at him, and he shrugged his shoulders..
“Isn’t the mission given to you, brother, to protect Baengnyeonseong Fortress and the Topal region??”
“……It's not my job to get Eisbovald back. If you're going to say something like that, stop right now..”
Royad shouted in a slightly angry voice..
“As the heir of the Strom family, I have a duty to protect all territories and people under the family's control. What's important now is not the mission.”
“No, brother. The most important thing now is the mission..”
“What‘?”
Rowlud continued to give advice with a cold expression..
“If the red knight over there is waiting with a trap laid, we will be in big trouble. Even if you lose this army, will you be able to drive out the knights of the Silver Prince who are attacking the Hundred Years Fortress and the demons within you??”
“Was Baeknyeonseong a place where you could fall so easily??”
“Do you want to show the Emperor, who is about to arrive, a sit-in protest at the Hundred Years Wall? The Strom family's reputation has already fallen to the ground. Bringing an enemy into Topal would be tantamount to tarnishing the reputation of my father, and it will be difficult for you and me to preserve our positions..”
“……grunt.”
Since what he said wasn't wrong, Royad kept his mouth shut..
He was silent for a moment, as if lost in thought, then pointed at the map, especially the corridor east of the Eisbo Balt, and asked a question..
“Then what should my father do??”
“What are you worried about? He will lead a large army, crush the army of the Red Knights, and reclaim Aisbowald and Froshafen..”
“The problem is that that large army is not my father's army. Savellard, you must be going through the humiliation of begging for help from that unlucky and conniving bastard. Shouldn’t we run in and make amends??”
Rowlud burst out laughing as if he was dumbfounded..
“What do you mean, begging? Altenberg is our family's ally. In a situation where your territory is attacked, it is only natural to receive help from allies, not to suffer humiliation..”
Father King Burcard decided to retreat as the war dragged on longer than expected..
His eldest son, Prince Savellard, received the order and immediately moved the army. Excluding some troops who had decided to leave behind at High Castle, about 4,800 troops were sent to the west..
Accordingly, Duke Avilambus followed the advice of Ariad, the 'renegade viper', and requested support for the defensive battle from Prince Savellard..
Rather than being indebted to the emperor and easily regaining Eisbowald and Froshafen, he calculated that he would once again be indebted to Alzenburg, a worthy ally, even if it meant a little trouble..
According to the continent's long-standing custom, when an ally requests support to attack an enemy, it can be refused depending on circumstances. However, defensive warfare is different, and not stepping forward when an ally is under attack is considered a shameless and dishonorable act..
In the end, Prince Savellard's Alzenberg army began its march towards Eisbovald, crying and eating mustard..
Duke Avilambus stationed 6,000 troops in occupied areas, such as Past and the Highlands. And the duke himself joined Prince Savellard in his retreat with only a small army..
They stopped at 'Bulfurt', the border city and capital of Obdorf, and squeezed out conscripts, and even brought in the cavalry that was keeping the giant knight's detachment in check. So Duke Vilambus had a little over 1,300 troops..
“The number of troops returning is more than 6,000, and the Red Knights' army is less than half that number. Why do you want to take the risk when your father can solve all problems without us??”
« O ”
“If you fall into the bandit's trap while trying to attack Icebobalt, the situation will only become more complicated. It is a hundred times better to stand firm and wait for Your Majesty the Father..”
The older brother let out a small sigh at his younger brother's sharp words as always..
Royad was worried..
I wanted to give the order to charge right away. I wanted to cut off the head of the red knight who was taking a nap on the other side, retrieve Eisbovald, and improve it into a hundred-year castle..
Just as his cousin Theodora was gaining fame as a paladin and anointed one of the Calandari Order, he also needed to enhance his reputation. If I could catch the Red Knight, who was famous throughout the continent, I would be recognized as eligible to inherit the Duke of Strom and the five provinces..
“……Father, has your majesty given any new orders??”
When Royard asked a question with a look of regret on his face, Roulud shrugged his shoulders..
“What do I know, as I am only delivering the letter? You know best, brother..”
“ugh......”
O •
Royard, lost in thought, was smoothing his beard with a hand like a pot lid..
The soldiers at the garrison began to murmur. The imperial knights, officers, and battle wizards surrounding the two Confucius also noticed this change..
“Grand Duke. over there.”
“ hmm‘?”
Royard turned to the southeast following an officer's finger, made a sunshade with his hand, and narrowed his eyes..
“••••••what?”
Beyond the hill where the Red Knight was lying with his hands intertwined, dozens of birds flew up from the low mountain. Although it was quite spectacular, it was not that unusual. It could be that he was startled by the low cry of a mountain animal, that he was avoiding a group of goblins, or that he was just moving around without meaning to..
However, there was a slight hint of suspicion in the eyes of Royard and the other leaders. Rowlud was inwardly delighted and suggested in a serious voice..
“I'll send some cavalry to take a look..”
“……No, it’s done.” Tsk, Royard clicked his tongue to shake off his regrets and barely parted his lips to give an order..
“I will have to monitor the situation while guarding Topal's perimeter. Everyone get ready to go back.”
By the time the long tail of Topal's army disappeared from sight..
A figure climbed up the hill and approached the snoring red knight. And I collapsed next to him..
“……Oh, are you here? You worked hard.”
“lol.”
When In-young took off the mask reminiscent of a mane of white bones, her cute facial features were revealed..
“It's success?”
“Success. I got lucky.”
Phoenix yawned, pulled the bundle and hugged it from behind..
“Ah, why do I hate waking up like this? Is it because the sun is nice?.”
“Ugh-”
He started playing around, biting the back of the neck with his dry lips or poking the side with his soft hands. She struggled, alternating between wild laughter and pitiful moans..
“Okay, stop. Stop it.”
“Okay, let's go. I have to go.”
The red knight stood up, stretching, and extinguished the smoking bonfire by stepping on it..
And then he immediately got on the bicorn and put the woman in front, whose face and neck were all red. He looked down at the bundle leaning in his arms for a moment and blew air into his reddened ears..
“Phew.”
“Ugh, poi-!”
He patted his chest with his small hand. Phoenix said with a chuckle..
“I'll have to run until my back breaks to get there before the sun sets. It's okay?”
“I don't know!”
“Oh, you don't know? Well then, should I check it out??”
He pulled the reins with his right hand to turn Bicorn's horse's head, while wrapping his left hand around her waist..
As the long, thick-boned fingers tickled his side fiercely, the lump screamed and twisted his back..
“It's very flexible. I think it's okay?”
“Yes, yes, it's okay! It's okay, that's enough-”
The red knight smiled cheerfully and slapped the reins. The bicorn growled once and started running like the wind along the slope..
Comments