Chapter 120
"Don't let him escape!"
Following Leo's orders, the Nelva Ritter pursue Kruger.
However, a group of knights cuts in between them, blocking their way.
In the midst of the battle between the knights and the Nelva Ritter, Leo and Kruger lock eyes.
"I won't let you escape!"
"Hmph! How many knights do you think this castle has? You may have brought elite troops, but you can't take a castle with so few men!"
"Don't underestimate us."
Saying this, Lars swings his two swords around, cutting through the knights.
Seeing this, Kruger immediately turns his back and starts fleeing.
Leaving some of the squads behind, Leo and the others pursue Kruger along the path Lars has carved open.
"He's heading for the upper floors."
"There must be something there. He's Princess Zandra's uncle, after all."
"Doesn't matter. We've come this far, so we just have to break through."
Saying this, Zeke climbs onto Leo's back.
Lars sighs when he sees this.
"Well, aren't you privileged, riding on His Highness."
"My legs are short, you see. I'll work, so let it slide."
"Fine by me. I'll be counting on you when the time comes."
Leo accepts Zeke without a hint of concern and continues running.
The members of the Nelva Ritter say nothing more.
They know that this is a battlefield, and that there is no point saying anything unnecessary when Leo himself does not care.
"Enemy soldiers from the left!"
"Third and Fourth Squads! Hold them off!"
"Yes, sir!"
At Lars's command, another squad splits off to hold back the enemy.
If they stop, the overwhelming numbers will prevent them from advancing. Even while further reducing their already small force, Leo and the others have no choice but to keep moving forward.
Even so, Leo watches the soldiers heading off to hold back the enemy with concern.
One of the soldiers speaks to him.
"There's no need to worry about us. We've come here prepared for anything."
"...What's your name?"
"Second Lieutenant Berndt Lerner."
"I've heard that name. My brother mentioned you. He said you were the first to volunteer."
"Yes, sir! I decided my life was worth risking. So keep your eyes on what's ahead. We'll clear the way."
"...Understood. I'll leave my back to you."
"You can count on us."
As Lerner and Leo speak, Zeke, perched on Leo's back, senses something and begins watching their surroundings warily.
"Be careful. There's a bad feeling about this."
"An adventurer's bad feeling is chilling, isn't it?"
Lars said so, apparently sensing the same ominous presence himself, and ordered everyone to stay fully alert.
Something was there that made vigilance more important than speed.
That was the ominous presence Lars and Zeke had sensed.
And they were right.
A tremendous sound and vibration came from the passage beside the one where Leo and the others were standing.
It drew closer and closer.
"Scatter!"
At Lars's command, everyone moved away.
A moment later, the wall of the passage was smashed through.
"Vooooooo!!"
"What is that!?"
"Watch out!"
The soldiers of the Nelva Ritter readied themselves.
Then it emerged from beyond the cloud of dust.
It was about two and a half meters tall. It was broad enough to block nearly half of the already-wide passage.
Astonishingly, it was human. Though, in every respect, it looked like a monster.
"Well, this is a surprise. Looks like this castle keeps monsters."
"This is no time for jokes! Get ready!"
Ignoring Zeke's quip, Leo gave the order.
However, Zeke stopped him.
"Don't. You won't get anywhere against a guy like this by relying on numbers."
Saying this, Zeke climbed down from Leo, readied his spear, and stood in front of the monster-like man.
Then.
"Go. I'll handle this guy."
"Zeke... Are you all right on your own?"
"What a foolish question. Adventurers are the ones who deal with monsters. Leave it to me."
Hearing Zeke's words, Leo nodded at Lars.
Lars understood his intention and gave orders to his subordinates.
"The units cut off in the rear, circle around and hold off the enemy! The rest, follow me!"
They had obtained a map of the castle from the library in the Imperial Capital's castle.
The members of the Nelva Ritter had memorized every detail.
Therefore, the soldiers given the order began moving swiftly.
"Zeke! Be careful!"
"You too. There might be more like this one."
"We'll deal with it if that happens."
Zeke gave a wry smile at Leo's reply and watched Leo and the others leave.
Then he turned his gaze toward the man in front of him.
