Chapter 62
“They’re pushing through!”
“Deploy soldiers focusing on the collapsed section of the wall!”
Fortunately, the catapult attack, like the wrath of a god, did not continue incessantly.
It seemed the enemy couldn't use it indefinitely either, but the problem was that a part of the wall had already collapsed from the hits.
Machado’s forces began to rush madly towards the broken wall.
“Knights, follow me!”
Spotting the opening, Baron Machado, with the sharp senses of a hunting dog, began to lead his knights in a charge.
The sight of 30 mounted knights was like a legion from hell to the ordinary soldiers.
However, executing a cavalry charge over the chaotically collapsed wall was impossible, so Baron Machado and his knights had no choice but to dismount near the wall and run over it on foot.
But 30 knights armed in heavy armor were still terrifying opponents considering the current strength of the Tennesse House.
“My lady, you must retreat! We are severely lacking in knights!”
“…If we retreat from here, where will we find a path to survival?”
“My lady, you must escape, even if alone…!”
“Sir Albert, I cannot retreat.”
Selena, along with her few subordinate knights, ran towards the place where Baron Machado was surging forward.
There, soldiers were falling like straw.
The number of knights in the Tennesse Domain, even with reinforcements, barely reached six.
Their skills were also inferior compared to the 30 knights Machado brought.
“They said the Lady of Tennesse had an enormous build… I don’t know who spread such rumors. To think she possesses such outstanding beauty!”
Machado, seeing Selena without her helmet, momentarily lost himself in her appearance before regaining his senses.
“Lady Selena, if you surrender even now, I will spare your life.”
Machado made a final offer of surrender.
In this situation, there was no hope for the Tennesse House anyway.
“I would rather die here; there will be no surrender.”
Even if she surrendered here, the aftermath would surely not be favorable.
“Do you think you can choose to die as you please?”
Machado grinned, baring his teeth, but Selena simply stared at them with a calm expression.
She had no intention of being alive when the battle ended anyway.
With the resolve for a desperate fight, Tennesse soldiers and knights gathered around the collapsed wall section.
And Machado’s knights and soldiers also assembled.
“Sir Albert, it’s dangerous!”
Just as Albert blocked the sword of one of Machado’s knights, another knight was thrusting his sword towards Albert’s abdomen.
At that moment, Andrew, the squire who had rushed in, thrust his sword with all his might.
“Keok…!”
It was an attack that normally would never have succeeded, but in the chaos of battle, the knight, whose vision was momentarily obscured by his helmet, allowed Andrew’s sword into his side.
However, unfortunately, such luck did not strike twice.
In an instant, three Tennesse knights fell.
“Sir Albert!”
The old knight Albert also knelt, deeply stabbed.
“Ah…!”
A sigh escaped Selena’s lips.
‘So this is the end….’
She gripped her sword and started running towards Machado.
Just as Machado and his knights were smirking at the charging Selena.
The arms of a knight, extending his two armored arms to subdue her as she approached close, were unexpectedly severed.
“Aaaaack…!”
The knight with severed arms rolled on the ground, and in that moment, several startled knights lost their lives right there.
Dududududududu!
Then, with a sound that shook the earth, mounted soldiers began to surge from Machado’s rear.
“What…!?”
Machado couldn't make sense of the sudden turn of events.
Amidst the confusion, his eyes caught sight of someone with flowing black hair, splattering blood among his knights.
“Who dares! Which bastard dares!”
His eyes bloodshot, he charged madly towards the black-haired man, Karl.
Instantaneously, black Aura enveloped his sword.
From the moment he became capable of wielding black Aura, Machado had become intoxicated with power.
What else was a Master, if not this?
Indeed, Superior-grade knights who faced Machado couldn't withstand his sword.
He thought the knight standing before him would also fall to this black Aura.
“Uwaaaaah!”
Machado’s sword, imbued with black Aura, descended upon Karl.
Kaang!
His sword, which he believed could cut through anything, was blocked far too easily by Karl’s sword.
“Without Aura, how on earth!?”
Machado frantically began swinging the sword imbued with black Aura.
From left to right, right to left, diagonally from bottom to top, the sword moved at speeds invisible to the eye.
“Why…! Why…! Why… isn’t it splitting in two along with the sword!”
Although Machado was the one swinging the sword and Karl was merely blocking it, it was Machado whose vision began to blur.
Immediately after, a brilliant golden Aura manifested on Karl’s sword.
Swish.
Thud. Thumpthumpthump.
It was a fleeting moment, but everyone present witnessed the radiant golden Aura.
And the head of Machado, who had been fiercely pushing Karl back while wielding black Aura, dropped to the ground.
“Ah…!”
“The Knight of the Lighthouse….”
“A Master…!”
People marveled at the Aura of a true Master who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship and fumbled for words to describe his prowess.
Machado’s knights and soldiers, who had been so arrogant moments before, also dropped their weapons and knelt before the brilliant golden Aura.
“Sir… Karl…!”
Against the beautiful backdrop of the setting sun, Selena ran towards Karl and threw herself into his arms.
“Who… are you?”
“…Do you really not know?”
“It was Miss Selena. I didn’t recognize you for a moment. My apologies.”
