Chapter 280

Chapter 280 - Shadow Legion (3)

The Shadow Legion consists of 3 units, and the ones who just landed are the vanguard in charge of the front ranks. Since they were all wearing scale armor, the iron scales clashed every time they ran, making a loud noise.

The centurion commanding them led the unit to the most precarious-looking earthwork.

"Kick the ladders! Get rid of them!"

"Aaargh!"

Several mercenaries who tried to remove the ladders at the mercenary captain's command atop the earthwork were hit by bolts and rolled. One of them fell forward grabbing his leg; although he avoided a vital spot, his remaining lifespan wouldn't be long.

"We secured the wall! Wave the banner!"

"The 10 gold coins are ours!"

The Gorde mercenaries who swarmed up captured a section of the earthwork. Since they were the first to wave the banner on the wall, they would receive a reward from Duke Leray. However, that was gold exchanged for their lives.

"First rank! Hasta!"

The legionaries of the 1st rank threw their pila simultaneously at the spot the centurion's sword pointed to.

"Retards. How can they hit from there..."

Thwack!

The face of the Gorde mercenary, who was sneering at the javelin throw from too far a distance, snapped backward.

The legionaries trained with spear throwers even usually. They could aim accurately from a distance mercenaries couldn't even imagine.

"Kehak!"

"Urgh!"

Due to the unexpected ambush, the mercenaries on the wall were swept away like butterflies hit by hail. Those who climbed up later came to their senses and reacted.

"Form a shield wall!"

At the decurions' shouts, the Gorde mercenaries overlapped their shields, forming an airtight square formation. True to the warriors of Gorde, a powerhouse of infantry, it was a sturdiness that didn't look like mercenaries.

"Cease throwing!"

However, no javelins were wasted. The Shadow Legion had experienced such situations countless times and had also trained for them.

"Auxiliary troops to the front!"

The legionaries at the front parted left and right, and 3 combat engineer teams consisting of 5 men each appeared. They were each carrying a field ballista on their shoulders.

"Target! Shield formation on the right side of the earthwork!"

The 3 ballistae, which completed mounting in an instant, aimed at the shield formation atop the earthwork.

"Fire!"

Thwump!

Thwump!

Thwump!

With a refreshing firing sound, giant arrows flew. They were monsters that killed even a Bugbear in one hit if struck in a vital spot.

Kwang!

The shield wall shattered, and the Gorde mercenaries were blown away in all directions. The unlucky one who took a hit to the chest literally flew freely through the sky.

"Hasta!"

At the centurion's command, a barrage of javelins poured down on the mercenaries floundering aimlessly after losing their shields.

After neatly clearing out the Gorde mercenaries, the centurion pointed at the Imperial faction mercenaries on a nearby earthwork.

"You there! You there! Fill the empty spots! I have been delegated the authority to defend the earthworks by His Majesty the Emperor!"

"I refuse! What right do you have to boss me around..."

It was the order of someone who wasn't even his direct superior. The mercenary decurion, who didn't want to stand in a dangerous area, protested. The centurion didn't bother persuading with words in a situation where every second was urgent.

"Execution."

Thwump!

The combat engineer who had already reloaded the ballista followed the order.

Thwack!

The decurion was skewered by the ballista arrow and pinned to the watchtower wall without even being able to scream.

"Keu... keu... uhh."

The surrounding mercenaries became quiet at the corpse convulsing while spitting bloody foam.

"You! And you! Defend the earthwork!"

"U-Understood."

The decurions led their subordinates and crossed over to the earthwork under fierce attack.

"The enemies are numerous, but you have built a sturdy field fortress! If you commit to defense risking your lives, the enemies will also have to brace for tremendous damage to get over it!"

The mercenaries knew what the centurion was saying. Because it was a fairly well-built fortress even in their eyes, and the briefly remaining mud was doing its part excellently. It's just that no one wanted to sacrifice their life for a paycheck of one or two silver coins.

Meanwhile, the 2nd line arrived. This time, they weren't combat troops but auxiliary troops.

