Swordmaster of the Great Wall

Erich tilted his head in puzzlement. No matter how he thought about it, something strange happening in the current situation seemed impossible.

Originally, he had expected significant casualties even after dealing with Katan.

'What in the world is happening in the rear?'

Erich hadn't given any specific orders, nor did he have any clues.

'... Shadow?'

However, the Shadows didn't have enough personnel to throw the Barbarians into such confusion.

Shadow was an intelligence and assassination unit, not a regular army. The rıghtful source is noveⅼfire.net

At that moment, Barnes, who had a bandage wrapped around Erich's shoulder, spoke up.

"... What on earth is going on behind them?"

"How should I know? ... Frederick!"

Frederick, who had been gazing at the Barbarians, trotted over to Erich's side.

"You called for me?"

"Even you must have a vague idea, right? There's some kind of trouble in their rear. For us, it's a welcome development."

"Mm. That means we need to move too, right? Got it. I thought the old man was going to handle everything."

"Tsk, what the hell do you think of Sir Mikhail, anyway?"

As Erich glared at him, Frederick winced and led his subordinates out.

Indeed.

As he launched a counterattack at the hesitating Barbarians, his troops quickly surged forward.

It seemed the commotion behind the Barbarian horde was a much bigger problem than expected.

Soon, Mikhail also stepped up and began sweeping away the Barbarians.

― Shaaah!

[Do not fall back!]

[Our cause will not die! Gah!]

The ones who shout that they won't die are always the first to fall. That's how courage works on the battlefield.

Especially when a natural disaster like Mikhail stands before you, the first to die are those closest to him.

How much time had passed?

The Barbarians, who had fought Katan and been pushed about halfway into the valley, were now driven all the way to the exit leading toward the Angel Hills.

To make matters worse, a mountain of Barbarians' corpses was piled up around Mikhail, who stood at the entrance.

He had repelled the enemies without leaving the advantageous terrain of the valley.

By now, Erich, who had finished receiving treatment, also moved to the front. There, Frederick, bleeding from his side, was breathing heavily.

"Are you hurt?"

"It's nothing. But seriously, what the hell is happening back there?"

"As I said, I don't know. But that's..."

Through the Barbarians, a long flag could be seen. Looking closely...

"... Incencus Church?"

It was even the battle standard of their holy knights.

"...?"

Erich felt a rare sense of great bewilderment. The appearance of the Incencus madmen on the battlefield was entirely unplanned.

"Why did those Incencus lunatics come all the way here...?"

Still, an opportunity was an opportunity.

He didn't know the exact scale, but Ungrim's forces were surrounded and being massacred, unable to escape.

Erich jumped up and drew his sword.

"From now on, everyone charge the Barbarians!"

"... Can't we wait?"

"What if the forces outside get wiped out while we wait? Do you want to hole up again and fight two or three at a time?"

"Well, not really."

Frederick grinned, showing his yellow teeth.

In any case, Erich's unit swiftly charged out of the valley into the space that Mikhail had already cleared.

The Barbarians, caught between two powerful forces, were not a difficult opponent.

Flooding in like tidal waves, Erich's men surged toward the Barbarians.

Mass-produced or not, whether they were headhunters or not, in the chaotic situation, every Barbarian was equally likely to be struck by a sword.

Leading from the front with his uninjured arm, Erich swung his sword and noticed that the Barbarian ranks had thinned considerably.

He also saw that the holy knights' banners were much closer.

However, at some moment, Erich's sword came to a halt. Beyond the Order's banner, another familiar standard caught his eye.

A banner charging toward him at incredible speed.

It was the banner of House Grand Duke Krupp.

― Kwajijik! Kwajik!

Mounted knights crushed Barbarians underfoot, breaking their formation. In between, Heinkel's soldiers stabbed at them with spears from all directions.

And the face at the head, slashing Barbarian necks as he charged—

"Milon!"

"My lord! I have arrived!"

Milon swung his sword downward from horseback, ruthlessly butchering the Barbarians. To the Barbarians, it must have been a scene of utter shock and terror.

They'd likely never fought against mounted knights before. Besides the height difference, the strong armor of both knight and horse made their charge unstoppable for the Barbarians.

Before long, Ungrim's army, cut in two, began to scatter in all directions, as if forgetting their earlier oath.

Riding at the front, Milon called out to the soldiers:

"Chase the enemy! Kill every wretch who laid a hand on the lord!"

― Waaaah!

With a roar, the soldiers chased after the fleeing Barbarians. Soon, Milon dismounted before Erich and knelt down.

"My lord! I'm relieved to see you well."

"... Do I look well? My shoulder is split open."

"Ah..., my heart aches."

"It's all right. It hurts less than the wound I got from your sword."

"Ah. Um. Hmph."

With a long-lost smile, Erich added teasingly,

"I suppose a wound hurts most when it's from a subordinate. Of course."

"... Well, our positions were different then.... You know that, right?"

"I'm joking. Thanks for your timely support. It's good to see your face. That young knight over there—didn't I see him before...?"

