Chapter 189

Chapter 189 - War of Wrath (6)

The Dullahan wandered looking for a new head for a time long enough to completely forget the days it was human.

True to being an existence closer to a spirit, wandering the boundary face between the present world and the other world, it being witnessed by people was rare.

While doing so, the group duel held by the South and Center knights had perfect conditions to call in the Dullahan.

The pain and fear emitted by a multitude of miscellaneous soldiers on an ordinary battlefield. The murky aura spouted by weak spectators at a gladiatorial arena.

A space where the best knights consecutively clashed their pure fighting spirit without such things was rare.

[■■■!]

It finally found it at the place it arrived like that. The head of a beautiful woman and a warrior whose fighting spirit and courage welled up.

The ghost warhorse, which had been approaching step by step, began to run.

"There is a reason God led me to this dueling ground!"

Knights are quick to recover their fighting spirit. Krey was willing to fight against it. Secular opposing relationships are meaningless before a true enemy.

On the other hand, Homi quickly broke away from her spot. Because the weapons she had now were not suited to fight such a surreal existence.

- Against an unknown enemy, unconditionally start with ranged checks.

It's the attitude Eugene always requested of Homi.

Ignoring Krey who had the momentum to fight alone, the Dullahan pursued Homi.

Kkwaang!

And it was struck by Might, who charged in alone, and was knocked away.

It was such an intense collision that the Dullahan and ghost warhorse separated and rolled with a clatter.

"Oh my god."

"Which one is the monster?"

The spectators witnessed the tradition of horse and rider as one being broken for the first time.

"Hweeeek-!"

"Keureung-."

The loyal squire and warhorse answered each other with their respective sounds.

'That Homi girl. Did she set the direction so the Dullahan's gaze would stray from Might from the start?'

Eugene, who brought Blackout, mounted on top of the returned Might.

"You also care for Homi quite a bit, huh?"

Is it because of the memories of being together from the beginning? Or is it because of the mystery that leads beasts?

Excluding her master Eugene, the only target Might actively looked after was Homi.

Perhaps because of being properly struck on the flank unexpectedly, the Dullahan still couldn't get up.

"Rex. Do we not have silver arrows prepared?"

"We don't. The supplies we had to pack were so tight."

It is different from the times when they toured Roman and Samur with the feeling of a mercenary corps or adventure party.

Since it's a situation of fighting a war as arbiter vs arbiter, they didn't have the leeway to even pack things like silver arrows.

"Go! Tell them to scrape up whatever they have!"

"Leave it to me, Little Chief!"

Rex dispatched a messenger for now. It would take at least a day to bring back silver arrows from the unit in the rear, but it is better than doing nothing.

Perhaps it was sturdier than its master, the ghost warhorse stood up soundlessly.

The Dullahan sprawled in a great shape was slowly getting up, twitching its toes and heaving its shoulders.

"Valda. If we run away, will that guy also give up here?"

"It will probably chase us. Because it's not some monster we suddenly encountered, but one that came looking for this place on its own two feet."

"I must slay it now."

It's better to fight in a wide-open place while the sun is up, being attacked at night in a camp or city blocks is several times more bothersome.

"Strike down the evil demonic beast!"

Regardless of South or Center, the knights also ran over. Since it was during a war for now, they didn't mix with each other but divided into 2 lumps.

Presently, the completely risen Dullahan lightly mounted on top of the ghost warhorse. In its hand, a long glaive emitting an evil aura was held.

Even if it was close to a spirit, it was fitting for an existence ultimately born from human death.

* * *

"Charge forward!"

"We will kill this guy!"

The ones who rushed in first were the central knights close to the Dullahan. True to those who came to the dueling ground out of craving for glory, they didn't miss such an opportunity.

The glaive crashed into the shield of the person at the very front.

"Keuk!"

The knight skillfully received it with the part coated with iron rim, but couldn't help the amount of impact.

Crunch.

Before he could even recover his broken posture, he was hit on the flank by the opposite haft and knocked away. The sound of a rib going out was chilling.

However, the knights rushing in afterwards didn't even blink an eye.

- It is natural for those who fall to emerge on the road to glory!