"Since the earthworks are holding up, scatter by centuries. Each unit commander is to support critical areas using their field judgment. Looting units, follow me!"

At the new centurion's directive, the auxiliary troops took their respective gear and commenced their respective missions.

"Help! There are too many enemies this way..."

The centurion leading the auxiliary troops headed to the earthwork fighting a difficult battle facing 3 times the enemies.

The looting unit following him, as the name suggests, has the mission of gathering grain in occupied territories. They professionally handled various agricultural tools, and no one looked down on them. Because they all had good strength, and an army has to eat to live.

-If the height is that low...? Listen up. Prepare the scythes.

-Pardon? U-Understood.

While gauging the height of the earthwork from across the river, this centurion put the idea that flashed in his mind into action.

"Sweep them away!"

The auxiliary troops who ran shouting didn't bother climbing up the earthwork. They swung the large scythes fOrcefully from below.

Slice!

"Kuaaak!"

The noble faction mercenaries pushing fOrcefully collapsed screaming terribly.

"My foot! My foooot!"

"Uwaaaah!"

They grabbed their severed shins or ankles, pouring out tears and snot.

Those wearing greaves were safe, but they couldn't be relieved either. Because the experienced auxiliary troops immediately held the scythes in reverse and aimed for the back of the legs that the greaves couldn't cover.

"Where are you looking? Huh?"

"Keuk!"

The price of losing sight of the enemy in front of them due to the unimaginable lower attack was death.

A frontal attack and a side attack at the lowest point. Against a pincer attack that was difficult to counter simultaneously, the attacking fOrces collapsed without holding out for even a moment.

Meanwhile, the 3rd landing fOrce was entering the earthen fortress.

* * *

Since rising as a knight, Eugene has fought all sorts of enemies in all sorts of places. Setting aside his young age, it would be difficult to find a commander with this much experience.

"It's a relief we saw them in advance before fighting. Everyone bear this in mind. Those guys are the most dangerous opponents we have faced so far."

"This is the first time I've seen you acknowledge an enemy to this extent, Sir Knight? They are definitely an amazing bunch, though."

Not only Rex but also the other escort knights seemed surprised by Eugene's assessment.

"That legion isn't a bunch of retards who go crazy over glory or loot."

Eugene omitted the suffix 'filling this battlefield'.

"They are guys with the same seed as us. Soldiers who think like us and fight like us."

"..."

Only then did his subordinates understand the identity of the uneasiness they had been feeling since earlier. Two male tigers encountering each other in the same territory. It was exactly that sensation.

"Still, those guys don't have Your Excellency, do they?"

"To think you knew how to say things like that."

"It's not flattery, just an objective comparison of fOrces."

Eugene chuckled at Hind, who put on a serious face.

Right around that time, shouts echoed from the earthen fortress. As the Shadow Legion joined the counterattack, the allied fOrces' 1st attack group disintegrated and retreated.

"This is the power of the central region!"

"If you're going to run, shouldn't you take the corpses with you? If these start rotting, it'll be harder for you when you attack next time."

"Numbers aren't everything! You'll come to your senses when you starve soon... Huh?"

The momentum of the Imperial faction defenders, giggling and mocking, didn't last long.

"Uwaaaaaah!"

Rather, the noble faction army, which had failed its first attack, was shouting with joy.

"Ah, they've finally arrived."

A massive supply unit fluttering the banner of House Mayer was approaching the allied fOrces' camp from the north of the river.

The 300 military wagons pulled by horses, mules, and donkeys were loaded with various food, arrows, and sturdy new shields. Moreover, a gift even more reassuring than the supplies was accompanying them.

"The Blackhand Mercenaries!"

"They are the grim reapers of the battlefield!"

A thousand-man unit of Dark Elf archers was marching in formation. Everyone possessed the tall figure and face unique to the Fairy race. They wore expensive leather lamellar armor and carried longbows as tall as themselves.

On a battlefield full of shabby mercenaries, the visual intimidation was tremendous. Could it be said it was like an army composed entirely of nobles?

"Shall we go down too? We should reduce competitors when we can."

"You're right. Especially with so many meat shields around."