"Magic or drugs... Either way, you're no ordinary human. It's a pity, but I don't have time to hold back. I'm coming at you for real. You ready?"
"Vooooooo!!"
The man roared in response to Zeke's words.
Zeke leveled his spear at the man, then suddenly vanished.
"Voh?"
"Looks like you're numb to pain, too."
With that, Zeke stood behind the man.
The tip of his spear was covered in blood.
The man stared at it in confusion, then slowly looked at his left hand. He tried to move it, but it would not respond.
His left hand was half severed at the elbow, dangling limply.
"Vooooo!!??"
"Slow, aren't you? Your joints look weak, so I'll carve you up. Come on."
Provoked by Zeke, the man swung his right hand with all his strength. The floor was destroyed by that single blow, but Zeke leaped lightly into the air and planted his feet against the ceiling.
Using it as a foothold, he attacked the man. Then, the instant he landed, he leaped again.
Zeke continued leaping like a bouncing ball, attacking the man's weak points one after another, until at last he launched his final attack at the immobilized man.
"Hyaaaah!!"
"Gaaahhh!!??"
Zeke's spear sliced off the man's head.
The man's head dropped to the floor with a heavy thud.
"Sorry. I'm not softhearted enough to spend time thinking of a way to save you."
Despite saying this, Zeke gazed solemnly at the man's corpse.
"To turn a human into something like a monster... What a damnable thing."
Muttering angrily, Zeke turned his eyes toward a squad of knights that had come running after hearing the noise.
"It's a bear!"
"That's the enemy from the report!"
The knights drew their swords and approached Zeke, but he calmly pointed his spear at them.
That alone was enough to make the knights break into a cold sweat and stop in their tracks.
"This passage is closed. Turn back."
"Ugh..."
"Damn! G-go on!!"
One knight summoned his courage and stepped forward, but Zeke impaled him through the chest without emotion.
Then he pulled the spear from the knight's chest, shook off the blood, and said,
"If you're going forward, don't come at me with half-hearted courage. Put your life on the line and challenge me. I'm in a bad mood right now."
Saying this, Zeke stood blocking the passage.
■■■
After Leo and the others stormed the castle, pursuers came after Fiene and the others as well.
However, they could not approach Fiene, who was protected by Linfia and the soldiers of the Nelva Ritter.
"Please step back a little."
"Yes..."
Following Linfia's instructions, Fiene stepped back a little.
Then Fiene happened to see the moment a knight who had been trying to capture her was cut down by Linfia.
Seeing this, Fiene silently wore a pained expression.
They were trading lives. She had come here prepared to witness this.
Many people were getting their hands bloody in her place because she could not fight. She could not possibly say they should stop simply because she pitied their opponents.
Even so, she could not bring herself to dismiss them as mere enemies.
"It's over, Lady Fiene?"
"..."
Fiene quietly crouched beside the fallen knight.
A soldier of the Nelva Ritter tried to stop her, saying it was dangerous, but Linfia restrained him.
"I am Fiene von Kleinert. Is there anything you wish to say?"
"Ah... I-I am... a knight in service to House Tarnaut..."
"? Why are you here?"
"M-my lord... was taken hostage... They said they'd kill him unless we captured you..."
"...Is there anything you want to ask of me?"
"Please... my lord..."
Saying this, the knight reached out a hand toward Fiene.
Fiene tried to take it, but the knight lost his strength before she could.
Fiene's eyes widened, and then she slowly closed her hand around the knight's.
"I understand..."
"Lady Fiene. We must move now."
A soldier of the Nelva Ritter urged her impatiently.
Fiene gave a small nod in response.
Then she looked toward Linfia.
Linfia looked at Fiene's face, appeared slightly surprised, then chuckled and nodded once.
"As you wish, Lady Fiene."
"Linfia-san..."
"My only duty is to protect you. Besides, I approve of what you're trying to do, Lady Fiene."
"...I'm sorry. Thank you."
Saying this, Fiene looked at the soldiers of the Nelva Ritter beside her.
As her escort, the most capable members of the Nelva Ritter had been chosen to protect Fiene.