It's a knight to not cower at not only arrows and bolts, but also a large club swung by a medium-sized monster. Even if the one falling is oneself.

The problem was that the central knights were infantry forces and the opponent was riding a horse.

[■■.]

As the ghost warhorse moved its hooves, it slipped out to the knights' flanks in an instant.

"It's detouring!"

"Maintain the encirclement!"

The knights didn't panic and rotated their formation all at once, but the ghost warhorse's mobility was too fast. It's a spiritual beast unconstrained by the limits of joints and the like.

The Dullahan's horizontal slash unfolded the moment it landed covered the two knights on the flank.

The knight whose shield it hit first broke into two pieces and whose arm was cut screamed. The remaining one also stumbled with a large scratch on his shield.

"Stick to it!"

As the knights rushed in droves behind it, the wide blade of the glaive struck into the ground.

"What is it doing..."

The knights' question was answered by a pile of dirt sprayed to the front like explosive death.

"Such an ugly demonic beast not even knowing honor!"

"M-My eyes have dirt..."

Panicked by the unimaginable attack, the knights whose eyes were hit panicked, and the ghost warhorse charged through them.

The knights desperately opened their stinging eyes and raised their shields, but there's no way it would properly serve as defense.

"Uwaaak!"

Knights cut by the blade and hit by the haft and the ghost warhorse collapsed bleeding from all directions. However, a casualty at least didn't come out.

Because they wore heavy armor on the thick bodies unique to central knights, and their shields were also sturdy. Being right in the middle of a dense formation, the Dullahan also couldn't exert its maximum physical strength.

In the midst of that, many axes and swords of the knights hit their mark, but the Dullahan didn't even budge and returned fierce counterattacks.

'As expected, is it not enough with just strength?'

Being somewhere in the middle of undead and spirit, it doesn't know fatigue and its durability is also enormous.

In terms of head count it's many versus one, but if quantifying the total physical strength or endurance of both sides, the Dullahan's side would probably be higher.

"N-No!"

Finally, there became not a single person standing properly. The moment the glaive was about to fall on the neck of a close knight.

Swaaaaek!

The Dullahan reacted to a javelin that flew in with a tremendous bloody tearing sound of wind.

Smash!

As it swung the glaive with equally fierce strength, the javelin shattered in mid-air and wood splinters poured down.

[■■■!]

The Dullahan aimed the glaive towards Eugene and growled.

After properly taking a hit from Might once at first, it seemed to have been wary all along.

"No, is it a bit different?"

Eugene can hear what other knights cannot hear.

[■■■. ■■■■.]

He realized the Dullahan was proposing a duel to him. Even if he couldn't understand the language, the will inside it was engraved into Eugene's soul.

The Dullahan grabbed the middle of the glaive, spun it around in the air, then aimed at Eugene. What that means is clear.

Eugene glanced backwards. There were also newly joined lords during the march, so it was good to show majesty once more around this point.

'Am I haughty?'

Even though he saw the central knights being smashed as a group right before his eyes, he was not afraid at all. Eugene felt his blood boiling.

* * *

Kkwaang!

The giant axe and long glaive clash in mid-air.

The warriors here had heard various roars while wandering from battlefield to battlefield, but a sound this loud was a first.

Crackle!

As blade and blade clashed once again, blue sparks flew. That is not the oxidation reaction of metal particles.

It's a spark caused by the spiritual energy dwelling in the two weapons. In a certain meaning, it could also be seen as magic in its smallest unit.

"Everyone step back! You'll get caught up if you cut in!"

Eugene was worried that the southern knights blinded by glory might rush in recklessly, but no such thing happened.

"This is not like a demonic beast extermination or something."

"It's a duel. A duel of knights."

Everyone watched the two riders competing in martial arts as if possessed.

Both Eugene and the Dullahan swung long polearms at each other with their reins released.

Kang!

Because it wasn't a one-handed sword or something, the competition wasn't interrupted even when the distance between each other widened by 3~4m.

Kwang!

Pachichit!

A majestic confrontation that couldn't be witnessed on any battlefield was unfolding.

However, anyone could see Eugene was dominating. Because every time the weapons collided, the Dullahan's side was pushed back and driven onto the defensive.

