NOVGO.NET Chapter 262 : Chapter 262
Chapter 262. If You’re a Hero, Act Like One (2)
Arein Hamut Decator.
The current king of the Decator Kingdom smiled as he heard the report of the battlefield situation.
“Yes. The Hegemon King is trapped in the encirclement?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“I see. So it has come to that.”
Even after hearing that his allies were in danger, he smiled faintly.
And he looked at the map of the continent spread before him and muttered.
“Hegemon King. Truly brave. A brilliant talent and courage that shines at a young age. Indeed, a hero of the age.”
He smiled even more deeply and said.
“But, you see. I do not wish to live in the same era as a hero. It is not very pleasant to be a subject of comparison, you see.”
Hegemon King Cierion Baisus Yusef.
It was a name that shone too brilliantly.
Of course, he knew.
It was he who had saved the Decator Kingdom, which was on the brink of ruin from the Kaisar Kingdom’s invasion.
Thanks to his appearance and exploits, the Decator Kingdom had maintained its existence.
But at the same time, King Arein’s pride was shattered to pieces.
Since when was it?
Every time he closed his eyes to sleep, he had nightmares.
[Incompetent and foolish king!]
[This all happened because you are incompetent!]
[If only our king had been the Hegemon King!]
[King Arein is useless.]
[It would be better to just hand over the throne to the Hegemon King.]
[Foolish one. Yield the throne to the Hegemon King yourself. Otherwise, you will not even save your wretched life.]
Such nightmares continued day by day, gnawing at King Arein’s mind.
And finally, he realized.
If he did not get rid of that great hero, he could never exist as a king.
“If you’re a hero, then act like a hero and just disappear into a story in history.”
***
The Hegemon King’s charge was truly unstoppable.
No one dared to block his path, and the valiant knights following him pierced through the enemy lines.
But….
“Fire!”
Since when was it?
That arrows began to fly not only from the front but also from the sides and the rear….
“Aargh!”
“Kuaaaargh!”
“Damn it, shield… Kwak!”
The soldiers of the Yusef Kingdom began to fall, struck by arrows coming from all directions.
As the damage mounted, Matias Karvan shouted.
“Circular formation! The knightly order will defend from all directions to protect the soldiers!”
“Yes!”
Following his command, the Lion Knightly Order responded quickly, forming a circular formation to protect the soldiers.
This reduced the immediate damage, but a problem arose.
The allied forces, which had been charging relentlessly in a wedge formation, lost their momentum as they assumed the circular formation.
Unless the Hegemon King was planning to abandon all his soldiers and charge alone, he too had no choice but to stop.
As a result, the 40,000 soldiers of the Yusef Kingdom who had stopped were faced with the worst outcome of being surrounded by the 160,000 soldiers of the Kaisar Kingdom.
“Damn it, what is the Decator Kingdom doing?”
“Hurry up and come! Hurry!”
Some knights and strategists hoped for help from their allies.
If they attacked from both inside and outside the encirclement, they could surely break the encirclement and find a way out.
But….
“Your Highness, the Decator Kingdom is not moving.”
A messenger who had confirmed the rear’s situation with the help of a mage shouted loudly.
At the messenger’s voice, which was heard not only by Cierion but by everyone on the battlefield, the soldiers of the Yusef Kingdom bit their lips tightly.
“Surely not, surely not….”
“Haah, a backstab after coming all this way?”
“Decator Kingdom bastards.”
“Whose war was this in the first place?”
The soldiers became anxious as feelings of betrayal and despair overlapped.
No matter how battle-hardened these elite troops were, the betrayal of an ally in this situation made them foresee despair.
To them, the Hegemon King’s shout was heard.
“All troops, do not waver!”
He encouraged his allies with a loud voice, then raised his sword high and said.
“I will open a path! Follow where my sword is seen!”
The Hegemon King raising his great sword of light high.
His sword, which illuminated every corner of the battlefield, gave courage to his allies even in this desperate situation.
Therefore, to extinguish this light of hope, the Kaisar Kingdom’s army moved.
“Hegemooooooooon!”
It was like a single red meteor streaking across the battlefield.
That streak of light, which cut through both friend and foe, ran straight towards the Hegemon King, Cierion.
“Hup!”
The Hegemon King, upon confirming the red flash, swung his sword without hesitation.
Kwwaaaaaaaang!
A clash between Aura Blades.