At his words, Selena smiled brightly.
The people of Tennesse applauded and cheered at this fairy-tale-like scene.
[Quest: Crossroads of Fates and Bonds ended.]
[The Philosopher’s Stone is given as a reward.]
[Linked Quest: Liberator of the County of Collo]
I thought that the system window that had just popped up felt less resentful than before.
‘Indeed. It pays to live long.’
Just as his Aura began to emit a brilliant golden light, I smiled brightly amidst the cheering crowd for the first time in a long while.
***
“Baron Vito, open your eyes. Shouldn’t we at least see each other’s faces after such a long time?”
I quietly watched Baron Vito, who was sleeping peacefully.
He was said to have suffered severe organ damage from an assassin's ambush.
A healer had visited, but he had yet to regain consciousness.
I heard his bodily functions weren't in good shape either; considering his character and abilities, he wasn't someone who should pass away so easily.
If a noble lord absolutely had to rule this land, I wished it would be Baron Vito.
“Hmm….”
Hoping against hope, I grasped the Saint's Necklace hanging around my neck and prayed earnestly.
“Ah…!”
Besides me, Selena, Baron Mollio who had joined as reinforcements, and Sir Albert were also in the Baron’s room.
The people present gasped in awe, mouths agape at the pure white light flowing from my body as I prayed silently with closed eyes.
The light flowed from my body towards the reclining Baron; it was undeniably a sacred light, a miracle of God.
“Baron, didn’t we promise to share a drink? So stop sleeping and open your eyes. You still have much work to do.”
I murmured, my eyes still closed.
“Since I must… have a drink with the Knight… I suppose I cannot die….”
Baron Vito, enveloped in light, opened his eyes, looked at me, and slowly spoke.
“Father!”
“My Lord!”
“My ears are about to burst, so don’t shout… By the way, has Sir Karl become a saint or something in the time I haven’t seen him? What manner of sacred harmony is this?”
I grinned, looking at the now-awake Baron Vito.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“The thought that the Baron is alive has cheered me up.”
“Hahahaha.”
“Get up quickly, there is much for the Lord to do.”
“Are you trying to work someone who has just recovered?”
“Seeing that Essus saved you, you must have much to do before you die.”
“You really seem to have become a saint while I wasn’t looking.”
“I did get closer to the Pope.”
The two of us looked at each other and laughed.
Thus, I yielded the space to Selena and Albert and left Baron Vito’s room.
“Does Sir Karl intend to make significant use of Baron Vito?”
Baron Mollio asked, addressing my back.
“It may sound strange to hear, but I am someone who believes nobility is unnecessary. However, if nobles must exist in this world and rule domains, I wish they were all like Baron Vito.”
Mollio felt no aversion or disappointment at my words.
He too, having spent the last few days here in the Tennesse Domain, felt that the lives of more common folk would improve if someone like Baron Vito became their liege lord and ruled the domain.
“Come to think of it, why doesn’t Sir Karl become the lord of a domain? You would be more than qualified.”
“I am just a Free Knight.”
That single phrase from me created significant ripples in Mollio’s heart.
At the same time, he felt he could understand why people called him a hero, the protagonist of the heroic tales currently stirring the world.
“Would you care for a drink?”
“That sounds welcome.”
The two of us walked towards the tavern, laughing.
The people inside the tavern praised me as I entered and raised their glasses.
I raised my glass and mingled with them without any reservation.
It was a scene unimaginable in the past, but Mollio was completely unaware that I was someone who didn't fit into such places until recently.
***
A week had passed since Baron Vito got back on his feet.
Thanks to my divine power aiding his recovery, the Baron's condition improved remarkably.
I stayed as an honored guest at Tennesse Castle, dedicating myself solely to training every day.
And in my spare time, I would sit in the garden, staring at the stone in my hand for hours.
[Philosopher’s Stone: A stone containing hidden power. Understanding its mystery allows one to obtain abilities related to mystery.]
Although I had become much more favorable towards the system, I was still dissatisfied with these uninspired and unhelpful descriptions.
[Necklace of Gabana: The necklace's function will be unlocked only when special conditions are met.]
It was the same for this key-shaped named item necklace I had obtained long ago while rescuing Selena.
Despite quite some time having passed, I still had no clue how to use it.
“Hoo… Well, just like the given quests get resolved, these things will probably find their use someday too.”
I decided to neatly put aside my worries.
“Sir Karl, Sir Godfrey of the Holy Knights has arrived.”
Hearing of Godfrey’s arrival, I quickly rose to meet him.
There stood Godfrey, still maintaining his upright posture and stern expression.
“It has been a while, Sir Karl. Now, Sir Karl’s name shakes the continent.”
“Your eloquence has improved greatly since I last saw you.”
“Hahahaha, isn’t this all thanks to Sir Karl? Thanks to meeting superiors much more often, I’ve trained my mouth more than my sword.”
I let out a chuckle at his unprecedented affability.
“So, what is the Holy Knights’ answer?”
Godfrey smiled at my question.
After talking for a good while, he left Tennesse Castle, and a month later, Baron Vito, Baron Mollio, and the troops led by Baron Vito began to move towards Count Calido’s castle.