Above all, unlike the Dullahan swinging the glaive with both hands, Eugene was holding Blackout with one hand.

'I don't know what kind of sinister secret art it might suddenly use. I must unconditionally keep holding the shield.'

When fighting an unpredictable enemy, it was Eugene's iron rule.

It wasn't just the riders fighting. For their respective masters, the warhorses also continued their own fight.

Craaack! The opened mouth of Might is lined with savage teeth that would make even a crocodile run away.

Chomp!

The ghost warhorse barely dodged right before its neck was torn off.

Thanks to that, the Dullahan was forced into a disadvantaged posture, and missed the glaive at the giant axe blade flying into that opening.

Immediately, hot shouts burst out from the ones watching.

"Tradition Knight! Tradition Knight!"

Knight, monster, legendary demonic beast. No matter who the opponent is, undefeated in a duel.

At the power of the monarch they served, from the lowest soldiers to the knights, everyone cheered together.

[■■!]

The Dullahan extended its hand and chanted a spell. The glaive that fell on the ground vanished turning into smoke, then appeared in its grasp once again.

From then on, instead of competing while planted like stakes, a mobile battle took place. They ran around bewilderingly in a wide radius of tens of meters, exchanging offense and defense.

The strength of the ghost warhorse is overcoming the constraints of joints or skeleton, and reinforcing its speed with magical power.

Grrrrrr-.

On the other hand, Might pushed with ignorant physique and mass.

Although he might fall behind in turning power, it was a situation of overwhelming in speed and power. Since even the rider's destructive power was Eugene's superiority, Might rushed in like a great white shark.

Crack!

[■■?!]

When the blade of the glaive began to crack, the Dullahan hid behind a tree to collect the situation.

Eugene could feel its panic from the wavelength of magic power wafting from the pitch-black neck.

It was the Dullahan that had hunted the knights who came to slay it in reverse. It was its first experience being pushed back from both the rider and warhorse's sides. Shall we call it a feeling of knight and monster being reversed?

"You are the one who requested the match first. Do not run away."

Blackout's axe blade struck the tree.

Crackle crackle crackle.

A tree seemingly 2~3 times a grown man's torso was ground and fell in one blow, and the ghost warhorse quickly dodged.

However, Might was already contracting his body. Enormous power was released from his hind legs, and he shot forward like a ballista towards that direction.

The Dullahan took cover behind a wagon set up to mark the outskirts of the dueling ground.

Kwaang!

When Might rammed into it, the wagon flew through the air like a wild dog hit by a bull. Broken axles and wheels fluttered pitifully, and between them was the Dullahan thrusting its glaive.

After knocking it away with his shield, Eugene hammered Blackout up and down.

As the Dullahan's right shoulder shattered, a sharp scream burst out.

"Eueueu."

Those watching got goosebumps all over their bodies. That was like a banshee's wail, it wasn't something to endure with courage.

Because it couldn't exert any influence on Eugene, he struck down Blackout repeatedly.

Smash!

The glaive couldn't hold up and the blade broke apart.

"Just who is the knight and who is the monster here."

At the appearance of the Dullahan running away again, someone muttered inadvertently.

Kwang!

The axe blade that narrowly missed the Dullahan splintered a rock.

Swaaaaek!

Eugene launched a surprise javelin throw he had intentionally not been using.

The Dullahan, who had only been used to close-quarters offense and defense, had its abdomen pierced by the unexpected javelin, and had to face an utterly unavoidable axe blade.

[■■■!]

Throwing away the glaive, the Dullahan received the axe blade with two hands and two arms in black iron gauntlets.

The left hand and left arm were crushed at once, and only 3 fingers remained on the right hand.

A scream that seemed to tear burst out. The warriors heard the sobbing of a woman dwelling inside it.

The injury was massive, but the Dullahan barely blocked the axe blade. Between the broken armor, pitch-black aura vehemently spewed out.

It fiercely burrowed into Eugene's body, freezing Blackout's axe blade. Frost gathered on his eyebrows and hair in an instant.

Then, the hell spirit dwelling in Blackout spewed out power as if saying it's laughable.

