Chapter 159

Chapter 159

***

Leaving behind what should be left behind, cherishing what should be cherished, they moved forward again.

Autumn naturally had its own unique mood, but the north's flavor was uniquely strong. The autumn flowers blooming in the fields fluttered in the wind and sang of ripening.

However, autumn wasn't only about bearing fruit. It was also a season of desolation, loneliness, and solitude.

Still, those things weren't simply empty and hollow, but made one look back on what they possessed.

Of course, because he was together with 6,000 sturdy men he wasn't lonely though.

The flags that slumped drooping wet from the rain fluttered again, and the sound of military songs spread out across the autumn fields.

Military songs didn't just have vigorous melodies, but there were also quite a lot of sorrowful ones exactly like the feelings of a lover waiting for a soldier in their hometown.

Perhaps the soldiers also felt the autumn mood, they sang such songs.

However, Rickart didn't listen carefully to the sound of the songs, nor did he look back at the colorful autumn flowers blooming in the fields.

Riding on a blood-red, or rather flame-red horse, he was looking far away exactly like an eagle or hawk surveying the ground.

In Rickart's eyes, people riding horses holding flags of unknown identity were seen.

They didn't approach closely, but from very far away, near the horizon, they watched the knighthood passing by exactly as if observing.

If he tried sending knights to find out who they were they quickly ran away, so he couldn't figure out their intention at all. Whether they intended to fight, or merely observe, or if there was an army aiming for us somewhere.

Actually, if one recognized the crest on the flag they could know which family it was, and then they could quickly know roughly what kind of people they were, but Rickart didn't know even looking at the crest.

The thought I SHOULD HAVE STUDIED HARD vaguely crossed his mind, but that wasn't what was important.

The problem was that because the army was on the move, the reconnaissance radius was inevitably narrow. Because they didn't have a base somewhere.

Since killing the King of Basque they had crossed the Empire continuously exactly as if crossing an unpopulated land, but now it was a timing where stumbling blocks could slowly appear.

The surrounding lords, especially bigwigs on the level of Dukes or Margraves, were people who had the power to make things troublesome even if they couldn't guarantee victory fighting Rickart.

Rickart and the Steel Knights marched south along the southwestern border of Beringen, and Adelorn was truly right at their noses.

If he wasn't leading an army but alone, if he was together with this Crimson Comet, it was a distance he could reach even in one day.

However, as worldly matters often were, a huge obstacle was waiting almost arriving at the end.

Those who overcome that final obstacle taste success, and if a nation overcomes that obstacle it was bound to advance on the path of an Empire. Conversely, if one cannot overcome it, failure and downfall await.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before they could find out who exactly the ones observing the knighthood's movement from afar were. They encountered an army setting up an encampment across the river, and it was sent from there.

There was one sturdy and large bridge built during the days of the ancient Empire, and the army was exactly blocking that place exactly as if they had finished preparations a long time ago.

Arriving at the riverside, Rickart looked across the river. Fluttering flags, cautious troop deployment, barricades installed on the bridge.

The Steel Knights' rapid advance also finally stopped, and with the river between them, the two armies looked at each other. The river width was quite wide so it was a shape where they had no choice but to cross only by the bridge.

"Their numbers look quite large. It seems we won't be able to cross the bridge."

Raimund calmly surveyed across the river and said.

Because he didn't survey from a high place they couldn't know the exact numbers, but it seemed similar to or more than the knighthood's troops. If there were even reserves in the rear, it could be much more.

However, it was truly a perplexing situation but neither Raimund nor the knights panicked or became scared.

"For now we should find out what happened."

Even no matter who looked at it, it looked like an army to block the knighthood's march, but there was a need to make it certain. So Rickart headed toward the bridge without fear.

The barricades were installed in a zigzag shape alternating left and right, so although they were for the purpose of obstructing the movement of an army, a small number of personnel could pass through.

As Rickart rode the Crimson Comet and revealed his appearance fully equipped in splendid armor and a surcoat, the gazes of everyone across the river gathered.

Archers were cleverly deployed near the bridge, such that they would shoot arrows crosswise from both sides, so trying to cross the bridge blindly could turn one into a hedgehog.

Even so, Rickart, even knowing that, boldly entered the enemies' range. Standing in the middle of the bridge, he surveyed the opponent's camp more detailedly and imposingingly.

As Rickart first boldly came forward, a group of knights also came out from across the river.

Among them, a person with a bushy beard wearing a coif made of chainmail connected to his armor approached and asked.

"I am Knight Baldur. Who is the one riding the red horse?"

"I am Rickart. Commander of the Steel Knights."

"Prince Lotharius-gong has something to say, so please wait."

Saying so, he returned again.

Prince Lotharius referred to none other than the 2nd Imperial Prince. The one competing for the throne against the 5th Imperial Prince Bellator.

Only now did Rickart feel like he knew a little bit who, and why out of nowhere they were blocking the march with a river in between.

Presently a man who looked to be in his 30s approached toward the bridge leading many bodyguards.

His attire was very splendid; his chainmail was plated with gold, and his surcoat had a tree embroidered in gold thread on a black background. The tree meant the Nivelinger family, and the gold thread meant Prince.

Rickart didn't dismount from his horse and didn't show courtesy. Merely staying on his horse he stared at the man whose face flashed with grease.

His oiled hair was neat, and his mustache was well-groomed. However, though he was quite a handsome man, his somewhat fish-like eyes reminded one of the previous Emperor. He indeed resembles him.

Although it was said he stayed secluded, it seemed he wasn't completely without greed for the throne. Seeing him leading this many troops.