From their perspective, Fiene's decision to do something pointless in this situation was incomprehensible.
Their job was to move her quickly to safety, and stopping to talk was nothing but a waste of time.
However, the soldiers soon heard words that were even more incomprehensible to them.
"I... am going to free the hostages."
"What!? Are you out of your mind!?"
"We don't have time for that now!"
"Please reconsider!"
Every soldier objected.
But Fiene looked steadily at them and spoke.
"I know it's dangerous. But as the Emperor's envoy, I have a duty to save the southern lords."
"But...!"
"I understand why you want to stop me. Perhaps... you are the ones who are right, and wiser."
Saying this, Fiene slowly touched the blue seagull hair ornament.
From the moment she received this hair ornament, she ceased to be merely a duke's daughter.
She hated that, so she stayed in her domain. Even so, she left it and followed Al, practically forcing her way along.
She had a special reason for doing so. She wanted to be of use to Al. She wanted to repay him. Those were her feelings.
Once, beautiful girls were gathered in the Imperial Capital to choose who would receive the hair ornament. Fiene was there, of course. But it was her first time in the Imperial Capital, there were more people than she had ever seen, and she was expected to meet the Emperor among them. The tension was far beyond what fourteen-year-old Fiene could bear.
As anxiety swirled through her mind and she felt dizzy enough to collapse, a boy spoke to and encouraged her.
The boy spoke casually to Fiene, whose face was hidden by a veil, telling her that the Emperor was just an ordinary old man and there was no point getting nervous. It was a thoughtless thing to say. Someone who had fled from the stage Fiene was about to stand on simply because it was troublesome had encouraged her.
Even so, that conversation helped Fiene calm down, and she was able to win the honor of being called Blau Möwe. It may have been something trivial to the boy, but it was something very important to Fiene. From that day on, Fiene had always admired that boy, Al.
When Al came to her house, Fiene thought she could finally thank him. That was why she did not use the words "nice to meet you" when she spoke to Al. However, Al was furious when they reunited, and Fiene became depressed, thinking that he had changed. But Al had not changed at all.
Just as he had been that day, he was still kind. After learning Al's secret, Fiene asked her father to let her stay by Al's side and help him. She might only get in his way. Even so, Fiene wanted to remain beside Al. She wanted to be of use to him in whatever way she could.
For that sake, she felt she could do anything.
Courage welled up within her without end.
"But... turning a blind eye because it's right or wise goes against my principles. I came here to save people. Isn't that true for you as well? Were you not moved by Al-sama's words? Anyone who has ever called themselves a knight... will you overlook this devastation?"
"...But if anything happens to you!"
"Nothing will happen to me. I have incredibly skilled knights at my side."
"What...?"
"As the Emperor's envoy, protecting me makes you the equivalent of Imperial Guardsmen now. I believe you have that level of strength. I trust the knights Al-sama assigned to me... Don't tell me you lack confidence. You are the Nelva Ritter, the Imperial Army's finest elite!"
Hearing this, the soldiers exchanged glances.
Then they nodded as if they had resigned themselves.
They could not find any words with which to persuade Fiene.
They, too, personally felt that this was something they could not overlook.
They had confidence, too. They were prepared to protect this girl no matter what came. Even so, they wanted to take every possible safety precaution.
They had been entrusted with her by the prince who had inspired them.
But if the girl intended to go, they could no longer stop her.
"We will protect you with everything we have. However, if we determine your life is in danger, we will make you retreat by force."
"Yes. I'm counting on you."
Saying this, Fiene smiled.
Once the matter was settled, Linfia spoke up.
"So, where should we search? If we can find them as quickly as possible, we can also support the assault force. We need to hurry, but..."
"That won't be a problem, Sebas-san."
Fiene called Sebas's name in a voice full of confidence.
Hearing this, Sebas appeared behind Fiene.
"I'm here."
"Do you know where the hostages might be?"
"I took a quick look around the castle, so I have a general idea."
"Then could you guide us?"
"Certainly. However... you're starting to resemble Arnold-sama."
"Am I?"
"Yes, very much."
Fiene smiled happily.
For Fiene, that was the highest praise of all.