{Chapter 56} An Easily Secured Victory
"He who inherits the royal blood must prioritize his mission."
"To forge a path is to honor the name of the royal blood."
These words were inscribed on the sword monument at the center of the knight academy's square by the founding emperor of the Carrick Empire, Kaos Rian Balleria, known as the "Heavenly Emperor."
The Carrick Empire, which once occupied most of the land on the continent of Gaia, laid the legal foundation for the region and established the precursor to the Kingdom of Rianved.
The influence of Carrick was so profound that it deeply affected every aspect of its successor kingdoms.
The most obvious example is that after the Kingdom broke away from the Carrick Empire, it simply renamed the Carrick calendar to the Kingdom calendar and continued to count the years, resulting in a kingdom with only a few hundred years of history using a calendar that has reached over three thousand years.
For thousands of years, generations of students graduating from the knight academy, regardless of their ideals, have been influenced to some extent by these two sentences.
Thus, even Anna, who loves to idle away her time, couldn't help but discuss the current king's conduct and privately lament his tragedies.
In the midst of this somewhat challenging battle, Anna unconsciously recalled these two sentences again.
Although it was only a fleeting moment, Anna quickly pushed the thoughts aside because she was already surrounded by two F-rank knights and three knight apprentices.
Although Anna's swordsmanship allowed her to challenge opponents with higher levels, and she was only small strength away from being promoted to an E-rank knight, she was still outnumbered.
Even with a shield, fighting two or three opponents of the same rank was difficult, let alone using a longsword that required constant observation of the enemy's movements to defend and find openings to strike.
"Get away from Anna Senpai!"
However, Louise, who seemed to be constantly watching Anna's situation, charged over with her shield, even knocking away a knight apprentice.
Facing Louise, these knights seemed somewhat hesitant.
After all, Louise was the daughter of the Duke Latimir, and although these people were engaged in treason, they had no intention of offending the Duke, a powerful figure in the kingdom.
"Get out of my way, all of you!"
The sound of explosions continued as Helga wielded her staff like a war hammer, swinging it with such force that it created gusts of wind, occasionally triggering explosions that sent several knight apprentices flying.
One might wonder if it was the encirclement by the magic boars that had frustrated Helga in close combat, leading her to develop such a skill.
Atala, on the other hand, remained calm.
As the highest-ranked member of the four-person team, she could move effortlessly across the narrow battlefield, leaping between lampposts, rooftops, and arches, sniping any enemy that posed a significant threat, making the battle easier for Anna and the others.
Moreover, Allen's death seemed to have robbed these people of a central figure.
Although the knights' discipline prevented their morale from collapsing entirely, they gradually fell into disarray, fighting individually without coordination.
In contrast, the four-person team and the knights rallying around Anna, though facing more enemies, maintained a solid formation, ensuring they didn't endure excessive combat pressure.
Even if Helga occasionally broke formation to cause an explosion, she always fought her way back.
Such a battle couldn't last long. Although Anna's side didn't have the numerical advantage, they held every other advantage.
After skillfully dispatching another knight apprentice, Anna was grateful for her helmet, which kept her hair and face from being drenched in blood.
She then surveyed the battlefield.
"...It seems the victory is already secured."
Just as Anna reached this conclusion, the actions of the guard provided their answer.
"Philsey has surrendered. Lay down your arms!"
When the old butler, with his seemingly frail body, held the obese Philsey in one hand and stood on the stairs leading to the second floor, Anna raised her blood-stained sword and shouted.
Hearing Anna's voice, both sides couldn't help but look in the direction she pointed.
The ongoing battle came to a halt.
Then, upon seeing Philsey, who now looked like a dead pig tied up and held by the butler, most of the combatants lost their will to fight.
However, there are always fanatics—
"Damn it! Philsey, that filthy blood, is indeed unreliable! For the skies of Carrick!" A few of them shouted, charging at Anna and her group like suicide attackers, seemingly intent on killing even Louise, who was holding the front line with her shield.
But their actions were ultimately futile.
After a few were easily picked off by Atala's sniping, those who reached the front line were swiftly beheaded by Anna, who leaped out from behind.
"These pureblood lunatics are so annoying!"
After beheading one of them and watching the remaining enemies surrender, Anna felt an overwhelming sense of relief she hadn't experienced since entering the knight academy.
As she exhaled, Anna suddenly felt her legs go weak, and she collapsed onto Louise and Helga.
"Anna Senpai?"
"Anna! What's wrong!?"
"I'm fine... just a bit tired."
Anna gasped for breath, looking as if she were on the verge of death, which worried Helga and Louise.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"If you're injured, say it! Your life is at stake!"
"...Really, I'm fine. I just relaxed and suddenly felt weak."
"Are you sure you're not hurt?" Helga asked, concerned.
"No... just let me lean on you two for a bit."
"Senpai, your armor is heavy, you know?" Louise complained lightly after confirming Anna was okay.
"And it's covered in blood, which smells a bit fishy," Helga added.
The two exchanged a glance but didn't bicker as usual. Instead, they simply helped Anna sit on the ground.
"Ugh... I'm all sweaty."
Anna took off her helmet and tossed it aside, then gathered her long hair, which had somehow come loose.
"Let's take a bath when we get back."
Someone muttered this, though Anna, exhausted and slightly dazed, couldn't tell if it was her own voice.
"Not yet. We still need to deal with Philsey."
As soon as Louise spoke, the old butler, still holding Philsey, stood before the three noble ladies (though one was a fallen noble) who were sitting unceremoniously in the mud.
Atala had also descended from the high ground and joined Anna and the others.
Philsey, thrown into the mud by the butler and covered in filth, struggled to lift his head.
His mud-streaked face showed no hatred, only calmness.
His gaze lingered on Anna, filled with regret and resentment.
"Although I knew I would eventually die because of wealth and lust, I am utterly baffled by what just happened," Philsey Bill said calmly, even questioning Anna as if he weren't a prisoner.
"Anna Garland, could you tell me how you detected the assassination plot against you?”
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You can read 20 chapters in advance on my Patreon.