Sizzle.

The dark axe blade heated up bright red and instantly evaporated the frost.

Similarly, the blood flowing in Eugene's blood vessels also emitted the heat of hell to banish the cold.

The hellfire that was gnawing at Marbas's soul and flesh, after finishing its job, returned obediently to Eugene's blood. As if saying that place indeed is the best cradle.

"It is time for rest. Though it probably isn't the way you wanted."

Eugene's left hand grabbed the neck cross-section from which pitch-black steam was rising.

Crunch.

The Dullahan resisted with its hand having only 3 fingers cleanly left, but even that was caught in Eugene's right hand and crushed.

Wooo-.

Keeuuureung-.

At the crisis of the master heading into disappearance, the ghost warhorse also became desperate. But running away is impossible. Because the guy was also in a state where its neck was bitten by Might.

Squelch!

Eugene's left hand tore the Dullahan's neck barrier and burrowed inside. He tore out the intense mystery condensed inside it.

Kwadeudeudeuk!

As something looking like a vertebra bone was plucked out, the Dullahan went limp. The moment the master vanished, the ghost warhorse too became faint and was banished from the world.

* * *

The southern army welcomed the returned Eugene kneeling before their lord with moved faces.

"Damn it. We suffered a complete defeat. Probably no knight could fight like His Excellency the Count."

And the central knights offering bows at the lead of Krey. Since there wasn't a single person whose body was intact, most were in a sitting state.

"Thank you. But it seems everyone's injuries are severe."

"Thanks to Your Excellency, we saved our lives."

When Eugene and the Dullahan began their staring contest, Hind quickly noticed and moved with the soldiers. They pulled the injured central knights out of the engagement zone.

"I will treat you."

"B-But..."

"There is no need to feel burdened. Because it is respect for knights who fought bravely."

Eugene swept over the faces of the central knights, then read the awkwardness dwelling entirely in their expressions and added words.

"Naturally, I do not mean I will capture you as prisoners. Once your injuries heal, I will release you without price. I promise on my honor. Instead, since I too have to persuade my vassals, please entrust just your weapons. It's fine to keep your armor as is."

"!!!"

If he relieved the stumbling block of the heart like this, there is no reason to decline.

Among the injured, there were people with severe bleeding or with broken bones piercing through the skin layer. If not treated immediately, their lives are in danger or it leads to a lifelong disability.

"Sir Krey. Even so, is there a guarantee he will keep the promise?"

"To tell us to stay in the enemy camp unarmed."

A few knights seemed worried that Eugene would capture them as prisoners later after doing this.

'Even from my perspective I guess it would be hard to believe recklessly. Since thousands of troops from the rear will gather soon too.'

Eugene thought he understood, but it seemed the other central knights didn't.

Slap!

Krey's palm struck the cheek of the doubting knight.

"Know your shame! Does Sir insult that honor even after seeing the great battle just now?"

"Sir Krey's words are right. If only your condition was fine, I would have requested a duel!"

Without Eugene's vassals even needing to step forward, most of the central knights scolded strictly.

If a merchant's credit was guaranteed by the reserves piled in a warehouse, for a knight, the martial prowess they had built up substituted it.

The bloody battle Eugene showed just now was absolute like billions in gold to the knights.

"I-I'm sorry. I was foolish."

In the end, it was tied up with the knights in question admitting their fault.

"Who are you apologizing to? Pick the opponent correctly."

"Please accept our apologies, Excellency the Count."

"...It is fine, so please stop."

They were sweating so much that it was to the point Eugene became embarrassed.

* * *

- To make sure you don't pick fights unnecessarily during the time you stay in the allied camp.

- We are not that stupid. Because they are people His Excellency personally welcomed as guests.

The southern nobles obediently accepted them staying in the camp under the qualification of guests.

Partly because the central knights came out more gentlemanly than expected during the duels, and a sense of solidarity arose anew even if small, sending praise together to the great victory.

"It's a shame it wasn't a living monster like a troll or a hydra."

Eugene smacked his lips. Guardian or death knight, spiritual existences like dullahan leave little loot behind even if slayed.