The Hegemon King’s sword pushed back the charging red meteor, but it could not break it.
The opponent, pushed back more than 10 meters, retreated, leaving a deep mark on the ground, and only stopped after plunging his beloved long lance into the ground.
And he raised his head and….
“Hahaha. This is one hell of a guy.”
Red hair and an appearance that seemed to be in his late 20s.
Seeing this man, dressed in light armor and armed with a long lance, the Hegemon King nodded.
“Are you Count Mateus Edwards?”
“Ah, that’s right. That’s me.”
The opponent said, swinging his spear in an exaggerated manner.
“The greatest spearman of the Decator Kingdom, the number one groom in high society, the passionate hot-blooded man who makes the hearts of countless women flutter. That’s me.”
He extended the spear he had been twirling and struck a pose as he delivered his final line.
“Count Mateus Edwards!”
“……”
This is a new character.
The Hegemon King of the world was, for a moment, slightly flustered.
Mateus Edwards.
A treasure of the Kaisar Kingdom, a man who was once called a genius.
He was a man who held the splendid title of the youngest 7-star knight, having pioneered the 7-star realm at the age of 27.
Although now….
“Well, these days, it’s a bit ambiguous to call someone like me a genius.”
“……”
“My reputation is in shambles because of these unnecessarily talented juniors. One of the lines I use to woo barmaids is gone. How are you going to take responsibility? Huh?”
“……”
The Hegemon King chuckled and said.
“I apologize for that. Then why don’t you come here and take my head? It seems that would restore a good deal of your fallen honor.”
“Hoh? You’ll just give it to me?”
“You take it with your own ability, right?”
“Well, that is the law of the battlefield. It is, but….”
Mateus Edwards was also a man who had been called a genius.
It was just one clash, but it was enough to realize the difference in their capabilities.
Seeing that his wrist still tingled and the grip in his hand had not returned….
‘He’s stronger than me.’
His realm was mid-7-star.
He was confident that in terms of momentary attack power, he was approaching the 8-star level.
But that Hegemon King was even stronger than him.
It was an all-out attack aimed at piercing through him in one go with a surprise attack, but he had received it standing still.
And unlike him, he was full of composure.
As if he still had plenty of strength left.
“Kids these days are really something.”
“I thank you for the compliment.”
“Are you perhaps taking some strange medicine? Or did you make a pact with a demon?”
Then, it was Marquis Matias Karvan next to him who answered Mateus’ words.
“Watch your mouth. Count Edwards.”
“Who are you, old man?”
“I am Matias Karvan. Do you wish to die for insulting the honor of my lord?”
“Ah, so you’re the one they call the Black Knight.”
“……”
“For people with similar names, you’re being too harsh.”
For a moment, Marquis Matias Karvan thought.
‘After that man, this is the first person to grate on my nerves like this.’
A mouth that wouldn’t be satisfied until it had its say in a thoroughly self-paced manner, and a bold way of acting that didn’t care for the opinions of others or common sense.
The direction seemed a little different, but it definitely reminded him of someone.
‘Fortunately, his skill isn’t at that level….’
Matias Karvan took a step forward in front of his lord and said.
“You alone would not have had the guts to block my lord’s path. Rats, stop hiding and all of you, come out!”
Then Mateus scratched his head and said.
“It stings a little because it’s true.”
“……”
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s a battlefield, what can you do? We’re all just following orders.”
“……”
“Seniors, we’ve been found out. They’re telling us to come out.”
Then, men began to reveal themselves from within the encirclement.
Count Bentley Crawford.
Count Stellon Pereira.
Count Davis Kaikara.
And even Marquis Bereto Ziegler, who had recently been promoted….
All five of the remaining 7-star knights of the Kaisar Kingdom had gathered in one place.
And Count Edwards said.
“Senior, the surprise attack first, victory certain plan has failed.”
Then Marquis Bereto Ziegler sighed and said.
“For now, step back. Organize your aura hole.”
“Understood.”
Marquis Bereto Ziegler, having made his flamboyant junior step back, bowed his head towards the Hegemon King and said.
“I greet His Highness, Hegemon King Cierion Baisus Yusef.”
He did not kneel, but he politely placed his left hand on his heart and bowed his head.
It was an extreme form of courtesy, excessive to show to an enemy on the battlefield.
“I am also pleased to meet you. Marquis Ziegler.”