"You are younger than I thought. Knight Commander."

The 2nd Imperial Prince briefly spoke first. However, Rickart didn't add customary words of politeness, and immediately spoke his main point.

"Why are you blocking the path? Is there anything I did wrong to you, Imperial Prince?"

"No. There is not."

"Then please make way."

"If you make one promise, the path will naturally open."

"What promise do you wish for?"

"Pledge loyalty to me."

The competition between the 2nd Imperial Prince Lotharius and the 5th Imperial Prince Bellator over the throne had been ongoing since a few years ago.

Meanwhile, the two Imperial Princes devoted themselves to gaining the support of lords and expanding their power, and if they gained the knighthood's troops here it was self-evident they would occupy a massive advantage in the competition. So he was making such a demand.

However, there was a somewhat wrong part to that method. That rubbed Rickart the wrong way.

"We only met for the first time today, is it? Does a pledge made only in words have meaning?"

"A knight's word is heavy, so if you are not a light person you will likely keep your spoken words."

"Loyalty received by making a person troubled is not a complete loyalty."

"It does not matter."

Rickart kept his mouth shut for a moment and stared quietly at the 2nd Imperial Prince Lotharius. And the escort knights around him, and the soldiers deployed across the river too.

The cool autumn wind swept the river water, and blew all the way to the people standing on the bridge.

Rickart looked at the 2nd Imperial Prince again and said.

"I will answer you. I cannot do it. The pledge of loyalty."

"......Why is that? Are you already loyal to my younger brother?"

"No. I have no interest in the fight over the throne. Asking me who brought the knighthood from afar, it is only to end the war in Adelorn. Is that not the right direction when considering the entire Empire as well? I cannot understand why you are blocking my path."

"The entire Empire? What meaning is there in an Empire without an Emperor? Wrapping up ambition is fine, but I would like you to be honest in a conversation between just us. You could become a king by force perhaps. However, if you think of the distant future, you will have to receive the Emperor's acknowledgment. With a country devastated by war, how long will you endure?"

The 2nd Imperial Prince distorted Rickart's words to his own liking. And then saying he wasn't honest. I spoke honestly though.

Rickart felt a bit frustrated, but squeezing out his patience as much as possible, he maintained minimal courtesy.

"I will take care of that on my own."

"Is that so? Then how about this? I am weighing between you and Grantz. On who would be more helpful to me. Naturally if the knighthood entered under me I would choose you. But, if you refuse there is nothing I can do either. I have no choice but to choose Grantz. Even if you back return to Adelorn, the war will not be ended easily. Of course before that, you won't even be able to cross this bridge either. Do not make a foolish choice."

Not satisfied with merely blocking the bridge, the 2nd Imperial Prince pressured him saying he would obstruct the things Rickart was doing.

"Why on earth are you doing this to me? If we get analytical, aren't you the half-siblings of the person who is my wife? Both Prince Lotharius-gong and the 2nd Imperial Prince. I do not wish to interfere in a family fight. It's truly just that."

"I cannot believe it. It seems you have already finished some sort of deal with my younger brother. I heard from early on that you two had a friendship. Because, seeing as how even though he did wrong to the knighthood, you particularly did not exact revenge on him. Now the pieces fall into place. Do not try to deceive me. Unlike Royal Father I am not dull."

Rickart was so dumbfounded a hollow laugh came out. When communication utterly failed, his head turned blank.

If a battle could be avoided, it was good to avoid it. If there was no need to deliberately brandish spears and swords and shed blood, that was. Fighting a fight that didn't need to be fought was a foolish act.

There was no grudge formed between Rickart and the 5th Imperial Prince. So they could also not fight.

However, what should he did when a compromise truly cannot be reached?

"If you, Imperial Prince, fight me, you will lose many of the troops you painstakingly gathered."

"Well, as far as I see it, the one overwhelmingly at an advantage seems to be me though. I have already mastered the art of war at the age of 10 and received praise from Royal Father. Back then because I foolishly lacked the wisdom that I must hide my talent, I was kept in check. However, it is not so anymore. I will unfold my talent without hiding it, to my heart's content. If you fight me, my damage will be miniscule, and your knighthood will be annihilated. Can you not even judge the situation?"

Saying his own father was dull one moment, it seemed the praise he heard from him remained in his memory for a long time.

"......An army cannot be commanded just by reading a bit of writing. Even if you might mimic it. Do you have combat experience?"

"Only the lacking learn through experience. Your bravery has been well heard by me. They say there is none who can compare to you in the world. However, war is fought with the mind. Exactly like a cow catching a mouse while stepping backward, that you could cross the Empire and arrive here with your recklessness was purely luck. However, against me that luck will not work."

"Haa......"

A deep sigh came out from Rickart naturally. Smart but lacking depth, narrow perspective, and overconfident in himself. It was one of the types of humans Rickart hated.

If searching for one good point forcibly, it was that he didn't hide his intentions and talk in circles.

Looking at just that one thing, Rickart tried to maintain courtesy until the end.

"It will be a painful lesson. Please preserve your life well. In battle there is only God and oneself. There is no status."

Rickart turned his horse's head first and left the bridge. It was impolite behavior, but from Rickart's perspective he maintained courtesy as much as possible.

As Rickart returned to his own camp, the 2nd Imperial Prince also returned. It seemed a fight could not be avoided.

When a huge obstacle waited having come almost to the very end, one might feel despondent and lose energy, but conversely it was also impossible to give up having come this far.

Cosmos in the fields, cool wind and fallen leaves, Rickart didn't have the leisure to look back at autumn yet.

Even so, it was exactly a good season to fight a battle.