Eugene shook the vertebra held in his hand here and there.

"Kkyaak!"

At that appearance, the witches serving in the army ran over screaming.

"L-Lord! Would you please entrust that precious item to us?!"

"I fear that the mystery contained within might be spoiled. Hurry, a safe preservation!"

If one were to pick the happiest people since coming under Eugene's command, it was none other than the witches.

When would they ever be able to encounter such a precious catalyst? In the days they wandered, it was something they couldn't even dream of. An article that even Chief Allesa would flap her ears and run barefoot for.

In another place, field hospital beds were set up and central knights were receiving treatment everywhere.

"Poppy juice is fine."

"Sir Knight. Our stuff isn't that kind of cheap stock. It's a non-addictive secret mixture sap."

"!!!"

The result of combining the medicine the Blackhand tribe had developed and the Moving Castle's cultivation room, they were able to abundantly equip expensive medical supplies.

Eugene's field hospital proved to be the best treatment center of this era. Even while setting bones and disinfecting and suturing torn flesh, only tranquility is filled entirely.

"Your face seems somewhat relieved."

Eugene stared at Krey looking after the central knights. Surpassing submitting to the match and being thankful for the favor. Something like a sense of relief was discernible on his face.

"Krey is a knight famous for being honorable. Perhaps he wished to be bound by your army."

Valda examined Eugene's body, which had been exposed to the cold, here and there.

"I think that's an excessive thought. No matter what, it's against his father and lord's enemy."

"According to what the vassals said, he is the person who most fiercely opposed the Head of Kruger claiming kingship. He was also almost deprived of his knighthood trying to forcibly block the order to execute nobles."

Loyalty to one's lord. Protection of the weak and justice.

When the two values clash, most knights prioritized the former. If the affection of flesh and blood is even included there, there is no need to add more words.

But it seems a few exceptions are Krey. Homi also wagged her tail as if agreeing with Valda's opinion.

Having become a complete warrior, she could read the opponent's true feelings through crossed swords.

Even when Krey arrived at the dueling ground he was vacillating back and forth, but he blew away his worries entirely with two battles.

- Sir Krey and the knights were all defeated and captured as prisoners.

- That makes no sense! How fast and strong they are!

False rumors spread in all directions. Since it was such a bizarre incident, people who didn't know the inside story could sufficiently misunderstand.

- Contact from Baron Lambda who went to get supplies has been cut off.

- S-Surely he didn't get done in too?

- Could that be possible? I tell you the place the Baron headed to is the North! Seeing there is no chance of winning, he probably abandoned His Highness and ran away!

To secure food and raise morale, the nobles were scattered and plundering the East. Among such people, deserters began to occur.

As time goes by the enemy's momentum grows bigger, but capturing the East is sluggish. Every time they heard news of Eugene gradually narrowing the distance, they felt like rats driven into a jar.

At least there is one piece of good news.

- We have come! Ruler of Britannia!

It's the point that King Kruger somehow calmed down the Viking allied forces, who were distracted by plundering, and made them join the army.

Since it's an uneasy task, the King also had to concentrate his whole mind, but they were a military force worth that much.

* * *

What the Dullahan left behind, aside from the vertebra, was one more thing. It is none other than the armor it wore.

"Is it okay to wear this? Like perchance getting cursed or having life force stolen."

Unlike Eugene who looked suspiciously, Homi's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Because the armor, which had no reaction to others, caused a change at Homi's fingertip. Black ripples arose from the solid solid and changed form.

The living armor was rejoicing at Homi's touch.

"I have no knowledge whatsoever of traditions of slaying a dullahan either. It would have been good if Lord Marbas was here at times like this."

Valda also blurred the end of her words as if troubled.

"Since it aimed for Homi, maybe the armor also feels her as something like a master?"

"Perhaps that's so. If the criteria for receiving a Dullahan's choice isn't just strength, but looking at something like compatibility."

Anyway, an evil aura was not felt from the armor.

Eugene imagined the appearance of Homi wearing this black armor. A perfect knight in itself, whether in skill or in appearance.

Although it was a special relationship where Eugene didn't want to let her graduate, and Homi also entirely didn't want to graduate.