"Make sure you never say that once we go down, alright?"

"You're stating the obvious. Sir Knight."

Even while heading to the largest battlefield they had experienced so far, his subordinates were not worried. Eugene's back, leading the way while riding Might, erased all anxiety just by looking at it.

* * *

"Welcome!"

Duke Leray, who was waiting outside the command barracks, ran over immediately when Eugene approached. It seemed he had been eagerly waiting for House Mayer to join.

"The Count's warhorse always inspires admiration no matter when I see it!"

"Thank you for the compliment. With the high vantage point, he is truly dependable when commanding or scouting."

Eugene smiled as he dismounted. A knight is a knight; even if he was indifferent to other compliments, the corners of his mouth naturally curled up at compliments about his horse.

"The downside is that he eats a tremendous amount, but well, he eats monster meat or horse meat well, so."

"Indeed, he is no ordinary fellow. Hahaha."

Duke Leray patted Eugene's back and led him into the command barracks.

Upon entering, the nobles of Southern Roman looked at Eugene with curious eyes. At their center is Duke Robert, the commander of the Southern Army.

"I've heard a lot about you from Duke Leray. It's truly reassuring to have the highly renowned Undefeated Knight join us."

Perhaps because he had accumulated tremendous achievements at a similar age? Unlike his words, Robert couldn't hide his surging competitive spirit.

After greeting the nobles and shaking hands for a while, Eugene looked outside.

"Now that we've exchanged greetings, I will take my leave."

"If you're planning to join the attack, please hold back. Our Southern Army will tear down that trivial earthen fortress. There are more than a few knights wanting to avenge our previous defeat."

Eugene calmed the southern noble who spoke excitedly.

"I'm not trying to fight, but to check the logistics. I need to see with my own eyes how much existing supplies there are and where to pile them to feel at ease."

"You can leave that to the logistics officers, why bother..."

At the point raised by another southern noble, Eugene answered seriously.

"A place with no moisture that doesn't interfere with the movement of each unit. Laying them out favorably for first-in-first-out. Depending on whAAether this is done or not, there's a huge difference in efficiency even with the same supplies."

"The Count's subordinates should be able to handle that well enough."

"Of course they will do well, but they are not nobles. With an army of this size gathered, good spots must already have owners, right? To push them aside and load supplies there requires powerful authority."

Crack.

Eugene cracked his knuckles and showed his fist. Looking at the size of the fist alone, it didn't seem much different from the other knights here.

"..."

However, for some reason, everyone felt a chill down their spines when they saw Eugene's fist. Because they saw an illusion of an anesthesia rock rolling towards them.

"Excellent. I recognized you since the departure banquet last time! Since ancient times, there is only one supreme tactic for leading a grand army. Feeding them well and advancing slowly!"

It was Leray, who wanted a certain victory from a grand perspective. He raised both hands in response and followed him out.

Meanwhile, Robert was busy soothing the southern nobles. The nobles were in a state of excitement due to a desire for revenge for their previous crushing defeat and having their territories trampled.

* * *

It was just as Eugene expected. Hind, who had taken over the supply unit, was feeling awkward in front of those who had occupied the best spot.

"We have never backed down even against enemies several times our number! But to tell us to move not for a battle but to place supplies? Is a mere knight daring to insult House Batol?"

If it were a mercenary group, they would have just kicked them out by fOrce. But unfortunately, a prominent noble house from the south had set up camp.

Led by Hind, the knights of House Mayer and the knights of House Batol glared at each other, engaged in a battle of nerves.

"A lowly wandering tribe dares to act like knights without knowing their place?"

"Better than a hairy monkey acting like a human. In my 50 years of living, I've never seen a guy as hairy as you. Was one of your parents a chimpanzee by any chance?"

"You son of a..."

Eugene interjected between the two groups on the verge of a clash.

"I knew this would happen. You look quite troubled?"

"My Lord!"

Hind welcomed Eugene with a face that said he was saved.

"My Lord? Look here! Just how exactly did you educate your subordinates? Telling an honorable noble to pull out tent pegs and move, is that even..."