A young knight fighting Barbarians from horseback with a spear. Erich found his face familiar.

Milon grinned and replied,

"That's Shane, my lord. Since our last meeting, he's gained some battlefield experience and become a fine knight."

"The condition of your knights is excellent. Though the horses look like they might collapse at any moment."

At Erich's comment, Milon nodded. Riding horses in such a snowy land was extremely difficult—not only was obtaining hay hard, but preventing frostbite for the horses was even more so.

That was exactly why the Watch didn't operate cavalry.

"But, what does it mean for all of you to be here right now?"

"My lord, a summons has been issued from the main force."

"... A summons? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, not exactly..."

Milon trailed off. Erich sensed there was something deeper going on.

'Come to think of it, if it's a summons..., that means the main force crossed through the North with them.'

But in retrospect, it wasn't that difficult. There had indeed been Barbarian attacks, but most of their forces had concentrated here.

Whether White Wolf, black Wolf, or Bear tribe, the northern Barbarians had spent most of their strength at this location.

So it wouldn't have been hard for a large army from the Watch to pass through the defenseless land.

The real question was 'why' the summons had been issued... but Erich had no real guess.

For a commander to be summoned back from an expedition was extremely unusual.

'For something of this scale, it would have to be virtually high treason...'

But that would become clear once he rejoined the main force; no point worrying about it now.

Anyhow, soon several holy knights of the Order approached Erich, their armor and swords dripping with blood.

Meeting them here was uncomfortable, but since they'd provided support, it was only polite to express gratitude.

Erich spoke to them,

"Thanks to you, I survived. It seems Incencus's grace is upon this place."

The holy knights whispered to their attendants. One, clad in lighter armor, then addressed Erich,

"To save the apostle of Incencus is to follow the will of God. If anything, our grace has been magnified."

"I see. But, if I may ask, what brings members of the Order here? As far as I knew, you were preparing for the northern campaign with the main force."

"It is unspeakable, but a trial for Sir Erich has been scheduled. We have come as envoys to escort you there."

"What?"

Erich narrowed his eyes. What trial? He hadn't committed any crimes—at least not that he knew of. Who in their right mind summons a capable, victorious officer to stand trial?

He pressed further,

"What is my charge?"

"An attack on the Mage Tower."

"... The Mage Tower?"

Erich had no memory of attacking the Mage Tower. Granted, the Tower was known for protecting its own.

Although secretive, any threat to one of its members was seen as an attack on the Mage Tower itself.

But since coming here, he'd never even seen a mage, let alone harmed one. When did he supposedly attack the Mage Tower?

The attendant, speaking for the holy knights, continued,

"To be frank, the charges against Sir Erich are the murder and torture of Joseph Yinssen, as well as the murder of a mage affiliated with the Mage Tower."

"... Ha."

Joseph.

He was the one who had secretly raised the dead in the rear and would have turned 6th fortress into a lair for the dead in the future.

Thus, Erich hadn't regretted executing Joseph there—then or now. If given the chance, he would kill him again in the same circumstances.

However—

'That bastard was a mage?'

He had never seen Joseph use magic, so he didn't know. But it seemed that Joseph had been officially registered with the Mage Tower.

'But then...'

Why did a Mage Tower mage end up conscripted into the Watch at the Great Wall? Even Erich hadn't anticipated such an outcome.

"... Then, the Mage Tower has sent people as well?"

"For your trial, the Partriarch of the Incencus Church has come here, and the Master of the Mage Tower himself has come to the North."

This was an enormous affair. Not only was the Partriarch here—rare enough—but even the Tower's Master, who usually never showed his face outside the Tower.

If the Tower Master himself had come, no matter how much the Mage Tower cared for its own, it meant this matter was immense.

Erich instinctively realized,

'It isn't the killing of Joseph that's the problem. The Tower Master came to confirm something personally.'

He now sensed there was an even bigger force at play behind these events.

Erich slowly nodded as he looked out over the battlefield, which was becoming orderly.

"I see. By when must I comply with the summons?"

"The commander has given you a two-week grace period."

"He's being as generous as possible, then."

This meant even Commander August didn't agree with the situation—otherwise he would have ordered immediate return.

The attendant folded both hands and bowed his head earnestly.

"But, there's no need to worry. Since Sir Erich is an apostle of Incencus, our Order will defend you."

"The Partriarch came here for my defense?"

"Yes, that's correct. Truly a gracious act."

Grace, my ass. Erich's eyes filled with suspicion. The Order was indeed powerful, but in such cases, their influence was rarely stronger than the Mage Tower's.

Moreover, what worried Erich most was that the current Partriarch of the Incencus Church was a pig crazed with greed.

Erich slowly bowed his head in return.

But he still had two weeks left; he had to finish what he'd started this battle for before leaving.

Once the battlefield fell silent, Erich drew and raised his sword high.

"We have won!"

― Waaah!-

Cheers burst from the troops. Yet even amid the celebration, Erich could not shake a sense of dread.

He had only two weeks left. In that time, he had to bring his battle to a close.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Hmm, wipe the Mage Tower out...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】