“……”
“But, what is a Marquis renowned for his piety trying to do now? Surely the 7-star knights are not planning to join forces and attack together?”
Marquis Bereto Ziegler’s eyebrow twitched.
He knew this was not honorable.
But….
“On the battlefield, victory must be prioritized over a knight’s honor.”
“Hmm, I believe you learned a hard lesson about that once?”
“……”
Marquis Bereto Ziegler’s face contorted.
How could he not know?
Patrick Schneider.
A name that would remain a lifelong humiliation in his life.
The Kaisar Kingdom’s army, leading four 7-star knights and 10,000 elite soldiers, had attacked him but were miserably defeated.
This humiliation would be passed down through generations of his descendants even after he died.
Marquis Ziegler let out a deep sigh.
And then….
“There is too much talk on the battlefield. I wish to settle this now.”
“If you wish it so.”
The Hegemon King raised his massive two-handed sword.
And immediately after….
Marquis Ziegler’s body disappeared.
To ordinary people, it would have seemed so.
But Hegemon King Cierion swung his great sword as soon as Marquis Ziegler’s body vanished.
And then….
Kwwaaaaang!
The mace of Marquis Ziegler, who had appeared on the Hegemon King’s right, clashed with the Hegemon King’s great sword.
“Keuk….”
“……”
Both were types who utilized the destructive power of heavy weaponry.
The Hegemon King, who used a massive two-handed sword, and Marquis Ziegler, who was called God’s Mace and used a mace, had rarely been pushed back in such fights.
But….
“Hap!”
With a powerful shout, the Hegemon King took a step forward, putting his strength into his sword and pushing, and Marquis Ziegler could not hold on and was pushed back significantly.
A single exchange of blows.
But the superiority between the two was clearly revealed.
And Marquis Ziegler, who had retreated….
“Thank goodness.”
He had a smile on his lips.
It did not look like the expression of someone who had been pushed back in a head-on confrontation.
The reason he was making such a face could be understood from his following words.
“Hegemon King, you are truly strong. A wonderful talent that inspires respect.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“But.”
Marquis Ziegler continued, a faint, bitter smile on his lips, towards the Hegemon King.
“You are not as much of a monster as him.”
The meaning of the smile on Marquis Ziegler’s lips was clear.
The Hegemon King was stronger than him.
Perhaps he had one foot in the 8-star realm or had already stepped into it.
But if asked if it was completely impossible, that was not the case.
Above all, he had already experienced it once.
The overwhelming difference in skill that seemed utterly insurmountable.
‘Compared to that time….’
There was no need to hesitate any longer.
Marquis Bereto Ziegler, having judged that there was a chance of victory, shouted loudly.
“All troops, attack! Take the Hegemon King’s head and annihilate the Yusef Kingdom!”
Simultaneously with his command, the entire army unleashed their attacks on the soldiers of the Yusef Kingdom trapped in the encirclement.
“They’re coming!”
“Engage!”
The knights and soldiers of the Yusef Kingdom did not give up.
Even in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation, they fought without losing their will to fight.
They were battle-hardened veterans who had already been through real combat in the war with the Flame Kingdom and had been highly active on the front lines against the Kaisar Kingdom.
Even in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation, their spirits were not broken.
And above all….
“Haaaaaap!”
“Get lost!”
Although they were outnumbered in terms of overall numbers, the skill of the knightly order, the Lion Knightly Order of the Yusef Kingdom, was far superior.
The knights of the Lion Knightly Order, composed entirely of knights of 4-star rank or higher, overwhelmed the enemy and protected their allies even amidst numerical inferiority.
Because of their great performance in pushing back the enemy, the Yusef Kingdom’s army was able to hold out within the encirclement.
A temporary stalemate.
At least until the stamina of the Lion Knightly Order was exhausted, even the 160,000-strong army of the Kaisar Kingdom could not recklessly overrun the soldiers of the Yusef Kingdom.
Then where was the variable in this battle?
It was right here….
Kwwaaaaaaaaang!
“Don’t let him get away!”
“Who do you think you’re talking to?”
“Black Kniiiiight!”
“Dieeeeeee!”
Ordinary soldiers.
No, a space of destruction that even ordinary knights could not dare to approach.
The place where as many as seven 7-star knights had gathered and were engaged in a chaotic battle was the very place that would decide the outcome of this battle.