Count Batol's voice, about to argue aggressively, quickly died down.

'Th-This guy... is dangerous!'

Not everyone was awed by Eugene's majesty. There were more than a few nobles who dismissed it as an exaggeration or a complete rumor and acted brazenly.

Since such people bloom endlessly like mold, Eugene had to step forward himself and suppress them.

"Will you vacate the spot? I don't mean to ignore the pride of House Batol, but this is an affair of state. There is nothing more important than providing high-quality meals to this large army and leading them to certain victory."

"I ask you as well. Please yield for the greater cause."

"..."

Although very dissatisfied, Count Batol found it difficult to stubbornly resist in front of the prestige of two great nobles. Duke Leray admonished Count Batol, who was biting his lip.

"The first battle ended in their victory, and Gaius's reinfOrcements are crossing the river one after another. If so, the next battle will see knights dueling before the soldiers clash."

At Leray's words, the eyes of all nearby knights sparkled.

Because a large-scale battlefield has aspects similar to a comprehensive performance, there are unspoken procedures.

It is a mandatory event for knights seeking honor and success to step forward from both armies and engage in duels. This is a customary law accepted across nations, respected so importantly that it was even given the name 'Knight's Right of Engagement'.

"If they send out a champion, we will guarantee the knights of House Batol the opportunity to fight first on our side."

"You must keep that promise?!"

"Of course! Would I lack the power to make that happen? Isn't that right, Count Mayer?"

This was a part agreed upon in advance between the two on their way here.

"Of course. Since the knights of the renowned House Batol are stepping forward, we should naturally cheer for them."

'I really like him.'

Duke Leray nodded with satisfaction at Eugene's attitude of elevating the other party.

Seeing him crush the pagan army and conquer the city of Hesed, his martial prowess was genuine. Yet his way of thinking matched well with his seasoned self, so there was no better comrade-in-arms.

'If I knew this would happen, I shouldn't have married off my third daughter. If only my youngest was born 10 years earlier...'

He, a fool for his daughters, even started to feel regretful about a marriage alliance.

* * *

As Duke Leray predicted, the next morning, the main gate of the earthen fortress opened and an Imperial faction knight emerged. One could guess his identity right away from the sight of him proudly fluttering his black cloak.

"Here is Balthar of House Leinster! Anyone with the courage to face the sword of the Shadow Legion, step forward!"

"Alright! I will kill you and place the name of Batol on the bedrock of glory!"

Duke Leray kept his promise. The allied fOrces' camp parted, and a knight of House Batol rode out from there.

He was going crazy with joy at the cheers sent to him by an army of tens of thousands clashing their weapons and shields. His entire body's blood boiled, and his will for a certain victory surged.

As the trumpets blew from both armies, the two knights charged toward each other. They each unleashed their secret sword techniques unsparingly and fought for nearly 20 bouts, but the one who grasped victory was Sir Balthar of the Shadow Legion.

"Keuk!"

The knight of House Batol, unhorsed while spraying blood from his shoulder, trembled. Balthar, bleeding through his helmet, caught his rough breath and shouted.

"Get lost! A banner like Batol isn't even worth joining the black banner!"

The squire who came running hurriedly dragged the injured knight and retreated to the allied fOrces' camp.

"Th-Th-That son of a bitch dares say what?!"

"I will avenge this. Count Your Excellency."

A second knight rode out on behalf of his enraged lord. However, he too was struck down, his neck slashed after a fierce contest.

As one of the carefully selected knights even among the outstanding knights of the Shadow Legion, Balthar's skills were extraordinary.

"Uwaaaaaah!"

"Balthar! Balthar! Balthar!"

The Imperial knight waved his sword and smiled the winner's smile at the earthen fortress defending fOrces cheering passionately.

His arm holding the sword trembled from striking down two knights, and he had 5 wounds. However, the thrill of victory and the audience's praise were the best painkillers.

Conversely, the loser was miserable. The squire dragged away the corpse vomiting blood profusely. The allied fOrces' camp watching the scene looked demoralized.

That the Shadow Legion knight achieved consecutive victories wasn't just a difference in skill, but the difference in warhorses couldn't be ignored either.

"I've never seen a horse like that."

"Isn't that a monster covered in horse armor?"

"It looks too much like a warhorse to say that..."

The mercenaries who came up from Gorde, Samur, and the peninsula whispered.

Mightybred Charger.

A unique bloodline horse also called the stud of strength, exclusively operated by the knights of the Shadow Legion.

Its true identity is the descendant of the World Chargers ridden by the royal guards of the ancient kingdom. Over a long period, the blood had thinned miserably, but its roots hadn't gone anywhere.

The breeders of the Roman royal family are desperately trying to maintain its size and strength. By mobilizing various suspicious drugs and fOrcing near-impossible breeding with similar types of monsters.

Although they had already lost much of their ancestors' size and strength, they defied comparison with any bloodline horse of this era.

"You worked hard. Step back now."

"Damn it. I leave the rest to you."

"Weaklings of the allied fOrces! Here, Knight Aberdeen of the Shadow Legion will continue the match!"

Balthar, who retreated after handing his spot to another knight. The moment he passed through the gate and was hidden from the allied fOrces, he collapsed on his horse as if falling.

"Keheuk!"

As even the third knight met his end, Count Batol's face turned the color of dirt. It was no longer just a matter of pride. If the top three knights fall consecutively, it affects the power of the house as well.

Knights of this era are not simple elite warriors but also double as commanders. In particular, cavalry command requires a level of capability and authority fundamentally different from infantry command. It cannot be carelessly entrusted to anyone but a highly renowned knight.

"Why is no one coming out!? Are you telling me there's not a single courageous knight among all those numbers?!"

Count Batol, biting his lip at Aberdeen's mockery, conceded defeat.

"We will not step forward anymore. We will open the honor of the duel to other knights."

Then, numerous knights eagerly stepped forward competitively. It seemed like a gathering of madmen who didn't even consider the possibility of losing. Well, that's the creature called a knight.

"The great warhorse and sword techniques passed down from the ancient kingdom! Fear them without fail!"

Even amidst that, Aberdeen of the Shadow Legion wasn't stopping his provocations. Since they were at a numerical disadvantage, there was a need to thoroughly suppress the soldiers' momentum.

Grrr-.

The large warhorse also raised its head as if responding to its master.

"It seems Your Highness the Duke will have to designate one person."

Since they were clamoring to go out, someone had to coordinate. ConTrolling these knights required an authority on the level of Duke Leray.

And Leray had a knight picked out from the start.

"I request of you. If an allied champion falls again in a situation where we've already lost 3 times, it will affect morale for future battles as well. The only one in the camp who can guarantee a certain victory is the Count."

"I will do so. It just so happens I had business with those knights too."

Eugene had originally planned to just watch, but his mind changed the moment he saw the stud of strength.

"Mightybred, huh... Is this some kind of destiny too? It's similar to your name, isn't it?"

Grrrr-!

At Eugene's whisper as he stepped into the dueling ground, Might shook his head as if displeased.

"Undefeated Knight! Undefeated Knight!"

"Our Knight's horse is much biggeeeer!"

The dispirited allied fOrces' camp rapidly regained its momentum. On the other hand, the Imperial faction fOrces watching from the earthen fortress became quiet.

Because a monster that made even the warhorses ridden by the Shadow Legion knights look like foals was approaching.

"Hello!"

"...Are you the usurper Count Mayer?"

Aberdeen asked with a stiff face to Eugene, who greeted him with a cheerful laugh.

"That's right. You're very curious about what the Moving Castle is like, right? You'll soon get to see it."

Eugene caught his breath and gathered magic power in his lungs. The time had come to see the results of the one-on-one training he received from Homi on the mystery of the roar.

"Knights of Gaius! Don't act arrogant with such replicas!"

The magical voice that came out of Eugene's open mouth seeped into the ears of everyone on the battlefield.

"This is what true ancient power is!"

Kwuoooooh-!

The roar of a true World Charger shook the battlefield. The stud of strength, which had been full of spirit, couldn't even dare to meet its eyes and bowed its head.